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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

 

March 14, 2023

 

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.

(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

 

maryland

(STATE OF INCORPORATION)

 

001-32136  20-0057959
(COMMISSION FILE NUMBER)  (IRS EMPLOYER ID. NUMBER)

 

333 Earle Ovington Boulevard, Suite 900 11553
Uniondale, New York (ZIP CODE)
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)  

 

(516) 506-4200

(REGISTRANT’S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
  
¨Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
  
¨Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
  
¨Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Trading symbols   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share   ABR   New York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock, 6.375% Series D Cumulative Redeemable, par value $0.01 per share   ABR-PD   New York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock, 6.25% Series E Cumulative Redeemable, par value $0.01 per share   ABR-PE   New York Stock Exchange
Preferred Stock, 6.25% Series F Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable, par value $0.01 per share   ABR-PF   New York Stock Exchange

 

 

 

 

 

Item 8.01Other Events.

 

On March 14, 2023, Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. issued a press release responding to the purported “research” report published on March 14, 2023 by Ningi Research, a short seller of Arbor stock. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number
  Exhibit
99.1   Press release dated March 14, 2023
     
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

  

  ARBOR REALTY TRUST, INC.
   
   
  By: /s/ Paul Elenio
  Name: Paul Elenio
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

Date: March 15, 2023

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Arbor Realty Trust Reacts to Ningi Research Report

 

UNIONDALE, N.Y., March 14, 2023 -- Arbor Realty Trust (NYSE: ABR), announced today that the Company is in receipt of the purported “research” report that was published earlier today by Ningi Research, a short seller of Arbor stock. The report lacks merit and contains numerous inaccuracies, misstatements, and otherwise misleading allegations. This false and inflammatory report is a transparent effort to mislead the public for the purpose of enabling Ningi and its affiliates to profit from short positions on Arbor’s stock. Contrary to this report, Arbor is committed to maintaining it books and records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. and adhering to the highest standards of corporate governance and internal controls.

 

About Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.

 

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ABR) is a nationwide real estate investment trust and direct lender, providing loan origination and servicing for multifamily, single-family rental (SFR) portfolios, and other diverse commercial real estate assets. Headquartered in New York, Arbor manages a multibillion-dollar servicing portfolio, specializing in government-sponsored enterprise products. Arbor is a leading Fannie Mae DUS® lender and Freddie Mac Optigo® Seller/Servicer, and an approved FHA Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) lender. Arbor’s product platform also includes bridge, CMBS, mezzanine and preferred equity loans. Rated by Standard and Poor’s and Fitch Ratings, Arbor is committed to building on its reputation for service, quality, and customized solutions with an unparalleled dedication to providing our clients excellence over the entire life of a loan.

 

Safe Harbor Statement

 

Certain items in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Arbor can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Arbor’s expectations include, but are not limited to, changes in economic conditions generally, and the real estate markets specifically, in particular, due to the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, continued ability to source new investments, changes in interest rates and/or credit spreads, and other risks detailed in Arbor’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and its other reports filed with the SEC. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Arbor expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Arbor’s expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

 

Contact:

Arbor Realty Trust, Inc.

Paul Elenio, Chief Financial Officer

516-506-4422

pelenio@arbor.com