Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2022 Results

Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE: CMTG) (the “Company” or “CMTG”) today reported its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. The Company’s first quarter 2022 GAAP net income was $29.4 million, or $0.21 per diluted share of common stock, and Net Distributable Earnings (a non-GAAP financial measure defined below) was $33.5 million, or $0.24 per diluted share of common stock.

First Quarter 2022 Highlights

• Significant loan origination activity, originating $1.2 billion of total loan commitments across 14 investments, of which $685 million was funded at closing
• Funded approximately $141 million of follow-on fundings related to the existing loan portfolio
• Received proceeds of $194 million from loan repayments
• Paid a cash dividend of $0.37 per common share for the first quarter of 2022

Asset Management Update

• On April 15, 2022, one of our non-accrual loans was successfully resolved. CMTG held a $116.0 million mortgage on a New York land portfolio, which had been on non-accrual status since May of 2020. The subordinate mezzanine lender exercised its right to purchase our loan for $147.8 million (principal, accrued contractual and default interest, and certain fees). This investment generated a levered return of approximately 12.5% (exceeded underwritten returns) and a net gain on sale of approximately $30.1 million ($0.22 per share based on shares outstanding as of March 31, 2021), which will be reflected as such in the second quarter. Excluding this transaction, the portion of our total loan portfolio (based on unpaid principal balance) on non-accrual declined to 2.2% from 3.8% at March 31, 2022.

“I’m pleased with our team’s strong execution in the first quarter, growing our total loan portfolio to a record level while also diversifying our geographic mix and increasing our exposure to cash-flowing assets,” said Richard Mack, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of CMTG. “Once again, a long history as an owner and operator of real estate with significant expertise in managing assets enabled us to quickly understand our borrowers' business plans and originate loans effectively. We look forward to redeploying capital, particularly in the increasing number of new opportunities we see in fast-growing markets.”

Teleconference Details

A conference call to discuss CMTG’s financial results will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. ET. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 1-844-200-6205 and referencing the Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. teleconference call; access code 282600.

The conference call will also be broadcast live over the internet and may be accessed through the Investor Relations section of CMTG’s website at www.clarosmortgage.com. The earnings presentation accompanying this release and containing supplemental information about the Company’s financial results may also be accessed through this website in advance of the call.

For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a webcast replay will be available on CMTG’s website or by dialing 1-866-813-9403, access code 663814, beginning approximately two hours after the event.

About Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.

CMTG is a real estate investment trust that is focused primarily on originating senior and subordinate loans on transitional commercial real estate assets located in major markets across the U.S. CMTG is externally managed and advised by Claros REIT Management LP, an affiliate of Mack Real Estate Credit Strategies, L.P. Additional information can be found on the Company’s website at www.clarosmortgage.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. CMTG intends for all such forward-looking statements to be covered by the applicable safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in those acts. Such forward-looking statements can generally be identified by CMTG’s use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue,” “seek,” “objective,” “goal,” “strategy,” “plan,” “focus,” “priority,” “should,” “could,” “potential,” “possible,” “look forward,” “optimistic,” or other similar words. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including known and unknown risks, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. Therefore, such statements are not intended to be a guarantee of CMTG’s performance in future periods. Except as required by law, CMTG does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this release.

Definitions

Distributable Earnings and Net Distributable Earnings:

Distributable Earnings and Net Distributable Earnings are non-GAAP measures used to evaluate the Company’s performance excluding the effects of certain transactions, non-cash items and GAAP adjustments, as determined by our Manager, which the Company believes are not necessarily indicative of the Company’s current performance and operations. Distributable Earnings is a non-GAAP measure, which the Company defines as net income as determined in accordance with GAAP, excluding (i) non-cash equity compensation expense (income), (ii) incentive fees, (iii) real estate depreciation and amortization, (iv) any unrealized gains or losses from mark-to-market valuation changes (other than permanent impairments) that are included in net income for the applicable period, (v) one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and (vi) certain non-cash items, which in the judgment of the Company’s Manager, should not be included in Distributable Earnings. Net Distributable Earnings is Distributable Earnings less incentive fees due to the Company’s Manager. Distributable Earnings is substantially the same as Core Earnings, as defined in the Management Agreement, for the periods presented.

The Company believes that Distributable Earnings and Net Distributable Earnings provide meaningful information to consider in addition to the Company’s net income and cash flows from operating activities determined in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes the Distributable Earnings and Net Distributable Earnings measures help it to evaluate the Company’s performance excluding the effects of certain transactions, non-cash items and GAAP adjustments, as determined by the Company’s Manager, that it believes are not necessarily indicative of the Company’s current performance and operations. Distributable Earnings and Net Distributable Earnings do not represent net income or cash flows from operating activities and should not be considered as an alternative to

GAAP net income, an indication of the Company’s cash flows from operating activities, a measure of the Company’s liquidity or an indication of funds available for the Company’s cash needs. In addition, the Company’s methodology for calculating Distributable Earnings and Net Distributable Earnings may differ from the methodologies employed by other companies to calculate the same or similar supplemental performance measures and, accordingly, the Company’s reported Distributable Earnings and Net Distributable Earnings may not be comparable to the Distributable Earnings and Net Distributable Earnings reported by other companies.

In order to maintain the Company’s status as a REIT, the Company is required to distribute at least 90% of its REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain, as dividends. Net Distributable Earnings, and other similar measures, have historically been a useful indicator of mortgage REITs’ ability to cover their dividends, and to mortgage REITs themselves in determining the amount of any dividends. Net Distributable Earnings is a key factor considered by the board of directors in setting the dividend and as such the Company believes Net Distributable Earnings is useful to investors. Accordingly, the Company believes providing Net Distributable Earnings on a supplemental basis to the Company’s net income as determined in accordance with GAAP is helpful to its stockholders in assessing the overall performance of its business.

While Distributable Earnings excludes the impact of the Company’s unrealized current provision for credit losses, loan losses are charged off and recognized through Distributable Earnings when deemed non-recoverable. Non-recoverability is determined (i) upon the resolution of a loan (i.e. when the loan is repaid, fully or partially, or in the case of foreclosure, when the underlying asset is sold), or (ii) with respect to any amount due under any loan, when such amount is determined to be non-collectible.

Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.

Reconciliation of Distributable Earnings to Net Income Attributable to Common Stockholders

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

1. Distributable Earnings and Net Distributable Earnings are non-GAAP measures used to evaluate our performance excluding the effects of certain transactions, non-cash items and GAAP adjustments, as determined by our Manager, that we believe are not necessarily indicative of our current performance and operations. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key Financial Measures and Indicators—Distributable Earnings and Net Distributable Earnings” in our prospectus comprising a part of our Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-40993), which is accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, for definitions and a discussion of Distributable Earnings and Net Distributable Earnings and a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP equivalent for certain historical periods. 

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