Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE:CMTG) (the "Company" or "CMTG") today reported its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The Company's first quarter 2024 GAAP net loss was ($52.8 million), or ($0.39) per diluted share. Distributable Loss (a non-GAAP financial measure defined below) was ($16.8 million), or ($0.12) per diluted share. Distributable Earnings prior to realized losses was $27.7 million, or $0.20 per diluted share.

First Quarter 2024 Highlights

$6.7 billion loan portfolio with a weighted average all-in yield of 9.1%.
Funded approximately $143 million of follow-on fundings related to the existing loan portfolio.
Received loan repayment proceeds of $146 million, including $136 million from two full loan repayments.
Sold three loans for $262 million, or 96% of unpaid principal balance. As of December 31, 2023, these loans represented unpaid principal balance of $272 million and unfunded commitments of $107 million.
Reclassified one loan to held-for-sale, representing an unpaid principal balance of $216 million and unfunded commitments of $45 million as of March 31, 2024.
- Subsequent to quarter end, the loan was sold for $175 million, or 80% of unpaid principal balance; after the repayment of senior financing and closing costs, the loan sale generated net liquidity of $33 million.
Repaid $384 million in financings during the first quarter.
- $261 million in connection with loan repayments or sales.
- $82 million of voluntary deleveraging payments.
- $41 million of scheduled deleveraging payments.
Made incremental borrowings of $157 million.
Total liquidity of $265 million consisting of $233 million of cash and $32 million of approved and undrawn credit capacity.
General CECL reserves increased by $0.15 per share to $0.72 per share at March 31, 2024 from $0.57 per share at December 31, 2023. Specific CECL reserves increased by $0.03 per share to $0.54 per share at March 31, 2024 from $0.51 per share at December 31, 2023.
- Overall CECL reserves stand at 2.6% of overall unpaid principal balance, comprised of 23% on the unpaid principal balance of 5 rated loans and 1.6% on the unpaid principal balance of the remaining portfolio.
Paid a cash dividend of $0.25 per share of common stock for the first quarter of 2024.
Book value per share of $15.55 per share.

"While underlying property fundamentals, excluding office, remain stable, dynamic macroeconomic factors continue to create uncertainty across our industry," said Richard Mack, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of CMTG. "Given these conditions, our focus is on proactive asset management, optimizing our balance sheet, and drawing upon our Sponsor's experience and platform to drive results for the Company."

Teleconference Details

A conference call to discuss CMTG's financial results will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. ET. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 1-833-470-1428 and referencing the Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. teleconference call; access code 186136.

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 568613, 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 (Loss):

Distributable Earnings (Loss) is a non-GAAP measure used to evaluate our performance excluding the effects of certain transactions, non-cash items and GAAP adjustments, as determined by our Manager. Distributable Earnings (Loss) is a non-GAAP measure, which the Company defines as net income (loss) in accordance with GAAP, excluding (i) non-cash stock-based compensation expense, (ii) real estate depreciation and amortization, (iii) any unrealized gains or losses from mark-to-market valuation changes (other than permanent impairments) that are included in net income (loss) for the applicable period, (iv) one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and (v) certain non-cash items, which in the judgment of our Manager, should not be included in Distributable Earnings (Loss). Furthermore, the Company presents Distributable Earnings prior to realized gains and losses, which includes principal charge-offs, as the Company believes this more easily allows our Board, Manager, and investors to compare our operating performance to our peers, to assess our ability to declare and pay dividends, and to determine our compliance with certain financial covenants. Pursuant to the Management Agreement, we use Core Earnings, which is substantially the same as Distributable Earnings (Loss) excluding incentive fees, to determine the incentive fees we pay our Manager.

The Company believes that Distributable Earnings (Loss) and Distributable Earnings prior to realized gains and losses provide meaningful information to consider in addition to our net income (loss) and cash flows from operating activities in accordance with GAAP. Distributable Earnings (Loss) and Distributable Earnings prior to realized gains and losses do not represent net income (loss) or cash flows from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP net income (loss), an indication of our cash flows from operating activities, a measure of our liquidity or an indication of funds available for our cash needs. In addition, the Company's methodology for calculating these non-GAAP measures 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 (Loss) and Distributable Earnings prior to realized gains and losses may not be comparable to the Distributable Earnings (Loss) and Distributable Earnings prior to realized gains and losses 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. Distributable Earnings (Loss), Distributable Earnings prior to realized gains and losses, and other similar measures, have historically been a useful indicator over time of a mortgage REIT's ability to cover its dividends, and to mortgage REITs themselves in determining the amount of any dividends to declare. Distributable Earnings (Loss) and Distributable Earnings prior to realized gains and losses are key factors, among others, considered by the Board in determining the dividend each quarter and as such the Company believes Distributable Earnings (Loss) and Distributable Earnings prior to realized gains and losses are also useful to investors.

While Distributable Earnings (Loss) excludes the impact of our provision for or reversal of current expected credit loss reserve, principal charge-offs are recognized through Distributable Earnings (Loss) 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 when the Company acquires title in the case of foreclosure, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, or assignment-in-lieu of foreclosure), or (ii) with respect to any amount due under any loan, when such amount is determined to be uncollectible.

Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc.

Reconciliation of Distributable (Loss) Earnings to Net (Loss) Income

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

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
Net (loss) income:	$	(52,795	)	$	34,043
Adjustments:
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense		4,353			4,469
Provision for current expected credit loss reserve		69,960			5,247
Depreciation and amortization expense		2,599			2,579
Amortization of above and below market lease values, net		354			354
Unrealized loss on interest rate cap		998			1,835
Loss on extinguishment of debt		2,244			-
Gain on foreclosure of real estate owned		-			(4,162	)
Distributable Earnings prior to realized losses	$	27,713		$	44,365
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(2,244	)		-
Principal charge-offs		(42,266	)		(7,468	)
Distributable (Loss) Earnings	$	(16,797	)	$	36,897
Weighted average diluted shares - Distributable (Loss) Earnings		141,403,825			141,321,572
Diluted Distributable Earnings per share prior to realized losses	$	0.20		$	0.31
Diluted Distributable (Loss) Earnings per share	$	(0.12	)	$	(0.26	)

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Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2024 Results