Annaly Capital Management, Inc. Announces 1st Quarter Dividend of $0.50 per Share

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Board of Directors of Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE: NLY) declared the first quarter 2009 common stock cash dividend of $0.50 per common share. This dividend is payable April 29, 2009 to common shareholders of record on March 30, 2009. The ex-dividend date is March 26, 2009.

Commenting on the current environment, Michael A.J. Farrell, Chairman, CEO and President of Annaly said, "In a world where companies are reducing or eliminating dividends, we are pleased to continue to deliver cash returns to our shareholders through our long term strategy of investing in Agency mortgage-backed securities. Given the unique actions of the Treasury and Federal Reserve, we continue to act prudently within the framework of asset selection, financing and cash management while continuously assessing the impact on prepayment activity as various Government policies to lower consumer borrowing rates may gain more traction. It remains the intention of the Company to pay out 100% of its dividends in cash on a fiscal year basis."

The Company distributes dividends based on its current estimate of taxable earnings per common share, not GAAP earnings. Taxable and GAAP earnings will differ because of non-taxable unrealized and realized losses, differences in premium amortization, and non-deductible general and administrative expenses.

Dividends may be reinvested through Annaly's Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Plan information may be obtained from the Plan Administrator, Mellon Investor Services at 1-800-301-5234, at www.annaly.com, or by contacting the Company.

Annaly manages assets on behalf of institutional and individual investors worldwide. The Company's principal business objective is to generate net income for distribution to investors from its investment securities and from dividends it receives from its subsidiaries. Annaly is a Maryland corporation that has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT"), and currently has 544,309,785 shares of common stock outstanding.

This news release and our public documents to which we refer contain or incorporate by reference certain 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. Forward-looking statements which are based on various assumptions (some of which are beyond our control) may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "may," "will," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "continue," or similar terms or variations on those terms or the negative of those terms. Actual results could differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates, changes in the yield curve, changes in prepayment rates, the availability of mortgage-backed securities for purchase, the availability of financing and, if available, the terms of any financing, changes in the market value of our assets, changes in business conditions and the general economy, changes in government regulations affecting our business, our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, risks associated with the broker-dealer business of our subsidiary, as well as risks associated with the investment advisory business of our subsidiaries, including the removal by clients of assets they manage, their regulatory requirements and competition in the investment advisory business. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We do not undertake, and specifically disclaim any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

    Source: Annaly Capital Management, Inc.