Castlelake and Redwood Trust Announce Strategic Joint Venture to Purchase up to $8 Billion of Prime Jumbo Mortgage Loans

Castlelake and Redwood Trust (NYSE: RWT) formed a strategic joint venture to buy up to $8 billion of Sequoia-sourced prime jumbo mortgage loans, with flexibility to scale and acquire seasoned bank loans.

Rhea-AI Summary

Castlelake and Redwood Trust (NYSE: RWT) formed a strategic joint venture to buy up to $8 billion of Sequoia-sourced prime jumbo mortgage loans, with flexibility to scale and acquire seasoned bank loans. Sequoia will source, aggregate, and diligence loans to meet defined eligibility criteria and support consistent execution.

The partnership aims to pair Castlelake's institutional capital and underwriting focus with Sequoia's long-tenured correspondent platform and recent volume growth.

Positive

• Up to $8.0B purchase capacity for Sequoia-sourced prime jumbo loans
• Programmatic buying capacity enabling scalable, repeatable loan acquisitions
• Leverages Sequoia's historical scale: ~$100B purchased and >$50B securitized
• Castlelake brings >$10B in residential and commercial loan experience since 2024

Negative

• None.

Argus Apr 29 session

-2.43% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – RWT

On Apr 29, the day this news came out, RWT closed 2.43% below the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Apr 29 session.

Key Figures

JV purchase capacity: up to $8 billion Loans purchased: roughly $100 billion Loans securitized: over $50 billion +5 more

JV purchase capacity

up to $8 billion

Prime jumbo mortgage loans via Sequoia-sourced JV with Castlelake

Loans purchased

roughly $100 billion

Sequoia platform purchases across market cycles

Loans securitized

over $50 billion

Sequoia platform securitizations since inception

Castlelake loan activity

more than $10 billion

Residential and commercial loans acquired or financed since 2024

Q4 2025 production

$7.3B

Q4 2025 Mortgage Banking production

2025 production volume

$23B

Full-year 2025 combined Mortgage Banking volume (up 111% YoY)

2025 GAAP net income

$146.2M

Full-year 2025 Mortgage Banking GAAP net income

Q2 2025 net result

loss of $98.5 million

Quarter ended June 30, 2025 per 10-Q

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Apr 15

5 events

1. Apr 15

   Earnings call date

   24h Move

   -2.3%

   Announcement of Q1 2026 results release and webcast schedule.

2. Mar 26

   Sequoia securitization

   24h Move

   -1.3%

   Closing of $482M SEMT 2026-MED1 medical professionals loan securitization.

3. Mar 12

   Dividend declaration

   24h Move

   -1.4%

   Declared Q1 2026 common dividend of $0.18, 107th consecutive payment.

4. Mar 06

   Aspire securitization

   24h Move

   -0.3%

   Closing of $391M SPIRE 2026-1 non-QM securitization to expand funding platform.

5. Feb 11

   Earnings results

   24h Move

   +20.6%

   Record 2025 Mortgage Banking performance with strong Q4 and full-year earnings.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

prime jumbo mortgage loans, securitization, non-QM, convertible senior notes, +4 more

8 terms

prime jumbo mortgage loans financial

"programmatic purchasing power for fully documented prime jumbo mortgage loans."

Prime jumbo mortgage loans are large home loans that exceed the standard government-backed size limit and are made to borrowers with strong credit histories, stable income, and sizable down payments. They matter to investors because they concentrate exposure to high-value housing—like big-ticket sales for a retailer—so their interest rates, repayment performance and resale into securities can have outsized effects on banks’ profits, mortgage-backed securities and housing-related markets.

securitization financial

"inaugural Medical Professionals loan securitization issued through Sequoia"

Securitization is when a bank or company takes a bunch of loans or assets, like mortgages or car loans, and bundles them together into a single package. They then sell pieces of this package to investors, who receive regular payments from the borrowers. This process helps the original lender get money quickly and spreads the risk among many investors.

non-QM financial

"Aspire's inaugural non-QM securitization, a $391 million transaction"

A non-QM (non‑qualified mortgage) is a home loan that doesn't meet the standard rules used to classify mortgages as “qualified” for borrower protections and simplified lender underwriting. Think of it like a custom suit versus an off‑the‑rack one: it can fit unusual borrower situations (self‑employed income, irregular earnings, or unique property types) but carries higher risk and typically higher interest and fees. Investors care because non‑QM loans can offer higher returns but also greater default and valuation uncertainty, affecting portfolios, credit lines, and secondary market demand.

convertible senior notes financial

"offering $50.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.75% convertible senior notes"

Convertible senior notes are a type of loan that a company issues to investors, which can be turned into company shares later on. They are called "senior" because they are paid back before other debts if the company runs into trouble. This allows investors to earn interest like a loan but also have the chance to own part of the company if its value rises.

asset-backed securities financial

"interest expense on ABS and debt rose sharply."

A type of investment created by pooling many similar cash‑flowing assets — like mortgages, car loans, or credit card receivables — and selling slices of that bundle to investors who then receive the payments those assets generate. Think of it as a fruit basket where buyers earn the fruit sales: investors get steady income but also take on the risk that the underlying loans stop performing or are paid off early. Investors care because these securities can provide predictable yield, portfolio diversification, and varying levels of credit and liquidity risk depending on the quality of the underlying assets.

prospectus supplement regulatory

"Redwood Trust, Inc. Prospectus Supplement (Debt Securities)"

A prospectus supplement is an additional document provided alongside a company's main offering details, offering updated or extra information about a specific financial product being sold. It helps investors understand the latest terms, risks, and details of the investment, similar to how an update or revision clarifies or expands on original instructions, ensuring they have current and complete information before making a decision.

off-balance sheet arrangement regulatory

"creation of a direct financial obligation or an off-balance sheet arrangement"

An off-balance sheet arrangement is a financial commitment or asset that a company keeps out of its main financial statements so it does not show up as a direct asset or liability. Think of it like renting equipment or using a separate storage locker instead of putting the item in your home: the economic effects exist, but they aren’t listed on the company’s primary balance sheet. Investors care because these arrangements can hide risks, obligations or sources of cash flow that affect a company’s true financial strength and future performance.

Form S-8 regulatory

"filed a Form S-8 to register an additional 200,000 shares"

A Form S-8 is a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission registration that lets a public company set aside shares for employee benefit plans and stock-based compensation. Think of it as opening a dedicated account that authorizes the company to issue or reserve stock for workers and directors; it matters to investors because it enables share dilution when those awards are granted or exercised and signals how management is compensated and incentivized.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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MINNEAPOLIS and MILL VALLEY, Calif., April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Castlelake, L.P. ("Castlelake"), a global alternative investment firm specializing in asset-based private credit, and Redwood Trust Inc. (NYSE: RWT) ("Redwood" or the "Company"), a leader in expanding access to housing for homebuyers and renters, today announced the formation of a strategic joint venture designed to support the continued growth of Redwood's Sequoia platform and provide Castlelake with programmatic purchasing power for fully documented prime jumbo mortgage loans. The joint venture contemplates purchasing up to $8 billion of Sequoia-sourced prime jumbo loans, with flexibility to scale as opportunities emerge, including the acquisition of seasoned loans from bank balance sheets. Under the joint venture, Sequoia will source, aggregate, and diligence loans that meet defined eligibility criteria, with the aim of supporting consistent execution and high-quality asset selection.

"Castlelake is pleased to partner with Redwood and its Sequoia platform to provide our investors with access to what we expect to be high-quality, fully documented prime jumbo assets and to establish a relationship grounded in shared principles of disciplined underwriting and strong institutional governance," said Lucas Jackson, Head of North American Residential Mortgage Finance at Castlelake. "This transaction highlights Castlelake's granular, loan level approach to deploying capital into opportunities that we expect to create attractive, risk‑adjusted outcomes for our investors."

"Sequoia has experienced significant momentum over the past year, with loan acquisition volumes more than doubling as we continue to build share in the jumbo market," said Brooke Carillo, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Redwood Trust. "We see a dynamic and expanding opportunity set ahead, and this initiative is aligned with our strategy of scaling our platforms alongside leading capital providers. Castlelake's large, diversified institutional capital base and experience in asset-based investing make them a strong partner as we continue to grow Sequoia."

Redwood is a leading participant in the prime jumbo mortgage market through its Sequoia platform, one of the longest-tenured non-agency correspondent platforms in the industry since Redwood was founded in 1994. Sequoia has consistently provided liquidity across market cycles, purchasing roughly $100 billion of loans and securitizing over $50 billion, reflecting its strong and well-established relationships with market-leading originators.

Castlelake is an experienced investor in the global residential real estate sector, and has acquired or financed more than $10 billion in residential and commercial loans since 2024.  Supported by dedicated sector specialists and a long-standing focus on disciplined underwriting and institutional governance, the firm has invested through multiple market cycles and provides reliable, scalable capital for high-quality residential credit opportunities.

About Castlelake
Castlelake, L.P. is a global alternative investment manager specializing in asset-based private credit. Founded in 2005, Castlelake manages approximately $36 billion of assets on behalf of a diversified global investor base and is a strategic partner of Brookfield Asset Management Ltd., a leading global alternative investment manager with over $1 trillion of assets under management. The Castlelake team comprises approximately 250 experienced professionals, including 90 investment professionals, across eight offices in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. For more information, please visit https://www.castlelake.com/.  

About Redwood Trust, Inc.

Redwood Trust, Inc. (NYSE: RWT) is a specialty finance company focused on several distinct areas of housing credit where we provide liquidity to growing segments of the U.S. housing market not well served by government programs. We deliver customized housing credit investments to a diverse mix of investors, through our best-in-class securitization platforms, whole-loan distribution activities, joint ventures and our publicly traded shares. We operate through three core residential housing-focused operating platforms — Sequoia, Aspire, and CoreVest — alongside our complementary Redwood Investments portfolio which is primarily composed of assets we source through these platforms. Redwood Investments also includes RWT Horizons®, our unified technology platform spanning internal AI innovation and strategic investments across the ecosystem, which supports our efforts to develop an AI-first operating model that enables compounding operational leverage and scalable growth. This reflects how we manage and organize our business and may differ from the manner in which our reportable segments are presented for financial reporting purposes.

Our goal is to provide attractive returns to shareholders through a stable and growing stream of earnings and dividends, capital appreciation, and a commitment to technological innovation that facilitates risk-minded scale. Redwood Trust is internally managed and structured as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for tax purposes. For more information about Redwood, please visit our website at www.redwoodtrust.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the joint venture's target acquisition volume of $8 billion of prime jumbo loans. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Redwood's actual results may differ from Redwood's beliefs, expectations, estimates, and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward looking statements as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements are not historical in nature and can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "will," "should," "expect," "believe," "intend," "seek," "plan" and similar expressions or their negative forms, or by references to strategy, plans, opportunities, or intentions. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 under the caption "Risk Factors". Other risks, uncertainties, and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected may be described from time to time in reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Castlelake Media Relations
media.relations@castlelake.com

Prosek Partners for Castlelake
Josh Clarkson/Remy Marin
+1 212 279 3115
jclarkson@prosek.com / rmarin@prosek.com

CJ Patrick Company for Redwood Trust
Rick Sharga
+1 949 322 4583
rick@cjpatrick.com

 

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SOURCE Castlelake

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What does the Castlelake and Redwood Trust JV mean for RWT shareholders?

It establishes a programmatic channel to acquire up to $8 billion of prime jumbo loans. According to Redwood, the JV is intended to scale Sequoia sourcing and provide predictable execution while leveraging Castlelake's institutional capital and underwriting approach.

How large is the joint venture with Castlelake for Redwood Trust (RWT)?

The joint venture contemplates purchasing up to $8 billion of prime jumbo loans. According to Redwood, the arrangement includes flexibility to scale and may include acquisitions of seasoned loans from bank balance sheets.

What role will Sequoia play in the RWT and Castlelake partnership?

Sequoia will source, aggregate, and diligence loans that meet defined eligibility criteria. According to Redwood, this role is intended to support consistent execution and maintain high-quality asset selection for the JV.

Does the deal change Sequoia's historical mortgage market footprint for RWT (RWT)?

The JV aims to expand Sequoia's programmatic access to institutional capital rather than alter its core model. According to Redwood, Sequoia has purchased roughly $100 billion of loans and securitized over $50 billion historically.

Will Castlelake fund all $8 billion immediately in the Redwood Trust JV?

No immediate funding schedule was disclosed; the JV contemplates purchases up to $8 billion with flexibility to scale. According to Castlelake, purchases will be programmatic and driven by pipeline and eligibility criteria identified by Sequoia.

How does Castlelake's experience support this Redwood Trust (RWT) JV?

Castlelake brings institutional capital and a loan-level underwriting approach, having acquired or financed >$10 billion since 2024. According to Castlelake, their track record in residential credit supports scalable capital deployment into prime jumbo assets.