Prospectus excerpt:  We are offering to the public 10,000,000 shares of our 7.50% Fixed-to-Floating Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, with a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share which we refer to in this prospectus supplement as the Series C Preferred Stock. This is the initial issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock. From, and including, the date of issuance to, but not including, September 27, 2027, we will pay cumulative dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock at an initial rate of 7.50% per annum based on the $25.00 per share liquidation preference, equivalent to $1.875 per share. From, and including, September 27, 2027 and thereafter, we will pay cumulative dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock at a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR (as defined herein) as calculated on each applicable date of determination (as defined herein) plus a spread of 5.289% per annum based on the $25.00 per share liquidation preference. We will pay quarterly cumulative dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock, in arrears, on the 27th day of each March, June, September and December (provided that if any dividend payment date is not a business day, then the dividend which would otherwise have been payable on that dividend payment date may be paid on the next succeeding business day). The first dividend on the Series C Preferred Stock sold in this offering will be payable on December 27, 2017 and will be for more than a full quarter, covering the period from, and including, the date of issuance to but not including December 27, 2017, in the amount of $0.68229 per share.