Today, Ellington Financial Inc. (NYSE:EFC), a real estate investment firm, disclosed the initiation of a material agreement that could see the company offer and sell common stock up to the value of $300 million. This announcement was made through a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The company has entered into equity distribution agreements with multiple financial institutions, including Citizens JMP Securities LLC, B. Riley Securities, Inc., UBS Securities LLC, Armstrong Securities LLC, and BTIG, LLC. These entities will serve as agents or resellers in the stock offering process.
The shares will be offered under Ellington Financial's existing shelf registration statement and will be sold through "at the market" offerings, directly on the New York Stock Exchange, or through market makers or negotiated transactions. The agents involved in the sale are set to receive up to 2% in commissions on the gross proceeds from the sale of the shares.
It is notable that Armstrong Securities LLC, one of the agents, is a subsidiary of Ellington Financial Inc. and will earn commissions comparable to other agents involved in the offering.
The offering's terms and conditions are detailed in a prospectus supplement filed with the SEC, supplementing the original prospectus dated January 24, 2023. The legal opinion regarding the shares being offered has been provided by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., as included in the SEC filing.
Ellington Financial has emphasized that this report does not serve as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities and that the offering will comply with applicable state laws.
This strategic move allows Ellington Financial to potentially increase its liquidity and fund its investment activities, although the company has not committed to selling any specific number of shares and retains the discretion to suspend the offering at any time. The involvement of the company's subsidiary, Armstrong Securities, in the offering also highlights an internal alignment in the execution of this plan.
In other recent news, Ellington Financial has reported impressive second quarter results for 2024. The company saw a non-annualized economic return of 4.5% and an increase in adjusted distributable earnings per share to $0.33, a rise of $0.05.
Significant contributors to this success were the non-QM loan business and Longbridge's proprietary reverse mortgage loans. Ellington Financial has also managed its portfolio strategically, focusing on high-yielding credit strategies while maintaining a solid balance of cash and borrowing capacity for continued growth.
In terms of future expectations, the company anticipates increased loan origination volumes and asset additions. With a robust investment pipeline, Ellington Financial is set for continued portfolio and earnings growth. Management is actively pursuing investments in non-QM and RTL originators, rebalancing the portfolio towards promising opportunities.
However, there were also some challenges. The company's total weighted average borrowing rate increased to 6.98% and there was a slight increase in delinquency percentages in the residential loan portfolio. Despite these issues, Ellington Financial continues to show robust performance and growth.
InvestingPro Insights
Ellington Financial's recent move to offer up to $300 million in common stock aligns with its strong financial position and dividend strategy. According to InvestingPro data, the company boasts a market capitalization of $1.13 billion and a favorable P/E ratio of 10.13, suggesting it may be undervalued relative to its earnings.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that Ellington Financial "pays a significant dividend to shareholders" and has "maintained dividend payments for 15 consecutive years." This is further supported by the impressive dividend yield of 12.1%, which could attract income-focused investors to the new stock offering.
The company's financial health is also evident in its profitability over the last twelve months and the fact that its liquid assets exceed short-term obligations. These factors may provide confidence to potential investors in the upcoming stock sale.
It's worth noting that InvestingPro offers 7 additional tips for Ellington Financial, providing deeper insights for investors considering this opportunity. As the company moves forward with its offering, these metrics and tips could prove valuable in assessing the potential impact on shareholder value.
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