Form 8-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 7, 2012

 

 

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

Delaware   001-34569   26-0489289

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

53 Forest Avenue

Old Greenwich, CT 06870

(Address and zip code of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (203) 698-1200

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

The information in this Item 2.02 and the disclosure incorporated by reference in Item 7.01 with respect to Exhibit 99.1 attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K are being furnished by Ellington Financial LLC (the “Company”) pursuant to Item 7.01 of Form 8-K in satisfaction of the public disclosure requirements of Regulation FD and Item 2.02 of Form 8-K, insofar as they disclose historical information regarding the Company’s results of operations or financial condition for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

On November 7, 2012, the Company issued a press release announcing its financial results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2012. A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

In accordance with General Instructions B.2 and B.6 of Form 8-K, the information included in Item 2.02 and the disclosure incorporated by reference in Item 7.01 shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing made by the Company under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

The disclosure contained in Item 2.02 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits. The following exhibit is being furnished herewith this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

 

99.1

   Earnings Press Release dated November 7, 2012


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

     

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

(Registrant)

Date: November 7, 2012     By:  

/s/ Lisa Mumford

      Lisa Mumford
      Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

  

Description

99.1    Earnings Press Release dated November 7, 2012
Earnings Press Release

Exhibit 99.1

Ellington Financial LLC Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

OLD GREENWICH, Connecticut—November 7, 2012

Ellington Financial LLC (NYSE: EFC) (the “Company”) today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2012.

Highlights

 

 

Net increase in shareholders’ equity resulting from operations (“net income”) for the third quarter was $29.5 million or $1.59 per basic and diluted share. The Company’s results were principally driven by a strong contribution from its non-Agency strategy, but also augmented by solid results from its Agency strategy. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, net income was $72.4 million and represented an annualized return on equity of 23.5%.

 

 

Book value per share as of September 30, 2012 was $23.88 on a diluted basis after payment of a $0.70 per share second quarter dividend on September 17, 2012, as compared to book value per share of $23.47 on a diluted basis as of June 30, 2012.

 

 

The Company’s non-Agency MBS strategy generated income of $37.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2012. Performance was driven by yield earned on invested assets, as well as realized and unrealized gains.

 

 

The Company’s Agency RMBS strategy also performed well, generating $5.1 million in income during the quarter, and continued to be centered around the Company’s ability to identify, invest in and actively trade pools with specific prepayment-protection characteristics.

 

 

During the quarter, the Company completed a public offering of 4.025 million shares of common stock, raising net proceeds of $87.8 million.

 

 

The Company announced a dividend for the third quarter of 2012 of $0.70 per share payable on December 17, 2012 to shareholders of record on November 30, 2012.

Third Quarter 2012 Results

For the quarter ended September 30, 2012, the Company recognized net income of $29.5 million, or $1.59 per diluted share. This compares to net income of $10.8 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2012. The Company’s results reflected positive contributions from both of its current strategies—non-Agency MBS as well as Agency RMBS.

The Company’s non-Agency MBS strategy generated income in the amount of $37.2 million for the quarter, or $2.01 per diluted share. In the third quarter, the market for non-Agency MBS rallied significantly. As home prices continue to stabilize (and are even trending higher in many regions), and as mortgage default rates continue to decline, investor demand for non-Agency RMBS has continued to increase. Meanwhile, alternatives for higher yielding investments in those other fixed income sectors where investors typically search for higher yields, such as Agency RMBS and investment grade corporate bonds, have become more limited, thereby further increasing the demand for non-Agency MBS. With interest rates currently at historically low levels, many financial institutions (such as pension funds and insurance companies) are finding that they will be unable to fund their long term liabilities without increasing their allocations to higher-yielding asset classes; we believe that this state of affairs will continue to provide support for the non-Agency MBS sector. In addition, where there had formerly been great concerns that U.S. banks would eventually have to sell much of their non-Agency MBS holdings as Basel III bank capital rules became fully phased in, the release earlier this year of the Simplified Supervisory Formula Approach (SSFA), which changed the method of calculating capital charges for securitization exposures, has reduced the likelihood of future forced selling of non-Agency MBS by banks.

The Company’s income during the quarter from its non-Agency MBS strategy consisted primarily of interest income and realized and unrealized gains on long non-Agency MBS. Results for the quarter and nine months benefited directly from the Company’s decision, beginning in 2011, to rotate out of higher-priced non-Agency RMBS, and into middle-dollar price non-Agency RMBS that it believed had more upside, and to reduce its credit hedges significantly. However, following the significant non-Agency RMBS rally, the Company has taken advantage of the opportunity to rotate out of certain of its lower-priced 2006/2007 vintage subprime assets that it now believes have become fully valued, and into other non-Agency MBS assets whose prices have lagged in comparison during the recent rally. Given that all non-Agency RMBS assets have rallied substantially, security selection should become an even more important factor in portfolio management, and the Company believes that its analytical approach to security selection will help generate superior returns in this environment. The Company also increased its holdings of CMBS in light of the attractive opportunities in that market.

 

1


For the quarter ended September 30, 2012, interest income was positively impacted by the Company’s upward adjustment of its future housing price assumptions, which are used in the determination of the yields at which the Company accrues interest income on its investments. While this adjustment in assumptions increased the effective yields at which the Company accrued interest income on many of its investments during the quarter, total net income was not affected since all of the Company’s investments are marked to market through net income. On a more detailed level, to the extent that an increase in book yields causes an incremental increase in interest income during a reporting period for any investment, the amortized cost of such investment at the end of such reporting period is incrementally increased by the same amount, which, as a result of the mark-to-market process, leads to an exactly offsetting incremental decrease in the change in net unrealized gain (loss) on such investment.

The Company’s Agency RMBS strategy had its third consecutive strong quarter, generating $5.1 million in income consisting primarily of interest income and realized and unrealized gains on long Agency RMBS. Total interest income and realized and unrealized gains for long Agency RMBS for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 was $12.2 million. Opportunistic trading of assets within this portfolio has and continues to be a key contributor of returns in this strategy. Income was partially offset by hedging costs of $6.6 million, including net short positions in TBAs, interest rate swaps and U.S. Treasuries. TBAs are used to hedge the long Agency RMBS portfolio against prepayment and interest rate risk, while interest rate swaps and U.S. Treasuries are used to hedge against interest rate risk.

Over the course of the last several quarters, the Company has employed a strategy whereby it identifies and invests in pools with prepayment-protection characteristics (which we refer to as “prepayment-protected” pools), such as those comprised of low loan balance mortgages, those containing mortgages not eligible for one of the government-sponsored refinancing programs, and those containing mortgages with other prepayment-protection characteristics. The Company’s prepayment-protected pools have continued to experience favorable prepayment rates, and in particular, have prepaid much more slowly than their generic pool counterparts. However, current prepayment risk in the market remains elevated. The Fed’s announcement on September 13, 2012 of its intent to purchase $40 billion of Agency RMBS a month for an indefinite period drove Agency MBS prices to all-time highs. This move by the Fed is directly intended to lower mortgage rates and spur refinancing activity, and reinforces the importance of the Company’s strategy to invest in prepayment-protected pools and to maintain short positions, through the TBA market, in generic pools that are most vulnerable to increased prepayments. While the Fed’s action has contributed to a decline in yields on purchased Agency RMBS, the effect of higher generic pool prepayment rates are reflected in lowered costs to roll the Company’s TBA short positions. At the time of the Fed announcement, the majority of the Company’s long portfolio was invested in higher coupon prepayment-protected pools. These pools, which exhibit materially slower prepayment speeds than their generic pool counterparts, continue to earn high positive carry compared to the cost of their associated TBA hedge.

One gauge that the Company uses to measure its overall prepayment risk is the Company’s net Agency premium as a percentage of its long Agency RMBS holdings. Net Agency premium represents the total premium (excess of market value over outstanding principal balance) on long Agency RMBS holdings less the total premium on net short (TBA) Agency RMBS positions. The lower its net Agency premium, the less the Company believes it is exposed to market-wide increases in Agency RMBS prepayments. As of September 30, 2012, net Agency premium as a percentage of fair value on long Agency RMBS holdings was approximately 3%. Excluding its TBA hedging positions, the Company’s Agency premium as a percentage of fair value is approximately 8%.

The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with ASC 946, Financial Services—Investment Companies. As a result, investments are carried at fair value and all valuation changes are recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The Company also measures its performance through net-asset-value-based total return. Net-asset-value-based total return measures the change in the Company’s book value per share, and assumes the reinvestment of dividends at book value per share. For the quarter ended September 30, 2012, net-asset-value-based total return was 4.25%. For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, net asset-value-based total return was 16.31%. Net-asset-value-based total return from inception of the Company (August 17, 2007) through September 30, 2012 was 84.92%.

“We are very pleased to report our third quarter and nine month financial results for the Company,” said Laurence Penn, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company. “The third quarter was gratifying for two reasons. First and most importantly, our results for the quarter were quite strong and were driven by significant contributions from both of our core strategies: non-Agency MBS and Agency RMBS. Our non-annualized return on equity was 6.6% for the quarter and 17.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. Our non-Agency MBS results, while clearly benefitting from the overall rally that occurred in the sector, also validated our previous decision to rotate the portfolio into lower-priced securities that we thought had become undervalued. Re-assessing the non-Agency RMBS market following this rally, we have taken the opportunity to partially rotate out of certain of those same sectors that we had previously rotated into. The performance of our Agency RMBS strategy demonstrates that we have continued to succeed in identifying pools with undervalued prepayment-protection characteristics.

 

2


Now that the Federal Reserve has embarked on a third round of quantitative easing, our ability to execute this strategy has become even more important, as is our ability to hedge the portfolio against prepayment risk with TBAs. Our Agency strategy continues to deliver outsized returns for us, particularly in relation to the relatively small amount of our capital that it utilizes.”

“We were also extremely pleased to have successfully completed our first share offering following our October 2010 initial public offering. With this offering, which resulted in net proceeds to the Company of $87.8 million, we have increased the liquidity of our shares, increased the size of our company and lowered our expense ratio.”

The following table summarizes the Company’s operating results for the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and June 30, 2012 and for the nine month period ended September 30, 2012:

 

    Quarter
Ended
9/30/2012
    Per
Share
    % of Average
Shareholders’
Equity
    Quarter
Ended
6/30/2012
    Per
Share
    % of Average
Shareholders’
Equity
    Nine Month
Period Ended
9/30/2012
    Per
Share
    % of Average
Shareholders’
Equity
 
(In thousands, except per share amounts)                                                      

Non-Agency MBS and Commercial mortgage loans:

                 

Interest income

  $ 11,270      $ 0.61        2.54   $ 9,491      $ 0.56        2.40   $ 30,326      $ 1.74        7.39

Net realized gain

    8,345        0.45        1.88     813        0.05        0.21     15,703        0.90        3.83

Net change in net unrealized gain

    23,648        1.27        5.32     7,210        0.43        1.82     50,290        2.89        12.26

Net interest rate hedges

    (1,195     (0.06     -0.27     (2,726     (0.16     -0.69     (3,787     (0.22     -0.92

Net credit hedges

    (3,499     (0.19     -0.79     (603     (0.04     -0.15     (9,925     (0.57     -2.42

Interest expense

    (1,357     (0.07     -0.31     (1,253     (0.07     -0.32     (3,789     (0.22     -0.92
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total non-Agency MBS and Commercial mortgage loans profit

    37,212        2.01        8.37     12,932        0.77        3.27     78,818        4.52        19.22
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Agency RMBS:

                 

Interest income

    4,126        0.22        0.93     6,538        0.39        1.65     16,746        0.96        4.08

Net realized gain

    4,992        0.27        1.12     5,163        0.31        1.30     16,970        0.97        4.14

Net change in net unrealized gain

    3,102        0.17        0.70     3,878        0.23        0.98     3,055        0.18        0.74

Net interest rate hedges(1)

    (6,617     (0.36     -1.49     (11,841     (0.71     -2.99     (20,524     (1.18     -5.00

Interest expense

    (517     (0.03     -0.12     (660     (0.04     -0.17     (1,749     (0.10     -0.43
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Agency RMBS profit

    5,086        0.27        1.14     3,078        0.18        0.77     14,498        0.83        3.53
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total non-Agency and Agency MBS and Commercial mortgage loans profit

    42,298        2.28        9.51     16,010        0.95        4.04     93,316        5.35        22.75
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other interest expense, net

    (3     —          0.00     (11     —          0.00     (26     —          -0.01

Other expenses (excluding incentive fee)

    (3,267     (0.18     -0.74     (2,919     (0.17     -0.74     (9,127     (0.52     -2.23
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in shareholders’ equity resulting from operations (before incentive fee)

    39,028        2.10        8.77     13,080        0.78        3.30     84,163        4.83        20.51
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Incentive fee

    (9,491     (0.51     -2.14     (2,312     (0.14     -0.58     (11,803     (0.68     -2.88
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in shareholders’ equity resulting from operations

  $ 29,537      $ 1.59        6.63   $ 10,768      $ 0.64        2.72   $ 72,360      $ 4.15        17.63
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares & LTIP units outstanding

    18,553            16,838            17,414       

Average shareholders’ equity(2)

  $ 444,220          $ 396,118          $ 410,197       

 

(1) 

Includes TBAs and U.S. Treasuries.

(2) 

Average shareholders’ equity is calculated using month end values.

 

3


Portfolio

The following tables summarize the Company’s portfolio holdings as of September 30, 2012 and June 30, 2012:

Bond Portfolio

 

    September 30, 2012     June 30, 2012  
(In thousands)   Current
Principal
    Fair Value     Average
Price(1)
    Cost     Average
Cost(1)
    Current
Principal
    Fair Value     Average
Price(1)
    Cost     Average
Cost(1)
 

Non-Agency RMBS (2)

  $ 760,325      $ 454,549      $ 59.78      $ 432,370      $ 56.87      $ 683,528      $ 384,082      $ 56.19      $ 385,927      $ 56.46   

Non-Agency CMBS and Commercial Mortgage Loans

    69,146        53,846        77.87        56,038        81.04        43,345        33,055        76.26        34,934        80.59   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Non-Agency MBS and Commercial Mortgage Loans

    829,471        508,395        61.29        488,408        58.88        726,873        417,137        57.39        420,861        57.90   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Agency RMBS: (3)

                   

Floating

    19,285        20,417        105.87        19,794        102.64        21,458        22,710        105.84        22,126        103.11   

Fixed

    548,437        595,906        108.66        582,331        106.18        579,363        622,967        107.53        612,769        105.77   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Agency RMBS

    567,722        616,323        108.56        602,125        106.06        600,821        645,677        107.47        634,895        105.67   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Non-Agency and Agency MBS and Commercial Mortgage Loans

  $ 1,397,193      $ 1,124,718      $ 80.50      $ 1,090,533      $ 78.05      $ 1,327,694      $ 1,062,814      $ 80.05      $ 1,055,756      $ 79.52   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Agency Interest Only RMBS

    n/a      $ 3,827        n/a      $ 6,585        n/a        n/a      $ 4,667        n/a      $ 7,110        n/a   

Non-Agency Interest Only and Pricipal Only RMBS and Other

    n/a      $ 3,376        n/a      $ 3,460        n/a        n/a      $ 977        n/a      $ 1,049        n/a   

TBAs:

                   

Long

  $ 31,550      $ 33,723      $ 106.89      $ 33,413      $ 105.90      $ 54,550      $ 57,739      $ 105.85      $ 57,577      $ 105.55   

Short

    (410,989     (443,191     107.84        (441,970     107.54        (427,900     (458,028     107.04        (457,115     106.83   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Short TBAs

  $ (379,439   $ (409,468   $ 107.91      $ (408,557   $ 107.67      $ (373,350   $ (400,289   $ 107.22      $ (399,538   $ 107.01   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury Securities:

                   

Long

  $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 5,000      $ 5,045      $ 100.90      $ 5,049      $ 100.97   

Short

    (13,000     (13,633     104.87        (13,087     100.67        (36,000     (36,496     101.38        (36,015     100.04   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Short U.S. Treasury Securities

  $ (13,000   $ (13,633   $ 104.87      $ (13,087   $ 100.67      $ (31,000   $ (31,451   $ 101.45      $ (30,966   $ 99.89   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreements

  $ 13,780      $ 13,780      $ 100.00      $ 13,780      $ 100.00      $ 36,748      $ 36,748      $ 100.00      $ 36,748      $ 100.00   
   

 

 

     

 

 

       

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total Net Investments

    $ 722,600        $ 692,714          $ 673,466        $ 670,159     
   

 

 

     

 

 

       

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

(1) 

Represents the dollar amount, per $100 of current principal of the price or cost for the security.

(2) 

Excludes Interest Only, Principal Only and similar securities.

(3) 

Excludes Interest Only securities and TBAs.

Non-Agency RMBS and CMBS are generally securitized in senior/subordinated structures, or in excess spread/over-collateralization structures. Disregarding TBAs, Agency RMBS consist primarily of whole-pool pass through certificates.

The Company actively invests in the TBA market. TBAs are forward-settling Agency RMBS where the mortgage pass-through certificates to be delivered are “To-Be Announced.” Given that the Company uses TBAs primarily to hedge risks associated with its long Agency RMBS (and to a lesser extent long non-Agency MBS), the Company generally carries a net short TBA position.

 

4


Derivatives Portfolio

 

     September 30, 2012     June 30, 2012  
     Notional
Value
    Fair
Value
    Notional
Value
    Fair
Value
 
(In thousands)                         

Net Long Mortgage Related: (1)(2)

        

CDS on RMBS and CMBS Indices

   $ 31,820      $ (13,290   $ 51,448      $ (17,646
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Net Long Mortgage Related Derivatives

     31,820        (13,290     51,448        (17,646
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Short Mortgage Related: (2) (3)

        

CDS on RMBS and CMBS Indices

     (93,862     22,727        (94,468     30,020   

CDS on Individual RMBS

     (39,178     31,460        (46,828     38,759   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Net Short Mortgage Related Derivatives

     (133,040     54,187        (141,296     68,779   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Mortgage Related Derivatives

     (101,220     40,897        (89,848     51,133   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Short CDS on Corporate Bond Indices

     (58,250     (276     (58,250     316   

Short Total Return Swaps on Corporate Equities (4)

     (22,093     257        (22,304     (253

Interest Rate Derivatives:

        

Net Interest Rate Swaps (2)

     (235,400     (1,614     (248,100     (5,518

Eurodollar Futures (5)

     (84,000     (87     (105,000     (54
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Net Interest Rate Derivatives

     (319,400     (1,701     (353,100     (5,572
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Net Derivatives

   $ (500,963   $ 39,177      $ (523,502   $ 45,624   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) 

Long mortgage-related derivatives represent transactions where the Company sold credit protection to a counterparty.

(2) 

In the table above, CDS transactions involving the same underlying security but with different counterparties are shown on a net basis. Additionally, long and short interest rate swaps are shown net. The accompanying financial statements separate derivative transactions as either assets or liabilities. As of September 30, 2012, derivative assets and derivative liabilities were $59.3 million and $20.2 million, respectively, for a net fair value of $39.2 million, as reflected in “Total Net Derivatives” above. As of June 30, 2012, derivative assets and derivative liabilities were $74.3 million and $28.7 million, respectively, for a net fair value of $45.6 million, as reflected in “Total Net Derivatives” above.

(3) 

Short mortgage-related derivatives represent transactions where the Company purchased credit protection from a counterparty.

(4) 

Notional value represents number of underlying shares or par value times the closing price of the underlying security.

(5) 

Every $1 million in notional value represents one contract.

The Company’s short positions in RMBS and CMBS indices remained concentrated in MBS vintage years 2006 and 2007 and short total return swaps on corporate equities are principally short equity positions in certain publicly traded, commercial property REITs.

 

5


The following table summarizes, as of September 30, 2012, the estimated effects on the value of our portfolio, both overall and by category, of hypothetical, immediate 50 basis point downward and upward parallel shifts in interest rates.

 

     Estimated Change in Value (1)  
(In thousands)    50 Basis Point Decline in
Interest Rates
    50 Basis Point Increase
in Interest Rates
 

Agency ARM Pools

   $ 24      $ (36

Agency Fixed Pools and IOs

     4,956        (8,389

TBAs

     (2,145     4,938   

Non-Agency RMBS, CMBS and Commercial Mortgage Loans

     6,397        (6,088

Interest Rate Swaps

     (6,062     5,833   

U.S. Treasury Securities

     (246     241   

Eurodollar Futures

     (104     104   

Mortgage-Related Derivatives

     (626     415   

Repurchase Agreements and Reverse Repurchase Agreements

     (369     439   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ 1,825      $ (2,543
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Based on the market environment as of September 30, 2012. The preceding analysis does not include sensitivities to changes in interest rates for our derivatives on corporate securities (whether debt or equity-related), or other categories of instruments for which we believe that the effect of a change in interest rates is not material to the value of the overall portfolio and/or cannot be accurately estimated. Results are based on forward-looking models, which are inherently imperfect, and incorporate various simplifying assumptions. Therefore, the table above is for illustrative purposes only and actual changes in interest rates would likely cause changes in the actual value of our portfolio that would differ from those presented above and such differences might be significant and adverse.

Borrowed Funds and Liquidity(1)

By Collateral Type

 

     As of
September 30,
2012
     For the Quarter Ended
September 30, 2012
    As of
June 30,
2012
     For the Quarter Ended
June 30, 2012
 

Collateral for Borrowing

   Outstanding
Borrowings
     Average
Borrowings for the
Quarter Ended
     Average
Cost of
Funds
    Outstanding
Borrowings
     Average
Borrowings for the
Quarter Ended
     Average
Cost of
Funds
 
(In thousands)                                         

Non-Agency RMBS, CMBS and Other

   $ 259,048       $ 247,859         2.16   $ 238,469       $ 227,071         2.18

Agency RMBS

     401,885         489,511         0.42     644,853         716,492         0.37
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 660,933       $ 737,370         1.01   $ 883,322       $ 943,563         0.80
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Leverage Ratio (2)

     1.33:1              2.24:1         

 

(1) 

Borrowed amounts exclude $1.4 million in securitized debt, as of September 30, 2012 and June 30, 2012, representing long term financing for the related asset.

(2) 

The leverage ratio does not account for liabilities other than debt financings. The Company’s debt financings consist solely of reverse repurchase agreements (“reverse repos”) and a securitized debt financing in the amount of $1.4 million as of September 30, 2012 and June 30, 2012.

The increase in the Company’s average cost of funds for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 to 1.01% from 0.80% for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 is due to the higher percentage of the Company’s borrowings related to its non-Agency securities over the period as compared to the three month period ended June 30, 2012. There were three main factors contributing to the decline in the Company’s leverage ratio as of September 30, 2012 as compared to June 30, 2012: (1) the third quarter public offering increased the Company’s capital base; (2) approximately one half of the net proceeds related to the offering were deployed in the Company’s lower leverage non-Agency strategy while the remaining half was used, pending deployment in targeted investments, to pay down reverse repos; and (3) there was a large volume of Agency pool sales (some of which occurred on a trade date basis during the second quarter) that settled during the third quarter, and much of the proceeds from these sales were used to pay down reverse repos.

 

6


By Remaining Maturity (1)(2)

 

(In thousands)                           
     As of September 30, 2012     As of June 30, 2012  

Remaining Maturity (3)

   Outstanding
Borrowings
     % of
Borrowings
    Outstanding
Borrowings
     % of
Borrowings
 

30 Days or Less

   $ 138,918         21.0   $ 479,624         54.3

31-60 Days

     191,791         29.0     144,577         16.4

61-90 Days

     192,549         29.1     187,244         21.2

91-120 Days

     63,421         9.6     —           0.0

121-150 Days

     —           0.0     —           0.0

151-180 Days

     74,254         11.3     71,877         8.1

181-360 Days

     —           0.0     —           0.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 660,933         100.0   $ 883,322         100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) 

Borrowed amounts exclude $1.4 million in securitized debt as of September 30, 2012 and June 30, 2012, representing long term financing for the related asset.

(2) 

Reverse repos involving underlying investments that the Company had sold prior to the applicable period end for settlement following the applicable period end, are shown using their original maturity dates even though such reverse repos may be expected to be terminated early upon settlement of the sale of the underlying investment. Not included are any reverse repos that the Company may have entered into prior to the applicable period end for which delivery of the borrowed funds is not scheduled until after the applicable period end.

(3) 

Remaining maturity for a reverse repo is based on the contractual maturity date in effect as of the applicable period end. Some reverse repos have floating interest rates, which may reset before maturity.

The vast majority of the Company’s borrowed funds are in the form of reverse repos. Aside from borrowings under reverse repos, as of September 30, 2012 and June 30, 2012, the Company also had securitized debt outstanding in the amount of $1.4 million. The weighted average remaining term on the Company’s reverse repos as of September 30, 2012 and June 30, 2012 was 68 and 45 days, respectively. The increase in average maturity was caused by the Company’s decision to lock in borrowing costs over the upcoming year-end for a portion of its reverse repo borrowings related to Agency RMBS. The Company’s borrowings outstanding under reverse repos were with a total of 11 counterparties as of September 30, 2012. As of September 30, 2012, the Company had liquid assets in the form of cash in the amount of $69.2 million. In addition, at September 30, 2012, the Company held investments in unencumbered Agency pools on a settlement date basis in the amount of $133.6 million.

Hedging Summary

The following table summarizes the components of the Company’s hedging results for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 and June 30, 2012:

 

(In thousands)    Quarter Ended September 30, 2012     Quarter Ended June 30, 2012  
Hedges:    Net
Interest
Expense
    Realized
Gain (Loss)
    Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
    Total     Net
Interest
Expense
    Realized
Gain (Loss)
    Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
    Total  

Interest Rate Swaps

   $ (497   $ (5,423   $ 3,616      $ (2,304   $ (688   $ (4,607   $ 289      $ (5,006

Eurodollar Futures

     —          (15     (33     (48     —          (9     (2     (11

Net TBA’s Held Short

     —          (5,163     (162     (5,325     —          (8,696     (691     (9,387

Net U.S. Treasuries Held Short

     (29     (44     (62     (135     (52     (14     (97     (163
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Interest Rate Hedges

     (526     (10,645     3,359        (7,812     (740     (13,326     (501     (14,567
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Credit Hedges(1)

     (261     3,548        (6,786     (3,499     (266     (3,008     2,671        (603
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Hedges

   $ (787   $ (7,097   $ (3,427   $ (11,311   $ (1,006   $ (16,334   $ 2,170      $ (15,170
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) 

Net interest expense represents fixed rate periodic payments made by the Company.

Other

The Company’s base management fee and other operating expenses, but excluding interest expense and incentive fees, represent 2.9% and 3.0% on an annualized basis of average shareholders’ equity for each of the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and June 30, 2012, respectively. Incentive fee expense of $9.5 million and $2.3 million was incurred for the quarters ended September 30, 2012 and June 30, 2012, respectively.

 

7


Dividends

During the nine month period ended September 30, 2012, the Company paid three dividends totaling $1.80 per share, of which $1.40 relate to 2012. The Company pays its dividends quarterly in arrears.

On November 2, 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a third quarter 2012 dividend of $0.70 per share, payable on December 17, 2012 to shareholders of record on November 30, 2012. After payment of this third quarter dividend, total dividends paid related to 2012 will be $2.10. In May 2012, the Company’s management announced that, subject to the ultimate discretion of the Board of Directors, it expected to continue to recommend dividends of $0.70 per common share until conditions warrant otherwise. In addition, at the end of any year the Board of Directors will take into account the Company’s earnings and other factors and will consider whether to declare a special dividend.

Share Repurchase Program

On August 4, 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the adoption of a $10 million share repurchase program. The program, which is open-ended in duration, allows the Company to make repurchases from time to time on the open market or in negotiated transactions. Repurchases are at the Company’s discretion, subject to applicable law, share availability, price and the Company’s financial performance, among other considerations. To date, the Company has repurchased 60,980 shares under this program at an aggregate cost of $1.1 million, or an average cost per share of $17.22. No additional shares were purchased during the nine month period ended September 30, 2012.

About Ellington Financial LLC

Ellington Financial LLC is a specialty finance company that acquires and manages mortgage-related assets, including residential mortgage-backed securities backed by prime jumbo, Alt-A, manufactured housing and subprime residential mortgage loans, residential mortgage-backed securities for which the principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a U.S. government agency or a U.S. government-sponsored enterprise, mortgage-related derivatives, commercial mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage loans and other commercial real estate debt, as well as corporate debt and equity securities and derivatives. Ellington Financial LLC is externally managed and advised by Ellington Financial Management LLC, an affiliate of Ellington Management Group LLC.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, November 8, 2012, to discuss its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2012. To participate in the event by telephone, please dial (877) 941-8631 at least 10 minutes prior to the start time and reference the conference passcode 4572023. International callers should dial (480) 629-9773 and reference the same passcode. The conference call will also be webcast live over the Internet and can be accessed via the “For Our Shareholders” section of the Company’s web site at www.ellingtonfinancial.com. To listen to the live webcast, please visit www.ellingtonfinancial.com at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download, and install necessary audio software. In connection with the release of these financial results, the Company also posted an investor presentation, that will accompany the conference call, on its website at www.ellingtonfinancial.com under “For Our Shareholders—Presentations.”

A dial-in replay of the conference call will be available on Thursday, November 8, 2012, at approximately 2 p.m. Eastern Time through Thursday, November 15, 2012 at approximately 2 p.m. Eastern Time. To access this replay, please dial (800) 406-7325 and enter the conference ID number 4572023. International callers should dial (303) 590-3030 and enter the same conference ID number. A replay of the conference call will also be archived on the Company’s web site at www.ellingtonfinancial.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding 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. Forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ from our 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 “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “continue,” “intend,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “goal,” “objective,” “will,” “may,” “seek,” or similar expressions or their negative forms, or by references to strategy, plans, or intentions. Examples of forward-looking statements in this press release include without limitation management’s beliefs regarding the current investment environment and the Company’s ability to implement its investment and hedging strategies, performance of the Company’s investment and hedging strategies, the Company’s exposure to prepayment risk in its Agency portfolio, management’s beliefs regarding the current economic environment and housing market including projections regarding yields on investments and home price assumptions, estimated effects on the fair value of the Company’s MBS and interest rate derivative holdings of a hypothetical change in interest rates, statements regarding the drivers of the Company’s

 

8


returns, and statements regarding the Company’s intended dividend policy and share repurchase program including the amount of shares to be repurchased. The Company’s results can fluctuate from month to month and from quarter to quarter depending on a variety of factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control and/or are difficult to predict, including, without limitation, changes in interest rates and the market value of the Company’s securities, changes in mortgage default rates and prepayment rates, the Company’s ability to borrow to finance its assets, changes in government regulations affecting the Company’s business, the Company’s ability to maintain its exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other changes in market conditions and economic trends. Furthermore, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, those described under Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 14, 2012 and under Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2012, which can be accessed through the Company’s website at www.ellingtonfinancial.com or at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). 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 SEC, including reports on Forms 10-Q, 10-K 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.

 

9


ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

 

     Three Month Period Ended     Nine Month Period Ended  
(In thousands, except per share amounts)    September 30,
2012
    June 30,
2012
    September 30,
2012
 

Investment income

      

Interest income

   $ 15,426      $ 16,045      $ 47,203   

Expenses

      

Base management fee

     1,913        1,497        4,901   

Incentive fee

     9,491        2,312        11,802   

Interest expense

     1,936        1,992        5,760   

Other operating expenses

     1,354        1,422        4,226   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total expenses

     14,694        7,223        26,689   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net investment income

     732        8,822        20,514   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized gain (loss) on:

      

Investments

     8,130        (2,734     13,543   

Swaps

     (3,172     (8,537     (31,637

Futures

     (15     (9     (32
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     4,943        (11,280     (18,126
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on:

      

Investments

     26,526        10,300        54,957   

Swaps

     (2,631     2,928        15,114   

Futures

     (33     (2     (99
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     23,862        13,226        69,972   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments and financial derivatives

     28,805        1,946        51,846   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in shareholders’ equity resulting from operations

   $ 29,537      $ 10,768      $ 72,360   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in shareholders’ equity resulting from operations per share:

      

Basic and diluted

   $ 1.59      $ 0.64      $ 4.15   

 

10


ELLINGTON FINANCIAL LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

 

     As of  
(In thousands, except share amounts)    September 30,
2012
     June 30, 2012      December 31,
2011
(1)
 

ASSETS

        

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 69,223       $ 48,120       $ 62,737   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Investments, financial derivatives and repurchase agreements:

        

Investments at fair value (Cost - $1,133,991, $1,126,541 and $1,234,203)

     1,165,644         1,131,242         1,212,483   

Financial derivatives - assets at fair value (Cost - $75,677, $82,791 and $118,281)

     59,342         74,304         102,871   

Repurchase agreements (Cost - $13,780, $36,748 and $15,750)

     13,780         36,748         15,750   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments, financial derivatives and repurchase agreements

     1,238,766         1,242,294         1,331,104   

Deposits with dealers held as collateral

     25,194         29,360         34,163   

Receivable for securities sold

     524,533         611,866         533,708   

Interest and principal receivable

     6,587         7,129         6,127   

Other assets

     497         821         216   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 1,864,800       $ 1,939,590       $ 1,968,055   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

        

Investments and financial derivatives:

        

Investments sold short at fair value (Proceeds - $455,057, $493,130 and $459,013)

   $ 456,824       $ 494,524       $ 462,394   

Financial derivatives - liabilities at fair value (Proceeds - $18,701, $22,033 and $9,636)

     20,165         28,680         27,040   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments and financial derivatives

     476,989         523,204         489,434   

Reverse repurchase agreements

     660,933         883,322         896,210   

Due to brokers on margin accounts

     34,564         46,385         79,735   

Payable for securities purchased

     178,453         83,300         127,517   

Securitized debt (Proceeds - $1,409, $1,436 and $0)

     1,439         1,415         -      

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     1,627         2,102         1,845   

Base management fee payable

     1,913         1,497         1,396   

Incentive fee payable

     9,491         2,312         -      

Interest and dividends payable

     741         778         1,002   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     1,366,150         1,544,315         1,597,139   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     498,650         395,275         370,916   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

   $ 1,864,800       $ 1,939,590       $ 1,968,055   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

ANALYSIS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

        

Common shares, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized;

        

(20,483,696, 16,447,651 and 16,447,651 shares issued and outstanding)

   $ 489,692       $ 386,349       $ 362,047   

Additional paid-in capital - LTIP units

     8,958         8,926         8,869   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Shareholders’ Equity

   $ 498,650       $ 395,275       $ 370,916   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

PER SHARE INFORMATION:

        

Common shares, no par value

   $ 24.34       $ 24.03       $ 22.55   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

DILUTED PER SHARE INFORMATION:

        

Common shares and LTIPs, no par value

   $ 23.88       $ 23.47       $ 22.03   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Derived from audited financial statements as of December 31, 2011.

 

11