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Subsequent Events
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025
Subsequent Events [Abstract]  
Subsequent Events Subsequent Events
Conversion
After receiving shareholder approval of certain matters related to the Conversion at a special meeting of shareholders held on January 17, 2025, on April 1, 2025 (the "Conversion Date"), the Company filed a Notification of Registration pursuant to Section 8(a) of the 1940 Act, Form N-8A, and a Registration Statement on Form N-2 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, thereby completing the Conversion. The Company also changed its fiscal year to end on March 31 and it and the Manager entered into the Advisory Agreement (the "Advisory Agreement"). Shortly after the Conversion Date, the Company sold its remaining Agency RMBS, receiving sales proceeds of $500.9 million, and also liquidated its remaining TBA positions. Following the Conversion, the Company has applied to be taxed as a RIC under subchapter M of the Code.
As a result of the Conversion, the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, the ATM program, and the 2018 Share Repurchase Program, each as discussed in Note 10, are no longer operative. The Management Agreement was terminated and the investment advisory functions set forth therein have been replaced by those set forth in the Advisory Agreement. Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Company will pay the Adviser a quarterly fee (the "Base Management Fee") equal to 1.50% per annum of the Company's Net Asset Value (as defined below), prorated for partial quarterly periods based on the number of days in such partial period compared to a 90-day quarter, and calculated and payable quarterly in arrears.
In addition to the Base Management Fee, pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the Company will pay the Adviser a performance fee (the "Performance Fee"). The Performance Fee is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based upon the Company's Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income (as defined below) with respect to each fiscal quarter, and is subject to a hurdle rate, expressed as a rate of return on the Company's common equity, equal to 2.00% per quarter (i.e. 8.00% per annum), and is subject to a "catch-up" feature. Specifically:
If the Company’s Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income for a fiscal quarter does not exceed the Hurdle Amount (as defined below) for such quarter, then no Performance Fee is payable to the Manager with respect to such quarter;
If the Company’s Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income for a fiscal quarter exceeds the Hurdle Amount for such quarter but is less than or equal to 121.21% of the Hurdle Amount, then 100% of the portion of the Company’s Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income that exceeds the Hurdle Amount (the "Catch-Up") is payable to the Manager as the Performance Fee with respect to such quarter. Therefore, once the Company’s Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income for such quarter exactly reaches 121.21% of the Hurdle Amount, the Manager will have accrued a Performance Fee with respect to such quarter that is exactly equal to 17.5% of the Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income (because 21.21% of the Hurdle Amount (which is the Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income captured by the Manager during the Catch-Up phase) is equal to 17.5% of 121.21% of the Hurdle Amount (which is the entire Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income at the end of the Catch-Up phase)); and
If the Company’s Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income for a fiscal quarter exceeds 121.21% of the Hurdle Amount for such quarter, then 17.5% of the Company’s Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income is payable to the Manager as the Performance Fee with respect to such quarter.
With respect to the Performance Fee, there will be no accumulation of the Hurdle Amount from quarter to quarter, no claw back of amounts previously paid if the Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income in any subsequent quarter is below the Hurdle Amount for such subsequent quarter, and no delay or adjustment of payment if the Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income in any prior quarter was below the Hurdle Amount for such prior quarter.
The Advisory Agreement has the following definitions:
Hurdle Amount for any fiscal quarter means the result obtained by multiplying the Net Asset Value of Common Equity at the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter by the Hurdle Rate. The Hurdle Amount will be appropriately adjusted for any common share issuances or repurchases during the fiscal quarter.
Hurdle Rate means 2.00% per quarter, or 8.00% per annum. The Hurdle Rate will be appropriately prorated for partial quarterly periods based on the number of days in such partial period compared to a 90-day quarter.
Net Asset Value means the figure that is equal to the total assets of the Company minus its total liabilities.
Net Asset Value of Common Equity means the portion of Net Asset Value attributable to common equity.
Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income for any fiscal quarter means interest income (including accretions of discounts, amortization of premiums, and payment-in-kind income), dividend income, and any other income (including any fee income) earned or accrued by the Company during such fiscal quarter, minus the Company’s operating expenses for such quarter (which, for this purpose, will not include any litigation-related expenses, any extraordinary expenses, or Performance Fee). Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. For purposes of computing Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income, the calculation methodology will look through total return swaps as if the Company owned the referenced assets directly. As a result, Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income includes net interest (whether positive or negative) associated with a total return swap, which is the difference between (a) the interest income and transaction fees related to the reference assets and (b) all interest and other expenses paid by the Company to the total return swap counterparty. In the case of an interest rate swap, Pre-Performance Fee Net Investment Income includes the net payments and net accruals of periodic payments.
The Advisory Agreement has an initial term expiring on April 1, 2027, unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms. Thereafter, the Advisory Agreement will continue in effect from year to year, so long as such continuance shall be approved at least annually by (a) the vote of the Company’s Board, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company and (b) the vote of a majority of the Company’s trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of any such party, in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
Administration Agreement
In connection with the Conversion, on the Conversion Date, the Company and Ellington Credit Company Administration LLC (the "Administrator") entered into the Administration Agreement (the "Administration Agreement").
Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Administrator will furnish the Company with certain services, including office facilities, equipment and clerical, bookkeeping and record keeping services and the Administrator will also perform, or oversee the performance of, its required administrative services, which include, among other things, being responsible for the financial records which the Company is required to maintain and preparing reports for its shareholders. In addition, the Administrator will assist the Company in determining and publishing its Net Asset Value, oversee the preparation and filing of the Company's tax returns and print and disseminate reports to the Company's shareholders, as well as oversee the payment of the Company's expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to the Company by other parties.
In exchange for the services rendered under the Administration Agreement, the Company will pay the Administrator an amount equal to the Company's allocable portion of the Administrator’s costs and expenses incurred in performing its obligations and providing personnel (including wages, salaries, bonuses and related payroll expenses) under the Administration Agreement, including rent, office supplies, the fees and expenses associated with performing compliance functions, as well as the Company’s allocable portion of the costs of compensation and related expenses of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and their respective support staff.
The Administration Agreement has an initial term expiring on April 1, 2027, unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms. Thereafter, the Administration Agreement will renew automatically for successive annual periods, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by (a) the vote of the Board or the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company and (b) the vote of a majority of the Company’s trustees who are not parties to this Agreement or “interested persons” (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of any such party.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
In connection with the Conversion, on the Conversion Date the Company adopted the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the "DRP"), to be administered by Equiniti Trust Company, LLC as plan agent (the "Plan Agent"), pursuant to an agreement adopted on the Conversion Date.
Under the DRP, the Company’s cash dividends and/or distributions (collectively, “Dividends”), after deducting any applicable U.S. withholding taxes, will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of the same class to which the Dividends relate.
Shareholders will automatically participate in the DRP unless they opt out by notifying the Plan Agent via telephone, in writing, or through the Plan Agent’s online portal. An opt-out election must be received by the Plan Agent before the record date of a given Dividend for such election to be effective for that Dividend. Shareholders holding shares through a nominee (e.g., a broker) must contact their nominee to make such elections. Shareholders who opt out will receive Dividends in cash.
Under the DRP, whenever the Company pays a Dividend, the Plan Agent will reinvest such Dividends for participating Shareholders in newly issued shares of the Company at a price per share equal to 95% of the market price per share at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") on the Dividend payment date (or, if no sale is reported that day, the average of the last bid and ask prices reported by the NYSE). While the Company generally intends to issue new shares under the DRP, the Board reserves the right to authorize the purchase of shares in the open market in connection with the DRP.
Dividends
On April 3, 2025, the Board of Trustees approved a monthly dividend in the amount of $0.08 per share paid on May 27, 2025 to shareholders of record as of April 30, 2025.
On May 7, 2025, the Board of Trustees approved a monthly dividend in the amount of $0.08 per share paid on June 30, 2025 to shareholders of record as of May 30, 2025.
On June 9, 2025, the Board of Trustees approved a monthly dividend in the amount of $0.08 per share payable on July 31, 2025 to shareholders of record as of June 30, 2025.