Ellington Financial plans common stock offering

Ellington Financial Inc. entered into an underwriting agreement to issue 8,775,000 shares of its common stock, with a 30‑day option for underwriters to buy up to an additional 1,316,250 shares on the same terms.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Ellington Financial Inc. entered into an underwriting agreement to issue 8,775,000 shares of its common stock, with a 30‑day option for underwriters to buy up to an additional 1,316,250 shares on the same terms. The closing of the main share offering is expected on January 28, 2026, subject to customary conditions.

The shares are being offered under an effective shelf registration statement on Form S‑3. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are acting as representatives of the underwriters. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. provided a legal opinion on the validity of the shares.

Insights

Capital markets and REIT financing analyst

Ellington Financial is executing a primary common stock offering under its shelf registration.

Ellington Financial Inc. has agreed to sell 8,775,000 common shares, with underwriters holding a 30‑day option for up to 1,316,250 additional shares. This is a primary equity issuance under an already effective Form S‑3 shelf registration.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are lead underwriters, with customary indemnification, covenants, and termination rights. A legal opinion from Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. confirms the validity of the offered shares, which is standard for underwritten equity deals.

The filing describes structure and counterparties but does not quantify offering size relative to Ellington’s total equity or provide financial performance metrics. The ultimate impact will depend on pricing, use of proceeds, and whether the underwriters exercise their 30‑day option.

8-K Event Classification

2 items: 1.01, 9.01

2 items

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement Business

The company signed a significant contract such as a merger agreement, credit facility, or major partnership.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits

Financial statements, pro forma financial information, or exhibit attachments filed with this report.

FAQ

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

What equity offering did Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC) announce in this 8-K?

Ellington Financial Inc. agreed to sell 8,775,000 shares of common stock under an underwriting agreement. The deal also grants underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 1,316,250 additional shares on the same terms, all under an effective Form S-3 shelf registration.

Who are the underwriters for Ellington Financial Inc.’s new common stock offering?

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are lead underwriters, acting as representatives of several underwriters. They entered into an underwriting agreement with Ellington Financial Inc. and Ellington Financial Management LLC, including customary covenants, indemnification, and termination provisions for the transaction.

When is the closing of Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC)’s share offering expected?

The closing of the offering of 8,775,000 common shares is expected on January 28, 2026. This timing is subject to customary closing conditions outlined in the underwriting agreement, which governs the obligations of Ellington Financial, its manager, and the underwriters involved.

Under what registration statement is Ellington Financial Inc. conducting this stock offering?

The common stock offering is being conducted under Ellington Financial Inc.’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-292424. This registration statement became effective upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 23, 2025, permitting the current underwritten transaction.

What legal opinion supports the validity of Ellington Financial Inc.’s offered shares?

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. provided a legal opinion confirming the legality of the offered common shares. This opinion is included as Exhibit 5.1, with a related consent in Exhibit 23.1, and is a standard requirement for registered underwritten equity offerings in U.S. capital markets.

Does Ellington Financial Inc. provide indemnification to the underwriters in this deal?

Yes. Under the underwriting agreement, Ellington Financial Inc. agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including under the Securities Act of 1933, and to contribute to payments they may owe. The company also agreed to reimburse specified expenses incurred by the underwriters in connection with the offering.

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Accepted by SEC EDGAR 01/28/2026 - 08:36 AM EST Learn about SEC filing dates

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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): January 26, 2026

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL INC.

(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

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share

EFC

The New York Stock Exchange

6.750% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock

EFC PR A

The New York Stock Exchange

6.250% Series B Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock

EFC PR B

The New York Stock Exchange

8.625% Series C Fixed-Rate Reset Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock

EFC PR C

The New York Stock Exchange

7.00% Series D Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Stock

EFC PRD

The New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company    ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.     ¨

Item 1.01.    Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On January 26, 2026, Ellington Financial Inc. (the “Company”) and Ellington Financial Management LLC (the “Manager”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), relating to the offer and sale of 8,775,000 shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”). In addition, the Company granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 1,316,250 additional shares of Common Stock on the same terms and conditions. Subject to customary closing conditions, the closing of the offering of 8,775,000 shares of Common Stock is expected to occur on January 28, 2026.

The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants of the Company and the Manager, indemnification rights and obligations of the parties and termination provisions. Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain specified types of liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make in respect of these liabilities and to reimburse the Underwriters for certain expenses. In the ordinary course of business the Underwriters or their affiliates have from time to time in the past provided, and may from time to time in the future provide, investment banking services to us for which they have in the past received, and may in the future receive, customary fees.

The offering of Common Stock is being made pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-292424), which was effective upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 23, 2025.

The foregoing description of the material terms of the Underwriting Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

In connection with the offering, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has provided the Company with an opinion regarding the legality of the shares of Common Stock. A copy of the opinion is attached to this report as Exhibit 5.1 and 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.

1.1						Underwriting Agreement, dated as of January 26, 2026, by and among Ellington Financial Inc. and Ellington Financial Management LLC, on the one hand, and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein, on the other hand
5.1						Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the Shares
23.1						Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1)
104						Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

ELLINGTON FINANCIAL INC.

Date:

January 28, 2026

By:

/s/ JR Herlihy

JR Herlihy

Chief Financial Officer