Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation Announces Pricing Of Initial Public Offering Of 8,000,000 Shares Of Common Stock

PASADENA, Calif., May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation (NYSE: WMC) announced that it priced its initial public offering of 8,000,000 shares of common stock at $20.00 per share, raising $160 million in gross proceeds.  Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation has also granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 1,200,000 shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any.

Shares of Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation's common stock are expected to begin trading today on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "WMC."  The offering is expected to close on Tuesday, May 15, 2012.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering primarily to purchase Agency RMBS (residential mortgage-backed securities for which the principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a U.S. Government agency or sponsored entity) and may, at opportunistic times, also purchase its potential target assets (as described below).

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Jefferies & Company, Inc. acted as the joint book runners for the offering.  Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and JMP Securities LLC acted as co-lead managers and National Securities Corporation, Sterne, Agee & Leach, Inc. and Wunderlich Securities, Inc. acted as co-managers.

The public offering is being made only by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained by contacting: Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Attention: Prospectus Group, 60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005-2836, by calling (800) 503-4611, or by e-mailing [email protected]; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by calling (866) 803-9204; or Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Brooklyn Army Terminal, 140 58th Street, 8th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11220, by calling (800) 831-9146.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sale of the shares referred to in this press release in any State or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such State or jurisdiction.  A registration statement relating to these securities was filed and has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ABOUT WESTERN ASSET MORTGAGE CAPITAL CORPORATION

Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation is a REIT that intends to invest primarily in Agency RMBS, which are residential mortgage-backed securities for which the principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a U.S. Government agency (such as GNMA) or a U.S. Government-sponsored entity (such as FNMA or FHLMC).  The Company may opportunistically supplement its portfolio by investing in its potential target assets, which include residential mortgage-backed securities that are not guaranteed by a U.S. Government agency or sponsored entity, commercial mortgage-backed securities and other asset-backed securities. The Company will be externally managed and advised by Western Asset Management Company, an investment advisor registered with the SEC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including with regard to the closing of the Company's offering and the anticipated use of the net proceeds. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that the net proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. Completion of the securities offering on the terms described, and the application of net proceeds, are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, without limitation, changes in interest rates; changes in the yield curve; changes in prepayment rates; the availability and terms of financing; general economic conditions; market conditions; conditions in the market for mortgage related investments; legislative and regulatory changes that could adversely affect the business of the Company; and other factors, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement and preliminary prospectus for the Company's offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Copies are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

SOURCE Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation