Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of December 31, 2024. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2024.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and trustees; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.
113
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting using the criteria set forth in the 2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our assessment and those criteria, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2024.
Item 9B. Other Information
None.
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
114
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required by Item 10 is incorporated by reference to information to be included in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2025 annual shareholders' meeting.
Our Board of Trustees has established a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our officers and trustees and to our Manager's and certain of its affiliates' officers, directors, and employees when such individuals are acting for us or on our behalf which is available on our website at www.ellingtocredit.com . Any waiver of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of our executive officers or trustees may be made only by our Board of Trustees or one of its committees.
We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K relating to amendments to or waivers from any provision of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions and that relates to any element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K by posting such information on our website at www.ellingtoncredit.com under the, "For Investors—Corporate Governance" section of the website.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by Item 11 is incorporated by reference to information to be included in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2025 annual shareholders' meeting.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters
The information required by Item 12 is incorporated by reference to information to be included in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2025 annual shareholders' meeting.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by Item 13 is incorporated by reference to information to be included in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2025 annual shareholders' meeting.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information required by Item 14 is incorporated by reference to information to be included in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2025 annual shareholders' meeting.
115
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) Documents filed as part of this report:
1. Financial Statements.
See Index to consolidated financial statements, included in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
2. Schedules to Financial Statements:
All financial statement schedules not included have been omitted because they are either inapplicable or the information required is provided in our Financial Statements and Notes thereto, included in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
3. Exhibits
Exhibit Description
3.1 Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT filed on May 3, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013).
3.2 Articles of Amendment (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's current report on Form 8-K filed on April 19, 2024).
3.3 Articles Supplementary (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's current report on Form 8-K filed on April 23 , 2024).
3.4 Articles Supplementary of Series A Preferred Shares, dated December 9, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's current report on Form 8-K filed on December 9 , 2024).
3.5 Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Ellington Credit Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company's current report on Form 8-K filed on April 19, 2024).
4.1 Specimen Common Share Certificate of Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the registration statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-187662), filed on April 23, 2013).
4.2 Description of Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 12, 2020).
4.3 Rights Agreement, dated as of April 23, 2024, by and between Ellington Credit Company and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, as rights agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 .1 of the Company's current report on Form 8-K filed on April 23, 2024).
10.1+ Fifth Amended and Restated Management Agreement between Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT and Ellington Residential Mortgage Management LLC, dated as of March 13, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-35986), filed on March 14, 2018).
10.2+ 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the registration statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-187662), filed on April 23, 2013).
10.3+ 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A of the Company's definitive proxy statement filed on April 6, 2023).
10.4+ Form of Share Award Agreement (for trustees) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed on September 25, 2013).
10.5+ Form of Share Award Agreement (for trustees) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014).
10.6+ Form of Share Award Agreement (for Ellington employees) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's current report on Form 8-K filed on December 18, 2015).
10.7+ Form of Share Award Agreement (for Ellington employees) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016).
10.8+ Form of Share Award Agreement (for Ellington employees) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2019).
10.9+ Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 the registration statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-187662), filed on April 29, 2013).
10.10+ Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2012, by and among Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT, EMG Holdings, L.P. and Blackstone Tactical Opportunities EARN Holdings, L.L.C.(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the registration statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-187662), filed on April 23, 2013).
116
Exhibit Description
(Continued)
10.11 Shareholders Agreement by and among Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT, EMG Holdings, L.P., and Blackstone Tactical Opportunities EARN Holdings, L.L.C. dated May 6, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013).
10.12 Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Ellington Residential Mortgage LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the registration statement on Form S-11 (No. 333-187662), filed on April 23, 2013).
10.13 Amendment No. 1 to the Fifth Amended and Restated Management Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2024, by and between Ellington Credit Company (f/k/a Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT), and Ellington Residential Mortgage Management LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 1, 2024)
10.14 Sixth Amended and Restated Management Agreement, dated June 25, 2024, by and between Ellington Credit Company and Ellington Credit Company Management LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 25, 2024) .
10.15 Subscription and Investment Representation Agreement, dated December 9, 2024, by and between Ellington Credit Company and Ellington Credit Company Management LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 9, 2024).
19.1 Insider Trading Policy, dated as of November 2, 2023
21.1 List of Subsidiaries
24.1 Power of Attorney (included on signature page)
31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
32.1* Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
32.2* Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes – Oxley Act of 2002
97.1+ Policy Relating to Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 97.1 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2023)
101.INS Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
* Furnished herewith. These certifications are not deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
+ Management or compensatory plan or arrangement.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
117
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ELLINGTON CREDIT COMPANY
Date: March 31, 2025 By: /s/ L AURENCE P ENN
Laurence Penn
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
We, the undersigned officers and trustees of Ellington Credit Company, hereby severally constitute Laurence Penn, Daniel Margolis, Alaael-Deen Shilleh, and Christopher Smernoff, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to them, and each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and generally to do all such things in our names and in our capacities as officers and trustees to enable Ellington Credit Company to comply with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all requirements of the SEC, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Annual Report on Form 10-K and any and all amendments thereto.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
/s/ LAURENCE PENN Chief Executive Officer, President and Trustee (Principal Executive Officer)
March 31, 2025
LAURENCE PENN
/s/ CHRISTOPHER SMERNOFF Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
March 31, 2025
CHRISTOPHER SMERNOFF
/s/ MICHAEL W. VRANOS Trustee March 31, 2025
MICHAEL W. VRANOS
/s/ ROBERT B. ALLARDICE, III Chairman of the Board March 31, 2025
ROBERT B. ALLARDICE, III
/s/ RONALD I. SIMON PH.D Trustee March 31, 2025
RONALD I. SIMON PH.D
/s/ MARY MCBRIDE Trustee March 31, 2025
MARY MCBRIDE
/s/ DAVID MILLER Trustee March 31, 2025
DAVID MILLER
118