Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation Announces Launch of Initial Public Offering of 8,000,000 Shares of Common Stock

PASADENA, Calif., April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation today announced that it plans to conduct an initial public offering of 8,000,000 shares of its common stock.  The underwriters of the offering will have a 30-day option to purchase an additional 1,200,000 shares of common stock from the Company at the initial public offering price to cover over-allotments, if any.  The Company has applied to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "WMC."

The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering 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 its potential target assets (as described below), focusing predominantly on Agency RMBS.

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

The public offering will be made only by means of a prospectus which, when available, 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.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but has not yet become effective.  These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective.  This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any State in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State.

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