Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP advised Arlington Asset Investment Corp. in its announced merger with Ellington Financial Inc., a deal that will create a mortgage REIT with an expected market capitalization in excess of $1 billion. At closing, Arlington Asset shareholders will receive a combination of Ellington Financial stock and cash. 

The Hunton Andrews Kurth team advising Arlington Asset was led by Real Estate Capital Markets practice head Rob Smith, M&A practice co-head Steven Haas and M&A partner Jim Kennedy. The team also included finance partner Tom Hiner, tax partner Kendal Sibley, tax counsel Joshua Milgrom and Anna Page, and associates Charles Matthews and Elizabeth White.

Hunton Andrews Kurth has extensive experience advising on significant REIT M&A deals, including representation of Capstead Mortgage Corp. in its merger with Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc., to create the then-fourth largest publicly traded commercial mortgage REIT, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust in its $5.1 billion takeover of LaSalle Hotel Properties, Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated in its $18 billion combination with Healthcare Trust of America, Industrial Logistics Properties Trust in its $4 billion acquisition of Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corp., Service Properties Trust in its $2.4 billion acquisition of Spirit MTA REIT’s property portfolio and NewLake Capital Partners in its merger with GreenAcreage Real Estate Corp.