WisdomTree Announces Private Offering of $300 Million of Convertible Senior Notes

Rhea-AI Summary

WisdomTree (NYSE: WT) announced a $300 million private offering of convertible senior notes due 2029. The offering includes an option for an additional $45 million in notes. Proceeds will be used to repurchase $104 million of its 2028 notes, buy back common stock, and repurchase Series A Preferred Stock from ETFS Capital The remaining funds will support working capital and general corporate purposes. The notes can convert to cash or common stock and are redeemable from August 2026. Terms like the interest rate and conversion rate will be set upon pricing. Certain holders of the 2028 notes may engage in market activities affecting WisdomTree's stock price.

Positive

• WisdomTree aims to raise $300 million through a private offering of convertible notes.
• Proceeds will repurchase $104 million of 2028 notes, reducing debt liabilities.
• Funds will also be used to buy back common stock, potentially boosting share value.
• The company plans to repurchase Series A Preferred Stock from ETFS Capital

Negative

• The issuance of new convertible notes could lead to shareholder dilution.
• The complex repurchase transactions may introduce market volatility.
• Terms like interest and conversion rate are yet to be determined, adding uncertainty.

Financial Analyst

WisdomTree's $300 million convertible senior notes offering is a significant financial move with several implications. The company plans to use the proceeds to repurchase $104 million of existing 2028 notes, buy back common stock and finance the repurchase of all Series A preferred stock. This restructuring could potentially improve WisdomTree's capital structure and reduce dilution for existing shareholders.

The new notes, due in 2029, offer flexibility with conversion and redemption options. The convertible feature could be attractive to investors, potentially allowing for a lower interest rate compared to traditional bonds. However, the potential dilution if converted could impact existing shareholders.

The repurchase of common stock concurrent with the offering might help offset this dilution and support the stock price. Overall, this complex transaction aims to optimize WisdomTree's capital structure, but its success will depend on market conditions and execution.

Market Research Analyst

WisdomTree's offering could have significant market implications. The $300 million note issuance is substantial for a company with a market cap around $1 billion. This move might signal confidence in future growth prospects, potentially boosting investor sentiment.

The repurchase of Series A preferred stock from ETFS Capital is noteworthy, as it simplifies the ownership structure. This could make WisdomTree more attractive to institutional investors who prefer simpler capital structures.

The concurrent repurchase of common stock might create short-term price support. However, the complex transaction involving note holders and their potential market activities could lead to increased volatility in WisdomTree's stock price.

Investors should monitor how this restructuring affects WisdomTree's financial ratios, particularly its debt-to-equity ratio and interest coverage, as these could impact the company's risk profile and valuation.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- WisdomTree, Inc. (NYSE: WT) (“WisdomTree”), a global financial innovator, today announced its intention to offer, subject to market conditions and other factors, $300 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2029 (the “notes”) in a private offering (the “offering”) to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). WisdomTree also expects to grant the initial purchaser of the notes an option to purchase up to an additional $45 million aggregate principal amount of the notes to be settled during a period of 13 days from, and including, the date the notes are first issued.

WisdomTree intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from the offering to repurchase approximately $104 million in aggregate principal amount of its 5.75% convertible senior notes due 2028 (the “2028 notes”) as described below. WisdomTree also intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from the offering to repurchase shares of WisdomTree’s common stock from certain purchasers of the notes as described below and a portion of the net proceeds from the offering, along with cash and securities on hand, if necessary, to finance WisdomTree’s repurchase of all 14,750 shares of WisdomTree’s issued and outstanding Series A Non-Voting Convertible Preferred Stock (equivalent to 14.75 million shares of WisdomTree’s common stock) from ETFS Capital Limited for an aggregate purchase price equal to the product of 14.75 million and the simple average of the closing prices of WisdomTree’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange during the four consecutive trading days ended August 8, 2024 (the “Series A preferred stock repurchase”). The consummation of the Series A preferred stock repurchase is contingent upon the closing of the offering of the notes and the 2028 notes repurchases described below. WisdomTree intends to use the remainder of the net proceeds from the offering, if any, for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

Prior to May 15, 2029, the notes will be convertible at the option of the holders of the notes only upon the satisfaction of certain conditions and during certain periods, and thereafter, at any time until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date. Upon conversion, WisdomTree will pay cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be converted and pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of its common stock or a combination of cash and shares of its common stock, at WisdomTree’s election, in respect of the remainder, if any, of WisdomTree’s conversion obligation in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the notes being converted. The notes will also be redeemable, in whole or in part, for cash at WisdomTree’s option at any time, and from time to time, on or after August 20, 2026 in certain circumstances. The redemption price will be equal to the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date. The interest rate, conversion rate and other terms of the notes are to be determined upon pricing of the offering.

Contemporaneously with the pricing of the notes in the offering, WisdomTree intends to enter into separate privately negotiated transactions with certain holders of the 2028 notes to repurchase approximately $104 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2028 notes on terms to be negotiated with such holders (each a “note repurchase” and collectively the “2028 notes repurchases”). The terms of each note repurchase are anticipated to be negotiated with certain holders of 2028 notes on an individual basis and will depend on several factors, including the market price of WisdomTree’s common stock and the trading price of the 2028 notes at the time of each such note repurchase. No assurance can be given as to how much, if any, of the 2028 notes will be repurchased or the terms on which they will be repurchased. The consideration for any such note repurchases will be cash financed with a portion of the net proceeds from the offering. Any remaining 2028 notes outstanding will be settled no later than maturity.

WisdomTree expects that certain holders of 2028 notes that sell their 2028 notes in negotiated transactions with WisdomTree may enter into or unwind various derivatives with respect to WisdomTree’s common stock and/or purchase shares of its common stock in the market. The amount of WisdomTree’s common stock that such holders purchase may be substantial in relation to the historic average daily trading volume of the common stock. In addition, WisdomTree expects that certain purchasers of the notes offered in the offering may establish a short position with respect to its common stock by short selling the common stock or by entering into short derivative positions with respect to the common stock, in each case, in connection with the offering. The net effect of the above market activities by holders of 2028 notes and purchasers of the notes offered in the offering could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) or decrease (or reduce the size of any increase in) the market price of WisdomTree’s common stock and/or the market price of the notes offered in the offering, and WisdomTree cannot predict the magnitude of such market activities or the overall effect they will have on the market price of the notes and/or the market price of its common stock.

WisdomTree intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from the offering to repurchase shares of its common stock from certain purchasers of the notes in privately negotiated transactions effected through the initial purchaser of the notes, as its agent, concurrently with the pricing of the offering. The price per share of WisdomTree’s common stock repurchased in such transactions is expected to equal the last reported price per share of its common stock as of the date of the pricing of the notes. These repurchases could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of WisdomTree’s common stock and/or the market price of the notes offered in the offering. WisdomTree cannot predict the magnitude of such market activity or the overall effect it will have on the price of the notes offered hereby or WisdomTree’s common stock.

The notes will only be offered to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The notes and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes, if any, have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an applicable exemption from such registration requirements.

This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful.

About WisdomTree

WisdomTree is a global financial innovator, offering a well-diversified suite of exchange-traded products (ETPs), models, solutions and products leveraging blockchain technology. We empower investors and consumers to shape their future and support financial professionals to better serve their clients and grow their businesses. WisdomTree is leveraging the latest financial infrastructure to create products that provide access, transparency and an enhanced user experience. Building on our heritage of innovation, we are also developing and have launched next-generation digital products, services and structures, including digital or blockchain-enabled mutual funds and tokenized assets, as well as our blockchain-native digital wallet, WisdomTree Prime^®.*

* The WisdomTree Prime digital wallet and digital asset services are made available through WisdomTree Digital Movement, Inc., a federally registered money services business, state-licensed money transmitter and financial technology company (NMLS ID: 2372500) or WisdomTree Digital Trust Company, LLC, in select U.S. jurisdictions and may be limited where prohibited by law. WisdomTree Digital Trust Company, LLC is chartered as a limited purpose trust company by the New York State Department of Financial Services to engage in virtual currency business.

WisdomTree currently has approximately $106.0 billion in assets under management globally.

WisdomTree^® is the marketing name for WisdomTree, Inc. and its subsidiaries worldwide.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on WisdomTree’s management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Although WisdomTree believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements relate to future events or WisdomTree’s future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which are, in some cases, beyond WisdomTree’s control and which could materially affect results. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, the risks described below. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties occur, or if WisdomTree’s underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual events or results may vary significantly from those implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance. You should read this press release completely and with the understanding that WisdomTree’s actual future results may be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

In particular, forward-looking statements in this press release may include statements about the proposed terms of the notes, the size of the notes offering, including the option to purchase additional notes to be granted to the initial purchaser, the expected use of the proceeds from the sale of the notes, the closing of the Series A preferred stock repurchase and the potential effects of the 2028 notes repurchases and the share repurchases on WisdomTree’s common stock and the market price of the notes, and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, risks related to or associated with whether WisdomTree will consummate the offering of the notes on the expected terms, or at all, which could differ or change based upon market conditions or other reasons, and the other risks set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in WisdomTree’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024.

Category: Business Update

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240808068291/en/

Investor Relations

Jeremy Campbell

+1.917.267.3859

jeremy.campbell@wisdomtree.com

Corporate Communications

Jessica Zaloom

+1.917.267.3735

jzaloom@wisdomtree.com

Source: WisdomTree, Inc.

FAQ

What is WisdomTree's new offering?

WisdomTree announced a $300 million private offering of convertible senior notes due 2029.

Why is WisdomTree issuing these notes?

The proceeds will be used to repurchase $104 million of 2028 notes, buy back common stock, repurchase Series A Preferred Stock, and for general corporate purposes.

What impact could the offering have on WisdomTree's stock?

The market activities related to the offering could affect the stock price, leading to potential volatility.

When are the convertible notes due?

The convertible notes are due in 2029.

What is the potential downside of this offering for shareholders?

The issuance of new convertible notes could lead to shareholder dilution and market volatility.