UWMC Calls Out Egregious Corporate Governance of TWO Board and Repeated Failure to Act in Best Interest of Stockholders
TWO Board Refuses to Acknowledge the Obvious:
Both Leading Independent Advisory Firms, ISS and Glass Lewis, Recommend that Two Harbors Stockholders Vote AGAINST CrossCountry Mortgage Merger
ISS and Glass Lewis Analyses Underscore What UWMC Has Been Saying All Along – the TWO Board Can Only Maximize Value by Truly Engaging with UWMC
“The TWO Board’s latest announcement represents a complete and illogical distortion of the duties it owes its stockholders. Just days after failing to convince TWO stockholders that
“Instead of engaging, the TWO Board has concocted a series of misleading arguments to distract from the superior value that is on the table. They have also hired additional financial advisors at the expense of shareholders to provide cover for their outlandish logic to continue recommending the inferior CCM deal. We believe the only plausible explanation to recommend less for stockholders and refusing to negotiate with UWMC are the huge, accelerated management compensation packages that are part of the Proposed CCM Merger and have just been called out by Glass Lewis as `excessive.'”
The arguments put forth today by the
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The Ability to Elect Stock is a Feature of Our Offer, not a Flaw. The TWO Board is obfuscating the fact that under UWMC’s proposal, any TWO shareholder that wants cash can get cash. And more of it. In the words of Glass Lewis: “the
May 11 UWMC proposal not only offers a higher cash consideration compared to the CCM Agreement, but it provides Two Harbors shareholders with a strategic alternative, not provided under the CCM Agreement, that allows Two Harbors investors to become part of the enlarged entity, should they wish to do so.” When in the history of financial transactions, has a free option been a negative as the TWO Board’s financial advisor would seemingly have you believe? Has it dawned on the TWO Board that at closing, the stock value could be worth more than the cash election, as it was prior for much of the time Two Harbors was under contract with UWMC and before TWO’s management commenced its actions in breach of that contract? -
UWMC Has the Financial Strength to Close. UWMC did not amend its financing package when it raised its proposal to
$12.50 because it does not need to. It has more than enough cash to close the transaction based on its current financing and cash on hand. UWMC’s financing is “not subject to any financing condition, ratings triggers, collateral pools, borrowing-base tests, advance rate mechanics, or market-conditioned funding contingency. This argument is a red herring. But don’t take our word for it, as Glass Lewis stated; “UWMC possesses adequate cash and cash equivalents ($424 million as ofMarch 31, 2026 ) and a sufficiently solid financial position…to execute its financial obligations under theMay 11 UWMC Proposal…” -
TWO Misrepresents the Regulatory Risk. The TWO Board is speaking out of both sides of its mouth. They claim, “TWO stockholders deserve straight answers on closing certainty,” from UWMC, yet according to ISS, “during engagement with ISS (held on
May 6 ), TWO suggested that a transaction with UWMC was unlikely to be derailed in the regulatory approval process.” The only entity not giving straight answers is the TWO Board itself. - UWMC Can Close in 60 Days. We intend to close a transaction within approximately 2 months of signing an agreement, given our strong relationships with national regulators, licensure in good standing in all 50 states, and work in support of our prior agreement to acquire TWO. Our view is based on the fact that we have previously received more than 50% of state regulatory approvals before TWO terminated our agreed-upon transaction, as well as positive feedback from nearly all remaining states. We believe we will be able to expeditiously get all necessary approvals.
- TWO’s Golden Parachutes Are “Excessive.” UWMC is calling out the TWO Board’s compensation packages because we believe it is the only reason a board would ignore repeated, higher cash bids. And ISS and Glass Lewis agree. Both independent proxy advisors have recommended that these packages be rejected.
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A Reverse Break Up Fee is a Benefit. UWMC is “touting” the fee because it helps address the made-up arguments that there is a risk that a deal with UWMC can close. The fact is that TWO already has agreed to a deal with UWMC (before it chose to terminate that deal to go with CCM) and stated in its
SEC filings that it believed the deal would close. It is the height of hypocrisy for TWO to suggest now that the opposite is true.
UWMC continued:
“TWO’s refusal to engage with UWMC is consistent with the bad-faith dealing TWO has exhibited over the last several months, including while under binding merger agreement with UWMC. Don’t forget the TWO Board’s improper conduct and decision-making cost stockholders
“The decision before stockholders on
Glass Lewis Recommends Two Harbors Stockholders Vote AGAINST
UWMC also announced that
UWMC appreciates Glass Lewis’s independent evaluation and the recommendation to vote AGAINST the CCM merger, AGAINSTthe Golden Parachute Proposal and AGAINST the Proposal to Allow Adjournment of Meeting. The report provides additional validation that the Proposed CCM Merger is NOT in the best interest of TWO stockholders, and that open engagement with UWMC is the only way to maximize value.
Importantly, Glass Lewis noted the following in its report:
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“[T]he
May 11 UWMC Proposal offers comparatively similar certainty of success to the CCM Agreement, but a better, uncapped, cash alternative to Two Harbors shareholders. Further, it offers those Two Harbors shareholders who would prefer to continue retaining exposure to Two Harbors' future potential upside in the context of a merger with UWMC a possibility to do so, through the election of theMay 11 Equity Option. Consequently, theMay 11 UWMC Proposal appears, in aggregate, as a superior alternative proposal to the CCM Agreement as currently amended.” -
“[S]hareholders would be better served by rejecting the proposal, considering the existence of UWMC's
May 11 proposal.” - “Golden parachute payments make up approximately 25.3% of the equity premium of the merger, which shareholders may consider excessive. Although the Company may have been contractually and legally obligated to make these payments due to employment agreements, shareholders should question whether the size of these awards is the best use of Company capital, and whether executives are entering this deal with the best interests of long-term shareholders in mind, or whether this excessive personal payday has shaped their judgment.”
How to Vote
UWMC encourages all TWO stockholders to review its preliminary proxy statement carefully (and, when it becomes available, the definitive proxy statement) on file with the
We urge all stockholders touse Two Harbors’ proxy card until UWMC’s proxy card becomes available as soon as this week to VOTE AGAINST Two Harbors’ CCM Merger Proposal, AGAINST the Non-Binding Compensation Advisory Proposal and AGAINST the Adjournment Proposal to preserve the opportunity to achieve greater value by engaging with UWMC’s superior proposal.
You do not have to wait for UWMC’s proxy card.
You can vote AGAINST the Proposed CCM Merger today by using Two Harbors’ proxycard.
Only your last submitted and received vote will count at the meeting.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT, NO MATTER HOW MANY SHARES YOU OWN!
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This communication includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are generally identified using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict” and similar words indicating that these reflect our views with respect to future events. Forward-looking statements in this communication include statements regarding our expectations and beliefs related to (i) the timing of the completion of any proposed transaction; (ii) the ability of the parties to complete any proposed transaction; and (iii) the benefits of a proposed transaction. These statements are based on management’s current expectations, but are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control, and could cause future events or results to materially differ from those stated or implied in the forward-looking statements, including: (i) that the parties will not agree to pursue a business combination transaction or that the terms of any such transaction will be materially different from those described herein; (ii) the ability of the parties to satisfy the conditions to any proposed transaction, including obtaining stockholder approval and regulatory approval, on a timely basis or at all; (iii) the ability to obtain synergies and benefits of any proposed transaction; (iv) UWM’s ability to successfully implement strategic decisions and product launches; (iv) UWM’s dependence on macroeconomic and
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to, and shall not, constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Additional Information
This communication relates to a proposal that UWMC has made to the Two Harbors Board for a business combination transaction with Two Harbors. In furtherance of this proposal and subject to future developments, UWMC filed a preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A on
INVESTORS AND SECURITYHOLDERS OF UWMC AND TWO HARBORS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT, ANY ADDITIONAL MATERIALS UWMC MAY FILE WITH RESPECT TO THE BUSINESS COMBINATION TRANSACTION, INCLUDING ANY REGISTRATION STATEMENT, TENDER OR EXCHANGE OFFER DOCUMENT, PROSPECTUS, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS IF AND WHEN FILED WITH THE
Participants in the Solicitation
UWMC and its respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in any solicitation of proxies from Two Harbors stockholders in respect of a solicitation and proposed transaction under the rules of the
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