** American Healthcare REIT's AHR.N shares down 1.6% before the bell down to $50.85 after follow-on priced

** Senior housing and skilled nursing facilities operator late Weds announced 14 mln shares for approx $705.6 mln gross proceeds on a forward basis

** Offering price equates to $50.40, a 2.5% discount to stock's last sale

** AHR entered into 24-month forward sale agreement with underwriter BofA

** Upon settlement of agreement, co anticipates to use net offering proceeds for general purposes, including potential future investments

** Irvine, California-based AHR has ~192.7 mln shares outstanding as of May 18, per the prospectus

** The forward sale structure enables AHR to lock in current stock price and postpones new share issuance and collecting proceeds until needed, thus delaying dilution

** At Weds close, AHR stock up 10% YTD

** 11 of 12 analysts rate the stock "strong buy" or "buy", 1 "hold"; median PT $59, per latest LSEG data