Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-140840

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

 

 

Prospectus Supplement

(To prospectus dated February 22, 2007)

 

 

 

 

 

We are offering 4,560,000 shares of our common stock, $0.01 par value per share, by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

 

 

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NCT.” On April 4, 2007, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $27.97 per share.

 

 

 

 

Investing in our common stock involves risks. See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” on page S-1 of this prospectus supplement, “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6 of the accompanying prospectus and Item 1A of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

 

 

Delivery of the shares will be made on or about April 11, 2007.

 

The principals of Fortress Investment Group LLC, an affiliate of our manager, are individually purchasing shares of our common stock totaling approximately $60 million from the underwriter at the public offering price shown above.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

Morgan Stanley

 

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is April 5, 2007.

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated herein and therein contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the operating performance of our investments, the stability of our earnings, and our financing needs. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,” “intend,” “expect,” “endeavor,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “overestimate,” “underestimate,” “believe,” “could,” “project,” “predict,” “continue” or other similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, discuss future expectations, describe future plans and strategies, contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition or state other forward-looking information. Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, our actual results and performance could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects include, but are not limited to, our ability to take advantage of opportunities in additional asset classes at attractive risk-adjusted prices, our ability to deploy capital accretively, the risks that default and recovery rates on our loan portfolios exceed our underwriting estimates, the relationship between yields on assets which are paid off and yields on assets in which such monies can be reinvested, the relative spreads between the yield on the assets we invest in and the cost of financing, changes in economic conditions generally and the real estate and bond markets specifically, adverse changes in the financing markets we access affecting our ability to finance our investments, or in a manner that maintains our historic net spreads, changes in interest rates and/or credit spreads, as well as the success of our hedging strategy in relation to such changes, the quality and size of the investment pipeline and the rate at which we can invest our cash, including cash inside our CBOs, impairments in the value of the collateral underlying our investments and the relation of any such impairments to our judgments as to whether changes in the market value of our securities, loans or real estate are temporary or not and whether circumstances bearing on the value of such assets warrant changes in carrying values, legislative/regulatory changes, completion of pending investments, the availability and cost of capital for future investments, competition within the finance and real estate industries; and other risks detailed from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, which are incorporated by reference herein. See “Incorporation Of Certain Documents By Reference” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements, which reflect our management’s views as of the date of this prospectus supplement. The factors noted above could cause our actual results to differ significantly from those contained in any forward-looking statement. For a discussion of our critical accounting policies see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Application of Critical Accounting Policies” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, which is incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus.

 

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this report to conform these statements to actual results. We encourage you to read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as well as the information that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, in their entireties. In evaluating forward-looking statements, you should consider the risks and uncertainties under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 6 of the accompanying prospectus, and in Item 1A of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, together with the other risks described from time to time in our reports and documents filed with the SEC, and you should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

All references to “we,” “our,” “us” and “Newcastle” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus mean Newcastle Investment Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries, except where it is made clear that the term means only the parent company.

 

NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.

 

We are a real estate investment and finance company. We invest with the objective of producing long term, stable returns under varying interest rate and credit cycles, with a moderate amount of credit risk. We invest in real estate securities, loans and other real estate related assets. In addition, we consider other opportunistic investments which capitalize on our manager’s expertise and which we believe present attractive risk/return profiles and are consistent with our investment guidelines. We seek to deliver stable dividends and attractive risk-adjusted returns to our stockholders through prudent asset selection, active management and the use of match funded financing structures, which reduce our interest rate and financing risks. We make money by optimizing our “net spread,” the difference between the yield on our investments and the cost of financing these investments. We emphasize asset quality, diversification, match funded financing and credit risk management.

 

Our investment activities cover four distinct categories:

 

 

In addition, we hold uninvested cash and own other miscellaneous net assets.

 

We are currently marketing our tenth collateralized debt obligation, which we expect to close in May 2007. We expect that the final portfolio will total approximately $825 million and primarily consist of commercial real estate debt, including CMBS, B-notes, whole loans and mezzanine loans. The securities offered pursuant to the collateralized debt obligation have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. This prospectus supplement is not an offer to sell, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy, the securities offered pursuant to the collateralized debt obligation.

 

Underpinning our investment activities is a disciplined approach to acquiring, financing and actively managing our assets. Our principal objective is to acquire a highly diversified portfolio of debt investments secured by real estate that has moderate credit risk and sufficient liquidity. We primarily utilize a match funded financing strategy, when appropriate, in order to minimize refinancing and interest rate risks. This means that we seek both to match the maturities of our debt obligations with the maturities of our investments, in order to minimize the risk that we have to refinance our liabilities prior to the maturities of our assets, and to match the interest rates on our investments with like-kind debt (i.e. floating or fixed), in order to reduce the impact of changing interest rates on our earnings. Finally, we actively manage credit exposure through portfolio diversification and ongoing asset selection and surveillance.

 

We are externally managed and advised by an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC, or Fortress. Fortress is a global alternative investment and asset management firm with more than $30 billion in assets

under management as of December 31, 2006. Fortress, which was founded in 1998, became the first global alternative asset manager listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: FIG) in February 2007. Through our manager, we have a dedicated team of senior investment professionals experienced in real estate capital markets, structured finance and asset management. We believe that these critical skills position us well not only to make prudent investment decisions but also to monitor and manage the credit profile of our investments.

 

We believe that our manager’s expertise and significant business relationships with participants in the fixed income, structured finance and real estate industries has enhanced our access to investment opportunities which may not be broadly marketed. For its services, our manager receives a management fee and incentive compensation pursuant to a management agreement. Our manager, through its affiliates, and principals of Fortress owned 2,949,474 shares of our common stock and our manager, through its affiliates, had options to purchase an additional 1,136,884 shares of our common stock, which were issued in connection with our equity offerings, representing approximately 8.1% of our common stock on a fully diluted basis, as of April 3, 2007.

 

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NCT.” Our Series B Preferred Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NCT PrB.” Our Series C Preferred Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NCT PrC.” Our Series D Preferred Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NCT PrD.” We are a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes.

 

We are incorporated in Maryland and the address of our principal executive office is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 46th Floor, New York, New York 10105. Our telephone number is (212) 798-6100. Our Internet address is www.newcastleinv.com. newcastleinv.com is an interactive textual reference only, meaning that the information contained on the website is not part of this prospectus supplement and is not incorporated in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus by reference.

THE OFFERING

 

 

The number of shares of common stock that will be outstanding after the offering is based on the number of shares outstanding as of April 3, 2007, and excludes: options to purchase an aggregate of 2,035,925 shares of our common stock held by an affiliate of our manager and certain employees of our manager; an option to purchase 456,000 shares of our common stock at the public offering price of our shares sold in this offering granted to an affiliate of our manager in connection with this offering, representing 10% of the number of shares being offered hereby; and options to purchase an aggregate of 14,000 shares of our common stock held by our directors.

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $124.9 million, after deducting the underwriting discount and expenses of the offering. We intend to use the net proceeds to make investments in real estate securities and loans, and other real estate related assets and for general corporate purposes.

UNDERWRITING

 

Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, the underwriter, and the underwriter has agreed to purchase from us, 4,560,000 shares of our common stock.

 

The underwriter has agreed to purchase all of the shares of common stock if any of the shares of common stock are purchased.

 

The shares of common stock are offered by the underwriter, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by it, subject to approval of legal matters by counsel for the underwriter and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriter of officers’ certificates and legal opinions.

 

Commissions And Discounts

 

The underwriter has advised us that it proposes to offer the shares to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and to dealers at the public offering price less a concession not to exceed $0.10 per share. If all of the shares are not sold at the initial public offering price, the public offering price and other selling terms may change. The underwriter has reserved the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

 

The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discounts and proceeds to us, before expenses, both on a per share basis and in total.

 

 

We estimate that the expenses of this offering payable by us, not including the underwriting discount, will be approximately $125,000.

 

Indemnity

 

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriter against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments that the underwriter may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

 

Lock-Up Agreements

 

We have agreed that, subject to specified exceptions (including issuances of shares of common stock in connection with acquisitions), without the consent of the underwriter, we will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of our common stock or any securities that may be converted into or exchanged for any shares of our common stock for a period of 14 days from the date of this prospectus supplement. Our manager (including its executive officers), our executive officers and our directors have agreed under lock-up agreements with the underwriter that, subject to specified exceptions (including existing pledges and refinancing thereof and transfers for charitable and estate planning purposes), without the prior written consent of the underwriter, they will not, directly or indirectly, offer for sale, sell, pledge, enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of our common stock, or otherwise dispose of any shares of our common stock or any securities that may be converted into or exchanged for any shares of common stock for a period ending 30 days after the date of this prospectus supplement.

 

The principals of Fortress Investment Group LLC, an affiliate of our manager, are individually purchasing shares of our common stock totaling approximately $60 million from the underwriter at the public offering price shown above.

Stabilization

 

In connection with the offering, the underwriter may purchase and sell shares of our common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve sales of our common stock in excess of the number of shares to be purchased by the underwriter in the offering, which creates a short position. Since there is no over-allotment option in this offering, the short position may only be closed out by the underwriter buying shares in the open market. Stabilizing transactions consist of bids for or purchases of shares in the open market, while the offering is in progress.

 

The underwriter also may impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the underwriter to reclaim a selling concession from other broker-dealers participating in the offering when the underwriter repurchases shares originally sold by the broker-dealer in order to cover short positions or make stabilizing purchases.

 

Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock. They may also cause the price of the common stock to be higher than the price that would otherwise exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriter may conduct these transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise. If the underwriter commences any of these transactions, the underwriter may discontinue them at any time.

 

New York Stock Exchange Listing

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NCT.” On April 4, 2007, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $27.97 per share.

 

Other Relationships

 

The underwriter has performed investment banking and advisory services for us from time to time for which it has received customary fees and expenses. The underwriter may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of its business. An affiliate of the underwriter is the lender under our credit facility, for which it receives customary fees and expenses.

 

Electronic Prospectus Delivery

 

In connection with this offering, the underwriter or securities dealers may distribute this prospectus supplement electronically. Other than the prospectus supplement in electronic format, the information on the underwriter’s website and any other information contained on a website maintained by the underwriter is not part of this prospectus supplement.

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Certain legal matters will be passed upon for us by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York, and DLA Piper US LLP, Baltimore, Maryland, and for the underwriter by Sidley Austin LLP, New York, New York. Sidley Austin LLP has represented us in the past and continues to represent us on a regular basis on a variety of matters.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Newcastle Investment Corp. appearing in Newcastle Investment Corp.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2006, and Newcastle Investment Corp. management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 included therein, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

PROSPECTUS

 

 

NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.

Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Debt Securities
and
Warrants

 

We may offer, issue and sell from time to time, together or separately, our debt securities, which may be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities; shares of our preferred stock, which we may issue in one or more series; depositary shares representing shares of our preferred stock; shares of our common stock; or warrants to purchase debt or equity securities, at an unspecified aggregate initial offering price.

 

We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. We may describe the terms of these securities in a term sheet which will precede the prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement carefully before you make your investment decision.

 

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

We may offer securities through underwriting syndicates managed or co-managed by one or more underwriters, through agents or directly to purchasers. The prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.

 

Our common stock, 9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and 8.05% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock are each listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbols “NCT”, “NCT PrB” and “NCT PrC”, respectively. Each prospectus supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will be listed on any securities exchange.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, in the event that we offer common stock to the public, we will simultaneously grant to our manger or an affiliate of our manger an option equal to 10% of the aggregate number of shares being offered in such offering at an exercise price per share equal to the public offering price per share, provided that if there is no fixed public offering price, we will grant such option at an exercise price per share equal to the price per share that we sold the common stock to the underwriter(s) in such offering.

 

INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS. BEFORE BUYING OUR SECURITIES, YOU SHOULD REFER TO THE RISK FACTORS INCLUDED IN OUR PERIODIC REPORTS, IN PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENTS RELATING TO SPECIFIC OFFERINGS OF SECURITIES AND IN OTHER INFORMATION THAT WE FILE WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. SEE “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 6.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is February 22, 2007.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “NCT,” “Newcastle,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Newcastle Investment Corp. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, in one or more offerings at an unspecified aggregate initial offering price.

 

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer to sell securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”

 

You should rely on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale thereof is not permitted.

 

You should assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of the date of this prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

This prospectus contains summary descriptions of the debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares and warrants that we may sell from time to time. These summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of each security. The particular terms of any security will be described in the related prospectus supplement.

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. Our filings can be read and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our Commission filings are also available over the Internet at the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Our common stock, 9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and 8.05% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock are each listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the trading symbols “NCT”, “NCT PrB” and “NCT PrC”, respectively. Our reports, proxy statements and other information can also be read at the offices of the NYSE, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

 

We have filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is part of the registration statement and does not contain all the information in the registration statement. You will find additional information about us in the registration statement. Any statement made in this prospectus concerning a contract or other document of ours is not necessarily complete and you should read the documents that are filed as exhibits to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the Commission for a more complete understanding of the document or matter. Each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You may inspect without charge a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C., as well as through the SEC’s website.

 

The Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus documents that we file with the Commission. This permits us to disclose important information to you by referencing these filed documents. Any information referenced this way is considered to be a part of this prospectus and any information filed by us with the Commission subsequent to the date of this prospectus will automatically be deemed to update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the following documents which we have already filed with the Commission:

 

 

Whenever after the date of this prospectus we file reports or documents under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, those reports and documents will be deemed to be a part of this prospectus from the time they are filed. Any statement made in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document that is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

We will provide without charge, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, excluding any exhibits to those documents unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Requests should be directed to Newcastle Investment Corp., 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10105 (telephone number (212) 798-6100), Attention: Investor Relations.

 

This prospectus contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the operating performance of our investments, the stability of our earnings, and our financing needs. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,” “intend,” “expect,” “endeavor,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “overestimate,” “underestimate,” “believe,” “could,” “project,” “predict,” “continue” or other similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, discuss future expectations, describe future plans and strategies, contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition or state other forward-looking information. Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, our actual results and performance could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects include, but are not limited to, our ability to take advantage of opportunities in additional asset classes at attractive risk-adjusted prices, our ability to deploy capital accretively, the risks that default and recovery rates on our loan portfolios exceed our underwriting estimates, the relationship between yields on assets which are paid off and yields on assets in which such monies can be reinvested, the relative spreads between the yield on the assets we invest in and the cost of financing, changes in economic conditions generally and the real estate and bond markets specifically; adverse changes in the financing markets we access affecting our ability to finance our investments, or in a manner that maintains our historic net spreads; changes in interest rates and/or credit spreads, as well as the success of our hedging strategy in relation to such changes; the quality and size of the investment pipeline and the rate at which we can invest our cash, including cash inside our CBOs; impairments in the value of the collateral underlying our investments and the relation of any such impairments to our judgments as to whether changes in the market value of our securities, loans or real estate are temporary or not and whether circumstances bearing on the value of such assets warrant changes in carrying values; legislative/regulatory changes; completion of pending investments; the availability and cost of capital for future investments; competition within the finance and real estate industries; and other risks detailed from time to time in our reports filed with the Commission, which are incorporated by reference herein. See “Incorporation Of Certain Documents By Reference.”

 

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements, which reflect our management’s views as of the date of this prospectus. The factors noted above could cause our actual results to differ significantly from those contained in any forward-looking statement. For a discussion of our critical accounting policies see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Application of Critical Accounting Policies” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this report to conform these statements to actual results.

 

We are a real estate investment and finance company. We invest with the objective of producing long term, stable returns under varying interest rate and credit cycles, with a moderate amount of credit risk. We invest in real estate securities, loans and other real estate related assets. In addition, we consider other opportunistic investments which capitalize on our manager’s expertise and which we believe present attractive risk/return profiles and are consistent with our investment guidelines. We seek to deliver stable dividends and attractive risk-adjusted returns to our stockholders through prudent asset selection, active management and the use of match funded financing structures, which reduce our interest rate and financing risks. We make money by optimizing our “net spread,” the difference between the yield on our investments and the cost of financing these investments. We emphasize asset quality, diversification, match funded financing and credit risk management.

 

Our investment activities cover four distinct categories:

 

1) Real Estate Securities:  We underwrite and acquire a diversified portfolio of moderately credit sensitive real estate securities, including commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS), senior unsecured REIT debt issued by property REITs, real estate related asset backed securities (ABS) and agency residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS). We generally target investments rated A through BB, except for our agency RMBS which are generally considered AAA rated.

 

2) Real Estate Related Loans:  We acquire and originate loans to well capitalized real estate owners with strong track records and compelling business plans, including B-notes, mezzanine loans, bank loans and real estate loans.

 

3) Residential Mortgage Loans:  We acquire residential mortgage loans, including manufactured housing loans and subprime mortgage loans, that we believe will produce attractive risk-adjusted returns.

 

4) Operating Real Estate:  We acquire direct and indirect interests in operating real estate.

 

In addition, we hold uninvested cash and own other miscellaneous net assets.

 

Underpinning our investment activities is a disciplined approach to acquiring, financing and actively managing our assets. Our principal objective is to acquire a highly diversified portfolio of debt investments secured by real estate that has moderate credit risk and sufficient liquidity. We primarily utilize a match funded financing strategy, when appropriate, in order to minimize refinancing and interest rate risks. This means that we seek both to match the maturities of our debt obligations with the maturities of our investments, in order to minimize the risk that we have to refinance our liabilities prior to the maturities of our assets, and to match the interest rates on our investments with like-kind debt (i.e. floating or fixed), in order to reduce the impact of changing interest rates on our earnings. Finally, we actively manage credit exposure through portfolio diversification and ongoing asset selection and surveillance.

 

We are externally managed and advised by an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC, or Fortress. Fortress is a global alternative investment and asset management firm with more than $30 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2006. Through our manager, we have a dedicated team of senior investment professionals experienced in real estate capital markets, structured finance and asset management. We believe that these critical skills position us well not only to make prudent investment decisions but also to monitor and manage the credit profile of our investments.

 

We believe that our manager’s expertise and significant business relationships with participants in the fixed income, structured finance and real estate industries has enhanced our access to investment opportunities which may not be broadly marketed. For its services, our manager receives a management fee and incentive compensation pursuant to a management agreement. Our manager, through its affiliates, and principals of Fortress owned 2,949,474 shares of our common stock and had options to purchase an additional 1,398,409 shares of our common stock, which were issued in connection with our equity offerings, representing approximately 8.7% of our common stock on a fully diluted basis, as of February 21, 2007.

 

We have no ownership interest in our manager. Our chairman and chief executive officer and each of our executive officers also serve as officers of our manager. Our manager also manages and invests in other real estate-related investment vehicles and intends to engage in additional management and investment opportunities and investment vehicles in the future. However, our manager has agreed not to raise or sponsor any new investment vehicle that targets, as its primary investment category, investment in United States dollar-denominated credit sensitive real estate securities reflecting primarily United States loans or assets, although these entities, and other entities managed by our manager, are not prohibited from investing in these securities.

 

Our stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NCT.” We are a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes.

 

We are incorporated in Maryland and the address of our principal executive office is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 46th Floor, New York, New York 10105. Our telephone number is (212) 798-6100. Our Internet address is www.newcastleinv.com. newcastleinv.com is an interactive textual reference only, meaning that the information contained on the website is not part of this prospectus and is not incorporated in this prospectus by reference.

 

Before you invest in any of our securities, in addition to the other information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should carefully consider the risk factors under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in Part I, Item 1A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, which are incorporated herein by reference. These risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by risk factors contained in other Exchange Act reports that we file with the Commission, which will be subsequently incorporated by reference herein; by the prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus; or by a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. In addition, new risks may emerge at any time and we cannot predict such risks or estimate the extent to which they may affect our financial performance. See “Incorporation Of Certain Documents By Reference” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sales of the securities as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred share dividends and our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated:

 

 

 

 

For purposes of calculating the above ratios, (i) earnings represent “income before equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries” from our consolidated statements of income, as adjusted for fixed charges and distributions from unconsolidated subsidiaries, and (ii) fixed charges represent “interest expense” from our consolidated statements of income. The ratios are based solely on historical financial information. These ratios are affected by increasing interest rates. As a result of our match funded financing strategy, increasing interest rates are expected to generally result in an increase to interest expense without a material effect on net income, thereby negatively impacting these ratios.

 

We may offer senior or subordinated unsecured debt securities, which may be convertible. Our debt securities will be issued under an indenture to be entered into between us and LaSalle Bank National Association. Holders of our indebtedness will be structurally subordinated to holders of any indebtedness (including trade payables) of any of our subsidiaries.

 

We have summarized certain general features of the debt securities from the indenture. Indenture forms are attached as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The following description of the terms of the debt securities sets forth certain general terms and provisions. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to the debt securities will be described in the related prospectus supplement. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of a particular issue of debt securities, reference must be made to both the related prospectus supplement and to the following description.

 

General

 

The aggregate principal amount of debt securities that may be issued under the indenture is unlimited. The debt securities may be issued in one or more series as may be authorized from time to time.

 

Reference is made to the applicable prospectus supplement for the following terms of the debt securities (if applicable):

 

 

 

One or more series of debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. One or more series of debt securities may be variable rate debt securities that may be exchanged for fixed rate debt securities.

 

United States federal income tax consequences and special considerations, if any, applicable to any such series will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Debt securities may be issued where the amount of principal and/or interest payable is determined by reference to one or more currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity indices or other factors. Holders of such securities may receive a principal amount or a payment of interest that is greater than or less than the amount of principal or interest otherwise payable on such dates, depending upon the value of the applicable currencies, commodities, equity indices or other factors. Information as to the methods for determining the amount of principal or interest, if any, payable on any date, the currencies, commodities, equity indices or other factors to which the amount payable on such date is linked and certain additional United States federal income tax considerations will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The term “debt securities” includes debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars or, if specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, in any other freely transferable currency or units based on or relating to foreign currencies.

 

We expect most debt securities to be issued in fully registered form without coupons and in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples thereof. Subject to the limitations provided in the indenture and in the prospectus supplement, debt securities that are issued in registered form may be transferred or exchanged at the office of the trustee, without the payment of any service charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Global Securities

 

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement. Global securities will be issued in registered form and in either temporary or definitive form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such global security to a nominee of such depositary or by a nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such depositary or by such depositary or any such nominee to a successor of such depositary or a nominee of such successor. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any debt securities of a series and the rights of and limitations upon owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Governing Law

 

The indenture and the debt securities shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles thereof relating to conflicts of law.

 

The following description of the terms of our stock is only a summary. For a complete description, we refer you to the Maryland General Corporation Law, or MGCL, our charter and our bylaws. We have incorporated by reference our charter and bylaws as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The following description discusses the general terms of the common stock and preferred stock that we may issue.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock will describe certain other terms of such series of preferred stock. If so indicated in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock, the terms of any such series of preferred stock may differ from the terms set forth below. The description of preferred stock set forth below and the description of the terms of a particular series of preferred stock set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to our charter, particularly to the articles supplementary relating to that series of preferred stock.

 

General

 

Under our charter we are authorized to issue up to 500,000,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share, and up to 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value per share. As of the date of this prospectus, 48,137,099 shares of common stock were issued and outstanding; 2,875,000 shares have been classified and designated as 9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, of which 2,500,000 shares were outstanding; and 1,800,000 shares have been classified and designated as 8.05% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, of which 1,600,000 shares were outstanding. As of the date of this prospectus, there are currently no other classes or series of preferred stock authorized, except the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock. See “Description of Capital Stock — Stockholder Rights Plan.” Under Maryland law, our stockholders generally are not liable for our debts or obligations.

 

Common Stock

 

All outstanding shares of our common stock are duly authorized, fully paid and nonassessable. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when authorized by our board of directors out of assets legally available for the payment of dividends. They are also entitled to share ratably in our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, after payment of or adequate provision for all of our known debts and liabilities. These rights are subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of our stock and to the provisions of our charter regarding restrictions on transfer of our stock.

 

Subject to our charter restrictions on transfer of our stock, each outstanding share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors. Except as provided with respect to any other class or series of stock, the holders of our common stock will possess the exclusive voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors, and directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast.

 

Holders of our common stock have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund, redemption or appraisal rights and have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities. Subject to our charter restrictions on transfer of stock, all shares of common stock will have equal dividend, liquidation and other rights.

 

Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a share exchange or engage in similar transactions outside the ordinary course of business, unless approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least two thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter. However, a Maryland corporation may provide in its charter for approval of these matters by a lesser percentage, but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our charter provides that these matters may be approved by a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock in one or more series and may determine, with respect to any such series, the powers, preferences and rights of such series, and its qualifications, limitations and restrictions, including, without limitation:

 

 

You should refer to the prospectus supplement relating to the series of preferred stock being offered for the specific terms of that series, including:

 

 

 

Upon issuance, the shares of preferred stock will be fully paid and nonassessable, which means that its holders will have paid their purchase price in full and we may not require them to pay additional funds. Holders of preferred stock will not have any preemptive rights.

 

Preferred Stock Dividend Rights

 

Holders of preferred stock will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the board of directors, dividends in additional shares of preferred stock or cash dividends at the rates and on the dates set forth in the related articles supplementary and prospectus supplement. Dividend rates may be fixed or variable or both. Different series of preferred stock may be entitled to dividends at different dividend rates or based upon different methods of determination. Each dividend will be payable to the holders of record as they appear on our stock books on record dates determined by the board of directors. Dividends on preferred stock may be cumulative or noncumulative, as specified in the related articles supplementary and prospectus supplement. If the board of directors fails to declare a dividend on any preferred stock for which dividends are noncumulative, then the right to receive that dividend will be lost, and we will have no obligation to pay the dividend for that dividend period, whether or not dividends are declared for any future dividend period.

 

No full dividends will be declared or paid on any preferred stock unless full dividends for the dividend period commencing after the immediately preceding dividend payment date and any cumulative dividends still owing have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid on all other series of preferred stock which have the same rank as, or rank senior to, that series of preferred stock. When those dividends are not paid in full, dividends will be declared pro rata, so that the amount of dividends declared per share on that series of preferred stock and on each other series of preferred stock having the same rank as that series of preferred stock will bear the same ratio to each other that accrued dividends per share on that series of preferred stock and the other series of preferred stock bear to each other. In addition, generally, unless full dividends including any cumulative dividends still owing on all outstanding shares of any series of preferred stock have been paid, no dividends will be declared or paid on the common stock and generally we may not redeem or purchase any common stock. No interest will be paid in connection with any dividend payment or payments which may be in arrears.

 

Unless otherwise set forth in the related prospectus supplement, the dividends payable for each dividend period will be computed by annualizing the applicable dividend rate and dividing by the number of dividend periods in a year, except that the amount of dividends payable for the initial dividend period or any period shorter than a full dividend period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months and, for any period less than a full month, the actual number of days elapsed in the period.

 

Preferred Stock Rights Upon Liquidation

 

If we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs, either voluntarily or involuntarily, the holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive liquidating distributions in the amount set forth in the articles supplementary and prospectus supplement relating to the series of preferred stock. If the amounts payable with respect to preferred stock of any series and any stock having the same rank as that series of preferred stock are not paid in full, the holders of the preferred stock will share ratably in any such distribution of assets in proportion to the full respective preferential amounts to which they are entitled. After the holders of each series of preferred stock having the same rank are paid in full, they will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. Neither the sale of all or substantially all of our property or business nor a merger or consolidation by us with any other corporation will be considered a dissolution, liquidation or winding up by us of our business or affairs.

 

Preferred Stock Redemption

 

Any series of preferred stock may be redeemable in whole or in part at our option. In addition, any series of preferred stock may be subject to mandatory redemption pursuant to a sinking fund. The redemption provisions that may apply to a series of preferred stock, including the redemption dates and the redemption prices for that series, will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement.

 

If a series of preferred stock is subject to mandatory redemption, the related prospectus supplement will specify the year we can begin to redeem shares of the preferred stock, the number of shares of the preferred stock we can redeem each year, and the redemption price per share. We may pay the redemption price in cash, stock or other securities of our or of third parties, as specified in the related prospectus supplement. If the redemption price is to be paid only from the proceeds of the sale of our capital stock, the terms of the series of preferred stock may also provide that if no capital stock is sold or if the amount of cash received is insufficient to pay in full the redemption price then due, the series of preferred stock will automatically be converted into shares of the applicable capital stock pursuant to conversion provisions specified in the related prospectus supplement.

 

If fewer than all the outstanding shares of any series of preferred stock are to be redeemed, whether by mandatory or optional redemption, the board of directors will determine the method for selecting the shares to be redeemed, which may be by lot or pro rata by any other method determined to be equitable. From and after the redemption date, dividends will cease to accrue on the shares of preferred stock called for redemption and all rights of the holders of those shares other than the right to receive the redemption price will cease.

 

Preferred Stock Conversion Rights

 

The related articles supplementary and prospectus supplement will state any conversion rights under which shares of preferred stock are convertible into shares of common stock or another series of preferred stock or other property. As described under “Redemption” above, under some circumstances preferred stock may be mandatorily converted into common stock or another series of preferred stock.

 

Preferred Stock Voting Rights

 

The related articles supplementary and prospectus supplement will state any voting rights of that series of preferred stock. Unless otherwise indicated in the related prospectus supplement, if we issue full shares of any series of preferred stock, each share will be entitled to one vote on matters on which holders of that series of preferred stock are entitled to vote. Because each full share of any series of preferred stock will be entitled to one vote, the voting power of that series will depend on the number of shares in that series, and not on the aggregate liquidation preference or initial offering price of the shares of that series of preferred stock.

 

Permanent Global Preferred Securities

 

A series of preferred stock may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the related prospectus supplement. For most series of preferred stock, the depositary will be DTC. A global security may not be transferred except as a whole to the depositary, a nominee of the depositary or their successors unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for preferred stock in individually certificated form. Any additional terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any series of preferred stock and the rights of and limitations on owners of beneficial interests in a global security representing a series of preferred stock may be described in the related prospectus supplement.

 

Description Of Series B Preferred Stock

 

Our Board of Directors has adopted articles supplementary to our charter establishing the number and fixing the terms, designations, powers, preferences, rights, limitations and restrictions of a series of preferred stock designated the 9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock. The Series B Preferred Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

Ranking.  The Series B Preferred Stock, with respect to distribution rights and the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, ranks (i) senior to all classes or series of our common stock and to all equity securities the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank junior to the Series B Preferred Stock; (ii) on a parity with the 8.05% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and all equity securities issued by us other than those referred to in clauses (i) and (iii); and (iii) junior to all equity securities issued by us the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to such Series B Preferred Stock. The term “equity securities” shall not include convertible debt securities.

 

Distributions.  Holders of Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when and as authorized by our board of directors, out of legally available funds, cumulative preferential cash distributions at the rate of 9.75% of the liquidation preference per annum, which is equivalent to $2.4375 per share of Series B Preferred Stock per year. Distributions on the Series B Preferred Stock cumulate from the date of original issuance (March 18, 2003) and are payable quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year, or, if not a business day, the next succeeding business day.

 

Liquidation Preference.  Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us, holders of Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to receive out of our assets available for distribution to shareholders (after payment or provision for all of our debts and other liabilities) a liquidating distribution in the amount of a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid distributions to the date of payment, whether or not authorized, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of our common stock and any other shares of our equity securities ranking junior to the Series B Preferred Stock as to liquidation rights.

 

Redemption.  Except in certain circumstances relating to the preservation of our status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, the Series B Preferred Stock will not be redeemable prior to March 18, 2008. On or after March 18, 2008, we, at our option, upon giving of notice, may redeem the Series B Preferred Stock, in whole or from time to time in part (unless we are in arrears on the distributions on the Series B Preferred Stock, in which case we can only redeem in whole), for cash, at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus all accumulated and unpaid distributions to the date of redemption, whether or not authorized.

 

Maturity.  The Series B Preferred Stock does not have a stated maturity and is not subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption provisions.

 

Voting Rights.  Holders of Series B Preferred Stock do not have any voting rights, except that if distributions on the Series B Preferred Stock are in arrears for six or more quarterly periods, then holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect two additional directors. In addition, so long as any Series B Preferred Stock remains outstanding, subject to limited exceptions, we will be required to obtain approval of at least two-thirds of the then-outstanding Series B Preferred Stock in order to (a) authorize, create or increase the authorized or issued amount of any class or series of equity securities ranking senior to the Series B Preferred Stock with respect to certain rights, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into any such senior securities; or (b) amend, alter or repeal our charter in a way that materially and adversely affects the Series B Preferred Stock.

 

Conversion.  The Series B Preferred Stock is not convertible into or exchangeable for our property or securities.

 

Description Of Series C Preferred Stock

 

Our Board of Directors has adopted articles supplementary to our charter establishing the number and fixing the terms, designations, powers, preferences, rights, limitations and restrictions of a series of preferred stock designated the 8.05% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock. The Series C Preferred Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

Ranking.  The Series C Preferred Stock, with respect to distribution rights and the distribution of assets upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, ranks (i) senior to all classes or series of our common stock and to all equity securities the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank junior to the Series C Preferred Stock; (ii) on a parity with the 9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and

all other equity securities issued by us other than those referred to in clauses (i) and (iii); and (iii) junior to all equity securities issued by us the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank senior to such Series C Preferred Stock. The term “equity securities” shall not include convertible debt securities.

 

Distributions.  Holders of Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when and as authorized by our board of directors, out of legally available funds, cumulative preferential cash distributions at the rate of 8.05% of the liquidation preference per annum, which is equivalent to $2.0125 per share of Series C Preferred Stock per year. However, during any period of time that both (i) the Series C Preferred Stock is not listed on the NYSE or AMEX, or quoted on the NASDAQ, and (ii) we are not subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, but shares of Series C Preferred Stock are outstanding, we will increase the cumulative cash distributions payable on the Series C Preferred Stock to a rate of 9.05% of the liquidation preference per annum, which is equivalent to $2.2625 per share of Series C Preferred Stock per year. Distributions on the Series C Preferred Stock cumulate from the date of original issuance (October 25, 2005) and are payable quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year or, if not a business day, the next succeeding business day, commencing January 31, 2006.

 

Liquidation Preference.  Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us, holders of Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to receive out of our assets available for distribution to shareholders (after payment or provision for all of our debts and other liabilities) a liquidating distribution in the amount of a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, plus any accumulated and unpaid distributions to the date of payment, whether or not authorized, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of our common stock and any other shares of our equity securities ranking junior to the Series C Preferred Stock as to liquidation rights.

 

Regular Redemption.  Except in certain circumstances relating to the preservation of our status as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, the Series C Preferred Stock will not be redeemable prior to October 25, 2010. On or after October 25, 2010, we, at our option, upon giving of notice, may redeem the Series C Preferred Stock, in whole or from time to time in part (unless we are in arrears on the distributions on the Series C Preferred Stock, in which case we can only redeem in whole), for cash, at a redemption price of $25.00 per share, plus all accumulated and unpaid distributions to the date of redemption, whether or not authorized.

 

Special Redemption.  If at any time both (i) the Series C Preferred Stock ceases to be listed on the NYSE or the AMEX, or quoted on the NASDAQ, and (ii) the Company ceases to be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, but shares of Series C Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Company will have the option to redeem the Series C Preferred Stock, in whole but not in part, within 90 days of the date upon which the Series C Preferred Stock ceases to be listed and the Company ceases to be subject to such reporting requirements, for cash at $25.00 per share, plus accumulated and unpaid distributions, if any, to the redemption date.

 

Maturity.  The Series C Preferred Stock does not have a stated maturity and is not subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption provisions.

 

Voting Rights.  Holders of Series C Preferred Stock do not have any voting rights, except that if distributions on the Series C Preferred Stock are in arrears for six or more quarterly periods, then holders of Series C Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect two additional directors. In addition, so long as any Series C Preferred Stock remains outstanding, subject to limited exceptions, we will be required to obtain approval of at least two-thirds of the then-outstanding Series C Preferred Stock in order to (a) authorize, create or increase the authorized or issued amount of any class or series of equity securities ranking senior to the Series C Preferred Stock with respect to certain rights, or create, authorize or issue any obligation or security convertible into any such senior securities; or (b) amend, alter or repeal our charter in a way that materially and adversely affects the Series C Preferred Stock.

 

Conversion.  The Series C Preferred Stock is not convertible into or exchangeable for our property or securities.

 

Power to Reclassify Unissued Shares of Common and Preferred Stock

 

Our charter authorizes our board of directors to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock into other classes or series of stock. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, our board is required by Maryland law and by our charter to set, subject to our charter restrictions on transfer of stock, the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series. Therefore, our board could authorize the issuance of shares of another class or series of stock with terms and conditions more favorable than current terms, or which also could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest. Our board also could authorize the issuance of additional shares of our 9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock or 8.05% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock.

 

Power to Issue Additional Shares of Common and Preferred Stock

 

We believe that the power to issue additional shares of common stock or preferred stock and to classify or reclassify unissued shares of common stock or preferred stock and thereafter to issue the classified or reclassified shares provides us with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs which might arise. These actions can be taken without stockholder approval, unless stockholder approval is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded. Although we have no present intention of doing so, we could issue a class or series of stock that could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control of us that might involve a premium price for holders of common stock or otherwise be in their best interest.

 

Stockholder Rights Plan

 

Our board of directors has adopted a stockholder rights agreement. The adoption of the stockholder rights agreement could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or could discourage a third party from acquiring, us or a large block of our common stock.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the stockholder rights agreement, our board of directors declared a dividend distribution of one preferred stock purchase right for each outstanding share of common stock to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 16, 2002. In addition, one preferred stock purchase right will automatically attach to each share of common stock issued between October 16, 2002 and the distribution date described below. Each preferred stock purchase right initially entitles the registered holder to purchase from us a unit consisting of one one-hundredth of a share, each a “rights unit,” of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, the Series A Preferred Stock, at a purchase price of $70 per rights unit, the purchase price, subject to adjustment.

 

Initially, the preferred stock purchase rights are not exercisable and are attached to and transfer and trade with, the outstanding shares of common stock. The preferred stock purchase rights will separate from the common stock and will become exercisable upon the earliest of (i) the close of business on the tenth business day following the first public announcement that an acquiring person has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the aggregate outstanding shares of common stock, subject to certain exceptions, the date of said announcement being referred to as the stock acquisition date, or (ii) the close of business on the tenth business day (or such later date as our board of directors may determine) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result upon its consummation in a person or group becoming an acquiring person, the earlier of such dates being the distribution date. For these purposes, a person will not be deemed to beneficially own shares of common stock which may be issued in exchange for rights units. The stockholder rights agreement contains provisions that are designed to ensure that the manager and its affiliates will never, alone, be considered a group that is an acquiring person.

 

Until the distribution date (or earlier redemption, exchange or expiration of rights), (a) the rights will be evidenced by the common stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with such common stock

certificates, (b) new common stock certificates issued after the record date will contain a notation incorporating the stockholder rights agreement by reference, and (c) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for common stock outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the rights associated with common stock represented by such certificate.

 

The rights are not exercisable until the distribution date and will expire ten years after the issuance thereof, on October 16, 2012, unless such date is extended or the rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by us as described below.

 

As soon as practicable after the distribution date, rights certificates will be mailed to holders of record of common stock as of the close of business on the distribution date and, thereafter, the separate rights certificates alone will represent the rights. Except as otherwise determined by our board of directors, only shares of common stock issued prior to the distribution date will be issued with rights.

 

In the event that a person becomes an acquiring person, except pursuant to an offer for all outstanding shares of common stock which the independent directors determine to be fair to, not inadequate and otherwise in our best interests and the best interest of our stockholders, after receiving advice from one or more investment banking firms, a qualified offer, each holder of a right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of ours) having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the right. The exercise price is the purchase price times the number of rights units associated with each right.

 

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of the event set forth in this paragraph, all rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the rights agreement) were, beneficially owned by any acquiring person will be null and void. However, rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of the event set forth above until such time as the rights are no longer redeemable by us as set forth below.

 

In the event that, at any time following the stock acquisition date, (i) we engage in a merger or other business combination transaction in which we are not the surviving corporation (other than with an entity which acquired the shares pursuant to a qualified offer), (ii) we engage in a merger or other business combination transaction in which we are the surviving corporation and our common stock changed or exchanged, or (iii) 50% or more of our assets, cash flow or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a right (except rights which have previously been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the right. The events set forth in this paragraph and in the preceding paragraph are referred to as the “triggering events.”

 

At any time after a person becomes an acquiring person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding common stock, our board may exchange the rights (other than rights owned by such person or group which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of common stock, or one one-hundredth of a share of preferred stock (or of a share of a class or series of our preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per right (subject to adjustment).

 

We may redeem the rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.01 per right (payable in cash, common stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by our board of directors) at any time until the earlier of (i) the close of business on the tenth business day after the stock acquisition date, or (ii) the expiration date of the rights agreement. Immediately upon the action of our board of directors ordering redemption of the rights, the rights will terminate and thereafter the only right of the holders of rights will be to receive the redemption price.

 

The rights agreement may be amended by our board of directors in its sole discretion at any time prior to the distribution date. After the distribution date, subject to certain limitations set forth in the rights agreement, our board of directors may amend the rights agreement only to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to shorten or lengthen any time period, or to make changes that do not adversely affect the interests of rights holders (excluding the interests of an acquiring person or its associates or affiliates). The foregoing notwithstanding, no amendment may be made at such time as the rights are not redeemable.

 

Until a right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as our stockholder, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to us, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the rights become exercisable for common stock, other securities of ours, other consideration or for common stock of an acquiring company or in the event of the redemption of the rights as set forth above.

 

A copy of the rights agreement is available from us upon written request. The foregoing description of the rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the rights agreement, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

 

We may implement a dividend reinvestment plan whereby stockholders may automatically reinvest their dividends in our common stock. Details about any such plan would be sent to our stockholders following adoption thereof by our board of directors.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock and our Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, New York, New York. We will appoint a transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursement agent for any new series of preferred stock. The registrar for the preferred stock will send notices to the holders of the preferred stock of any meeting at which those holders will have the right to elect directors or to vote on any other matter.

 

Transfer Restrictions

 

Our charter contains restrictions on the number of shares of our stock that a person may own. No person or entity may acquire or hold, directly or indirectly, (a) shares of our stock representing in excess of 8% of the aggregate value of the outstanding shares of our stock, treating all classes and series of our stock as one for this purpose, (b) shares of our Series B Preferred Stock representing in excess of 25% of the outstanding shares of our Series B Preferred Stock, or (c) shares of our Series C Preferred Stock representing in excess of 25% of the outstanding shares of our Series C Preferred Stock, in each case unless they receive an exemption from our board of directors.

 

Our charter further prohibits (a) any person or entity from owning shares of our stock that would result in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”) or otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT and (b) any person or entity from transferring shares of our stock if the transfer would result in our stock being owned by fewer than 100 persons. Any person who acquires or intends to acquire shares of our stock that may violate any of these restrictions, or who is the intended transferee of shares of our stock which are transferred to the Trust, as defined below, is required to give us immediate written notice and provide us with such information as we may request in order to determine the effect of the transfer on our status as a REIT. The above restrictions will not apply if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to continue to qualify as a REIT.

 

Our board of directors may exempt a person from these limits, subject to such terms, conditions, representations and undertakings as it may determine in its sole discretion. Our board of directors has granted limited exemptions to an affiliate of our manager, a third party group of funds managed by Cohen & Steers, and certain affiliates of these entities.

 

Any attempted transfer or ownership of our stock which, if effective, would result in violation of the above limitations, will cause the number of shares causing the violation (rounded to the nearest whole share) to be automatically transferred to a trust (“Trust”) for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries (“Charitable Beneficiary”), and the proposed holder will not acquire any rights in the shares. The automatic transfer will be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day (as defined in our charter) prior to the date of such violation. The shares transferred to the Trust will generally be selected so as to minimize the aggregate value of shares transferred to the Trust. Shares of our stock held in the Trust will be issued and outstanding shares. The proposed holder will not benefit economically from ownership of any shares of stock held in the Trust, will have no rights to dividends and no rights to vote or other rights

attributable to the shares of stock held in the Trust. The trustee of the Trust will have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to shares held in the Trust. These rights will be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to our discovery that shares of stock have been transferred to the Trust will be paid by the recipient to the Trustee upon demand. Any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid will be paid when due to the Trustee. Any dividend or distribution paid to the Trustee will be held in trust for the Charitable Beneficiary. Subject to Maryland law, the Trustee will have the authority (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by the proposed holder prior to our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the Trust and (ii) to recast the vote in accordance with the desires of the Trustee acting for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. However, if we have already taken irreversible corporate action, then the Trustee will not have the authority to rescind and recast the vote. If necessary to protect our status as a REIT, we may establish additional Trusts with distinct Trustees and Charitable Beneficiaries to which shares may be transferred.

 

Within 20 days of receiving notice from us that shares of our stock have been transferred to the Trust, the Trustee will sell the shares to a person designated by the Trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the above ownership limitations. Upon the sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the Trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the proposed holder and to the Charitable Beneficiary as follows. The proposed holder will receive the lesser of (i) the price paid by the proposed holder for the shares or, if the proposed holder did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the Trust (e.g., a gift, devise or other similar transaction), the Market Price (as defined in our charter) of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the Trust and (ii) the price received by the Trustee from the sale or other disposition of the shares. Any net sale proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the proposed holder will be paid immediately to the Charitable Beneficiary. If, prior to our discovery that shares of our stock have been transferred to the Trust, the shares are sold by the proposed holder, then (i) the shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the Trust and (ii) to the extent that the proposed holder received an amount for the shares that exceeds the amount he or she was entitled to receive, the excess shall be paid to the Trustee upon demand.

 

In addition, shares of our stock held in the Trust will be deemed to have been offered for sale to us, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in the transfer to the Trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the Market Price at the time of the devise or gift) and (ii) the Market Price on the date we, or our designee, accept the offer. We will have the right to accept the offer until the Trustee has sold the shares. Upon a sale to us, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the Trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the proposed holder.

 

If an investor acquires an amount of stock that exceeds 8% of the number of shares of a particular class, but is less than 8% of the aggregate value of our stock of all classes, subsequent fluctuations in the relative values of our different classes of stock could cause the investor’s ownership to exceed the 8% ownership limitation, with the consequences described above.

 

All certificates representing shares of our stock will bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.

 

Every record owner of more than a specified percentage of our stock as required by the Internal Revenue Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder (which may be as low as 0.5% depending upon the number of stockholders of record of our stock), within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, is required to give us written notice, stating his name and address, the number of shares of each class and series of our stock which he or she beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which the shares are held. Each such owner shall provide us with such additional information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of his beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limits. In addition, each stockholder shall, upon demand, be required to provide us with such information as we may request in good faith in order to determine our status as a REIT, and to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority, or to determine such compliance.

 

These ownership limits could delay, defer or prevent a transaction, or a change in control, that might involve a premium price for our stock or otherwise be in the best interest of the stockholders.

 

We may issue depositary receipts representing interests in shares of particular series of preferred stock which are called depositary shares. We will deposit the preferred stock of a series which is the subject of depositary shares with a depositary, which will hold that preferred stock for the benefit of the holders of the depositary shares, in accordance with a deposit agreement between the depositary and us. The holders of depositary shares will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock to which the depositary shares relate, including dividend, voting, conversion, redemption and liquidation rights, to the extent of their interests in that preferred stock.

 

While the deposit agreement relating to a particular series of preferred stock may have provisions applicable solely to that series of preferred stock, all deposit agreements relating to preferred stock we issue will include the following provisions:

 

Dividends and Other Distributions

 

Each time we pay a cash dividend or make any other type of cash distribution with regard to preferred stock of a series, the depositary will distribute to the holder of record of each depositary share relating to that series of preferred stock an amount equal to the dividend or other distribution per depositary share the depositary receives. If there is a distribution of property other than cash, the depositary either will distribute the property to the holders of depositary shares in proportion to the depositary shares held by each of them, or the depositary will, if we approve, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds to the holders of the depositary shares in proportion to the depositary shares held by them.

 

Withdrawal of Preferred Stock

 

A holder of depositary shares will be entitled to receive, upon surrender of depositary receipts representing depositary shares, the number of whole or fractional shares of the applicable series of preferred stock, and any money or other property, to which the depositary shares relate.

 

Redemption of Depositary Shares

 

Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by a depositary, the depositary will be required to redeem, on the same redemption date, depositary shares constituting, in total, the number of shares of preferred stock held by the depositary which we redeem, subject to the depositary’s receiving the redemption price of those shares of preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares relating to a series are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or by another method we determine to be equitable.

 

Voting

 

Any time we send a notice of meeting or other materials relating to a meeting to the holders of a series of preferred stock to which depositary shares relate, we will provide the depositary with sufficient copies of those materials so they can be sent to all holders of record of the applicable depositary shares, and the depositary will send those materials to the holders of record of the depositary shares on the record date for the meeting. The depositary will solicit voting instructions from holders of depositary shares and will vote or not vote the preferred stock to which the depositary shares relate in accordance with those instructions.

 

Liquidation Preference

 

Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holder of each depositary share will be entitled to what the holder of the depositary share would have received if the holder had owned the number of shares (or fraction of a share) of preferred stock which is represented by the depositary share.

 

Conversion

 

If shares of a series of preferred stock are convertible into common stock or other of our securities or property, holders of depositary shares relating to that series of preferred stock will, if they surrender depositary receipts representing depositary shares and appropriate instructions to convert them, receive the shares of common stock or other securities or property into which the number of shares (or fractions of shares) of preferred stock to which the depositary shares relate could at the time be converted.

 

Amendment and Termination of a Deposit Agreement

 

We and the depositary may amend a deposit agreement, except that an amendment which materially and adversely affects the rights of holders of depositary shares, or would be materially and adversely inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of the preferred stock to which they relate, must be approved by holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding depositary shares. No amendment will impair the right of a holder of depositary shares to surrender the depositary receipts evidencing those depositary shares and receive the preferred stock to which they relate, except as required to comply with law. We may terminate a deposit agreement with the consent of holders of a majority of the depositary shares to which it relates. Upon termination of a deposit agreement, the depositary will make the whole or fractional shares of preferred stock to which the depositary shares issued under the deposit agreement relate available to the holders of those depositary shares. A deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:

 

All outstanding depositary shares to which it relates have been redeemed or converted.

 

The depositary has made a final distribution to the holders of the depositary shares issued under the deposit agreement upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

 

Miscellaneous

 

There will be provisions: (1) requiring the depositary to forward to holders of record of depositary shares any reports or communications from us which the depositary receives with respect to the preferred stock to which the depositary shares relate; (2) regarding compensation of the depositary; (3) regarding resignation of the depositary; (4) limiting our liability and the liability of the depositary under the deposit agreement (usually to failure to act in good faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct); and (5) indemnifying the depositary against certain possible liabilities.

 

We may issue warrants to purchase debt or equity securities. We may issue warrants independently or together with any offered securities. The warrants may be attached to or separate from those offered securities. We will issue the warrants under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants that we may offer will contain the specific terms of the warrants. These terms may include the following:

 

 

Exercise of Warrants

 

Each warrant will entitle the holder of warrants to purchase for cash the amount of debt or equity securities, at the exercise price stated or determinable in the prospectus supplement for the warrants. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date shown in the applicable prospectus supplement, unless otherwise specified in such prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void. Warrants may be exercised as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. When the warrant holder makes the payment and properly completes and signs the warrant certificate at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as possible, forward the debt or equity securities that the warrant holder has purchased. If the warrant holder exercises the warrant for less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate, we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining warrants.

 

The following description of the terms of our stock and of certain provisions of Maryland law is only a summary. For a complete description, we refer you to the Maryland General Corporation Law, our charter and our bylaws. We have filed our charter and bylaws as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

Classification of Our Board of Directors

 

Our bylaws provide that the number of our directors may be established by our board of directors but may not be fewer than the minimum required by the MGCL (which is currently one) nor more than fifteen. Any vacancy will be filled, at any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, by a majority of the remaining directors, except that a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors must be filled by a majority of the entire board of directors.

 

Pursuant to our charter, the board of directors is divided into three classes of directors. The current terms of the Class I, Class II and Class III directors will expire in 2009, 2007 and 2008, respectively. Directors of each class will be chosen for three-year terms upon the expiration of their current terms and each year one class of directors will be elected by the stockholders. We believe that classification of the board of directors will help to assure the continuity and stability of our business strategies and policies as determined by the board of directors. Holders of shares of our common stock will have no right to cumulative voting in the election of directors. At each annual meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present, board nominees are elected by a plurality of votes cast.

 

The classified board provision could have the effect of making the replacement of incumbent directors more time-consuming and difficult. At least two annual meetings of stockholders, instead of one, will generally be required to effect a change in a majority of our board of directors. Thus, the classified board provision could increase the likelihood that incumbent directors will retain their positions. The staggered terms of directors may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or an attempt to change the control of us, even though the tender offer or change in control might be in the best interest of our stockholders.

 

Removal of Directors

 

Our charter provides that, subject to the rights of any preferred stock, a director may be removed only for cause (as defined in the charter) and only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors. This provision, when coupled with the provision in our bylaws authorizing our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, precludes stockholders from removing incumbent directors except for cause and by a substantial affirmative vote and filling the vacancies created by the removal with their own nominees.

 

Business Combinations

 

Under Maryland law, “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include certain mergers, consolidations, share exchanges, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities or a liquidation or dissolution. An interested stockholder is defined as:

 

 

A person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which he or she otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board.

 

After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:

 

 

These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the corporation’s common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares.

 

The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by the board of directors before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Pursuant to the statute, our board of directors has exempted any business combinations (a) between us and our manager or any of its affiliates, (b) between us and Newcastle Investment Holdings or any of its affiliates and (c) between us and any interested stockholder, provided that any such business combination is first approved by our board of directors (including a majority of our directors who are not affiliates or associates of such interested stockholder). Consequently, the five-year prohibition and the super-majority vote requirements will not apply to business combinations between us and any of them. As a result, such parties may be able to enter into business combinations with us that may not be in the best interest of our stockholders, without compliance with the super-majority vote requirements and the other provisions of the statute.

 

The business combination statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer.

 

Control Share Acquisitions

 

Maryland law provides that control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquiror, by officers of the corporation or by directors who are employees of the corporation are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter. Control shares are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquiror or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:

 

 

Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of control shares, subject to certain exceptions.

 

A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the board of directors of the corporation to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the

satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.

 

If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the corporation may redeem for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. The right of the corporation to redeem control shares is subject to certain conditions and limitations. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquiror or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of the shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquiror becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition.

 

The control share acquisition statute does not apply (a) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction, or (b) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation.

 

Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions by any person of shares of our stock. This provision may be amended or eliminated at any time in the future.

 

Amendment to Our Charter

 

Our charter, including its provisions on classification of our board of directors and removal of directors, may be amended only by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, except that our board may change our name, or the designation or par value of our capital stock, without stockholder action.

 

Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business

 

Our bylaws provide that with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of persons for election to our board of directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders may be made only (i) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (ii) by our board of directors or (iii) by a stockholder of record who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of our bylaws. With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting. Nominations of persons for election to our board of directors at a special meeting may be made only (i) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (ii) by the board of directors, or (iii) provided that the board of directors has determined that directors will be elected at the meeting, by a stockholder of record who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice provisions of our bylaws.

 

Special Stockholder Meetings.  Pursuant to our bylaws, stockholders can request a special meeting only upon written demand of at least a majority of all votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. This could have the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to propose corporate actions to which our management is opposed.

 

Maryland Unsolicited Takeovers Act

 

Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL (“Subtitle 8”) permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent directors to elect to be subject, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter of bylaws, to any or all of five provisions:

 

 

 

A corporation may also adopt a charter provision or resolution of the Board of Directors that prohibits the corporation from electing to be subject to any or all of the provisions of the subtitle. At this time, we have not elected to be subject to any of these provisions. However, because our charter does not include a provision prohibiting us from electing to be subject to any of these provisions, our Board of Directors may make such an election at any time. Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we already have a classified board, require a two-thirds vote for the removal of directors and require a majority vote for the calling of a special meeting of stockholders.

 

Anti-Takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws

 

The business combination provisions and, if the applicable provision in our bylaws is rescinded, the control share acquisition provisions of Maryland law, the provisions of our charter on classification of our board of directors and removal of directors, the advance notice provisions of our bylaws and our special meeting requirements, or the provisions of Subtitle 8 should we elect to be governed by any of them, could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in the control of us that might involve a premium price for holders of our stock or otherwise be in their best interest.

 

The following is a summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences of an investment in common stock or other securities of Newcastle. For purposes of this section under the heading “Federal Income Tax Considerations,” references to “Newcastle,” “we,” “our” and “us” mean only Newcastle Investment Corp. and not its subsidiaries or other lower-tier entities, except as otherwise indicated. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code, the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department, rulings and other administrative pronouncements issued by the IRS, and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect, and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax consequences described below. We have not sought and will not seek an advance ruling from the IRS regarding any matter discussed in this prospectus. The summary is also based upon the assumption that we will operate Newcastle and its subsidiaries and affiliated entities in accordance with their applicable organizational documents or partnership agreements. This summary is for general information only, and does not purport to discuss all aspects of federal income taxation that may be important to a particular investor in light of its investment or tax circumstances, or to investors subject to special tax rules, such as:

 

 

and, except to the extent discussed below:

 

 

This summary assumes that investors will hold their common stock as a capital asset, which generally means as property held for investment.

 

The federal income tax treatment of holders of our common stock depends in some instances on determinations of fact and interpretations of complex provisions of federal income tax law for which no clear precedent or authority may be available. In addition, the tax consequences to any particular stockholder of holding our common stock will depend on the stockholder’s particular tax circumstances. For example, a stockholder that is a partnership or trust which has issued an equity interest to certain types of tax exempt organizations may be subject to a special entity-level tax if we make distributions attributable to “Excess Inclusion Income.” See “— Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income” below. A similar tax may be payable by persons who hold our stock as nominee on behalf of such a tax exempt organization. You are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the federal, state, local, and foreign income and other tax consequences to you in light of your particular investment or tax circumstances of acquiring, holding, exchanging, or otherwise disposing of our common stock.

 

Taxation of Newcastle

 

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT, commencing with our initial taxable year ended December 31, 2002. We believe that we have been organized, have operated and expect to continue to operate in such a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT.

 

The law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP has acted as our tax counsel in connection with our formation and election to be taxed as a REIT. We have received an opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP to the effect that, commencing with its initial taxable year that ended on December 31, 2002, Newcastle was organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, and that its actual method of operation has enabled, and its proposed method of operation will enable, it to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. It must be emphasized that the opinion of tax counsel is based on various assumptions relating to our organization and operation, and is conditioned upon fact-based representations and covenants made by our management regarding our organization, assets, income, and the past, present and future conduct of our business operations. While we intend to operate so that we will qualify as a REIT, given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations, and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given by tax counsel or by us that we will qualify as a REIT for any particular year. The opinion of tax counsel also relies on various legal opinions issued by other counsel for Newcastle and its predecessors, including Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP and Thacher Proffitt & Wood, with respect to certain issues and transactions. The opinions are expressed as of the date issued, and do not cover subsequent periods. In addition, our ability to qualify as a REIT depends in part upon the operating results, organizational structure and entity classification for federal income tax purposes of certain affiliated entities, the status of which may not have been reviewed by tax counsel. Tax counsel will have no obligation to advise us or our stockholders of any subsequent change in the matters stated, represented or assumed, or of any subsequent change in the applicable law. You should be aware that opinions of counsel are not binding on the IRS, and no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge the conclusions set forth in such opinions.

 

Qualification and taxation as a REIT depends on our ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual operating results, distribution levels, and diversity of stock ownership, various qualification requirements imposed upon REITs by the Internal Revenue Code, the compliance with which will not be reviewed by tax counsel. In addition, our ability to qualify as a REIT depends in part upon the operating results, organizational structure and entity classification for federal income tax purposes of certain affiliated entities, the status of which may not have been reviewed by tax counsel. Our ability to qualify as a REIT also requires that we satisfy certain asset tests, some of which depend upon the fair market values of assets that we own directly or indirectly. Such values may not be susceptible to a precise determination. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations for any taxable year satisfy such requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT.

 

Taxation of REITs in General

 

As indicated above, our qualification and taxation as a REIT depends upon our ability to meet, on a continuing basis, various qualification requirements imposed upon REITs by the Internal Revenue Code. The material qualification requirements are summarized below under “— Requirements for Qualification — General.” While we intend to operate so that we qualify as a REIT, no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge our qualification, or that we will be able to operate in accordance with the REIT requirements in the future. See “— Failure to Qualify.”

 

Provided that we qualify as a REIT, we generally will be entitled to a deduction for dividends that we pay and therefore will not be subject to federal corporate income tax on our net income that is currently distributed to our stockholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the “double taxation” at the corporate and stockholder levels that generally results from investment in a corporation. In general, the income that we generate is taxed only at the stockholder level upon a distribution of dividends to our stockholders.

 

The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (as amended, the “2003 Act”) reduces the rate at which most individuals, trusts and estates are taxed on corporate dividends from a maximum of 38.6% (as ordinary income) to a maximum of 15% (the same as long-term capital gains) for the 2003 through 2010 tax years. With limited exceptions, however, dividends from us or from other entities that are taxed as REITs are generally not eligible for the reduced rates, and will continue to be taxed at rates applicable to ordinary income, which, pursuant to the 2003 Act, will be as high as 35% through 2010. See “Taxation of Stockholders — Taxation of Taxable Domestic Stockholders — Distributions.”

 

Net operating losses, foreign tax credits and other tax attributes generally do not pass through to our stockholders, subject to special rules for certain items such as the capital gains that we recognize. See “Taxation of Stockholders.”

 

If we qualify as a REIT, we will nonetheless be subject to federal tax in the following circumstances:

 

 

 

In addition, we and our subsidiaries may be subject to a variety of taxes, including payroll taxes and state, local, and foreign income, property and other taxes on assets and operations. We could also be subject to tax in situations and on transactions not presently contemplated.

 

Requirements for Qualification — General

 

The Internal Revenue Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:

 

 

The Internal Revenue Code provides that conditions (1) through (4) must be met during the entire taxable year, and that condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Conditions (5) and (6) need not be met during a corporation’s initial tax year as a REIT (which, in our case, was 2002). Our charter provides restrictions regarding the ownership and transfers of its shares, which are intended to assist us in satisfying the share ownership requirements described in conditions (5) and (6) above.

 

To monitor compliance with the share ownership requirements, we generally are required to maintain records regarding the actual ownership of our shares. To do so, we must demand written statements each year from the record holders of significant percentages of our stock pursuant to which the record holders must disclose the actual owners of the shares (i.e., the persons required to include our dividends in their gross income). We must maintain a list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with this demand as part of our records. We could be subject to monetary penalties if we fail to comply with these record keeping requirements. If you fail or refuse to comply with the demands, you will be required by Treasury regulations

to submit a statement with your tax return disclosing the actual ownership of the shares and other information.

 

In addition, a corporation generally may not elect to become a REIT unless its taxable year is the calendar year. We have adopted December 31 as our year end, and therefore satisfy this requirement.

 

The Internal Revenue Code provides relief from violations of the REIT gross income requirements, as described below under “— Income Tests,” in cases where a violation is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, and other requirements are met. In addition, a REIT that makes use of these relief provisions must pay a penalty tax that is based upon the magnitude of the violation. If we fail to satisfy any of the various REIT requirements, there can be no assurance that these relief provisions would be available to enable us to maintain our qualification as a REIT, and, if such relief provisions are available, the amount of any resultant penalty tax could be substantial.

 

Effect of Subsidiary Entities

 

Ownership of Partnership Interests.  If we are a partner in an entity that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, Treasury regulations provide that we are deemed to own our proportionate share of the partnership’s assets, and to earn our proportionate share of the partnership’s income, for purposes of the asset and gross income tests applicable to REITs. Our proportionate share of a partnership’s assets and income is based on our capital interest in the partnership (except that for purposes of the 10% value test with respect to the 2005 and future taxable years, our proportionate share of the partnership’s assets is based on our proportionate interest in the equity and certain debt securities issued by the partnership). In addition, the assets and gross income of the partnership are deemed to retain the same character in our hands. Thus, our proportionate share of the assets and items of income of any of our subsidiary partnerships will be treated as our assets and items of income for purposes of applying the REIT requirements. A summary of certain rules governing the federal income taxation of partnerships and their partners is provided below in “Tax Aspects of Investments in Affiliated Partnerships.”

 

Disregarded Subsidiaries.  If we own a corporate subsidiary that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary,” that subsidiary is generally disregarded for federal income tax purposes, and all of the subsidiary’s assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit are treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit, including for purposes of the gross income and asset tests applicable to REITs. A qualified REIT subsidiary is any wholly owned subsidiary, other than a “taxable REIT subsidiary” as described below, that we own, either directly or through one or more other qualified REIT subsidiaries or disregarded entities. Other entities that are wholly-owned by us, including single member limited liability companies that have not elected to be taxed as corporations for federal income tax purposes, are also generally disregarded as a separate entities for federal income tax purposes, including for purposes of the REIT income and asset tests. Disregarded subsidiaries, along with any partnerships in which we hold an equity interest, are sometimes referred to herein as “pass-through subsidiaries.”

 

In the event that a disregarded subsidiary of ours ceases to be wholly-owned — for example, if any equity interest in the subsidiary is acquired by a person other than us or a disregarded subsidiary of ours — the subsidiary’s separate existence would no longer be disregarded for federal income tax purposes. Instead, the subsidiary would have multiple owners and would be treated as either a partnership or a taxable corporation. Such an event could, depending on the circumstances, adversely affect our ability to satisfy the various asset and gross income requirements applicable to REITs, including the requirement that REITs generally may not own, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the securities of another corporation. See “— Asset Tests” and “— Income Tests.”

 

Taxable Subsidiaries.  In general, we may jointly elect with a subsidiary corporation, whether or not wholly-owned, to treat the subsidiary corporation as a taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”). We generally may not own more than 10% of the securities of a taxable corporation, as measured by voting power or value, unless we and such corporation elect to treat such corporation as a TRS. The separate existence of a TRS or other taxable corporation is not ignored for federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a TRS or other taxable corporation generally would be subject to corporate income tax on its earnings, which may reduce the cash

flow that we and our subsidiaries generate in the aggregate, and may reduce our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

 

We are not treated as holding the assets of a TRS or other taxable subsidiary corporation or as receiving any income that the subsidiary earns. Rather, the stock issued by a taxable subsidiary to us is an asset in our hands, and we treat the dividends paid to us from such taxable subsidiary, if any, as income. This treatment can affect our income and asset test calculations, as described below. Because we do not include the assets and income of TRSs or other taxable subsidiary corporations in determining our compliance with the REIT requirements, we may use such entities to undertake indirectly activities that the REIT rules might otherwise preclude us from doing directly or through pass-through subsidiaries.

 

Income Tests

 

In order to qualify as a REIT, we must satisfy two annual gross income requirements. First, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year, excluding gross income from sales of inventory or dealer property in “prohibited transactions,” generally must be derived from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, including interest income derived from mortgage loans secured by real property (including certain types of mortgage backed securities), “rents from real property,” dividends received from other REITs, and gains from the sale of real estate assets, as well as specified income from temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of our gross income in each taxable year, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions and certain hedging transactions, must be derived from some combination of such income from investments in real property (i.e., income that qualifies under the 75% income test described above), as well as other dividends, interest, and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, which need not have any relation to real property.

 

Interest income constitutes qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the 75% income test to the extent that the obligation upon which such interest is paid is secured by a mortgage on real property. If we receive interest income with respect to a mortgage loan that is secured by both real property and other property, and the highest principal amount of the loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the fair market value of the real property on the date that we acquired or originated the mortgage loan, the interest income will be apportioned between the real property and the other collateral, and our income from the arrangement will qualify for purposes of the 75% income test only to the extent that the interest is allocable to the real property. Even if a loan is not secured by real property, or is undersecured, the income that it generates may nonetheless qualify for purposes of the 95% income test.

 

To the extent that the terms of a loan provide for contingent interest that is based on the cash proceeds realized upon the sale of the property securing the loan (a “shared appreciation provision”), income attributable to the participation feature will be treated as gain from sale of the underlying property, which generally will be qualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests provided that the property is not held as inventory or dealer property. To the extent that we derive interest income from a mortgage loan, or income from the rental of real property where all or a portion of the amount of interest or rental income payable is contingent, such income generally will qualify for purposes of the gross income tests only if it is based upon the gross receipts or sales, and not the net income or profits, of the borrower or lessee. This limitation does not apply, however, where the borrower or lessee leases substantially all of its interest in the property to tenants or subtenants, to the extent that the rental income derived by the borrower or lessee, as the case may be, would qualify as rents from real property had we earned the income directly.

 

We and our subsidiaries have invested in mezzanine loans, which are loans secured by equity interests in an entity that directly or indirectly owns real property, rather than by a direct mortgage of the real property. The IRS has issued Revenue Procedure 2003-65, which provides a safe harbor applicable to mezzanine loans. Under the Revenue Procedure, if a mezzanine loan meets each of the requirements contained in the Revenue Procedure, (1) the mezzanine loan will be treated by the IRS as a real estate asset for purposes of the asset tests described below, and (2) interest derived from the mezzanine loan will be treated as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the 75% income test. Although the Revenue Procedure provides a safe harbor on which taxpayers may rely, it does not prescribe rules of substantive tax law. We intend to structure, and we

believe that we have in the past structured, any investments in mezzanine loans in a manner that complies with the various requirements applicable to our qualification as a REIT. To the extent that any of our mezzanine loans do not meet all of the requirements for reliance on the safe harbor set forth in the Revenue Procedure, however, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge the tax treatment of these loans.

 

We and our subsidiaries also have invested in various types of commercial mortgage backed securities, or CMBS, real estate asset backed securities, or ABS, and agency residential mortgage backed securities, or RMBS. See below under “— Asset Tests” for a discussion of the effect of such investments on our qualification as a REIT.

 

We hold certain participation interests, including B-Notes, in mortgage loans and other instruments. Such interests in an underlying loan are created by virtue of a participation or similar agreement to which the originator of the loan is a party, along with one or more participants. The borrower on the underlying loan is typically not a party to the participation agreement. The performance of this investment depends upon the performance of the underlying loan, and if the underlying borrower defaults, the participant typically has no recourse against the originator of the loan. The originator often retains a senior position in the underlying loan, and grants junior participations which absorb losses first in the event of a default by the borrower. We believe that our participation interests qualify as real estate assets for purposes of the REIT asset tests described below, and that the interest that we derive from such investments will be treated as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the 75% income test. The appropriate treatment of participation interests for federal income tax purposes is not entirely certain, however, and no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge our treatment of our participation interests. In the event of a determination that such participation interests do not qualify as real estate assets, or that the income that we derive from such participation interests does not qualify as mortgage interest for purposes of the REIT asset and income tests, we could be subject to a penalty tax, or could fail to qualify as a REIT. See “— Taxation of REITs in General,” “— Requirements for Qualification — General,” “— Asset Tests” and “— Failure to Qualify.”

 

Rents will qualify as “rents from real property” in satisfying the gross income requirements described above only if several conditions are met. If rent is partly attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property, the portion of the rent that is attributable to the personal property will not qualify as “rents from real property” unless it constitutes 15% or less of the total rent received under the lease. In addition, the amount of rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. Amounts received as rent, however, generally will not be excluded from rents from real property solely by reason of being based on fixed percentages of gross receipts or sales. Moreover, for rents received to qualify as “rents from real property,” we generally must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to the tenants of such property, other than through an “independent contractor” from which we derive no revenue. We are permitted, however, to perform services that are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and which are not otherwise considered rendered to the occupant of the property. In addition, we may directly or indirectly provide non-customary services to tenants of our properties without disqualifying all of the rent from the property if the payments for such services does not exceed 1% of the total gross income from the property. For purposes of this test, we are we are deemed to have received income from such non-customary services in an amount at least 150% of the direct cost of providing the services. Moreover, we are generally permitted to provide services to tenants or others through a TRS without disqualifying the rental income received from tenants for purposes of the income tests. Also, rental income will qualify as rents from real property only to the extent that we do not directly or constructively hold a 10% or greater interest, as measured by vote or value, in the lessee’s equity.

 

We may directly or indirectly receive distributions from TRSs or other corporations that are not REITs or qualified REIT subsidiaries. These distributions generally are treated as dividend income to the extent of the earnings and profits of the distributing corporation. Such distributions will generally constitute qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but not for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Any dividends that we receive from a REIT, however, will be qualifying income for purposes of both the 95% and 75% income tests.

 

Effective beginning 2005, any income or gain that we or our pass-through subsidiaries derive from instruments that hedge certain risks, such as the risk of changes in interest rates, will be excluded from gross income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, provided that specified requirements are met, including the requirement that the instrument hedge risks associated with our indebtedness that is incurred to acquire or carry “real estate assets” (as described below under “— Asset Tests”), and the instrument is properly identified as a hedge along with the risk that it hedges within prescribed time periods. Income and gain from such transactions will not be qualifying income for the 75% gross income test, and income and gain from all other hedging transactions will not be qualifying income for either the 95% or 75% income test.

 

If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, we may still qualify as a REIT for the year if we are entitled to relief under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Those relief provisions generally will be available if our failure to meet the gross income tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and we file a schedule of the sources of our gross income in accordance with Treasury regulations. It is not possible to state whether we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions in all circumstances. If these relief provisions are inapplicable to a particular set of circumstances, we will not qualify as a REIT. As discussed above under “— Taxation of REITs in General,” even where these relief provisions apply, the Internal Revenue Code imposes a tax based upon the amount by which we fail to satisfy the particular gross income test.

 

Asset Tests

 

At the close of each calendar quarter, we must also satisfy four tests relating to the nature of our assets. First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by some combination of “real estate assets,” cash, cash items, U.S. government securities, and, under some circumstances, stock or debt instruments purchased with new capital. For this purpose, real estate assets include interests in real property, such as land, buildings, leasehold interests in real property, stock of other corporations that qualify as REITs, and some kinds of mortgage backed securities and mortgage loans. Assets that do not qualify for purposes of the 75% test are subject to the additional asset tests described below.

 

Second, the value of any one issuer’s securities that we own may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets. Third, we may not own more than 10% of any one issuer’s outstanding securities, as measured by either voting power or value. The 5% and 10% asset tests do not apply to real estate assets and securities of TRSs. Fourth, the aggregate value of all securities of TRSs that we hold may not exceed 20% of the value of our total assets.

 

Notwithstanding the general rule, as noted above, that for purposes of the REIT income and asset tests, we are treated as owning our proportionate share of the underlying assets of a subsidiary partnership, if we hold indebtedness issued by a partnership, the indebtedness will be subject to, and may cause a violation of, the asset tests unless the indebtedness is a qualifying mortgage asset, or other conditions are met. Similarly, although stock of another REIT is a qualifying asset for purposes of the REIT asset tests, any non-mortgage debt that is issued by another REIT may not so qualify (such debt, however, will not be treated as a “security” for purposes of the 10% value test, as explained below).

 

The Code provides that certain securities will not cause a violation of the 10% value test described above. Such securities include instruments that constitute “straight debt,” which includes, among other things, securities having certain contingency features. A security does not qualify as “straight debt” where a REIT (or a controlled TRS of the REIT) owns other securities of the same issuer which do not qualify as straight debt, unless the value of those other securities constitute, in the aggregate, 1% or less of the total value of that issuer’s outstanding securities. In addition to straight debt, the Code provides that certain other securities will not violate the 10% value test. Such securities include (a) any loan made to an individual or an estate, (b) certain rental agreements pursuant to which one or more payments are to be made in subsequent years (other than agreements between a REIT and certain persons related to the REIT under attribution rules), (c) any obligation to pay rents from real property, (d) securities issued by governmental entities that are not dependent in whole or in part on the profits of (or payments made by) a non- governmental entity, (e) any security (including debt securities) issued by another REIT, and (f) any debt instrument issued by a partnership if the

partnership’s income is of a nature that it would satisfy the 75% gross income test described above under “— Income Tests.” The Code also provides that in applying the 10% value test, a debt security issued by a partnership is not taken into account to the extent, if any, of the REIT’s proportionate interest in that partnership.

 

Any interests that we hold in a REMIC will generally qualify as real estate assets, and income derived from REMIC interests will generally be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the REIT income tests described above. If less than 95% of the assets of a REMIC are real estate assets, however, then only a proportionate part of our interest in the REMIC and income derived from the interest qualifies for purposes of the REIT asset and income tests. If we hold a “residual interest” in a REMIC from which we derive “excess inclusion income,” we will be required to either distribute the excess inclusion income or pay tax on it (or a combination of the two), even though we may not receive the income in cash. To the extent that distributed excess inclusion income is allocable to a particular stockholder, the income (1) would not be allowed to be offset by any net operating losses otherwise available to the stockholder, (2) would be subject to tax as unrelated business taxable income in the hands of most types of stockholders that are otherwise generally exempt from federal income tax, and (3) would result in the application of U.S. federal income tax withholding at the maximum rate (30%), without reduction pursuant to any otherwise applicable income tax treaty or other exemption, to the extent allocable to most types of foreign stockholders. Moreover, any excess inclusion income that we receive that is allocable to specified categories of tax-exempt investors which are not subject to unrelated business income tax, such as government entities or charitable remainder trusts, may be subject to corporate-level income tax in our hands, whether or not it is distributed. See “Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income.”

 

To the extent that we hold mortgage participations, CMBS or RMBS that do not represent REMIC interests, such assets may not qualify as real estate assets, and the income generated from them might not qualify for purposes of either or both of the REIT income requirements, depending upon the circumstances and the specific structure of the investment. In addition, certain of our mezzanine loans may qualify for the safe harbor in Revenue Procedure 2003-65 pursuant to which certain loans secured by a first priority security interest in ownership interests in a partnership or limited liability company will be treated as qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% real estate asset test and the 10% vote or value test. See “— Income Tests.” We may make some mezzanine loans that do not qualify for that safe harbor and that do not qualify as “straight debt” securities or for one of the other exclusions from the definition of “securities” for purposes of the 10% value test. We intend to make such investments in such a manner as not to fail the asset tests described above, and we believe that our existing investments satisfy such requirements. We believe that our holdings of securities and other assets will comply with the foregoing REIT asset requirements, and we intend to monitor compliance on an ongoing basis.

 

Independent valuations have not been obtained to support our conclusions as to the value of all of our assets. Moreover, values of some assets, including instruments issued in securitization transactions, may not be susceptible to a precise determination, and values are subject to change in the future. Furthermore, the proper classification of an instrument as debt or equity for federal income tax purposes may be uncertain in some circumstances, which could affect the application of the REIT asset requirements. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not contend that our interests in our subsidiaries or in the securities of other issuers will not cause a violation of the REIT asset tests.

 

The Code contains a number of relief provisions that make it easier for REITs to satisfy the asset requirements, or to maintain REIT qualification notwithstanding certain violations of the asset and other requirements. One such provision allows a REIT which fails one or more of the asset requirements to nevertheless maintain its REIT qualification if (1) the REIT provides the IRS with a description of each asset causing the failure, (2) the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, (3) the REIT pays a tax equal to the greater of (a) $50,000 per failure, and (b) the product of the net income generated by the assets that caused the failure multiplied by the highest applicable corporate tax rate (currently 35%), and (4) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within 6 months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or otherwise satisfies the relevant asset tests within that time frame. A second relief provision applies to de minimis violations of the 10% and 5% asset tests. A REIT may maintain its qualification

despite a violation of such requirements if (a) the value of the assets causing the violation does not exceed the lesser of 1% of the REIT’s total assets, and $10,000,000, and (b) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within 6 months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or the relevant tests are otherwise satisfied within that time frame. No assurance can be given that we would qualify for relief under those provisions.

 

Annual Distribution Requirements

 

In order to qualify as a REIT, we are required to distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends, to our stockholders in an amount at least equal to:

 

(a) the sum of

 

(1) 90% of our “REIT taxable income,” computed without regard to our net capital gains and the deduction for dividends paid, and

 

(2) 90% of our net income, if any, (after tax) from foreclosure property (as described below), minus

 

(b) the sum of specified items of noncash income.

 

We generally must make these distributions in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if declared before we timely file our tax return for the year and if paid with or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration. In addition, any dividend declared by us in October, November, or December of any year and payable to a shareholder of record on a specified date in any such month will be treated as both paid by us and received by the shareholder on December 31 of such year, so long as the dividend is actually paid by us before the end of January of the next calendar year. In order for distributions to be counted for this purpose, and to give rise to a tax deduction for us, the distributions must not be “preferential dividends.” A dividend is not a preferential dividend if the distribution is (1) pro rata among all outstanding shares of stock within a particular class, and (2) in accordance with the preferences among different classes of stock as set forth in our organizational documents.

 

To the extent that we distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of our “REIT taxable income,” as adjusted, we will be subject to tax at ordinary corporate tax rates on the retained portion. We may elect to retain, rather than distribute, our net long-term capital gains and pay tax on such gains. In this case, we could elect for our stockholders to include their proportionate shares of such undistributed long-term capital gains in income, and to receive a corresponding credit for their share of the tax that we paid. Our stockholders would then increase their adjusted basis of their stock by the difference between (a) the amounts of capital gain dividends that we designated and that they include in their taxable income, and (b) the tax that we paid on their behalf with respect to that income.

 

To the extent that we have available net operating losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that we must make in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. Such losses, however, will generally not affect the character of any distributions that are actually made as ordinary dividends or capital gains. See “— Taxation of Stockholders — Taxation of Taxable Domestic Stockholders — Distributions.”

 

If we should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (a) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (b) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year, and (c) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we would be subject to a non-deductible 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the sum of (x) the amounts actually distributed, plus (y) the amounts of income we retained and on which we have paid corporate income tax.

 

It is possible that, from time to time, we may not have sufficient cash to meet the distribution requirements due to timing differences between (a) our actual receipt of cash, including receipt of distributions

from its subsidiaries, and (b) our inclusion of items in income for federal income tax purposes. Other potential sources of non-cash taxable income include:

 

 

Differences in timing between the recognition of taxable income and the actual receipt of cash could require us to (i) sell assets, (ii) borrow funds on a short -term or long -term basis, or (iii) pay dividends in the form of taxable in-kind distributions of property, to meet the 90% distribution requirement.

 

We may be able to rectify a failure to meet the distribution requirements for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to stockholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. In this case, we may be able to avoid losing REIT status or being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends. We will be required to pay interest and a penalty based on the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.

 

Failure to Qualify

 

If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification other than the gross income or asset tests, we could avoid disqualification if our failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect and we pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure. Relief provisions are available for failures of the gross income tests and asset tests, as described above in “— Income Tests” and — Asset Tests.”

 

If we fail to qualify for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, and the relief provisions described above do not apply, we would be subject to tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. We cannot deduct distributions to stockholders in any year in which we are not a REIT, nor would we be required to make distributions in such a year. In this situation, to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits, distributions to domestic stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates will generally be taxable at capital gains rates (through 2010) pursuant to the 2003 Act. In addition, subject to the limitations of the Internal Revenue Code, corporate distributees may be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Unless we are entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we would also be disqualified from re-electing to be taxed as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we lost qualification. It is not possible to state whether, in all circumstances, we would be entitled to this statutory relief. The rule against re-electing REIT status following a loss of such status could also apply to us if Newcastle Investment Holdings Corp., a former stockholder of ours, and contributor of assets to us, failed to qualify as a REIT, and we are treated as a successor to Newcastle Investment Holdings for federal income tax purposes.

 

Prohibited Transactions

 

Net income that we derive from a prohibited transaction is subject to a 100% tax. The term “prohibited transaction” generally includes a sale or other disposition of property (other than foreclosure property, as discussed below) that is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. We intend to conduct our operations so that no asset that we own (or are treated as owning) will be treated as, or as having been, held for sale to customers, and that a sale of any such asset will not be treated as having been in the ordinary course of our business. Whether property is held “primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business” depends on the particular facts and circumstances. No assurance can be given that any property that we sell will not be treated as property held for sale to customers, or that we can comply with certain safe-harbor provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that would prevent such

treatment. The 100% tax does not apply to gains from the sale of property that is held through a TRS or other taxable corporation, although such income will be subject to tax in the hands of the corporation at regular corporate rates.

 

Foreclosure Property

 

Foreclosure property is real property and any personal property incident to such real property (1) that we acquire as the result of having bid in the property at foreclosure, or having otherwise reduced the property to ownership or possession by agreement or process of law, after a default (or upon imminent default) on a lease of the property or a mortgage loan held by us and secured by the property, (2) for which we acquired the related loan or lease was at a time when default was not imminent or anticipated, and (3) with respect to which we made a proper election to treat the property as foreclosure property. We generally will be subject to tax at the maximum corporate rate (currently 35%) on any net income from foreclosure property, including any gain from the disposition of the foreclosure property, other than income that would otherwise be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Any gain from the sale of property for which a foreclosure property election has been made will not be subject to the 100% tax on gains from prohibited transactions described above, even if the property would otherwise constitute inventory or dealer property. To the extent that we receive any income from foreclosure property that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test, we intend to make an election to treat the related property as foreclosure property.

 

Foreign Investments

 

We and our subsidiaries may hold investments in and pay taxes to foreign countries. Taxes that we pay in foreign jurisdictions may not be passed through to, or used by, our stockholders as a foreign tax credit or otherwise. Our foreign investments might also generate foreign currency gains and losses. Foreign currency gains are treated as income that does not qualify under the 95% or 75% income tests, unless certain technical requirements are met. No assurance can be given that these technical requirements will be met in the case of any foreign currency gains that we recognize directly or through pass-through subsidiaries, or that these technical requirements will not adversely affect our ability to satisfy the REIT qualification requirements.

 

Derivatives and Hedging Transactions

 

We and our subsidiaries have engaged in, and may in the future enter into, hedging transactions with respect to interest rate exposure on one or more assets or liabilities. Any such hedging transactions could take a variety of forms, including the use of derivative instruments such as interest rate swap contracts, interest rate cap or floor contracts, futures or forward contracts, and options. Effective beginning in 2005, to the extent that we or a pass-through subsidiary enter into a hedging transaction to reduce interest rate risk on indebtedness incurred to acquire or carry real estate assets and the instrument is properly identified as a hedge along with the risk it hedges within prescribed time periods, any periodic income from the instrument, or gain from the disposition of such instrument, would not be treated as gross income for purposes of the REIT 95% gross income test, and would be treated as non-qualifying income for the 75% gross income test. To the extent that we hedge in other situations (for example, against fluctuations in the value of foreign currencies), the resultant income will be treated as income that does not qualify under the 95% or 75% gross income tests. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our status as a REIT. We may conduct some or all of our hedging activities (including hedging activities relating to currency risk) through a TRS or other corporate entity, the income from which may be subject to federal income tax, rather than by participating in the arrangements directly or through pass-through subsidiaries. No assurance can be given, however, that our hedging activities will not give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of the REIT gross income tests, or that our hedging activities will not adversely affect our ability to satisfy the REIT qualification requirements.

 

Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income

 

An entity, or a portion of an entity, may be classified as a taxable mortgage pool (“TMP”) under the Internal Revenue Code if

 

 

Under regulations issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, if less than 80% of the assets of an entity (or a portion of an entity) consist of debt obligations, these debt obligations are considered not to comprise “substantially all” of its assets, and therefore the entity would not be treated as a TMP. Our financing and securitization arrangements may give rise to TMPs, with the consequences as described below.

 

Where an entity, or a portion of an entity, is classified as a TMP, it is generally treated as a taxable corporation for federal income tax purposes. In the case of a REIT, or a portion of a REIT, or a disregarded subsidiary of a REIT, that is a TMP, however, special rules apply. The TMP is not treated as a corporation that is subject to corporate income tax, and the TMP classification does not directly affect the tax status of the REIT. Rather, the consequences of the TMP classification would, in general, except as described below, be limited to the stockholders of the REIT.

 

A portion of the REIT’s income from the TMP arrangement, which might be non-cash accrued income, could be treated as “excess inclusion income.” Under recently issued IRS guidance, the REIT’s excess inclusion income, including any excess inclusion income from a residual interest in a REMIC, must be allocated among its stockholders in proportion to dividends paid. The REIT is required to notify stockholders of the amount of “excess inclusion income” allocated to them. A stockholder’s share of excess inclusion income:

 

 

See “— Taxation of Stockholders.” Under recently issued IRS guidance, to the extent that excess inclusion income is allocated to a tax-exempt stockholder of a REIT that is not subject to unrelated business income tax (such as a government entity or charitable remainder trust), the REIT may be subject to tax on this income at the highest applicable corporate tax rate (currently 35%). In that case, the REIT could reduce distributions to such stockholders by the amount of such tax paid by the REIT attributable to such stockholder’s ownership. Treasury regulations provide that such a reduction in distributions does not give rise to a preferential dividend that could adversely affect the REIT’s compliance with its distribution requirements. See “— Annual Distribution Requirements.” The manner in which excess inclusion income is calculated, or would be allocated to stockholders, including allocations among shares of different classes of stock, is not clear under current law. As required by IRS guidance, we intend to make such determinations using a reasonable method. Tax-exempt investors, foreign investors and taxpayers with net operating losses should carefully consider the tax consequences described above, and are urged to consult their tax advisors.

 

If a subsidiary partnership of ours that we do not wholly-own, directly or through one or more disregarded entities, were a TMP, the foregoing rules would not apply. Rather, the partnership that is a TMP would be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, and potentially would be subject to corporate income tax or withholding tax. In addition, this characterization would alter our income and asset

test calculations, and could adversely affect our compliance with those requirements. We intend to monitor the structure of any TMPs in which we have an interest to ensure that they will not adversely affect our status as a REIT.

 

Tax Aspects of Investments in Affiliated Partnerships

 

General

 

We may hold investments through entities that are classified as partnerships for federal income tax purposes. In general, partnerships are “pass-through” entities that are not subject to federal income tax. Rather, partners are allocated their proportionate shares of the items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of a partnership, and are potentially subject to tax on these items, without regard to whether the partners receive a distribution from the partnership. We will include in our income our proportionate share of these partnership items for purposes of the various REIT income tests and in computation of our REIT taxable income. Moreover, for purposes of the REIT asset tests, we will include in our calculations our proportionate share of any assets held by subsidiary partnerships. Our proportionate share of a partnership’s assets and income is based on our capital interest in the partnership (except that for purposes of the 10% value test with respect to the 2005 and future taxable years, our proportionate share is based on our proportionate interest in the equity and certain debt securities issued by the partnership). See “Taxation of Newcastle — Effect of Subsidiary Entities — Ownership of Partnership Interests.”

 

Entity Classification

 

Any investment in partnerships involves special tax considerations, including the possibility of a challenge by the IRS of the status of any subsidiary partnership as a partnership, as opposed to an association taxable as a corporation, for federal income tax purposes (for example, if the IRS were to assert that a subsidiary partnership is a TMP). See “Taxation of Newcastle — Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income.” If any of these entities were treated as an association for federal income tax purposes, it would be taxable as a corporation and therefore could be subject to an entity-level tax on its income. In such a situation, the character of our assets and items of gross income would change and could preclude us from satisfying the REIT asset tests or the gross income tests as discussed in “Taxation of Newcastle — Asset Tests” and “— Income Tests,” and in turn could prevent us from qualifying as a REIT, unless we are eligible for relief from the violation pursuant to relief provisions described above. See “Taxation of Newcastle — Asset Tests,” “— Income Test” and “— Failure to Qualify,” above, for discussion of the effect of failure to satisfy the REIT tests for a taxable year, and of the relief provisions. In addition, any change in the status of any subsidiary partnership for tax purposes might be treated as a taxable event, in which case we could have taxable income that is subject to the REIT distribution requirements without receiving any cash.

 

Tax Allocations with Respect to Partnership Properties

 

Under the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury regulations, income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to appreciated or depreciated property that is contributed to a partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership must be allocated for tax purposes so that the contributing partner is charged with, or benefits from, the unrealized gain or unrealized loss associated with the property at the time of the contribution. The amount of the unrealized gain or unrealized loss is generally equal to the difference between the fair market value of the contributed property at the time of contribution, and the adjusted tax basis of such property at the time of contribution (a “book-tax difference”). Such allocations are solely for federal income tax purposes and do not affect the book capital accounts or other economic or legal arrangements among the partners.

 

To the extent that any of our subsidiary partnerships acquires appreciated (or depreciated) properties by way of capital contributions from its partners, allocations would need to be made in a manner consistent with these requirements. Where a partner contributes cash to a partnership at a time that the partnership holds appreciated (or depreciated) property, the Treasury regulations provide for a similar allocation of these items to the other (i.e., non-contributing) partners. These rules may apply to a contribution that we make to any

subsidiary partnerships of the cash proceeds received in offerings of our stock. As a result, the partners of our subsidiary partnerships, including us, could be allocated greater or lesser amounts of depreciation and taxable income in respect of a partnership’s properties than would be the case if all of the partnership’s assets (including any contributed assets) had a tax basis equal to their fair market values at the time of any contributions to that partnership. This could cause us to recognize, over a period of time, taxable income in excess of cash flow from the partnership, which might adversely affect our ability to comply with the REIT distribution requirements discussed above.

 

Taxation of Stockholders

 

Taxation of Taxable Domestic Stockholders

 

Distributions.  As a REIT, the distributions that we make to our taxable domestic stockholders out of current or accumulated earnings and profits that we do not designate as capital gain dividends will generally be taken into account by stockholders as ordinary income and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporations. With limited exceptions, our dividends are not eligible for taxation at the preferential income tax rates (15% maximum federal rate through 2010) for qualified dividends received by domestic stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates from taxable C corporations pursuant to the 2003 Act. Such stockholders, however, are taxed at the preferential rates on dividends designated by and received from REITs to the extent that the dividends are attributable to

 

 

Distributions that we designate as capital gain dividends will generally be taxed to our stockholders as long-term capital gains, to the extent that such distributions do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year, without regard to the period for which the stockholder that receives such distribution has held its stock. We may elect to retain and pay taxes on some or all of our net long term capital gains, in which case provisions of the Internal Revenue Code will treat our stockholders as having received, solely for tax purposes, our undistributed capital gains, and the stockholders will receive a corresponding credit for taxes that we paid on such undistributed capital gains. See “Taxation of Newcastle — Annual Distribution Requirements.” Corporate stockholders may be required to treat up to 20% of some capital gain dividends as ordinary income. Long-term capital gains are generally taxable at maximum federal rates of 15% (through 2010) in the case of stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates, and 35% in the case of stockholders that are corporations. Capital gains attributable to the sale of depreciable real property held for more than 12 months are subject to a 25% maximum federal income tax rate for taxpayers who are taxed as individuals, to the extent of previously claimed depreciation deductions.

 

In determining the extent to which a distribution constitutes a dividend for tax purposes, our earnings and profits generally will be allocated first to distributions with respect to preferred stock, including our Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock, and only then will any remaining earnings and profits be allocated to distributions on our common stock. If we have net capital gains and designate some or all of our distributions as capital gain dividends, the capital gain dividends will be allocated among different classes of stock in proportion to the allocation of earnings and profits as described above.

 

Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will generally represent a return of capital and will not be taxable to a stockholder to the extent that the amount of such distributions do not exceed the adjusted basis of the stockholder’s shares in respect of which the distributions were made. Rather, the distribution will reduce the adjusted basis of the shareholder’s shares. To the extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a stockholder’s shares, the stockholder generally must include such distributions in income as long-term capital gain, or short-term capital gain if the shares have been held for one year or less. In addition, any dividend that we declare in October, November or December of any year and

that is payable to a stockholder of record on a specified date in any such month will be treated as both paid by us and received by the stockholder on December 31 of such year, provided that we actually pay the dividend before the end of January of the following calendar year.

 

To the extent that we have available net operating losses and capital losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that we must make in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. See “Taxation of Newcastle — Annual Distribution Requirements.” Such losses, however, are not passed through to stockholders and do not offset income of stockholders from other sources, nor would such losses affect the character of any distributions that we make, which are generally subject to tax in the hands of stockholders to the extent that we have current or accumulated earnings and profits.

 

If excess inclusion income from a taxable mortgage pool or REMIC residual interest is allocated to any stockholder, that income will be taxable in the hands of the stockholder and would not be offset by any net operating losses of the stockholder that would otherwise be available. See “Taxation of Newcastle — Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income.” As required by IRS guidance, we intend to notify our stockholders if a portion of a dividend paid by us is attributable to excess inclusion income.

 

Dispositions of Newcastle Stock.  In general, capital gains recognized by individuals, trusts and estates upon the sale or disposition of our stock will, pursuant to the 2003 Act, be subject to a maximum federal income tax rate of 15% (through 2010) if the stock is held for more than one year, and will be taxed at ordinary income rates (of up to 35% through 2010) if the stock is held for one year or less. Gains recognized by stockholders that are corporations are subject to federal income tax at a maximum rate of 35%, whether or not such gains are classified as long-term capital gains. Capital losses recognized by a stockholder upon the disposition of our stock that was held for more than one year at the time of disposition will be considered long-term capital losses, and are generally available only to offset capital gain income of the stockholder but not ordinary income (except in the case of individuals, who may offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income each year). In addition, any loss upon a sale or exchange of shares of our stock by a stockholder who has held the shares for six months or less, after applying holding period rules, will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of distributions that we make that are required to be treated by the stockholder as long-term capital gain.

 

If an investor recognizes a loss upon a subsequent disposition of our stock or other securities in an amount that exceeds a prescribed threshold, it is possible that the provisions of Treasury regulations involving “reportable transactions” could apply, with a resulting requirement to separately disclose the loss-generating transaction to the IRS. These regulations, though directed towards “tax shelters,” are written quite broadly, and apply to transactions that would not typically be considered tax shelters. The Code imposes significant penalties for failure to comply with these requirements. You should consult your tax advisors concerning any possible disclosure obligation with respect to the receipt or disposition of our stock or securities, or transactions that we might undertake directly or indirectly. Moreover, you should be aware that we and other participants in the transactions in which we are involved (including their advisors) might be subject to disclosure or other requirements pursuant to these regulations.

 

Taxation of Foreign Stockholders

 

The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our stock applicable to non-U.S. holders. A “non-U.S. holder” is any person other than:

 

 

 

If a partnership, including for this purpose any entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holds our stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. An investor that is a partnership and the partners in such partnership should consult their tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our stock.

 

The discussion is based on current law, and is for general information only. It addresses only selected, and not all, aspects of U.S. federal income and estate taxation.

 

Ordinary Dividends.  The portion of dividends received by non-U.S. holders that is (1) payable out of our earnings and profits, (2) which is not attributable to our capital gains and (3) which is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. holder, will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30%, unless reduced or eliminated by treaty. Reduced treaty rates and other exemptions are not available to the extent that income is attributable to excess inclusion income allocable to the foreign stockholder. Accordingly, we will withhold at a rate of 30% on any portion of a dividend that is paid to a non-U.S. holder and attributable to that holder’s share of our excess inclusion income. See “Taxation of Newcastle — Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income.” As required by IRS guidance, we intend to notify our stockholders if a portion of a dividend paid by us is attributable to excess inclusion income.

 

In general, non-U.S. holders will not be considered to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business solely as a result of their ownership of our stock. In cases where the dividend income from a non-U.S. holder’s investment in our stock is, or is treated as, effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates, in the same manner as domestic stockholders are taxed with respect to such dividends. Such income must generally be reported on a U.S. income tax return filed by or on behalf of the non-U.S. holder. The income may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax in the case of a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation.

 

Non-Dividend Distributions.  Unless our stock constitutes a USRPI, distributions that we make which are not dividends out of our earnings and profits will not be subject to U.S. income tax. If we cannot determine at the time a distribution is made whether or not the distribution will exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to dividends. The non-U.S. holder may seek a refund from the IRS of any amounts withheld if it is subsequently determined that the distribution was, in fact, in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. If our stock constitutes a USRPI, as described below, distributions that we make in excess of the sum of (a) the stockholder’s proportionate share of our earnings and profits, plus (b) the stockholder’s basis in its stock, will be taxed under FIRPTA at the rate of tax, including any applicable capital gains rates, that would apply to a domestic stockholder of the same type (e.g., an individual or a corporation, as the case may be), and the collection of the tax will be enforced by a refundable withholding tax at a rate of 10% of the amount by which the distribution exceeds the stockholder’s share of our earnings and profits.

 

Capital Gain Dividends.  Under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”), a dividend that we make to a non-U.S. holder, to the extent attributable to gains from dispositions of U.S. real property interests (“USRPIs”) that we held directly or through pass-through subsidiaries (such gains, “USRPI capital gains”), will, except as described below, be considered effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. holder and will be subject to U.S. income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. individuals or corporations. We will be required to withhold tax equal to 35% of the maximum amount that could have been designated as a capital gain dividend. A dividend will not be so treated or be subject to FIRPTA, and generally will not be treated as income that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, provided that (1) the dividend is received with respect to a class of stock that is regularly traded on an established

securities market located in the United States, and (2) the recipient non-U.S. holder does not own more than 5% of that class of stock at any time during the year ending on the date on which the dividend is received. We anticipate that our common stock will be “regularly traded” on an established securities exchange.

 

Dispositions of Newcastle Stock.  Unless our stock constitutes a USRPI, a sale of our stock by a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. taxation under FIRPTA. Our stock will not be treated as a USRPI if less than 50% of our assets throughout a prescribed testing period consist of interests in real property located within the United States, excluding, for this purpose, interests in real property solely in a capacity as a creditor. It is not currently anticipated that our stock will constitute a USRPI.

 

Even if the foregoing 50% test is not met, our stock nonetheless will not constitute a USRPI if we are a “domestically-controlled qualified investment entity.” A domestically-controlled qualified investment entity includes a REIT, less than 50% of value of which is held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. holders at all times during a specified testing period. We believe that we are, and we expect to continue to be, a domestically-controlled qualified investment entity, and that a sale of our stock should not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA. No assurance can be given that we will remain a domestically-controlled qualified investment entity.

 

In the event that we are not a domestically-controlled qualified investment entity, but our stock is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Department regulations, on an established securities market, a non-U.S. holder’s sale of our stock nonetheless would not be subject to tax under FIRPTA as a sale of a USRPI, provided that the selling non-U.S. holder held 5% or less of our stock at all times during a specified testing period. Our stock is, and we expect that it will continue to be, publicly traded.

 

If gain on the sale of our stock were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the non-U.S. holder would be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return and would be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. stockholder with respect to such gain, subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of non-resident alien individuals, and the purchaser of the stock could be required to withhold 10% of the purchase price and remit such amount to the IRS.

 

Gain from the sale of our stock that would not otherwise be subject to FIRPTA will nonetheless be taxable in the United States to a non-U.S. holder in two cases: (1) if the non-U.S. holder’s investment in our stock is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by such non-U.S. holder, the non-U.S. holder will be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. stockholder with respect to such gain, or (2) if the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a “tax home” in the United States, the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual’s capital gain.

 

Estate Tax.  If our stock is owned or treated as owned by an individual who is not a citizen or resident (as specially defined for U.S. federal estate tax purposes) of the United States at the time of such individual’s death, the stock will be includable in the individual’s gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise, and may therefore be subject to U.S. federal estate tax.

 

Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders

 

Tax-exempt entities, including qualified employee pension and profit sharing trusts and individual retirement accounts, generally are exempt from federal income taxation. Such entities, however, may be subject to taxation on their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). While some investments in real estate may generate UBTI, the IRS has ruled that dividend distributions from a REIT to a tax-exempt entity do not constitute UBTI. Based on that ruling, and provided that (1) a tax-exempt stockholder has not held our stock as “debt financed property” within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code (i.e., where the acquisition or holding of the property is financed through a borrowing by the tax-exempt stockholder), and (2) our stock is not otherwise used in an unrelated trade or business, distributions that we make and income from the sale of our stock generally should not give rise to UBTI to a tax-exempt stockholder.

 

To the extent that we are (or a part of us, or a disregarded subsidiary of ours is) a TMP, or if we hold residual interests in a REMIC, a portion of the dividends paid to a tax-exempt stockholder that is allocable to excess inclusion income may be treated as UBTI. If, however, excess inclusion income is allocable to some

categories of tax-exempt stockholders that are not subject to UBTI, we might be subject to corporate level tax on such income, and, in that case, may reduce the amount of distributions to those stockholders whose ownership gave rise to the tax. See “Taxation of Newcastle — Taxable Mortgage Pools and Excess Inclusion Income.” As required by IRS guidance, we intend to notify our stockholders if a portion of a dividend paid by us is attributable to excess inclusion income.

 

Tax-exempt stockholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, and qualified group legal services plans exempt from federal income taxation under sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9), (c)(17) and (c)(20) of the Internal Revenue Code are subject to different UBTI rules, which generally require such stockholders to characterize distributions that we make as UBTI.

 

In certain circumstances, a pension trust that owns more than 10% of our stock could be required to treat a percentage of the dividends as UBTI, if we are a “pension-held REIT.” We will not be a pension-held REIT unless (1) we are required to “look through” one or more of our pension stockholders in order to satisfy the REIT closely held test and (2) either (i) one pension trust owns more than 25% of the value of our stock, or (ii) a group of pension trusts, each individually holding more than 10% of the value of our stock, collectively owns more than 50% of our stock. Certain restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock should generally prevent a tax-exempt entity from owning more than 10% of the value of our stock, and should generally prevent us from becoming a pension-held REIT.

 

Tax-exempt stockholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences of owning Newcastle stock.

 

Other Tax Considerations

 

Legislative or Other Actions Affecting REITs

 

The rules dealing with federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department. Changes to the federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could adversely affect an investment in our stock.

 

The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 contains a number of provisions that affect the tax treatment of REITs and their stockholders, many of which apply retroactively to 2001. As discussed above, the 2004 Act includes provisions that generally ease compliance with certain REIT asset requirements, with the REIT 95% gross income requirement (in connection with income from hedging activities), and which grant relief in cases involving violations of the REIT asset and other requirements, provided that specified conditions are met. See “Taxation of Newcastle — Requirements for Qualification — General,” “— Asset Tests,” “— Income Tests” and “— Failure to Qualify.” The 2004 Act also alters the tax treatment of capital gain dividends received by foreign stockholders in some cases. See “Taxation of Stockholders — Taxation of Foreign Stockholders — Capital Gain Dividends.”

 

State, Local and Foreign Taxes

 

We and our subsidiaries and stockholders may be subject to state, local or foreign taxation in various jurisdictions, including those in which we or they transact business, own property or reside. We may own properties located in numerous jurisdictions, and may be required to file tax returns in some or all of those jurisdictions. Our state, local or foreign tax treatment and that of our stockholders may not conform to the federal income tax treatment discussed above. We may pay foreign property taxes, and dispositions of foreign property or operations involving, or investments in, foreign property may give rise to foreign income or other tax liability in amounts that could be substantial. Any foreign taxes that we incur do not pass through to stockholders as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the application and effect of state, local and foreign income and other tax laws on an investment in our stock or other securities.

 

A plan fiduciary considering an investment in the securities should consider, among other things, whether such an investment might constitute or give rise to a prohibited transaction under ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code or any substantially similar federal, state or local law. ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code impose restrictions on:

 

 

Regulation Under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code

 

ERISA imposes certain duties on persons who are fiduciaries of a plan. Under ERISA, any person who exercises any authority or control over the management or disposition of a plan’s assets is considered to be a fiduciary of that plan. Both ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code prohibit certain transactions involving “plan assets” between a plan and parties in interest or disqualified persons. Violations of these rules may result in the imposition of an excise tax or penalty.

 

Under Section 3(42) of ERISA and 29 C.F.R. 2510.3-101 (the “Plan Assets Rules”), a plan’s assets may be deemed to include an interest in the underlying assets of an entity if the plan acquires an “equity interest” in such an entity. In that event, the operations of such an entity could result in a prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Regulation Issued by the Department of Labor

 

Under the Plan Assets Rules, if a plan acquires a “publicly-offered security,” the issuer of the security is not deemed to hold plan assets. A publicly-offered security is a security that:

 

 

(i) part of a class of securities registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, or

 

(ii) sold to the plan as part of an offering of securities to the public pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and the class of securities of which such security is part is registered under the Exchange Act within the requisite time.

 

The Shares of Our Common Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock as “Publicly-Offered Securities‘

 

Our common stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock currently meet the above criteria and it is anticipated that the shares of our common stock being offered hereby will continue to meet the criteria of publicly-offered securities.

 

Applicability of other exceptions to the Plan Asset Regulation with respect to other securities offered hereby will be discussed in the respective prospectus supplement.

 

General Investment Considerations

 

Prospective fiduciaries of a plan (including, without limitation, an entity whose assets include plan assets, including, as applicable, an insurance company general account) considering the purchase of securities should consult with their legal advisors concerning the impact of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code and the potential consequences of making an investment in these securities with respect to their specific circumstances. Each plan fiduciary should take into account, among other considerations:

 

 

Certain employee benefit plans, such as governmental plans and certain church plans are not subject to the provisions of Title I of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, assets of such plans may be invested in the securities without regard to the ERISA considerations described here, subject to the provisions of any other applicable federal and state law. It should be noted that any such plan that is qualified and exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code is subject to the prohibited transaction rules set forth in the Internal Revenue Code.

 

We may sell the common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, any series of debt securities or warrants being offered hereby in one or more of the following ways from time to time:

 

 

The prospectus supplement with respect to each series of securities will state the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

 

 

If we use underwriters or dealers in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including:

 

 

Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities may be offered either to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters’ obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities.

 

In connection with an offering of securities, the underwriters may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions, stabilizing transactions and penalty bids. Over-allotment involves sales of securities in excess of the principal amount of securities to be purchased by the underwriters in an offering, which creates a short position for the underwriters. Covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover short positions. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of securities made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities while the offering is in progress. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction

to cover syndicate short positions. Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities being offered. They may also cause the price of the securities being offered to be higher than the price that otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.

 

If indicated in an applicable prospectus supplement, we may sell the securities through agents from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and any commissions we pay to them. Generally, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The delayed delivery contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these delayed delivery contracts.

 

Offered securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreements, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Agents, underwriters and other third parties described above may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents or underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof. Agents, underwriters and such other third parties may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

 

Each series of securities will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market, other than our common stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock, which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Any common stock, Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock sold will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, upon official notice of issuance. The securities other than the common stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. Any underwriters to whom securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice.

 

Certain of the underwriters, dealers or agents and their associates may engage in transactions with, and perform services for, us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business for which they may receive customary fees and expenses.

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain legal matters will be passed upon for us by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York and DLA Piper US LLP, Baltimore, Maryland. If legal matters in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel for the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, such counsel will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering.

 

The consolidated financial statements of Newcastle Investment Corp., appearing in Newcastle Investment Corp.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2005, and Newcastle Investment Corp. management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005 included therein, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the underwriter has not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriter is not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale thereof is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein is accurate only as of the respective dates of such documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

4,560,000 Shares

 

Common Stock

 

 

Newcastle Investment Corp.

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

April 5, 2007

 

 

Morgan Stanley