Press release, dated November 8, 2011, issued by Newcastle Investment Corp.

Exhibit 99.1

LOGO

NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP.

Contact:

Investor Relations

212-479-3195

Newcastle Announces Third Quarter 2011 Results

– Reports Core Earnings of $0.39 per diluted share

– Reports GAAP income of $0.35 per diluted share

– Declared Common Dividend of $0.15 per share for the third quarter of 2011

– Increased Over-collateralization in CDO X to $106 million at quarter-end

– $190 million of Current Unrestricted Cash to invest

THIRD QUARTER 2011 FINANCIAL RESULTS

New York, NY, November 8, 2011 – Newcastle Investment Corp. (NYSE: NCT) reported that in the third quarter of 2011, income available for common stockholders (“GAAP income”) was $29 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, compared to $162 million, or $2.61 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2010.

GAAP income of $29 million consisted of the following:

•

$31 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, of core earnings, which is equal to net interest income less expenses (net of preferred dividends)

•

$19 million of other income related to a $6 million net gain on the settlement of investments, a $16 million gain on the extinguishment of CDO debt, offset primarily by a $3 million non-cash mark-to-market loss related to interest rate derivatives in the CDOs

•

$21 million of non-cash mark-to-market loss on loans held for sale and impairment recorded on securities

In the third quarter of 2011, GAAP book value decreased by $0.34 per share. As of September 30, 2011, GAAP book value was $1.02 per share, compared to $1.36 per share as of June 30, 2011.

During the third quarter of 2011, the Company generated $15 million of cash flow from operations compared to $15 million in the second quarter of 2011. In addition, the Company received $9 million of unrestricted cash from principal repayments on Newcastle’s repurchased CDO debt and other CDO securities that were purchased at a weighted average price of 57% of par.

On September 14, 2011, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per common share or $16 million for the third quarter of 2011, representing a 50% increase from the prior quarter’s dividend of $0.10 per common share. The Board of Directors also declared dividends of $0.609375, $0.503125 and $0.523438 per share on the 9.75% Series B, 8.05% Series C and 8.375% Series D preferred stock, respectively, for the period beginning August 1, 2011 and ending October 31, 2011.

On September 27, 2011, Newcastle completed the sale of 25.9 million shares of its common stock, at a price of $4.55 per share. The net proceeds of the sale were $112.3 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses.

The following table summarizes the Company’s operating results ($ in millions, except per share data):


	Three Months Ended
	September 30, 2011		June 30, 2011		September 30, 2010
Summary Operating Results:
GAAP income	$	29	$	98	$	162
GAAP income, per diluted share	$	0.35	$	1.23	$	2.61
Non-GAAP Results:
Core earnings ⁽¹⁾	$	31	$	30	$	30
Core earnings, ⁽¹⁾per diluted share	$	0.39	$	0.37	$	0.48
Cash flow from:
Operations	$	15	$	15	$	16
Principal repayments on repurchased CDO debt & other CDO securities ⁽²⁾	$	9	$	48	$	—

(1)	Previously referred to as “net interest income less expenses (net of preferred dividends)”.

(2)	The related repurchased CDO debt and other CDO securities were purchased at a weighted average price of 57% of par, and 74% of par for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and June 30, 2011, respectively. During the three months ended September 30, 2010, no such repayments were received.

For a reconciliation of income available for common stockholders to core earnings, please refer to the tables following the presentation of GAAP results.

THIRD QUARTER 2011 INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

$10 million of unrestricted cash investments:

Newcastle invested $9 million to purchase $26 million face amount of Newcastle CDO bonds at an average price of 33% of par, with an expected average return of 27% and an average life of 3.9 years.

The Company also invested $1 million in the quarter to purchase $31 million face amount of FNMA securities at an average price of 106% of par, financed with $31 million under repurchase agreements.

$185 million of restricted CDO cash investments:

Newcastle invested $185 million to purchase $225 million face amount of assets at an average price of 82% of par with an expected average yield of 10% and an average life of 5.9 years, including the following:

•

Invested $115 million to purchase $155 million face amount of CMBS, ABS, and CDO securities at an average price of 74% of par, with an expected average yield of 11%, an average life of 7.6 years, and an average rating of BBB.

•

Invested $70 million to purchase one senior mezzanine loan at a price of par, with a coupon of 1-Month LIBOR plus 7% subjected to a 1% LIBOR floor. The loan is secured by 13 hotel properties, has a loan-to-value of 53%, and an average life of 2.1 years.

CASH AND RECOURSE FINANCING

As of November 4, 2011, the Company’s cash and current recourse financings were as set forth below:

•

Cash – The Company had $190 million of unrestricted cash and $84 million of restricted cash available for reinvestment within its consolidated CDOs.

•

Recourse Financing – The Company had $3 million related to the financing of senior Newcastle CDO bonds it repurchased and $207 million related to the financing of FNMA and FHLMC securities.

The following table illustrates the change in cash and recourse financings, excluding junior subordinated notes ($ in millions):


	November 4, 2011		September 30, 2011		June 30, 2011
CDO Cash for Reinvestment	$	84	$	138	$	168
Unrestricted Cash		190		205		101
Recourse Financings
NCT CDO senior bonds		3		3		4
FNMA/FHLMC Securities		207		209		104

Total Recourse Financings	$	210	$	212	$	108

NEWCASTLE CDO FINANCINGS

The following table summarizes the cash receipts in the third quarter of 2011 from the Company’s consolidated CDO financings and their related coverage tests ($ in thousands):


	Primary Collateral Type	Cash Receipts ⁽¹⁾		Interest Coverage % Excess (Deficiency) Oct 31, 2011 ⁽²⁾			Over-Collateralization Excess (Deficiency) ⁽²⁾
							October 31, 2011						September 30,2011						June 30, 2011
							%			$			%			$			%			$
CDO IV	Securities	$	394		44.5	%		-5.1	%		(10,260	)		-5.1	%		(10,260	)		-2.4	%		(4,987	)
CDO VI	Securities		155		-93.2	%		-56.7	%		(172,787	)		-54.3	%		(165,735	)		-56.3	%		(181,831	)
CDO VIII	Loans		4,686		342.4	%		8.8	%		56,590			8.4	%		54,135			8.7	%		56,396
CDO IX	Loans		5,245		383.8	%		14.9	%		96,190			14.4	%		93,283			14.2	%		91,926
CDO X	Securities		5,704		240.9	%		8.3	%		97,654			9.0	%		105,811			2.1	%		25,220

Total		$	16,184

(1)

Represents cash received from each CDO based on all of the interests in such CDO (including senior management fees but excluding $8.2 million of principal received from senior CDO bonds owned by the Company). Cash receipts for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 may not be indicative of cash receipts for subsequent periods. See Forward-Looking Statements below for risks and uncertainties that could cause cash receipts for subsequent periods to differ materially from these amounts.

(2)

Represents excess or deficiency under the applicable interest coverage or over-collateralization test to the first threshold at which cash flow would be redirected. The Company generally does not receive material interest cash flow from a CDO until a deficiency is corrected. The information regarding coverage tests is based on data from the most recent remittance date on or before October 31, 2011, September 30, 2011, or June 30, 2011, as applicable. The CDO IV test is conducted only on a quarterly basis (December, March, June and September).

•

Of the $16 million CDO cash receipts, $1.5 million were related to senior collateral management fees, which were not subject to the related CDO coverage tests.

•

During the quarter, the over-collateralization in CDO X increased by $81 million from $25 million to $106 million. As of the October 2011 remittance, assets on negative watch for possible downgrade by at least one rating agency (Moody’s, S&P, or Fitch) for CDOs VIII, IX, and X were $26 million, $1 million, and $67 million, respectively.

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO

Newcastle’s $3.8 billion investment portfolio (with a basis of $2.9 billion) consists of commercial, residential and corporate debt. During the quarter, the weighted average carrying value on the September 30, 2011 portfolio changed from 78.3% to 75.1%, a decrease of $121 million. The face amount of the portfolio increased by $15 million, primarily as a result of purchases of $262 million, offset by sales of $156 million, principal repayments of $84 million, and actual principal write-downs of $13 million.

The following table describes the investment portfolio as of September 30, 2011 ($ in millions):


	Face Amount $		Basis Amount $ ⁽⁴⁾		% of Total Basis			Carrying Value Amount $		Number of Investments		Credit ⁽⁵⁾			Weighted Average Life (years) ⁽⁶⁾
Commercial Assets
CMBS	$	1,493	$	1,069		37.3	%	$	1,061		206		BB			3.9
Mezzanine Loans		560		443		15.5	%		443		16		68	%		2.3
B-Notes		255		188		6.5	%		188		9		78	%		1.8
Whole Loans		31		31		1.1	%		31		3		48	%		2.1
CDO Securities ⁽¹⁾		90		68		2.4	%		57		3		BB+			3.7
Other Investments ⁽²⁾		25		25		0.9	%		25		1		—			—

Total Commercial Assets		2,454		1,824		63.7	%		1,805							3.3
Residential Assets
MH and Residential Loans		391		338		11.8	%		338		10,340		705			6.3
Subprime Securities		270		144		5.0	%		151		64		B+			6.5
Real Estate ABS		53		41		1.4	%		40		14		BBB			6.4

		714		523		18.2	%		529							6.4
FNMA/FHLMC Securities		211		221		7.7	%		221		26		AAA			4.6

Total Residential Assets		925		744		25.9	%		750							6.0
Corporate Assets
REIT Debt		137		137		4.8	%		134		20		BB+			2.7
Corporate Bank Loans		278		160		5.6	%		160		6		CC			3.0

Total Corporate Assets		415		297		10.4	%		294							2.9

Total/Weighted Average ⁽³⁾	$	3,794	$	2,865		100.0	%	$	2,849							3.9

(1)	Represents non-consolidated CDO securities excluding ten securities with a zero value, which had an aggregate face amount of $117 million.

(2)	Relates to an equity investment in a REO property.

(3)	Excludes operating real estate held for sale of $8 million and loans subject to call option with a face amount of $406 million.

(4)	Net of impairment.

(5)

Credit represents the weighted average of minimum ratings for rated assets, the Loan to Value ratio (based on the appraised value at the time of purchase or refinancing) for non-rated commercial assets, or the FICO score for non-rated residential assets and an implied and assumed AAA rating for FNMA/FHLMC securities. Ratings provided herein were determined by third party rating agencies as of a particular date, may not be current and are subject to change at any time.

(6)	Weighted average life is based on the timing of expected principal reduction on the asset.

Commercial Assets

The Company owns $2.5 billion of commercial assets (with a basis of $1.8 billion), which includes CMBS, mezzanine loans, B-Notes, whole loans, CDO securities, and other investments.

•

During the quarter, the Company purchased $214 million of CMBS, mezzanine loans and CDO securities, sold $122 million of CMBS and mezzanine loans, received principal repayments of $57 million and had $4 million of actual principal write-downs on CMBS.

•

Regarding the Company’s CMBS portfolio, five securities or $18 million were upgraded (from a weighted average rating of AA- to AA), one security or $2 million was affirmed and 21 securities or $141 million were downgraded (from a weighted average rating of BB- to B).

•

The weighted average carrying value of these assets changed from 77.3% to 73.6%, a decrease of $92 million in the quarter.

CMBS portfolio ($ in thousands):


Vintage ⁽¹⁾	Average Minimum Rating ⁽²⁾	Number		Face Amount $		Basis Amount $		% of Total Basis			Carrying Value Amount $		Delinquency 60+/FC/REO ⁽³⁾			Principal Subordination ⁽⁴⁾			Weighted Average Life (yrs) ⁽⁵⁾
Pre 2004	BB+		67		330,670		311,149		29.1	%		287,725		6.4	%		13.7	%		1.6
2004	BB+		31		144,015		112,741		10.5	%		105,214		3.1	%		7.7	%		3.6
2005	BB		30		312,213		175,555		16.4	%		201,250		4.6	%		7.8	%		3.3
2006	BB		43		387,280		261,494		24.5	%		254,312		7.6	%		11.9	%		3.9
2007	B		16		121,638		34,936		3.3	%		52,134		19.7	%		11.5	%		4.4
2010	BB+		4		46,798		43,434		4.1	%		39,608		0.0	%		3.5	%		9.1
2011	BBB		15		150,000		129,639		12.1	%		120,391		0.0	%		6.8	%		8.8

TOTAL/WA	BB		206		1,492,614		1,068,948		100.0	%		1,060,634		6.3	%		10.2	%		3.9

(1)	The year in which the securities were originally issued.

(2)

Ratings provided above were determined by third party rating agencies as of a particular date, which may not be current and are subject to change at any time. The Company had $24 million of CMBS assets that were on negative watch for possible downgrade by at least one rating agency as of September 30, 2011.

(3)	The percentage of underlying loans that are 60+ days delinquent, in foreclosure or considered real estate owned (REO).

(4)	The percentage of the outstanding face amount of securities that is subordinate to the Company’s investments.

(5)	Weighted average life is based on the timing of expected principal reduction on the asset.

Mezzanine loans, B-Notes and whole loans portfolio ($ in thousands):


Asset Type	Number		Face Amount ($)		Basis Amount ($)		% of Total Basis			Carrying Value Amount ($)		WA First $ Loan to Value ⁽¹⁾			WA Last $ Loan to Value ⁽¹⁾			Delinquency (%) ⁽²⁾
Mezzanine Loans		16		560,563		443,361		67.0	%		443,361		57.5	%		68.0	%		11.3	%
B-Notes		9		255,085		187,865		28.4	%		187,865		65.0	%		77.7	%		17.7	%
Whole Loans		3		30,670		30,670		4.6	%		30,670		0.0	%		48.2	%		0.0	%

Total/WA		28		846,318		661,896		100.0	%		661,896		57.7	%		70.2	%		12.8	%

(1)	Loan to Value is based on the appraised value at the time of purchase or refinancing.

(2)	The percentage of underlying loans that are non-performing, in foreclosure, under bankruptcy filing or considered real estate owned (REO).

CDO Securities ($ in thousands) ⁽¹⁾:


Collateral Manager	Primary Collateral Type	Number		Average Minimum Rating ⁽²⁾	Face Amount $		Basis Amount $		% of Total Basis			Carrying Value Amount $		Principal Subordination ⁽³⁾
Third Party	CMBS		1	BBB-		78,338		60,791		89.5	%		50,136		51.6	%
Newcastle	CMBS		1	BBB-		6,053		4,562		6.7	%		4,562		27.7	%
Newcastle	ABS		1	CC		5,500		2,540		3.8	%		2,640		56.4	%

TOTAL/WA			3	BB+		89,891		67,893		100.0	%		57,338		50.3	%

(1)	Represents non-consolidated CDO securities excluding ten securities with a zero value, which had an aggregate face amount of $117 million.

(2)	Ratings provided above were determined by third party rating agencies as of a particular date, which may not be current and are subject to change at any time.

(3)	The percentage of the outstanding face amount of securities that is subordinate to the Company’s investments.

Residential Assets

The Company owns $925 million of residential assets (with a basis of $744 million), which include manufactured housing (“MH”) loans, residential loans, subprime securities, real estate ABS and FNMA/FHLMC securities.

•

During the quarter, the Company purchased $48 million of subprime securities and FNMA/FHLMC securities, received principal repayments of $26 million and had $9 million of actual principal write-downs.

•

Regarding the Company’s ABS portfolio, no securities were upgraded, 8 securities or $55 million were affirmed and 8 securities or $37 million were downgraded (from a weighted average rating of B+ to B-).

•

The weighted average carrying value of these assets changed from 82.1% to 81.1%, a decrease of $9 million in the quarter.

Manufactured housing and residential loan portfolios ($ in thousands):


Deal	Average FICO Score		Face Amount $		Basis Amount $		% of Total Basis			Carrying Value Amount $		Average Loan Age (years)		Original Balance $		Delinquency 90+/FC/REO ⁽¹⁾			Cumulative Loss to Date
MH Loans Portfolio 1		703		139,891		113,566		33.2	%		113,566		9.8		327,855		1.1	%		7.6	%
MH Loans Portfolio 2		702		190,022		180,371		53.3	%		180,371		12.1		434,743		1.7	%		5.8	%
Residential Loans Portfolio 1		715		57,612		40,699		12.5	%		40,699		8.3		646,357		12.5	%		0.4	%
Residential Loans Portfolio 2		737		3,779		3,395		1.0	%		3,395		7.1		83,950		0.0	%		0.0	%

TOTAL/WA		705		391,304		338,031		100.0	%		338,031		10.6		1,492,905		3.0	%		5.6	%

(1)	The percentage of loans that are 90+ days delinquent, in foreclosure or considered real estate owned (REO).

Subprime Securities portfolio ($ in thousands):

Security Characteristics:


Vintage ⁽¹⁾	Average Minimum Rating ⁽²⁾	Number	Face Amount $		Basis Amount $		% of Total Basis			Carrying Value Amount $		Principal Subordination ⁽³⁾			Excess Spread ⁽⁴⁾
2003	B-	14		14,313		6,945		4.8	%		8,337		24.5	%		4.2	%
2004	BB-	9		36,162		17,484		12.1	%		19,478		24.8	%		3.8	%
2005	B-	26		111,255		43,171		30.0	%		44,355		32.5	%		4.6	%
2006	B+	7		59,541		39,545		27.5	%		40,240		41.3	%		5.1	%
2007 & Later	BB	8		49,159		36,903		25.6	%		38,494		20.5	%		2.5	%

TOTAL/WA	B+	64		270,430		144,048		100.0	%		150,904		30.8	%		4.2	%

Collateral Characteristics:


Vintage ⁽¹⁾	Average Loan Age (years)		Collateral Factor ⁽⁵⁾		3 Month CPR ⁽⁶⁾			Delinquency 90+/FC/REO ⁽⁷⁾			Cumulative Loss to Date
2003		8.8		0.09		6.6	%		17.0	%		4.0	%
2004		7.3		0.14		8.4	%		17.4	%		4.1	%
2005		6.4		0.18		11.0	%		28.8	%		10.7	%
2006		5.5		0.33		13.1	%		24.2	%		17.9	%
2007 & Later		3.4		0.33		6.8	%		15.9	%		13.8	%

TOTAL/WA		5.9		0.23		10.1	%		23.3	%		11.6	%

Real Estate ABS portfolios ($ in thousands):

Security Characteristics:


Asset Type	Average Minimum Rating ⁽²⁾	Number		Face Amount $		Basis Amount $		% of Total Basis			Carrying Value Amount $		Principal Subordination ⁽³⁾			Excess Spread ⁽⁴⁾
Manufactured Housing	BBB+		7		31,446		30,614		73.8	%		31,909		41.1	%		1.5	%
Small Business Loans	BBB-		7		21,177		10,869		26.2	%		8,101		24.6	%		0.9	%

TOTAL/WA	BBB		14		52,623		41,483		100.0	%		40,010		34.5	%		1.3	%

Collateral Characteristics:


Asset Type	Average Loan Age (years)		Collateral Factor ⁽⁵⁾		3 Month CPR ⁽⁶⁾			Delinquency 90+/FC/REO ⁽⁷⁾			Cumulative Loss to Date
Manufactured Housing		12.1		0.26		7.0	%		1.1	%		13.2	%
Small Business Loans		6.2		0.55		9.3	%		20.0	%		15.3	%

TOTAL/WA		9.7		0.37		7.9	%		8.7	%		14.1	%

(1)	The year in which the securities were issued.

(2)

Ratings provided above were determined by third party rating agencies as of a particular date, may not be current and are subject to change at any time. The Company had approximately $79 million of subprime and ABS securities that were on negative watch for possible downgrade by at least one rating agency as of September 30, 2011.

(3)	The percentage of the outstanding face amount of securities and residual interests that is subordinate to the Company’s investments.

(4)	The annualized amount of interest received on the underlying loans in excess of the interest paid on the securities, as a percentage of the outstanding collateral balance.

(5)	The ratio of original unpaid principal balance of loans still outstanding.

(6)	Three month average constant prepayment rate.

(7)	The percentage of underlying loans that are 90+ days delinquent, in foreclosure or considered real estate owned (REO).

Corporate Assets

The Company owns $415 million of corporate assets (with a basis of $297 million), including REIT debt and corporate bank loans.

•

During the quarter, the Company sold $34 million and received $1 million of principal repayments from REIT debt.

•

Regarding the Company’s REIT debt portfolio, there were no upgraded, affirmed or downgraded securities.

•

The weighted average carrying value of these assets changed from 75.7% to 70.9%, a decrease of $20 million in the quarter.

REIT debt portfolio ($ in thousands):


Industry	Average Minimum Rating ⁽¹⁾	Number	Face Amount $		Basis Amount $		% of Total Basis			Carrying Value Amount $
Retail	A-	4		34,525		33,671		24.6	%		36,497
Diversified	CCC+	4		39,286		39,282		28.7	%		31,631
Office	BBB	6		34,117		34,501		25.2	%		35,116
Multifamily	BBB	3		12,765		12,800		9.4	%		13,522
Healthcare	BBB-	3		16,700		16,506		12.1	%		17,585

TOTAL/WA	BB+	20		137,393		136,760		100.0	%		134,351

Corporate bank loan portfolio ($ in thousands):


Industry	Average Minimum Rating ⁽¹⁾	Number	Face Amount $		Basis Amount $		% of Total Basis			Carrying Value Amount $
Real Estate	NR	1		17,811		16,208		10.1	%		16,208
Media	CCC-	2		110,710		28,830		18.0	%		28,830
Resorts	NR	1		130,952		100,952		63.2	%		100,952
Restaurant	B	2		18,068		13,888		8.7	%		13,888

TOTAL/WA	CC	6		277,541		159,878		100.0	%		159,878

(1)	Ratings provided above were determined by third party rating agencies as of a particular date, may not be current and are subject to change at any time. The Company had no corporate assets that were on negative watch for possible downgrade as of September 30, 2011.

CONFERENCE CALL

Newcastle’s management will conduct a live conference call on November 9, 2011, at 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time to review the financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011. A copy of the earnings press release is posted to the Investor Relations section of Newcastle’s website, www.newcastleinv.com

All interested parties are welcome to participate on the live call. You can access the conference call by dialing 1-888-243-2046 (from within the U.S.) or 1-706-679-1533 (from outside of the U.S.) ten minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call; please reference “Newcastle Third Quarter Earnings Call.”

A simultaneous webcast of the conference call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at www.newcastleinv.com. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site and download the necessary software required to listen to the internet broadcast.

A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 by dialing 1-855-859-2056 (from within the U.S.) or 1-404-537-3406 (from outside of the U.S.); please reference access code “21132178.”

ABOUT NEWCASTLE

Newcastle Investment Corp. owns and manages a portfolio of diversified, credit sensitive real estate debt. Newcastle is organized and conducts its operations to qualify as a real estate investment trust (REIT) for federal income tax purposes. Newcastle is managed by an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC, a global investment management firm. For more information regarding Newcastle Investment Corp. or to be added to our e-mail distribution list, please visit www.newcastleinv.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain items in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, the expected average life of an investment, the expected returns, or expected yield on an investment, statements relating to our liquidity, future losses and impairment charges, our ability to acquire assets with attractive returns and the delinquent and loss rates on our subprime portfolios. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond our control. Newcastle can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Newcastle’s expectations include, but are not limited to, the risk that market conditions cause downgrades of a significant number of our securities or the recording of additional impairment charges or reductions in shareholders’ equity; the risk that we can find additional suitably priced investments; the risk that investments made or committed to be made cannot be financed on the basis and for the term at which we expect; the relationship between yields on assets which are paid off and yields on assets in which such monies can be reinvested; and the relative spreads between the yield on the assets we invest in and the cost and availability of debt and equity financing. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this press release. For a discussion of some of the risks and important factors that could affect such forward-looking statements, see the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which is available on the Company’s website (www.newcastleinv.com). In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause its actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Newcastle expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING EXPECTED RETURNS AND EXPECTED YIELDS PRESENTED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE

Expected returns and expected yields are estimates of the annualized effective rate of return that we presently expect to be earned over the expected average life of an investment (i.e., IRR), after giving effect, in the case of returns, to existing leverage, and calculated on a weighted average basis. Expected returns and expected yields reflect our estimates of an investment’s coupon, amortization of premium or discount, and costs and fees, and they contemplate our assumptions regarding prepayments and loan losses, among other things. Income recognized by the Company in future periods may be significantly less than the income that would have been recognized if an expected return or expected yield were actually realized, and the estimates we use to calculate expected returns and expected yields could differ materially from actual results.

Statements about expected returns and expected yields in this press release are forward-looking statements. You should carefully read the cautionary statement above under the caption “Forward-looking Statements,” which directly applies to our discussion of expected returns and expected yields.

Newcastle Investment Corp.

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Interest income	$	72,393		$	81,040		$	218,739		$	225,315
Interest expense		32,587			42,547			106,502			131,277

Net interest income		39,806			38,493			112,237			94,038

Impairment (Reversal)
Valuation allowance (reversal) on loans		17,644			(105,360	)		(38,218	)		(292,668	)
Other-than-temporary impairment on securities		5,537			3,616			14,433			102,397
Portion of other-than-temporary impairment on securities recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), net of reversal of other comprehensive loss into net income (loss)		(1,531	)		6,425			(838	)		(15,575	)

		21,650			(95,319	)		(24,623	)		(205,846	)

Net interest income after impairment		18,156			133,812			136,860			299,884
Other Income (Loss)
Gain (loss) on settlement of investments, net		5,636			(1,134	)		75,334			17,497
Gain on extinguishment of debt		15,917			46,624			60,402			141,698
Other income (loss), net		(2,751	)		(8,828	)		(12,576	)		(12,606	)

		18,802			36,662			123,160			146,589

Expenses
Loan and security servicing expense		1,198			1,116			3,458			3,473
General and administrative expense		1,399			1,811			4,649			6,912
Management fee to affiliate		4,569			4,258			13,313			12,993

		7,166			7,185			21,420			23,378

Income from continuing operations		29,792			163,289			238,600			423,095
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		151			213			151			186

Net Income		29,943			163,502			238,751			423,281
Preferred dividends		(1,395	)		(1,395	)		(4,185	)		(6,058	)
Excess of carrying amount of exchanged preferred stock over fair value of consideration paid		—			—			—			43,043

Income Available for Common Stockholders	$	28,548		$	162,107		$	234,566		$	460,266

Income Per Share of Common Stock
Basic	$	0.35		$	2.61		$	3.16		$	7.77

Diluted	$	0.35		$	2.61		$	3.16		$	7.77

Income from continuing operations per share of common stock, after preferred dividends and excess of carrying amount of exchanged preferred stock over fair value of consideration paid
Basic	$	0.35		$	2.61		$	3.16		$	7.77

Diluted	$	0.35		$	2.61		$	3.16		$	7.77

Income (loss) from discontinued operations per share of common stock
Basic	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—

Diluted	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—

Weighted Average Number of Shares of Common Stock Outstanding
Basic		80,425,197			62,024,945			74,168,573			59,249,175

Diluted		80,441,593			62,024,945			74,177,027			59,249,175

Dividends Declared per Share of Common Stock	$	0.15		$	—		$	0.25		$	—

Newcastle Investment Corp.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(dollars in thousands)


	September 30, 2011 (Unaudited)			December 31, 2010
Assets
Non-Recourse VIE Financing Structures
Real estate securities, available for sale	$	1,437,893		$	1,859,984
Real estate related loans, held for sale, net		815,140			750,130
Residential mortgage loans, held for investment, net		340,489			124,974
Residential mortgage loans, held for sale, net		—			252,915
Subprime mortgage loans subject to call option		404,476			403,793
Operating real estate, held for sale		7,743			8,776
Other investments		18,883			18,883
Restricted cash		178,121			157,005
Derivative assets		2,383			7,067
Receivables and other assets		23,818			29,206

		3,228,946			3,612,733

Recourse Financing Structures and Unlevered Assets
Real estate securities, available for sale		230,463			600
Real estate related loans, held for sale, net		6,634			32,475
Residential mortgage loans, held for sale, net		3,031			298
Other investments		6,024			6,024
Cash and cash equivalents		205,180			33,524
Receivables and other assets		2,775			1,457

		454,107			74,378

	$	3,683,053		$	3,687,111

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
Liabilities
Non-Recourse VIE Financing Structures
CDO bonds payable	$	2,428,294		$	3,010,868
Other bonds and notes payable		210,033			261,165
Repurchase agreements		8,764			14,049
Financing of subprime mortgage loans subject to call option		404,476			403,793
Derivative liabilities		132,056			176,861
Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations		37,341			—
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		9,107			8,445

		3,230,071			3,875,181

Recourse Financing Structures and Other Liabilities
Repurchase agreements		212,164			4,683
Junior subordinated notes payable		51,250			51,253
Dividends payable		16,706			—
Due to affiliates		1,532			1,419
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		2,805			2,160

		284,457			59,515

		3,514,528			3,934,696

Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 1,347,321 shares of 9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock 496,000 shares of 8.05% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, and 620,000 shares of 8.375% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, liquidation preference $25.00 per share, issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010		61,583			61,583
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 105,175,197 and 62,027,184 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively		1,052			620
Additional paid-in capital		1,275,765			1,065,377
Accumulated deficit		(1,076,776	)		(1,328,987	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(93,099	)		(46,178	)

		168,525			(247,585	)

	$	3,683,053		$	3,687,111

Newcastle Investment Corp.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands)


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Cash flows From Operating Activities
Net income	$	29,943		$	163,502		$	238,751		$	423,281
Adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (inclusive of amounts related to discontinued operations):
Depreciation and amortization		88			36			225			161
Accretion of discount and other amortization		(11,407	)		(3,352	)		(33,214	)		(11,729	)
Interest income in CDOs redirected for reinvestment or CDO bonds pay down		(2,402	)		(5,280	)		(8,981	)		(17,985	)
Interest income on investments accrued to principal balance		(5,005	)		(4,288	)		(14,303	)		(8,077	)
Interest expense on debt accrued to principal balance		105			634			619			2,279
Deferred interest received		—			—			1,027			44
Non-cash directors’ compensation		—			—			122			60
Reversal of valuation allowance on loans		17,644			(105,360	)		(38,218	)		(292,668	)
Other-than-temporary impairment on securities		4,006			10,041			13,595			86,822
Impairment on real estate held for sale		—			—			433			60
Gain on settlement of real estate held for sale		(61	)		—			(61	)		—
Gain on settlement of investments, net		(5,636	)		1,134			(74,402	)		(17,497	)
Unrealized loss on non-hedge derivatives and hedge ineffectiveness		3,289			9,057			14,483			13,356
Gain on extinguishment of debt		(15,917	)		(46,624	)		(60,402	)		(141,698	)
Change in:
Restricted cash		1,004			(4,372	)		1,249			(1,354	)
Receivables and other assets		(548	)		814			528			3,781
Due to affiliates		14			—			113			(78	)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		130			164			57			(1,182	)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		15,247			16,106			41,621			37,576

Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Principal repayments from repurchased CDO debt		8,227			—			57,108			53
Principal repayments on CDO securities		969			—			9,834			—
Principal repayments on loans and non-CDO securities		13,823			10,200			65,756			55,283
Purchase of real estate securities		(122,856	)		—			(303,101	)		(2,291	)
Proceeds from sale of real estate securities		—			—			3,885			26,022
Acquisition of servicing rights		—			—			(2,268	)		—
Purchase of and advances on loans		—			(6,024	)		—			(6,024	)
Margin received on derivative instruments		—			—			—			5,073
Payments on settlement of derivative instruments		—			—			(14,322	)		(11,394	)
Proceeds from sale of real estate held for sale		650			840			650			840
Distributions of capital from equity method investees		—			2			—			161

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(99,187	)		5,018			(182,458	)		67,723

Cash flows From Financing Activities
Repurchases of CDO bonds payable		(3,975	)		(1,473	)		(91,039	)		(11,400	)
Issuance of other bonds payable		—			—			142,736			97,650
Repayments of other bonds payable		(10,137	)		(9,923	)		(194,379	)		(134,027	)
Borrowings under repurchase agreements		183,242			—			291,818			—
Repayments of repurchase agreements		(80,359	)		—			(89,622	)		(71,309	)
Issuance of common stock		112,724			—			211,567			—
Costs related to issuance of common stock		—			—			(468	)		—
Cash consideration paid in exchange for junior subordinated notes		—			—			—			(9,715	)
Cash consideration paid to redeem preferred stock		—			—			—			(16,001	)
Dividends paid		(9,325	)		—			(14,906	)		(19,484	)
Payment of deferred financing costs		(35	)		—			(1,581	)		(1,677	)
Restricted cash returned (paid) from refinancing activities		(3,853	)		10,924			58,367			50,700

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		188,282			(472	)		312,493			(115,263	)

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents		104,342			20,652			171,656			(9,964	)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period		100,838			37,684			33,524			68,300

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period	$	205,180		$	58,336		$	205,180		$	58,336

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Cash paid during the period for interest expense	$	23,561		$	32,002		$	76,730		$	97,948
Supplemental Schedule of Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities
Common stock dividends declared but not paid	$	15,776		$	—		$	15,776		$	—
Preferred stock dividends declared but not paid	$	930		$	—		$	930		$	—
Common stock issued to redeem preferred stock	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	28,457
Face amount of CDO bonds issued in exchange for previously issued junior subordinated notes of $52,904	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	37,625

Newcastle Investment Corp.

Reconciliation of Core Earnings ⁽¹⁾

(dollars in thousands)


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Income available for common stockholders	$	28,548		$	162,107		$	234,566		$	460,266
Add (Deduct):
Impairment reversal		21,650			(95,319	)		(24,623	)		(205,846	)
Other income		(18,802	)		(36,662	)		(123,160	)		(146,589	)
Excess of carrying amount of exchanged preferred stock over fair value of consideration paid		—			—			—			(43,043	)
Income from discontinued operations		(151	)		(213	)		(151	)		(186	)

	$	31,245		$	29,913		$	86,632		$	64,602

(1)	Previously referred to as “Net Interest Income Less Expenses (Net of Preferred Dividends)”.

Management believes that core earnings provides investors with useful information because it enables investors to evaluate Newcastle’s current performance using the same measure that management uses to operate the business. Management uses core earnings to gauge the current performance of Newcastle without taking into account gains and losses, which, although they represent a part of recurring operations, are subject to significant variability and are only a potential indicator of future economic performance.

Core earnings does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and therefore should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indicator of operating performance or as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity, and it is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs. The calculation of core earnings above may be different from the calculation used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be limited.