Exhibit 99.1

 

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212-479-3195

NEWCASTLE ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2013 RESULTS

 

NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)—February 28, 2014—Newcastle Investment Corp. (NYSE:NCT; “Newcastle”, the “Company”) today reported the following information for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2013:

FOURTH QUARTER FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS:

 

    GAAP Income of $29.0 million, or $0.09 per diluted share

 

    Core Earnings of $26.8 million, or $0.08 per diluted share

 

    GAAP book value of $3.14 per share

 

    Average uninvested capital of $150 million throughout the quarter

FULL YEAR 2013 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS:

 

    GAAP Income of $145.8 million, or $0.51 per diluted share

 

    Core Earnings of $140.9 million, or $0.50 per diluted share

 

    Spun off New Residential Investment Corp. (NYSE:NRZ) on May 15, 2013

 

     Q4 2013    Q3 2013    12M Ended
Q4 2013

Summary Operating Results:

        

GAAP Income

   $29.0 million    $27.8 million    $145.8 million

GAAP Income per Diluted Share

   $0.09    $0.09    $0.51

Non-GAAP Results:

        

Core Earnings*

   $26.8 million    $23.9 million    $140.9 million

Core Earnings per Diluted Share*

   $0.08    $0.08    $0.50

GAAP Book Value:

   $3.14    $2.74    $3.14

 

* For a reconciliation of GAAP Income to Core Earnings, please refer to the Reconciliation of Core Earnings below.

Highlights for the quarter ended December 31, 2013:

Newcastle invested approximately $434 million of capital throughout the quarter and the Company raised a total of $351 million of gross proceeds through the issuance of common stock and the resecuritization of CDO VI.

 

    Senior Housing – Invested $331 million of equity to acquire $1.1 billion of senior housing assets.

 

    Triple Net Lease Properties – In December, Newcastle invested $321 million of equity to acquire 51 independent living senior housing properties from Holiday Retirement. The total purchase price, including transaction costs, was $1.04 billion. This investment marks Newcastle’s first triple net lease acquisition.

 

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    Managed Properties – During the fourth quarter, Newcastle invested $10 million of equity to acquire 2 senior housing properties for a total purchase price of $30 million.

 

    CDOs & Other

 

    CDO VI Resecuritization – In October, Newcastle restructured the $110 million CDO VI Class I-MM into a $99 million senior tranche and an $11 million junior tranche. Newcastle issued the senior tranche to a third party for approximately $88 million of proceeds, retained the $11 million junior tranche on balance sheet and continues to manage the CDO. The issuance resulted in $47 million of unrestricted cash for Newcastle, and the remaining $41 million was paid to CDO VIII and CDO IX bondholders.

 

    Media Assets – During the fourth quarter, Newcastle invested $54 million of equity and $122 million of proceeds received from the new GateHouse debt facility to buy $440 million face of GateHouse term loan at 40% of par. On November 26, Newcastle exchanged its interest in the GateHouse term loan for equity of New Media at 40% of par.

 

    Golf – On December 30, Newcastle completed the restructuring of an existing debt investment in National Golf Properties. In the transaction, Newcastle acquired the equity of National Golf Properties and its affiliate, American Golf Corporation (together the “Golf Business”), and Newcastle invested $49 million, which consisted of an approximately $47 million senior loan and $2 million of equity. The Golf Business owns, leases or manages a portfolio of 92 golf courses located throughout 15 U.S. states.

 

    Capital Raise – In November, Newcastle generated gross proceeds of approximately $304 million through the sale of approximately 58 million shares of common stock.

 

    Dividend – In December, Newcastle declared a fourth quarter dividend of $0.10 per common share, or $35 million.

Highlights subsequent to December 31, 2013:

 

    Senior Housing – In January, Newcastle invested $9 million of equity to acquire 2 managed senior housing properties for a total purchase price of $26 million. Newcastle is also in-contract to acquire 11 properties for a total purchase price of $273 million, which we would expect to require an equity investment of $92 million. There can be no assurance that we will complete investments under contract, which are subject to closing conditions.

 

    CDOs & Other

 

    Intrawest Resort Holdings Third Lien Pay Down – In February, Newcastle received $83 million of proceeds from Intrawest Resort Holdings. The proceeds were used to partially pay down a third-lien loan held in CDO VIII & CDO IX. As a result of Newcastle’s direct holdings in CDO VIII, the Company received approximately $22 million of cash from this pay down.

 

    Sold 100% of Agency RMBS Portfolio – In January, Newcastle sold $503 million face amount of Agency RMBS at an average price of 105.8%, or $532 million. After paying off the related financing, the Company generated $28 million of net proceeds and a $2 million gain on sale.

 

    New Media Investment Group – On February 13, Newcastle completed the spin-off of the Company’s 85% ownership in New Media Investment Group. Holders of Newcastle common stock as of the record date, February 6, 2014, have been electronically issued 0.07219 shares of New Media Investment Group per common share of Newcastle.

Appointment of New Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer & Chief Operating Officer:

On February 27, 2014, Newcastle’s Board of Directors appointed Justine Cheng as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Chief Operating Officer, effective as of March 4, 2014.

Ms. Cheng joins Newcastle with over 16 years of finance and banking experience. Most recently, Ms. Cheng served as a Managing Director in Fortress’s Private Equity group, where she was responsible for various financial services, infrastructure and lodging, leisure & gaming investments. Prior to joining Fortress 10 years ago, Ms. Cheng held various investment banking and private equity roles at UBS, Credit Suisse and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. Ms. Cheng received a BA in Economics and a Masters in International and Public Affairs from Columbia University.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For additional information that management believes to be useful for investors, please refer to the presentation posted on the Investor Relations section of Newcastle’s website, www.newcastleinv.com. For consolidated investment portfolio information, please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which will be available on the Company’s website, www.newcastleinv.com.

EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL

Newcastle’s management will host a conference call on Friday, February 28, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time. A copy of the earnings release will be posted to the Investor Relations section of Newcastle’s website, www.newcastleinv.com.

All interested parties are welcome to participate on the live call. The conference call may be accessed 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 Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2013 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 website and download any necessary software required to listen to the internet broadcast.

A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available two hours following the call’s completion through 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on Friday, March 14, 2014 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 “81330471.”

 

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Investment Portfolio as of December 31, 2013

($ in millions, except where otherwise noted)

 

                Percentage of                          
                Total                       Weighted  
    Outstanding     Amortized Cost     Amortized Cost           Number of           Average Life  
    Face Amount     Basis (1)     Basis     Carrying Value     Investments     Credit (2)     (years) (3)  

Debt Investments

             

Commercial Assets

             

CM BS

  $ 333      $ 228        5.7   $ 284        50        BB-        2.6   

Mezzanine Loans

    172        140        3.5     140        9        85     1.3   

B-Notes

    109        101        2.6     101        4        75     1.5   

Whole Loans

    30        30        0.7     30        2        49     0.0   

CDO Securities (4)

    74        57        1.4     60        2        BB+        3.1   

Other Investments (5)

    69        69        1.7     69        2        —          —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total Commercial Assets

    787        625        15.5     684            2.1   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Residential Assets

             

M H and Residential Loans

    281        253        6.3     253        7,756        706        5.5   

Non-Agency RM BS

    97        41        1.0     58        34        CCC+        4.4   

Real Estate ABS

    8        —          0.0     —          1        C          —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 
    386        294        7.3     311            5.1   

FNM A/FHLM C securities

    515        543        13.5     546        64        AAA        3.6   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total Residential Assets

    901        837        20.8     857            4.2   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Corporate Assets

             

REIT Debt

    29        29        0.7     31        5        BB+        1.8   

Corporate Bank Loans

    257        167        4.2     167        5        C          0.9   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total Corporate Assets

    286        196        4.9     198            1.0   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total Debt Investments

    1,974        1,658        41.2     1,739            3.0   
             

 

 

 

Other Investments

             

Senior Housing Investments(6)

    1,496        1,464        36.4     1,464         

Media Investments (6)

    546        542        13.5     542         

Golf Investment (6)

    358        358        8.9     358         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Total Portfolio / WA

  $ 4,374      $ 4,022        100.0   $ 4,103         
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

Reconciliation to GAAP total assets:

             

Subprime mortgage loans subject to call option (7)

          406         

Other commercial real estate

          7         

Cash and restricted cash

          118         

Other

          219         
       

 

 

       

GAAP total assets

        $ 4,853         
       

 

 

       

WA – Weighted average, in all tables.

 

1) Net of impairment.
2) 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 AAA rating for FNMA/FHLMC securities. Ratings provided above were determined by third party rating agencies, represent the most recent credit ratings available as of the reporting date and may not be current.
3) Weighted average life is based on the timing of expected principal reduction on the asset.
4) Represents non-consolidated CDO securities, excluding nine securities with a zero value, which had an aggregate face amount of $114.5 million.
5) Represents $25.0 million of equity investment in a real estate owned property and $44.0 million in a linked transaction.
6) Face amount of senior housing, media and golf investments represents the gross carrying amount, including intangibles and, for media, goodwill, and excludes accumulated depreciation and amortization.
7) Our subprime mortgage loans subject to call option are excluded from the statistics because they result from an option, not an obligation, to repurchase such loans, are noneconomic until such option is exercised, and are offset by an equal liability on the consolidated balance sheet.

 

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Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income

($ in thousands, except per share data)

 

    Three Months Ending December 31,     Year Ended  
    2013     2012     December 31, 2013  

Interest income

    42,073        59,186        213,715   

Interest expense

    25,710        21,886        90,973   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net interest income

    16,363        37,300        122,742   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Impairment (Reversal)

     

Valuation allowance (reversal) on loans

    (13,562     (16,427     (25,035

Other-than-temporary impairment on securities

    817        2,853        5,222   

Portion of other-than-temporary impairment on securities recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), net of reversal of other comprehensive loss into net income

    —          1,477        44   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    (12,745     (12,097     (19,769
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net interest income after impairment

    29,108        49,397        142,511   

Other Revenues

     

Rental income

    30,592        9,397        74,936   

Care and ancillary income - senior housing

    4,306        1,583        12,387   

Advertising income - media

    38,757        —          38,757   

Circulation income - media

    16,649        —          16,649   

Commercial printing and other income - media

    6,231        —          6,231   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other revenues

    96,535        10,980        148,960   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Income

     

Gain on settlement of investments, net

    10,918        12        17,369   

Gain on extinguishment of debt

    —          958        4,565   

Equity in earnings of Local Media Group

    825        —          1,870   

Other income, net

    3,786        3,662        13,340   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    15,529        4,632        37,144   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Expenses

     

Loan and security servicing expense

    894        1,004        3,857   

Property operating expenses

    21,142        7,443        53,718   

Media operating expenses

    49,092        —          49,092   

General and administrative expense

    14,481        6,224        36,775   

Management fee to affiliate

    8,212        7,234        33,091   

Depreciation and amortization

    15,092        4,586        30,973   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
    108,913        26,491        207,506   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income tax

    32,259        38,518        121,109   

Income tax expense

    887        —          2,100   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

    31,372        38,518        119,009   

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

    (11     18,461        33,332   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Income

    31,361        56,979        152,341   

Preferred dividends

    (1,395     (1,395     (5,580

Net Income attributable to noncontrolling interest

    (928     —          (928
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income Applicable to Common Stockholders

  $ 29,038      $ 55,584      $ 145,833   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income Per Share of Common Stock

     

Basic

  $ 0.09      $ 0.32      $ 0.53   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

  $ 0.09      $ 0.32      $ 0.51   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations per share of common stock, after preferred dividends and noncontrolling interest

     

Basic

  $ 0.09      $ 0.22      $ 0.41   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

  $ 0.09      $ 0.21      $ 0.40   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

     

Basic

  $ —        $ 0.11      $ 0.12   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

  $ —        $ 0.11      $ 0.11   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted Average Number of Shares of Common Stock Outstanding

     

Basic

    318,686,816        172,518,808        276,881,294   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted

    325,601,359        175,413,251        283,309,645   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Dividends Declared per Share of Common Stock

  $ 0.10      $ 0.22      $ 0.59   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Consolidated Balance Sheet

($ in thousands)

 

     December 31,  
     2013     2012  
     (Unaudited)        

Assets

    

Real estate securities, available-for-sale

   $ 984,263      $ 1,691,575   

Real estate related and other loans, held-for-sale, net

     437,530        843,132   

Residential mortgage loans, held-for-investment, net

     255,450        292,461   

Residential mortgage loans, held-for-sale, net

     2,185        2,471   

Subprime mortgage loans subject to call option

     406,217        405,814   

Investments in senior housing real estate, net of accumulated depreciation

     1,362,900        162,801   

Investments in other real estate, net of accumulated depreciation

     266,170        6,672   

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation

     270,188        —     

Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization

     345,125        19,086   

Goodwill

     126,686        —     

Other investments

     25,468        24,907   

Cash and cash equivalents

     105,944        231,898   

Restricted cash

     12,366        2,064   

Receivables and other assets

     252,071        17,362   

Assets of discontinued operations

     —          245,069   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Assets

   $ 4,852,563      $ 3,945,312   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Liabilities

    

CDO bonds payable

   $ 544,525      $ 1,091,354   

Other bonds and notes payable

     230,279        183,390   

Repurchase agreements

     556,347        929,435   

Mortgage notes payable

     1,076,828        120,525   

Credit facilities, media and golf

     334,514        —     

Financing of subprime mortgage loans subject to call option

     406,217        405,814   

Junior subordinated notes payable

     51,237        51,243   

Dividends payable

     36,075        38,884   

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

     390,417        51,127   

Liabilities of discontinued operations

     —          480   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

   $ 3,626,439      $ 2,872,252   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ Equity

    

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 December 31, 2013 and 2012

   $ 61,583      $ 61,583   

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000,000,000 and 500,000 shares authorized, 351,453,495 and 172,525,645 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively

     3,515        1,725   

Additional paid-in capital

     2,970,786        1,710,083   

Accumulated deficit

     (1,947,913     (771,095

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     76,874        70,764   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Newcastle Stockholders’ Equity

     1,164,845        1,073,060   

Noncontrolling interests

     61,279        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Equity

   $ 1,226,124      $ 1,073,060   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

   $ 4,852,563      $ 3,945,312   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Reconciliation of Core Earnings

($ in thousands)

 

                 Year Ended  
     Three Months Ended December 31,     December 31,  
     2013     2012     2013  

Income applicable to common stockholders

   $ 29,038      $ 55,584      $ 145,833   

Add (Deduct):

      

Impairment (reversal)

     (12,745     (12,097     (19,769

Other income

     (14,373     (4,632     (35,401

Impairment (reversal), other (income) loss and other adjustments from discontinued operations

     —          (10,909     (6,429

Depreciation and amortization (A)

     16,267        4,586        33,093   

Acquisition and spin-off related expenses

     8,598        6,324        23,576   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Core earnings

   $ 26,785      $ 38,856      $ 140,903   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(A) Includes 1.8 million and 2.7 million of depreciation and amortization expense in equity method investments for the three months and year ended December 31, 2013, respectively.

CORE EARNINGS

Newcastle has the following primary variables that impact its operating performance: (i) the current yield earned on its investments that are not included in non-recourse financing structures (i.e., unlevered investments, including investments in equity method investees and investments subject to recourse debt), (ii) the net yield it earns from its non-recourse financing structures, (iii) the interest expense and dividends incurred under its recourse debt and preferred stock, (iv) the net operating income on its real estate investments, (v) its operating expenses and (vi) its realized and unrealized gains or losses, including any impairment, on its investments, derivatives and debt obligations. Core Earnings is a non-GAAP measure of the operating performance of Newcastle excluding the sixth variable listed above and adjusting the consumer loans portfolio accounting to a level yield methodology. It also excludes depreciation and amortization charges and acquisition and spin-off related expenses.

Core Earnings is used by management to gauge the current performance of Newcastle without taking into account gains and losses, which, although they represent a part of our recurring operations, are subject to significant variability and are only a potential indicator of future economic performance. It is the judgment of management that depreciation and amortization charges are not indicative of operating performance and that acquisition and spin-off related expenses are not part of our core operations. Management believes that the exclusion from Core Earnings of the items specified above allows investors and analysts to readily identify the operating performance of the assets that form the core of our activity, assists in comparing the core operating results between periods, and enables investors to evaluate Newcastle’s current performance using the same measure that management uses to operate the business, which is among the factors considered when determining the amount of distributions to our shareholders.

Newcastle changed its definition of Core Earnings in the third quarter of 2013 to exclude acquisition and spin-off related expenses. The calculation of Core Earnings has been adjusted for all periods presented.

Management believes that this measure provides investors with useful information regarding Newcastle’s “core” current earnings, and it enables investors to evaluate Newcastle’s current performance using the same measure that management uses to operate the business. 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 our operating performance or as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of its liquidity and is not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs. The Company’s calculation of Core Earnings may be different from the calculation used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be limited.

 

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ABOUT NEWCASTLE

The Company focuses on investing in, and actively managing, real estate related assets and primarily invests in: (1) Senior Housing Assets and (2) Real Estate & Other Debt, in addition to other opportunistic investments. The Company conducts its operations to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for federal income tax purposes. The Company is managed by an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group LLC, a global investment management firm.

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. 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. The Company can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. 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 cause actual results to differ from 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 most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Furthermore, 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. The Company 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.

 

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