9.   DEBT OBLIGATIONS

The following table presents certain information regarding Newcastle’s debt obligations and related hedges at September 30, 2013:

See notes on next page 

Each CDO financing is subject to tests that measure the amount of over collateralization and excess interest in the transaction.  Failure to satisfy these tests would cause the principal and/or interest cashflow that would otherwise be distributed to more junior classes of securities (including those held by Newcastle) to be redirected to pay down the most senior class of securities outstanding until the tests are satisfied. As a result, Newcastle’s cash flow and liquidity are negatively impacted upon such a failure. As of September 30, 2013, CDO VI was not in compliance with its over collateralization tests.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2013, Newcastle repurchased $35.9 million face amount of CDO bonds payable for $31.3 million. As a result, Newcastle extinguished $35.9 million face amount of CDO bonds payable and recorded a gain on extinguishment of debt of $4.6 million.

Newcastle’s non-CDO financings contain various customary loan covenants. Newcastle was in compliance with all of the covenants in its non-CDO financings as of September 30, 2013.

In June 2013, Newcastle completed the sale of 100% of the assets in CDO IV. Newcastle sold $153.4 million face amount of collateral at an average price of 95% of par, or $145.2 million. Subsequently, Newcastle paid off $71.9 million of outstanding third party debt and terminated the CDO. This transaction resulted in approximately $73.1 million of proceeds to Newcastle of which approximately $5.3 million was received in Newcastle CDO VIII. Newcastle recovered par on $59.5 million of CDO debt which had been repurchased in the past at an average price of 52% of par and $8.0 million of proceeds on its subordinated interests. This transaction has also decreased Newcastle’s comprehensive income by $0.6 million and resulted in a net gain on sale of assets of $4.2 million and a $0.8 million gain on hedge termination.

In June 2013, Newcastle completed the purchase of $116.8 million aggregate face amount of securities that are collateralized by certain Newcastle CDO VIII Class I notes for an aggregate purchase of approximately $103.1 million, or an average price of 88.3% of par. Simultaneously, Newcastle financed the purchase with $60.0 million received pursuant to a master repurchase agreement with the seller of the securities (“CDO VIII Repack”). The terms of the repurchase agreement included a rate of one-month LIBOR plus 150 bps and a 30-day maturity. The repurchase agreement includes various customary default events, including a default if Newcastle’s market capitalization declines by 50% from the market capitalization observed at the last trading day of the previous quarter. An event of default under the master repurchase agreement, if one occurs, would require Newcastle to immediately pay off the outstanding debt or the lender would have the right to liquidate the collateral. The purchase of the securities and the repurchase agreement are treated as a linked transaction and accordingly recorded on a net basis as a non-hedge derivative instrument, with changes in market value recorded on the statement of income. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, there were no changes in market value in CDO VIII Repack.