Risks and Uncertainties — In the normal course of business, Newcastle encounters primarily two significant types of economic risk: credit and market. Credit risk is the risk of default on Newcastle’s investments in securities, loans, derivatives and leases that results from a borrower’s, derivative counterparty’s or lessee’s inability or unwillingness to make contractually required payments. Market risk reflects changes in the value of investments in securities, loans and derivatives or in real estate due to changes in interest rates, spreads or other market factors, including the value of the collateral underlying loans and securities and the valuation of real estate held by Newcastle. Management believes that the carrying values of its investments are reasonable taking into consideration these risks along with estimated prepayments, financings, collateral values, payment histories, and other borrower information.

Additionally, Newcastle is subject to significant tax risks. If Newcastle were to fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, Newcastle would be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax), which could be material. Unless entitled to relief under certain statutory provisions, Newcastle would also be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which qualification is lost.

Comprehensive Income — Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances, excluding those resulting from investments by and distributions to owners. For Newcastle’s purposes, comprehensive income represents net income, as presented in the consolidated statements of income, adjusted for unrealized gains or losses on securities available for sale and derivatives designated as cash flow hedges and, upon the consolidation of GateHouse (see Note 3), net unrecognized gain and prior period service costs and credits relating to pension and other postretirement benefits.

The following table summarizes Newcastle’s accumulated other comprehensive income:

Impairment of Securities and Loans — Newcastle continually evaluates securities and loans for impairment. Securities and loans are considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired, for financial reporting purposes, generally when it is probable that Newcastle will be unable to collect all principal or interest when due according to the contractual terms of the original agreements, or, for securities or loans purchased at a discount for credit quality or that represent retained beneficial interests in securitizations, when Newcastle determines that it is probable that it will be unable to collect as anticipated. The evaluation of a security’s estimated cash flows includes the following, as applicable: (i) review of the credit of the issuer or the borrower, (ii) review of the credit rating of the security, (iii) review of the key terms of the security or loan, (iv) review of the performance of the loan or underlying loans, including debt service coverage and loan to value ratios, (v) analysis of the value of the collateral for the loan or underlying loans, (vi) analysis of the effect of local, industry and broader economic factors, and (vii) analysis of historical and anticipated trends in defaults and loss severities for similar securities or loans. Furthermore, Newcastle must have the intent and ability to hold loans whose fair value is below carrying value until such fair value recovers, or until maturity, or else a write down to fair value must be recorded. Similarly for securities, Newcastle must record a write down if it has the intent to sell a given security in an unrealized loss position, or if it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell such a security. Upon determination of impairment, Newcastle establishes specific valuation allowances for loans or records a direct write down for securities based on the estimated fair value of the security or underlying collateral using a discounted cash flow analysis or based on an observable market value. Newcastle also establishes allowances for estimated unidentified incurred losses on pools of loans. The allowance for each loan is maintained at a level believed adequate by management to absorb probable losses, based on periodic reviews of actual and expected losses. It is Newcastle’s policy to establish an allowance for uncollectible interest on performing securities or loans that are past due more than 90 days or sooner when, in the judgment of management, the probability of collection of interest is deemed to be insufficient to warrant further accrual. Upon such a determination, those loans are deemed to be non-performing and put on nonaccrual status. Actual losses may differ from Newcastle’s estimates. Newcastle may resume accrual of income on a security or loan if, in management’s opinion, full collection is probable. Subsequent to a determination of impairment, and a related write down, income is accrued on an effective yield method from the new carrying value to the related expected cash flows, with cash received treated as a reduction of basis. Newcastle charges off the corresponding loan allowance when it determines the loans to be uncollectable.

Rental Income, Care and Ancillary Income — Newcastle records rental revenue, care and ancillary income as they become due as provided for in the leases.

Triple Net Lease Properties – Triple net leases with Holiday provide for periodic and determinable increases in base rent. Base rental revenues are recognized under these leases on a straight-line basis over the applicable lease term when collectability is reasonably assured.

Investment in Real Estate Securities — Newcastle has classified its investments in securities as available for sale. Securities available for sale are carried at market value with the net unrealized gains or losses reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income, to the extent impairment losses are considered temporary. At disposition, the net realized gain or loss is determined on the basis of the cost of the specific investments and is included in earnings. Unrealized losses on securities are charged to earnings if they reflect a decline in value that is other-than-temporary, as described above.

Investment in Loans —Loans receivable are presented net of any unamortized discount (or gross of any unamortized premium), including any fees received, and an allowance for loan losses. Loans which Newcastle does not have the intent or the ability to hold into the foreseeable future are considered held-for-sale and are carried at the lower of average amortized cost or market value.

Goodwill and Intangibles — Resident lease intangibles reflect the fair value of in-place resident leases at acquisition of senior housing properties. Newcastle estimates the fair value of in-place leases as (i) the present value of the estimated rents that would have been forgone, offset by variable costs that would have otherwise been incurred during a reasonable lease-up period, as if the acquired units were vacant, and (ii) the estimated absorption costs, such as additional marketing costs that would have been incurred during the lease-up period.

Non-compete intangibles reflect the fair value of non-compete agreements at acquisition relating to the senior housing business. Newcastle estimates the fair value of non-compete intangibles as the sum of (i) the present value of the consulting services during the non-compete period and (ii) the difference between (a) the present value of the net operating income with the non-compete agreements in place and (b) the present value of the net operating income, as if the non-compete agreements were not in place.

Land lease intangibles related to the senior housing business reflect the fair value of the land lease agreements in place at acquisition. Newcastle estimates the fair value of land lease intangibles as the difference between (a) the leased fee value and (b) the fee simple value. The acquisition fair values of the land lease intangibles are amortized over the contractual lives of the respective leases.

The payment in lieu of taxes (“PILOT”) intangible asset related to the senior housing business reflects the fair value of the PILOT agreement in place at acquisition. Newcastle estimates the fair value of the PILOT intangible as the present value of the difference between the (a) market taxes and (b) the anticipated PILOT amounts. The acquisition fair value of the PILOT intangible is amortized over the contractual life of the agreement.

Intangible assets relating to the media business consist of advertiser, subscriber and customer relationships, mastheads and trade names. These intangible assets are recorded at the fair value at the date of acquisition. Newcastle estimates the fair value of the advertiser, subscriber and customer relationships and the trade names using the multi-period excess earnings method under the income approach. This valuation method is based on first forecasting revenue for the existing customer base and then applying expected attrition rates. Mastheads are not amortized because it has been determined that the useful lives of such mastheads are indefinite. Intangible assets relating to the media business are included in discontinued operations on the consolidated balance sheets.

Intangible assets relating to the golf business consist primarily of leasehold advantages (disadvantages), management contracts and membership base. A leasehold advantage (disadvantage) exists to Newcastle when it pays a contracted rent that is below (above) market rents at the date of the transaction. The value of a leasehold advantage (disadvantage) is calculated based on the differential between market and contracted rent, which is tax effected and discounted to present value based on an after-tax discount rate corresponding to each golf course.  The management contract intangible represents Newcastle’s golf course management contracts for both leased and managed properties, is valued utilizing a discounted cash flow methodology under the income approach, and is amortized over the average contractual term of the agreements.  The membership base intangible represents Newcastle’s relationship with its private golf club members, is valued using the multi-period excess earnings method under the income approach, and is amortized over the weighted average remaining useful life of the private memberships.

Amortization of intangible assets is included within depreciation and amortization on the consolidated statements of income and is calculated using the straight-line method based on the following estimated useful lives:

(1)    Amortized over 24 months for AL/MC properties and 33 months for IL-only properties.

The excess of acquisition costs over the estimated fair value of tangible and identifiable intangible net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are tested for impairment annually or when events indicate that an impairment could exist which may include an economic downturn in a market, a change in the assessment of future operations or a decline in Newcastle’s stock price. Newcastle performs its impairment analysis at the reporting unit level. The reporting units have discrete financial information which are regularly reviewed by management. The fair value of the applicable reporting unit is compared to its carrying value. Newcastle estimates fair value by applying third-party market value indicators to projected cash flows and/or projected earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. In applying this methodology, Newcastle relies on a number of factors, including current operating results and cash flows, expected future operating results and cash flows, future business plans, and market data. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds the estimate of fair value, Newcastle calculates the impairment as the excess of the carrying value of goodwill over its implied fair value. Goodwill is included in discontinued operations on the consolidated balance sheets.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash — Newcastle considers all highly liquid short term investments with maturities of 90 days or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Substantially all amounts on deposit with major financial institutions exceed insured limits. Restricted cash, from continuing operations, consisted of:

Supplemental non-cash investing and financing activities relating to CDOs are disclosed below:

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities, from continuing operations, are comprised of the following:

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities - Accounts payable reflect expenses related to goods and services received that have not yet been paid and accrued liabilities reflect invoices that have not yet been received.

Membership Deposit Liabilities - Private country club members pay an advance initiation fee upon their acceptance as a member to the country club. Initiation fees are generally deposits which are refundable 30 years after the date of acceptance as a member. The difference between the amount paid by the member (net of incremental direct costs, primarily commissions) and the net present value of the future refund obligation is deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the estimated average expected life of an active membership (currently seven years), and included in deferred revenue above.

The present value of the refund obligation is recorded as a membership deposit liability in the consolidated balance sheets and accretes over the nonrefundable term (30 years) using the effective interest method. This accretion is recorded as interest expense in the consolidated statements of income.

Deferred Revenue – Billings to clients and payments received in advance of the performance of services or delivery of products are recorded as deferred revenue until services performed or the product is delivered.

Security Deposits Payable - Security deposits payable relate to deposits made by tenants of Newcastle’s properties primarily related to the senior housing business.

Unfavorable Leasehold Interests - Unfavorable leasehold interests relates to leases acquired as part of the Golf business where the terms of the leasehold contracts are less favorable than the estimated market terms of the leases at the acquisition date.

Derivative Liabilities - All derivatives are recognized as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet and measured at fair value.

 Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Obligations – Newcastle recognizes an asset or liability in the consolidated balance sheets, included in discontinued operations, reflecting the funded status of pension and other postretirement benefit plans such as retiree health and life insurance, with current-year changes in the funded status recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The determination of pension plan obligations and expense is based on a number of actuarial assumptions. Two critical assumptions are the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and the discount rate applied to pension plan obligations. For other postretirement benefit plans, which provide for certain health care and life insurance benefits for qualifying retired employees and which are not funded, critical assumptions in determining other postretirement benefit obligations and expense are the discount rate and the assumed health care cost-trend rates.

Self-Insurance Liabilities - Newcastle maintains self-insured medical and workers’ compensation programs for the media business. Newcastle purchases stop loss coverage from third-parties which limits exposure to large claims. Newcastle records a liability for medical and workers’ compensation costs during the period in which they occur as well as an estimate of incurred but not reported claims. Newcastle also is self insured for property and casualty losses for the media business and accrues for losses. Self-insurance liabilities are included in discontinued operations on the consolidated balance sheets.

Accrued Rent – Golf properties pay rent on certain properties in arrears.

Due to Affiliates – Represents amounts due to the Manager and the Senior Housing Managers pursuant to the Management Agreement and Senior Housing Management Agreements.

Preferred Stock —Newcastle’s accounting policy for its preferred stock is described in Note 16.

Accretion of Discount and Other Amortization — As reflected on the consolidated statements of cash flows, this item is comprised of the following:

Recent Accounting Pronouncements — In February 2013, the FASB issued new guidance regarding the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The new guidance does not change current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements. However, it requires companies to present the effects on the line items of net income of significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income if the item reclassified is required to be reclassified to net income in its entirety during the same reporting period. Presentation should occur either on the face of the income statement where net income is presented, or in the notes to the financial statements. Newcastle has adopted this accounting standard and presents this information, above under “Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income into Net Income.”

The FASB has recently issued or discussed a number of proposed standards on such topics as consolidation, financial statement presentation, revenue recognition, leases, financial instruments, hedging, and contingencies. Some of the proposed changes are significant and could have a material impact on Newcastle’s reporting. Newcastle has not yet fully evaluated the potential impact of these proposals, but will make such an evaluation as the standards are finalized.