Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Tables)

v2.4.1.9
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]  
Schedule of carrying value and estimated fair value of assets and liabilities
The following table summarizes the carrying values and estimated fair values of Newcastle’s financial instruments at December 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
December 31, 2014
December 31, 2013
 
Carrying
Value
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Fair Value Method (A)
 
Carrying
Value
 
Estimated
Fair Value
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate securities, available-for-sale
$
231,754

 
$
231,754

 
Broker quotations, counterparty quotations, pricing services, pricing models
 
$
432,993

 
$
432,993

Real estate securities, pledged as collateral
407,689

 
407,689

 
Broker/counterparty quotations
 
551,270

 
551,270

Real estate related and other loans, held-for-sale, net
230,200

 
246,678

 
Broker quotations, counterparty quotations, pricing services, pricing models
 
437,530

 
456,535

Residential mortgage loans, held-for-investment, net

 

 
Pricing models
 
255,450

 
252,039

Residential mortgage loans, held-for-sale, net
3,854

 
4,076

 
Broker/counterparty quotations
 
2,185

 
2,185

Subprime mortgage loans subject to call option (B)
406,217

 
406,217

 
(B)
 
406,217

 
406,217

Restricted cash
15,714

 
15,714

 
 
 
5,856

 
5,856

Cash and cash equivalents
73,727

 
73,727

 
 
 
42,721

 
42,721

Non-hedge derivative assets (C)

 

 
Counterparty quotations
 
43,662

 
43,662

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CDO bonds payable (D)
$
227,673

 
$
134,491

 
Pricing models
 
544,525

 
395,689

Other bonds and notes payable (D)
27,069

 
28,102

 
Broker quotations, pricing models
 
230,279

 
235,464

Repurchase agreements
441,176

 
441,176

 
Market comparables
 
556,347

 
556,347

Credit facilities and obligations under capital leases, golf
161,857

 
161,857

 
Pricing models
 
152,498

 
152,498

Financing of subprime mortgage loans subject to call option (B)
406,217

 
406,217

 
(B)
 
406,217

 
406,217

Junior subordinated notes payable
51,231

 
28,918

 
Pricing models
 
51,237

 
35,479

Interest rate swaps, treated as hedges (C)
1,963

 
1,963

 
Counterparty quotations
 
6,203

 
6,203

Non-hedge derivatives(C)
2,365

 
2,365

 
Counterparty quotations
 
7,592

 
7,592


(A)
Methods are listed in order of priority. In the case of real estate securities and real estate related and other loans, broker quotations are obtained if available and practicable, otherwise counterparty quotations or pricing service valuations are obtained or, finally, internal pricing models are used. Internal pricing models are only used for (i) securities and loans that are not traded in an active market, and, therefore, have little or no price transparency, and for which significant unobservable inputs must be used in estimating fair value, or (ii) loans or debt obligations which are private and untraded.
(B)
Represents an option, not an obligation, to repurchase loans from Newcastle’s subprime mortgage loan securitizations (Note 6).
(C)
Represents derivative assets and liabilities including interest rate swaps and TBA forward contracts, (Note 9).
(D)
Newcastle notes that the unrealized gain on the liabilities within such structures cannot be fully realized. Assets held within CDOs and other non- recourse structures are generally not available to satisfy obligations outside of such financings, except to the extent Newcastle receives net cash flow distributions from such structures. Furthermore, creditors or beneficial interest holders of these structures have no recourse to the general credit of Newcastle. Therefore, Newcastle’s exposure to the economic losses from such structures is limited to its invested equity in them and economically their book value cannot be less than zero. As a result, the fair value of Newcastle’s net investments in these non-recourse financing structures is equal to the present value of their expected future net cash flows.

Schedule of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
The following table summarizes financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2014:
 
 
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Value
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
 
 
Market Quotations
 
Market Quotations
 
Internal Pricing Models
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate securities, available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CMBS
$
178,763

 
$

 
$
178,763

 
$

 
$
178,763

Non-Agency RMBS
45,035

 

 
45,035

 

 
45,035

CDO (A)
7,956

 

 

 
7,956

 
7,956

Real estate securities, available for sale total
$
231,754

 
$

 
$
223,798

 
$
7,956

 
$
231,754

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate securities, pledged as collateral
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FNMA/FHLMC
407,689

 
407,689

 

 

 
407,689

Real estate securities, pledged as collateral
$
407,689

 
$
407,689

 
$

 
$

 
$
407,689

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative assets at fair value

 

 

 

 

Derivative assets total
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivative Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate swaps, treated as hedges
$
1,963

 
$
1,963

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,963

Interest rate swaps and TBAs, not treated as hedges
2,365

 
2,365

 

 

 
2,365

Derivative liabilities total
$
4,328

 
$
4,328

 
$

 
$

 
$
4,328


(A)
Represents non-consolidated CDO securities, excluding eight securities with zero value, which had an aggregate face amount of $113.3 million as of December 31, 2014.
Schedule of quantitative information about significant unobservable inputs
The following table provides quantitative information regarding the significant unobservable inputs used by Newcastle for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2014. This table excludes inputs used to measure fair value that are not developed by Newcastle, such as broker prices and other third-party pricing service valuations.


Asset Type
 
Amortized
Cost
Basis
 
Fair
Value
 
Weighted Average Significant Input
 


Discount
Rate
 
Prepayment Speed
 
Cumulative Default Rate
 
Loss Severity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CDO
 

 
7,956

 
8.5
%
 
3.7
%
 
20.7
%
 
73.3
%
Total
 
$

 
$
7,956
Schedule of change in fair value of Level 3 investments

Newcastle’s investments in instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs changed as follows:
 
Level 3 Assets
 
CMBS
 
ABS
 
Equity/Other
 
Derivative
 
 
 

 
Subprime
 
Other
 
Securities
 
Transactions
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2012
$
376,391

 
$
355,975

 
$
1,475

 
$
71,025

 
$

 
$
804,866

Spin-off of New Residential (A)

 
(560,783
)
 

 

 

 
(560,783
)
Total gains (losses) (B)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included in net income (loss) (C)
17

 
2,372

 
(82
)
 
1,638

 
1,168

 
5,113

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)
17,167

 
24,755

 
73

 
(726
)
 

 
41,269

Amortization included in interest income
12,849

 
17,981

 
331

 
5,265

 

 
36,426

Purchases, sales and settlements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases

 
267,160

 

 

 
43,172

 
310,332

Proceeds from sales
(105,565
)
 
(11,181
)
 
(1,359
)
 
(8,156
)
 

 
(126,261
)
Proceeds from repayments
(16,390
)
 
(38,698
)
 
(438
)
 
(9,289
)
 
(678
)
 
(65,493
)
Balance at December 31, 2013
$
284,469

 
$
57,581

 
$

 
$
59,757

 
$
43,662

 
$
445,469

Total gains (losses) (B)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Included in net income (loss) (C)
15,384

 
4,165

 

 
976

 
12,498

 
33,023

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)
(21,154
)
 
2,909

 

 
5,193

 

 
(13,052
)
Amortization included in interest income
17,184

 
5,218

 

 
1,924

 

 
24,326

Purchases, sales and settlements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Purchases

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sales
(73,252
)
 
(15,787
)
 

 
(57,053
)
 

 
(146,092
)
Proceeds from repayments
(43,868
)
 
(9,051
)
 

 
(2,841
)
 
(56,160
)
 
(111,920
)
Balance at December 31, 2014
$
178,763

 
$
45,035

 
$

 
$
7,956

 
$

 
$
231,754


(A)
The spin-off of New Residential occurred on May 15, 2013.
(B)
None of the gains (losses) recorded in earnings during the periods is attributable to the change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to Level 3 assets still held at the reporting dates.
(C)
These gains (losses) are recorded in the following line items in the consolidated statements of income:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Gain (loss) on settlement of investments, net
$
20,525

 
$
5,367

Other income (loss), net
12,498

 
1,168

OTTI

 
(1,422
)
Total
$
33,023

 
$
5,113

Gain (loss) on sale of investments, net, from investments transferred into Level 3 during the period
$

 
$


Schedule of gains losses on fair value of real estate securities
These gains (losses) are recorded in the following line items in the consolidated statements of income:
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2014
 
2013
Gain (loss) on settlement of investments, net
$
20,525

 
$
5,367

Other income (loss), net
12,498

 
1,168

OTTI

 
(1,422
)
Total
$
33,023

 
$
5,113

Gain (loss) on sale of investments, net, from investments transferred into Level 3 during the period
$

 
$

Schedule of fair value for real estate related and other loans and residential mortgage loans held for sale
The following tables summarize certain information for real estate related and other loans as well as for residential mortgage loans held-for-sale as of December 31, 2014:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Significant Input
 
 
 
 
 
 
Range
 
Weighted Average
 
 
Carrying
 
Fair
 
Discount
 
Loss
 
Discount
 
Loss
Loan Type
 
Value
 
Value
 
Rate
 
Severity
 
Rate
 
Severity
Mezzanine
 
$
103,582

 
$
106,459

 
5.0% - 20.0%

 
0.0% - 100.0%

 
7.8
%
 
22.6
%
Bank Loan
 
107,715

 
121,315

 
15.0% - 43.7%

 
0.0% - 100.0%

 
22.1
%
 
26.3
%
B-Note
 
18,748

 
18,748

 
12.0
%
 
0.0
%
 
12.0
%
 
0.0
%
Whole Loan
 
155

 
156

 
4.0
%
 
0.0
%
 
4.0
%
 
0.0
%
Total Real Estate Related and Other Loans Held for Sale, Net
 
$
230,200

 
$
246,678

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Significant Input (Weighted Average)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carrying
 
 
 
Discount
 
Prepayment
 
Constant
 
 
Loan Type
 
Value
 
Fair Value
 
Rate
 
Speed
 
Default Rate
 
Loss Severity
Residential Loans
 
3,854

 
4,076

 
23.5
%
 
0.2
%
 
18.0
%
 
3.9
%
Total Residential Mortgage Loans, Held-for-Sale, Net
 
$
3,854

 
$
4,076