Drive Shack Inc. - Quarter Report: 2006 September (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
x
QUARTERLY REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For
the
quarterly period ended September 30, 2006
or
o
TRANSITION REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For
the
transition period from ___________________ to
___________________
Commission
File Number: 001-31458
Newcastle
Investment Corp.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland
|
81-0559116
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.)
|
or
organization)
|
1345
Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY
|
10105
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
(212)
798-6100
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
_____________________________________________________________
(Former
name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for
the past 90 days. Yes x
No o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated
filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check
one):
Large
accelerated filer x
Accelerated
filer o
Non-accelerated
filer o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes
o
No
x
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common
stock, as of the last practicable date.
Common
stock, $0.01 par value per share: 45,699,817 shares outstanding as of November
7, 2006.
NEWCASTLE
INVESTMENT CORP.
FORM
10-Q
INDEX
PAGE
|
|
PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
|
|
Item
1. Financial Statements
|
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2006 (unaudited) and December
31,
2005
|
1
|
Consolidated
Statements of Income (unaudited) for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006 and 2005
|
2
|
Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders' Equity (unaudited) for the nine months
ended
September 30, 2006 and 2005
|
3
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the nine months ended September
30, 2006 and 2005
|
4
|
|
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
|
6
|
Item
2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results
of Operations
|
15
|
Item
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk
|
32
|
Item
4. Controls and Procedures
|
37
|
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
|
|
Item
1. Legal Proceedings
|
38
|
Item
1A. Risk Factors
|
38
|
|
|
Item
2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of
Proceeds
|
39
|
Item
3. Defaults upon Senior Securities
|
39
|
Item
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
|
39
|
Item
5. Other Information
|
39
|
Item
6. Exhibits
|
40
|
SIGNATURES
|
41
|
PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM
1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NEWCASTLE
INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars
in thousands, except share data)
September
30, 2006(Unaudited)
|
December
31, 2005
|
||||||
|
|||||||
Assets
|
|||||||
Real
estate securities, available for sale
|
$
|
5,369,641
|
$
|
4,554,519
|
|||
Real
estate related loans, net
|
1,238,418
|
615,551
|
|||||
Residential
mortgage loans, net
|
863,788
|
600,682
|
|||||
Subprime
mortgage loans subject to future repurchase - Note 5
|
287,546
|
-
|
|||||
Investments
in unconsolidated subsidiaries
|
28,549
|
29,953
|
|||||
Operating
real estate, net
|
30,271
|
16,673
|
|||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
16,317
|
21,275
|
|||||
Restricted
cash
|
183,334
|
268,910
|
|||||
Derivative
assets
|
64,218
|
63,834
|
|||||
Receivables
and other assets
|
43,999
|
38,302
|
|||||
$
|
8,126,081
|
$
|
6,209,699
|
||||
Liabilities
and Stockholders' Equity
|
|||||||
Liabilities
|
|||||||
CBO
bonds payable
|
$
|
3,505,906
|
$
|
3,530,384
|
|||
Other
bonds payable
|
704,785
|
353,330
|
|||||
Notes
payable
|
153,957
|
260,441
|
|||||
Repurchase
agreements
|
2,197,780
|
1,048,203
|
|||||
Financing
of subprime mortgage loans subject to future repurchase - Note
5
|
287,546
|
-
|
|||||
Credit
facility
|
125,000
|
20,000
|
|||||
Junior
subordinated notes payable (security for trust preferred)
|
100,100
|
-
|
|||||
Derivative
liabilities
|
26,576
|
18,392
|
|||||
Dividends
payable
|
30,152
|
29,052
|
|||||
Due
to affiliates
|
9,938
|
8,783
|
|||||
Accrued
expenses and other liabilities
|
27,175
|
23,111
|
|||||
7,168,915
|
5,291,696
|
||||||
Stockholders'
Equity
|
|||||||
Preferred
stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 2,500,000
|
|||||||
shares
of 9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and 1,600,000
|
|||||||
shares
of 8.05% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, liquidation
|
|||||||
preference
$25.00 per share, issued and outstanding
|
102,500
|
102,500
|
|||||
Common
stock, $0.01 par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 43,999,817
and
|
|||||||
43,913,409
shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2006 and
|
|||||||
December
31, 2005, respectively
|
440
|
439
|
|||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
784,234
|
782,735
|
|||||
Dividends
in excess of earnings
|
(10,923
|
)
|
(13,235
|
)
|
|||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
80,915
|
45,564
|
|||||
957,166
|
918,003
|
||||||
$
|
8,126,081
|
$
|
6,209,699
|
1
NEWCASTLE
INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
(dollars
in thousands, except share data)
Three
Months Ended
September
30,
|
Nine
Months Ended
September
30,
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
2005
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Revenues
|
|||||||||||||
Interest
income
|
$
|
140,330
|
$
|
88,021
|
$
|
378,446
|
$
|
254,035
|
|||||
Rental
and escalation income
|
834
|
1,871
|
3,616
|
4,850
|
|||||||||
Gain
on sale of investments, net
|
2,642
|
6,750
|
10,064
|
12,099
|
|||||||||
Other
income, net
|
288
|
3,208
|
4,545
|
4,594
|
|||||||||
144,094
|
99,850
|
396,671
|
275,578
|
||||||||||
Expenses
|
|||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
100,239
|
58,681
|
265,113
|
163,238
|
|||||||||
Property
operating expense
|
1,041
|
594
|
2,808
|
1,827
|
|||||||||
Loan
and security servicing expense
|
1,553
|
1,483
|
4,961
|
4,646
|
|||||||||
Provision
for credit losses
|
2,682
|
4,091
|
5,868
|
5,990
|
|||||||||
Provision
for losses, loans held for sale - Note 5
|
-
|
-
|
4,127
|
-
|
|||||||||
General
and administrative expense
|
1,187
|
1,034
|
3,979
|
3,251
|
|||||||||
Management
fee to affiliate
|
3,475
|
3,316
|
10,420
|
9,895
|
|||||||||
Incentive
compensation to affiliate
|
3,094
|
2,416
|
8,780
|
5,271
|
|||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
290
|
182
|
767
|
453
|
|||||||||
113,561
|
71,797
|
306,823
|
194,571
|
||||||||||
Income
before equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
|
30,533
|
28,053
|
89,848
|
81,007
|
|||||||||
Equity
in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
|
1,506
|
1,104
|
3,916
|
4,628
|
|||||||||
Income
taxes on related taxable subsidiaries
|
-
|
(43
|
)
|
-
|
(321
|
)
|
|||||||
Income
from continuing operations
|
32,039
|
29,114
|
93,764
|
85,314
|
|||||||||
Income
from discontinued operations
|
(12
|
)
|
86
|
212
|
2,051
|
||||||||
Net
Income
|
32,027
|
29,200
|
93,976
|
87,365
|
|||||||||
Preferred
dividends
|
(2,328
|
)
|
(1,523
|
)
|
(6,985
|
)
|
(4,570
|
)
|
|||||
Income
Available For Common Stockholders
|
$
|
29,699
|
$
|
27,677
|
$
|
86,991
|
$
|
82,795
|
|||||
Net
Income Per Share of Common Stock
|
|||||||||||||
Basic
|
$
|
0.68
|
$
|
0.63
|
$
|
1.98
|
$
|
1.90
|
|||||
Diluted
|
$
|
0.67
|
$
|
0.63
|
$
|
1.97
|
$
|
1.88
|
|||||
Income
from continuing operations per share of common stock, after
|
|||||||||||||
preferred
dividends
|
|||||||||||||
Basic
|
$
|
0.68
|
$
|
0.63
|
$
|
1.97
|
$
|
1.85
|
|||||
Diluted
|
$
|
0.67
|
$
|
0.63
|
$
|
1.97
|
$
|
1.84
|
|||||
Income
from discontinued operations per share of common stock
|
|||||||||||||
Basic
|
$
|
(0.00
|
)
|
$
|
0.00
|
$
|
0.01
|
$
|
0.05
|
||||
Diluted
|
$
|
(0.00
|
)
|
$
|
0.00
|
$
|
0.00
|
$
|
0.04
|
||||
Weighted
Average Number of Shares of
|
|||||||||||||
Common
Stock Outstanding
|
|||||||||||||
Basic
|
43,999,817
|
43,789,819
|
43,978,625
|
43,595,411
|
|||||||||
Diluted
|
44,136,956
|
44,121,263
|
44,091,003
|
43,961,044
|
|||||||||
Dividends
Declared per Share of Common Stock
|
$
|
0.650
|
$
|
0.625
|
$
|
1.925
|
$
|
1.875
|
2
NEWCASTLE
INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Unaudited)
FOR
THE
NINE MONHTS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 AND 2005
(dollars
in thousands)
Preferred
Stock
|
Common
Stock
|
Additional
Paid-in
|
|
Dividends
in Excess of
|
|
Accum.
Other Comp.
|
|
Total
Stock-holders'
|
||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Capital
|
Earnings
|
Income
|
Equity
|
|||||||||||||||||
Stockholders'
equity - December 31, 2005
|
4,100,000
|
$
|
102,500
|
43,913,409
|
$
|
439
|
$
|
782,735
|
$
|
(13,235
|
)
|
$
|
45,564
|
$
|
918,003
|
|||||||||
Dividends
declared
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(91,664
|
)
|
-
|
(91,664
|
)
|
||||||||||||||
Exercise
of common stock options
|
-
|
-
|
84,000
|
1
|
1,439
|
-
|
-
|
1,440
|
||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock to directors
|
-
|
-
|
2,408
|
-
|
60
|
-
|
-
|
60
|
||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
income:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
93,976
|
-
|
93,976
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
unrealized (loss) on securities
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
31,775
|
31,775
|
||||||||||||||||
Reclassification
of net realized (gain) on securities into earnings
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(637
|
)
|
(637
|
)
|
||||||||||||||
Foreign
currency translation
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
763
|
763
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
unrealized gain on derivatives designated as cash flow
hedges
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6,801
|
6,801
|
||||||||||||||||
Reclassification
of net realized (gain) on derivatives designated as cash flow
hedges
into earnings
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(3,351
|
)
|
(3,351
|
)
|
||||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive income
|
129,327
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Stockholders'
equity - September 30, 2006
|
4,100,000
|
$
|
102,500
|
43,999,817
|
$
|
440
|
$
|
784,234
|
$
|
(10,923
|
)
|
$
|
80,915
|
$
|
957,166
|
|||||||||
Stockholders'
equity - December 31, 2004
|
2,500,000
|
$
|
62,500
|
39,859,481
|
$
|
399
|
$
|
676,015
|
$
|
(13,969
|
)
|
$
|
71,770
|
$
|
796,715
|
|||||||||
Dividends
declared
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(86,661
|
)
|
-
|
(86,661
|
)
|
||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
-
|
-
|
3,300,000
|
33
|
96,518
|
-
|
-
|
96,551
|
||||||||||||||||
Exercise
of common stock options
|
-
|
-
|
628,330
|
6
|
9,491
|
-
|
-
|
9,497
|
||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of common stock to directors
|
-
|
-
|
2,008
|
-
|
67
|
-
|
-
|
67
|
||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
income:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
87,365
|
-
|
87,365
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
unrealized (loss) on securities
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(41,202
|
)
|
(41,202
|
)
|
||||||||||||||
Reclassification
of net realized (gain) on securities into earnings
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(7,157
|
)
|
(7,157
|
)
|
||||||||||||||
Foreign
currency translation
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1,103
|
)
|
(1,103
|
)
|
||||||||||||||
Reclassification
of net realized foreign currency translation into earnings
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(626
|
)
|
(626
|
)
|
||||||||||||||
Net
unrealized gain on derivatives designated as cash flow
hedges
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
38,701
|
38,701
|
||||||||||||||||
Reclassification
of net realized loss on derivatives designated as cash flow
hedges
into earnings
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,657
|
1,657
|
||||||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive income
|
77,635
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Stockholders'
equity - September 30, 2005
|
2,500,000
|
$
|
62,500
|
43,789,819
|
$
|
438
|
$
|
782,091
|
$
|
(13,265
|
)
|
$
|
62,040
|
$
|
893,804
|
3
NEWCASTLE
INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW (Unaudited)
(dollars
in thousands)
Nine
Months Ended September 30,
|
|||||||
2006
|
2005
|
||||||
Cash
Flows From Operating Activities
|
|||||||
Net
income
|
$
|
93,976
|
$
|
87,365
|
|||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating
activities
(inclusive of amounts related to discontinued
operations):
|
|||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
767
|
629
|
|||||
Accretion
of discount and other amortization
|
(14,976
|
)
|
174
|
||||
Equity
in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
|
(3,916
|
)
|
(4,628
|
)
|
|||
Distributions
of earnings from unconsolidated subsidiaries
|
3,916
|
4,049
|
|||||
Deferred
rent
|
(1,274
|
)
|
(1,776
|
)
|
|||
Gain
on sale of investments
|
(10,430
|
)
|
(13,893
|
)
|
|||
Unrealized
gain on non-hedge derivatives and hedge ineffectiveness
|
(4,421
|
)
|
(6,559
|
)
|
|||
Provision
for credit losses
|
5,868
|
5,990
|
|||||
Provision
for losses, loans held for sale
|
4,127
|
-
|
|||||
Purchase
of loans held for sale - Note 5
|
(1,511,086
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Sale
of loans held for sale - Note 5
|
1,507,588
|
-
|
|||||
Non-cash
directors' compensation
|
60
|
67
|
|||||
Change
in:
|
|||||||
Restricted
cash
|
34,398
|
(117,679
|
)
|
||||
Receivables
and other assets
|
(524
|
)
|
(1,016
|
)
|
|||
Due
to affiliates
|
1,155
|
(2,583
|
)
|
||||
Accrued
expenses and other liabilities
|
8,757
|
61,993
|
|||||
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
113,985
|
12,133
|
|||||
Cash
Flows From Investing Activities
|
|||||||
Purchase
of real estate securities
|
(1,116,676
|
)
|
(815,728
|
)
|
|||
Proceeds
from sale of real estate securities
|
306,618
|
50,082
|
|||||
Deposit
on real estate securities (treated as a derivative)
|
-
|
(32,439
|
)
|
||||
Purchase
of and advances on loans
|
(1,267,511
|
)
|
(609,567
|
)
|
|||
Proceeds
from settlement of loans
|
-
|
1,024
|
|||||
Repayments
of loan and security principal
|
417,277
|
540,749
|
|||||
Margin
deposits on derivative instruments
|
(33,387
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Return
of margin deposits on derivative instruments
|
30,349
|
-
|
|||||
Margin
deposits on total rate of return swaps (treated as derivative
instruments)
|
(46,158
|
)
|
(39,099
|
)
|
|||
Return
of margin deposits on total rate of return swaps (treated as derivative
instruments)
|
89,255
|
-
|
|||||
Proceeds
from termination of derivative instruments
|
17,982
|
762
|
|||||
Proceeds
from sale of derivative instrument into Securitization Trust -
Note
5
|
5,623
|
-
|
|||||
Payments
on settlement of derivative instruments
|
-
|
(1,112
|
)
|
||||
Purchase
and improvement of operating real estate
|
(1,314
|
)
|
(188
|
)
|
|||
Proceeds
from sale of operating real estate
|
-
|
52,333
|
|||||
Contributions
to unconsolidated subsidiaries
|
(100
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Distributions
of capital from unconsolidated subsidiaries
|
1,504
|
9,122
|
|||||
Payment
of deferred transaction costs
|
-
|
(38
|
)
|
||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(1,596,538
|
)
|
(844,099
|
)
|
|||
Continued
on Page 5
|
4
NEWCASTLE
INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW (Unaudited)
(dollars
in thousands)
Nine
Months Ended September 30,
|
|||||||
2006
|
2005
|
||||||
Cash
Flows From Financing Activities
|
|||||||
Issuance
of CBO bonds payable
|
-
|
442,034
|
|||||
Repayments
of CBO bonds payable
|
(27,716
|
)
|
(7,364
|
)
|
|||
Issuance
of other bonds payable
|
631,988
|
246,547
|
|||||
Repayments
of other bonds payable
|
(276,082
|
)
|
(98,786
|
)
|
|||
Repayments
of notes payable
|
(106,484
|
)
|
(327,080
|
)
|
|||
Borrowings
under repurchase agreements
|
3,300,477
|
675,500
|
|||||
Repayments
of repurchase agreements
|
(2,150,900
|
)
|
(182,547
|
)
|
|||
Draws
under credit facility
|
393,900
|
42,000
|
|||||
Repayments
of credit facility
|
(288,900
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Issuance
of junior subordinated notes payable
|
100,100
|
-
|
|||||
Issuance
of common stock
|
-
|
97,680
|
|||||
Costs
related to issuance of common stock
|
-
|
(1,129
|
)
|
||||
Exercise
of common stock options
|
1,440
|
9,497
|
|||||
Dividends
paid
|
(90,564
|
)
|
(84,205
|
)
|
|||
Payment
of deferred financing costs
|
(9,664
|
)
|
(1,683
|
)
|
|||
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
1,477,595
|
810,464
|
|||||
Net
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
(4,958
|
)
|
822,559
|
||||
Cash
and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period
|
21,275
|
37,911
|
|||||
Cash
and Cash Equivalents, End of Period
|
$
|
16,317
|
$
|
860,470
|
|||
Supplemental
Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
|
|||||||
Cash
paid during the period for interest expense
|
$
|
248,594
|
$
|
153,122
|
|||
Cash
paid during the period for income taxes
|
$
|
244
|
$
|
443
|
|||
Supplemental
Schedule of Non-Cash Investing and Financing
Activities
|
|||||||
Common
stock dividends declared but not paid
|
$
|
28,600
|
$
|
27,369
|
|||
Preferred
stock dividends declared but not paid
|
$
|
1,552
|
$
|
1,016
|
|||
Deposits
used in acquisition of real estate securities (treated as
derivatives)
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
44,504
|
|||
Foreclosure
of loans
|
$
|
12,200
|
$
|
-
|
|||
Acquisition
and financing of loans subject to future repurchase
|
$
|
286,315
|
$
|
-
|
5
NEWCASTLE
INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
SEPTEMBER
30, 2006
(dollars
in tables in thousands, except share data)
1.
GENERAL
Newcastle
Investment Corp. (and its subsidiaries, "Newcastle") is a Maryland corporation
that was formed in 2002. Newcastle conducts its business through three primary
segments: (i) real estate securities and real estate related loans, (ii)
residential mortgage loans, and (iii) operating real estate.
Newcastle
is organized and conducts its operations to qualify as a real estate investment
trust (“REIT”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, Newcastle will
generally not be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on that portion
of
its net income that is distributed to stockholders if it distributes at least
90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders by prescribed dates and
complies with various other requirements.
Newcastle
is party to a management agreement (the "Management Agreement") with Fortress
Investment Group LLC (the "Manager"), an affiliate, under which the Manager
advises Newcastle on various aspects of its business and manages its day-to-day
operations, subject to the supervision of Newcastle's board of directors. For
its services, the Manager receives an annual management fee and incentive
compensation, both as defined in the Management Agreement.
Approximately
2.9 million shares of Newcastle’s common stock were held by an affiliate of the
Manager and its principals at September 30, 2006. In addition, an affiliate
of
the Manager held options to purchase approximately 1.2 million shares of
Newcastle’s common stock at September 30, 2006.
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes of Newcastle
have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States for interim financial reporting and the instructions to
Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information
and
footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared under
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted.
In
the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair
presentation of Newcastle's financial position, results of operations and cash
flows have been included and are of a normal and recurring nature. The operating
results presented for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the
results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the entire
year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with Newcastle's
consolidated financial statements for
the
year ended December 31, 2005
and
notes thereto included in Newcastle’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Capitalized terms used herein, and not
otherwise defined, are defined in Newcastle’s consolidated financial statements
for the year ended December 31, 2005.
6
NEWCASTLE
INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
SEPTEMBER
30, 2006
(dollars
in tables in thousands, except share data)
2.
INFORMATION REGARDING BUSINESS SEGMENTS
Newcastle
conducts its business through three primary segments: real estate securities
and
real estate related loans, residential mortgage loans, and operating real
estate.
The
residential mortgage loans segment includes the securitized retained equity
and
bonds from the Securitization Trust described in Note 5 since they represent
a
first loss credit position in residential loans.
Summary
financial data on Newcastle's segments is given below, together with a
reconciliation to the same data for Newcastle as a whole:
Real
Estate Securities
and
Real Estate Related Loans
|
|
Residential
Mortgage Loans
|
|
Operating
Real Estate
|
|
Unallocated
|
|
Total
|
||||||||
September
30, 2006 and the Nine Months then Ended
|
||||||||||||||||
Gross
revenues
|
$
|
317,138
|
$
|
75,878
|
$
|
3,851
|
$
|
(196
|
)
|
$
|
396,671
|
|||||
Operating
expenses
|
(2,026
|
)
|
(13,274
|
)
|
(3,006
|
)
|
(22,637
|
)
|
(40,943
|
)
|
||||||
Operating
income (loss)
|
315,112
|
62,604
|
845
|
(22,833
|
)
|
355,728
|
||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(210,793
|
)
|
(46,696
|
)
|
-
|
(7,624
|
)
|
(265,113
|
)
|
|||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
-
|
-
|
(562
|
)
|
(205
|
)
|
(767
|
)
|
||||||||
Equity
in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries (A)
|
1,975
|
-
|
1,940
|
1
|
3,916
|
|||||||||||
Income
(loss) from continuing operations
|
106,294
|
15,908
|
2,223
|
(30,661
|
)
|
93,764
|
||||||||||
Income
from discontinued operations
|
-
|
-
|
212
|
-
|
212
|
|||||||||||
Net
Income (loss)
|
$
|
106,294
|
$
|
15,908
|
$
|
2,435
|
$
|
(30,661
|
)
|
$
|
93,976
|
|||||
Revenue
derived from non-U.S. sources:
|
||||||||||||||||
Canada
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
2,933
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
2,933
|
||||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
6,820,667
|
$
|
1,238,856
|
$
|
46,255
|
$
|
20,303
|
$
|
8,126,081
|
||||||
Long-lived
assets outside the U.S.:
|
||||||||||||||||
Canada
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
17,153
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
17,153
|
||||||
December
31, 2005
|
||||||||||||||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
5,544,818
|
$
|
606,320
|
$
|
36,306
|
$
|
22,255
|
$
|
6,209,699
|
||||||
Long-lived
assets outside the U.S.:
|
||||||||||||||||
Canada
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
16,673
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
16,673
|
||||||
Three
Months Ended September 30, 2006
|
||||||||||||||||
Gross
revenues
|
$
|
116,680
|
$
|
26,466
|
$
|
834
|
$
|
114
|
$
|
144,094
|
||||||
Operating
expenses
|
(731
|
)
|
(3,608
|
)
|
(1,088
|
)
|
(7,605
|
)
|
(13,032
|
)
|
||||||
Operating
income (loss)
|
115,949
|
22,858
|
(254
|
)
|
(7,491
|
)
|
131,062
|
|||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(78,696
|
)
|
(17,777
|
)
|
-
|
(3,766
|
)
|
(100,239
|
)
|
|||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
-
|
-
|
(221
|
)
|
(69
|
)
|
(290
|
)
|
||||||||
Equity
in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries (A)
|
629
|
-
|
877
|
-
|
1,506
|
|||||||||||
Income
(loss) from continuing operations
|
37,882
|
5,081
|
402
|
(11,326
|
)
|
32,039
|
||||||||||
Income
from discontinued operations
|
-
|
-
|
(12
|
)
|
-
|
(12
|
)
|
|||||||||
Net
Income (loss)
|
$
|
37,882
|
$
|
5,081
|
$
|
390
|
$
|
(11,326
|
)
|
$
|
32,027
|
|||||
Revenue
derived from non-U.S. sources:
|
||||||||||||||||
Canada
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
295
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
295
|
||||||
Nine
Months Ended September 30, 2005
|
||||||||||||||||
Gross
revenues
|
$
|
232,803
|
$
|
37,270
|
$
|
4,892
|
$
|
613
|
$
|
275,578
|
||||||
Operating
expenses
|
(3,236
|
)
|
(7,472
|
)
|
(1,878
|
)
|
(18,294
|
)
|
(30,880
|
)
|
||||||
Operating
income (loss)
|
229,567
|
29,798
|
3,014
|
(17,681
|
)
|
244,698
|
||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(140,240
|
)
|
(22,646
|
)
|
(249
|
)
|
(103
|
)
|
(163,238
|
)
|
||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
-
|
-
|
(350
|
)
|
(103
|
)
|
(453
|
)
|
||||||||
Equity
in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries (A)
|
2,567
|
-
|
1,740
|
-
|
4,307
|
|||||||||||
Income
(loss) from continuing operations
|
91,894
|
7,152
|
4,155
|
(17,887
|
)
|
85,314
|
||||||||||
Income
(loss) from discontinued operations
|
-
|
-
|
2,051
|
-
|
2,051
|
|||||||||||
Net
Income (Loss)
|
$
|
91,894
|
$
|
7,152
|
$
|
6,206
|
$
|
(17,887
|
)
|
$
|
87,365
|
|||||
Revenue
derived from non-U.S. sources:
|
||||||||||||||||
Canada
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
10,269
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
10,269
|
continued
on page 8
7
NEWCASTLE
INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
SEPTEMBER
30, 2006
(dollars
in tables in thousands, except share data)
Real
Estate Securities
and
Real Estate Related Loans
|
|
Residential
Mortgage Loans
|
|
Operating
Real Estate
|
|
Unallocated
|
|
Total
|
||||||||
Three
Months Ended September 30, 2005
|
||||||||||||||||
Gross
revenues
|
$
|
85,742
|
$
|
11,932
|
$
|
1,889
|
$
|
287
|
$
|
99,850
|
||||||
Operating
expenses
|
(2,460
|
)
|
(3,144
|
)
|
(618
|
)
|
(6,712
|
)
|
(12,934
|
)
|
||||||
Operating
income (loss)
|
83,282
|
8,788
|
1,271
|
(6,425
|
)
|
86,916
|
||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(50,992
|
)
|
(7,588
|
)
|
2
|
(103
|
)
|
(58,681
|
)
|
|||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
-
|
-
|
(119
|
)
|
(63
|
)
|
(182
|
)
|
||||||||
Equity
in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries (A)
|
724
|
-
|
337
|
-
|
1,061
|
|||||||||||
Income
(loss) from continuing operations
|
33,014
|
1,200
|
1,491
|
(6,591
|
)
|
29,114
|
||||||||||
Income
(loss) from discontinued operations
|
-
|
-
|
86
|
-
|
86
|
|||||||||||
Net
Income (Loss)
|
$
|
33,014
|
$
|
1,200
|
$
|
1,577
|
$
|
(6,591
|
)
|
$
|
29,200
|
|||||
Revenue
derived from non-U.S. sources:
|
||||||||||||||||
Canada
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
1,917
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
1,917
|
||||||
(A)
Net of income taxes on related taxable subsidiaries.
|
Unconsolidated
Subsidiaries
The
following table summarizes the activity affecting the equity held by Newcastle
in unconsolidated subsidiaries:
Operating
Real Estate Subsidiary
|
|
Real
Estate Loan Subsidiary
|
|
Trust
Preferred Subsidiary
|
||||||
Balance
at December 31, 2005
|
$
|
12,151
|
$
|
17,802
|
$
|
-
|
||||
Contributions
to unconsolidated subsidiaries
|
-
|
-
|
100
|
|||||||
Distributions
from unconsolidated subsidiaries
|
(1,734
|
)
|
(3,686
|
)
|
-
|
|||||
Equity
in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
|
1,940
|
1,975
|
1
|
|||||||
Balance
at September 30, 2006
|
$
|
12,357
|
$
|
16,091
|
$
|
101
|
Summarized
financial information related to Newcastle’s unconsolidated subsidiaries was as
follows:
Operating
Real Estate Subsidiary (A) (B)
|
Real
Estate Loan Subsidiary (A) (C)
|
||||||||||||
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
||||||||||
2006
|
2005
|
2006
|
2005
|
||||||||||
Assets
|
$
|
78,177
|
$
|
77,758
|
$
|
32,365
|
$
|
35,806
|
|||||
Liabilities
|
(53,000
|
)
|
(53,000
|
)
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||
Minority
interest
|
(463
|
)
|
(455
|
)
|
(183
|
)
|
(202
|
)
|
|||||
Equity
|
$
|
24,714
|
$
|
24,303
|
$
|
32,182
|
$
|
35,604
|
|||||
Equity
held by Newcastle
|
$
|
12,357
|
$
|
12,151
|
$
|
16,091
|
$
|
17,802
|
|
Nine
Months Ended September 30,
|
Nine
Months Ended September 30,
|
|||||||||||
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
||||
Revenues
|
$
|
6,493
|
$
|
8,287
|
$
|
3,996
|
$
|
5,195
|
|||||
Expenses
|
(2,541
|
)
|
(4,088
|
)
|
(25
|
)
|
(32
|
)
|
|||||
Minority
interest
|
(72
|
)
|
(77
|
)
|
(22
|
)
|
(29
|
)
|
|||||
Net
income
|
$
|
3,880
|
$
|
4,122
|
$
|
3,949
|
$
|
5,134
|
|||||
Newcastle's
equity in net income
|
$
|
1,940
|
$
|
2,061
|
$
|
1,975
|
$
|
2,567
|
(A) |
The
unconsolidated subsidiaries’ summary financial information is presented on
a fair value basis, consistent with their internal basis of
accounting.
|
(B) |
Included
in the operating real estate segment.
|
(C) |
Included
in the real estate securities and real estate related loans
segment.
|
For
information regarding the trust preferred
subsidiary, which is a financing subsidiary with no material net income or
cash
flow, see Note 6.
8
NEWCASTLE
INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
SEPTEMBER
30, 2006
(dollars
in tables in thousands, except share data)
3.
REAL ESTATE SECURITIES
The
following is a summary of Newcastle’s real estate securities at September 30,
2006, all of which are classified as available for sale and are therefore marked
to market through other comprehensive income.
Gross
Unrealized
|
Weighted
Average
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Asset
Type
|
Current
Face Amount
|
|
Amortized
Cost Basis
|
|
Gains
|
|
Losses
|
|
Carrying
Value
|
|
Number
of
Securities
|
|
S&P
Equivalent
Rating
|
|
Coupon
|
|
Yield
|
|
Maturity
(Years)
|
||||||||||||
CMBS-Conduit
|
$
|
1,478,808
|
$
|
1,427,860
|
$
|
37,634
|
$
|
(11,373
|
)
|
$
|
1,454,121
|
200
|
BBB-
|
5.95%
|
|
6.50%
|
|
7.22
|
|||||||||||||
CMBS-
CDO
|
23,500
|
20,690
|
1,312
|
(38
|
)
|
21,964
|
2
|
BB
|
9.47%
|
|
11.86%
|
|
8.74
|
||||||||||||||||||
CMBS-Large
Loan
|
618,014
|
615,712
|
8,212
|
(305
|
)
|
623,619
|
54
|
BBB-
|
6.94%
|
|
7.11%
|
|
2.32
|
||||||||||||||||||
CMBS-
B-Note
|
245,567
|
233,080
|
6,035
|
(285
|
)
|
238,830
|
29
|
BB-
|
6.97%
|
|
7.72%
|
|
6.92
|
||||||||||||||||||
Unsecured
REIT Debt
|
979,598
|
994,447
|
16,656
|
(11,612
|
)
|
999,491
|
100
|
BBB-
|
6.37%
|
|
6.00%
|
|
6.33
|
||||||||||||||||||
ABS-Manufactured
Housing
|
91,839
|
86,526
|
1,644
|
(920
|
)
|
87,250
|
10
|
BB+
|
6.87%
|
|
7.74%
|
|
6.60
|
||||||||||||||||||
ABS-Home
Equity
|
697,486
|
683,286
|
6,803
|
(902
|
)
|
689,187
|
121
|
BBB
|
7.09%
|
|
7.55%
|
|
2.86
|
||||||||||||||||||
ABS-Franchise
|
79,096
|
78,513
|
1,561
|
(1,016
|
)
|
79,058
|
23
|
BBB
|
7.26%
|
|
8.21%
|
|
4.93
|
||||||||||||||||||
Agency
RMBS
|
1,091,022
|
1,097,009
|
2,511
|
(7,792
|
)
|
1,091,728
|
32
|
AAA
|
5.19%
|
|
5.18%
|
|
4.33
|
||||||||||||||||||
Subtotal/Average
(A)
|
5,304,930
|
5,237,123
|
82,368
|
(34,243
|
)
|
5,285,248
|
571
|
BBB+
|
6.23%
|
|
6.46%
|
|
5.27
|
||||||||||||||||||
Retained
securities (B)
|
37,555
|
34,119
|
233
|
(102
|
)
|
34,250
|
3
|
BBB-
|
7.71%
|
|
11.01%
|
|
3.48
|
||||||||||||||||||
Residual
interest (B)
|
50,143
|
50,143
|
-
|
-
|
50,143
|
1
|
NR
|
0.00%
|
|
18.77%
|
|
2.78
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Total/Average
|
$
|
5,392,628
|
$
|
5,321,385
|
$
|
82,601
|
$
|
(34,345
|
)
|
$
|
5,369,641
|
575
|
BBB+
|
6.19%
|
|
6.60%
|
|
5.23
|
(A) |
The
total current face amount of fixed rate securities was $4.2 billion,
and
of floating rate securities was $1.2
billion.
|
(B) |
Represents
the retained bonds and equity from the Securitization Trust as
described
in Note 5. These securities have been treated as part of the
residential
mortgage loan segment - see Note 2. The residual does not have
a stated
coupon and therefore its coupon has been treated as zero for
purposes of
the table.
|
Unrealized
losses that are considered other than temporary are recognized currently in
income. There were no such losses incurred during the nine months ended
September 30, 2006. The unrealized losses on Newcastle’s securities are
primarily the result of market factors, rather than credit impairment, and
Newcastle believes their carrying values are fully recoverable over their
expected holding period. None of the securities had principal in default as
of
September 30, 2006. Newcastle has performed credit analyses in relation to
such
securities which support its belief that the carrying values of such securities
are fully recoverable over their expected holding period. Although management
expects to hold these securities until their recovery, there is no assurance
that such securities will not be sold or at what price they may be sold.
Gross
Unrealized
|
Weighted
Average
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Securities
in an Unrealized Loss Position
|
Current
Face Amount
|
|
Amortized
Cost Basis
|
|
Gains
|
|
Losses
|
|
Carrying
Value
|
|
Number
of
Securities
|
|
S&P
Equivalent
Rating
|
|
Coupon
|
|
Yield
|
|
Maturity
(Years)
|
||||||||||||
Less
Than Twelve Months
|
$
|
603,483
|
$
|
589,011
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
(2,589
|
)
|
$
|
586,422
|
82
|
BBB-
|
7.80%
|
|
8.32%
|
|
4.37
|
|||||||||||||
Twelve
or More Months
|
1,492,869
|
1,514,167
|
-
|
(31,756
|
)
|
1,482,411
|
178
|
A-
|
5.62%
|
|
5.30%
|
|
5.61
|
||||||||||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
2,096,352
|
$
|
2,103,178
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
(34,345
|
)
|
$
|
2,068,833
|
260
|
BBB+
|
6.25%
|
|
6.15%
|
|
5.25
|
As
of
September 30, 2006, Newcastle had $139.1 million of restricted cash held in
CBO
financing structures pending its investment in real estate securities and loans.
As of November 7, 2006, Newcastle had approximately $100.0 million of restricted
cash held in CBO financing structures pending its investment in real estate
securities and loans.
9
NEWCASTLE
INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
SEPTEMBER
30, 2006
(dollars
in tables in thousands, except share data)
4.
REAL ESTATE RELATED LOANS, RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LOANS AND SUBPRIME MORTGAGE
LOANS
The
following is a summary
of real
estate related loans, residential mortgage loans and subprime mortgage loans
at
September 30, 2006. The loans contain various terms, including fixed and
floating rates, self-amortizing and interest only. They are generally subject
to
prepayment.
Loan
Type
|
Current
Face
Amount
|
|
Carrying
Value
|
|
Loan
Count
|
|
Wtd.
Avg. Yield
|
|
Weighted
Average Maturity
(Years)
(D)
|
|
Delinquent
Carrying Amount (E)
|
||||||||
B-Notes
|
$
|
95,859
|
$
|
95,124
|
5
|
7.25
|
%
|
4.31
|
$
|
-
|
|||||||||
Mezzanine
Loans (A)
|
729,701
|
729,509
|
15
|
8.90
|
%
|
2.73
|
-
|
||||||||||||
Bank
Loans
|
209,691
|
209,813
|
5
|
7.80
|
%
|
4.25
|
-
|
||||||||||||
Whole
Loans (A)
|
74,993
|
75,238
|
2
|
11.94
|
%
|
1.90
|
-
|
||||||||||||
ICH
Loans (B)
|
130,287
|
128,734
|
74
|
8.64
|
%
|
1.24
|
6,040
|
||||||||||||
Total
Real Estate Related Loans
|
$
|
1,240,531
|
$
|
1,238,418
|
101
|
8.74
|
%
|
2.90
|
$
|
6,040
|
|||||||||
Residential
Loans
|
$
|
195,159
|
$
|
199,952
|
566
|
6.42
|
%
|
2.79
|
$
|
3,104
|
|||||||||
Manufactured
Housing Loans
|
673,956
|
663,836
|
19,148
|
8.46
|
%
|
6.05
|
12,928
|
||||||||||||
Total
Residential Mortgage Loans
|
$
|
869,115
|
$
|
863,788
|
19,714
|
7.99
|
%
|
5.32
|
$
|
16,032
|
|||||||||
Subprime
Mortgage Loans Subject
|
|||||||||||||||||||
to
Future Repurchase (C)
|
$
|
299,176
|
$
|
287,546
|
(A) |
Two
of these loans have contractual exit fees. Newcastle has begun accruing
the exit fee on one loan and will begin to accrue for the other if
and
when management believes it is probable that such exit fee will be
received.
|
(B) |
In
October 2003, pursuant to FIN No. 46, Newcastle consolidated an entity
which holds a portfolio of commercial mortgage loans which has been
securitized. This investment, which is referred to as the ICH CMO,
was
previously treated as a non-consolidated residual interest in such
securitization. The primary effect of the consolidation is the requirement
that Newcastle reflect the gross loan assets and gross bonds payable
of
this entity in its financial
statements.
|
(C) |
See
Note 5.
|
(D) |
The
weighted average maturities
for the residential loan portfolio and the manufactured housing loan
portfolio were calculated based on constant prepayment rates (CPR)
of
approximately 30% and 9%,
respectively.
|
(E) |
This
face amount of loans is 60 or more days
delinquent.
|
The
following is a reconciliation of loss allowance.
Real
Estate Related Loans
|
|
Residential
Mortgage Loans
|
|||||
Balance
at December 31, 2005
|
$
|
4,226
|
$
|
3,207
|
|||
Provision
for credit losses
|
605
|
5,263
|
|||||
Realized
losses
|
(2,931
|
)
|
(2,821
|
)
|
|||
Balance
at September 30, 2006
|
$
|
1,900
|
$
|
5,649
|
10
NEWCASTLE
INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
SEPTEMBER
30, 2006
(dollars
in tables in thousands, except share data)
Newcastle
has entered into total rate of return swaps with a major investment bank to
finance certain loans whereby Newcastle receives the sum of all interest, fees
and any positive change in value amounts (the total return cash flows) from
a
reference asset with a specified notional amount, and pays interest on such
notional plus any negative change in value amounts from such asset. These
agreements are recorded in Derivative Assets and treated as non-hedge
derivatives for accounting purposes and are therefore marked to market through
income. Net interest received is recorded to Interest Income and the mark to
market is recorded to Other Income. If Newcastle owned the reference assets
directly, they would not be marked to market through income. Under the
agreements, Newcastle is required to post an initial margin deposit to an
interest bearing account and additional margin may be payable in the event
of a
decline in value of the reference asset. Any margin on deposit (recorded in
Restricted Cash), less any negative change in value amounts, will be returned
to
Newcastle upon termination of the contract.
As
of
September 30, 2006, Newcastle held an aggregate of $186.9 million notional
amount of total rate of return swaps on 5 reference assets on which it had
deposited $29.2 million of margin. These total rate of return swaps had an
aggregate fair value of approximately $0.7 million, a weighted average receive
interest rate of LIBOR + 2.54%, a weighted average pay interest rate of LIBOR
+
0.53%, and a weighted average maturity of 1.3 years.
5.
SECURITIZATION OF SUBPRIME MORTGAGE LOANS
In
March
2006, Newcastle, through a consolidated subsidiary, acquired a portfolio of
approximately 11,300 residential mortgage loans to subprime borrowers (the
“Subprime Portfolio”) for $1.50 billion. The loans are being serviced by Centex
Home Equity Company, LLC for a servicing fee equal to 0.50% per annum on the
unpaid principal balance of the Subprime Portfolio. At March 31, 2006, these
loans were considered “held for sale” and carried at the lower of cost or fair
value. A write down of $4.1 million was recorded to Provision for Losses, Loans
Held for Sale in March 2006 related to these loans, related to market factors.
Furthermore, the acquisition of loans held for sale is considered an operating
activity for statement of cash flow purposes. An offsetting cash inflow from
the
sale of such loans (as described below) was recorded as an operating cash flow
in April 2006. This acquisition was initially funded with an approximately
$1.47
billion repurchase agreement which bore interest at LIBOR + 0.50%. Newcastle
entered into an interest rate swap in order to hedge its exposure to the risk
of
changes in market interest rates with respect to the financing of the Subprime
Portfolio. This swap did not qualify as a hedge for accounting purposes and
was
therefore marked to market through income. An unrealized mark to market gain
of
$5.5 million was recorded to Other Income in connection with this swap in March
2006.
In
April
2006, Newcastle, through Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1 (the
“Securitization Trust”), closed on a securitization of the Subprime Portfolio.
The Securitization Trust is not consolidated by Newcastle. Newcastle sold the
Subprime Portfolio and the related interest rate swap to the Securitization
Trust. The Securitization Trust issued $1.45 billion of debt (the “Notes”).
Newcastle retained $37.6 million face amount of the low investment grade Notes
and all of the equity issued by the Securitization Trust. The Notes have a
stated maturity of March 25, 2036. Newcastle, as holder of the equity of the
Securitization Trust, has the option to redeem the Notes once the aggregate
principal balance of the Subprime Portfolio is equal to or less than 20% of
such
balance at the date of the transfer. The proceeds from the securitization were
used to repay the repurchase agreement described above.
The
transaction between Newcastle and the Securitization Trust qualified as a sale
for accounting purposes, resulting in a net gain of approximately $40,000 being
recorded in April 2006. However, 20% of the loans which are subject to future
repurchase by Newcastle were not treated as being sold and are classified as
“held for investment” subsequent to the completion of the securitization.
Following the securitization, Newcastle held the following interests in the
Subprime Portfolio, all valued at the date of securitization: (i) the $62.4
million equity of the Securitization Trust, recorded in Real Estate Securities,
Available for Sale, (ii) the $33.7 million of retained bonds ($37.6 million
face
amount), recorded in Real Estate Securities, Available for Sale, which have
been
financed with a $28.0 million repurchase agreement, and (iii) subprime mortgage
loans subject to future repurchase of $286.3 million and related financing
in
the amount of 100% of such loans.
11
NEWCASTLE
INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
SEPTEMBER
30, 2006
(dollars
in tables in thousands, except share data)
The
key
assumptions utilized in measuring the $62.4 million fair value of the equity,
or
residual interest, in the Securitization Trust at the date of securitization
were as follows:
Weighted
average life (years) of residual interest
|
3.1
|
|||
Expected
credit losses
|
5.3
|
%
|
||
Weighted
average constant prepayment rate
|
28.0
|
%
|
||
Discount
rate
|
18.8
|
%
|
The
following table presents information on the retained interests in the
securitization of the Subprime Portfolio, which include the residual interest
and the retained bonds described above, and the sensitivity of their fair value
to immediate 10% and 20% adverse changes in the assumptions utilized in
calculating such fair value, at September 30, 2006:
Total
securitized loans (unpaid principal balance)
|
$
|
1,304,950
|
||
Loans
subject to future repurchase (carrying value)
|
$
|
287,546
|
||
Retained
interests (fair value)
|
$
|
84,393
|
||
Weighted
average life (years) of residual interest
|
2.78
|
|||
Expected
credit losses
|
5.3
|
%
|
||
Effect
on fair value of retained interests of 10% adverse change
|
$
|
(2,533
|
)
|
|
Effect
on fair value of retained interests of 20% adverse change
|
$
|
(4,681
|
)
|
|
Weighted
average constant prepayment rate
|
28.0
|
%
|
||
Effect
on fair value of retained interests of 10% adverse change
|
$
|
(3,507
|
)
|
|
Effect
on fair value of retained interests of 20% adverse change
|
$
|
(6,005
|
)
|
|
Discount
rate
|
18.8
|
%
|
||
Effect
on fair value of retained interests of 10% adverse change
|
$
|
(2,393
|
)
|
|
Effect
on fair value of retained interests of 20% adverse change
|
$
|
(4,695
|
)
|
The
sensitivity analysis is hypothetical and should be used with caution. In
particular, the results are calculated by stressing a particular economic
assumption independent of changes in any other assumption; in practice, changes
in one factor may result in changes in another, which might counteract or
amplify the sensitivities. Also, changes in the fair value based on a 10% or
20%
variation in an assumption generally may not be extrapolated because the
relationship of the change in the assumption to the change in fair value may
not
be linear.
The
following table summarizes principal amounts outstanding and delinquencies
of
the securitized loans as of September 30, 2006 and net credit losses for the
period then ended:
Loan
unpaid principal balance (UPB)
|
$
|
1,304,950
|
||
Delinquencies
of 60 or more days (UPB)
|
$
|
26,020
|
||
Net
credit losses
|
$
|
-
|
Newcastle
received net proceeds of $1.41 billion from the securitization transaction
completed in April 2006 and net cash inflows of $20.3 million from the retained
interests subsequent to the securitization.
The
weighted average yield of the retained bonds was 11.01% and the weighted average
funding cost of the related repurchase agreement was 5.83% as of September
30,
2006. The loans subject to future repurchase and the corresponding financing
recognize interest income and expense based on the expected weighted average
coupon of the loans subject to future repurchase at the call date of 9.24%.
12
NEWCASTLE
INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
SEPTEMBER
30, 2006
(dollars
in tables in thousands, except share data)
6.
RECENT ACTIVITIES
In
January 2006, Newcastle closed on a three year term financing of its
manufactured housing loan portfolio which provided for an initial financing
amount of approximately $237.1 million. The financing bears interest at LIBOR
+
1.25%. The lender received an upfront structuring fee equal to 0.75% of the
initial financing amount. Newcastle entered into an interest rate swap in order
to hedge its exposure to the risk of changes in market interest rates with
respect to this debt. In connection with this term financing, Newcastle renewed
its servicing agreement on these loans, with a portfolio company of a private
equity fund advised by an affiliate of its manager, at the same
terms.
In
2006,
employees of the Manager exercised options to acquire 84,000 shares of
Newcastle’s common stock for net proceeds of $1.4 million.
In
March
2006, Newcastle foreclosed on $12.2 million of loans formerly in the ICH
portfolio. The related real estate is considered held for
investment.
In
March
2006, Newcastle completed the placement of $100 million of trust preferred
securities through its wholly owned subsidiary, Newcastle Trust I (the
“Preferred Trust”). Newcastle owns all of the common stock of the Preferred
Trust. The Preferred Trust used the proceeds to purchase $100.1 million of
Newcastle’s junior subordinated notes. These notes represent all of the
Preferred Trust’s assets. The terms of the junior subordinated notes are
substantially the same as the terms of the trust preferred securities. The
trust
preferred securities require quarterly distributions at a fixed rate of 7.574%
through April 2016 and at a floating rate of 3-month LIBOR plus 2.25%
thereafter. The trust preferred securities mature in April 2036, but may be
redeemed at par beginning in April 2011. Under the provisions of FIN 46R,
Newcastle determined that the holders of the trust preferred securities were
the
primary beneficiaries of the Preferred Trust. As a result, Newcastle did not
consolidate the Preferred Trust and has reflected the obligation to the
Preferred Trust under the caption Junior Subordinated Notes Payable in its
consolidated balance sheet and will account for its investment in the common
stock of the Preferred Trust, which is reflected in Investments in
Unconsolidated Subsidiaries in the consolidated balance sheet, under the equity
method of accounting.
In
May
2006, Newcastle entered into a new $200.0 million revolving credit facility,
secured by substantially all of its unencumbered assets and its equity interests
in its subsidiaries. Newcastle paid an upfront fee of 0.25% of the total
commitment. The credit facility bears interest at one month LIBOR + 1.75% and
matures in November 2007. The credit facility does not contain any unused fees.
Newcastle simultaneously terminated its prior credit facility and recorded
a
loss of $0.7 million related to deferred financing costs, included in Gain
on
Sale of Investments, Net.
In
June
2006, Newcastle entered into a warehouse agreement with a major investment
bank
to finance a portfolio of real estate related loans and securities prior to
them
being financed with a CBO. The financing bears interest at LIBOR + 0.50%. As
of
September 30, 2006, $695.8 million face amount of investments were financed
with
$572.5 million of debt, which has been classified as a Repurchase Agreement.
In
July
2006, private equity funds managed by an affiliate of Newcastle’s manager
completed the acquisition of a subprime home equity mortgage lender (“Subprime
Servicer ” ). Newcastle’s portfolio of subprime loans, which was securitized in
April, is being serviced by the Subprime Servicer for a servicing fee equal
to
0.5% per annum on the unpaid principal balance of the portfolio.
In
August
2006, Newcastle acquired a portfolio of approximately 13,300 manufactured
housing loans for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $425.4 million.
The loans, 96% of which were current or less than 30 days delinquent at the
time
of acquisition, are 82% fixed rate and 18% adjustable rate. Their weighted
average gross coupon was 10.0% and the loans had a weighted average remaining
term to maturity of 213 months at acquisition. The acquisition was funded with
$391.3 million of five year notes bearing interest at one month LIBOR + 1.25%.
The lender received an upfront fee of 0.5% on the initial financing amount
and
is entitled to expense reimbursement of up to 0.125% on the initial financing
amount. Newcastle entered into interest rate swaps to hedge its exposure to
the
risk of changes in market interest rates with respect to this financing. The
loans are serviced by a portfolio company of a private equity fund advised
by an
affiliate of our manager.
In
November 2006, Newcastle sold 1.7 million shares of its common stock in a public
offering at a price to the public of $29.42 per share, for net proceeds of
approximately $49.5 million. For the purpose of compensating the Manager for
its
successful efforts in raising capital for Newcastle, in connection with this
offering, Newcastle granted options to the Manager to purchase 170,000 shares
of
Newcastle’s common stock at the public offering price, which were valued at
approximately $0.5 million.
13
NEWCASTLE
INVESTMENT CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
SEPTEMBER
30, 2006
(dollars
in tables in thousands, except share data)
7.
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The
following table summarizes the notional amounts and fair (carrying) values
of
Newcastle's derivative financial instruments, excluding the credit derivative
arrangements described in Note 4, as of September 30, 2006.
Notional
Amount
|
|
Fair
Value
|
|
Longest
Maturity
|
||||||
Interest
rate swaps, treated as hedges (A)
|
$
|
3,838,625
|
$
|
37,139
|
April
2017
|
|||||
Interest
rate caps, treated as hedges (A)
|
342,351
|
1,677
|
October
2015
|
|||||||
Non-hedge
derivative obligations (A) (B)
|
147,500
|
(444
|
)
|
July
2038
|
(A) |
Included
in Derivative Assets or Derivative Liabilities, as applicable. Derivative
Liabilities also include accrued interest.
|
(B) |
Represents
two essentially offsetting interest rate caps and two essentially
offsetting interest rate swaps, each with notional amounts of $32.5
million and an interest rate cap with a notional amount of $17.5
million.
|
8.
EARNINGS PER SHARE
Newcastle
is required to present both basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”). Basic
EPS is calculated by dividing net income available for common stockholders
by
the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each
period. Diluted EPS is calculated by dividing net income available for common
stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock
outstanding plus the additional dilutive effect of common stock equivalents
during each period. Newcastle’s common stock equivalents are its outstanding
stock options. Net income available for common stockholders is equal to net
income less preferred dividends.
The
following is a reconciliation of the weighted average number of shares of common
stock outstanding on a diluted basis.
Three
Months Ended September 30,
|
Nine
Months Ended September 30,
|
||||||||||||
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|||||||
Weighted
average number of shares of common stock outstanding,
basic
|
43,999,817
|
43,789,819
|
43,978,625
|
43,595,411
|
|||||||||
Dilutive
effect of stock options, based on the treasury stock
method
|
137,139
|
331,444
|
112,378
|
365,633
|
|||||||||
Weighted
average number of shares of common stock outstanding,
diluted
|
44,136,956
|
44,121,263
|
44,091,003
|
43,961,044
|
As
of
September 30, 2006, Newcastle’s outstanding options were summarized as
follows:
Held
by the Manager
|
1,193,439
|
|||
Issued
to the Manager and subsequently transferred to certain of the
Manager's
employees
|
520,368
|
|||
Held
by the independent directors
|
14,000
|
|||
Total
|
1,727,807
|
14
ITEM
2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF
OPERATIONS
The
following should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated
financial statements and notes included herein.
GENERAL
Newcastle
Investment Corp. is a real estate investment and finance company. We invest
in
real estate securities, loans and other real estate related assets. In addition,
we consider other opportunistic investments which capitalize on our manager’s
expertise and which we believe present attractive risk/return profiles and
are
consistent with our investment guidelines. We seek to deliver stable dividends
and attractive risk-adjusted returns to our stockholders through prudent asset
selection, active management and the use of match funded financing structures,
which reduce our interest rate and financing risks. Our objective is to maximize
the difference between the yield on our investments and the cost of financing
these investments while hedging our interest rate risk. We emphasize asset
quality, diversification, match funded financing and credit risk
management.
We
currently own a diversified portfolio of moderately credit sensitive real estate
debt investments including securities and loans. Our portfolio of real estate
securities includes commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS), senior
unsecured debt issued by property REITs, real estate related asset backed
securities (ABS), and agency residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS).
Mortgage backed securities are interests in or obligations secured by pools
of
mortgage loans. We generally target investments rated A through BB, except
for
our agency RMBS which are generally considered AAA rated. We also own, directly
and indirectly, interest in loans and pools of loans, including real estate
related loans, commercial mortgage loans, residential mortgage loans,
manufactured housing loans, and subprime mortgage loans. We also own, directly
and indirectly, interests in operating real estate.
We
employ
leverage in order to achieve our return objectives. We do not have a
predetermined target debt to equity ratio as we believe the appropriate leverage
for the particular assets we are financing depends on the credit quality of
those assets. As of September 30, 2006, our debt to equity ratio was
approximately 7.4 to 1. Also, on a pro forma basis, our debt to equity ratio
would be 6.6 to 1 if the trust preferred securities we issued in March 2006
were
considered equity for purposes of this computation. We maintain access to a
broad array of capital resources in an effort to insulate our business from
potential fluctuations in the availability of capital. We utilize multiple
forms
of financing including collateralized bond obligations (CBOs), other
securitizations, term loans, and trust preferred securities, as well as short
term financing in the form of repurchase agreements and our credit facility.
We
seek
to match fund our investments with respect to interest rates and maturities
in
order to minimize the impact of interest rate fluctuations on earnings and
reduce the risk of refinancing our liabilities prior to the maturity of the
investments. We seek to finance a substantial portion of our real estate
securities and loans through the issuance of debt securities in the form of
CBOs, which are obligations issued in multiple classes secured by an underlying
portfolio of securities. Our CBO financings offer us the structural flexibility
to buy and sell certain investments to manage risk and, subject to certain
limitations, to optimize returns.
Market
Considerations
Our
ability to maintain our dividends and grow our business is dependent on our
ability to invest our capital on a timely basis at yields which exceed our
cost
of capital. The primary market factor that bears on this is credit
spread.
Generally
speaking, tightening credit spreads increase the unrealized gains on our current
investments but reduce the yields available on potential new investments, while
widening credit spreads reduce the unrealized gains on our current investments
(or cause unrealized losses) but increase the yields available on potential
new
investments.
In
the
first nine months of 2006, credit spreads again tightened, reducing the yield
we
can earn on certain new investments. This tightening of credit spreads and
declining interest rates caused the net unrealized gains on our securities
and
derivatives, recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, and therefore
our book value per share, to increase.
We
continue to pursue opportunistic investments within our investment guidelines
that offer a more attractive risk adjusted return, including our recent
investments in subprime mortgage loans and other real estate related loans
which
we expect to produce a net, loss adjusted yield in the high teens.
If
credit
spreads widen, we expect that our new investment activities will benefit and
our
earnings will increase, although our net book value per share may
decrease.
15
Certain
aspects of these effects are more fully described in “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Interest Rate,
Credit and Spread Risk” as well as in “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures
About Market Risk.”
Organization
Our
initial public offering occurred in October 2002. The following table presents
information on shares of our common stock issued since our
formation:
Year
|
Shares
Issued
|
|
Range
of Issue
Prices
(1)
|
|
Net
Proceeds (millions)
|
|||||
Formation
|
16,488,517
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|||||||
2002
|
7,000,000
|
|
$13.00
|
|
$80.0
|
|
||||
2003
|
7,886,316
|
|
$20.35-$22.85
|
|
$163.4
|
|||||
2004
|
8,484,648
|
|
$26.30-$31.40
|
|
$224.3
|
|||||
2005
|
4,053,928
|
|
$29.60
|
|
$108.2
|
|||||
Nine
Months Ended 2006
|
|
86,408
|
N/A
|
|
$1.4
|
|||||
September
30, 2006
|
|
43,999,817
|
|
|||||||
November
2006
|
1,700,000
|
|
$29.42
|
$49.5
|
(1) |
Excludes
prices of shares issued pursuant to the exercise of options and
shares
issued to Newcastle's independent
directors.
|
As
of
September 30, 2006, approximately 2.9 million shares of our common stock were
held by an affiliate of our manager and its principals. In addition, an
affiliate of our manager held options to purchase approximately 1.2 million
shares of our common stock at September 30, 2006.
We
are
organized and conduct our operations to qualify as a REIT for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. As such, we will generally not be subject to U.S. federal
corporate income tax on that portion of our income that is distributed to
stockholders if we distribute at least 90% of our REIT taxable income to our
stockholders by prescribed dates and comply with various other requirements.
We
conduct our business by investing in three primary business segments: (i) real
estate securities and real estate related loans, (ii) residential mortgage
loans
and (iii) operating real estate.
Revenues
attributable to each segment are disclosed below (unaudited) (in
thousands).
For
the Nine Months Ended September 30,
|
Real
Estate Securities and Real Estate Related Loans
|
|
Residential
Mortgage Loans
|
|
Operating
Real Estate
|
|
Unallocated
|
|
Total
|
|||||||
2006
|
$
|
317,138
|
$
|
75,878
|
$
|
3,851
|
$
|
(196
|
)
|
$
|
396,671
|
|||||
2005
|
$
|
232,803
|
$
|
37,270
|
$
|
4,892
|
$
|
613
|
$
|
275,578
|
16
APPLICATION
OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Management's
discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is
based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared
in
accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the use
of
estimates and assumptions that could affect the reported amounts of assets
and
liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the
reported amounts of revenue and expenses. Actual results could differ from
these
estimates. The following is a summary of our accounting policies that are most
effected by judgments, estimates and assumptions.
Variable
Interest Entities
In
December 2003, Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation (“FIN”) No.
46R “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” was issued as a modification
of FIN 46. FIN 46R clarified the methodology for determining whether an entity
is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and the methodology for assessing who is
the primary beneficiary of a VIE.
VIEs are
defined as entities in which equity investors do not have the characteristics
of
a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for
the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial
support from other parties. A VIE is required to be consolidated by its primary
beneficiary, and only by its primary beneficiary, which is defined as the party
who will absorb a majority of the VIE’s expected losses or receive a majority of
the expected residual returns as a result of holding variable
interests.
Prior
to
FIN 46R, we consolidated our existing CBO transactions (the “CBO Entities”)
because we own the entire equity interest in each of them, representing a
substantial portion of their capitalization, and we control the management
and
resolution of their assets. We have determined that certain of the CBO Entities
are VIEs and that we are the primary beneficiary of each of these VIEs and
therefore continue to consolidate them. We have also determined that the
application of FIN 46R did not result in a change in our accounting for any
other entities which were previously consolidated. However, it did cause us
to
consolidate one entity which was previously not consolidated, ICH CMO, as
described below under “Liquidity and Capital Resources.” Furthermore, as a
result of FIN 46R, we are precluded from consolidating our wholly owned
subsidiary which has issued trust preferred securities as described in
“Liquidity and Capital Resources” below. We will continue to analyze future CBO
entities, as well as other investments, pursuant to the requirements of FIN
46R.
These analyses require considerable judgment in determining the primary
beneficiary of a VIE since they involve subjective probability weighting of
subjectively determined possible cash flow scenarios. The result could be the
consolidation of an entity acquired or formed in the future that would otherwise
not have been consolidated or the non-consolidation of such an entity that
would
otherwise have been consolidated.
Valuation
and Impairment of Securities
We
have
classified our real estate securities as available for sale. As such, they
are
carried at fair value with net unrealized gains or losses reported as a
component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Fair value is based
primarily upon broker quotations, as well as counterparty quotations, which
provide valuation estimates based upon reasonable market order indications
or a
good faith estimate thereof. These quotations are subject to significant
variability based on market conditions, such as interest rates and credit
spreads. Changes in market conditions, as well as changes in the assumptions
or
methodology used to determine fair value, could result in a significant increase
or decrease in our book equity. We must also assess whether unrealized losses
on
securities, if any, reflect a decline in value which is other than temporary
and, accordingly, write the impaired security down to its value through
earnings. For example, a decline in value is deemed to be other than temporary
if it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according
to
the contractual terms of a security which was not impaired at acquisition,
or if
we do not have the ability and intent to hold a security in an unrealized loss
position until its anticipated recovery (if any). Temporary declines in value
generally result from changes in market factors, such as market interest rates
and credit spreads, or from certain macroeconomic events, including market
disruptions and supply changes, which do not directly impact our ability to
collect amounts contractually due. We
continually evaluate the credit status of each of our securities and the
collateral supporting our securities. This evaluation includes a review of
the
credit of the issuer of the security (if applicable), the credit rating of
the
security, the key terms of the security (including credit support), debt service
coverage and loan to value ratios, the performance of the pool of underlying
loans and the estimated value of the collateral supporting such loans, including
the effect of local, industry and broader economic trends and factors. These
factors include loan default expectations and loss severities, which are
analyzed in connection with a particular security’s credit support, as well as
prepayment rates. The result of this evaluation is considered in relation to
the
amount of the unrealized loss and the period elapsed since it was incurred.
Significant judgment is required in this analysis.
17
Revenue
Recognition on Securities
Income
on
these securities is recognized using a level yield methodology based upon a
number of cash flow assumptions that are subject to uncertainties and
contingencies. Such assumptions include the rate and timing of principal and
interest receipts (which may be subject to prepayments and defaults). These
assumptions are updated on at least a quarterly basis to reflect changes related
to a particular security, actual historical data, and market changes. These
uncertainties and contingencies are difficult to predict and are subject to
future events, and economic and market conditions, which may alter the
assumptions. For securities acquired at a discount for credit losses, the net
income recognized is based on a “loss adjusted yield” whereby a gross interest
yield is recorded to Interest Income, offset by a provision for probable,
incurred credit losses which is accrued on a periodic basis to Provision for
Credit Losses. The provision is determined based on an evaluation of the credit
status of securities, as described in connection with the analysis of impairment
above.
Valuation
of Derivatives
Similarly,
our derivative instruments are carried at fair value pursuant to Statement
of
Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 133 "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities," as amended. Fair value is based on
counterparty quotations. To the extent they qualify as cash flow hedges under
SFAS No. 133, net unrealized gains or losses are reported as a component of
accumulated other comprehensive income; otherwise, they are reported currently
in income. To the extent they qualify as fair value hedges, net unrealized
gains
or losses on both the derivative and the related portion of the hedged item
are
reported currently in income. Fair values of such derivatives are subject to
significant variability based on many of the same factors as the securities
discussed above. The results of such variability could be a significant increase
or decrease in our book equity and/or earnings.
Impairment
of Loans
We
purchase, directly and indirectly, real estate related, commercial mortgage
and
residential mortgage loans, including manufactured housing loans and subprime
mortgage loans, to be held for investment. We periodically evaluate each of
these loans or loan pools for possible impairment. Impairment is indicated
when
it is deemed probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due
according to the contractual terms of the loan, or, for loans acquired at a
discount for credit losses, when it is deemed probable that we will be unable
to
collect as anticipated. Upon determination of impairment, we would establish
a
specific valuation allowance with a corresponding charge to earnings. We
continually evaluate our loans receivable for impairment. Our residential
mortgage loans, including manufactured housing loans, are aggregated into pools
for evaluation based on like characteristics, such as loan type and acquisition
date. Individual loans are evaluated based on an analysis of the borrower’s
performance, the credit rating of the borrower, debt service coverage and loan
to value ratios, the estimated value of the underlying collateral, the key
terms
of the loan, and the effect of local, industry and broader economic trends
and
factors. Pools of loans are also evaluated based on similar criteria, including
trends in defaults and loss severities for the type and seasoning of loans
being
evaluated. This information is used to estimate specific impairment charges
on
individual loans as well as provisions for estimated unidentified incurred
losses on pools of loans. Significant judgment is required both in determining
impairment and in estimating the resulting loss allowance.
Revenue
Recognition on Loans
Income
on
these loans is recognized similarly to that on our securities and is subject
to
similar uncertainties and contingencies, which are also analyzed on at least
a
quarterly basis. For loan pools acquired at a discount for credit losses, the
net income recognized is based on a “loss adjusted yield” whereby a gross
interest yield is recorded to Interest Income, offset by a provision for
probable, incurred credit losses which is accrued on a periodic basis to
Provision for Credit Losses. The provision is determined based on an evaluation
of the loans as described under “Impairment of Loans” above. A rollforward of
the provision is included in Note 4 to our consolidated financial
statements.
Impairment
of Operating Real Estate
We
own
operating real estate held for investment. We review our operating real estate
for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate
that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Upon determination
of impairment, we would record a write-down of the asset, which would be charged
to earnings. Significant judgment is required both in determining impairment
and
in estimating the resulting write-down. To date, we have determined that no
write-downs have been necessary on the operating real estate in our portfolio.
In addition, when operating real estate is classified as held for sale, it
must
be recorded at the lower of its carrying amount or fair value less costs of
sale. Significant judgment is required in determining the fair value of such
properties.
Accounting
Treatment for Certain Investments Financed with Repurchase
Agreements
We
owned
$491.0 million of assets purchased from particular counterparties which are
financed via $413.6 million of repurchase agreements with the same
counterparties at September 30, 2006. Currently, we record such assets and
the
related financings gross on our balance sheet, and the corresponding interest
income and interest expense gross on our income statement. In addition, if
the
asset is a security, any change in fair value is reported through other
comprehensive income (since it is considered “available for sale”).
18
However,
in a transaction where assets are acquired from and financed under a repurchase
agreement with the same counterparty, the acquisition may not qualify as a
sale
from the seller’s perspective; in such cases, the seller may be required to
continue to consolidate the assets sold to us, based on their “continuing
involvement” with such investments. The result is that we may be precluded from
presenting the assets gross on our balance sheet as we currently do, and may
instead be required to treat our net investment in such assets as a derivative.
If
it is
determined that these transactions should be treated as investments in
derivatives, the interest rate swaps entered into by us to hedge our interest
rate exposure with respect to these transactions would no longer qualify for
hedge accounting, but would, as the underlying asset transactions, also be
marked to market through the income statement.
This
potential change in accounting treatment does not affect the economics of
the
transactions but does affect how the transactions are reported in our financial
statements. Our cash flows, our liquidity and our ability to pay a dividend
would be unchanged, and we do not believe our taxable income would be affected.
Our net income and net equity would not be materially affected. In addition,
this would not affect Newcastle’s status as a REIT or cause it to fail to
qualify for its Investment Company Act exemption. This issue has been submitted
to accounting standard setters for resolution. If we were to change our current
accounting treatment for these transactions, our total assets and total
liabilities would each be reduced by approximately $414.4 million at September
30, 2006.
19
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
The
following table summarizes the changes in our results of operations from the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 to the three and nine months
ended September 30, 2006 (dollars in thousands):
Period
to Period Change
|
Period
to Period Percent Change
|
|||||||||||||||
Nine
Months Ended September 30, 2006/2005
|
|
Three
Months Ended September 30, 2006/2005
|
|
Nine
Months Ended September 30, 2006/2005
|
|
Three
Months Ended September 30, 2006/2005
|
|
Explanation
|
||||||||
Interest
income
|
$
|
124,411
|
$
|
52,309
|
49.0
|
%
|
59.4
|
%
|
(1)
|
|
||||||
Rental
and escalation income
|
(1,234
|
)
|
(1,037
|
)
|
(25.4
|
%)
|
(55.4
|
%)
|
(2)
|
|
||||||
Gain
on sale of investments
|
(2,035
|
)
|
(4,108
|
)
|
(16.8
|
%)
|
(60.9
|
%)
|
(3)
|
|
||||||
Other
income
|
(49
|
)
|
(2,920
|
)
|
(1.1
|
%)
|
(91.0
|
%)
|
(4)
|
|
||||||
Interest
expense
|
101,875
|
41,558
|
62.4
|
%
|
70.8
|
%
|
(1)
|
|
||||||||
Property
operating expense
|
981
|
447
|
53.7
|
%
|
75.3
|
%
|
(2)
|
|
||||||||
Loan
and security servicing expense
|
315
|
70
|
6.8
|
%
|
4.7
|
%
|
(1)
|
|
||||||||
Provision
for credit losses
|
(122
|
)
|
(1,409
|
)
|
(2.0
|
%)
|
(34.4
|
%)
|
(5)
|
|
||||||
Provision
for losses, loans held for sale
|
4,127
|
-
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
(6)
|
|
||||||||||
General
and administrative expense
|
728
|
153
|
22.4
|
%
|
14.8
|
%
|
(7)
|
|
||||||||
Management
fee to affiliate
|
525
|
159
|
5.3
|
%
|
4.8
|
%
|
(8)
|
|
||||||||
Incentive
compensation to affiliate
|
3,509
|
678
|
66.6
|
%
|
28.1
|
%
|
(8)
|
|
||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
314
|
108
|
69.4
|
%
|
59.3
|
%
|
(9)
|
|
||||||||
Equity
in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
|
(391
|
)
|
445
|
(9.1
|
%)
|
41.9
|
%
|
(10)
|
|
|||||||
Income
from continuing operations
|
$
|
8,450
|
$
|
2,925
|
9.9
|
%
|
10.0
|
%
|
(1) |
Changes
in interest income and expense are primarily related to our acquisition
and disposition during the periods of interest bearing assets and
related
financings, as follows:
|
Nine
Months Ended September 30, 2006/2005
|
|
Three
Months Ended September 30, 2006/2005
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
Period
to Period Increase (Decrease)
|
|
Period
to Period Increase (Decrease)
|
|
||||||||
|
|
Interest
Income
|
|
Interest
Expense
|
|
Interest
Income
|
|
Interest
Expense
|
|||||
Real
estate security and loan portfolios (A)
|
$
|
44,938
|
$
|
35,284
|
$
|
19,788
|
$
|
14,235
|
|||||
Agency
RMBS
|
19,016
|
18,216
|
6,730
|
6,523
|
|||||||||
Other
real estate related loans
|
33,502
|
11,190
|
12,179
|
3,864
|
|||||||||
Subprime
mortgage loan portfolio
|
31,467
|
22,523
|
10,078
|
7,144
|
|||||||||
Credit
facility and junior subordinated notes
|
-
|
7,523
|
-
|
3,665
|
|||||||||
Manufactured
housing loan portfolio (D)
|
7,715
|
4,675
|
6,042
|
4,398
|
|||||||||
Other
(B)
|
7,175
|
13,031
|
2,706
|
5,018
|
|||||||||
Other
real estate related loans (C)
|
(13,898
|
)
|
(7,418
|
)
|
(3,713
|
)
|
(1,935
|
)
|
|||||
Residential
mortgage loan portfolio (C)
|
(5,504
|
)
|
(3,149
|
)
|
(1,501
|
)
|
(1,354
|
)
|
|||||
$
|
124,411
|
$
|
101,875
|
$
|
52,309
|
$
|
41,558
|
(A) |
Represents
the collateral for our most recent CBO
financings.
|
(B) |
Primarily
due to increasing interest rates on floating rate assets and liabilities
owned during the entire period.
|
(C) |
These
loans received paydowns during the period which served to offset
the
amounts listed above.
|
(D) |
Primarily
due to the acquisition of a manufactured housing loan pool in the
third
quarter of 2006.
|
Changes
in loan and security servicing expense are also primarily due to these
acquisitions and paydowns.
(2) |
These
changes are primarily the result of the effect of the termination
of a
lease (including the acceleration of lease termination income), the
inception of a new lease (including the associated free rent period),
foreign currency fluctuations, and the acquisition of a $12.2 million
portfolio of properties through foreclosure in the first quarter
of
2006.
|
(3) |
This
change is primarily a result of the volume of sales of real estate
securities. Sales of real estate securities are based on a number
of
factors including credit, asset type and industry and can be expected
to
increase or decrease from time to time. Periodic fluctuations in
the
volume of sales of securities is dependent upon, among other things,
management’s assessment of credit risk, asset concentration, portfolio
balance and other factors. In addition, this item includes a $0.7
million
loss recorded in connection with the refinancing of our credit facility
in
the second quarter of 2006.
|
(4) |
This
change is primarily the result of investments financed with total
rate of
return swaps which we treat as non-hedge derivatives and mark to
market
through the income statement, which is offset by the $5.5 million
gain
recorded in the first half of 2006 on the derivative used to hedge
the
interim financing of our subprime mortgage loans, which did not qualify
as
a hedge for accounting purposes. This gain was offset by the loss
described in (6) below.
|
20
(5) |
The
change for the nine months is primarily due to less impairment recorded
with respect to the ICH loans which is offset by an increase as a
result
of the acquisition of manufactured housing and residential mortgage
loan
pools at a discount related to credit. The change for the three months
is
primarily due to the impairment recorded with respect to ICH loans
in the
third quarter of 2005.
|
6) |
This
change represents the unrealized loss on our pool of subprime mortgage
loans which was considered held for sale at March 31, 2006. This
loss was
related to market factors and was offset by the gain described in
(4)
above.
|
(7) |
The
increase in general and administrative expense is primarily a result
of
increased professional fees.
|
(8) |
The
increase in management fees is a result of our increased size resulting
from our equity issuances. The increase in incentive compensation
is
primarily a result of increased funds from operations, as described
below
under “Funds from Operations”.
|
(9) |
The
increase in depreciation is primarily due to the acquisition of new
information systems and the acquisition of a $12.2 million portfolio
of
properties through foreclosure in the first quarter of 2006.
|
(10) |
The
decrease in earnings from unconsolidated subsidiaries for the nine
months
ended September 30, 2006 is primarily the result of a decrease
in earnings
from an LLC which owns franchise loans. During the periods presented,
our
investment in this LLC decreased due to return of capital distributions
resulting in a corresponding reduction in earnings. The increase
for the
three months ended September 30, 2006 is primarily due to an income
tax
refund to a taxable
subsidiary.
|
21
LIQUIDITY
AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity
is a measurement of our ability to meet potential cash requirements, including
ongoing commitments to repay borrowings, fund and maintain investments, and
other general business needs. Additionally, to maintain our status as a REIT
under the Internal Revenue Code, we must distribute annually at least 90% of
our
REIT taxable income. Our primary sources of funds for liquidity consist of
net
cash provided by operating activities, borrowings under loans, and the issuance
of debt and equity securities. Additional sources of liquidity include
investments that are readily saleable prior to their maturity. Our debt
obligations are generally secured directly by our investment
assets.
We
expect
that our cash on hand and our cash flow provided by operations, as well as
our
credit facility, will satisfy our liquidity needs with respect to our current
investment portfolio over the next twelve months. However, we currently expect
to seek additional capital in order to grow our investment portfolio. We have
an
effective shelf registration statement with the SEC which allows us to issue
various types of securities, such as common stock, preferred stock, depository
shares, debt securities and warrants, from time to time, up to an aggregate
of
$750 million, of which approximately $261 million remained available as of
November 1, 2006.
We
expect
to meet our long-term liquidity requirements, specifically the repayment of
our
debt obligations, through additional borrowings and the liquidation or
refinancing of our assets at maturity. We believe that the value of these assets
is, and will continue to be, sufficient to repay our debt at maturity under
either scenario. Our ability to meet our long-term liquidity requirements
relating to capital required for the growth of our investment portfolio is
subject to obtaining additional equity and debt financing.
Decisions by investors and lenders to enter into such transactions with us
will
depend upon a number of factors, such as our historical and projected financial
performance, compliance with the terms of our current credit arrangements,
industry and market trends, the availability of capital and our investors’ and
lenders’ policies and rates applicable thereto, and the relative attractiveness
of alternative investment or lending opportunities. We maintain access to a
broad array of capital resources in an effort to insulate our business from
potential fluctuations in the availability of capital.
Our
ability to execute our business strategy, particularly the growth of our
investment portfolio, depends to a significant degree on our ability to obtain
additional capital. Our core business strategy is dependent upon our ability
to
finance our real estate securities, loans and other real estate related assets
with match funded debt at rates that provide a positive net spread. If spreads
for such liabilities widen or if demand for such liabilities ceases to exist,
then our ability to execute future financings will be severely restricted.
Furthermore, in an environment where spreads are tightening, if spreads tighten
on the assets we purchase to a greater degree than they tighten on the
liabilities we issue, our net spread will be reduced.
We
expect
to meet our short-term liquidity requirements generally through our cash flow
provided by operations and our credit facility, as well as investment specific
borrowings. In addition, at September 30, 2006 we had an unrestricted cash
balance of $16.3 million and an undrawn balance of $75.0 million on our credit
facility. Our cash flow provided by operations differs from our net income
due
to five primary factors: (i) accretion of discount or premium on our real estate
securities and loans (including the accrual of interest and fees payable at
maturity), discount on our debt obligations, deferred financing costs and
interest rate cap premiums, and deferred hedge gains and losses, (ii) gains
and
losses from sales of assets financed with CBOs, (iii) depreciation and
straight-lined rental income of our operating real estate, (iv) the provision
for credit losses recorded in connection with our loan assets, and (v)
unrealized gains or losses on our non-hedge derivatives, particularly our total
return swaps. Proceeds from the sale of assets which serve as collateral for
our
CBO financings, including gains thereon, are required to be retained in the
CBO
structure until the related bonds are retired and are therefore not available
to
fund current cash needs.
Our
match
funded investments are financed long-term and their credit status is
continuously monitored; therefore, these investments are expected to generate
a
generally stable current return, subject to interest rate fluctuations. See
“Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk -- Interest Rate
Exposure” below. Our remaining investments, generally financed with short term
repurchase agreements, are also subject to refinancing risk upon the maturity
of
the related debt. See “Debt Obligations” below.
With
respect to our operating real estate, we expect to incur expenditures of
approximately $3.2 million relating to tenant improvements, in connection with
the inception of leases, and capital expenditures during the twelve months
ending September 30, 2007.
As
described below, under “Interest Rate, Credit and Spread Risk,” we are subject
to margin calls in connection with our assets financed with repurchase
agreements. We do not expect these potential margin calls to materially affect
our financial condition or results of operations.
22
Debt
Obligations
The
following tables present certain information regarding our debt obligations
and
related hedges as of September 30, 2006 (unaudited) (dollars in
thousands):
Debt
Obligation/Collateral
|
Month
Issued
|
Current
Face
Amount
|
Carrying
Value
|
Unhedged
Weighted
Average
Funding
Cost
|
Final
Stated Maturity
|
Weighted
Average
Funding
Cost
(1)
|
Weighted
Average Maturity
(Years)
|
Face
Amount
of
Floating Rate Debt
|
Collateral
Carrying
Value
|
Collateral
Weighted Average Maturity
(Years)
|
Face
Amount
of
Floating Rate Collateral
|
Aggregate
Notional
Amount
of
Current
Hedges
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
CBO
Bonds Payable
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Real
estate securities
|
Jul
1999
|
$
|
398,970
|
$
|
396,060
|
6.58%
(2)
|
|
Jul
2038
|
5.12
|
%
|
2.25
|
$
|
303,970
|
$
|
545,452
|
4.26
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
262,732
|
||||||||||||||||
Real
estate securities and loans
|
Apr
2002
|
444,000
|
441,500
|
6.51%
(2)
|
|
Apr
2037
|
6.80
|
%
|
3.70
|
372,000
|
499,025
|
5.47
|
59,849
|
296,000
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Real
estate securities and loans
|
Mar
2003
|
472,000
|
468,808
|
6.26%
(2)
|
|
Mar
2038
|
5.36
|
%
|
5.55
|
427,800
|
516,387
|
4.77
|
133,771
|
285,060
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Real
estate securities and loans
|
Sep
2003
|
460,000
|
456,098
|
6.07%
(2)
|
|
Sep
2038
|
5.88
|
%
|
6.11
|
442,500
|
506,289
|
4.58
|
135,545
|
207,500
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Real
estate securities and loans
|
Mar
2004
|
414,000
|
410,887
|
5.96%
(2)
|
|
Mar
2039
|
5.40
|
%
|
5.86
|
382,750
|
446,737
|
4.87
|
184,946
|
177,300
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Real
estate securities and loans
|
Sep
2004
|
454,500
|
451,011
|
5.94%
(2)
|
|
Sep
2039
|
5.51
|
%
|
6.44
|
442,500
|
498,845
|
5.17
|
227,746
|
209,261
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Real
estate securities and loans
|
Apr
2005
|
447,000
|
442,741
|
5.79%
(2)
|
|
Apr
2040
|
5.53
|
%
|
7.42
|
439,600
|
490,338
|
6.15
|
186,386
|
243,079
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Real
estate securities
|
Dec
2005
|
442,800
|
438,801
|
5.70%
(2)
|
|
Dec
2050
|
5.48
|
%
|
8.73
|
436,800
|
509,724
|
7.62
|
115,574
|
341,506
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3,533,270
|
3,505,906
|
|
5.64
|
%
|
5.80
|
3,247,920
|
4,012,797
|
5.39
|
1,043,817
|
2,022,438
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
Bonds Payable
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ICH
loans (3)
|
(3)
|
|
106,084
|
106,084
|
6.77%
(2)
|
|
Aug
2030
|
6.77
|
%
|
1.05
|
1,987
|
128,734
|
1.24
|
1,987
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Manufactured
housing loans
|
Jan
2006
|
218,635
|
217,000
|
LIBOR+1.25%
|
|
Jan
2009
|
6.14
|
%
|
1.71
|
218,635
|
241,833
|
6.29
|
5,317
|
213,350
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Manufactured
housing loans
|
Aug
2006
|
384,518
|
381,701
|
LIBOR+1.25%
|
|
Aug
2011
|
6.94
|
%
|
3.39
|
384,518
|
422,002
|
5.90
|
76,523
|
384,081
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
709,237
|
704,785
|
|
6.67
|
%
|
2.52
|
605,140
|
792,569
|
5.27
|
83,827
|
597,431
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes
Payable
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential
mortgage loans (4)
|
Nov
2004
|
153,957
|
153,957
|
LIBOR+0.16%
|
|
Nov
2007
|
5.67
|
%
|
0.84
|
153,957
|
172,902
|
2.79
|
168,807
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
153,957
|
153,957
|
|
5.67
|
%
|
0.84
|
153,957
|
172,902
|
2.79
|
168,807
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Repurchase
Agreements (4) (10)
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Agency
RMBS (5)
|
Rolling
|
1,059,670
|
1,059,670
|
LIBOR+
0.13%
|
|
Oct
2006
|
5.09
|
%
|
0.08
|
1,059,670
|
1,091,728
|
4.33
|
-
|
1,016,135
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Real
estate securities and loans (6)
|
Jun
2006
|
572,509
|
572,509
|
LIBOR+
0.50%
|
|
Dec
2006
|
5.83
|
%
|
0.25
|
572,509
|
691,562
|
4.17
|
616,841
|
63,590
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Real
estate securities
|
Rolling
|
283,139
|
283,139
|
LIBOR+
0.44%
|
|
Various
(8)
|
|
5.79
|
%
|
0.08
|
283,139
|
335,851
|
6.20
|
187,941
|
139,031
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Real
estate related loans
|
Rolling
|
257,115
|
257,115
|
LIBOR+
0.63%
|
|
Oct
2006
|
5.97
|
%
|
0.08
|
257,115
|
352,798
|
1.79
|
352,965
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Residential
mortgage loans
|
Rolling
|
25,347
|
25,347
|
LIBOR+
0.43%
|
|
Dec
2006
|
5.79
|
%
|
0.23
|
25,347
|
27,050
|
2.81
|
26,352
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2,197,780
|
2,197,780
|
|
5.48
|
%
|
0.13
|
2,197,780
|
2,498,989
|
4.18
|
1,184,099
|
1,218,756
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Credit
facility (7)
|
May
2006
|
125,000
|
125,000
|
LIBOR+
1.75%
|
|
Nov
2007
|
7.10
|
%
|
1.09
|
125,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Junior
subordinated notes payable
|
Mar
2006
|
100,100
|
100,100
|
7.574%
(9)
|
|
Apr
2036
|
7.62
|
%
|
29.50
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Subtotal
debt obligations
|
6,819,344
|
6,787,528
|
|
5.75
|
%
|
3.78
|
$
|
6,329,797
|
$
|
7,477,257
|
4.90
|
$
|
2,480,550
|
$
|
3,838,625
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Financing
on subprime mortgage
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
loans
subject to future repurchase (11)
|
Apr
2006
|
299,176
|
287,546
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
debt obligations
|
$
|
7,118,520
|
$
|
7,075,074
|
(1) |
Includes
the effect of applicable
hedges.
|
(2)
|
Weighted
average, including floating and fixed rate
classes.
|
(3) |
See
"Liquidity and Capital Resources" below regarding the consolidation
of ICH
CMO.
|
(4) |
Subject
to potential mandatory prepayments based on collateral
value.
|
(5) |
A
maximum of $1.125 billion is available until November
2006.
|
(6) |
A
maximum of $700 million is available under this warehouse agreement
for
the accumulation of collateral for the next CBO
financing.
|
(7) |
A
maximum of $200 million can be
drawn.
|
(8) |
The
longest maturity is November 2006.
|
(9) |
LIBOR
+ 2.25% after April 2016.
|
(10) |
The
counterparties on our repurchase agreements include: Bank of
America
Securities LLC ($1,128 million), Bear Stearns Mortgage Capital
Corporation
($256 million), Credit Suisse ($637 million), Deutsche Bank AG
($177
million).
|
(11) |
See
"Liquidity and Capital Resources"
below.
|
23
Our
debt
obligations existing at September 30, 2006 (gross of $43.4 million of discounts)
had contractual maturities as follows (unaudited) (in thousands):
Period
from October 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006
|
$
|
2,197,780
|
||
2007
|
278,957
|
|||
2008
|
-
|
|||
2009
|
218,635
|
|||
2010
|
-
|
|||
2011
|
384,518
|
|||
Thereafter
|
4,038,630
|
|||
Total
|
$
|
7,118,520
|
Certain
of the debt obligations included above are obligations of our consolidated
subsidiaries which own the related collateral. In some cases, including the
CBO
and Other Bonds Payable, such collateral is not available to other creditors
of
ours.
Two
classes of CBO bonds, with an aggregate $718.0 million face amount, were issued
subject to remarketing procedures and related agreements whereby such bonds
are
remarketed and sold on a periodic basis. $395.0 million of these bonds are
fully
insured by a third party with respect to the timely payment of interest and
principal thereon.
In
October 2003, pursuant to FIN No. 46R, we consolidated an entity which holds
a
portfolio of commercial mortgage loans which has been securitized. This
investment, which we refer to as ICH, was previously treated as a
non-consolidated residual interest in such securitization. The primary effect
of
the consolidation is the requirement that we reflect the gross loan assets
and
gross bonds payable of this entity in our financial statements.
In
January 2006, we closed on a term financing of our manufactured housing loan
portfolio which provided for an initial financing amount of approximately $237.1
million. The lender received an upfront structuring fee equal to 0.75% on the
initial financing amount and is entitled to expense reimbursement of up to
0.125% on the initial financing amount. We entered into an interest rate swap
in
order to hedge our exposure to the risk of changes in market interest rates
with
respect to this debt.
In
March
2006, a consolidated subsidiary of ours acquired a portfolio of approximately
11,300 subprime mortgage loans (the “Subprime Portfolio”) for $1.50 billion.
This acquisition was initially funded with an approximately $1.47 billion
repurchase agreement.
In
April
2006, Newcastle Mortgage Securities Trust 2006-1 (the “Securitization Trust”)
closed on a securitization of the Subprime Portfolio. We do not consolidate
the
Securitization Trust. We sold the Subprime Portfolio to the Securitization
Trust. The Securitization Trust issued $1.45 billion of debt (the “Notes”). The
Notes have a stated maturity of March 25, 2036. We, as holder of the equity
of
the Securitization Trust, have the option to redeem the Notes once the aggregate
principal balance of the Subprime Portfolio is equal to or less than 20% of
such
balance at the date of the transfer. The proceeds from the securitization were
used to repay the repurchase agreement described above.
The
transaction between us and the Securitization Trust qualified as a sale for
accounting purposes. However, 20% of the loans which are subject to future
repurchase by us were not treated as being sold. Following the securitization,
we held the following interests in the Subprime Portfolio, all valued at the
date of securitization: (i) the $62.4 million equity of the Securitization
Trust, (ii) the $33.7 million of retained bonds ($37.6 million face amount),
which have been financed with a $28.0 million repurchase agreement, and (iii)
subprime mortgage loans subject to future repurchase of $286.3 million and
related financing in the amount of 100% of such loans.
In
March
2006, we completed the placement of $100.0 million of trust preferred securities
through our wholly owned subsidiary, Newcastle Trust I (the “Preferred Trust”).
We own all of the common stock of the Preferred Trust. The Preferred Trust
used
the proceeds to purchase $100.1 million of our junior subordinated notes. These
notes represent all of the Preferred Trust’s assets. The terms of the junior
subordinated notes are substantially the same as the terms of the trust
preferred securities. The trust preferred securities may be redeemed at par
beginning in April 2011. We do not consolidate the Preferred Trust; as a result,
we have reflected the obligation to the Preferred Trust under the caption Junior
Subordinated Notes Payable.
In
May
2006, we entered into a new $200.0 million revolving credit facility, secured
by
substantially all of our unencumbered assets and our equity interests in our
subsidiaries. We paid an upfront fee of 0.25% of the total commitment. The
credit facility bears interest at one month LIBOR + 1.75% and matures in
November 2007. We will not incur any unused fees. We simultaneously terminated
our prior credit facility and recorded an expense of $0.7 million related to
deferred financing costs.
In
August
2006, we completed our acquisition of a manufactured housing loan portfolio
and
closed on a five year term financing for an initial financing amount of
approximately $391.3 million bearing interest rate at one month LIBOR+1.25%.
The
lender received an upfront structuring fee equal to 0.5% on the initial
financing amount and is entitled to expense reimbursement of up to 0.125% on
the
initial financing amount. We entered into interest rate swaps in order to hedge
our exposure to the risk of changes in market interest rates with respect to
this debt.
In
November 2006, we priced our ninth CBO financing to term finance $950 million
portfolio of real estate securities and loans. We have agreed to issue, through
a consolidated subsidiary of ours, $807.5 million of investment grade debt
in
the offering, which is expected to close on November 16, 2006. At closing,
the
investment grade debt will have an initial weighted average spread over LIBOR
of
0.48% and a weighted average life of 7 years. Approximately 69%, or $560.5
million, of the investment grade debt is rated AAA.
24
Our
debt
obligations contain various customary loan covenants. Such covenants do not,
in
management’s opinion, materially restrict our investment strategy or ability to
raise capital. We are in compliance with all of our loan covenants as of
September 30, 2006.
Other
We
have
entered into arrangements with a major investment bank to finance certain loans
whereby we receive the sum of all interest, fees and any positive change in
value amounts (the total return cash flows) from a reference asset with a
specified notional amount, and pay interest on such notional plus any negative
change in value amounts from such asset. These agreements are recorded in
Derivative Assets and treated as non-hedge derivatives for accounting purposes
and are therefore marked to market through income. Net interest received is
recorded to Interest Income and the mark to market is recorded to Other Income.
If we owned the reference assets directly, they would not be marked to market.
Under the agreements, we are required to post an initial margin deposit to
an
interest bearing account and additional margin may be payable in the event
of a
decline in value of the reference asset. Any margin on deposit, less any
negative change in value amounts, will be returned to us upon termination of
the
contract.
As
of
September 30, 2006, we held an aggregate of $186.9 million notional amount
of
total rate of return swaps on 5 reference assets on which we had deposited
$29.2
million of margin. These total rate of return swaps had an aggregate fair value
of approximately $0.7 million, a weighted average receive interest rate of
LIBOR
+ 2.54%, a weighted average pay interest rate of LIBOR + 0.53%, and a weighted
average maturity of 1.3 years.
Stockholders’
Equity
Common
Stock
The
following table presents information on shares of our common stock issued since
December 31, 2005:
Period
|
Shares
Issued
|
Range
of Issue Prices
(1)
|
Net
Proceeds (millions)
|
Options
Granted
to
Manager
|
||||
Nine
Months 2006
|
86,408
|
N/A
|
$1.4
|
N/A
|
(1) |
Excludes
prices of shares issued pursuant to the exercise of options and shares
issued to our independent
directors.
|
At
September 30, 2006, we had 43,899,817 shares of common stock
outstanding.
As
of
September 30, 2006, our outstanding options were summarized as
follows:
Held
by the Manager
|
1,193,439
|
|||
Issued
to the Manager and subsequently transferred to certain of the manager’s
employees
|
520,368
|
|||
Held
by the independent directors
|
14,000
|
|||
Total
|
1,727,807
|
In
November 2006, we sold 1.7 million shares of our common stock in a public
offering at a price to the public at $29.42 per share for net proceeds of
approximately $49.5 million. For the purpose of compensating the Manager for
its
successful efforts in raising capital for us, in connection with this offering,
we granted options to the Manager to purchase 170,000 shares of our common
stock
at the public offering price, which were valued at approximately $0.5
million.
Preferred
Stock
In
March
2003, we issued 2.5 million shares ($62.5 million face amount) of 9.75% Series
B
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series B Preferred”). In October
2005, we issued 1.6 million shares ($40.0 million face amount) of 8.05% Series
C
Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series C Preferred”). The Series B
Preferred and Series C Preferred have a $25 liquidation preference, no maturity
date and no mandatory redemption. We have the option to redeem the Series B
Preferred beginning in March 2008 and the Series C Preferred beginning in
October 2010.
25
Other
Comprehensive Income
During
the nine months ended September 30, 2006, our accumulated other comprehensive
income changed due to the following factors (in thousands):
Accumulated
other comprehensive income, December, 31, 2005
|
$
|
45,564
|
||
Net
unrealized (loss) on securities
|
31,775
|
|||
Reclassification
of net realized (gain) on securities into earnings
|
(637
|
)
|
||
Foreign
currency translation
|
763
|
|||
Net
unrealized gain on derivatives designated as cash flow
hedges
|
6,801
|
|||
Reclassification
of net realized (gain) on derivatives designated as cash flow
hedges into
earnings
|
(3,351
|
)
|
||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income, September 30, 2006
|
$
|
80,915
|
Our
book
equity changes as our real estate securities portfolio and derivatives are
marked-to-market each quarter, among other factors. The primary causes of
mark-to-market changes are changes in interest rates and credit spreads. During
the period, increasing interest rates and tightening credit spreads resulted
in
a net increase in unrealized gains on our real estate securities and
derivatives. In an environment of widening credit spreads and increasing
interest rates, we believe our new investment activities would benefit. While
such an environment would likely result in a decrease in the fair value of
our
existing securities portfolio and, therefore, reduce our book equity and ability
to realize gains on such existing securities, it would not directly affect
our
earnings or our cash flow or our ability to pay dividends.
Common
Dividends Paid
Declared
for the
Period Ended
|
Paid
|
|
Amount
Per
Share
|
||||
March
31, 2006
|
April
28, 2006
|
$0.625
|
|||||
June
30, 2006
|
July
28, 2006
|
$0.650
|
|||||
September
30, 2006
|
October
31, 2006
|
$0.650
|
Cash
Flow
Net
cash
flow provided by operating activities increased
to $114.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $12.1
million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. This change primarily
resulted from the increase in restricted cash, offset by the acquisition and
settlement of our investments as described above.
Investing
activities (used) ($1,596.5 million) and ($844.1 million) during the nine months
ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Investing activities consisted
primarily of investments made in certain real estate securities, loans and
other
real estate related assets, net of proceeds from the sale or settlement of
investments.
Financing
activities provided $1,477.6 million and $810.5 million during the nine months
ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The equity issuances,
borrowings and debt issuances described above served as the primary sources
of
cash flow from financing activities. Offsetting uses included the payment of
related deferred financing costs, the purchase of hedging instruments, the
payment of dividends, and the repayment of debt as described above.
See
the
consolidated statements of cash flows included in our consolidated financial
statements included herein for a reconciliation of our cash position for the
periods described herein.
INTEREST
RATE, CREDIT AND SPREAD RISK
We
are
subject to interest rate, credit and spread risk with respect to our
investments.
Our
primary interest rate exposures relate to our real estate securities, loans,
floating rate debt obligations, interest rate swaps, and interest rate caps.
Changes in the general level of interest rates can affect our net interest
income, which is the difference between the interest income earned on
interest-earning assets and the interest expense incurred in connection with
our
interest-bearing liabilities and hedges. Changes in the level of interest rates
also can affect, among other things, our ability to acquire real estate
securities and loans at attractive prices, the value of our real estate
securities, loans and derivatives, and our ability to realize gains from the
sale of such assets.
Our
general financing strategy focuses on the use of match funded structures. This
means that we seek to match the maturities of our debt obligations with the
maturities of our investments to minimize the risk that we have to refinance
our
liabilities prior to the maturities of our assets, and to reduce the impact
of
changing interest rates on our earnings. In addition, we generally match fund
interest rates on our investments with like-kind debt (i.e., fixed rate assets
are financed with fixed rate debt and floating rate assets are financed with
floating rate debt), directly or through the use of interest rate swaps, caps
or
other financial instruments, or through a combination of these strategies,
which
allows us to reduce the impact of changing interest rates on our earnings.
See
“Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - Interest Rate
Exposure” below.
26
Real
Estate Securities
Interest
rate changes may also impact our net book value as our real estate securities
and related hedge derivatives are marked to market each quarter. Our loan
investments and debt obligations are not marked to market. Generally, as
interest rates increase, the value of our fixed rate securities decreases,
and
as interest rates decrease, the value of such securities will increase. In
general, we would expect that over time, decreases in the value of our real
estate securities portfolio attributable to interest rate changes will be offset
to some degree by increases in the value of our swaps, and vice versa. However,
the relationship between spreads on securities and spreads on swaps may vary
from time to time, resulting in a net aggregate book value increase or decline.
Our real estate securities portfolio is largely financed to maturity through
long term CBO financings that are not redeemable as a result of book value
changes. Accordingly, unless there is a material impairment in value that would
result in a payment not being received on a security, changes in the book value
of our securities portfolio will not directly affect our recurring earnings
or
our ability to pay dividends.
The
commercial mortgage and asset backed securities we invest in are generally
junior in right of payment of interest and principal to one or more senior
classes, but benefit from the support of one or more subordinate classes of
securities or other form of credit support within a securitization transaction.
The senior unsecured REIT debt securities we invest in reflect comparable credit
risk. Credit risk refers to each individual borrower’s ability to make required
interest and principal payments on the scheduled due dates. We believe, based
on
our due diligence process, that these securities offer attractive risk-adjusted
returns with long term principal protection under a variety of default and
loss
scenarios. While the expected yield on these securities is sensitive to the
performance of the underlying assets, the more subordinated securities or other
features of the securitization transaction, in the case of commercial mortgage
and asset backed securities, and the issuer's underlying equity and subordinated
debt, in the case of senior unsecured REIT debt securities, are designed to
bear
the first risk of default and loss. We further minimize credit risk by actively
monitoring our real estate securities portfolio and the underlying credit
quality of our holdings and, where appropriate, repositioning our investments
to
upgrade the credit quality on our investments. While we have not experienced
any
significant credit losses, in the event of a significant rising interest rate
environment and/or economic downturn, loan and collateral defaults may increase
and result in credit losses that would adversely affect our liquidity and
operating results.
Our
real
estate securities are also subject to spread risk. Our fixed rate securities
are
valued based on a market credit spread over the rate payable on fixed rate
U.S.
Treasuries of like maturity. In other words, their value is dependent on the
yield demanded on such securities by the market based on their credit relative
to U.S. Treasuries. Excessive supply of such securities combined with reduced
demand will generally cause the market to require a higher yield on such
securities, resulting in the use of a higher (or “wider”) spread over the
benchmark rate (usually the applicable U.S. Treasury security yield) to value
such securities. Under such conditions, the value of our real estate securities
portfolio would tend to decline. Conversely, if the spread used to value such
securities were to decrease (or “tighten”), the value of our real estate
securities portfolio would tend to increase. Our floating rate securities are
valued based on a market credit spread over LIBOR and are affected similarly
by
changes in LIBOR spreads. Such changes in the market value of our real estate
securities portfolio may affect our net equity, net income or cash flow directly
through their impact on unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale
securities, and therefore our ability to realize gains on such securities,
or
indirectly through their impact on our ability to borrow and access capital.
If
the value of our securities subject to repurchase agreements were to decline,
it
could affect our ability to refinance such securities upon the maturity of
the
related repurchase agreements, adversely impacting our rate of return on such
securities. See “ Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk -
Credit Spread Exposure” below.
Furthermore,
shifts in the U.S. Treasury yield curve, which represents the market’s
expectations of future interest rates, would also affect the yield required
on
our real estate securities and therefore their value. This would have similar
effects on our real estate securities portfolio and our financial position
and
operations to a change in spreads.
Loans
Similar
to our real estate securities portfolio, we are subject to credit and spread
risk with respect to our real estate related, commercial mortgage and
residential mortgage loan portfolios. However, unlike our real estate securities
portfolio, our loans generally do not benefit from the support of junior classes
of securities, but rather bear the first risk of default and loss. We believe
that this credit risk is mitigated through our due diligence process and
continual reviews of the borrower’s payment history, delinquency status, and the
relationship of the loan balance to the underlying property value.
Our
loan
portfolios are also subject to spread risk. Our floating rate loans are valued
based on a market credit spread to LIBOR. The value of the loans is dependent
upon the yield demanded by the market based on their credit relative to LIBOR.
The value of our floating rate loans would tend to decline should the market
require a higher yield on such loans, resulting in the use of a higher spread
over the benchmark rate (usually the applicable LIBOR yield). Our fixed rate
loans are valued based on a market credit spread over U.S. Treasuries and are
effected similarly by changes in U.S. Treasury spreads. If the value of our
loans subject to repurchase agreements were to decline, it could affect our
ability to refinance such loans upon the maturity of the related repurchase
agreements.
Any
credit or spread losses incurred with respect to our loan portfolios would
affect us in the same way as similar losses on our real estate securities
portfolio as described above, except that our loan portfolios are not marked
to
market. Accordingly, unless there is a material impairment in value that would
result in a payment not being received on a loan, changes in the value of our
loan portfolio will not directly affect our recurring earnings or ability to
pay
dividends.
27
Statistics
as of September 30, 2006
The
face
amount of our total portfolio was $8.1 billion, which includes real estate
securities and related loans (including agency RMBS) of $6.7 billion,
residential mortgage loans of $0.9 billion, as well as other real estate related
assets.
$5.7
billion of the real estate securities and related loans were rated by third
parties or implied AAA (agency RMBS) with an average rating of BBB+, $1.0
billion of the real estate securities and real estate related loans (mezzanine
loans, B-notes and real estate loans) were non-rated but had a weighted average
loan to value ratio of 71.0%. Our average investment size in the real estate
securities and related loan portfolio was $9.8 million, with our largest single
investment being $123.1 million at September 30, 2006. The weighted average
credit spread on this portfolio (i.e. the yield premium on our investments
over
the comparable U.S. Treasury rate or LIBOR) was 2.55%. Furthermore, our real
estate securities are supported by pools of underlying loans. For instance,
our
CMBS investments had over 22,000 underlying loans. We expect this
diversification helps to minimize the risk of capital loss, and will also
enhance the terms of our financing structures.
Our
residential mortgage loan portfolio was characterized by high credit quality
borrowers with a weighted average FICO score of 706 at origination.
Approximately $168.8 million of the unpaid principal balance of the $195.2
residential mortgage loan portfolio was held in securitized form, of which
over
96.0% of the principal balance was rated investment grade.
Our
loan
portfolios are diversified by geographic location and by borrower. Our
residential and manufactured housing loans were well diversified with 566 loans
and 19,148 loans, respectively. We believe that this diversification also helps
to minimize the risk of capital loss.
28
Margin
Certain
of our investments are financed through repurchase agreements or total return
swaps which are subject to margin calls based on the value of such investments.
Margin calls resulting from decreases in value related to rising interest rates
are substantially offset by our ability to make margin calls on our interest
rate derivatives. We maintain adequate cash reserves or availability on our
credit facility to meet any margin calls resulting from decreases in value
related to a reasonably possible (in the opinion of management) widening of
credit spreads. Funding a margin call on our credit facility would have a
dilutive effect on our earnings, however we would not expect this to be
material.
OFF-BALANCE
SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
As
of
September 30, 2006, we had one material off-balance sheet
arrangement.
· |
In
April 2006, we securitized our portfolio of subprime mortgage loans.
80%
of this transaction was treated as an off-balance sheet financing
as
described in “Liquidity and Capital
Resources.”
|
We
also
had the following arrangements which do not meet the definition of off-balance
sheet arrangements, but do have some of the characteristics of off-balance
sheet
arrangements.
· |
We
are party to total rate of return swaps which are treated as non-hedge
derivatives. For further information on these investments, see “Liquidity
and Capital Resources.”
|
· |
We
have made investments in three unconsolidated subsidiaries. See Note
2 to
our consolidated financial
statements.
|
In
each
case, our exposure to loss is limited to the carrying (fair) value of our
investment, except for the total rate of return swaps where our exposure to
loss
is limited to their fair value plus their notional amount.
CONTRACTUAL
OBLIGATIONS
During
the first nine months of 2006, we had all of the material contractual
obligations referred to in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2005, as well as the following:
Contract
Category
|
Change
|
Repurchase
agreements
|
We
financed certain newly acquired loans and securities with repurchase
agreements. We also entered into a warehouse agreement (structured
in the
form of a repurchase agreement) related to our next CBO
financing.
|
Other
bonds payable
|
One
portfolio of manufactured housing loans was refinanced. We also entered
into a term financing in connection with the purchase of a second
manufactured housing loan portfolio.
|
Credit
facility
|
We
replaced our prior credit facility.
|
Junior
subordinated notes payable
|
We
issued the junior subordinated notes payable in connection with the
issuance of trust preferred securities by our unconsolidated, wholly
owned
subsidiary.
|
Interest
rate swaps, treated as hedges
|
Certain
floating rate debt issuances, including those described above as
well as
an anticipated issuance, as well as certain assets, were hedged with
interest rate swaps.
|
Loan
servicing agreements
|
We
renewed the agreement related to our manufactured housing loan portfolio
at the same terms, and entered into an agreement related to our subprime
mortgage loan portfolio.
|
Securitization
|
We
entered into the securitization of our subprime mortgage loan
portfolio.
|
The
terms
of these contracts are described under “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures
About Market Risk” below.
INFLATION
29
FUNDS
FROM OPERATIONS
We
believe FFO is one appropriate measure of the operating performance of real
estate companies. We also believe that FFO is an appropriate supplemental
disclosure of operating performance for a REIT due to its widespread acceptance
and use within the REIT and analyst communities.
Furthermore, FFO is used to compute our incentive compensation to the Manager.
FFO, for our purposes, represents net income available for common stockholders
(computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding extraordinary items, plus
depreciation of operating real estate, and after adjustments for unconsolidated
subsidiaries, if any. We consider gains and losses on resolution of our
investments to be a normal part of our recurring operations and therefore do
not
exclude such gains and losses when arriving at FFO. Adjustments for
unconsolidated subsidiaries, if any, are calculated to reflect FFO on the same
basis. FFO 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 liquidity and is not necessarily indicative of cash
available to fund cash needs. Our calculation of FFO may be different from
the
calculation used by other companies and, therefore, comparability may be
limited.
Funds
from Operations (FFO) is calculated as follows (unaudited) (in
thousands):
For
the Nine
Months
Ended
September
30, 2006
|
|
For
the Three
Months
Ended
September
30, 2006
|
|||||
Income
available for common stockholders
|
$
|
86,991
|
$
|
29,699
|
|||
Operating
real estate depreciation
|
562
|
221
|
|||||
Funds
from Operations (FFO)
|
$
|
87,553
|
$
|
29,920
|
Funds
from Operations was derived from our segments as follows (unaudited) (in
thousands):
Book
Equity at
September
30, 2006
|
Average
Invested Common Equity for the Nine Months Ended September 30,
2006(2)
|
FFO
for the Nine Months Ended
September
30, 2006
|
Return
on
Invested
Common
Equity (ROE) (3)
|
||||||||||
Real
estate securities and real estate related loans
|
$
|
956,109
|
$
|
872,745
|
$
|
106,294
|
16.2
|
%
|
|||||
Residential
mortgage loans
|
135,641
|
104,031
|
15,908
|
20.4
|
%
|
||||||||
Operating
real estate
|
46,783
|
45,920
|
2,997
|
8.7
|
%
|
||||||||
Unallocated
(1)
|
(360,674
|
)
|
(232,168
|
)
|
(37,646
|
)
|
N/A
|
||||||
Total
(2)
|
777,859
|
$
|
790,528
|
$
|
87,553
|
14.8
|
%
|
||||||
Preferred
stock
|
102,500
|
||||||||||||
Accumulated
depreciation
|
(4,108
|
)
|
|||||||||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
80,915
|
||||||||||||
Net
book equity
|
$
|
957,166
|
|
Book
Equity at
September
30, 2006
|
Average
Invested Common Equity for the Three Months Ended September 30,
2006(2)
|
FFO
for the Three Months Ended
September
30, 2006
|
Return
on
Invested
Common
Equity (ROE) (3)
|
|||||||||
Real
estate securities and real estate related loans
|
$
|
956,109
|
$
|
921,822
|
$
|
37,882
|
16.4
|
%
|
|||||
Residential
mortgage loans
|
135,641
|
121,687
|
5,081
|
16.7
|
%
|
||||||||
Operating
real estate
|
46,783
|
46,690
|
611
|
5.2
|
%
|
||||||||
Unallocated
(1)
|
(360,674
|
)
|
(309,056
|
)
|
(13,654
|
)
|
N/A
|
||||||
Total
(2)
|
777,859
|
$
|
781,143
|
$
|
29,920
|
15.3
|
%
|
||||||
Preferred
stock
|
102,500
|
||||||||||||
Accumulated
depreciation
|
(4,108
|
)
|
|||||||||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
80,915
|
||||||||||||
Net
book equity
|
$
|
957,166
|
(1) |
Unallocated
FFO represents ($6,985) and ($2,328) of preferred dividends, ($7,624)
and
($3,766) of interest on our credit facility and junior subordinated
notes
payable, and ($23,037) and ($7,560) of corporate general and
administrative expenses, management fees and incentive compensation
for
the nine and three months ended September 30, 2006,
respectively.
|
(2) |
Invested
common equity is equal to book equity excluding preferred stock,
accumulated depreciation and accumulated other
comprehensive income.
|
(3) |
FFO
divided by average invested common equity,
annualized.
|
30
RELATED
PARTY TRANSACTIONS
As
of
December 31, 2005, we owned an aggregate of approximately $48.5 million of
securities of Global Signal Trust I and II, special purpose vehicles established
by Global Signal Inc., which were purchased in private placements from
underwriters in January 2004 and April 2005. Our CEO and chairman of our board
of directors is the chairman of the board of Global Signal, Inc. and private
equity funds managed by an affiliate of our manager own a significant portion
of
Global Signal Inc.’s common stock. In February 2006, we purchased from an
underwriter $91.0 million face amount of BBB- and BB+ rated securities of Global
Signal Trust III, a special purpose vehicle established by Global Signal, Inc.
Pursuant to an underwritten 144A offering, approximately $1,550.0 million of
Global Signal Trust III securities were issued in 8 classes, rated AAA through
BB+, of which the BBB- and BB+ classes aggregated $188.3 million. The balance
of
the BBB- and BB+ securities were sold on identical terms to third parties.
A
portion of the proceeds were used to repay Global Signal, Inc. debt, including
$31.5 million of the Global Signal Trust I securities we owned, and to fund
the
prepayment penalty associated with this debt.
In
January 2005, we entered into a servicing agreement with a portfolio company
of
a private equity fund advised by an affiliate of our manager for them to service
a portfolio of manufactured housing loans, which was acquired at the same time.
As compensation under the servicing agreement, the portfolio company will
receive, on a monthly basis, a net servicing fee equal to 1.00% per annum on
the
unpaid principal balance of the loans being serviced. In January 2006, we closed
on a new term financing of this portfolio. In connection with this term
financing, we renewed our servicing agreement at the same terms.
In
April
2006, we securitized our portfolio of subprime residential mortgage loans and,
through the Securitization Trust, entered into a servicing agreement with a
subprime home equity mortgage lender (“Subprime Servicer”) to service this
portfolio. In July 2006, private equity funds managed by an affiliate of our
manager completed the acquisition of the Subprime Servicer. As compensation
under the servicing agreement, the Subprime Servicer will receive, on a monthly
basis, a net servicing fee equal to 0.5% per annum on the unpaid principal
balance of the portfolio. The outstanding unpaid principal balance of this
portfolio was approximately $1.30 billion at September 30, 2006.
In
August
2006, we acquired a portfolio of manufactured housing loans for an aggregate
purchase price of $425.4 million. The loans are being serviced by a portfolio
company of a private equity fund advised by an affiliate of our manager. As
compensation under the servicing agreement, the servicer will receive, on a
monthly basis, a net servicing fee equal to 0.625% per annum on the unpaid
principal balance of the portfolio plus an incentive fee if the performance
of
the loans meets certain thresholds. The outstanding unpaid principal balance
of
this portfolio was approximately $419.9 million at September 30,
2006.
In
September 2006, we were co-lenders with two private investment funds managed
by
an affiliate of our manager in a new real estate related loan of $250.1 million.
The loan is secured by a first mortgage interest on a parcel of land in Arizona.
We own a 20% interest in the loan and the private investment funds own an 80%
interest in the loan. Major decisions require the unanimous approval of the
holders of interests in the loan, while other decisions require the approval
of
a majority of holders of interests in the loan. Newcastle and our affiliated
investment funds are each entitled to transfer all or any portion of their
respective interests in the loan to third parties. In October 2006, we and
the
private investment funds sold, on a pro-rata basis, a $125.0 million senior
participation interest in the loan to an unaffiliated third party resulting
in a
20% interest in the junior participation interest in the loan. Our investment
in
this loan was approximately $50.2 million at September 30, 2006.
As
of
September 30, 2006, we held total investments of $193.8 million face amount
of
real estate securities and related loans issued by affiliates of our manager
and
earned approximately $8.9 million of interest on such investments for the nine
months ended September 30, 2006.
31
ITEM
3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET
RISK
Market
risk is the exposure to loss resulting from changes in interest rates, credit
spreads, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and equity prices.
The primary market risks that we are exposed to are interest rate risk and
credit spread risk. These risks are highly sensitive to many factors, including
governmental monetary and tax policies, domestic and international economic
and
political considerations and other factors beyond our control. All of our market
risk sensitive assets, liabilities and related derivative positions are for
non-trading purposes only. For a further understanding of how market risk may
affect our financial position or operating results, please refer to
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations − Application of Critical Accounting Policies.”
Interest
Rate Exposure
Our
primary interest rate exposures relate to our real estate securities, loans,
floating rate debt obligations, interest rate swaps, and interest rate caps.
Changes in the general level of interest rates can affect our net interest
income, which is the difference between the interest income earned on
interest-earning assets and the interest expense incurred in connection with
our
interest-bearing liabilities and hedges. Changes in the level of interest rates
also can affect, among other things, our ability to acquire real estate
securities and loans at attractive prices, the value of our real estate
securities, loans and derivatives, and our ability to realize gains from the
sale of such assets. While our strategy is to utilize interest rate swaps,
caps
and match funded financings in order to limit the effects of changes in interest
rates on our operations, there can be no assurance that our profitability will
not be adversely affected during any period as a result of changing interest
rates. In the event of a significant rising interest rate environment and/or
economic downturn, loan and collateral defaults may increase and result in
credit losses that would adversely affect our liquidity and operating results.
As of September 30, 2006, a 100 basis point increase in short term interest
rates would increase our earnings by approximately $0.6 million per
annum.
A
period
of rising interest rates as we are currently experiencing negatively impacts
our
return on certain investments, particularly our floating rate residential
mortgage loans. Although these loans are financed with floating rate debt,
the
interest rate on the debt resets prior to, and in some cases more frequently
than, the interest rate on the assets, causing a decrease in return on equity
during a period of rising interest rates. When interest rates stabilize, we
expect these investments will return to their historical returns on
equity.
Interest
rate changes may also impact our net book value as our real estate securities
and related hedge derivatives are marked to market each quarter. Our loan
investments and debt obligations are not marked to market. Generally, as
interest rates increase, the value of our fixed rate securities decreases,
and
as interest rates decrease, the value of such securities will increase. In
general, we would expect that over time, decreases in the value of our real
estate securities portfolio attributable to interest rate changes will be offset
to some degree by increases in the value of our swaps, and vice versa. However,
the relationship between spreads on securities and spreads on swaps may vary
from time to time, resulting in a net aggregate book value increase or decline.
Our real estate securities portfolio is largely financed to maturity through
long-term CBO financings that are not redeemable as a result of book value
changes. Accordingly, unless there is a material impairment in value that would
result in a payment not being received on a security, changes in the book value
of our portfolio will not directly affect our recurring earnings or our ability
to pay dividends. As of September 30, 2006, a 100 basis point change in short
term interest rates would impact our net book value by approximately $60.8
million.
Our
general financing strategy focuses on the use of match funded structures. This
means that we seek to match the maturities of our debt obligations with the
maturities of our investments to minimize the risk that we have to refinance
our
liabilities prior to the maturities of our assets, and to reduce the impact
of
changing interest rates on our earnings. In addition, we generally match fund
interest rates on our investments with like-kind debt (i.e., fixed rate assets
are financed with fixed rate debt and floating rate assets are financed with
floating rate debt), directly or through the use of interest rate swaps, caps,
or other financial instruments, or through a combination of these strategies,
which allows us to reduce the impact of changing interest rates on our earnings.
Our financing strategy is dependent on our ability to place the match funded
debt we use to finance our investments at rates that provide a positive net
spread. If spreads for such liabilities widen or if demand for such liabilities
ceases to exist, then our ability to execute future financings will be severely
restricted.
Interest
rate swaps are agreements in which a series of interest rate flows are exchanged
with a third party (counterparty) over a prescribed period. The notional amount
on which swaps are based is not exchanged. In general, our swaps are “pay fixed”
swaps involving the exchange of floating rate interest payments from the
counterparty for fixed interest payments from us. This can effectively convert
a
floating rate debt obligation into a fixed rate debt obligation.
Similarly,
an interest rate cap or floor agreement is a contract in which we purchase
a cap
or floor contract on a notional face amount. We will make an up-front payment
to
the counterparty for which the counterparty agrees to make future payments
to us
should the reference rate (typically one- or three-month LIBOR) rise above
(cap
agreements) or fall below (floor agreements) the “strike” rate specified in the
contract. Should the reference rate rise above the contractual strike rate
in a
cap, we will earn cap income; should the reference rate fall below the
contractual strike rate in a floor, we will earn floor income. Payments on
an
annualized basis will equal the contractual notional face amount multiplied
by
the difference between the actual reference rate and the contracted strike
rate.
32
While
a
REIT may utilize these types of derivative instruments to hedge interest rate
risk on its liabilities or for other purposes, such derivative instruments
could
generate income that is not qualified income for purposes of maintaining REIT
status. As a consequence, we may only engage in such instruments to hedge such
risks within the constraints of maintaining our standing as a REIT. We do not
enter into derivative contracts for speculative purposes nor as a hedge against
changes in credit risk.
Our
hedging transactions using derivative instruments also involve certain
additional risks such as counterparty credit risk, the enforceability of hedging
contracts and the risk that unanticipated and significant changes in interest
rates will cause a significant loss of basis in the contract. The counterparties
to our derivative arrangements are major financial institutions with high credit
ratings with which we and our affiliates may also have other financial
relationships. As a result, we do not anticipate that any of these
counterparties will fail to meet their obligations. There can be no assurance
that we will be able to adequately protect against the foregoing risks and
will
ultimately realize an economic benefit that exceeds the related amounts incurred
in connection with engaging in such hedging strategies.
Credit
Spread Exposure
Our
real
estate securities are also subject to spread risk. Our fixed rate securities
are
valued based on a market credit spread over the rate payable on fixed rate
U.S.
Treasuries of like maturity. In other words, their value is dependent on the
yield demanded on such securities by the market based on their credit relative
to U.S. Treasuries. Excessive supply of such securities combined with reduced
demand will generally cause the market to require a higher yield on such
securities, resulting in the use of higher (or “wider”) spread over the
benchmark rate (usually the applicable U.S. Treasury security yield) to value
such securities. Under such conditions, the value of our real estate securities
portfolio would tend to decline. Conversely, if the spread used to value such
securities were to decrease (or “tighten”), the value of our real estate
securities portfolio would tend to increase. Our floating rate securities are
valued based on a market credit spread over LIBOR and are affected similarly
by
changes in LIBOR spreads. Such changes in the market value of our real estate
securities portfolio may affect our net equity, net income or cash flow directly
through their impact on unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale
securities, and therefore our ability to realize gains on such securities,
or
indirectly through their impact on our ability to borrow and access
capital.
Furthermore,
shifts in the U.S. Treasury yield curve, which represents the market’s
expectations of future interest rates, would also effect the yield required
on
our real estate securities and therefore their value. This would have similar
effects on our real estate securities portfolio and our financial position
and
operations to a change in spreads.
Our
loan
portfolios are also subject to spread risk. Our floating rate loans are valued
based on a market credit spread to LIBOR. The value of the loans is dependent
upon the yield demanded by the market based on their credit relative to LIBOR.
The value of our floating rate loans would tend to decline should the market
require a higher yield on such loans, resulting in the use of a higher spread
over the benchmark rate (usually the applicable LIBOR yield). Our fixed rate
loans are valued based on a market credit spread over U.S. Treasuries and are
effected similarly by changes in U.S. Treasury spreads. If the value of our
loans subject to repurchase agreements were to decline, it could affect our
ability to refinance such loans upon the maturity of the related repurchase
agreements.
Any
decreases in the value of our loan portfolios due to spread changes would affect
us in the same way as similar changes to our real estate securities portfolio
as
described above, except that our loan portfolios are not marked to
market.
As
of
September 30, 2006, a 25 basis point movement in credit spreads would impact
our
net book value by approximately $62.3 million, but would not directly affect
our
earnings or cash flow.
Margin
Certain
of our investments are financed through repurchase agreements or total return
swaps which are subject to margin calls based on the value of such investments.
Margin calls resulting from decreases in value related to rising interest
rates
are substantially offset by our ability to make margin calls on our interest
rate derivatives. We maintain adequate cash reserves or availability on our
credit facility to meet any margin calls resulting from decreases in value
related to a reasonably possible (in the opinion of management) widening
of
credit spreads. Funding a margin call on our credit facility would have a
dilutive effect on our earnings, however we would not expect this to be
material.
33
Fair
Values
Fair
values for a majority of our investments are readily obtainable through broker
quotations. For certain of our financial instruments, fair values are not
readily available since there are no active trading markets as characterized
by
current exchanges between willing parties. Accordingly, fair values can only
be
derived or estimated for these instruments using various valuation techniques,
such as computing the present value of estimated future cash flows using
discount rates commensurate with the risks involved. However, the determination
of estimated future cash flows is inherently subjective and imprecise. We note
that minor changes in assumptions or estimation methodologies can have a
material effect on these derived or estimated fair values, and that the fair
values reflected below are indicative of the interest rate and credit spread
environments as of September 30, 2006 and do not take into consideration the
effects of subsequent interest rate or credit spread fluctuations.
We
note
that the values of our investments in real estate securities, loans and
derivative instruments, primarily interest rate hedges on our debt obligations,
are sensitive to changes in market interest rates, credit spreads and other
market factors. The value of these investments can vary, and has varied,
materially from period to period.
Interest
Rate and Credit Spread Risk
We
held
the following interest rate and credit spread risk sensitive instruments at
September 30, 2006 (unaudited) (dollars in thousands):
Carrying
Value
|
|
Principal
Balance or Notional Amount
|
|
Weighted
Average Yield/Funding Cost
|
|
Weighted
Average Maturity
|
|
Fair
Value
|
||||||||
Assets:
|
||||||||||||||||
Real
estate securities, available for sale (1)
|
$
|
5,369,641
|
$
|
5,392,628
|
6.61
|
%
|
(1)
|
|
$
|
5,369,641
|
||||||
Real
estate related loans (2)
|
1,238,418
|
1,240,531
|
8.74
|
%
|
(2)
|
|
1,243,434
|
|||||||||
Residential
mortgage loans (3)
|
863,788
|
869,115
|
7.99
|
%
|
(3)
|
|
883,420
|
|||||||||
Subprime
mortgage loans subject to future repurchase (4)
|
287,546
|
299,176
|
(4
|
)
|
(4)
|
|
287,546
|
|||||||||
Interest
rate caps, treated as hedges (5)
|
1,677
|
342,351
|
N/A
|
(5)
|
|
1,677
|
||||||||||
Total
return swaps (6)
|
659
|
186,883
|
N/A
|
(6)
|
|
659
|
||||||||||
Liabilities:
|
|
|||||||||||||||
CBO
bonds payable (7)
|
3,505,906
|
3,533,270
|
5.64
|
%
|
(7)
|
|
3,563,789
|
|||||||||
Other
bonds payable (8)
|
704,785
|
709,237
|
6.67
|
%
|
(8)
|
|
705,531
|
|||||||||
Notes
payable (9)
|
153,957
|
153,957
|
5.67
|
%
|
(9)
|
|
153,957
|
|||||||||
Repurchase
agreements (10)
|
2,197,780
|
2,197,780
|
5.48
|
%
|
(10)
|
|
2,197,780
|
|||||||||
Financing
of subprime mortgage loans
|
|
|||||||||||||||
subject
to future repurchase (4)
|
287,546
|
299,176
|
(4
|
)
|
(4)
|
|
287,546
|
|||||||||
Credit
facility (11)
|
125,000
|
125,000
|
7.10
|
%
|
(11)
|
|
125,000
|
|||||||||
Junior
subordinated notes payable (12)
|
100,100
|
100,100
|
7.62
|
%
|
(12)
|
|
101,672
|
|||||||||
Interest
rate swaps, treated as hedges (13)
|
(37,139
|
)
|
3,838,625
|
N/A
|
(13)
|
|
(37,139
|
)
|
||||||||
Non-hedge
derivatives (14)
|
444
|
147,500
|
N/A
|
(14)
|
|
444
|
(1) |
These
securities contain various terms, including fixed and floating rates,
self-amortizing and interest only. Their weighted average maturity
is 5.23
years. The fair value of these securities is estimated by obtaining
third
party broker quotations, if available and practicable, and counterparty
quotations.
|
(2) |
Represents
the following loans:
|
Loan
Type
|
Current
Face
Amount
|
Carrying
Value
|
Weighted
Avg.
Yield
|
Weighted
Average
Maturity
(Years)
|
Floating
Rate Loans as a % of Face Amount
|
Fair
Value
|
|||||||||||||
B-Notes
|
$
|
95,859
|
$
|
95,124
|
7.25
|
%
|
4.31
|
54.8
|
%
|
$
|
97,815
|
||||||||
Mezzanine
Loans
|
729,701
|
729,509
|
8.90
|
%
|
2.73
|
100.0
|
%
|
730,632
|
|||||||||||
Bank
Loans
|
209,691
|
209,813
|
7.80
|
%
|
4.25
|
100.0
|
%
|
211,014
|
|||||||||||
Whole
Loans
|
74,993
|
75,238
|
11.94
|
%
|
1.90
|
100.0
|
%
|
75,239
|
|||||||||||
ICH
Loans
|
130,287
|
128,734
|
8.64
|
%
|
1.24
|
1.5
|
%
|
128,734
|
|||||||||||
$
|
1,240,531
|
$
|
1,238,418
|
8.74
|
%
|
2.90
|
86.2
|
%
|
$
|
1,243,434
|
34
The
ICH
loans were valued by discounting expected future cash flows by the loans’
effective rate at acquisition. The rest of the loans were valued by obtaining
third party broker quotations, if available and practicable, and counterparty
quotations.
(3) |
This
aggregate portfolio of residential loans consists of a portfolio
of
floating rate residential mortgage loans, two portfolios of substantially
fixed rate manufactured housing loans, and the $195.2 million portfolio
of
residential mortgage loans has a weighted average maturity of 2.79
years.
The $674.0 million manufactured housing loan portfolios have a weighted
average maturity of 6.05 years. The residential mortgage loans and
manufactured housing loans were valued by reference to current market
interest rates and credit spreads.
|
(4) |
Thesetwo
items, related to the securitization of subprime mortgage loans,
are equal
and offsetting. They each yield 9.24% and are further described
under
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations - Liquidity and Capital
Resources”.
|
(5) |
Represents
cap agreements as follows:
|
Notional
Balance
|
|
Effective
Date
|
|
Maturity
Date
|
|
Capped
Rate
|
|
Strike
Rate
|
|
Fair
Value
|
|||||||
$
|
262,732
|
Current
|
March
2009
|
1-Month
LIBOR
|
6.50
|
%
|
$
|
59
|
|||||||||
18,000
|
January
2010
|
October
2015
|
3-Month
LIBOR
|
8.00
|
%
|
253
|
|||||||||||
8,619
|
December
2010
|
June
2015
|
3-Month
LIBOR
|
7.00
|
%
|
492
|
|||||||||||
53,000
|
May
2011
|
September
2015
|
1-Month
LIBOR
|
7.50
|
%
|
873
|
|||||||||||
$
|
342,351
|
$
|
1,677
|
The
fair
value of these agreements is estimated by obtaining counterparty
quotations.
(6) |
Represents
total rate of return swaps which are treated as non-hedge derivatives.
The
fair value of these agreements, which is included in Derivative Assets,
is
estimated by obtaining counterparty quotations. See “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
-
Liquidity and Capital Resources” for a further discussion of these
swaps.
|
(7) |
These
bonds were valued by discounting expected future cash flows by a
rate
calculated based on current market conditions for comparable financial
instruments, including market interest rates and credit spreads.
The
weighted average maturity of the CBO bonds payable is 5.80 years.
The CBO
bonds payable amortize principal prior to maturity based on collateral
receipts, subject to reinvestment
requirements.
|
(8) |
The
ICH bonds amortize principal prior to maturity based on collateral
receipts and have a weighted average maturity of 1.05 years. These
bonds
were valued by discounting expected future cash flows by a rate calculated
based on current market conditions for comparable financial instruments,
including market interest rates and credit spreads. The manufactured
housing loan bonds amortize principal prior to maturity based on
collateral receipts and have a weighted average maturity of 2.78.
These
bonds were valued by reference to current market interest rates and
credit
spreads.
|
(9) |
The
residential mortgage loan financing has a weighted average maturity
of
0.84 years and is subject to adjustment monthly based on the market
value
of the loan portfolio. This financing was valued by reference to
current
market interest rates and credit
spreads.
|
(10) |
These
agreements bear floating rates of interest, which reset monthly or
quarterly to a market credit spread, and we believe that, for similar
financial instruments with comparable credit risks, the effective
rates
approximate market rates. Accordingly, the carrying amounts outstanding
are believed to approximate fair value. These agreements have a weighted
average maturity of 0.13 years.
|
(11) |
The
credit facility has a weighted average maturity of 1.09 years. This
facility was valued at par because management believes it could currently
enter a similar arrangement under similar
terms.
|
(12) |
These
notes have a weighted average maturity of 29.5 years. These notes
were
valued by discounting expected future cash flows by a rate calculated
based on current market conditions for comparable financial instruments,
including market interest rates and credit spreads. The credit spread
used
was obtained from a broker
quotation.
|
35
(13) |
Represents
current swap agreements as follows:
|
Year
of Maturity
|
Weighted
Average Maturity
|
|
Aggregate
Notional Amount
|
|
Weighted
Average Fixed Pay Rate
|
Aggregate
Fair Value
|
|||||||||
Agreements
which receive 1-Month LIBOR:
|
|||||||||||||||
2009
|
May2009
|
$
|
343,377
|
*
|
3.28%
|
|
$
|
(10,491
|
)
|
||||||
2010
|
Jun
2010
|
425,626
|
4.37%
|
|
(6,460
|
)
|
|||||||||
2011
|
May
2011
|
524,864
|
5.30%
|
|
3,647
|
||||||||||
2013
|
Jun
2013
|
14,057
|
5.28%
|
150
|
|||||||||||
2014
|
Dec
2014
|
9,052
|
5.27%
|
108
|
|||||||||||
2015
|
Jul
2015
|
784,627
|
4.92%
|
(7,532
|
)
|
||||||||||
2016
|
Apr
2016
|
597,431
|
5.22%
|
3,796
|
|||||||||||
2017
|
Apr
2017
|
8,745
|
5.33%
|
92
|
|||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||
Agreements
which receive 3-Month LIBOR:
|
|||||||||||||||
2011
|
Apr
2011
|
337,000
|
5.81%
|
8,694
|
|||||||||||
2013
|
Mar
2013
|
295,140
|
3.97%
|
|
(15,148
|
)
|
|||||||||
2014
|
Jun
2014
|
357,911
|
4.21%
|
(18,045
|
)
|
||||||||||
2016
|
May
2016
|
140,795
|
5.55%
|
4,050
|
|||||||||||
$
|
3,838,625
|
$
|
(37,139
|
)
|
*
$262,732 of this notional receives 1-Month LIBOR only up to
6.50%
|
The
fair
value of these agreements is estimated by obtaining counterparty quotations.
A
positive fair value represents a liability. We have recorded $60.7 million
of
gross interest rate swap assets and $23.6 million of liabilities.
(14) |
These
are two essentially offsetting interest rate caps and two essentially
offsetting interest rate swaps, each with notional amounts of $32.5
million and an interest rate cap with a notional balance of $17.5
million.
The maturity date of the purchased swap is July 2009; the maturity
date of
the sold swap is July 2014, the maturity date of the $32.5 million
caps is
July 2038 and the maturity date of the $17.5 million cap is July
2009. The
fair value of these agreements is estimated by obtaining counterparty
quotations. A positive fair value represents a liability; therefore,
we
have a net non-hedge derivative
asset.
|
36
ITEM
4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
(a) |
Disclosure
Controls and Procedures. The Company's management, with the participation
of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has
evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls
and
procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)
under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"))
as
of the end of the period covered by this report. The Company’s disclosure
controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance
that
information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported accurately
and
on a timely basis. Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the
end of
such period, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are
effective.
|
(b) |
Internal
Control Over Financial Reporting. There have not been any changes
in the
Company's internal control over financial reporting (as such term
is
defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act)
occurred
during the fiscal quarter to which this report relates that have
materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect,
the
Company’s internal control over financial
reporting.
|
37
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item
1. Legal Proceedings
The
Company is not party to any material legal proceedings.
Item
1A. Risk Factors
There
have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in
the
registrant’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.
CAUTIONARY
STATEMENTS
The
information contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q is not a complete
description of our business or the risks associated with an investment in our
company. We urge you to carefully review and consider the various disclosures
made by us in this report and in our other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including our annual report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005, that discuss our business in greater detail.
This
report contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking
statements relate to, among other things, the operating performance of our
investments, the stability of our earnings, and our financing needs.
Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking
terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "potential," "intend," "expect,"
"endeavor," "seek," "anticipate," "estimate," "overestimate," "underestimate,"
"believe," "could," "project," "predict," "continue" or other similar words
or
expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions,
discuss future expectations, describe future plans and strategies, contain
projections of results of operations or of financial condition or state other
forward-looking information. Our ability to predict results or the actual effect
of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Although we believe
that
the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on
reasonable assumptions, our actual results and performance could differ
materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that
may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from
forecasted results. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our
operations and future prospects include, but are not limited
to, our ability to take advantage of opportunities in additional asset classes
at attractive risk-adjusted prices, our ability to deploy capital accretively,
the risks that default and recovery rates on our loan portfolios exceed our
underwriting estimates, the relationship between yields on assets which are
paid
off and yields on assets in which such monies can be reinvested, the relative
spreads between the yield on the assets we invest in and the cost of financing,
changes in economic conditions generally and the real estate and bond markets
specifically; adverse changes in the financing markets we access affecting
our
ability to finance our real estate securities portfolios in general or
particular real estate related assets, or in a manner that maintains our
historic net spreads; changes in interest rates and/or credit spreads, as well
as the success of our hedging strategy in relation to such changes; the quality
and size of the investment pipeline and the rate at which we can invest our
cash, including cash inside our CBOs; impairments in the value of the collateral
underlying our real estate securities, real estate related loans and residential
mortgage loans and the relation of any such impairments to our judgments as
to
whether changes in the market value of our securities, loans or real estate
are
temporary or not and whether circumstances bearing on the value of such assets
warrant changes in carrying values; legislative/regulatory changes; completion
of pending investments; the availability and cost of capital for future
investments; competition within the finance and real estate industries; and
other risks detailed from time to time in our SEC reports. Readers are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements, which
reflect our management's views as of the date of this report. The factors noted
above could cause our actual results to differ significantly from those
contained in any forward-looking statement. For a discussion of our critical
accounting policies, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations - Application of Critical Accounting
Policies."
Although
we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements
are
reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance
or achievements. We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking
statements after the date of this report to conform these statements to actual
results.
In
addition, risks relating to our management and business, which are described
in
our SEC reports include, specifically, (1) the following risks relating to
our
management: (i) We are dependent on our manager and may not find a suitable
replacement if our manager terminates the management agreement. Furthermore,
we
are dependent on the services of certain key employees of our manager and
the
loss of such services could temporarily adversely affect our operations;
(ii)
There are conflicts of interest inherent in our relationship with our manager
insofar as our manager and its affiliates manage and invest in other pooled
investment vehicles (investment funds, private investment funds, or businesses)
that invest in real estate securities, real estate related loans and operating
real estate and whose investment objectives overlap with our investment
objectives. Our management agreement with our manager does not limit or restrict
our manager or its affiliates from managing other investment vehicles that
invest in investments which meet our investment objectives. Certain investments
appropriate for Newcastle may also be appropriate for one or more of these
other
investment vehicles and our manager or its affiliates may determine to make
a
particular investment through another investment vehicle rather than through
Newcastle. It is possible that
38
we
may
not be given the opportunity to participate at all in certain investments made
by our affiliates that meet our investment objectives; and (iii) Our investment
strategy may evolve, in light of existing market conditions and investment
opportunities, to continue to take advantage of opportunistic investments in
real estate related assets, which may involve additional risks depending upon
the nature of such assets and our ability to finance such assets on a short
or
long term basis; and (2) the following risks relating to our business: (i)
Although we seek to match fund our investments to limit refinance risk, in
particular with respect to a substantial portion of our investments in real
estate securities and loans, we do not employ this strategy with respect to
certain of our investments, which increases refinance risks for and, therefore,
the yield of these investments; (ii) We may not be able to match fund our
investments with respect to maturities and interest rates, which exposes us
to
the risk that we may not be able to finance or refinance our investments on
economically favorable terms; (iii) Prepayment rates can increase, adversely
affecting yields on certain of our loans; (iv) The real estate related loans
and
other direct and indirect interests in pools of real estate properties or loans
that we invest in may be subject to additional risks relating to the privately
negotiated structure and terms of the transaction, which may result in losses
to
us; and (v) We finance certain of our investments with debt subject to margin
calls based on a decrease in the value of such investments, which could
adversely impact our liquidity.
Item
2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item
3. Defaults upon Senior Securities
None.
Item
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None.
Item
5. Other Information
39
Item
6. Exhibits
3.1 |
Articles
of Amendment and Restatement (incorporated by reference to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 333-90578),
Exhibit 3.1).
|
3.2 |
Articles
Supplementary Relating to the Series B Preferred Stock (incorporated
by
reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period
ended March 31, 2003, Exhibit
3.3).
|
3.3 |
Articles
Supplementary Relating to the Series C Preferred Stock (incorporated
by
reference to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K, Exhibit 3.3, filed on
October 25, 2005).
|
3.4 |
Amended
and Restated By-laws (incorporated by reference to the Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form 8-K, Exhibit 3.1, filed on May 5,
2006).
|
4.1 |
Rights
Agreement between the Registrant and American Stock Transfer and
Trust
Company, as Rights Agent, dated October 16, 2002 (incorporated by
reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period
ended September 30, 2002, Exhibit
4.1).
|
10.1 |
Amended
and Restated Management and Advisory Agreement by and among the Registrant
and Fortress Investment Group LLC, dated June 23, 2003 (incorporated
by
reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File
No. 333-106135), Exhibit 10.1).
|
10.2 |
Newcastle
Investment Corp. Nonqualified Stock Option and Incentive Award Plan
Amended and Restated Effective as of February 11, 2004 (incorporated
by
reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2005, Exhibit
10.2).
|
31.1 |
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of
the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
31.2 |
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of
the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
32.1 |
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
32.2 |
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
40
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized:
NEWCASTLE
INVESTMENT CORP.
(Registrant)
|
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Wesley R. Edens | |
Name: Wesley R. Edens
Title: Chairman of the Board
Chief
Executive Officer
Date: November 9,
2006
|
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Debra A. Hess | |
Name:
Debra A. Hess
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
Date:
November 9, 2006
|
41