NEW YORK, March 05, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Exantas Capital Corp. (NYSE: XAN) ("XAN" or the "Company") reports results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2018.

Significant Items and Highlights

• GAAP net income allocable to common shares of $0.23 per common share-diluted for the three months ended December 31, 2018.
  
  
• Core Earnings were $0.21 per common share-diluted and Core Earnings, adjusted were $0.24 per common share-diluted for the three months ended December 31, 2018 (see Schedule I).
  
  
• Management anticipates the Company will declare a cash dividend of $0.20 per share on its common stock for the first quarter of 2019, which would be a 14% increase over the fourth quarter of 2018 dividend of $0.175 per share and a 300% increase over the first quarter of 2018 dividend of $0.05 per share.
  
  
• XAN originated and acquired $1.1 billion of new commercial real estate ("CRE") loans and commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS") during the year ended December 31, 2018.
  
  
• XAN originated $274.9 million and $861.6 million of new CRE loans during the three months and year ended December 31, 2018, respectively (see Schedule IV).
  
  
• XAN has monetized $436.6 million of the investments that were included in management's previously communicated strategic plan (the "Plan") (see Schedule III). This includes $18.3 million and $72.6 million of proceeds generated during the three months and year ended December 31, 2018, respectively.
  
  
• Book value was $14.02 per common share at December 31, 2018 as compared to $14.23 per common share at September 30, 2018.
  
  
• Economic book value, which adjusts for the face redemption amounts of the Company's outstanding preferred stock and convertible senior notes, was $13.54 at December 31, 2018 (see Schedule V).

Three Months and Year Ended December 31, 2018 Results

• GAAP net income allocable to common shares was $7.4 million, or $0.23 per share-diluted, and $7.0 million, or $0.22 per share-diluted, for the three months and year ended December 31, 2018, respectively, as compared to a GAAP net loss allocable to common shares of $12.1 million, or $(0.39) per share-diluted, and GAAP net income allocable to common shares of $5.7 million, or $0.18 per share-diluted, for the three months and year ended December 31, 2017, respectively.
  
  
• Core Earnings were $6.5 million, or $0.21 per common share-diluted, for the three months ended December 31, 2018 and $7.5 million, or $0.24 per common share-diluted, after a $934,000, or $0.03 per common share-diluted, adjustment for the impairment of a legacy CMBS investment. Core Earnings were $9.4 million, or $0.30 per common share-diluted, for the year ended December 31, 2018 and $22.3 million, or $0.71 per common share-diluted, after adjustments for (i) a realized loss on the sale of a previously impaired, 2013 vintage CRE loan, (ii) non-recurring charges related to the redemption of the Company's 8.25% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock ("Series B Preferred Stock"), (iii) the settlement of a securities litigation and (iv) the impairment of a legacy CMBS investment (see Schedule I).
  
  
• GAAP net income allocable to common shares for the three months and year ended December 31, 2018 includes $1.4 million, or $0.05 per share-diluted, on the recovery of an impaired corporate credit loan in two dormant collateralized loan obligations, which are non-core activities.

Additional Items

Commercial Real Estate

• Substantially all of XAN's CRE loan portfolio comprised floating rate senior whole loans of $1.5 billion at December 31, 2018.
  
  
• XAN's CRE floating rate whole loan portfolio had a weighted average spread of 3.95% and 4.71% over the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") of 2.50% and 1.56% at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The following table summarizes XAN's CRE loan activities and fundings of previous commitments for the three months and years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in millions, except percentages):

(1) CRE loan payoffs and extensions resulted in exit and extension fees of $1.0 million and $3.0 million during the three months and year ended December 31, 2018, respectively, and $949,000 and $3.0 million during the three months and year ended December 31, 2017, respectively.
(2) Activity excludes legacy CRE loans.
(3) Applicable to new floating rate CRE whole loans funded.

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities

• XAN's CMBS portfolio had a carrying value of $419.0 million and a weighted average coupon of 4.76% at December 31, 2018.

The following table summarizes XAN's CMBS activities, at face value, for the three months and years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 (in millions, except percentages):

Commercial Real Estate Asset Impairment

• XAN recorded an other-than-temporary impairment charge of $934,000 during the three months and year ended December 31, 2018 on one CMBS position with an amortized cost of $934,000, acquired in 2007, resulting from a collateral shortfall in the securitization.

Liquidity

• At February 28, 2019, XAN's available liquidity consisted of two primary sources:
  
  
  • unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $71.7 million; and
    
    
  • approximately $96.0 million of liquidity from available financing of unlevered CRE loans and CMBS.

Common Stock Book Value, Economic Book Value and Total Stockholders' Equity

The following table rolls forward XAN's common stock book value from September 30, 2018 to December 31, 2018 and reconciles common stock book value to economic book value, a non-GAAP measure, at December 31, 2018 (see Schedule V) (in thousands, except per share data and amounts in footnotes):

(1) Per share calculations exclude unvested restricted stock, as disclosed on the consolidated balance sheets, of 422,671 and 422,592 shares at December 31, 2018 and September 30, 2018, respectively. The denominators for the calculations are 31,234,828 at December 31, 2018 and September 30, 2018, respectively.
(2) Through February 2019, XAN recognized an increase in other comprehensive income of $5.2 million, or $0.17 per common share, on available-for-sale securities and derivatives.
(3) Common stock book value is calculated as total stockholders' equity of $553.8 million less preferred stock equity of $116.0 million at December 31, 2018.

The following table presents the economic book value per common share for the periods then ended:

Total stockholders' equity at December 31, 2018, which measures equity before accounting for non-controlling interests, was $553.8 million, of which $116.0 million was attributable to preferred stock. Total stockholders' equity at December 31, 2017 was $671.5 million, of which $223.8 million was attributable to preferred stock.

Investment Portfolio

The following table summarizes the amortized cost and net carrying amount of XAN's investment portfolio at December 31, 2018, classified by asset type (in thousands, except percentages and amounts in footnotes):

(1) Net carrying amount includes an allowance for loan losses of $1.4 million at December 31, 2018.
(2) Classified as CRE loans on the consolidated balance sheets.
(3) Classified as investment securities available-for-sale on the consolidated balance sheets.
(4) Classified as other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
(5) At June 30, 2018, two legacy CRE loans with total amortized costs and net carrying amounts of $28.3 million were reclassified to CRE loans on the consolidated balance sheet as we intend to hold these loans to maturity. In December 2018, one reclassified legacy CRE loan with an amortized cost and carrying amount of $16.8 million paid off at par.
(6) Net carrying amount includes a lower of cost or market value adjustment at December 31, 2018.
(7) There are no stated rates associated with these investments.

Supplemental Information

The following schedules of reconciliations and supplemental information at December 31, 2018 are included at the end of this release:

• Schedule I - Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (Loss) to Core Earnings;
• Schedule II - Summary of Securitization Performance Statistics;
• Schedule III - Strategic Plan Update;
• Schedule IV - CRE Loan Activities;
• Schedule V - Economic Book Value Per Share; and
• Schedule VI - Supplemental Information.

About Exantas Capital Corp.

Exantas Capital Corp. is a real estate investment trust that is primarily focused on originating, holding and managing commercial mortgage loans and commercial real estate-related debt investments.

The Company is externally managed by Exantas Capital Manager Inc. (the "Manager"), which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of C-III Capital Partners LLC, a leading commercial real estate investment management and services company engaged in a broad range of activities.

For more information, please visit XAN's website at www.exantas.com or contact investor relations at IR@exantas.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements made in this release may include forward-looking statements, which involve substantial risks and uncertainties. XAN's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed or implied in this release. The risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements contained in this release include those related to:

• fluctuations in interest rates and related hedging activities;
• the availability of debt and equity capital to acquire and finance investments;
• defaults or bankruptcies by borrowers on XAN's loans or on loans underlying its investments;
• adverse market trends that have affected and may continue to affect the value of real estate and other assets underlying XAN's investments;
• increases in financing or administrative costs; and
• general business and economic conditions that have in the past impaired and may in the future impair the credit quality of borrowers and XAN's ability to originate loans.

For further information concerning these and other risks pertaining to the forward-looking statements contained in this release, and to the general risks to which XAN is subject, see Item 1A, "Risk Factors," included in its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the risks expressed in its other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

XAN cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this release, which speak only as of the date of this release. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to XAN or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this release. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, XAN undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Furthermore, certain non-GAAP financial measures are discussed in this release. XAN's presentation of this information is not intended to be considered in isolation of or as a substitute for the financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable measures prepared in accordance with GAAP are set forth in Schedule I of this release and can be accessed through XAN's filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

The remainder of this release contains XAN's unaudited (2018) and audited (2017) consolidated balance sheets, unaudited (fourth quarter ended 2018 and 2017 and year ended 2018) and audited (year ended 2017) consolidated statements of operations, a reconciliation of GAAP net income (loss) to Core Earnings, a summary of securitization performance statistics, an update on XAN's strategic plan, a summary of XAN's CRE loan activities, a reconciliation of XAN's common stock book value to its economic book value and supplemental information regarding XAN's CRE loan portfolio and loans held for sale.

SCHEDULE I

EXANTAS CAPITAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME (LOSS) TO CORE EARNINGS
(unaudited)

XAN uses Core Earnings as a non-GAAP financial measure to evaluate its operating performance.

Core Earnings exclude the effects of certain transactions and GAAP adjustments that XAN believes are not indicative of its current CRE loan portfolio and other CRE-related investments and operations. Core Earnings exclude income (loss) from all non-core assets, such as commercial finance, middle market lending, residential mortgage lending, certain legacy CRE loans and other non-CRE assets designated as assets held for sale at the initial measurement date.^{(1)i had a} 

Core Earnings, for reporting purposes, is defined as GAAP net income (loss) allocable to common shareholders, excluding (i) non-cash equity compensation expense, (ii) unrealized gains and losses, (iii) non-cash provisions for loan losses, (iv) non-cash impairments on securities, (v) non-cash amortization of discounts or premiums associated with borrowings, (vi) net income or loss from a limited partnership interest owned at the initial measurement date, (vii) net income or loss from non-core assets,⁽²⁾⁽³⁾ (viii) real estate depreciation and amortization, (ix) foreign currency gains or losses and (x) income or loss from discontinued operations. Core Earnings may also be adjusted periodically to exclude certain one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and certain non-cash items.

Although pursuant to the Third Amended and Restated Management Agreement XAN calculates incentive compensation using Core Earnings excluding incentive fees payable to the Manager, XAN includes incentive fees payable to the Manager in Core Earnings for reporting purposes.

Core Earnings does not represent net income or cash generated from operating activities and should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP net income or as a measure of liquidity under GAAP. XAN's methodology for calculating Core Earnings may differ from methodologies used by other companies to calculate similar supplemental performance measures, and, accordingly, its reported Core Earnings may not be comparable to similar performance measures used by other companies.

The following table provides a reconciliation from GAAP net income (loss) allocable to common shares to Core Earnings allocable to common shares and Core Earnings allocable to common shares, adjusted for the periods presented (in thousands, except per share data and amounts in footnotes):

(1) Initial measurement date is December 31, 2016.
(2) Income tax expense or benefit from non-core investments and net realized gain on non-core assets are components of net income or loss from non-core assets.
(3) Non-core assets are investments and securities owned by XAN at the initial measurement date in (i) commercial finance, (ii) middle market lending, (iii) residential mortgage lending, (iv) legacy CRE loans and (v) other non-CRE assets included in assets held for sale.
(4) Includes realized gains of $70,000, or $0.00 per common share-diluted, and $352,000, or $0.01 per common share-diluted, in connection with the sale of CMBS for the three months and year ended December 31, 2018, respectively, and a realized recovery of CRE loan loss provision of $168,000, or $0.01 per common share-diluted, in connection with the sale of a previously impaired, 2013 vintage CRE loan for the year ended December 31, 2018.
(5) Includes the payment of the settlement of a securities litigation, previously accrued in 2017, for the year ended December 31, 2018 and the accrual of settlement expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017.
(6) Core Earnings, adjusted exclude a realized loss of $2.3 million, or $(0.07) per common share-diluted, for the year ended December 31, 2018 in connection with the sale of a previously impaired, 2013 vintage CRE loan.
(7) Core Earnings, adjusted exclude a non-recurring charge of $7.5 million, or $(0.24) per common share-diluted, for the year ended December 31, 2018 and $3.8 million, or $(0.12) per common share-diluted, for the three months and year ended December 31, 2017 in connection with the redemption of the Company's Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock.
(8) Core Earnings, adjusted exclude an impairment charge of $934,000, or $(0.03) per common share-diluted, for the three months and year ended December 31, 2018 in connection with a legacy CMBS investment.
(9) Core Earnings, adjusted exclude a non-recurring charge of $8.5 million, or $(0.28) per common share-diluted, for the year ended December 31, 2017 in connection with the extinguishment of the 6.00% convertible senior notes due 2018 and the 8.00% convertible senior notes due 2020.

SCHEDULE II

EXANTAS CAPITAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF SECURITIZATION PERFORMANCE STATISTICS
(unaudited)

Distributions, Coverage Tests and Liquidations

The following table sets forth the distributions received by XAN and coverage test summaries for its active securitizations for the periods presented (in thousands):

(1) Overcollateralization cushion represents the amount by which the collateral held by the securitization issuer exceeds the minimum amount required.
(2) The designated principal reinvestment period for Resource Capital Corp. 2017-CRE5, Ltd. and Exantas Capital Corp. 2018-RSO6, Ltd. is the period in which principal repayments can be utilized to purchase loans held outside of the respective securitization that represent the funded commitments of existing collateral in the respective securitization that were not funded as of the date the respective securitization was closed. Additionally, the indenture for each securitization does not contain any interest coverage test provisions.
(3) Apidos CDO III, Ltd. and Apidos Cinco CDO were substantially liquidated in June 2015 and November 2016, respectively.

The following table sets forth the distributions received by XAN and liquidation details for its liquidated securitizations for the periods presented (in thousands, except amount in footnote):

(1) The remaining assets at the liquidation date were returned to XAN in exchange for its preference share and equity notes in the securitization.
(2) Cash distributions for the year ended December 31, 2017 include preference share and equity notes distributions at liquidation of $25.6 million for Resource Capital Corp. 2014-CRE2, Ltd.

SCHEDULE III

EXANTAS CAPITAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE
(unaudited)

In November 2016, XAN's board of directors approved the Plan, pursuant to which XAN is primarily focused on making CRE debt investments. The Plan includes disposing of certain non-core businesses and investments and underperforming legacy CRE loans ("Identified Assets"), as well as maintaining a dividend policy based on sustainable earnings. As part of the Plan, certain Identified Assets were reclassified as discontinued operations and/or assets held for sale during the fourth quarter of 2016. The following table delineates these disposable investments by business segment and details the current net book value of the businesses and investments included in the Plan (in millions, except amounts in footnotes):

(1) Reflects adjustments as a result of the designation as assets held for sale or discontinued operations, which occurred during the third and fourth quarters of 2016 except as noted in (3) below.
(2) Legacy CRE loans include $1.6 million of protective advances to cover operating losses on a legacy CRE loan in the third and fourth quarters of 2018.
(3) The impairment adjustment to middle market loans includes $5.4 million of fair value adjustments that occurred prior to the inception of the Plan.
(4) Includes $88.2 million par value of loans at the inception of the Plan that were not reflected on the consolidated balance sheets until XAN's investment in Resource Real Estate Funding CDO 2007-1, Ltd. ("RREF CDO 2007-1") was liquidated in November 2016 and the remaining assets were returned to XAN.
(5) Includes $2.5 million of cash and cash equivalents not classified as assets held for sale in the residential mortgage lending segment at December 31, 2018.
(6) Legacy CRE loans with $28.3 million of net book value were reclassified to CRE loans on the consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2018 as XAN intends to hold these loans to maturity.
(7) Includes $30.0 million par value of loans at the inception of the Plan that were not reflected on the consolidated balance sheets until XAN's investment in RREF CDO 2007-1 was liquidated in November 2016 and the remaining assets were returned to XAN.

 SCHEDULE IV

EXANTAS CAPITAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CRE LOAN ACTIVITIES
(unaudited)

The following table summarizes XAN's CRE loan activities and fundings of previous commitments for the periods then ended (in millions):

(1) Activity excludes legacy CRE loans.

SCHEDULE V

EXANTAS CAPITAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ECONOMIC BOOK VALUE PER SHARE
(unaudited)

Management views economic book value, a non-GAAP measure, as a useful and appropriate supplement to GAAP stockholders' equity and common stock book value because it adjusts GAAP common stock book value to account for the face redemption amounts of the outstanding preferred stock and convertible senior notes. The following table reconciles XAN's common stock book value per share to its economic book value per share at the dates presented:

(1) In March 2018, XAN redeemed all remaining shares of its Series B Preferred Stock resulting in a charge of $7.5 million, or $(0.24) per common share.

SCHEDULE VI

EXANTAS CAPITAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Certain Loan Statistics

The following table presents information on XAN's allowance for CRE loan losses, which excludes fair value adjustments on a legacy CRE loan classified as assets held for sale, at the dates indicated (amounts in thousands, percentages based on amortized cost):

The following table presents unaudited CRE loan portfolio statistics at December 31, 2018, excluding a legacy CRE loan classified as assets held for sale (percentages based on carrying value at December 31, 2018):

(1) CRE loans in Texas represent 30.4% of the total loan portfolio.
(2) CRE loans in Arizona represent 11.3% of the total loan portfolio.
(3) CRE loans in Southern and Northern California represent 11.9% and 4.0%, respectively, of the total loan portfolio.
(4) CRE loans in Florida represent 9.7% of the total loan portfolio.
(5) CRE loans in New Jersey represent 3.0% of the total loan portfolio.

CONTACT: DAVID J. BRYANT
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
EXANTAS CAPITAL CORP.
717 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10022
212-621-3210