Fortress Investment Group LLC

Fortress Investment Group is a global alternative investment and asset management firm founded in 1998 with approximately $24 billion in equity capital under management. Fortress is headquartered in New York, and its affiliates have offices in Dallas, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Rome, San Diego, Sydney and Toronto. Fortress manages capital for a diverse group of investors including approximately 300 leading pension funds, endowments and foundations, financial institutions, funds of funds and high net worth individuals. Newcastle Investment Corp. is a real estate investment and finance company headquartered in New York City. The company invests in a diversified portfolio of real estate securities and other real estate-related assets with a disciplined approach to managing assets and financing. In October 2002, Newcastle completed the initial public offering of its common stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NCT". Newcastle is managed by Fortress Investment Group LLC.