Alesco Financial Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2009 Financial Results

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 9  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alesco Financial Inc. (NYSE:AFN) ("AFN" or the "Company"), a specialty finance real estate investment trust, today announced financial results for the three-months and nine-months ended September 30, 2009.

AFN reported GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders for the three-months ended September 30, 2009 of ($197.1) million, or ($3.31) per diluted common share, as compared to net income attributable to common stockholders of $62.4 million, or $1.02 per diluted common share for the three-months ended September 30, 2008.  AFN's net loss for the three-month period ended September 30, 2009 was primarily attributable to the operations of consolidated securitization entities and includes net changes in the fair value of financial instruments of ($226.2) million, net realized losses on sale of assets of ($38.5) million, and loan loss provisions of ($34.7) million.  During the three-months ended September 30, 2009, these amounts include $75.1 million of net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests associated with our consolidated CDO entities.

AFN reported GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders for the nine-months ended September 30, 2009 of $140.7 million, or $2.34 per diluted common share, as compared to net income attributable to common stockholders of $66.1 million or $1.09 per diluted common share for the nine-months ended September 30, 2008.  AFN's net income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2009 was primarily attributable to the operations of consolidated securitization entities and includes net changes in the fair value of financial instruments of $353.3 million, partially offset by net realized losses on sale of assets of ($54.7) million and loan loss provisions of ($134.9) million.  During the nine-months ended September 30, 2009, these amounts include $86.0 million of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests associated with our consolidated CDO entities.

Analysis of GAAP Equity

As of September 30, 2009, our consolidated financial statements include $90.1 million of available, unrestricted cash and cash equivalents.  The following table shows the components of our stockholders' equity and the net change in cash and cash equivalents attributable to such components, in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP, as of, and for the three months ended, September 30, 2009.  The table is divided between the components of our stockholders' equity which are attributable to our assets and liabilities which are not assets and liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities ("VIEs"), and those which are assets and liabilities of consolidated VIEs.  The assets of consolidated VIEs are pledged to satisfy the liabilities of the consolidated VIEs.  The liabilities of our consolidated VIEs are non-recourse to us, but similarly we have no rights to use any of the proceeds of the assets held by consolidated VIEs to satisfy any of our recourse liabilities.  The components of our stockholders' equity attributable to our investments in consolidated VIEs are determined in accordance with GAAP (under which we consolidate all of the assets and liabilities of the VIEs) and do not reflect the fair value of the interests in the consolidated VIEs owned by us.  The Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents column reflects the sources and uses of cash during the period with respect to each component of our stockholders' equity.

                                                Allocated     Net Change in
                                                  Parent      Cash and Cash
                                               Stockholders' Equivalents for
                                               Equity as of   Three-Months
                                                 September   Ended September
   (Amounts in thousands)                         30, 2009    30, 2009 ( C )
                                               ------------- ---------------
  Net Assets not Included in Consolidated VIEs:
  Investments in TruPS debt securities             $6,142         $157
  Investments in residential and commercial
   loans                                            8,508           28
  Cash and cash equivalents                        90,122           86
  Other assets and liabilities, net ( A )          (1,804)      (1,508)( D )
  Recourse indebtedness ( A )                     (76,237)        (910)

  Net Assets of Consolidated VIEs ( B ):
  Investments in TruPS CDOs                      $249,022            -
  Investments in leveraged loan CLOs
   and warehouse facility                         (10,911)       2,096 ( E )
  Investment in Kleros Real Estate (MBS) CDOs           -            -
  Investment in residential loan mortgage
   loan securitization                            (56,393)       1,251
                                               ------------- ---------------
  Total                                          $208,449       $1,200
                                               ============= ===============


  ( A ) Recourse indebtedness is net of our $1.5 million investment in
        common securities of the trusts that issued our junior subordinated
        debentures.  The $1.5 million is recorded within other assets in our
        consolidated financial statements.

  ( B ) We currently hold the following notional amounts of preference
        shares or subordinated interests in consolidated VIEs: $218.6
        million in TruPS CDOs, $48.1 million in leveraged loan CLOs, $36.5
        million in a whole-loan mortgage securitization and $90 million in
        Kleros Real Estate CDOs.  The Company's stockholders' equity
        includes the effects of accounting for each of the underlying assets
        and liabilities of our consolidated VIEs as separate units of
        account.  However, if for accounting purposes the Company were to
        use the notional amounts of preference shares or subordinated
        interests that it directly owns as the unit of account, its net
        asset value could be materially different.  As of September 30,
        2009, the Company estimates the aggregate fair value of its
        investments in preference shares and subordinated interests of
        consolidated VIEs to be approximately $2.9 million.

  ( C ) Primary sources and uses of cash of consolidated VIEs include
        interest income on investments and interest expense on the related
        debt. The Company's primary sources of cash are distributions from
        investments in consolidated VIEs, interest on cash deposits, and
        interest income on or proceeds from the sale of debt securities and
        mortgage loans held directly.  The Company's primary uses of cash
        are recourse debt service, payment of general and administrative
        expenses, and additional investments.  The following reconciles the
        change in cash and cash equivalents during the three-months ended
        September 30, 2009:

           Cash and cash equivalents, at June 30, 2009         $88,922
           Net change in cash and cash equivalents               1,200
                                                               -------
           Cash and cash equivalents, at September 30, 2009    $90,122
                                                               =======

  ( D ) Amount relates to payment of general and administrative expenses
        incurred directly by the Company.  General and administrative
        expenses incurred and paid by consolidated VIEs reduce the Company's
        net distributions, if any, from these consolidated VIEs and are not
        paid directly by the Company.

  ( E ) Amount includes $2.1 million of distributions from investments in a
        CLO. As previously disclosed, we experienced an
        overcollateralization failure on the Class D and E Notes of Emporia
        Preferred Funding II, Ltd., and a partial interest diversion test
        failure on the Class E Notes of Emporia Preferred Funding III, Ltd.
        These failures were primarily attributable to an increase in
        defaulted assets collateralizing the CLOs. As a result of these
        failures, the Company did not receive any of its quarterly
        distribution in October 2009 on Emporia Preferred Funding II, Ltd,
        and the Company received a partial distribution from Emporia
        Preferred Funding III, Ltd.  Assuming no additional defaults or
        significant credit downgrades, the Company does not expect to
        receive its quarterly cash distribution on Emporia Preferred Funding
        II, Ltd. for several quarters.  In the event of additional defaults
        or credit downgrades, Emporia Preferred Funding III, Ltd. may not
        provide cash distributions to the Company in future periods.

        During the three months ended September 30, 2009, all of the
        leveraged loans that were included in the Company's warehouse
        facility were liquidated.  As a result of the liquidation of the
        collateral, the Company recorded a $38.4 million realized loss equal
        to the amount of first loss cash that it had deposited with the
        warehouse lender, which was the maximum amount of loss that the
        Company was exposed to from the warehouse facility.

  Liquidity


Management has evaluated our current and forecasted liquidity and continues to monitor evolving market conditions.  Future investment alternatives and operating activities will continue to be evaluated against anticipated current and longer term liquidity demands.  Management will continue to consider projections regarding our taxable income and liquidity position and decisions regarding future dividends are subject to the review and approval of our board of directors.

On October 10, 2008, the Company was notified by the NYSE that it was not in compliance with an NYSE continued listing standard applicable to its common stock. The standard requires that the average closing price of any listed security not fall below $1.00 per share for any consecutive 30 trading-day period. On October 15, 2008, the Company notified the NYSE of its intent to cure this deficiency. After exploring different alternatives for curing the deficiency and restoring compliance with the continued listing standards, the Company currently expects to effectuate a 1 for 10 reverse stock split of the outstanding shares of its common stock. Under the NYSE rules, the Company has six months from the date of the NYSE notice to comply with the NYSE minimum share price standard. If the Company is not compliant by that date, its common stock will be subject to suspension and delisting by the NYSE. However, on February 26, 2009, the NYSE granted NYSE-listed companies a reprieve from the NYSE's $1 minimum price requirement until June 30, 2009, which reprieve was subsequently extended for an additional month through July 31, 2009. In addition, the NYSE permanently decreased its market-capitalization standard to $15 million for listed companies, which previously required that average market capitalization of a NYSE-listed company be at least $25 million over any 30 consecutive trading day period. Our six month cure period was set to expire on September 13, 2009.  On September 4, 2009, the NYSE notified AFN that the NYSE would further extend the cure period until the AFN 2009 annual meeting of stockholders. If we fail to meet any of the NYSE's other listing standards, however, we may be delisted for failing to comply with the continued listing standards.

Involvement in Variable Interest Entities

The following table presents information as of September 30, 2009 with respect to how the Company's involvement with VIEs affects the Company's consolidated financial position, financial performance and cash flows.

                               Leveraged  Residential     Kleros
                       TruPS     Loan       Mortgage    Real Estate
                        CDOs     CLOs    Securitization (MBS) CDOs   Total
                     --------- --------- -------------- ---------- ---------

   Consolidated VIE
    assets          $1,883,602 $690,127    $712,973      $493,270 $3,779,972
   Consolidated VIE
    liabilities      1,498,655  708,397     769,366       493,270  3,469,688
   Noncontrolling
    interests in
    consolidated VIE
    subsidiaries       135,925   (7,359)         --            --    128,566
                     --------- --------- -------------- --------- ----------
   Net assets
    attributable
    to common
    stockholders      $249,022 $(10,911)   $(56,393)          $--   $181,718
                     ========= ========= ============== ========= ==========




As of September 30, 2009, consolidated VIEs represent $181.7 million of net assets attributable to common stockholders (excluding non-controlling interests).  For the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009, net income (loss) from consolidated VIEs included in the Company's net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders was ($190.1) million and $156.1 million, respectively.  As of September 30, 2009, the Company estimates that the fair value of the Company's investments in the preference shares and subordinated interests of consolidated VIEs is approximately $2.9 million.  For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company received $3.3 million and $12.1 million in cash distributions from consolidated VIE entities.

Our consolidated TruPS assets serve as the sole source of collateral and cash flows for the TruPS CDO notes payable and trust preferred obligations.  As a result, the Company generally expects that there will be significant correlation between its fair value estimates of the CDO notes payable and its fair value estimates for the associated TruPS assets.  This expected price correlation between the underlying assets and the CDO notes payable was consistent with what the Company had historically experienced and observed in the market.  However, during the nine months ended September 30, 2009, changes in market conditions significantly impacted the degree of this correlation with respect to TruPS assets and notes payable. Changes in market conditions during the nine months ended September 30, 2009 had a significant positive impact on the pricing of credit risk associated with our individual TruPS investments. The change in market perceptions regarding the benefits or risks associated with our investments in TruPS assets did not have the same impact on the market's perception regarding the credit risk and other market risks of our CDO notes payable. As a result, the correlation of the changes in fair value of our TruPS assets and CDO notes payable was not consistent with our historical experience and, the increases in the fair value of our TruPS assets were significantly greater than the increases in fair value of our TruPS related CDO notes payable during the nine months ended September 30, 2009. During the three months ended September 30, 2009, the fair value of the TruPS related CDO notes payable increased by $180.2 million due to improvements in market perceptions relating to the most senior classes of TruPS related CDO notes payable.  During the same period, the fair value of the TruPS assets decreased by $55.2 million due to continued deferral and default activity and market perceptions regarding increased credit risk of the non-investment grade TruPS assets.  During the three months ended September 30, 2009, the net impact of the changes in fair value of our TruPS assets and TruPS related CDO notes payable resulted in a $163.9 million decrease to total parent stockholders' equity.  As of September 30, 2009, our GAAP parent stockholders' equity includes $249 million of equity relating to our consolidated TruPS CDOs.  However, we estimate that our direct investment in the preference shares of the TruPS CDOs has little to no value as of September 30, 2009.

About Alesco Financial Inc.

Alesco Financial Inc. is a specialty finance REIT headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Alesco Financial Inc. is externally managed by Cohen & Company Management, LLC, a subsidiary of Cohen & Company, an alternative investment management firm, which, since 2001, has provided financing to small and mid-sized companies in financial services, real estate and other sectors.  For more information, please visit http://www.alescofinancial.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this release contains forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Alesco Financial Inc. cautions readers that any forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained or implied in the forward-looking information.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the failure of Alesco Financial Inc. to successfully execute its business plans or gain access to additional financing, continued disruption in the U.S. credit markets generally and the mortgage loan and CDO markets particularly, AFN's ability to timely consummate the merger with Cohen & Company, the limited availability of additional investment portfolios for future acquisition, performance of existing investments, AFN's ability to restore compliance with NYSE continued listing standards or, in the event that AFN is unable to maintain its listing with the NYSE, its ability to comply with the initial listing standards of the NYSE or another securities exchange, continued qualification as a REIT and the cost of capital. Additional factors that may affect future results are contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which are available at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov/ and Alesco Financial Inc.'s web site, http://www.alescofinancial.com/. Alesco Financial Inc. disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in these materials based on new information or otherwise.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT

AFN filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a registration statement on Form S-4, containing a proxy statement/prospectus in connection with the proposed merger with Cohen Brothers, LLC ("Cohen & Company"), which was announced on February 20, 2009.  The registration statement has become effective.  INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT AFN, COHEN & COMPANY AND THE PROPOSED MERGER BETWEEN THE TWO COMPANIES. A definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to AFN's stockholders on or about November 9, 2009. In addition, AFN's stockholders may obtain the proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed by AFN with the SEC free of charge at the SEC's website http://www.sec.gov/ or from Alesco Financial Inc., Attn: Investor Relations, 2929 Arch Street, 17th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

AFN and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed merger. Information about AFN's directors and executive officers and their ownership of AFN's stock is set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the merger.  Additional information regarding such individuals who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the merger is also set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus.

                           Alesco Financial Inc.
                  Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)
    (Unaudited and in thousands, except share and per share information)

                                         For the                  For the
                            For the    Three-Month   For the     Nine-Month
                          Three-Month Period Ended  Nine-Month  Period Ended
                         Period Ended   September  Period Ended  September
                           September    30, 2008    September    30, 2008
                           30, 2009   (As Adjusted)  30, 2009  (As Adjusted)
                         ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
  Net investment
    income (loss):
       Investment
        interest income       $81,214    $125,585     $271,480     $436,999
       Investment
        interest
        expense               (42,853)    (95,954)    (155,209)    (337,326)
       Provision for
        loan losses           (34,729)    (14,764)    (134,883)     (32,739)
                         ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
       Net investment
        income (loss)           3,632      14,867      (18,612)      66,934
                         ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------

   Expenses:
       Related party
        management
        compensation            3,263       6,711       10,105       15,653
       General and
        administrative          3,528       3,591       12,166       10,750
                         ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------

           Total expenses       6,791      10,302       22,271       26,403
   Other income and
    expense:
       Interest and
        other income              116       1,282          709        3,907
       Net change in
        fair value of
        investments in
        debt securities
        and loans and
        non-recourse
        indebtedness         (190,531)     70,028      357,254      140,236
       Net change in
        fair value of
        derivative
        contracts             (35,667)    (25,967)      (3,928)     (71,775)
       Credit default
        swap premiums               -           -            -       (2,872)
       Impairments on
        other
        investments and
        intangible
        assets                   (743)     (1,533)      (5,491)     (14,378)
       Loss on
        disposition of
        consolidated
        entities                    -           -            -       (5,558)
       Gain on
        repurchase of
        debt                        -      42,289            -       42,289
       Net realized
        loss on sale of
        assets                (38,547)       (272)     (54,674)        (943)
                         ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------

   Earnings (loss)
    before benefit
    (provision) for
    income taxes             (268,531)     90,392      252,987      131,437
       Benefit
        (provision) for
        income taxes           (3,676)      1,841      (26,244)       5,243
                         ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------

   Net income
    (loss)                   (272,207)     92,233      226,743      136,680
       Less: Net
        (income) loss
        attributable to
        noncontrolling
        interests              75,079     (29,802)     (86,038)     (70,567)
                         ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
       Net income
        (loss)
        attributable to
        common
        stockholders        $(197,128)    $62,431     $140,705      $66,113
                         ============ ============ ============ ============

   Earnings (loss)
    per share-basic:
       Basic earnings
        (loss) per share       $(3.31)      $1.02        $2.34        $1.09
                         ============ ============ ============ ============
       Weighted-average
        shares
       outstanding-Basic   59,574,930  60,950,796   60,169,483   60,607,616
                         ============ ============ ============ ============

   Earnings (loss)
    per share-diluted:
       Diluted earnings
        (loss) per share       $(3.31)      $1.02        $2.34        $1.09
                         ============ ============ ============ ============

       Weighted-average
        shares
        outstanding-
        Diluted            59,574,930  60,950,796   60,169,483   60,607,616
                         ============ ============ ============ ============

   Distributions
    declared per
    common share                     $-         $-          $-        $0.50
                         ============ ============ ============ ============




                            Alesco Financial Inc.
                         Consolidated Balance Sheets
      (Unaudited and in thousands, except share and per share information)

                                                                 As of
                                              As of        December 31, 2008
                                       September 30, 2009    (As Adjusted)
                                       ------------------  -----------------
  Assets
   Investments in debt securities and
    security-related receivables, at
    fair value                               $2,354,772       $2,079,750
   Investments in loans
       Residential mortgages                    803,618          901,491
       Commercial mortgages                       7,464            7,464
       Leveraged loans (including
        amounts held for sale at fair
        value of $0 and $63,601,
        respectively)                           707,873          780,269
       Loan loss reserve                       (179,243)         (68,428)
                                       ------------------  -----------------
       Total investments in loans, net        1,339,712        1,620,796
   Cash and cash equivalents                     90,122           86,035
   Restricted cash and warehouse
    deposits                                     59,165           54,059
   Accrued interest receivable                   15,007           31,435
   Deferred tax asset                                 -           25,036
   Other assets                                  30,585           37,820
                                       ------------------  -----------------
       Total assets                          $3,889,363       $3,934,931
                                       ==================  =================

   Liabilities and equity
   Indebtedness
       Trust preferred obligations,
        at fair value                          $137,066         $120,409
       Securitized mortgage debt                765,521          844,764
       CDO notes payable (including
        amounts at fair value of
        $1,627,122 and $1,647,590,
        respectively)                         2,332,452        2,342,920
       Warehouse credit facilities                    -          126,623
       Recourse indebtedness                     77,726           77,656
                                       ------------------  -----------------
       Total indebtedness                     3,312,765        3,512,372
   Accrued interest payable                      16,735           30,530
   Related party payable                          7,625            4,880
   Derivative liabilities                       202,691          266,984
   Other liabilities                             12,532           12,165
                                       ------------------  -----------------
       Total liabilities                      3,552,348        3,826,931
   Equity
   Preferred stock, $0001 par value per
    share, 50,000,000 shares authorized,
    no shares issued and outstanding                  -                -
   Common stock, $0001 par value per
    share, 100,000,000 shares authorized,
    60,151,949 and 60,171,324 issued and
    outstanding, including 499,918 and
    985,810 unvested restricted share
    awards, respectively                             60               59
   Additional paid-in-capital                   485,126          484,612
   Accumulated other comprehensive loss         (11,946)         (14,223)
   Accumulated deficit                         (264,791)        (405,496)
                                       ------------------  -----------------
       Total parent stockholders'
        equity                                  208,449           64,952
   Noncontrolling interests in
    subsidiaries                                128,566           43,048
                                       ------------------  -----------------
       Total equity                             337,015          108,000
                                       ------------------  -----------------
       Total liabilities and equity          $3,889,363       $3,934,931
                                       ==================  =================


  Investors:                      Media:
  John Longino                    Joseph Kuo
  Chief Financial Officer         Kekst and Company
  215-701-8952                    212-521-4863
  

DATASOURCE: Alesco Financial Inc.



CONTACT:  Investors, John Longino, Chief Financial Officer,

[phone], ; or Media, Joseph Kuo, Kekst and

Company, [phone]



Web Site:  http://www.alescofinancial.com/ 

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