IFMI Announces Sale of Star Asia Group for $20M and 15% Revenue Share

Institutional Financial Markets

("IFMI"), a financial services company specializing in credit-related fixed income investments, announced today that it has sold its entire ownership interest in the Star Asia Group to an investment vehicle formed in connection with such sale and managed by Taro Masuyama and Malcolm MacLean, for approximately $20.0 million. In addition, IFMI will receive, for at least four years, 15% of the revenues of certain Star Asia Group management companies. In connection with the sale of its entire ownership interest in the Star Asia Group, IFMI sold its: 28% interest in Star Asia Finance, Limited (a permanent capital company formed in 2007 to invest in Asian commercial real estate debt and equity) ("Star Asia Finance"); 100% interest in Star Asia Management Ltd. (the manager of Star Asia Finance); 2.2% interest in Star Asia Japan Special Situations LP (the "SAJSS Fund"); 33.3% interest in Star Asia Advisors, Ltd. (the manager of the SAJSS Fund); 33.3% interest in Star Asia Partners Ltd. (the general partner of the SAJSS Fund); and 33.3% interest in Star Asia Capital Management, LLC (the manager of the entity that owns a portfolio of multifamily residential properties located in Japan). The carrying value of the assets sold in the transaction on IFMI's December 31, 2013 balance sheet approximates the $20.0 million of cash consideration received. Messrs. MacLean and Masuyama have served as the senior members of the management team for the Star Asia Group since its inception. Lester Brafman, Chief Executive Officer of IFMI, said, "We are pleased to have reached this agreement to sell our interests in the Star Asia Group, and believe that under Malcolm's and Taro's continued leadership and oversight, the Star Asia Group will continue to be well served. The sale bolsters IFMI's capital position while allowing us to participate in the future upside potential of the business through our revenue sharing agreement." Mr. Brafman concluded, "Our transition to delivering a more compelling value proposition is ongoing, and we continue to work diligently to ensure that IFMI is properly positioned to take advantage of opportunities in capital markets, asset management, and principal investing." Additional information regarding IFMI's sale of the Star Asia Group will be available in a Form 8-K that will be filed by IFMI with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2013 Preliminary Operating Results IFMI also announced today that it is providing preliminary operating results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2013. These preliminary operating results are being provided in connection with IFMI's disposition of the Star Asia Group. IFMI expects to report a net loss in the range of $6.0 million to $6.5 million, and $19.8 million to $20.3 million, for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2013, respectively. IFMI previously announced that, in connection with the anticipated consolidation of C&Co/PrinceRidge and JVB Financial into one broker-dealer subsidiary, it expected to incur pre-tax charges in the fourth quarter of 2013 for employee separation, vendor contract termination costs, and other merger related costs of $2.0 to $2.5 million. The expected net loss range for the fourth quarter includes $2.3 million of such pre-tax charges. IFMI's fourth quarter and full-year 2013 earnings were also unfavorably impacted by mark-to-market losses on the Star Asia investment of approximately $4.0 million and $13.1 million, respectively. The sale of the Star Asia Group will eliminate IFMI's exposure to fluctuations in the value of the Japanese Yen. Finally, the expected net loss ranges noted above include a tax benefit of $1.8 million and $3.6 million for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2013, respectively. The preliminary operating results presented above are subject to completion of IFMI's audit for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. The audit process is ongoing. Accordingly, these preliminary operating results could change and those changes could be material. IFMI intends to release its complete operating results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2013 in early March 2014. About IFMI IFMI is a financial services company specializing in credit-related fixed income investments. IFMI was founded in 1999 as an investment firm focused on small-cap banking institutions, but has grown to provide an expanding range of asset management, capital markets, and investment banking solutions to institutional investors and corporations. IFMI's primary operating segments are Capital Markets and Asset Management. The Capital Markets segment consists of credit-related fixed income sales, trading, financing, liquidity and hedging services for residential mortgage originators as well as new issue placements in corporate and securitized products and advisory services, operating primarily through IFMI's subsidiaries, J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC in the United States and Cohen & Company Financial Limited in Europe. The Asset Management segment manages assets through collateralized debt obligations, permanent capital vehicles, and managed accounts. As of December 31, 2013, IFMI managed approximately $5.7 billion in credit-related fixed income assets in a variety of asset classes including U.S. trust preferred securities, European hybrid capital securities, Asian commercial real estate debt, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities. After giving effect to the transaction discussed herein, IFMI will manage approximately $5.4 billion in credit-related fixed income assets. 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