QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)  

ý

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003

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 No. 1-15371

iSTAR FINANCIAL INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  95-6881527
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
1114 Avenue of the Americas, 27th Floor
New York, NY
(Address of principal executive offices)
  10036
(Zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 930-9400

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class:   Name of Exchange on which registered:
Common Stock, $0.001 par value   New York Stock Exchange
9.375% Series B Cumulative Redeemable
Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value
  New York Stock Exchange
9.200% Series C Cumulative Redeemable
Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value
  New York Stock Exchange
8.000% Series D Cumulative Redeemable
Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value
  New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (i) 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 (ii) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes ý    No o

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12-b-2).    Yes ý    No o

        As of May 9, 2003, there were 99,213,938 shares of common stock of iStar Financial Inc. $0.001/par value per share outstanding ("Common Stock").





iStar Financial Inc.

Index to Form 10-Q

 
   
  Page
PART I.   Consolidated Financial Information   2

Item 1.

 

Financial Statements:

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002

 

2

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations—For the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002

 

3

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity—For the three months ended March 31, 2003

 

4

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—For the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002

 

5

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

6

Item 2.

 

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

39

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

53


PART II.


 


Other Information


 


54


Item 1.


 


Legal Proceedings


 


54

Item 2.

 

Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

54

Item 3.

 

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

54

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

54

Item 5.

 

Other Information

 

54

Item 6.

 

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

54


SIGNATURES


 


55


CERTIFICATIONS


 


56


PART I. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

iStar Financial Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 
  As of March 31, 2003
  As of December 31, 2002*
 
ASSETS              
Loans and other lending investments, net   $ 3,247,631   $ 3,050,342  
Corporate tenant lease assets, net     2,338,456     2,291,805  
Investments in and advances to joint ventures and unconsolidated subsidiaries     30,343     30,611  
Assets held for sale     24,800     28,501  
Cash and cash equivalents     13,275     15,934  
Restricted cash     45,442     40,211  
Accrued interest and operating lease income receivable     26,112     26,804  
Deferred operating lease income receivable     40,328     36,739  
Deferred expenses and other assets     107,972     90,750  
   
 
 
  Total assets   $ 5,874,359   $ 5,611,697  
   
 
 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Liabilities:              
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities   $ 98,864   $ 117,001  
Dividends payable     5,225     5,225  
Debt obligations     3,655,003     3,461,590  
   
 
 
  Total liabilities     3,759,092     3,583,816  
   
 
 
Commitments and contingencies          
Minority interest in consolidated entities     2,580     2,581  
Shareholders' equity:              
Series A Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value, liquidation preference $50.00 per share, 4,400 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002     4     4  
Series B Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value, liquidation preference $25.00 per share, 2,000 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002     2     2  
Series C Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value, liquidation preference $25.00 per share, 1,300 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002     1     1  
Series D Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value, liquidation preference $25.00 per share, 4,000 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002     4     4  
High Performance Units     1,359     1,359  
Common Stock, $0.001 par value, 200,000 shares authorized, 99,074 and 98,114 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, respectively     100     98  
Warrants and options     20,342     20,322  
Additional paid-in capital     2,305,724     2,281,636  
Retained earnings (deficit)     (169,043 )   (227,769 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (losses) (See Note 12)     2,250     (2,301 )
Treasury stock (at cost)     (48,056 )   (48,056 )
   
 
 
  Total shareholders' equity     2,112,687     2,025,300  
   
 
 
  Total liabilities and shareholders' equity   $ 5,874,359   $ 5,611,697  
   
 
 

*
Reclassified to conform to 2003 presentation.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

2



iStar Financial Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 
  For the
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
 
  2003
  2002*
 
Revenue:              
  Interest income   $ 73,427   $ 55,876  
  Operating lease income     65,524     54,975  
  Other income     4,329     8,725  
   
 
 
    Total revenue     143,280     119,576  
   
 
 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Interest expense     47,980     41,689  
  Operating costs—corporate tenant lease assets     3,863     3,021  
  Depreciation and amortization     13,272     10,584  
  General and administrative     7,681     6,617  
  General and administrative—stock-based compensation expense     823     911  
  Provision for loan losses     1,750     1,750  
   
 
 
    Total costs and expenses     75,369     64,572  
   
 
 

Net income before equity in earnings from joint ventures and unconsolidated subsidiaries, minority interest and other items

 

 

67,911

 

 

55,004

 
Equity in (loss) earnings from joint ventures and unconsolidated subsidiaries     (58 )   797  
Minority interest in consolidated entities     (39 )   (40 )
   
 
 
Net income from continuing operations     67,814     55,761  
(Loss) income from discontinued operations     (125 )   1,350  
Gain from discontinued operations     264      
   
 
 
Net income     67,953     57,111  
Preferred dividend requirements     (9,227 )   (9,227 )
   
 
 
Net income allocable to common shareholders and HPU holders(1)   $ 58,726   $ 47,884  
   
 
 

Basic earnings per common share(2)

 

$

0.59

 

$

0.55

 
   
 
 

Diluted earnings per common share(2)(3)

 

$

0.58

 

$

0.53

 
   
 
 

*
Reclassified to conform to 2003 presentation.

Explanatory Notes:

(1)
HPU holders are Company employees who purchased high performance common stock units under the Company's High Performance Unit Program.

(2)
For the three months ended March 31, 2003, net income used to calculate earnings per basic and diluted common share excludes $485 and $472 of net income allocable to HPU holders, respectively.

(3)
For the three months ended March 31, 2003, net income used to calculate earnings per diluted common share includes joint venture income of $39.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

3




iStar Financial Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity
(In thousands)
(unaudited)
 
  Series A
Preferred
Stock

  Series B
Preferred
Stock

  Series C
Preferred
Stock

  Series D
Preferred
Stock

  High
Performance
Units

  Common
Stock at
Par

  Warrants
and
Options

  Additional
Paid-In
Capital

  Retained
Earnings
(Deficit)

  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
(Losses)

  Treasury
Stock

  Total
 
Balance at December 31, 2002   $ 4   $ 2   $ 1   $ 4   $ 1,359   $ 98   $ 20,322   $ 2,281,636   $ (227,769 ) $ (2,301 ) $ (48,056 ) $ 2,025,300  

Exercise of options

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 

20

 

 

5,731

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 

5,751

 

Dividends declared-preferred

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 

83

 

 

(9,227

)

 


 

 


 

 

(9,144

)

Restricted stock units granted to employees

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 

828

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 

828

 

Options granted to employees

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 

82

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 

82

 

Issuance of stock—DRIP plan

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 

2

 

 


 

 

17,364

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 

17,366

 

Net income for the period

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 

67,953

 

 


 

 


 

 

67,953

 

Change in accumulated other comprehensive
income (losses)

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 

4,551

 

 


 

 

4,551

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Balance at March 31, 2003

 

$

4

 

$

2

 

$

1

 

$

4

 

$

1,359

 

$

100

 

$

20,342

 

$

2,305,724

 

$

(169,043

)

$

2,250

 

$

(48,056

)

$

2,112,687

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.




iStar Financial Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

 
  For the
Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 
  2003
  2002*
 
Cash flows from operating activities:              
Net income   $ 67,953   $ 57,111  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows provided by operating activities:              
  Minority interest in consolidated entities     39     40  
  Non-cash expense for stock-based compensation     861     911  
  Depreciation and amortization     19,723     16,317  
  Depreciation and amortization from discontinued operations         69  
  Amortization of discounts/premiums, deferred interest and costs on lending investments     (12,491 )   (5,372 )
  Discounts, loan fees and deferred interest received     4,086     6,146  
  Equity in (loss) earnings from joint ventures and unconsolidated subsidiaries     58     (798 )
  Distributions from operations of joint ventures     1,933     3,450  
  Deferred operating lease income receivable     (3,589 )   (3,828 )
  Gain from discontinued operations     (264 )    
  Provision for loan losses     1,750     1,750  
  Change in investments in and advances to joint ventures and unconsolidated subsidiaries     (1,845 )    
  Changes in assets and liabilities:              
      Decrease (increase) in accrued interest and operating lease income receivable     (280 )   459  
      Increase in deferred expenses and other assets     (7,304 )   (4,122 )
      Decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities     (18,631 )   (4,658 )
   
 
 
      Cash flows provided by operating activities     51,999     67,475  
   
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:              
  New investment originations     (347,187 )   (410,246 )
  Add-on fundings under existing loan commitments     (7,222 )   (8,084 )
  Net proceeds from sale of corporate tenant lease assets     3,965      
  Repayments of and principal collections on loans and other lending investments     112,338     163,380  
  Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures         (127 )
  Capital improvements for build-to-suit projects         (709 )
  Capital improvement projects on corporate tenant lease assets     (114 )   (967 )
  Other capital expenditures on corporate tenant lease assets     (896 )   (875 )
   
 
 
      Cash flows used in investing activities     (239,116 )   (257,628 )
   
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:              
  Borrowings under revolving credit facilities     340,003     187,669  
  Repayments under revolving credit facilities     (111,930 )   34,193  
  Repayments under term loans     (1,937 )   (13,767 )
  Borrowings under unsecured bond offerings     4,479      
  Repayments under secured bond offerings     (55,718 )   (15,535 )
  Borrowings under other debt obligations     24,396      
  Repayments under other debt obligations         (1,236 )
  Increase in restricted cash held in connection with debt obligations     (5,231 )   (11,850 )
  Payments for deferred financing costs     (13,414 )   (5,660 )
  Distributions to minority interest in consolidated entities     (40 )   (40 )
  Preferred dividends paid     (9,144 )   (9,144 )
  Proceeds from exercise of options and issuance of DRIP shares     12,994     18,869  
   
 
 
      Cash flows provided by financing activities     184,458     183,499  
   
 
 
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents     (2,659 )   (6,654 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     15,934     15,670  
   
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 13,275   $ 9,016  
   
 
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:              
      Cash paid during the period for interest, net of amount capitalized   $ 52,595   $ 46,626  
   
 
 

*
Reclassified to conform to 2003 presentation.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

5



iStar Financial Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1—Business and Organization.

        Business—iStar Financial Inc. (the "Company") is the leading publicly-traded finance company focused on the commercial real estate industry. The Company provides custom-tailored financing to high-end private and corporate owners of real estate nationwide, including senior and junior mortgage debt, senior, mezzanine and subordinated corporate capital, and corporate net lease financing. The Company, which is taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT"), seeks to deliver strong dividends and superior risk-adjusted returns on equity to shareholders by providing innovative and value-added financing solutions to its customers.

        The Company's primary product lines include:

    Structured Finance.  The Company provides senior and subordinated loans that typically range in size from $20 million to $100 million to borrowers holding high-quality real estate. These loans may be either fixed or variable rate and are structured to meet the specific financing needs of the borrowers, including the acquisition or financing of large, high-quality real estate. The Company offers borrowers a wide range of structured finance options, including first mortgages, second mortgages, partnership loans, participating debt and interim facilities. The Company's structured finance transactions have maturities generally ranging from three to ten years. As of March 31, 2003, based on gross carrying values, the Company's structured finance assets represented 27.96% of its assets.

    Portfolio Finance.  The Company provides funding to regional and national borrowers who own multiple facilities in geographically diverse portfolios. Loans are cross-collateralized to give the Company the benefit of all available collateral and underwritten to recognize inherent portfolio diversification. Property types include multifamily, suburban office, hotels and other property types where individual property values are less than $20 million on average. Loan terms are structured to meet the specific requirements of the borrower and typically range in size from $25 million to $150 million. The Company's portfolio finance transactions have maturities generally ranging from three to ten years. As of March 31, 2003, based on gross carrying values, the Company's portfolio finance assets represented 6.94% of its assets.

    Corporate Finance.  The Company provides senior and subordinated capital to corporations engaged in real estate or real estate-related businesses. Financings may be either secured or unsecured and typically range in size from $20 million to $150 million. The Company's corporate finance transactions have maturities generally ranging from five to ten years. As of March 31, 2003, based on gross carrying values, the Company's corporate finance assets represented 12.71% of its assets.

    Loan Acquisition.  The Company acquires whole loans and loan participations which present attractive risk-reward opportunities. Loans are generally acquired at a small discount to the principal balance outstanding. Loan acquisitions typically range in size from $5 million to $100 million and are collateralized by all major property types. The Company's loan acquisition transactions have maturities generally ranging from three to ten years. As of March 31, 2003, based on gross carrying values, the Company's loan acquisition assets represented 8.20% of its assets.

    Corporate Tenant Leasing.  The Company provides capital to corporations and borrowers who control facilities leased to single creditworthy tenants. The Company's net leased assets are generally mission-critical headquarters or distribution facilities that are subject to long-term leases with rated corporate credit tenants, and which provide for all expenses at the property to be paid by

6


      the corporate tenant on a triple net lease basis. Corporate tenant lease transactions have terms generally ranging from ten to 20 years and typically range in size from $20 million to $150 million. As of March 31, 2003, based on gross carrying values, the Company's corporate tenant lease assets represented 42.64% of its assets.

        The Company's investment strategy targets specific sectors of the real estate credit markets in which it believes it can deliver value-added, flexible financial solutions to its customers, thereby differentiating its financial products from those offered by other capital providers.

        The Company has implemented its investment strategy by:

    Focusing on the origination of large, structured mortgage, corporate and lease financings where customers require flexible financial solutions.

    Avoiding commodity businesses in which there is significant direct competition from other providers of capital such as conduit lending and investment in commercial or residential mortgage-backed securities.

    Developing direct relationships with borrowers and corporate customers as opposed to sourcing transactions solely through intermediaries.

    Adding value beyond simply providing capital by offering borrowers and corporate customers specific lending expertise, flexibility, certainty and continuing relationships beyond the closing of a particular financing transaction.

    Taking advantage of market anomalies in the real estate financing markets when the Company believes credit is mispriced by other providers of capital, such as the spread between lease yields and the yields on corporate customers' underlying credit obligations.

        Organization—The Company began its business in 1993 through private investment funds formed to capitalize on inefficiencies in the real estate finance market. In March 1998, these funds contributed their approximately $1.1 billion of assets to the Company's predecessor in exchange for a controlling interest in that company. Since that time, the Company has grown by originating new lending and leasing transactions, as well as through corporate acquisitions.

        Specifically, in September 1998, the Company acquired the loan origination and servicing business of a major insurance company, and in December 1998, the Company acquired the mortgage and mezzanine loan portfolio of its largest private competitor. Additionally, in November 1999, the Company acquired TriNet Corporate Realty Trust, Inc. ("TriNet" or the "Leasing Subsidiary"), then the largest publicly-traded company specializing in corporate sale/leaseback transactions for office and industrial facilities (the "TriNet Acquisition"). The TriNet Acquisition was structured as a stock-for-stock merger of TriNet with a subsidiary of the Company.

        Concurrent with the TriNet Acquisition, the Company also acquired its former external advisor in exchange for shares of the Company's common stock ("Common Stock") and converted its organizational form to a Maryland corporation. As part of the conversion to a Maryland corporation, the Company replaced its former dual class common share structure with a single class of Common Stock. The Company's Common Stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on November 4, 1999. Prior to this date, the Company's common shares were traded on the American Stock Exchange.

7



Note 2—Basis of Presentation

        The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10, Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X for interim financial statements. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP") for complete financial statements. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company, its qualified REIT subsidiaries, and its majority-owned and controlled partnerships.

        Certain other investments in partnerships or joint ventures which the Company does not control are also accounted for under the equity method (see Note 6). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

        In the opinion of management, the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the Company's consolidated financial position at March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002 and the results of its operations, changes in shareholders' equity and its cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Such operating results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other interim periods or the entire year.

Note 3—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

        Loans and other lending investments, net—As described in Note 4, "Loans and Other Lending Investments" includes the following investments: senior mortgages, subordinate mortgages, corporate/partnership loans, other lending investments-loans and other lending investments-securities. Management considers nearly all of its loan and other lending investments to be held-to-maturity, although a small number of investments may be classified as available-for-sale. Items classified as held-to-maturity are reflected at amortized historical cost. Items classified as available-for-sale are reported at fair values with unrealized gains and losses included in "Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, and are not included in the Company's net income.

        Corporate tenant lease assets and depreciation—Corporate tenant lease assets are generally recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Certain improvements and replacements are capitalized when they extend the useful life, increase capacity or improve the efficiency of the asset. Repairs and maintenance items are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method of cost recovery over estimated useful lives of 40.0 years for facilities, five years for furniture and equipment, the shorter of the remaining lease term or expected life for tenant improvements and the remaining life of the facility for facility improvements.

        Corporate tenant lease assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. The Company also periodically reviews long-lived assets to be held and used for an impairment in value whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. In management's opinion, corporate tenant lease assets to be held and used are not carried at amounts in excess of their estimated recoverable amounts.

        Capitalized interest—The Company capitalizes interest costs incurred during the construction period on qualified build-to-suit projects for corporate tenants, including investments in joint ventures accounted for under the equity method. Interest capitalized was approximately $0 and $70,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

8



        Cash and cash equivalents—Cash and cash equivalents include cash held in banks or invested in money market funds with original maturity terms of less than 90 days.

        Restricted cash—Restricted cash represents amounts required to be maintained in escrow under certain of the Company's debt obligations and leasing transactions.

        Revenue recognition—The Company's revenue recognition policies are as follows:

        Loans and other lending investments: Management considers nearly all of its loans and other lending investments to be held-to-maturity, although a small number of investments may be classified as available-for-sale. The Company reflects held-to-maturity investments at amortized cost less allowance for loan losses, acquisition premiums or discounts, deferred loan fees and undisbursed loan funds. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investments are included in "Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets and are not included in the Company's net income. On occasion, the Company may acquire loans at small premiums or discounts based on the credit characteristics of such loans. These premiums or discounts are recognized as yield adjustments over the lives of the related loans. If loans that were acquired at a premium or discount are prepaid, the Company immediately recognizes the unamortized premium or discount as a decrease or increase, respectively, in the prepayment gain or loss. Loan origination or exit fees, as well as direct loan origination costs, are also deferred and recognized over the lives of the related loans as a yield adjustment. Interest income is recognized using the effective interest method applied on a loan-by-loan basis.

        A small number of the Company's loans provide for accrual of interest at specified rates which differ from current payment terms. Interest is recognized on such loans at the accrual rate subject to management's determination that accrued interest and outstanding principal are ultimately collectible, based on the underlying collateral and operations of the borrower.

        Prepayment penalties or yield maintenance payments from borrowers are recognized as additional income when received. Certain of the Company's loan investments provide for additional interest based on the borrower's operating cash flow or appreciation of the underlying collateral. Such amounts are considered contingent interest and are reflected as income only upon certainty of collection.

        Leasing investments: Operating lease revenue is recognized on the straight-line method of accounting from the later of the date of the origination of the lease or the date of acquisition of the facility subject to existing leases. Accordingly, contractual lease payment increases are recognized evenly over the term of the lease. The cumulative difference between lease revenue recognized under this method and contractual lease payment terms is recorded as "Deferred operating lease income receivable" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets.

        Provision for loan losses—The Company's accounting policies require that an allowance for estimated loan losses be maintained at a level that management, based upon an evaluation of known and inherent risks in the portfolio, considers adequate to provide for loan losses. In establishing loan loss provisions, management periodically evaluates and analyzes the Company's assets, historical and industry loss experience, economic conditions and trends, collateral values and quality, and other relevant factors. Specific valuation allowances are established for impaired loans in the amount by which the carrying value, before allowance for estimated losses, exceeds the fair value of collateral less disposition costs on an individual loan basis. Management considers a loan to be impaired when, based upon current information and events, it believes that it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the

9



contractual terms of the loan agreement on a timely basis. Management measures these impaired loans at the fair value of the loans' underlying collateral less estimated disposition costs. Impaired loans may be left on accrual status during the period the Company is pursuing repayment of the loan; however, these loans are placed on non-accrual status at such time as: (1) management believes that the potential risk exists that scheduled debt service payments will not be met within the coming 12 months; (2) the loans become 90 days delinquent; (3) management determines the borrower is incapable of, or has ceased efforts toward, curing the cause of the impairment; or (4) the net realizable value of the loan's underlying collateral approximates the Company's carrying value of such loan. While on non-accrual status, interest income is recognized only upon actual receipt. Impairment losses are recognized as direct write-downs of the related loan with a corresponding charge to the provision for loan losses. Charge-offs occur when loans, or a portion thereof, are considered uncollectible and of such little value that further pursuit of collection is not warranted. Management also provides a loan portfolio reserve based upon its periodic evaluation and analysis of the portfolio, historical and industry loss experience, economic conditions and trends, collateral values and quality, and other relevant factors.

        The Company's loans are generally secured by real estate assets or are corporate lending arrangements to entities with significant rental real estate operations (i.e., an unsecured loan to a company which operates residential apartments or retail, industrial or office facilities as rental real estate). While the underlying real estate assets for the corporate lending instruments may not serve as collateral for the Company's investments in all cases, the Company evaluates the underlying real estate assets when estimating loan loss exposure because the Company's loans generally have preclusions as to how much senior and/or secured debt the customer may borrow ahead of the Company's position.

        Accounting for derivative instruments and hedging activity—In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 ("SFAS No. 133"), "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" as amended by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 137 "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity—Deferral of the Effective date of FASB 133", Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 138 "Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities—an Amendment of FASB Statement 133" and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 149 "Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instrument and Hedging Activities," the Company recognizes all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position and measures those instruments at fair value. If certain conditions are met, a derivative may be specifically designated as: (1) a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of a recognized asset or liability or an unrecognized firm commitment; (2) a hedge of the exposure to variable cash flows of a forecasted transaction; or (3) in certain circumstances, a hedge of a foreign currency exposure.

        Income taxes—The Company is subject to federal income taxation at corporate rates on its "REIT taxable income"; however, the Company is allowed a deduction for the amount of dividends paid to its shareholders, thereby subjecting the distributed net income of the Company to taxation at the shareholder level only. In addition, the Company is allowed several other deductions in computing its "REIT taxable income," including non-cash items such as depreciation expense. These deductions allow the Company to shelter a portion of its operating cash flow from its dividend payout requirement under federal tax laws. The Company intends to operate in a manner consistent with and to elect to be treated as a REIT for tax purposes. iStar Operating Inc. ("iStar Operating"), the Company's REIT taxable subsidiary, is not consolidated for federal income tax purposes and is taxed as a corporation. For financial reporting purposes, current and deferred taxes are provided for in the portion of earnings recognized by the

10



Company with respect to its interest in iStar Operating. Accordingly, except for the Company's taxable subsidiary, no current or deferred taxes are provided for in the Consolidated Financial Statements. See Note 6 for a detailed discussion on the ownership structure and operations of iStar Operating.

        Earnings per common share—In accordance with the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128 ("SFAS No. 128"), the Company presents both basic and diluted earnings per share ("EPS"). Basic earnings per share ("Basic EPS") excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income allocable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share ("Diluted EPS") reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock, where such exercise or conversion would result in a lower earnings per share amount.

        Reclassifications—Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes to conform to the 2003 presentation.

        Use of estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

        New accounting standards—In January 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46 ("FIN 46"), "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities," an interpretation of ARB 51. FIN 46 provides guidance on identifying entities for which control is achieved through means other than through voting rights (a "variable interest entity" or "VIE"), and how to determine when and which business enterprise should consolidate a VIE. In addition, FIN 46 requires that both the primary beneficiary and all other enterprises with a significant variable interest in a VIE make additional disclosures. The transitional disclosure requirements took effect immediately and were required for all financial statements initially issued after January 31, 2003. Immediate consolidation is required for VIEs entered into or modified after February 1, 2003 in which the Company is deemed the primary beneficiary. For VIEs in which the Company entered into prior to February 1, 2003, consolidation will be required by the Company effective with the Company's third quarter 2003 reporting. The adoption of the additional consolidation provisions of FIN 46 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.

        In December 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148 ("SFAS No. 148"), "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure," an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123 ("SFAS No. 123"). This statement provides alternative transition methods for a voluntary change to the fair value basis of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. However, this Statement does not permit the use of the original SFAS No. 123 prospective method of transition for changes to the fair value based method made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2003. In addition, this Statement amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation, description of transition method utilized and the effect of the method used on reported results. The Company adopted SFAS No. 148 with retroactive application to grants made subsequent to January 1, 2002 with no material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

11



        SFAS No. 148 disclosure requirements, including the effect on net income and earnings per share if the fair value-based method had been applied to all outstanding and unvested stock awards for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, are presented below (in thousands except per share amounts):

 
  For the
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Net income allocable to common shareholders and HPU holders, as reported(1)   $58,726   $47,884  
Total stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value-based method for all awards, net of related tax effects   (24 ) (47 )
   
 
 
Pro forma net income   $58,702   $47,837  
   
 
 

Earnings per share:

 

 

 

 

 
  Basic—as reported(2)   $0.59   $0.55  
  Basic—pro forma(2)   $0.59   $0.55  
  Diluted—as reported(2)(3)   $0.58   $0.53  
  Diluted—pro forma(2)(3)   $0.58   $0.53  

Explanatory Notes:


(1)
HPU holders are Company employees who purchased high performance common stock units under the Company's High Performance Unit Program.

(2)
For the three months ended March 31, 2003, net income used to calculate earnings per basic and diluted common share excludes $485 and $472 of net income allocable to HPU holders, respectively.

(3)
For the three months ended March 31, 2003, net income used to calculate earnings per diluted common share includes joint venture income of $39.

        In November 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 45 ("FIN 45"), "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others," an interpretation of FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5 ("SFAS No. 5"), "Accounting for Contingencies," Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 57, "Related Party Disclosures," Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 107, "Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments" and rescinds FASB Interpretation No. 34, "Disclosure of Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others, an Interpretation of SFAS No. 5." It requires that upon issuance of a guarantee, the guarantor must recognize a liability for the fair value of the obligation it assumes under that guarantee regardless if the Company receives separately identifiable consideration (i.e., a premium). The disclosure requirements became effective December 31, 2002. The adoption of FIN 45 did not have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, nor is it expected to have a material impact in the future.

        In September 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 147 ("SFAS No. 147"), "Acquisitions of Certain Financial Institutions," an amendment of FASB Statements No. 72 and 144 and FASB Interpretation No. 9. SFAS No. 147 provides guidance on the accounting for the acquisitions of financial institutions, except those acquisitions between two or more mutual enterprises. SFAS No. 147 removes acquisitions of financial institutions from the scope of both FASB No. 72, "Accounting for Certain

12



Acquisitions of Banking or Thrift Institutions," and FASB Interpretation No. 9, Applying APB Opinions No. 16 and 17, "When a Savings and Loan Association or a Similar Institution is Acquired in a Business Combination Accounted for by the Purchase Method," and requires that those transactions be accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 141 and SFAS No. 142. SFAS No. 147 also amends SFAS No. 144 to include in its scope long-term, customer-relationship intangible assets of financial institutions such as depositor-relationship and borrower-relationship intangible assets and credit cardholder intangible assets. The Company adopted the provisions of this statement, as required, on October 1, 2002, and it did not have a significant financial impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

        In June 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 146 ("SFAS No. 146"), "Accounting for Exit or Disposal Activities," to address significant issues regarding the recognition, measurement, and reporting of costs that are associated with exit and disposal activities, including restructuring activities that are currently accounted for pursuant to the guidance that the Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") has set forth in EITF Issue No. 94-3, "Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)." The scope of SFAS No. 146 also includes: (1) costs related to terminating a contract that is not a capital lease; and (2) termination benefits received by employees involuntarily terminated under the terms of a one-time benefit arrangement that is not an on-going benefit arrangement or an individual deferred-compensation contract. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 146 on December 31, 2002, as required, and it did not have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

        In April 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 145 ("SFAS No. 145"), "Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections." SFAS No. 145 rescinds both FASB Statements No. 4 ("SFAS No. 4"), "Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt," and the amendment to SFAS No. 4, FASB Statement No. 64 ("SFAS No. 64"), "Extinguishments of Debt Made to Satisfy Sinking-Fund Requirements." Through this rescission, SFAS No. 145 eliminates the requirement (in both SFAS No. 4 and SFAS No. 64) that gains and losses from the extinguishment of debt be aggregated and, if material, classified as an extraordinary item, net of the related income tax effect. An entity is not prohibited from classifying such gains and losses as extraordinary items, so long as they meet the criteria in paragraph 20 of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 ("APB 30"), "Reporting the Results of Operations—Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions"; however, due to the nature of the Company's operations, such treatment may not be available to the Company. Any gains or losses on extinguishments of debt that were previously classified as extraordinary items in prior periods presented that do not meet the criteria in APB 30 for classification as an extraordinary item will be reclassified to income from continuing operations. The provisions of SFAS No. 145 are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after May 15, 2002. The Company adopted the provisions of this statement, as required, on January 1, 2003 and it did not have a significant financial impact on the Company.

        In October 2001, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144 ("SFAS No. 144"), "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets." SFAS No. 144 provides guidance on the recognition of impairment losses on long-lived assets to be held and used or to be disposed of, and also broadens the definition of what constitutes a discontinued operation and how the results of a discontinued operation are to be measured and presented. SFAS No. 144 requires that current operations prior to the disposition of corporate tenant lease assets and prior period results of such

13



operations be presented in discontinued operations in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations. The provisions of SFAS No. 144 are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001, and must be applied at the beginning of a fiscal year. The Company adopted the provisions of this statement on January 1, 2002, as required, and it did not have a significant financial impact on the Company.

        In July 2001, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 ("SFAS No. 141"), "Business Combinations" and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 ("SFAS No. 142"), "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets." SFAS No. 141 requires the purchase method of accounting to be used for all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001. SFAS No. 141 also addresses the initial recognition and measurement of goodwill and other intangible assets acquired in business combinations and requires intangible assets to be recognized apart from goodwill if certain tests are met. SFAS No. 142 requires that goodwill not be amortized but instead be measured for impairment at least annually, or when events indicate that there may be an impairment. The Company adopted the provisions of both statements on January 1, 2002, as required, and the adoption did not have a significant impact on the Company.

        In July 2001, the SEC released Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 102 ("SAB 102"), "Selected Loan Loss Allowance and Documentation Issues." SAB 102 summarizes certain of the SEC's views on the development, documentation and application of a systematic methodology for determining allowances for loan and lease losses. Adoption of SAB 102 by the Company did not have a significant impact on the Company.

        In September 2000, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 140 ("SFAS No. 140"), "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities." This statement is applicable for transfers of assets and extinguishments of liabilities occurring after June 30, 2001. The Company adopted the provisions of this statement as required for all transactions entered into on or after April 1, 2001. The adoption of SFAS No. 140 did not have a significant impact on the Company.

14



iStar Financial Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Note 4—Loans and Other Lending Investments
        The following is a summary description of the Company's loans and other lending investments (in thousands)(1):
 
 
   
   
   
  Carrying Value as of
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
   
   
   
   
  Contractual
Interest
Payment
Rates(2)

  Contractual
Interest
Accrual
Rates(2)

   
   
 
Type of Investment

  Underlying
Property
Type

  # of
Borrowers
In Class

  Principal
Balances
Outstanding

  March 31,
2003

  December 31,
2002

  Effective
Maturity
Dates

  Principal
Amortization

  Participation
Features

 
Senior Mortgages   Office/Residential/
Retail/Industrial/
Conference Center/
Mixed Use/Hotel/
Entertainment/Other
  32   $ 1,780,751   $ 1,745,440   $ 1,675,797   2003 to 2020   Fixed: 7.03% to 10.30%
Variable:
Libor + 1.50% to
Libor + 6.50%
  Fixed: 7.03% to 10.30%
Variable:
Libor + 1.50% to
Libor + 6.50%
  Yes (3) No  
Subordinate Mortgages(4)   Office/Residential/
Retail/Mixed Use/
Hotel
  23     652,176     651,757     629,486   2003 to 2011   Fixed: 7.00% to 15.00%
Variable:
Libor + 1.79% to
Libor + 5.80%
  Fixed: 7.32% to 17.00%
Variable:
Libor + 1.79% to
Libor + 5.80%
  Yes (3) No  
Corporate/Partnership Loans   Office/Residential/
Retail/Mixed Use/
Hotel/Entertainment/
Other
  22     478,740     456,724     441,028   2003 to 2013   Fixed: 7.33% to 15.00%
Variable:
Libor + 3.50% to
Libor + 6.50%
  Fixed: 7.33% to 17.50%
Variable:
Libor + 3.50% to
Libor + 6.50%
  Yes (3) Yes (5)
Other Lending Investments—Loans   Office/Mixed Use   4     30,688     24,386     23,167   2006 to 2008   Fixed: 10.00%
Variable:
Libor + 4.75%
  Fixed: 10.00%
Variable:
Libor + 4.75%
  No   Yes (5)
Other Lending Investments—Securities(6)   Office/Residential/
Retail/Industrial/
Mixed Use/
Entertainment/Other/
Storage/Hotel
  12     406,757     400,324     310,114   2003 to 2013   Fixed: 6.75% to 12.50%
Variable:
Libor + 4.00% to
Libor + 8.27%
  Fixed: 6.75% to 12.50%
Variable:
Libor + 4.00% to
Libor + 8.27%
  Yes (3) No  
                 
 
                     
Gross Carrying Value                 $ 3,278,631   $ 3,079,592                      
Provision for Loan Losses                   (31,000 )   (29,250 )                    
                 
 
                     
Total, Net                 $ 3,247,631   $ 3,050,342                      
                 
 
                     

Explanatory Notes:


(1)
Amounts and details are for loans outstanding as of March 31, 2003.
(2)
Substantially all variable-rate loans are based on 30-day LIBOR and reprice monthly. The 30-day LIBOR on March 31, 2003 was 1.30%. As of March 31, 2003, three loans with a combined carrying value of $74.3 million have a stated accrual rate that exceeds the stated pay rate.
(3)
The loans require fixed payments of principal and interest resulting in partial principal amortization over the term of the loan with the remaining principal due at maturity.
(4)
Includes a participation interest in a second mortgage and a subordinate interest in a private REMIC whose sole asset is a single first mortgage loan.
(5)
Under some of these loans, the lender receives additional payments representing additional interest from participation in available cash flow from operations of the property.
(6)
Generally consists of term preferred stock or debt interests that are specifically originated or structured to meet customer financing requirements and the Company's investment criteria. These investments do not typically consist of securities purchased in the open market or as part of broadly-distributed offerings. In addition, one of these securities is classified as available-for-sale and is reflected at fair value with a corresponding entry to "Accumulated other comprehensive income" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets.

15


        During the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively, the Company and its affiliated ventures originated or acquired an aggregate of approximately $289.7 million and $321.9 million in loans and other lending investments, funded $7.2 million and $8.1 million under existing loan commitments, and received principal repayments of $112.3 million and $164.0 million.

        As of March 31, 2003, the Company had 12 loans with unfunded commitments. The total unfunded commitment amount was approximately $177.8 million, of which $77.2 million was discretionary and $100.6 million was non-discretionary.

        The Company's loans and other lending investments are predominantly pledged as collateral under either the iStar Asset Receivables secured notes, the secured revolving credit facilities or secured term loans (see Note 7).

        The Company has reflected provisions for loan losses of approximately $1.8 million and $1.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. These provisions represent loan portfolio reserves based on management's evaluation of general market conditions, the Company's internal risk management policies and credit risk ratings system, industry loss experience, the likelihood of delinquencies or defaults, and the credit quality of the underlying collateral. No direct impairment reserves on specific loans were considered necessary.

Note 5—Corporate Tenant Lease Assets

        During the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company acquired an aggregate of approximately $57.5 million and $82.8 million in corporate tenant lease assets, respectively. Additionally, during the three months ended March 31, 2003, the Company disposed of one corporate tenant lease asset for net proceeds of approximately $4.0 million.

        The Company's investments in corporate tenant lease assets, at cost, were as follows (in thousands):

 
  March 31, 2003
  December 31, 2002
 
Facilities and improvements   $ 2,007,236   $ 1,959,309  
Land and land improvements     439,266     428,365  
Direct financing lease     33,371     32,640  
Less: accumulated depreciation     (141,417 )   (128,509 )
   
 
 
  Corporate tenant lease assets, net   $ 2,338,456   $ 2,291,805  
   
 
 

        Under certain leases, the Company is entitled to receive additional participating lease payments to the extent gross revenues of the corporate tenant exceed a base amount. The Company did not earn any such additional participating lease payments on these leases during the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002. In addition, the Company also receives reimbursements from customers for certain facility operating expenses including common area costs, insurance and real estate taxes. Customer expense reimbursements for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 were approximately $8.0 million and $6.9 million, respectively, and are included as a reduction of "Operating costs—corporate tenant lease assets" on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        The Company is subject to expansion option agreements with two existing customers which could require the Company to fund and to construct up to 161,000 square feet of additional adjacent space on which the Company would receive additional operating lease income under the terms of the option agreements. In addition, upon exercise of such expansion option agreements, the corporate tenants would be required to simultaneously extend their existing lease terms for additional periods ranging from six to ten years.

16



        On January 7, 2003, the Company sold one corporate tenant lease asset for net proceeds of $4.0 million, and realized a gain of approximately $264,000. As of March 31, 2003, there was one corporate tenant lease asset with a book value of $24.8 million classified as "Assets held for sale" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. The results of operations from corporate tenant lease assets sold or held for sale in the current and prior periods are classified as "(Loss) Income from discontinued operations" even though such income or loss was actually recognized by the Company prior to the asset sale. Gains on sale from corporate tenant lease assets are classified as "Gain from discontinued operations" on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        On September 30, 2002, one of the Company's customers exercised an option to terminate its lease on 50.00% of the land leased from the Company. In connection with this termination, the Company realized $17.5 million in cash lease termination payments, offset by a $17.4 million impairment charge in connection with the termination, resulting in a net gain of approximately $123,000. In the fourth quarter of 2002, the customer completed a recapitalization transaction that significantly enhanced its credit. In connection with this recapitalization, the Company agreed to amend the customer's lease, effective October 1, 2002. In the lease amendment, the Company received $12.5 million in cash as prepaid lease payments and the customer agreed to fixed minimum increases on future lease payments. In exchange, the Company agreed to reduce the customer's lease obligations for a period not to exceed nine quarters. Following the reduction period, the customer is required to make additional lease payments over a 10-year period sufficient to reimburse the Company for a portion of the temporary reduction in lease payments.

        On May 30, 2002, the Company sold one corporate tenant lease asset for net proceeds of $3.7 million, and realized a gain of approximately $595,000. As of December 31, 2002, there were two corporate tenant lease assets with a combined book value of $28.5 million classified as "Assets held for sale" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Note 6—Joint Ventures and Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

        Income or loss generated from the Company's joint venture investments and unconsolidated subsidiaries is included in "Equity in (loss) earnings from joint ventures and unconsolidated subsidiaries" on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        The Company's ownership percentages, its investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures and subsidiaries, its respective income (loss) and the Company's pro rata share of its ventures' third-party, non-recourse debt as of March 31, 2003 are presented below (in thousands):

 
   
   
  JV Income (Loss) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003
   
  Third-Party Debt
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures and Subsidiaries

  Ownership
%

  Equity Investment
  Pro Rata Share of Third-Party Non-Recourse Debt(1)
  Interest Rate
  Scheduled
Maturity Date

Unconsolidated Joint Ventures:                              
  Sunnyvale   44.70 % $ 11,349   $ 552   $ 10,728   LIBOR + 1.25%   November 2004(2)
  CTC I   50.00 %   12,519     438     59,968   7.66%—7.87%   Various through 2011
  ACRE Simon   20.00 %   5,105     39     6,492   7.61%—8.43%   Various through 2011
Unconsolidated Subsidiaries:                              
  iStar Operating   95.00 %   1,370     (1,074 )     N/A   N/A
  TMOC   95.00 %   N/A     (13 )   N/A   N/A   N/A
       
 
 
       
    Total       $ 30,343   $ (58 ) $ 77,188        
       
 
 
       

Explanatory Notes:


(1)
The Company reflects its pro rata share of third-party, non-recourse debt, rather than the total amount of the joint venture debt, because the third-party, non-recourse debt held by the joint ventures is not guaranteed by the Company nor does the Company have any additional commitments to fund such debt obligations.

(2)
Maturity date reflects a one-year extension at the venture's option.

17


        Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures:    At March 31, 2003, the Company had investments in three joint ventures: (1) TriNet Sunnyvale Partners L.P. ("Sunnyvale"), whose external partners are John D. O'Donnell, Trustee, John W. Hopkins, and Donald S. Grant, Trustee; (2) Corporate Technology Centre Associates, LLC ("CTC I"), whose external member is Corporate Technology Centre Partners, LLC; and (3) ACRE Simon, LLC ("ACRE"), whose external partner is William E. Simon & Sons Realty Investments, LLC. These ventures were formed for the purpose of operating, acquiring and, in certain cases, developing corporate tenant lease facilities.

        At March 31, 2003, the ventures comprised 12 net leased facilities. The Company's combined investment in these joint ventures at March 31, 2003 was $30.3 million. The joint ventures' carrying value for the 12 facilities owned at March 31, 2003 was $195.8 million. In aggregate, the joint ventures had total assets of $234.9 million and total liabilities of $185.9 million as of March 31, 2003, and net income of $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003. The Company accounts for these investments under the equity method because the Company's joint venture partners have certain participating rights giving them shared control over the ventures.

        On July 2, 2002, the Company paid approximately $27.9 million in cash to the former member of TriNet Milpitas Associates ("Milpitas") joint venture in exchange for its 50.00% ownership interest. Pursuant to the terms of the joint venture agreement, the former external member had the right to convert its interest into 984,476 shares of Common Stock of the Company at any time during the period February 1, 2002 through January 31, 2003. On May 2, 2002, the former Milpitas external member exercised this right. Upon the external member's exercise of its conversion right, the Company had the option to acquire the partner's interest for cash, instead of shares, for a payment equal to the value of 984,476 shares of Common Stock multiplied by the ten-day average closing stock price as of the transaction date. The Company made such election and, as of July 2, 2002, owns 100.00% of Milpitas, and therefore consolidates these assets for accounting purposes. The Company accounted for the acquisition of the external interest using the purchase method.

        On April 1, 2002, the former Sierra Land Ventures ("Sierra") joint venture partner assigned its 50.00% ownership interest in Sierra to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. There was no cash or shares exchanged in this transaction. As of April 1, 2002, the Company owns 100.00% of the corporate tenant lease asset previously held by Sierra and therefore consolidates this asset for accounting purposes.

        Effective September 29, 2000, iStar Sunnyvale Partners, LP, which is wholly owned by Sunnyvale, entered into an interest rate cap agreement limiting the venture's exposure to interest rate movements on its $24.0 million LIBOR-based mortgage loan to an interest rate of 9.00% through November 9, 2003. Currently, the limited partners of Sunnyvale have the option to convert their partnership interest into cash; however, the Company may elect to deliver 297,728 shares of Common Stock in lieu of cash.

        Investments in and advances to unconsolidated subsidiaries:    The Company has an investment in iStar Operating, a taxable subsidiary that, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, services the Company's loans and certain loan portfolios owned by third parties. The Company owns all of the non-voting preferred stock and a 95.00% economic interest in iStar Operating. An affiliate of the Company's largest shareholder is the owner of all the voting common stock and a 5.00% economic interest in iStar Operating. As of March 31, 2003, there have never been any distributions to the common shareholder, nor does the Company expect to make any in the future. At any time, the Company has the right to acquire all of the common stock of iStar Operating at fair market value, which the Company believes to be nominal. In addition to the direct general and administrative costs of iStar Operating, the Company allocates a portion

18



of its general overhead expenses to iStar Operating based on the number of employees at iStar Operating as a percentage of the Company's total employees.

        iStar Operating has elected to be treated as taxable REIT subsidiary for purposes of maintaining compliance with the REIT provisions of the Code and is accounted for under the equity method for financial statement reporting purposes and is presented in "Investments in and advances to joint ventures and unconsolidated subsidiaries" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. If it were consolidated with the Company for financial statement purposes, it would not have a material impact on the Company's operations. As of March 31, 2003, iStar Operating had no debt obligations.

        In addition, the Company has an investment in TMOC, an entity originally formed to make a $2.0 million investment in the convertible debt securities of a real estate company which trades on the Mexican Stock Exchange. This investment was made by TriNet prior to its acquisition by the Company in 1999. Prior to March 29, 2003, the Company owned 95.00% of the outstanding voting and non-voting common stock (representing 1.00% voting power and 95.00% of the economic interest) in TMOC. The owners of the remaining TMOC stock were two executives of the Company. On March 29, 2003, the Company purchased the remaining 5.00% interest from the executives for approximately $2,000, an amount that was equal to the carrying value and less than their original investment. As of March 31, 2003, TMOC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

19


iStar Financial Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 7—Debt Obligations

        As of March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, the Company has debt obligations under various arrangements with financial institutions as follows (in thousands):

 
   
  Carrying Value as of
   
   
 
  Maximum Amount Available
   
  Scheduled Maturity Date
 
  March 31, 2003
  December 31, 2002
  Stated Interest Rates(1)
Secured revolving credit facilities:                          
    Line of credit   $ 700,000   $ 500,550   $ 412,550   LIBOR + 1.75%—2.25%   March 2005(2)
    Line of credit     700,000     484,270     462,920   LIBOR + 1.40%—2.15%   January 2007(2)
    Line of credit     500,000     380,706     283,884   LIBOR + 1.50%—1.75%   August 2005(2)
    Line of credit     500,000     136,301     114,400   LIBOR + 1.50%—2.25%   September 2005
Unsecured revolving credit facilities:                          
    Line of credit     300,000           LIBOR + 2.125%   July 2004(3)
   
 
 
       
    Total revolving credit facilities   $ 2,700,000   $ 1,501,827   $ 1,273,754        
   
                   
Secured term loans:                          
    Secured by corporate tenant lease assets     193,000     193,000   LIBOR + 1.85%   July 2006(4)
    Secured by corporate tenant lease assets     143,185     144,114   7.44%   March 2009
    Secured by corporate tenant lease assets     94,531     95,074   6.00%—11.38%   Various through 2022
    Secured by corporate lending investments     78,836     79,126   6.55%   November 2005
    Secured by corporate lending investments     61,362     61,537   6.41%   December 2012
    Secured by corporate lending investments     60,000     60,000   LIBOR + 2.50%   June 2004(3)
    Secured by corporate lending investments     50,000     50,000   LIBOR + 2.50%   July 2006(3)
         
 
       
    Total term loans     680,914     682,851        
    Less: debt discount     (210 )   (236 )      
         
 
       
    Total secured term loans     680,704     682,615        
iStar Asset Receivables secured notes:                          
  STARs Series 2002-1:                    
    Class A1     180,976     236,694   LIBOR + 0.26%   June 2004(5)
    Class A2     381,296     381,296   LIBOR + 0.38%   December 2009(5)
    Class B     39,955     39,955   LIBOR + 0.65%   April 2011(5)
    Class C     26,637     26,637   LIBOR + 0.75%   May 2011(5)
    Class D     21,310     21,310   LIBOR + 0.85%   January 2012(5)
    Class E     42,619     42,619   LIBOR + 1.235%   January 2012(5)
    Class F     26,637     26,637   LIBOR + 1.335%   January 2012(5)
    Class G     21,309     21,309   LIBOR + 1.435%   January 2012(5)
    Class H     26,637     26,637   6.35%   January 2012(5)
    Class J     26,637     26,637   6.35%   May 2012(5)
    Class K     26,637     26,637   6.35%   May 2012(5)
         
 
       
    Total iStar Asset Receivables secured notes     820,650     876,368        
    Less: debt discount     (4,312 )   (4,425 )      
         
 
       
    Total iStar Asset Receivables secured notes     816,338     871,943        
Unsecured notes:                          
    7.00% Senior Notes(6)(7)     150,000       7.00%   March 2008
    6.75% Dealer Remarketable Securities(6)(7)(8)         125,000   6.75%   March 2013
    7.70% Notes(6)(8)     100,000     100,000   7.70%   July 2017
    7.95% Notes(6)(8)     50,000     50,000   7.95%   May 2006
    8.75% Notes     350,000     350,000   8.75%   August 2008
         
 
       
    Total unsecured notes     650,000     625,000        
    Less: debt discount     (39,000 )   (11,603 )      
    Plus: impact of pay-floating swap agreements(9)     4,777     3,920        
         
 
       
    Total unsecured notes     615,777     617,317        
Other debt obligations     40,357     15,961   Various   Various
         
 
       
Total debt obligations   $ 3,655,003   $ 3,461,590        
         
 
       

20


        

Explanatory Notes:


(1)
Substantially all variable-rate debt obligations are based on 30-day LIBOR and reprice monthly. The 30-day LIBOR rate on March 31, 2003 was 1.30% per annum.

(2)
Maturity date reflects a one-year "term-out" extension at the Company's option.

(3)
Maturity date reflects a one-year extension at the Company's option.

(4)
Maturity date reflects two one-year extensions at the Company's option.

(5)
Principal payments on these bonds are a function of the principal repayments on loan or corporate tenant lease assets which collateralize these obligations. The dates indicated above represent the expected date on which the final payment would occur for such class based on the assumptions that the loans which collateralize the obligations are not voluntarily prepaid, the loans are paid on their effective maturity dates and no extensions of the effective maturity dates of any of the loans are granted. The final maturity date for the underlying indenture on class A1 is May 28, 2017 and the final maturity date for classes A2, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J and K is May 28, 2020.

(6)
The notes are callable by the Company at any time for an amount equal to the total of principal outstanding, accrued interest and the applicable make-whole prepayment premium.

(7)
On March 14, 2003, the Company remarketed the 6.75% Dealer Remarketable Securities of its leasing subsidiary by acquiring and retiring those securities and by issuing 7.00% Senior Notes due March 2008. The covenants in the Senior Notes due 2008 are substantially identical to the covenants contained in the Company's 8.75% Notes. Subsequent to March 31, 2003, the Company issued an additional $35.0 million of Senior Notes bringing the aggregate principal of the Senior Notes to $185.0 million. The additional $35.0 million of Senior Notes has identical terms to the Senior Notes issued on March 14, 2003, but were issued at 102.75% of their principal amount to yield 6.34% per annum.

(8)
These obligations were assumed as part of the acquisition of TriNet. As part of the accounting for the purchase, these fixed-rate obligations were considered to have stated interest rates which were below the then-prevailing market rates at which the Leasing Subsidiary could issue new debt obligations and, accordingly, the Company ascribed a market discount to each obligation. Such discounts are amortized as an adjustment to interest expense using the effective interest method over the related term of the obligations. As adjusted, the effective annual interest rates on these obligations were 8.81%, 9.51% and 9.04% for the 6.75% Dealer Remarketable Securities, 7.70% Notes and 7.95% Notes, respectively.

(9)
On November 27, 2002, the Company entered into two pay-floating interest rate swaps struck at 3.8775% and 3.81% in the notional amounts of $100.0 million and $50.0 million, respectively. These swaps are intended to mitigate the risk of changes in the fair value of $150.0 million of the Company's 8.75% Notes attributable to changes in LIBOR. For accounting purposes, quarterly the Company adjusts the value of the swap to its fair value and adjusts the carrying amount of the hedged liability by an offsetting amount.

        Availability of amounts under the secured revolving credit facilities are based on percentage borrowing base calculations. In addition, certain of the Company's debt obligations contain covenants. These covenants are both financial and non-financial in nature. Significant financial covenants include limitations on the Company's ability to incur indebtedness beyond specified levels, restrictions on the Company's ability to incur liens on assets and limitations on the amount and type of restricted payments, such as repurchases of its own equity securities, that the Company makes. Significant non-financial covenants include a requirement in its publicly-held debt securities that the Company offer to repurchase those securities at a premium if the Company undergoes a change of control. As of March 31, 2003, the Company believes it is in compliance with all financial and non-financial covenants on its debt obligations.

21


        On March 14, 2003, the Company remarketed the 6.75% Dealer Remarketable Securities of its leasing subsidiary by acquiring and retiring those securities and by issuing $150.0 million of 7.00% Senior Notes due March 2008. The covenants in the Senior Notes due 2008 are substantially identical to the covenants contained in the Company's 8.75% Notes. Subsequent to March 31, 2003, the Company issued an additional $35.0 million of Senior Notes bringing the aggregate principal of the Senior Notes to $185.0 million. The additional $35.0 million of Senior Notes has identical terms to the Senior Notes issued on March 14, 2003, but were issued at 102.75% of their principal amount to yield 6.34% per annum.

        On January 27, 2003, the Company extended the maturity on one of its $700.0 million secured facilities to January 2007, which includes a one-year "term-out" at the Company's option.

        On December 11, 2002, the Company closed a $61.5 million term loan financing with a leading financial institution. The proceeds were used to fund a portion of an $82.1 million CTL investment. The non-recourse loan is fixed rate and bears interest at 6.412%, has a maturity date of December 2012 and amortizes over a 30-year schedule.

        On September 30, 2002, the Company closed a $500.0 million secured revolving credit facility with a leading financial institution. The facility has a three-year term and bears interest at LIBOR + 1.50% to 2.25%, depending upon the collateral contributed to the borrowing base. The facility accepts a broad range of structured finance and corporate tenant assets and has a final maturity date of September 2005.

        On July 2, 2002, the Company purchased the remaining interest in the Milpitas joint venture from the former Milpitas external member for $27.9 million. Upon purchase of the interest, the Milpitas joint venture became fully consolidated for accounting purposes and approximately $79.1 million of secured term debt is reflected on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets.

        On May 28, 2002, the Company fully repaid the remaining $446.2 million of bonds outstanding under its proprietary match funding program, iStar Asset Receivables ("STARs"), Series 2000-1 financing. Simultaneously, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company issued STARs, Series 2002-1, consisting of $885.1 million of investment-grade bonds secured by the subsidiary's structured finance and corporate tenant lease assets, which had an aggregate outstanding principal balance of approximately $1.1 billion at inception. Principal payments received on the assets will be utilized to repay the most senior class of the bonds then outstanding. The maturity of the bonds match funds the maturity of the underlying assets financed under the program. The weighted average interest rate on the bonds, on an all-floating rate basis, was approximately LIBOR + 0.56% at inception. For accounting purposes, this transaction was treated as a secured financing: the underlying assets and STARs liabilities remained on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, and no gain on sale was recognized.

        On March 29, 2002, the Company extended the maturity of its $500.0 million secured facility to August 2005, which includes a one-year "term-out" extension at the Company's option.

        On August 9, 2001, the Company issued $350.0 million of 8.75% senior notes due in 2008. The notes are unsecured senior obligations of the Company. The Company used the net proceeds to repay outstanding borrowings under its secured credit facilities.

        On July 27, 2001, the Company completed a $300.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility with a group of leading financial institutions. The facility has an initial maturity of July 2003, with a one-year extension at the Company's option and another one-year extension at the lenders' option. The facility replaces two prior credit facilities maturing in 2002 and 2003, and bears interest at LIBOR + 2.125%.

22



        On July 6, 2001, the Company financed a $75.0 million structured finance asset with a $50.0 million term loan bearing interest at LIBOR + 2.50%. The loan has a maturity of July 2006, including a one-year extension at the Company's option. This investment is a $75.0 million term preferred investment in a publicly-traded real estate Company. The Company's investment carries an initial current yield of 10.50%, with annual increases of 0.50% in each of the next two years. In addition, the Company's investment is convertible into the customer's common stock at a strike price of $25.00 per share. The investment is callable by the customer between months 13 and 30 of the term at a yield maintenance premium, and after month 30, at a premium sufficient to generate a 14.62% internal rate of return on the Company's investment. The investment is putable by the Company to the customer for cash after five years.

        On June 14, 2001, the Company closed $193.0 million of term loan financing secured by 15 corporate tenant lease assets. The variable-rate loan bears interest at LIBOR + 1.85% (not to exceed 10.00% in aggregate) and has two one-year extensions at the Company's option. The Company used these proceeds to repay a $77.8 million secured term loan maturing in June 2001 and to pay down a portion of its revolving credit facilities. In addition, the Company extended the maturity of its $500.0 million secured revolving credit facility to August 2003. On March 29, 2002, the Company again extended the final maturity of this facility to August 2005, which includes a one-year "term-out" extension at the Company's option.

        On May 15, 2001, the Company repaid its $100.0 million 7.30% unsecured notes. These notes were senior unsecured obligations of the Leasing Subsidiary and ranked equally with the Leasing Subsidiary's other senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.

        On February 22, 2001, the Company extended the maturity of its $350.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility to May 2002. On July 27, 2001, the Company repaid this facility and replaced it with a $300.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility.

        On January 11, 2001, the Company closed a $700.0 million secured revolving credit facility which is led by a major commercial bank. The facility has a three-year primary term and one-year "term-out" extension option, and bears interest at LIBOR + 1.40% to 2.15%, depending upon the collateral contributed to the borrowing base. The facility accepts a broad range of structured finance assets and has a final maturity of January 2005.

        As of March 31, 2003, future expected/scheduled maturities of outstanding long-term debt obligations are as follows (in thousands)(1):

2003 (remaining nine months)   $ 16,357  
2004     264,976  
2005     1,099,424  
2006     293,000  
2007     487,216  
Thereafter     1,532,775  
   
 
Total principal maturities     3,693,748  
Net unamortized debt discounts     (43,522 )
Impact of pay-floating swap agreement     4,777  
   
 
Total debt obligations   $ 3,655,003  
   
 

Explanatory Note:


(1)
Assumes exercise of extensions to the extent such extensions are at the Company's option.

23


Note 8—Shareholders' Equity

        The Company's charter provides for the issuance of up to 200.0 million shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 30.0 million shares of preferred stock. The Company has 4.4 million shares of 9.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, 2.3 million shares of 9.375% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, 1.5 million shares of 9.20% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, and 4.6 million shares of 8.00% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock. The Series A, B, C and D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock are redeemable without premium at the option of the Company at their respective liquidation preferences beginning on December 15, 2003, June 15, 2001, August 15, 2001 and October 8, 2002, respectively.

        On December 15, 1998, the Company issued warrants to acquire 6.1 million shares of Common Stock, as adjusted for dilution, at $34.35 per share. The warrants are exercisable on or after December 15, 1999 at a price of $34.35 per share and expire on December 15, 2005.

        Concentration of Shareholder Ownership—On October 30, 2001, SOFI IV SMT Holdings, L.P. ("SOFI IV") and certain of its affiliates sold 18.975 million shares of Common Stock owned by them (including the subsequently-exercised 2.475 million share over-allotment option granted to the underwriters). In addition, on May 15, 2002, SOFI IV sold 10.808 million shares of Common Stock owned by them (including the subsequently-exercised 808,200 share over-allotment option granted to the underwriters). Further, on November 14, 2002, SOFI IV sold 3.5 million shares of Common Stock owned by them (including the subsequently-exercised 1.5 million over-allotment option granted to the underwriters). The Company did not sell any shares in the first two offerings. In the November 2002 offering, the Company sold 8.0 million primary shares and received net proceeds of approximately $202.9 million. As a result of the secondary offerings, SOFI IV currently owns approximately 19.66% of the Company's Common Stock (based on the diluted sharecount as of March 31, 2003).

        DRIP Program—The Company maintains a dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan. Under the dividend reinvestment component of the plan, the Company's shareholders may purchase additional shares of Common Stock without payment of brokerage commissions or service charges by automatically reinvesting all or a portion of their Common Stock cash dividends. Under the direct stock purchase component of the plan, the Company's shareholders and new investors may purchase shares of Common Stock directly from the Company without payment of brokerage commissions or service charges. All purchases of shares in excess of $10,000 per month pursuant to the direct purchase component are at the Company's sole discretion. Shares issued under the plan may reflect a discount of up to 3.00% from the prevailing market price of the Company's Common Stock. The Company is authorized to issue up to 8.0 million shares of Common Stock pursuant to the dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan. During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company issued a total of approximately 619,000 and 768,000 shares of its Common Stock, respectively, through the direct stock purchase component of the plan. Net proceeds during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 were approximately $17.4 million and $20.4 million, respectively.

        Stock Repurchase Program—The Board of Directors approved, and the Company has implemented, a stock repurchase program under which the Company is authorized to repurchase up to 5.0 million shares of its Common Stock from time to time, primarily using proceeds from the disposition of assets or loan repayments and excess cash flow from operations, but also using borrowings under its credit facilities if the Company determines that it is advantageous to do so. As of November 2000, the Company had repurchased a total of approximately 2.3 million shares at an aggregate cost of approximately $40.7 million. The Company has not repurchased any shares under the stock repurchase program since November 2000.

24



Note 9—Risk Management and Use of Financial Instruments

        Risk management—In the normal course of its on-going business operations, the Company encounters economic risk. There are three main components of economic risk: interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk. The Company is subject to interest rate risk to the degree that its interest-bearing liabilities mature or reprice at different speeds, or different bases, than its interest-earning assets. Credit risk is the risk of default on the Company's lending investments that results from a property's, borrower's or corporate tenant's inability or unwillingness to make contractually required payments. Market risk reflects changes in the value of loans due to changes in interest rates or other market factors, including the rate of prepayments of principal and the value of the collateral underlying loans and the valuation of corporate tenant lease facilities held by the Company.

        Use of derivative financial instruments—The Company's use of derivative financial instruments is primarily limited to the utilization of interest rate agreements or other instruments to manage interest rate risk exposure. The principal objective of such arrangements is to minimize the risks and/or costs associated with the Company's operating and financial structure as well as to hedge specific anticipated transactions. The counterparties to these contractual arrangements are major financial institutions with which the Company and its affiliates may also have other financial relationships. The Company is potentially exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by these counterparties. However, because of their high credit ratings, the Company does not anticipate that any of the counterparties will fail to meet their obligations.

        The Company has entered into the following cash flow hedges that are outstanding as of March 31, 2003. The net value (liability) associated with these hedges is reflected on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands).

Type of Hedge

  Notional Amount
  Strike Price or Swap Rate
  Trade Date
  Maturity Date
  Estimated Value at March 31, 2003
 
Pay-Fixed Swap   $ 125,000   7.058 % 6/15/00   6/25/03   $ (1,855 )
Pay-Fixed Swap     125,000   7.055 % 6/15/00   6/25/03     (1,855 )
Pay-Fixed Swap     75,000   5.580 % 11/4/99 (1) 12/1/04     (5,388 )
Pay-Fixed Swap     125,000   2.885 % 1/23/03   6/25/06     (1,698 )
Pay-Fixed Swap     125,000   2.838 % 2/11/03   6/25/06     (1,523 )
Pay-Floating Swap     100,000   3.878 % 11/27/02   8/15/08     3,328  
Pay-Floating Swap     50,000   3.810 % 11/27/02   8/15/08     1,491  
LIBOR Cap     345,000   8.000 % 5/22/02   5/28/14     10,062  
LIBOR Cap     75,000   7.750 % 11/4/99 (1) 12/1/04     3  
LIBOR Cap     35,000   7.750 % 11/4/99 (1) 12/1/04     1  
                     
 
Total Estimated Value   $ 2,566  
                     
 

Explanatory Note:


(1)
Acquired in connection with the TriNet Acquisition (see Note 1 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements).

25


        Between January 1, 2002 and March 31, 2003, the Company had no cash flow hedges that expired or settled.

        During the three months ended March 31, 2003 the Company entered into two $125.0 million forward starting swaps. These pay-fixed swaps will become effective in June 2003 and will replace the two $125.0 million pay-fixed swaps that expire on June 25, 2003. The two new pay-fixed swaps have a three year term and expire on June 25, 2006.

        In connection with STARs, Series 2002-1 in May 2002, the Company entered into a LIBOR interest rate cap struck at 8.00% in the notional amount of $345.0 million. The Company utilizes the provisions of SFAS No. 133 with respect to such instruments. SFAS No. 133 provides that the up-front fees paid on option-based products such as caps should be expensed into earnings based on the allocation of the premium to the affected periods as if the agreement were a series of "caplets." These allocated premiums are then reflected as a charge to income (as part of interest expense) in the affected period.

        On May 28, 2002, in connection with the STARs, Series 2002-1 transaction, the Company paid a premium of $13.7 million for an interest rate cap. Using the "caplet" methodology discussed above, amortization of the cap premium is dependent upon the actual value of the caplets at inception.

        During the year ended December 31, 1999, the Company refinanced its $125.0 million term loan maturing March 15, 1999 with a $155.4 million term loan maturing March 5, 2009. The term loan bears interest at 7.44% per annum, payable monthly, and amortizes over an approximately 22-year schedule. The term loan represented forecasted transactions for which the Company had previously entered into U.S. Treasury-based hedging transactions. The net $3.4 million cost of the settlement of such hedges has been deferred and is being amortized as an increase to the effective financing cost of the term loan over its effective ten-year term.

        Credit risk concentrations—Concentrations of credit risks arise when a number of borrowers or customers related to the Company's investments are engaged in similar business activities, or activities in the same geographic region, or have similar economic features that would cause their ability to meet contractual obligations, including those to the Company, to be similarly affected by changes in economic conditions. The Company regularly monitors various segments of its portfolio to assess potential concentrations of credit risks. Management believes the current credit risk portfolio is reasonably well diversified and does not contain any unusual concentration of credit risks.

        Substantially all of the Company's corporate tenant lease assets (including those held by joint ventures) and loans and other lending investments are collateralized by facilities located in the United States, with significant concentrations (i.e., greater than 10.00%) as of March 31, 2003 in California (21.53%) and New York (10.67%). As of March 31, 2003, the Company's investments also contain greater than 10.00% concentrations in the following asset types: office-CTL (27.13%), office-lending (19.55%), industrial (14.89%) and hotel-lending (11.98%).

        The Company underwrites the credit of prospective borrowers and customers and often requires them to provide some form of credit support such as corporate guarantees, letters of credit and/or cash security deposits. Although the Company's loans and other lending investments and corporate customer lease assets are geographically diverse and the borrowers and customers operate in a variety of industries, to the extent the Company has a significant concentration of interest or operating lease revenues from any single borrower or customer, the inability of that borrower or customer to make its payment could have an adverse effect on the Company.

26


Note 10—Stock-Based Compensation Plans and Employee Benefits

        The Company's 1996 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is designed to provide incentive compensation for officers, other key employees and directors of the Company. The Plan provides for awards of stock options and shares of restricted stock and other performance awards. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for awards under the Plan is 9.00% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, calculated on a fully diluted basis, from time to time; provided that the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for grants of options designated as incentive stock options is 5.0 million, subject to certain antidilution provisions in the Plan. All awards under the Plan, other than automatic awards to non-employee directors, are at the discretion of the Board or a committee of the Board. At March 31, 2003, a total of approximately 9.2 million shares of Common Stock were available for awards under the Plan, of which options to purchase approximately 4.0 million shares of Common Stock were outstanding and approximately 344,000 shares of restricted stock were outstanding.

        In March 1998, the Company issued approximately 2.5 million (as adjusted) fully vested and immediately exercisable options to purchase shares of Common Stock at $14.72 per share (as adjusted) to its former advisor with a term of ten years. The former advisor granted a portion of these options to its employees and the remainder was allocated to an affiliate. Upon the Company's acquisition of its former advisor, these individuals became employees of the Company. In general, the grants to these employees provided for scheduled vesting over a predefined service period of three to five years and, under certain conditions, provide for accelerated vesting. These options expire on March 15, 2008.

        Changes in options outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2003 are as follows:

 
  Number of Shares
   
 
  Employees
  Non-Employee Directors
  Other
  Average Strike Price
Options outstanding, December 31, 2002   3,277,142   191,129   871,480   $ 18.77
  Granted   15,500       $ 14.72
  Exercised   (240,697 )   (87,282 ) $ 17.19
  Forfeited   (6,300 )     $ 30.49
   
 
 
     

Options outstanding, March 31, 2003

 

3,045,645

 

191,129

 

784,198

 

$

18.86
   
 
 
     

27


        The following table summarizes information concerning outstanding and exercisable options as of March 31, 2003:

 
  OPTIONS OUTSTANDING
  OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
Exercise Price Range

  Options Outstanding
  Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life
  Weighted Average Exercise Price
  Currently Exercisable
  Weighted Average Exercise Price
$14.72—$15.00   919,900   5.48   $ 14.73   904,400   $ 14.73
$16.69—$16.88   652,378   6.77   $ 16.86   679,787   $ 16.86
$17.38—$17.56   333,490   6.96   $ 17.38   333,490   $ 17.38
$19.63—$19.69   1,470,284   7.84   $ 19.69   915,310   $ 19.69
$20.00—$21.44   134,800   7.03   $ 20.94   79,318   $ 20.96
$22.44   6,666   7.51   $ 22.44     $ 0.00
$23.32—$23.64   40,163   1.11   $ 23.52   27,578   $ 23.51
$24.13—$24.94   183,700   4.69   $ 24.54   183,367   $ 24.54
$25.10—$26.09   14,134   3.28   $ 26.06   14,134   $ 26.06
$26.30—$26.97   77,900   1.35   $ 26.80   76,567   $ 26.80
$27.00   25,000   8.24   $ 27.00   8,334   $ 27.00
$28.54—$29.82   90,188   8.70   $ 29.68   90,188   $ 29.68
$30.33   67,275   0.41   $ 30.33   67,275   $ 30.33
$55.39   5,094   6.17   $ 55.39   5,094   $ 55.39
   
 
 
 
 
    4,020,972   6.57   $ 18.86   3,384,842   $ 18.63
   
 
 
 
 

Explanatory Note:


(1)
Includes approximately 764,000 options which were granted, on a fully exercisable basis, in March 1998, and which are now held by an affiliate of SOFI IV. Beneficial interests in these options were subsequently regranted by that affiliate to employees of it and its affiliates, subject to vesting requirements. In the event that these employees forfeit such options, they revert to an affiliate of SOFI IV, which may regrant them at its discretion. As of March 31, 2003, approximately 466,000 of these options are outstanding and exercisable by the beneficial owners. Of this total, approximately 298,000 have been exercised as of March 31, 2003.

        In the third quarter 2002 (with retroactive application to the beginning of the calendar year), the Company adopted the fair value method for accounting for options issued to employees or directors, as allowed under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 ("SFAS No. 123"), "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." Accordingly, the Company recognizes a charge equal to the fair value of these options at the date of grant multiplied by the number of options issued. This charge will be amortized over the related remaining vesting terms to individual employees as additional compensation. There were no options issued during the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002.

        Prior to the third quarter 2002, the Company had elected to use the intrinsic method for accounting for options issued to employees or directors, as allowed under SFAS No. 123 and, accordingly, recognized no expense in connection with these options to the extent that the options' exercise prices equaled or exceeded the quoted prices of the Company's shares of Common Stock on the grant or investment dates. However, in connection with the acquisition of the Company's former external advisor, the Company

28



recognized a deferred stock-based compensation charge of approximately $5.1 million. This deferred charge represents the difference between the Company's closing stock price on the date it acquired its former external advisor (which was $20.25), and the strike price of $14.72 per share (as adjusted) for the unvested portion of the options granted to the former external advisor's employees, who are now employees of the Company. This deferred charge is being amortized over the related remaining vesting terms to the individual employees as an additional expense under "General and administrative—stock-based compensation" on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.

        If the Company's compensation costs had been determined using the fair value method of accounting for stock options issued under the Plan to employees and directors prescribed by SFAS No. 123 prior to 2002, the Company's net income for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, would have been reduced on a pro forma basis by approximately $24,000 and $47,000, respectively. This would not have significantly impacted the Company's earnings per share.

        The fair value of each significant option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model. Future charges may be taken to the extent of additional option grants, which are at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

        During the three months ended March 31, 2003, the Company granted 35,700 restricted shares to employees that vest proportionately over three years on the anniversary date of the initial grant.

        During the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company granted 194,558 restricted shares to employees. Of these shares, 39,558 will vest proportionately over three years on the anniversary date of the initial grant. The balance of 155,000 restricted shares granted to several employees will vest on March 31, 2004 if: (1) the employee remains employed until that date; and (2) the 60-day average closing price of the Company's Common Stock equals or exceeds a set floor price as of such date. Dividends will be paid on the restricted shares as dividends are paid on shares of the Company's Common Stock. Assuming the shares become fully vested on March 31, 2004 and the market price of the stock is $29.17 (which was the market price of the Common Stock on March 31, 2003), the Company would incur a one-time charge to both net income and earning at that time equal to $4.5 million (the fair market value of the 155,000 shares at $29.17 per share). During the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company also granted 208,980 restricted shares to its Chief Financial Officer (see detailed information below).

        During the year ended December 31, 2001, the Company granted 94,943 restricted shares to employees in lieu of cash bonuses for the year ended December 31, 2000 at the employees' election. These restricted shares were immediately vested on the date of grant and were not transferable for a period of one year following vesting.

        During the year ended December 31, 2000, the Company granted 140,402 restricted shares to employees. Of this total, 71,752 restricted shares were granted in lieu of cash bonuses at the employees' election, were immediately vested on the date of grant, and were not transferable for a period of one year following vesting. An additional 68,650 of such restricted shares vest over periods ranging from one to three years following the date of grant and are transferable upon vesting.

        For accounting purposes, the Company measures compensation costs for these shares, not including the contingently issuable shares, as of the date of the grant and expenses such amounts against earnings, either at the grant date (if no vesting period exists) or ratably over the respective vesting period. Such amounts appear on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations under "General and administrative—stock-based compensation expense."

29



        During the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company entered into a three-year employment agreement with its new Chief Financial Officer. Under the agreement, the Chief Financial Officer receives an annual base salary of $225,000. She may also receive a bonus, which is targeted to be $325,000, subject to an annual review for upward or downward adjustment. In addition, the Company granted the Chief Financial Officer 108,980 contingently vested restricted stock awards. These awards become vested on December 31, 2005 if the executive's employment with the Company has not terminated before such date. Dividends will be paid on the restricted shares as dividends are paid on shares of the Company's Common Stock. For accounting purposes, the Company will take a total charge of approximately $3.0 million related to the restricted stock awards, which will be amortized over the period from November 6, 2002 through December 31, 2005. This charge is reflected on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations under "General and administrative—stock-based compensation."

        Further, the Company granted the Chief Financial Officer 100,000 restricted shares which vest in whole or in part if the Company's shareholders realize total rates of shareholder return (dividends since November 6, 2002 plus share price appreciation since January 2, 2003), achieved by the Company as of January 31, 2004. Vested shares would be subject to forfeiture if the executive's employment with the Company terminated under certain circumstances. Assuming the shares became fully vested on January 31, 2004 and the market price of the stock is $29.17 (which was the market price of the Common Stock on March 31, 2003), the Company would incur a one-time charge to both net income and earnings at that time equal to $2.9 million (the fair market value of the 100,000 shares at $29.17 per share). For accounting purposes, the employment arrangement described above is treated as a contingent, variable plan until January 31, 2004.

        During the year ended December 31, 2001, the Company entered into a three-year employment agreement with its Chief Executive Officer. Under the agreement, the Chief Executive Officer receives an annual base salary of $1.0 million. He may also receive a bonus, which is targeted to be an amount equal to his base salary, if the Company achieves certain performance targets set by the Compensation Committee. The bonus award may be increased or reduced from the target depending upon the degree to which the performance goals are exceeded or are not met, and may not exceed 200.00% of his base salary. The bonus is reduced by the amount of any dividends paid to the Chief Executive Officer in respect of phantom shares (described below) which are awarded to him and have contingently vested. The Chief Executive Officer received approximately $2.1 million in such dividends in 2002. As such, no additional bonus was paid. As part of this agreement, the Company confirmed a prior grant of 750,000 stock options made to the executive on March 2, 2001 with an exercise price of $19.69, which represented the market price at the date of the original contingent grant. However, because the grant required further approval by the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors, no measurement date occurred for accounting purposes until such approvals were made, at which point the market price of the Company's Common Stock was $24.90. Accordingly, an aggregate charge of approximately $3.9 million is being recognized with respect to these options over the term of this agreement and is reflected on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations under "General and administrative—stock-based compensation." These options will vest in three equal installments of 250,000 shares in each January beginning in January 2002.

        The Company also granted the executive 2.0 million unvested phantom shares, each of which represents one share of the Company's Common Stock. These shares will vest in installments of 350,000 shares, 650,000 shares, 600,000 shares and 400,000 shares on a contingent basis if the 60-day average closing price of the Company's Common Stock achieves thresholds of $25.00, $30.00, $34.00 and $37.00, respectively. As of March 31, 2003, the $25.00 and $30.00 thresholds have been attained, and a total of 1.0 million of these shares have contingently vested. Assuming that the market price of the Common

30



Stock on March 31, 2004 is $29.17 (which was the market price of the Common Stock on March 31, 2003), the Company would incur a one-time charge to both net income and earnings in March 2004 equal to $29.2 million (the fair market value of the 1.0 million shares at $29.17 per share). Shares that have contingently vested generally will not become fully vested until March 2004, except upon certain termination or change of control events. Further, if the average stock price drops below certain specified levels for a 60-day period prior to such date, such phantom shares would not fully vest and would be forfeited. If the Company is not authorized to issue shares to the executive upon full vesting of the phantom shares, then the vesting will be settled through a cash payment based upon the market price of the Common Stock during a recent trading period. The executive will receive dividends on shares that have contingently or fully vested and have not been forfeited under the terms of the agreement, if and when the Company declares and pays dividends on its Common Stock. Because no shares have been issued, dividends received on these phantom shares, if any, will be reflected as compensation expense by the Company. For accounting purposes, this arrangement will be treated as a contingent, variable plan and no additional compensation expense will be recognized until the shares, in whole or in part, become irrevocably vested, whereupon the Company will reflect a charge equal to the then fair value of the shares irrevocably vested.

        In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2001, the Company entered into a three-year employment agreement with its former President. Under the agreement, in lieu of salary and bonus, the Company granted the executive 500,000 restricted shares. These shares became fully-vested on September 30, 2002 as a result of the Company achieving a 60.00% total shareholder rate of return (dividends plus share price appreciation) since January 1, 2001. Upon the restricted shares becoming fully vested, the Company withheld 250,000 of such shares from the executive to cover the tax obligations associated with the vesting of such shares. These shares are reflected as "Treasury stock" on the Company's Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity. For accounting purposes, the employment arrangement described above was treated as a contingent, variable plan until the April 29, 2002 contingent vesting date. The Company incurred a total non-cash charge of approximately $15.0 million related to the vesting of the shares, recognized ratably over the period from April 29, 2002 through September 30, 2002.

        The executive received dividends on the share grant from the date of the agreement as and when the Company declared and paid dividends on its Common Stock. For financial statement purposes, such dividends were accounted for in a manner consistent with the Company's normal Common Stock dividends, as a reduction to retained earnings.

        Certain affiliates of SOFI IV and the Company's Chief Executive Officer have agreed to reimburse the Company for the value of restricted shares awarded to the former President in excess of 350,000 shares, net of tax benefits realized by the Company or its shareholders on account of compensation expense deductions. The reimbursement obligation arose once the restricted share award became fully vested on September 30, 2002. As of December 31, 2002, the Company's Chief Executive Officer fulfilled his reimbursement obligation through the delivery of shares of the Company's common stock owned by him. In the case of the SOFI IV affiliates, the reimbursement payment must be made through the delivery of approximately $2.4 million in cash or 131,250 shares of Common Stock. As of March 31, 2003, the SOFI IV affiliates have paid approximately $506,000 in cash. The approximately $1.9 million remaining balance of the SOFI IV affiliates' reimbursement obligation is due on or before March 31, 2004. These reimbursement payments are reflected as "Additional paid-in capital" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, and not as an offset to the non-cash charge referenced above.

31



High Performance Unit Program

        In May 2002, the Company's shareholders approved the iStar Financial High Performance Unit ("HPU") Program. The program, as more fully described in the Company's annual proxy statement dated April 8, 2002, is a performance-based employee compensation plan that only has material value to the participants if the Company provides superior returns to its shareholders. The program entitles the employee participants ("HPU holders") to receive cash distributions in the nature of common stock dividends if the total rate of return on the Company's Common Stock (share price appreciation plus dividends) exceeds certain performance levels.

        Initially, there were three plans within the program: the 2002 plan, the 2003 plan, and the 2004 plan. Each plan has 5,000 shares of High Performance Common Stock associated with it. Each share of High Performance Common Stock carries 0.25 votes per share.

        For these three plans, the Company's performance is measured over a one-, two-, or three-year valuation period, beginning on January 1, 2002 and ending on December 31, 2002, December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004, respectively. The end of the valuation period (i.e., the "valuation date") will be accelerated if there is a change in control of the Company. The High Performance Common Stock has a nominal value unless the total rate of shareholder return for the relevant valuation period exceeds the greater of: (1) 10.00%, 20.00%, or 30.00% for the 2002 plan, the 2003 plan and the 2004 plan, respectively; and (2) a weighted industry index total rate of return consisting of equal weightings of the Russell 1000 Financial Index and the Morgan Stanley REIT Index for the relevant period.

        If the total rate of return on the Company's Common Stock exceeds the threshold performance levels for a particular plan, then distributions will be paid on the shares of High Performance Common Stock related to that plan in the same amounts and at the same times as distributions are paid on a number of shares of the Company's Common Stock equal to the following: 7.50% of the Company's excess total rate of return (over the higher of the two threshold performance levels) multiplied by the weighted average market value of the Company's common equity capitalization during the measurement period, all as divided by the average closing price of a share of the Company's Common Stock for the 20 trading days immediately preceding the applicable valuation date.

        If the total rate of return on the Company's Common Stock does not exceed the threshold performance levels for a particular plan, then the shares of High Performance Common Stock related to that plan will have only nominal value. In this event, each of the 5,000 shares will be entitled to dividends equal to 0.01 times the dividend paid on a share of Common Stock, if and when dividends are declared on the common stock.

        Regardless of how much the Company's total rate of return exceeds the threshold performance levels, the dilutive impact to the Company's shareholders resulting from distributions on High Performance Common Stock in each plan is limited to 1.00% of the number of shares of the Company's Common Stock outstanding, on a fully diluted basis, on the valuation date for each plan.

        The employee participants have purchased their interests in High Performance Common Stock through a limited liability company at purchase prices approved by the Company's Board of Directors. The Company's Board has established the prices of the High Performance Common Stock based upon, among other things, an independent valuation from a major securities firm. The aggregate initial purchase prices were set on June 25, 2002 and were approximately $2.8 million, $1.8 million and $1.3 million for the 2002, 2003 and 2004 plans, respectively. No employee is permitted to exchange his or her interest in the LLC for shares of High Performance Common Stock prior to the applicable valuation date.

32



        The total shareholder return for the valuation period under the 2002 plan was 21.94%, which exceeded both the fixed performance threshold of 10.00% and the industry index return of (5.83%). As a result of this superior performance, the participants in the 2002 plan are entitled to receive cash distributions equivalent to the amount of cash dividends payable on 819,254 shares of the Company's Common Stock, as and when such dividends are paid. Such dividend payments begin with the first quarter 2003 dividend. The Company will pay dividends on the 2002 plan shares in the same amount per share and on the same distribution dates that shares of the Company's Common Stock are paid. The Company has the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase at cost 50.00% of the interests earned by an employee in the 2002 plan if the employee breaches certain non-competition, non-solicitation and confidentiality covenants through January 1, 2005.

        A new 2005 plan has been established with a three-year valuation period ending December 31, 2005. Awards under the 2005 plan were approved on January 14, 2003. The 2005 plan has 5,000 shares of High Performance Common Stock with an aggregate initial purchase price of $573,000. The purchase price of the High Performance Common Stock was established by the Company's Board based upon, among other things, an independent valuation from a major securities firm. The provisions of the 2005 plan are substantially the same as the prior plans.

        The additional equity from the issuance of the High Performance Common Stock is recorded as a separate class of stock and included within shareholders' equity on the Company's balance sheet. Net income allocable to common shareholders will be reduced by the HPU holders' share of dividends paid and undistributed earnings, if any.

401(k) Plan

        Effective November 4, 1999, the Company implemented a savings and retirement plan (the "401(k) Plan"), which is a voluntary, defined contribution plan. All employees are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan following completion of three months of continuous service with the Company. Each participant may contribute on a pretax basis between 2.00% and 15.00% of such participant's compensation. At the discretion of the Board of Directors, the Company may make matching contributions on the participant's behalf of up to 50.00% of the first 10.00% of the participant's annual compensation. The Company made gross contributions of approximately $207,000 and $171,000 to the 401(k) Plan for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

33



Note 11—Earnings Per Share

        The following table presents a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS calculations for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively (in thousands, except per share data):

 
  For the
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
 
  2003
  2002
 
Numerator:              
  Net income before (loss) income from discontinued operations and gain from discontinued operations   $ 67,814   $ 55,761  
  Preferred dividend requirements     (9,227 )   (9,227 )
   
 
 
  Net income allocable to common shareholders before (loss) income from discontinued operations and gain from discontinued operations     58,587     46,534  
  (Loss) income from discontinued operations     (125 )   1,350  
  Gain from discontinued operations     264      
   
 
 
  Net income allocable to common shareholders and HPU holders(1)   $ 58,726   $ 47,884  
   
 
 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Weighted average common shares outstanding for basic earnings per common share     98,472     87,724  
  Add: effect of assumed shares issued under treasury stock method for stock options and restricted shares     1,549     1,617  
  Add: effect of contingent shares     1,264     350  
   
 
 
  Weighted average common shares outstanding for diluted earnings per common share     101,285     89,691  
   
 
 

Basic earnings per common share(2):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Net income allocable to common shareholders before (loss) income from discontinued operations and gain from discontinued operations   $ 0.59   $ 0.53  
  (Loss) income from discontinued operations     (0.00 )   0.02  
  Gain from discontinued operations     0.00     0.00  
   
 
 
  Net income allocable to common shareholders   $ 0.59   $ 0.55  
   
 
 

Diluted earnings per common share(2) (3):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Net income allocable to common shareholders before (loss) income from discontinued operations and gain from discontinued operations   $ 0.58   $ 0.52  
  (Loss) income from discontinued operations     (0.00 )   0.01  
  Gain from discontinued operations     0.00     0.00  
   
 
 
  Net income allocable to common shareholders   $ 0.58   $ 0.53  
   
 
 

Explanatory Notes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)
HPU holders are Company employees who purchased high performance common stock units under the Company's High Performance Unit Program.

(2)
For the three months ended March 31, 2003, net income used to calculate earnings per basic and diluted common share excludes $485 and $472 of net income allocable to HPU holders, respectively.

(3)
For the three months ended March 31, 2003, net income used to calculate earnings per diluted common share includes joint venture income of $39.

        In addition, there were approximately 163,000 and 220,000 stock options, 6.1 million and 6.1 million warrants and 298,000 and 373,000 joint venture shares that were antidilutive for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

34



Note 12—Comprehensive Income

        In June 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130 ("SFAS No. 130"), "Reporting Comprehensive Income" effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997. The statement changes the reporting of certain items currently reported as changes in the shareholders' equity section of the balance sheet and establishes standards for the reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components in a full set of general-purpose financial statements. SFAS No. 130 requires that all components of comprehensive income shall be reported in the financial statements in the period in which they are recognized. Furthermore, a total amount for comprehensive income shall be displayed in the financial statements. Total comprehensive income was $72.5 million and $65.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The primary components of comprehensive income other than net income consist of amounts attributable to the adoption and continued application of SFAS No. 133 to the Company's cash flow hedges and changes in the fair value of the Company's available-for-sale investments.

        For the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, the change in fair market value of the Company's unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale investments and cash flow hedges was an increase of $4.6 million and $8.2 million, respectively, and was recorded as an adjustment to other comprehensive income. The reconciliation to other comprehensive income is as follows (in thousands):

 
  For the
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
  2003
  2002
Net income   $ 67,953   $ 57,111
Other comprehensive income:            
  Unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments     5,926     3,665
  Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges     (1,375 )   4,573
   
 
Comprehensive income   $ 72,504   $ 65,349
   
 

        Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale investments and cash flow hedges are recorded as adjustments to shareholders' equity (through "Accumulated other comprehensive income (losses)" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets), and are not included in adjusted earnings or net income unless realized.

        As of March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002, accumulated other comprehensive income (losses) reflected in the Company's shareholders' equity is comprised of the following (in thousands):

 
  As of
March 31,
2003

  As of
December 31,
2002

 
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments   $ 19,216   $ 13,290  
Unrealized losses on cash flow hedges     (16,966 )   (15,591 )
   
 
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (losses)   $ 2,250   $ (2,301 )
   
 
 

Note 13—Dividends

        In order to maintain its election to qualify as a REIT, the Company must currently distribute, at a minimum, an amount equal to 90.00% of its taxable income and must distribute 100.00% of its taxable income to avoid paying corporate federal income taxes. The Company anticipates it will distribute all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Because taxable income differs from cash flow from operations due to

35



non-cash revenues or expenses (such as depreciation), in certain circumstances, the Company may generate operating cash flow in excess of its dividends or, alternatively, may be required to borrow to make sufficient dividend payments.

        On April 1, 2003, the Company declared a dividend of approximately $67.6 million, or $0.6625 per common share applicable to the three-month period ended March 31, 2003 and payable to shareholders of record on April 15, 2003. The Company also declared dividends aggregating $5.2 million, $1.2 million, $700,000 and $2.0 million, respectively, on its Series A, B, C and D preferred stock, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2003. There are no divided arrearages on any of the preferred shares currently outstanding.

        The Series A preferred stock has a liquidation preference of $50.00 per share and carries an initial dividend yield of 9.50% per annum. The dividend rate on the preferred shares will increase to 9.75% on December 15, 2005, to 10.00% on December 15, 2006 and to 10.25% on December 15, 2007 and thereafter. Dividends on the Series A preferred shares are payable quarterly in arrears and are cumulative.

        Holders of shares of the Series B preferred stock are entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, cumulative preferential cash dividends at the rate of 9.375% per annum of the $25.00 liquidation preference, equivalent to a fixed annual rate of $2.34 per share. Dividends are cumulative from the date of original issue and are payable quarterly in arrears on or before the 15th day of each March, June, September and December or, if not a business day, the next succeeding business day. Any dividend payable on the Series B preferred stock for any partial dividend period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Dividends will be payable to holders of record as of the close of business on the first day of the calendar month in which the applicable dividend payment date falls or on another date designated by the Board of Directors of the Company for the payment of dividends that is not more than 30 nor less than ten days prior to the dividend payment date.

        Holders of shares of the Series C preferred stock are entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, cumulative preferential cash dividends at the rate of 9.20% per annum of the $25.00 liquidation preference, equivalent to a fixed annual rate of $2.30 per share. The remaining terms relating to dividends of the Series C preferred stock are substantially identical to the terms of the Series B preferred stock described above.

        Holders of shares of the Series D preferred stock are entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, cumulative preferential cash dividends at the rate of 8.00% per annum of the $25.00 liquidation preference, equivalent to a fixed annual rate of $2.00 per share. The remaining terms relating to dividends of the Series D preferred stock are substantially identical to the terms of the Series B preferred stock described above.

        The 2002 High Performance Unit Program reached its valuation date on December 31, 2002. Based on the Company's 2002 total rate of return, the participants are entitled to receive cash dividends on 819,254 shares of the Company's stock. The Company will pay dividends on these units in the same amount per share and on the same distribution dates as shares of the Company's Common Stock. Such dividend payments will begin with the first quarter 2003 dividend and will reduce net income allocable to common shareholders when paid. Additionally, net income allocable to common shareholders will be reduced by the HPU holders' share of undistributed earnings, if any.

        The exact amount of future quarterly dividends to common shareholders will be determined by the Board of Directors based on the Company's actual and expected operations for the fiscal year and the Company's overall liquidity position.

36


Note 14—Segment Reporting

        Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 131 ("SFAS No. 131") establishes standards for the way that public business enterprises report information about operating segments in annual financial statements and requires that those enterprises report selected financial information about operating segments in interim financial reports issued to shareholders.

        The Company has two reportable segments: Real Estate Lending and Corporate Tenant Leasing. The Company does not have substantial foreign operations. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 3. The Company has no single customer that accounts for more than 3.95% of revenues (see Note 9 for other information regarding concentrations of credit risk).

        The Company evaluates performance based on the following financial measures for each segment:

 
   
   
   
 
 
  Real Estate Lending
  Corporate Tenant Leasing
  Corporate/Other(1)
  Company Total
 
 
  (In thousands)
(unaudited)

 
Three months ended March 31, 2003:                          
Total revenues(2):   $ 76,897   $ 65,833   $ 550   $ 143,280  
Equity in (loss) earnings from joint ventures and unconsolidated subsidiaries:         1,029     (1,087 )   (58 )
Total operating and interest expense(3):     24,575     29,311     21,483     75,369  
Net operating income(4):     52,322     37,551     (22,020 )   67,853  

As of March 31, 2003:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Total long-lived assets(5):   $ 3,247,631   $ 2,338,456     N/A   $ 5,586,087  
Total assets:     3,334,215     2,485,997     54,147     5,874,359  

Three months ended March 31, 2002:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Total revenues(2):   $ 63,868   $ 56,086   $ (378 ) $ 119,576  
Equity in (loss) earnings from joint ventures and unconsolidated subsidiaries:         1,787     (990 )   797  
Total operating and interest expense(3):     21,576     22,869     20,127     64,572  
Net operating income(4):     42,292     35,004     (21,495 )   55,801  

As of December 31, 2002:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Total long-lived assets(5):   $ 3,050,342   $ 2,291,805     N/A   $ 5,342,147  
Total assets:     3,126,219     2,442,087     43,391     5,611,697  

Explanatory Notes:


(1)
Corporate and Other represents all corporate level items, including general and administrative expenses and any intercompany eliminations necessary to reconcile to the consolidated Company totals. This caption also includes the Company's servicing business, which is not considered a material separate segment.

(2)
Total revenues represents all revenues earned during the period from the assets in each segment. Revenue from the Real Estate Lending business primarily represents interest income and revenue from the Corporate Tenant Leasing business primarily represents operating lease income.

37


(3)
Total operating and interest expense represents provision for loan losses for the Real Estate Lending business and operating costs on corporate tenant lease assets for the Corporate Tenant Leasing business, as well as interest expense specifically related to each segment. Interest expense on unsecured notes, general and administrative expense and general and administrative-stock-based compensation is included in Corporate and Other for all periods. Depreciation and amortization of $13,272 and $10,584 for the three months ended March 31 2003 and 2002, respectively, are included in the amounts presented above.

(4)
Net operating income represents net operating income before minority interest, (loss) income from discontinued operations and gain from discontinued operations. Net operating income excludes (loss) income from discontinued operations of $(125) and $1,350 for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

(5)
Total long-lived assets is comprised of Loans and Other Lending Investments, net and Corporate Tenant Lease Assets, net, for each respective segment.

Note 15—Subsequent Events

        On May 8, 2003, the Company priced a private offering of asset-backed bonds under the Company's proprietary match funding program, (STARs). The STARs Series 2003-1 offered bonds consist of 11 classes of investment-grade securities and the Company expects to receive approximately $646 million of gross proceeds from the offering. The STARs Series 2003-1 bonds create match funded term financing for approximately $739 million of iStar Financial's structured finance and corporate tenant lease assets.

        The weighted average interest rate on the offered bonds, expressed on an all-floating rate basis, is approximately LIBOR + 47 basis points. The offering is expected to close on or about May 21, 2003 and is subject to customary closing conditions. The Company will use the net proceeds from the offering to repay outstanding borrowings under its credit facilities.

38



Item 2.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

General

        The Company began its business in 1993 through private investment funds formed to take advantage of the lack of well-capitalized lenders capable of servicing the needs of high-end customers in its markets. In March 1998, the private investment funds contributed their approximately $1.1 billion of assets to the Company's predecessor in exchange for a controlling interest in that public company. In November 1999, the Company acquired its leasing subsidiary, TriNet Corporate Realty Trust, Inc. ("TriNet" or the "Leasing Subsidiary"), which was then the largest publicly-traded company specializing in corporate sale/leaseback for office and industrial facilities (the "TriNet Acquisition"). Concurrent with the TriNet Acquisition, the Company also acquired its former external advisor in exchange for shares of its Common Stock and converted its organizational form to a Maryland corporation. The Company's Common Stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SFI" in November 1999.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2002

        Interest income—Interest income increased by $17.5 million to $73.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 from $55.9 million for the same period in 2002. This increase was primarily due to $23.4 million of interest income on new originations or additional fundings, net of a $9.3 million decrease from the repayment of loans and other lending investments. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in interest income on the Company's variable-rate lending investments as the result of lower average one-month LIBOR rates of 1.34% in 2003, compared to 1.85% in 2002.

        Operating lease income—Operating lease income increased by $10.5 million to $65.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 from $55.0 million for the same period in 2002. Of this increase, $13.0 million was attributable to new corporate tenant lease investments. This increase was partially offset by lower operating lease income on certain corporate tenant lease assets.

        Other income—Other income generally consists of prepayment penalties and realized gains from the early repayment of loans and other lending investments, financial advisory and asset management fees, lease termination fees, mortgage servicing fees, loan participation payments and dividends on certain investments. During the three months ended March 31, 2003, other income included realized gains on loan repayments of $3.0 million, asset management, mortgage servicing and other fees of approximately $1.2 million, and other miscellaneous income such as dividend payments of $121,000.

        During the three months ended March 31, 2002, other income included financial advisory, lease termination, asset management and mortgage servicing fees of $6.8 million, prepayment penalties and gains on loan repayments of $1.6 million and loan participation payments of $115,000.

        Interest expense—For the three months ended March 31, 2003, interest expense increased by $6.3 million to $48.0 million from $41.7 million for the same period in 2002. This increase was primarily due to the higher average borrowings on the Company's debt obligations, term loans and secured notes, and by approximately $716,000 million due to additional amortization of deferred financing costs on the Company's debt obligations in 2003 compared to the same period in 2002. This increase was partially offset by lower average one-month LIBOR rates on the unhedged portion of the Company's variable-rate debt of 1.34% in 2003, compared to 1.85% in 2002.

        Operating costs—corporate tenant lease assets—For the three months ended March 31, 2003, operating costs increased by approximately $842,000 from $3.0 million to $3.9 million for the same period in 2002. This increase is primarily related to new corporate tenant lease investments and higher operating costs on certain corporate tenant lease assets.

39



        Depreciation and amortization—Depreciation and amortization increased by $2.7 million to $13.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 from $10.6 million for the same period in 2002. This increase is primarily due to new corporate tenant lease investments.

        General and administrative—For the three months ended March 31, 2003, general and administrative expenses increased by $1.1 million to $7.7 million, compared to $6.6 million for the same period in 2002. This increase is primarily the result of an increase in personnel and related costs.

        General and administrative—stock-based compensation—General and administrative-stock-based compensation decreased by $88,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2003 compared to the same period in 2002.

        Provision for loan losses—The Company's charge for provision for loan losses remained unchanged at $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003 compared to the same period in 2002. As more fully discussed in Note 4 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has experienced minimal actual losses on its loan investments to date. The Company considers it prudent to reflect provisions for loan losses on a portfolio basis based upon the Company's assessment of general market conditions, the Company's internal risk management policies and credit risk rating system, industry loss experience, the Company's assessment of the likelihood of delinquencies or defaults, and the value of the collateral underlying its investments. Accordingly, since its first full quarter operating its current business as a public company (the quarter ended June 30, 1998), management has reflected quarterly provisions for loan losses in its operating results.

        Equity in (loss) earnings from joint ventures and unconsolidated subsidiaries—For the three months ended March 31, 2003, equity in (loss) earnings from joint ventures and unconsolidated subsidiaries decreased by $855,000 to approximately ($58,000) from approximately $797,000 for the same period in 2002. This decrease is primarily due to the consolidation of one of the Company's corporate tenant lease joint venture investments.

        (Loss) income from discontinued operations—For the three months ended March 31, 2003, operating loss incurred by the Company on corporate tenant lease assets sold (prior to their sale) and assets held for sale was approximately $125,000. For the three months ended March 31, 2002, operating income earned by the Company on corporate tenant lease assets sold (prior to their sale) and assets held for sale was approximately $1.4 million. The income or loss from these assets is classified as "discontinued operations," even though such income or loss was recognized by the Company prior to the asset dispositions or classification as "held for sale".

        Gain from discontinued operations—During the three months ended March 31, 2003, the Company disposed of one corporate tenant lease asset for net proceeds of $4.0 million and recognized a gain of approximately $264,000.

        During the three months ended March 31, 2002, the Company did not incur any dispositions of corporate tenant lease assets.

Adjusted Earnings

        Adjusted earnings represents net income to common shareholders and HPU holders computed in accordance with GAAP, before depreciation, amortization, gain (loss) from discontinued operations, extraordinary items and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle. Adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures reflect the Company's share of adjusted earnings calculated on the same basis.

        The Company believes that to facilitate a clear understanding of the historical operating results of the Company, adjusted earnings should be examined in conjunction with net income as shown in the

40



Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations. Adjusted earnings should not be considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indicator of the Company's performance, or to cash flows from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of the Company's liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available to fund the Company's cash needs or available for distribution to the Company's shareholders. The Company's management believes that adjusted earnings more closely approximates operating cash flow and is a useful measure for investors to consider, in conjunction with net income and other GAAP measures, in evaluating the Company's financial performance. This is primarily because the Company is a commercial finance company that focuses on real estate lending and corporate tenant leasing; therefore, the Company's net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) reflects significant non-cash depreciation expense on corporate tenant lease assets. It should be noted that the Company's manner of calculating adjusted earnings may differ from the calculation of similarly-titled measures by other companies.

 
  For the
Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
  2003
  2002
 
  (Unaudited)
(In thousands)

Adjusted earnings:            
  Net income allocable to common shareholders and HPU holders(1)   $ 58,726   $ 47,884
  Add: Joint venture income     249     249
  Add: Depreciation     13,272     10,653
  Add: Joint venture depreciation and amortization     1,012     1,217
  Add: Amortization of deferred financing costs     6,451     5,735
  Less: Gains from discontinued operations     (264 )  
   
 
  Adjusted diluted earnings allocable to common shareholders and HPU holders(1)   $ 79,446   $ 65,738
   
 
  Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding     101,582     90,063
   
 

Explanatory Note:


(1)
For the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, dilutive adjusted earnings allocable to common shareholders and HPU holders includes $636 and $0, respectively, of adjusted earnings allocable to HPU holders.

Risk Management

        First Dollar and Last Dollar Exposure—One component of the Company's risk management assessment is an analysis of the Company's first and last dollar loan-to-value percentage with respect to the properties or companies the Company finances. First dollar loan-to-value represents the weighted average beginning point for the Company's lending exposure in the aggregate capitalization of the underlying properties or companies it finances. Last dollar loan-to-value represents the weighted average ending point for the Company's lending exposure in the aggregate capitalization of the underlying properties or companies it finances.

        Non-Accrual Loans—The Company transfers loans to non-accrual status at such time as: (1) management believes that the potential risk exists that scheduled debt service payments will not be met within the coming 12 months; (2) the loans become 90 days delinquent; (3) management determines the borrower is incapable of, or ceased efforts toward, curing the cause of an impairment; or (4) the net realizable value of the loan's underlying collateral approximates the Company's carrying value of such loan. Interest income is

41


recognized only upon actual cash receipt for loans on non-accrual status. As of March 31, 2003, the Company had three assets on non-accrual status with an aggregate gross book value of $11.1 million, or 0.20% of the gross book value of the Company's investments. The Company is currently comfortable that it has adequate collateral to support the book values of the assets.

        One of the three non-accrual loans is a $3.4 million partnership loan on two shopping malls located in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. This investment was part of a larger loan originally made by affiliates of Lazard Freres prior to the Company's acquisition of Lazard's structured finance portfolio in 1998. The loan matures in September 2003 and bears interest at 12.00%. The Company received cash payments equal to the interest due on the loan during the three months ended March 31, 2003, together with additional cash payments applied to principal and the borrower remains current on its obligations to the Company. However, the Company anticipates that this loan will remain on non-accrual status for the foreseeable future.

        The second non-accrual loan is a partnership loan with a balance of $5.7 million as of March 31, 2003. The loan is presently secured by partnership interests in two partnerships owning facilities in Colorado leased to the U.S. Government. The Company made the loan in anticipation of buying the facilities upon their completion. The loan matured on March 29, 2003 and bears interest at LIBOR + 3.50%, with a LIBOR floor of 3.00%. In February 2003 the borrower breached certain technical provisions of the loan documents, constituting a technical event of default. In April 2003, the Company received a $1.2 million principal paydown. The borrower remains current on its regular interest obligations to the Company. However, as a result of the technical default and the uncertainty surrounding the timing of the completion, and the sale or refinancing of the facilities, the loan has been placed on non-accrual status.

        The third non-accrual loan is a $2.0 million investment in convertible debt securities of a real estate company which trades on the Mexican Stock Exchange. This investment was made by TriNet prior to its acquisition by the Company in 1999. The securities bear interest at 12.00% per annum payable in arrears in December of each year. In January 2003, the Company received cash payments equal to the interest due on the investment through December 4, 2002, and the borrower remains current on its obligations to the Company. However, the Company anticipates that this investment will remain on non-accrual status for the foreseeable future.

        Watch List Assets—The Company conducts a quarterly comprehensive credit review, resulting in an individual risk rating being assigned to each asset. This review is designed to enable management to evaluate and proactively manage asset-specific credit issues and identify credit trends on a portfolio-wide basis as an "early warning system." As of March 31, 2003, the Company has five loans and two CTL investments that are on its credit watch list.

        In addition to the $5.7 million partnership loan mentioned above, the Company has four other loans on its credit watch list. The second watch list loan is a $40.9 million first mortgage secured by a hotel property in New York, New York. This mortgage matures on April 30, 2005 and bears interest at LIBOR + 4.50%. The borrower remains current on all of its debt service payments to the Company, and the Company is currently comfortable that it has adequate collateral to support the book value of the asset. However, due to poor operating performance exacerbated by the decline in the hotel market in the New York metropolitan area, this loan remains on the watch list.

        The third watch list loan is a $12.9 million junior participation in a first mortgage loan secured by a hotel property in New York, New York. This loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 7.91% and matures in June 2006. The borrower remains current on all of its debt service payments to the Company and has continued to invest additional equity to fund on-going capital improvements at the property. The Company is comfortable that it has adequate collateral to support the book value of the asset. However, due to poor operating performance exacerbated by the decline in the hotel market in the New York metropolitan area, this loan remains on the watch list.

42



        The fourth watch list loan is a $35.8 million junior interest in a $104.1 million first mortgage loan secured by a retail shopping mall in Chicago, Illinois. The whole loan bears interest at 8.88% and matures January 1, 2004. The mall's cash flow has been negatively impacted by the departure of one of four anchor tenants. The borrower is currently negotiating with one of the anchor tenants to occupy the vacant space. In addition, the borrower has a significant equity investment in the property (including approximately $15.0 million of additional equity invested in 2001), and remains current on all of its debt service payments to the Company. The Company believes that it has adequate collateral to support the book value of the asset.

        The fifth watch list loan is a $6.8 million subordinate trust certificate in a $27.4 million first mortgage secured by an office property in Louisville, Kentucky. The whole loan bears interest at 9.10% and matures in April, 2005. The property is experiencing near-term tenant rollover in a soft local real estate market. However, the Company's last dollar exposure is significantly below replacement cost, and the loan remains current through March 31, 2003. The Company believes that it has adequate collateral to support the book value of the asset.

        The Company also has two CTL investments on its credit watch list. In January 2002, a customer occupying two office facilities owned by the Company filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The customer utilizes these facilities as the U.S. headquarters for one of its major business lines. Since its bankruptcy filing, the customer has consolidated its space needs into the larger of the two facilities, including approximately 150 of its employees from other area locations. The customer has also invested approximately $3.0 million of its own capital in the facilities. In December 2002, the bankruptcy court approved a plan of reorganization. As part of the reorganization, the customer attempted to affirm the lease on the larger facility and terminate the lease on the smaller facility. Due to certain provisions of the lease, and the fact that the two leases are cross-defaulted, the Company believes the customer's affirmation of the larger facility lease is also an affirmation of the smaller facility. The customer remains current on the larger facility's lease payment to the Company, but has withheld its lease payment since March 26, 2003 on the smaller facility pending final resolution by the bankruptcy court. Therefore, the smaller facility (with a net carrying value of $3.5 million at March 31, 2003) remains on the Company's watch list.

        The second CTL investment on the Company's watch list is an investment in a corporate tenant lease asset held in a joint venture located in Milpitas, California. The facility's primary tenant is experiencing financial uncertainty. As of March 31, 2003, the Company's equity investment in the venture was $12.5 million and the Company's share of income from this equity investment for the three months ended March 31, 2003 was $438,000.

        Other Loans—As of March 31, 2003, the Company had a $15.2 million second mortgage on a Class A office building in Washington, D.C. which had paid debt service two months in arrears since December 2002. On April 8, 2003, the borrower prepaid the loan together with a prepayment premium of $1.3 million. The loan had a regularly scheduled maturity date in October 2005.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

        The Company requires capital to fund its investment activities and operating expenses. The Company has significant access to capital resources to fund its existing business plan, which includes the expansion of its real estate lending and corporate tenant leasing businesses. The Company's capital sources include cash flow from operations, borrowings under lines of credit, additional term borrowings, long-term financing secured by the Company's assets, unsecured financing and the issuance of common, convertible and /or preferred equity securities. Further, the Company may acquire other businesses or assets using its capital stock, cash or a combination thereof.

        The distribution requirements under the REIT provisions of the Code limit the Company's ability to retain earnings and thereby replenish or increase capital committed to its operations. However, the

43



Company believes that its significant capital resources and access to financing will provide it with financial flexibility and market responsiveness at levels sufficient to meet current and anticipated capital requirements, including expected new lending and corporate tenant leasing transactions.

        The Company believes that its existing sources of funds will be adequate for purposes of meeting its short- and long-term liquidity needs. The Company's ability to meet its long-term (i.e., beyond one year) liquidity requirements is subject to obtaining additional debt and equity financing. Any decision by the Company's lenders and investors to enter into such transactions with the Company will depend upon a number of factors, such as compliance with the terms of its existing credit arrangements, the Company's financial performance, industry or market trends, the general availability of and rates applicable to financing transactions, such lenders' and investors' resources and policies concerning the terms under which they make such capital commitments and the relative attractiveness of alternative investment or lending opportunities.

        The Company's longstanding policy is to limit its book debt-to-equity ratio to approximately 2.0x. As the Company's leverage approaches this level, the Company will consider equity and other alternatives to reduce leverage. The exact timing and nature of any equity issuance would be subject to market conditions.

        The following table outlines the contractual obligations related to the Company's long-term debt agreements and operating lease obligations as of March 31, 2003. There are no other long-term liabilities of the Company that would constitute a contractual obligation.

 
   
  Principal Payments Due By Period(1)
 
  Total
  Less Than 1 Year
  2-3 Years
  4-5 Years
  6-10 Years
  After 10 Years
 
   
  (In thousands)

Long-Term Debt Obligations:                                    
Secured revolving credit facilities   $ 1,501,827       $ 1,017,556   $ 484,271        
Unsecured revolving credit facilities                        
Secured term loans     680,914         141,868     245,945     240,560     52,541
iStar Asset Receivables secured notes(2)     820,650         180,976         639,674    
Unsecured notes     650,000             200,000     350,000     100,000
Other debt obligations     40,357     40,357                
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Total     3,693,748     40,357     1,340,400     930,216     1,230,234     152,541
Operating Lease Obligations:(3)     17,608     2,908     5,467     5,353     3,880    
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Total   $ 3,711,356   $ 43,265   $ 1,345,867   $ 935,569   $ 1,234,114   $ 152,541
   
 
 
 
 
 

Explanatory Notes:


(1)
Assumes exercise of extensions on the Company's long-term debt obligations to the extent such extensions are at the Company's option.

(2)
Based on expected proceeds from principal payments received on loan assets collateralizing such notes.

(3)
The Company also has a $1.0 million letter of credit outstanding as security for its primary corporate office lease.

        The Company has four LIBOR-based secured revolving credit facilities with an aggregate maximum availability of $2.4 billion, of which $1.5 billion was drawn as of March 31, 2003 (see Note 7 to the

44



Company's Consolidated Financial Statements). Availability under these facilities is based on collateral provided under a borrowing base calculation. At March 31, 2003, the Company also had an unsecured credit facility totaling $300.0 million which bears interest at LIBOR + 2.125% per annum and matures in July 2004, including a one-year extension at the Company's option. At March 31, 2003, the Company had not drawn any amounts under this facility.

        Recent Financing Activities—On March 14, 2003, the Company remarketed the 6.75% Dealer Remarketable Securities of its leasing subsidiary by acquiring and retiring those securities and by issuing $150.0 million of 7.00% Senior Notes due 2008. The covenants in the Senior Notes due 2008 are substantially identical to the covenants contained in the Company's 8.75% Notes. Subsequent to March 31, 2003, the Company issued an additional $35.0 million of Senior Notes bringing the aggregate principal of the Senior Notes to $185.0 million. The additional $35.0 million add-on notes have identical terms to the Senior Notes issued on March 14, 2003, but were issued at 102.75% of their principal amount to yield 6.34% per annum.

        On January 27, 2003, the Company extended the maturity on one of its $700.0 million secured facilities to January 2007, which includes a one-year "term-out" at the Company's option.

        On December 11, 2002, the Company closed a $61.5 million term loan financing with a leading financial institution. The proceeds were used to fund a portion of an $82.1 million CTL investment. The non-recourse loan is fixed rate and bears interest at 6.412%, has a maturity date of December 2012 and amortizes over a 30-year schedule.

        On September 30, 2002, the Company closed a $500.0 million secured revolving credit facility with a leading financial institution. The facility has a three-year term and bears interest at LIBOR + 1.50% to 2.25%, depending upon the collateral contributed to the borrowing base. The facility accepts a broad range of structured finance and corporate tenant assets and has a final maturity date of September 2005.

        On July 2, 2002, the Company purchased the remaining interest in the Milpitas joint venture from the former Milpitas external member for $27.9 million. Upon purchase of the interest, the Milpitas joint venture became fully consolidated for accounting purposes and approximately $79.1 million of secured term debt is reflected on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets.

        On May 28, 2002, the Company repaid the then remaining $446.2 million of bonds outstanding under its STARs, Series 2000-1 financing. Simultaneously, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company issued STARs, Series 2002-1, consisting of $885.1 million of investment-grade bonds secured by the subsidiary's structured finance and corporate tenant lease assets, which had an aggregate outstanding principal balance of approximately $1.1 billion at inception. Principal payments received on the assets will be utilized to repay the most senior class of the bonds then outstanding. The maturity of the bonds match funds the maturity of the underlying assets financed under the program. The weighted average interest rate on the bonds, on an all-floating rate basis, is approximately LIBOR + 0.56% at inception. For accounting purposes, this transaction was treated as a secured financing: the underlying assets and STARs liabilities remained on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, and no gain on sale was recognized.

        On March 29, 2002, the Company extended the maturity of its $500.0 million secured facility to August 2005, which includes a one-year "term-out" extension at the Company's option.

        On August 9, 2001, the Company issued $350.0 million of 8.75% senior notes due in 2008. The notes are unsecured senior obligations of the Company. The Company used the net proceeds to partially repay outstanding borrowings under its secured credit facilities.

        On July 27, 2001, the Company completed a $300.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility with a group of leading financial institutions. The facility has an initial maturity of July 2003, with a one-year extension at the Company's option and another one-year extension at the lenders' option. This facility replaces two prior credit facilities maturing in 2002 and 2003, and bears interest at LIBOR + 2.125%.

45



        On July 6, 2001, the Company financed a $75.0 million structured finance asset with a $50.0 million term loan bearing interest at LIBOR + 2.50%. The loan has a maturity of July 2006, including a one-year extension at the Company's option. This investment is a $75.0 million term preferred investment in a publicly-traded real estate customer. The Company's investment carries an initial current yield of 10.50%, with annual increases of 0.50% in each of the next two years. In addition, the Company's investment is convertible into the customer's common stock at a strike price of $25.00 per share. The investment is callable by the customer between months 13 and 30 of the term at a yield maintenance premium, and after month 30, at a premium sufficient to generate a 14.62% internal rate of return on the Company's investment. The investment is putable by the Company to the customer for cash after five years.

        On June 14, 2001, the Company closed $193.0 million of term loan financing secured by 15 corporate tenant lease assets. The variable-rate loan bears interest at LIBOR + 1.85% (not to exceed 10.00% in aggregate) and has two one-year extensions at the Company's option. The Company used these proceeds to repay a $77.8 million secured term loan maturing in June 2001 and to pay down a portion of its revolving credit facilities. In addition, the Company extended the maturity of its $500.0 million secured revolving credit facility to August 2003. On March 29, 2002, the Company again extended the final maturity of this facility to August 2005, which includes a one-year "term-out" extension at the Company's option.

        On May 15, 2001, the Company repaid its $100.0 million 7.30% unsecured notes. These notes were senior unsecured obligations of the Leasing Subsidiary and ranked equally with the Leasing Subsidiary's other senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.

        On February 22, 2001, the Company extended the maturity of its $350.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility to May 2002. On July 27, 2001, the Company repaid this facility and replaced it with a new $300.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility.

        On January 11, 2001, the Company closed a $700.0 million secured revolving credit facility which is led by a major commercial bank. The facility has a three-year primary term and one-year "term-out" extension option, and bears interest at LIBOR + 1.40% to 2.15%, depending upon the collateral contributed to the borrowing base. This facility accepts a broad range of structured finance assets and has a final maturity of January 2005. Subsequent to March 31, 2003, the Company extended the final maturity on this facility to January 2007.

        Hedging Activities—The Company has variable-rate lending assets and variable-rate debt obligations. These assets and liabilities create a natural hedge against changes in variable interest rates. This means that as interest rates increase, the Company earns more on its variable-rate lending assets and pays more on its variable-rate debt obligations and, conversely, as interest rates decrease, the Company earns less on its variable-rate lending assets and pays less on its variable-rate debt obligations. When the amount of the Company's variable-rate debt obligations exceeds the amount of its variable-rate lending assets, the Company utilizes derivative instruments to limit the impact of changing interest rates on its net income. The Company does not use derivative instruments to hedge assets or for speculative purposes. The derivative instruments the Company uses are typically in the form of interest rate swaps and interest rate caps. Interest rate swaps effectively change variable-rate debt obligations to fixed-rate debt obligations. Interest rate caps effectively limit the maximum interest rate on variable-rate debt obligations.

        In addition, when appropriate the Company may occasionally enter into interest rate swaps that convert fixed-rate debt to variable rate in order to mitigate the risk of changes in fair value of the fixed-rate debt obligations.

        The primary risks from the Company's use of derivative instruments is the risk that a counterparty to a hedging arrangement could default on its obligation and the risk that the Company may have to pay certain costs, such as transaction fees or breakage costs, if a hedging arrangement is terminated by the Company. As a matter of policy, the Company enters into hedging arrangements with counterparties that are large, creditworthy financial institutions typically rated at least "A" by Standard & Poor's ("S&P") and "A2" by

46



Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's"). The Company's hedging strategy is approved and monitored by the Company's Audit Committee on behalf of its Board of Directors and may be changed by the Board of Directors without stockholder approval.

        The Company has entered into the following cash flow hedges that are outstanding as of March 31, 2003. The net value associated with these hedges is reflected on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands).

Type of Hedge

  Notional Amount
  Strike Price or Swap Rate
  Trade Date
  Maturity Date
  Estimated Value at March 31, 2003
 
Pay-Fixed Swap   $ 125,000   7.058 % 6/15/00   6/25/03   $ (1,855 )
Pay-Fixed Swap     125,000   7.055 % 6/15/00   6/25/03     (1,855 )
Pay-Fixed Swap     75,000   5.580 % 11/4/99 (1) 12/1/04     (5,388 )
Pay-Fixed Swap     125,000   2.885 % 1/23/03   6/25/06     (1,698 )
Pay-Fixed Swap     125,000   2.885 % 2/11/03   6/25/06     (1,523 )
Pay-Floating Swap     100,000   3.878 % 11/27/02   8/15/08     3,328  
Pay-Floating Swap     50,000   3.810 % 11/27/02   8/15/08     1,491  
LIBOR Cap     345,000   8.000 % 5/22/02   5/28/14     10,062  
LIBOR Cap     75,000   7.750 % 11/4/99 (1) 12/1/04     3  
LIBOR Cap     35,000   7.750 % 11/4/99 (1) 12/1/04     1  
                     
 
Total Estimated Value   $ 2,566  
                     
 

Explanatory Note:


(1)
Acquired in connection with the TriNet Acquisition (see Note 1 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements).

        Between January 1, 2002 and March 31, 2003, the Company had no cash flow hedges that expired or settled.

        During the three months ended March 31, 2003 the Company entered into two $125.0 million forward starting swaps. These pay-fixed swaps become effective in June 2003 and will replace the two $125.0 million pay-fixed swaps that expire on June 25, 2003. The two new pay-fixed swaps have a three year term and expire on June 25, 2006.

        In connection with STARs, Series 2002-1 in May 2002, the Company entered into a LIBOR interest rate cap struck at 8.00% in the notional amount of $345.0 million. The Company utilizes the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 ("SFAS No. 133), "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," with respect to such instruments. SFAS No. 133 provides that the up-front fees paid on option-based products such as caps should be expensed into earnings based on the allocation of the premium to the affected periods as if the agreement were a series of "caplets." These allocated premiums are then reflected as a charge to income (as part of interest expense) in the affected period.

        On May 28, 2002, in connection with the STARs, Series 2002-1 transaction, the Company paid a premium of $13.7 million for an interest rate cap. Using the "caplet" methodology discussed above, amortization of the cap premium is dependent upon the actual value of the caplets at inception.

        In connection with a portion of the Company's fixed-rate corporate bonds, the Company entered into two pay-floating interest rate swaps struck at 3.8775% and 3.81% and in the notional amounts of $100.0 million and $50.0 million, respectively. The Company pays one-month LIBOR and receives the stated fixed rate in return. These swaps mitigate the risk of changes in the fair value of $150.0 million of the Company's fixed-rate corporate bonds attributable to changes in LIBOR. For accounting purposes, the

47



difference between the fixed rate received and the LIBOR rate paid on the notional amount of the swap is recorded as "Interest expense" on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations. In addition, the Company adjusts the value of the swap to its fair value and adjusts the carrying amount of the hedged liability by an offsetting amount on a quarterly basis.

        Certain of the Company's CTL joint ventures, have hedging activities which are more fully described in Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

        Off-Balance Sheet Transactions—The Company is not dependent on the use of any off-balance sheet financing arrangements for liquidity. As of March 31, 2003, the Company had investments in three corporate tenant lease joint ventures accounted for under the equity method, which had total debt obligations outstanding of approximately $176.4 million. The Company's pro rata share of the ventures' third-party debt was approximately $77.2 million (see Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements). These ventures were formed for the purpose of operating, acquiring and in certain cases, developing corporate tenant lease facilities. The debt obligations of these joint ventures are non-recourse to the ventures and the Company and mature between fiscal years 2004 and 2011. As of March 31, 2003, the debt obligations consisted of six term loans bearing fixed rates per annum ranging from 7.61% to 8.43% and one variable-rate term loan with a rate of LIBOR + 1.25% per annum.

        The Company has certain discretionary and non-discretionary unfunded commitments related to its loans and other lending investments that it may need to, or choose to, fund in the future. Discretionary commitments are those under which the Company has sole discretion with respect to future funding. Non-discretionary commitments are those under which the Company is generally obligated to fund at the request of the borrower or upon the occurrence of events outside of the Company's direct control. As of March 31, 2003, the Company had 12 loans with unfunded commitments totaling $177.8 million, of which $77.2 million was discretionary and $100.6 million was non-discretionary.

        Ratings Triggers—On July 27, 2001, the Company completed a $300.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility with a group of leading financial institutions. The facility has an initial maturity of July 2003 with a one-year extension at the Company's option and another one-year extension at the lenders' option. This facility replaces two prior credit facilities maturing in 2002 and 2003, and bears interest at LIBOR + 2.125% per annum based on the Company's senior unsecured credit ratings of BB+ from S&P, Ba1 from Moody's and BBB- from Fitch Ratings. If the Company achieves a higher rating from either S&P or Moody's, the facility's interest rate will improve to LIBOR + 2.00% per annum. If the Company's credit rating is downgraded by any of the rating agencies (regardless of how far), the facility's interest rate will increase to LIBOR + 2.25% per annum. In the event the Company receives two credit ratings that are not equivalent, the spread over LIBOR shall be determined by the lower of the two such ratings. As of March 31, 2003, no amounts are outstanding on this facility. Accordingly, management does not believe any rating changes would have a material adverse impact on the Company's results of operations. There are no other ratings triggers in any of the Company's debt instruments or other operating or financial agreements.

        On July 30, 2002, the Company's senior unsecured credit rating was upgraded to an investment grade rating of BBB- from BB+ by Fitch Ratings. In addition, Moody's and S&P raised their ratings outlook for the Company's senior unsecured credit rating to "positive."

        Transactions with Related Parties—The Company has an investment in iStar Operating Inc. ("iStar Operating"), a taxable subsidiary that, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, services the Company's loans and certain loan portfolios owned by third parties. The Company owns all of the non-voting preferred stock and a 95.00% economic interest in iStar Operating. An affiliate of the Company's largest shareholder is the owner of all the voting common stock and a 5.00% economic interest in iStar Operating. As of March 31, 2003, there have never been any distributions to the common shareholder, nor does the Company expect to make any in the future. At any time, the Company has the right to acquire all of the common stock of iStar Operating at fair market value, which the Company believes to be nominal. In

48



addition to the direct general and administrative costs of iStar Operating, the Company allocates a portion of its general overhead expenses to iStar Operating based on the number of employees at iStar Operating as a percentage of the Company's total employees.

        iStar Operating has elected to be treated as a taxable REIT subsidiary for purposes of maintaining compliance with the REIT provisions of the Code and is accounted for under the equity method for financial statement reporting purposes and is presented in "Investments in and advances to joint ventures and unconsolidated subsidiaries" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. If it were consolidated with the Company for financial statement purposes, it would not have a material impact on the Company's operations. As of March 31, 2003, iStar Operating had no debt obligations.

        In addition, the Company has an investment in TMOC, an entity originally formed to make a $2.0 million investment in the convertible debt securities of a real estate company which trades on the Mexican Stock Exchange. This investment was made by TriNet prior to its acquisition by the Company in 1999. Prior to March 29, 2003, the Company owned 95.00% of the outstanding voting and non-voting common stock (representing 1.00% voting power and 95.00% of the economic interest) in TMOC. The owners of the remaining TMOC stock were two executives of the Company. On March 29, 2003, the Company purchased the remaining 5.00% interest from the executives for approximately $2,000, an amount that was equal to the carrying value and less than their original investment. As of March 31, 2003, TMOC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

        The Company entered into an employment agreement with its Chief Executive Officer as of March 31, 2001. In addition to the salary and bonus provisions of the agreement, the agreement provides for an award of 2.0 million phantom units to the executive, each of which notionally represents one share of the Company's Common Stock. Portions of these phantom units will vest on a contingent basis if the average closing price of the Company's Common Stock achieves certain levels (ranging from $25.00 to $37.00 per share) for 60 consecutive calendar days. Contingently vested units will become fully vested, meaning that they are no longer subject to forfeiture, if the executive remains employed through March 30, 2004, or earlier upon certain change of control and termination events. When and if contingently vested phantom units become fully vested units, the Company must deliver to the executive either a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of fully vested units or an amount of cash equal to the then fair market value of that number of shares of Common Stock. If shares were unavailable under the Company's then long-term incentive plans, this obligation could require the Company to make a substantial cash payment to the executive.

        DRIP Program—The Company maintains a dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan. Under the dividend reinvestment component of the plan, the Company's shareholders may purchase additional shares of Common Stock without payment of brokerage commissions or service charges by automatically reinvesting all or a portion of their Common Stock cash dividends. Under the direct stock purchase component of the plan, the Company's shareholders and new investors may purchase shares of Common Stock directly from the Company without payment of brokerage commissions or service charges. All purchases of shares in excess of $10,000 per month pursuant to the direct purchase component are at the Company's sole discretion. Shares issued under the plan may reflect a discount of up to 3.00% from the prevailing market price of the Company's Common Stock. The Company is authorized to issue up to 8.0 million shares of Common Stock pursuant to the dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan. During the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company issued a total of approximately 619,000 and 768,000 shares of its Common Stock, respectively, through the direct stock purchase component of the plan. Net proceeds during the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 were approximately $17.4 million and $20.4 million, respectively.

        Stock Repurchase Program—The Board of Directors approved, and the Company has implemented, a stock repurchase program under which the Company is authorized to repurchase up to 5.0 million shares of its Common Stock from time to time, primarily using proceeds from the disposition of assets or loan

49



repayments and excess cash flow from operations, but also using borrowings under its credit facilities if the Company determines that it is advantageous to do so. As of December 31, 2001, the Company had repurchased a total of approximately 2.3 million shares, at an aggregate cost of approximately $40.7 million. The Company did not repurchase any shares under the stock repurchase program for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and for the year ended December 31, 2002.

Critical Accounting Policies

        The Company's Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and all majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. In preparing these financial statements, management has made its best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. The Company does not believe that there is a great likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported related to the accounting policies described below. However, application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and, as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.

        Management has the obligation to ensure that its policies and methodologies are in accordance with GAAP. During the three months ended March 31, 2003, management reviewed and evaluated its critical accounting policies as further disclosed in the Company's December 31, 2002 Form 10-K and believes them to be appropriate. The Company's accounting policies are described in Note 3 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. The following are significant events relating to critical accounting policies during the three months ended March 31, 2003:

        Executive Compensation—The Company's accounting policies generally provide cash compensation to be estimated and recognized over the period of service. With respect to stock-based compensation arrangements, as of July 1, 2002 (with retroactive application to the beginning of the calendar year), the Company has adopted the fair value method allowed under SFAS No. 123 on a prospective basis, which values options on the date of grant and recognizes an expense equal to the fair value of the option multiplied by the number of options granted over the related service period. Prior to the third quarter 2002, the Company elected to use APB 25 accounting, which measured the compensation charges based on the intrinsic value of such securities when they become fixed and determinable, and recognized such expense over the related service period. These arrangements are often complex and generally structured to align the interests of management with those of the Company's shareholders. See Note 10 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for a detailed discussion of such arrangements and the related accounting effects.

        During 2001, the Company entered into three-year employment agreements with its Chief Executive Officer and its President. In addition, during 2002 the Company entered into a three-year employment agreement with its Chief Financial Officer. See Note 10 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for a more detailed description of these employment agreements.

        The following is a hypothetical illustration of the effects on the Company's net income and adjusted earnings of the full vesting of phantom units under the employment agreement with the Chief Executive Officer. During the three months ended March 31, 2003, 1.0 million of the phantom shares awarded to the Chief Executive Officer were contingently vested. Absent an earlier change of control or termination of employment, these 1,000,000 shares will not become fully vested until March 31, 2004. Assuming that the market price of the Common Stock on March 31, 2004 is $29.17 (which was the market price of the Common Stock on March 31, 2003), the Company would incur a one-time charge to both net income and earnings at that time equal to $29.2 million (the fair market value of the 1,000,000 shares at $29.17 per share).

50



        On April 29, 2002, the 500,000 unvested restricted shares awarded to the President became contingently vested as the total shareholder return exceeded 60.00% and became fully vested on September 30, 2002 as all employment contingencies were met. The Company incurred a non-cash charge of approximately $15.0 million related to these vested shares, recognized ratably over the service period from the date of contingent vesting through September 30, 2002.

New Accounting Standards

        In January 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46 ("FIN 46"), "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities," an interpretation of ARB 51. FIN 46 provides guidance on identifying entities for which control is achieved through means other than through voting rights (a "variable interest entity" or "VIE"), and how to determine when and which business enterprise should consolidate a VIE. In addition, FIN 46 requires that both the primary beneficiary and all other enterprises with a significant variable interest in a VIE make additional disclosures. The transitional disclosure requirements took effect immediately and were required for all financial statements initially issued after January 31, 2003. Immediate consolidation is required for VIEs entered into or modified after February 1, 2003 in which the Company is deemed the primary beneficiary. For VIEs in which the Company entered into prior to February 1, 2003 consolidation will be required by the Company effective with the Company's third quarter 2003 reporting. The adoption of the additional consolidation provisions of FIN 46 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial statements.

        In December 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148 ("SFAS No. 148"), "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure," an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123 ("SFAS No. 123"). This statement provides alternative transition methods for a voluntary change to the fair value basis of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. However, this Statement does not permit the use of the original SFAS No. 123 prospective method of transition for changes to the fair value based method made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2003. In addition, this Statement amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation, description of transition method utilized and the effect of the method used on reported results. The Company adopted SFAS No. 148 with retroactive application to grants made subsequent to January 1, 2002 with no material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

        In November 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 45 ("FIN 45"), "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others," an interpretation of FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5 ("SFAS No. 5"), "Accounting for Contingencies," Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 57, "Related Party Disclosures," Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 107, "Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments" and rescinds FASB Interpretation No. 34, "Disclosure of Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others, an Interpretation of SFAS No. 5." It requires that upon issuance of a guarantee, the guarantor must recognize a liability for the fair value of the obligation it assumes under that guarantee regardless if the Company receives separately identifiable consideration (i.e., a premium). The disclosure requirements are effective December 31, 2002. The adoption of FIN 45 did not have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements, nor is it expected to have a material impact in the future.

        In September 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 147 ("SFAS No. 147"), "Acquisitions of Certain Financial Institutions," an amendment of FASB Statements No. 72 and 144 and FASB Interpretation No. 9. SFAS No. 147 provides guidance on the accounting for the acquisitions of financial institutions, except those acquisitions between two or more mutual enterprises. SFAS No. 147 removes acquisitions of financial institutions from the scope of both FASB No. 72, "Accounting for Certain

51


Acquisitions of Banking or Thrift Institutions," and FASB Interpretation No. 9, Applying APB Opinions No. 16 and 17, "When a Savings and Loan Association or a Similar Institution is Acquired in a Business Combination Accounted for by the Purchase Method," and requires that those transactions be accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 141 and SFAS No. 142. SFAS No. 147 also amends SFAS No. 144 to include in its scope long-term, customer-relationship intangible assets of financial institutions such as depositor-relationship and borrower-relationship intangible assets and credit cardholder intangible assets. The Company adopted the provisions of this statement, as required, on October 1, 2002, and it did not have a significant financial impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

        In June 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 146 ("SFAS No. 146"), "Accounting for Exit or Disposal Activities," to address significant issues regarding the recognition, measurement, and reporting of costs that are associated with exit and disposal activities, including restructuring activities that are currently accounted for pursuant to the guidance that the Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") has set forth in EITF Issue No. 94-3, "Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)." The scope of SFAS No. 146 also includes: (1) costs related to terminating a contract that is not a capital lease; and (2) termination benefits received by employees involuntarily terminated under the terms of a one-time benefit arrangement that is not an on-going benefit arrangement or an individual deferred-compensation contract. The provisions of SFAS No. 146 are effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 146 on December 31, 2002, as required, and it did not have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statement.

        In April 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 145 ("SFAS No. 145"), "Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections." SFAS No. 145 rescinds both FASB Statements No. 4 ("SFAS No. 4"), "Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt," and the amendment to SFAS No. 4, FASB Statement No. 64 ("SFAS No. 64"), "Extinguishments of Debt Made to Satisfy Sinking-Fund Requirements." Through this rescission, SFAS No. 145 eliminates the requirement (in both SFAS No. 4 and SFAS No. 64) that gains and losses from the extinguishment of debt be aggregated and, if material, classified as an extraordinary item, net of the related income tax effect. An entity is not prohibited from classifying such gains and losses as extraordinary items, so long as they meet the criteria in paragraph 20 of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 ("APB 30"), "Reporting the Results of Operations—Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions"; however, due to the nature of the Company's operations, such treatment may not be available to the Company. Any gains or losses on extinguishments of debt that were previously classified as extraordinary items in prior periods presented that do not meet the criteria in APB 30 for classification as an extraordinary item will be reclassified to income from continuing operations. The provisions of SFAS No. 145 are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after May 15, 2002. The Company adopted the provisions of this statement, as required, on January 1, 2003 and it did not have a significant financial impact on the Company.

        In October 2001, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144 ("SFAS No. 144"), "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets." SFAS No. 144 provides guidance on the recognition of impairment losses on long-lived assets to be held and used or to be disposed of, and also broadens the definition of what constitutes a discontinued operation and how the results of a discontinued operation are to be measured and presented. SFAS No. 144 requires that current operations prior to the disposition of corporate tenant lease assets and prior period results of such operations be presented in discontinued operations in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations. The provisions of SFAS No. 144 are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001, and must be applied at the beginning of a fiscal year. The Company adopted the provisions of this statement on January 1, 2002, as required, and it did not have a significant financial impact on the Company.

52



        In July 2001, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 ("SFAS No. 141"), "Business Combinations" and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 ("SFAS No. 142"), "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets." SFAS No. 141 requires the purchase method of accounting to be used for all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001. SFAS No. 141 also addresses the initial recognition and measurement of goodwill and other intangible assets acquired in business combinations and requires intangible assets to be recognized apart from goodwill if certain tests are met. SFAS No. 142 requires that goodwill not be amortized but instead be measured for impairment at least annually, or when events indicate that there may be an impairment. The Company adopted the provisions of both statements, as required, on January 1, 2002 and the adoption did not have a significant impact on the Company.

        In July 2001, the SEC released Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 102 ("SAB 102"), "Selected Loan Loss Allowance and Documentation Issues." SAB 102 summarizes certain of the SEC's views on the development, documentation and application of a systematic methodology for determining allowances for loan and lease losses. Adoption of SAB 102 by the Company did not have a significant impact on the Company.

        In September 2000, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 140 ("SFAS No. 140"), "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities." This statement is applicable for transfers of assets and extinguishments of liabilities occurring after June 30, 2001. The Company adopted the provisions of this statement as required for all transactions entered into on or after April 1, 2001. The adoption of SFAS No. 140 did not have a significant impact on the Company.

        Financial statements of five owned companies or joint ventures accounted for under the equity method have been omitted because the Company's proportionate share of the income from continuing operations before income taxes is less than 20.00% of the respective consolidated amount and the investments in and advances to each company are less than 20.00% of consolidated total assets.


Item 4.    Controls and Procedures

        The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company's Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company has formed a disclosure committee that is responsible for considering the materiality of information and determining the disclosure obligations of the Company on a timely basis. The disclosure committee reports directly to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer is currently a member of the disclosure committee.

        Within the 90-day period prior to the date of this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the disclosure committee and other members of management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective to timely alert them to material information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the Company's Exchange Act filings.

        There have been no significant changes in the Company's internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date that the Company carried out its evaluation

53



PART II

ITEM 1.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        None


ITEM 2.    CHANGES IN 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

        None


ITEM 6.    EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

    a.
    Exhibits

      4.1 Registration Rights Agreement dated March 24, 2003 between iStar Financial Inc. and Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America.

    b.
    Reports on Form 8-K

      On March 5, 2003, a Current Report on Form 8-K was filed that included a supplemental investor presentation.

      On March 12, 2003, a Current Report on Form 8-K was filed in order to file the underwriting agreement in connection with the offering of the Company's 7.0% Senior Notes due 2008.

      On March 17, 2003, a Current Report on Form 8-K was filed in order to file exhibits in connection with the offering of the Company's 7.0% Senior Notes due 2008.

      On March 28, 2003, a Current Report on Form 8-K was filed that included the certification of the Company's chief executive officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

54



SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

  iSTAR FINANCIAL INC.
Registrant

Date: May 14, 2003

/s/  
JAY SUGARMAN      
Jay Sugarman
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer

Date: May 14, 2003

/s/  
CATHERINE D. RICE      
Catherine D. Rice
Chief Financial Officer

55



CERTIFICATIONS

I, Jay Sugarman, certify that:

    1.
    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of iStar Financial Inc.;

    2.
    Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

    3.
    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

    4.
    The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

    a.
    designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

    b.
    evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

    c.
    presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;
    5.
    The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

    a.
    all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

    b.
    any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and
    6.
    The registrant's other certifying officer and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: May 14, 2003 /s/  JAY SUGARMAN      
  Name:   Jay Sugarman
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

56


I, Catherine D. Rice, certify that:

    1.
    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of iStar Financial Inc.;

    2.
    Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

    3.
    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

    4.
    The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

    a.
    designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

    b.
    evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

    c.
    presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;
    5.
    The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

    a.
    all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

    b.
    any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and
    6.
    The registrant's other certifying officer and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: May 14, 2003 /s/  CATHERINE D. RICE      
  Name:   Catherine D. Rice
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

57




QuickLinks

Index to Form 10–Q
PART I. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
iStar Financial Inc. Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
PART II
SIGNATURES
CERTIFICATIONS