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 <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:4pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>UNITED STATES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>FORM 8-K
</B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Pursuant
to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>September&nbsp;11, 2013 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:24pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>NewStar
Financial, Inc. </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>001-33211</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>54-2157878</B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(State or other jurisdiction</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>of incorporation)</B></P></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Commission</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>File Number)</B></P></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(IRS Employer</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Identification No.)</B></P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" ROWSPAN="2" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>500 Boylston Street, Suite 1250, Boston, MA 02116</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)</B></P></TD></TR>
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</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(617) 848-2500 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>N/A </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Former name or
former address, if changed since last report.) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Check the appropriate box below
if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="FONT-FAMILY:WINGDINGS">&#168;</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:8pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&nbsp;1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On September&nbsp;11, 2013, NewStar Financial, Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) completed a $400.0 million term debt securitization. The notes
offered in the collateralized loan obligation (the &#147;Notes&#148;) were issued by NewStar Commercial Loan Funding 2013-1 LLC, a subsidiary of the Company (&#147;NCLF&#148;), and are backed by a diversified portfolio of commercial loans originated
and serviced by the Company. Investors purchased approximately $338.6 million of the floating-rate, asset-backed Notes, representing approximately 85% of the value of the collateral pool. The Company retained all of the Class F Notes, the Class G
Notes and the equity, which totaled approximately $61.4 million, representing approximately 15% of the value of the collateral pool. The blended pricing of the Notes was LIBOR plus 2.21%. The reinvestment period is expected to end in September 2016
and the Notes are expected to mature in September 2023. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The amount, ratings and LIBOR spread of the offered Notes are: </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:18.20pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Class</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Amount</B><br>($&nbsp;in&nbsp;millions)</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Rating</B><br><B></B>(S&amp;P/Moody&#146;s)<B></B></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>LIBOR&nbsp;spread</B><br><B></B>(basis&nbsp;points)<B></B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"><B>Assumed<BR>Weighted<BR>Average&nbsp;Life</B></TD></TR>


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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">A-T</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">202.6</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">AAA/Aaa</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">1.65</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">5.3&nbsp;years</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">A-R</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">35.0</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">AAA/Aaa</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">See&nbsp;footnote&nbsp;1&nbsp;below</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">5.3 years</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">B</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">38.0</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">AA/N/A</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">2.30</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">7.2 years</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">C</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">36.0</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">A/ N/A</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">3.80</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">7.6 years</TD></TR>
<TR BGCOLOR="#cceeff" STYLE="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">D</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">21.0</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">BBB/N/A</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">4.55</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">7.9 years</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">E</P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">$</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="right">6.0</TD>
<TD NOWRAP VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">BBB-/N/A</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">5.30</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">8.0 years</TD></TR>
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<TD WIDTH="2%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">1</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Class&nbsp;A-R Notes will accrue interest at the Class&nbsp;A-R CP Rate so long as they are held by a CP Conduit, and otherwise will accrue interest at the Class&nbsp;A-R LIBOR Rate or, in certain circumstances, the
Class&nbsp;A-R Base Rate, but in no event shall interest rate payable pari passu with the Class&nbsp;A-T Notes exceed the Class&nbsp;A-R Waterfall Rate Cap. </TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In connection with the completion of the term debt securitization, the Company, as transferor, entered into a Master Loan Sale Agreement,
dated as of September&nbsp;11, 2013, with NCLF as issuer and NewStar Commercial Loan Depositor 2013-1 LLC, a newly formed subsidiary of the Company, as depositor. The Company, as collateral manager, also entered into a Collateral Management
Agreement dated as of September&nbsp;11, 2013, with NCLF as Issuer. In addition, NCLF entered into an Indenture, dated as of September&nbsp;11, 2013, with U.S. Bank National Association as trustee. The Master Loan Sale Agreement, the Collateral
Management Agreement, and the Indenture require the Company and NCLF to comply with various covenants and contain events of default and collateral manager termination events, which are subject to certain materiality thresholds and grace and cure
periods, customary for securitizations of this type. The&nbsp;Master Loan Sale Agreement, the Collateral Management Agreement, and the Indenture&nbsp;are filed with this report as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, and 4.1, respectively, and the foregoing
descriptions of these documents do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by the full text set forth in those exhibits, which are incorporated herein by this reference. On September 13, 2013, the Company issued a press
release announcing the completion of the term debt securitization. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Notes were sold within the United States only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;). The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and, unless so registered, the Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons except
pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&nbsp;2.03 Creation of a
Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Off-Balance</FONT> Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The information set forth in Item&nbsp;1.01 of this Current Report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> is incorporated herein
by reference. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>ITEM&nbsp;9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(d) Exhibits </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;4.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Indenture by and between NewStar Commercial Loan Funding 2013-1 LLC, as Issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, dated as of September&nbsp;11, 2013.</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>10.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Master Loan Sale Agreement by and between the Company, as Transferor, NewStar Commercial Loan Depositor 2013-1 LLC, as Depositor, and NewStar Commercial Loan Funding 2013-1 LLC, as Issuer, dated as of September 11, 2013.</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>10.2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Collateral Management Agreement by and between the Company, as Collateral Manager, and NewStar Commercial Loan Funding 2013-1 LLC, as Issuer, dated as of September&nbsp;11, 2013.</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>99.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Press release of the Company, dated September 13, 2013.</TD></TR>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SIGNATURES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" COLSPAN="3"><B>NEWSTAR FINANCIAL, INC.</B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="text-indent:6.00em; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Date: September 13, 2013</P></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ JOHN KIRBY BRAY</P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom"><B>John Kirby Bray</B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom"><B>Chief Financial Officer</B></TD></TR>
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 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">3 </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:28.45pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Exhibit<BR>Number</B></P></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:39.50pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Description</B></P></TD></TR>


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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;4.1</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Indenture by and between NewStar Commercial Loan Funding 2013-1 LLC, as Issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, dated as of September 11, 2013.</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>10.1</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Master Loan Sale Agreement by and between the Company, as Transferor, NewStar Commercial Loan Depositor 2013-1 LLC, as Depositor and NewStar Commercial Loan Funding 2013-1 LLC as Issuer, dated as of September 11, 2013.</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>10.2</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Collateral Management Agreement by and between the Company, as Collateral Manager, and NewStar Commercial Loan Funding 2013-1 LLC, as Issuer, dated as of September 11, 2013.</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>99.1</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Press release of the Company, dated September 13, 2013.</TD></TR>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "NewStar Financial, Inc.", "cik": "0001373561", "assigned-sic": "6172", "irs-number": "542157878", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-33211", "film-number": "131095356"}, "business-address": {"street1": "500 BOYLSTON STREET", "street2": "SUITE 1250", "city": "BOSTON", "state": "MA", "zip": "02116", "phone": "617-848-2500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "500 BOYLSTON STREET", "street2": "SUITE 1250", "city": "BOSTON", "state": "MA", "zip": "02116"}}
Form 8-K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d)
of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
September 11, 2013
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
NewStar
Financial, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
001-33211
54-2157878
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
500 Boylston Street, Suite 1250, Boston, MA 02116
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(617) 848-2500
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name or
former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below
if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On September 11, 2013, NewStar Financial, Inc. (the "Company") completed a $400.0 million term debt securitization. The notes
offered in the collateralized loan obligation (the "Notes") were issued by NewStar Commercial Loan Funding 2013-1 LLC, a subsidiary of the Company ("NCLF"), and are backed by a diversified portfolio of commercial loans originated
and serviced by the Company. Investors purchased approximately $338.6 million of the floating-rate, asset-backed Notes, representing approximately 85% of the value of the collateral pool. The Company retained all of the Class F Notes, the Class G
Notes and the equity, which totaled approximately $61.4 million, representing approximately 15% of the value of the collateral pool. The blended pricing of the Notes was LIBOR plus 2.21%. The reinvestment period is expected to end in September 2016
and the Notes are expected to mature in September 2023.
The amount, ratings and LIBOR spread of the offered Notes are:
Class
Amount
($ in millions)
Rating
(S&P/Moody's)
LIBOR spread
(basis points)
Assumed
Weighted
Average Life
A-T
$
202.6
AAA/Aaa
1.65
5.3 years
A-R
$
35.0
AAA/Aaa
See footnote 1 below
5.3 years
B
$
38.0
AA/N/A
2.30
7.2 years
C
$
36.0
A/ N/A
3.80
7.6 years
D
$
21.0
BBB/N/A
4.55
7.9 years
E
$
6.0
BBB-/N/A
5.30
8.0 years
1
Class A-R Notes will accrue interest at the Class A-R CP Rate so long as they are held by a CP Conduit, and otherwise will accrue interest at the Class A-R LIBOR Rate or, in certain circumstances, the
Class A-R Base Rate, but in no event shall interest rate payable pari passu with the Class A-T Notes exceed the Class A-R Waterfall Rate Cap.
In connection with the completion of the term debt securitization, the Company, as transferor, entered into a Master Loan Sale Agreement,
dated as of September 11, 2013, with NCLF as issuer and NewStar Commercial Loan Depositor 2013-1 LLC, a newly formed subsidiary of the Company, as depositor. The Company, as collateral manager, also entered into a Collateral Management
Agreement dated as of September 11, 2013, with NCLF as Issuer. In addition, NCLF entered into an Indenture, dated as of September 11, 2013, with U.S. Bank National Association as trustee. The Master Loan Sale Agreement, the Collateral
Management Agreement, and the Indenture require the Company and NCLF to comply with various covenants and contain events of default and collateral manager termination events, which are subject to certain materiality thresholds and grace and cure
periods, customary for securitizations of this type. The Master Loan Sale Agreement, the Collateral Management Agreement, and the Indenture are filed with this report as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, and 4.1, respectively, and the foregoing
descriptions of these documents do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by the full text set forth in those exhibits, which are incorporated herein by this reference. On September 13, 2013, the Company issued a press
release announcing the completion of the term debt securitization. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
The Notes were sold within the United States only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and, unless so registered, the Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States or to U.S. persons except
pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.
Item 2.03 Creation of a
Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form
8-K
is incorporated herein
by reference.
ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(d) Exhibits
4.1
Indenture by and between NewStar Commercial Loan Funding 2013-1 LLC, as Issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, dated as of September 11, 2013.
10.1
Master Loan Sale Agreement by and between the Company, as Transferor, NewStar Commercial Loan Depositor 2013-1 LLC, as Depositor, and NewStar Commercial Loan Funding 2013-1 LLC, as Issuer, dated as of September 11, 2013.
10.2
Collateral Management Agreement by and between the Company, as Collateral Manager, and NewStar Commercial Loan Funding 2013-1 LLC, as Issuer, dated as of September 11, 2013.
99.1
Press release of the Company, dated September 13, 2013.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
NEWSTAR FINANCIAL, INC.
Date: September 13, 2013
By:
/s/ JOHN KIRBY BRAY
John Kirby Bray
Chief Financial Officer
3
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
Description
4.1
Indenture by and between NewStar Commercial Loan Funding 2013-1 LLC, as Issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, dated as of September 11, 2013.
10.1
Master Loan Sale Agreement by and between the Company, as Transferor, NewStar Commercial Loan Depositor 2013-1 LLC, as Depositor and NewStar Commercial Loan Funding 2013-1 LLC as Issuer, dated as of September 11, 2013.
10.2
Collateral Management Agreement by and between the Company, as Collateral Manager, and NewStar Commercial Loan Funding 2013-1 LLC, as Issuer, dated as of September 11, 2013.
99.1
Press release of the Company, dated September 13, 2013.