IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 16, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. ("Sabra," the "Company" or "we") (Nasdaq:SBRA) announced today that it, through certain of its subsidiaries, has committed to a forward purchase program (the "Pipeline Agreement") to acquire newly constructed senior housing properties to be developed by First Phoenix Group, LLC ("First Phoenix"). The Pipeline Agreement provides for the acquisition of, as well as certain interim funding arrangements for, up to ten assisted living and memory care facilities through at least 2014. Under this agreement, First Phoenix will identify and develop the properties, affiliates of Sabra will purchase the properties once stabilized and a 50%/50% RIDEA-compliant joint venture partnership between affiliates of Sabra and First Phoenix will operate the facilities, subject to certain terms and conditions. Sabra will own 100% of the real estate and lease it to the joint venture partnership under a triple-net lease structure with an initial annual yield on cash rent of 8%. First Phoenix currently operates one facility under the Stoney River Assisted Living brand located in Marshfield, Wisconsin which is expected to be acquired by Sabra during 2012 and operated by the joint venture partnership.

Concurrently with its execution of the Pipeline Agreement, Sabra entered into a $1.0 million pre-development loan agreement with First Phoenix to fund the acquisition of land and certain other costs associated with the first development project under the Pipeline Agreement, a 72-unit assisted living/memory care facility located in Ramsey, Minnesota. This loan will be funded over the course of the pre-development activities and bears interest at a fixed rate of 9.0% per annum. Repayment of the loan is expected to occur in connection with the acquisition of the stabilized property by Sabra, or earlier in certain circumstances. 

Commenting on the agreement with First Phoenix, Rick Matros, CEO and Chairman, said, "We have spent considerable time with the First Phoenix team over the last several months and are enthusiastic about the relationship. We believe that the care they deliver and the environment they create is unique both operationally and from a physical plant perspective and will therefore be very appealing to the new generation of seniors in need of senior housing. Their team is seasoned and committed to serving seniors, which was particularly meaningful. For Sabra, this is an important step as we begin to expand our asset base, and we are particularly pleased to bring new and distinct assets into our portfolio."

ABOUT SABRA

Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. (Nasdaq:SBRA), a Maryland corporation, operates as a self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust (a "REIT") that, through its subsidiaries, owns and invests in real estate serving the healthcare industry. Sabra leases properties to tenants and operators throughout the United States. As of June 30, 2012, Sabra's investment portfolio included 103 properties (consisting of (i) 93 skilled nursing/post-acute facilities, (ii) nine senior housing facilities, and (iii) one acute care hospital), one mezzanine loan investment and one mortgage loan investment. As of June 30, 2012, Sabra's properties were located in 25 states and included 11,392 licensed beds.

The Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=8563

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS SAFE HARBOR

This release contains "forward-looking" statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified, without limitation, by the use of "expects," "believes," "intends," "should" or comparable terms or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements in this release include all statements regarding our expectations concerning the Pipeline Agreement with First Phoenix.

Our actual results may differ materially from those projected or contemplated by our forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, among others, the following: our dependence on Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. ("Sun") until we are able to further diversify our portfolio; our dependence on the operating success of our tenants; changes in general economic conditions and volatility in financial and credit markets; the dependence of our tenants on reimbursement from governmental and other third-party payors; the significant amount of and our ability to service our indebtedness; covenants in our debt agreements that may restrict our ability to make acquisitions, incur additional indebtedness and refinance indebtedness on favorable terms; increases in market interest rates; our ability to raise capital through equity financings; the relatively illiquid nature of real estate investments; competitive conditions in our industry; the loss of key management personnel or other employees; the impact of litigation and rising insurance costs on the business of our tenants; uninsured or underinsured losses affecting our properties and the possibility of environmental compliance costs and liabilities; our ability to qualify and maintain our status as a REIT; compliance with REIT requirements and certain tax matters related to status as a REIT; and other factors discussed from time to time in our news releases, public statements and/or filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), especially the "Risk Factors" sections of our Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. We assume no, and hereby disclaim any, obligation to update any of the foregoing or any other forward-looking statements as a result of new information or new or future developments, except as otherwise required by law.

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