The Company’s Sponsor, NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. (NYSE: NRF) also announced today that it has entered into a long-term partnership with Mr. Flaherty to augment and enhance the Sponsor’s healthcare real estate business and oversee and seek to substantially grow its healthcare real estate portfolio and related capital raising.

Prior to joining the Sponsor, from 2003 to 2013 Mr. Flaherty was the Chairman and CEO of HCP, Inc. (NYSE: HCP). During his time at HCP, Mr. Flaherty grew HCP’s equity market capitalization tenfold, from approximately $2 billion in 2003 to over $20 billion in 2013, becoming the third largest REIT in the United States, the first healthcare REIT selected to the S&P 500 and the only REIT in the world selected to the S&P 500 “Dividend Aristocrats” Index. During Mr. Flaherty’s tenure at HCP, average shareholder returns exceeded 15% per year. Prior to joining HCP, Mr. Flaherty served at Merrill Lynch & Co. for 19 years in a variety of investment banking, capital markets and private equity functions in New York, London and Los Angeles and was head of Merrill Lynch's Global Healthcare Group. Mr. Flaherty is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Notre Dame and was a member of the Board of Governors of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts from 2004 to 2013.

Mr. Gilbert commented, “We are very pleased to announce our Sponsor’s partnership with Jay Flaherty and his appointment as Chief Executive Officer and President of NorthStar Healthcare. We believe Jay’s significant experience and demonstrated best in class track record of growing businesses while delivering strong shareholder value should have a dramatically positive impact on NorthStar Healthcare and its shareholders. I look forward to my continued active role in the management of NorthStar Healthcare and partnering with Jay to take the Company to the next level.”

Mr. Flaherty added, “I am extremely excited to be part of the NorthStar team. NorthStar is a market leading institution and I cannot think of a better organization with which to create a world-class healthcare platform. NorthStar Healthcare is very well positioned to substantially accelerate its growth and pace of investment and I am extremely enthusiastic about the future of our Company and its shareholders.” Further Donald C. Tomasso has stepped down as President of the Company. Mr. Gilbert commented, “As we welcome Jay, I want to thank Don Tomasso for all of his focus, dedication and leadership and his key role in helping build the Company to where it is today.”