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REG-Starwood European Real Estate Finance Ltd SWEF: Quarterly Portfolio Update

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   Starwood European Real Estate Finance Ltd (SWEF)
   SWEF: Quarterly Portfolio Update

   21-Oct-2022 / 07:01 GMT/BST
   Dissemination of a Regulatory Announcement that contains inside
   information in accordance with the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR),
   transmitted by EQS Group.
   The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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                 Starwood European Real Estate Finance Limited

                                        

                           Quarterly Portfolio Update

                   Annualised dividend yield of 6.0 per cent;

          Portfolio 80 per cent contracted at floating interest rates

    

   Starwood European Real Estate Finance Limited (“SEREF” or “the Group”),  a
   leading investor originating, executing  and managing a diverse  portfolio
   of high  quality senior  and mezzanine  real  estate debt  in the  UK  and
   Europe, is pleased to announce a strong performance for the quarter  ended
   30 September 2022.

    

   Highlights

    

     • Strong cash generation - the portfolio continues to support annual
       dividend payments of 5.5 pence per Ordinary Share, paid quarterly, and
       generates an annual dividend yield of 6.0 per cent on the share price
       as at 30 September 2022
     • Regular and Consistent Dividend - £196 million of dividends paid since
       inception
     • Inflation protection – 80 per cent of the portfolio is contracted at
       floating interest rates (with floors) which will provide an increase
       in revenue as expected higher inflation results in higher interest
       rates
     • Robust portfolio - the loan book is performing in line with
       expectations with its defensive qualities reflected in the Group’s
       continued stable NAV; the weighted average Loan to Value for the
       portfolio reduced this quarter to 59.9 per cent  from 60.5 per cent
       last quarter
     • 53 per cent share price total return since inception in December 2012
     • Compelling pipeline of opportunities - The Investment Adviser and
       Manager continue to see an active investment pipeline across a range
       of geographical regions and sectors which represent attractive risk
       adjusted returns

    

   John Whittle, Chairman of SEREF, said:

    

   “In these turbulent times we are reassured by the highly defensive  nature
   of the Group’s portfolio,  the quality and resilience  of which has  again
   been proven in  another testing  macro environment. As  evidence of  this,
   once again all  interest payments  have been  received in  full, with  the
   ongoing strong  cash  generation  supporting our  annual  dividend  target
   distribution of 5.5 pence per share, a yield of 6.0 per cent on the  share
   price as at 30 September 2022.

    

   Importantly, we remain satisfied with our average portfolio LTV which  has
   further fallen during this quarter to  59.9 per cent, representing a  very
   significant cushion to the Group’s loans.

    

   We are also pleased with the  substantial new loan that was originated  in
   the period comprising a £46.2  million investment in an industrial  campus
   at  Loughborough,  increasing  our   portfolio  weighting  to  the   light
   industrial sector to 6.9 per cent.

    

   Looking ahead, we continue to evaluate an interesting and diverse pipeline
   of potential  opportunities  across various  regions  and sectors  and  we
   anticipate  attractive  new  opportunities  to  arise  from  the   current
   volatility. In the meantime, given the high weighting of the portfolio  to
   floating interest rates (80 per  cent), portfolio income will continue  to
   benefit from the inflationary environment.”

    

   The     factsheet     for     the     period     is     available      at:
    1 www.starwoodeuropeanfinance.com

    

    

   Share Price / NAV at 30 September 2022

    

   Share price (p)                 91.6
   NAV (p)                         103.58
   Discount                        11.6%
   Dividend yield (on share price) 6.0%
   Market cap                      £366m

    

   Key Portfolio Statistics at 30 September 2022

    

   Number of investments                                                   20
   Percentage of currently invested portfolio in floating rate          79.7%
   loans
   Invested Loan Portfolio unlevered annualised total return (1)         7.4%
   Portfolio levered annualised total return (2)                         7.7%
   Weighted average portfolio LTV – to Group first £ (3)                13.7%
   Weighted average portfolio LTV – to Group last £ (3)                 59.9%
   Average loan term (based on current contractual maturity)        5.0 years
   Average remaining loan term                                      1.9 years
   Net Asset Value                                                    £414.2m
   Amount drawn under Revolving Credit Facilities (including           £42.0m
   accrued interest)
   Loans advanced (including accrued interest)                        £453.4m
   Cash                                                                 £4.0m
   Other net liabilities (including hedges)                             £1.2m

    

   Remaining years to contractual or  negotiated Value of loans % of invested
   maturity*                                               (£m)     portfolio
   0 to 1 years                                          £139.4         31.1%
   1 to 2 years                                           £82.4         18.4%
   2 to 3 years                                          £115.6         25.7%
   3 to 5 years                                          £111.4         24.8%

   *excludes any  permitted extensions.   Note that  borrowers may  elect  to
   repay loans  before contractual  maturity. Negotiated  maturity is  agreed
   subject to certain conditions being met by the borrower.

    

   Country             % of invested assets
   UK                                 60.2%
   Republic of Ireland                18.8%
   Spain                              15.6%
   Netherlands                         4.3%
   Germany                             1.1%

    

   Sector           % of invested assets
   Hospitality                     37.4%
   Office                          23.7%
   Retail                          10.9%
   Residential                     10.2%
   Light Industrial                 6.9%
   Healthcare                       5.6%
   Life Sciences                    4.3%
   Logistics                        0.6%
   Other                            0.4%

    

   Loan type   % of invested assets
   Whole loans                69.3%
   Mezzanine                  30.7%

    

   Currency % of invested assets*
   Sterling                 60.2%
   Euro                     39.8%

   *the currency split refers to the underlying loan currency, however the
   capital on all non-sterling exposure is hedged back to sterling.

    

   (1) The  unlevered  annualised  total  return  is  calculated  on  amounts
   outstanding at  the reporting  date,  excluding undrawn  commitments,  and
   assuming all drawn loans are  outstanding for the full contractual  term. 
   17 of the  loans are floating  rate (partially  or in whole  and all  with
   floors) and returns are based on  an assumed profile for future  interbank
   rates but the  actual rate received  may be higher  or lower.   Calculated
   only on  amounts funded  at  the reporting  date and  excluding  committed
   amounts (but including  commitment fees) and  excluding cash  uninvested. 
   The  calculation  also  excludes  the  origination  fee  payable  to   the
   Investment Manager.

   (2) The levered annualised total return is calculated as per the unlevered
   return but takes into account the amount of net leverage in the Group  and
   the cost of that leverage at current SONIA/Euribor.

   (3) LTV to Group last  £ means the percentage  which the total loan  drawn
   less  any  deductible  lender  controlled  cash  reserves  and  less   any
   amortisation received to date (when aggregated with any other indebtedness
   ranking  alongside  and/or  senior  to  it)  bears  to  the  market  value
   determined by the last formal  lender valuation received by the  reporting
   date.  LTV to first Group £ means the starting point of the loan to  value
   range of  the loans  drawn (when  aggregated with  any other  indebtedness
   ranking senior to it). For  development projects the calculation  includes
   the total facility available and is calculated against the assumed  market
   value on completion of the relevant project.  

    

   Dividend

    

   On 21 October 2022,  the Directors declared a  dividend in respect of  the
   third quarter of 2022  of 1.375 pence per  Ordinary Share, equating to  an
   annualised income  of  5.5 pence  per  annum.  The Board  is  targeting  a
   dividend of 5.5 pence per annum (payable quarterly) which it considers  to
   be sustainable and  covered by earnings during the course of 2022 with any
   excess cash generated being used to replenish a modest dividend reserve.

    

   The Invested Loan  Portfolio unlevered  annualised total  return has  been
   increasing steadily  as interest  rates curves  have moved  upwards.   The
   year-on-year increase is 70 basis points  (i.e. now 7.4 per cent, up  from
   6.7 per  cent  in  September  2021).  As  the  interest  rate  environment
   increases there is additional support for the dividend cover.

    

   Portfolio Update

    

   Despite the various wider macroeconomic headwinds, we are very pleased
   with the performance of the portfolio. Average LTV of the portfolio is
   59.9 per cent. Our valuations are based on independent third party RICS
   red book appraisals with a weighted average age of 1.2 years for the total
   portfolio. While these numbers are backward looking, there remains a very
   signification cushion to the Group’s loan basis. Risk around interest rate
   increases is managed by a combination of underlying borrowers having
   interest rate hedging contracts or various other structural features
   including cash reserves in place. All interest and scheduled amortisation
   have been paid in line with contractual obligations to date.

    

   We were pleased to announce the origination of one new loan in the quarter
   with £46.2 million of total loan commitment on an industrial campus in the
   UK. This investment has increased our exposure to industrial assets to 6.9
   per cent and has had the impact of reducing our largest sector exposure,
   hospitality, to 37.4 per cent, down from 39.9 per cent last quarter.

    

   Despite a slowdown in transactions across the market, we have continued to
   see the Group’s borrowers execute specific strategic sales. A total of
   £16.2 million repaid in the quarter from a combination of underlying
   property sub-portfolio sales. Post quarter end in October 2022, the Group
   received a further partial loan repayment of €7.2 million on the Dublin
   Office Portfolio loan. This was the result of the borrower executing a
   sale of a large office building in Dublin for over €90 million. The sale
   price was ahead of the Group’s most recent independent valuation report
   for this portfolio from March 2022. This assists in providing confidence
   that valuations have held up in the last quarter, particularly for high
   quality assets where borrowers have executed asset management plans
   including the re-gearing of occupational leases and select refurbishment
   projects.

    

   As the existing portfolio becomes more seasoned, risk around ground up
   construction or heavy refurbishment projects reduces significantly as
   these projects build out and near completion. The Group’s exposure to
   ground up construction is 13.4 per cent of the current portfolio across
   two projects. Both of these buildings are forecast to substantially
   complete within the next six months. These projects have benefitted from
   having fixed price design and build contracts and strong sponsors who are
   delivering very high quality, desirable buildings. The largest exposure,
   Hotel & Residential UK (£49.9 million loan) has pre-sold the majority of
   its residential units, with the total contracted sales value exceeding the
   total loan commitment. This provides material de-risking of the lenders
   position and we expect this loan to fully repay during 2023.

    

   We continue to closely monitor any actual or potential impact of market
   headwinds such as energy, food, labour and construction cost inflation
   through review of underlying asset performance and discussions with
   sponsors and asset managers. The Group’s key sector exposures of
   hospitality (37 per cent of total invested portfolio), office (24 per
   cent) and retail (11 per cent) all continue to perform in line with
   expectations. Hotels have performed very strongly throughout the summer,
   with average daily rates exceeding the Group’s underwritten expectations,
   underpinning the demand for these hotels, driven by robust demand for
   business and leisure travel. Occupancy across the office portfolio
   continues to be robust. Occupancy of the Spanish Shopping Centres, which
   comprise over 90 per cent of the Group’s retail exposure, continues to be
   robust and remains ahead of the pre-pandemic level occupancy.

    

   New Loan

   In September 2022 the Group funded the initial advance of a £46.2 million
   floating rate whole loan secured by an industrial estate in Loughborough,
   UK. The financing has been provided in the form of an initial advance to
   assist the acquisition of the asset along with a capex facility to support
   the borrower's value-enhancing capex initiatives.

    

   The asset is a multi-let industrial estate currently consisting of 802k sq
   ft over 11 buildings across 53 acres with a strong income base. It is
   located in Loughborough within the Golden Triangle for logistics providing
   strong transport links within the UK. 

    

   Partial repayments

   During the quarter, despite lower transaction volumes across the markets
   because of the cautionary approach being adopted by investors, borrowers
   in the portfolio successfully executed a number of disposals ahead of
   business plan that resulted in the following partial repayments of loan
   obligations:

     • €7.5 million, Hotel, Dublin
     • €5.3 million, Mixed Portfolio, Europe
     • €5.0 million, Office and Industrial Portfolio, The Netherlands
     • €0.7 million, Logistics Portfolio, Germany

    

   In addition, since quarter end, the following partial repayments have been
   received:

     • €7.2 million, Office Portfolio, Dublin
     • €3.4 million, Mixed Portfolio, Europe

   Market commentary and outlook

    

     • While the most recent UK and US rates of annual inflation are down  on
       previous months the overall levels remain high.

    

     • Central banks  continue  to  fight  inflation  by  raising  short-term
       interest rates and long-term interest rate expectations have continued
       to rise  to  fresh  post  global financial  crisis  highs  during  the
       quarter.

    

     • Public markets remain volatile.  Many  stock markets are currently  in
       bear markets.  Credit  markets are  reflecting the  new interest  rate
       environment, with the biggest effect seen in medium to long-term fixed
       rate credit markets.

    

     • The UK mini budget was badly  received by markets who are  questioning
       the credibility of  the fiscal  plan. The market  reaction has  caused
       some reversal  of  policy and  some  resignations but  markets  remain
       jittery.

    

     • Hotel market data continues to illustrate positive revenue growth  for
       operating real estate.

    

     • Choppy markets will create opportunities for lending to borrowers with
       solid real estate and business plans. 

    

   We are now almost 8 months into the war in Ukraine which continues to have
   a destabilising  effect  on energy  and  commodity supply  which  are  the
   largest drivers of rising inflation.

    

   Inflation and interest  rates continue  to dominate  markets with  central
   banks resolute in their aim of tackling inflation through higher  interest
   rates.  Central banks  have continued  to raise rates  during the  quarter
   with the Fed raising rates by 150 basis points in the quarter to a  3-3.25
   per cent range and  the Bank of  England by 100 basis  points to 2.25  per
   cent. The market  anticipates a steep  pace of further  increases with  UK
   rates expected to  peak at almost  6 per cent.   These rates are  creating
   recessionary pressures but particularly in the UK we are also seeing  long
   term rates continuing to rise as the markets require a higher return given
   concerns around fiscal prudence.

    

   In the UK, the September inflation figure of 10.1 per cent was up from 9.9
   per cent in August, while in the US the  September inflation number of 8.2
   per cent was slightly lower than previous month levels but both remain  at
   very elevated levels. Inflation numbers continue to be driven by increased
   energy costs.  Energy prices  in August were estimated  to be up 38.6  per
   cent compared to a year earlier for the Eurozone, up 52.0 per cent for the
   UK and up 23.8  per cent for  the US.  However,  even after stripping  out
   energy and food, core inflation was 4.3 per cent for the Eurozone, 6.3 per
   cent for  the UK  and 6.3  per cent  for the  US.   Commodity  prices  are
   expected to remain volatile while the war in Ukraine causes disruption  to
   energy, agricultural and other  exports from Ukraine  due to blockades  of
   the ports and from Russia due to sanctions.

    

   Interest rates have moved very quickly over the past quarter and this  can
   be seen in the SONIA, Euribor and swap rates, to which most of the Group’s
   investments are linked. As at 30 September 2022, 3 month (forward-looking)
   SONIA and Euribor  currently stands  at 3.24 per  cent and  1.17 per  cent
   respectively versus 1.55 per cent and negative 0.20 per cent just 3 months
   ago at 30 June 2022.  The 5 year sterling swap  and 5 year Euro swap  have
   also moved significantly and currently stand at 5.04 per cent and 2.92 per
   cent respectively versus  2.48 per cent  and 1.74 per  cent last  quarter,
   reflecting increases of 2.56  per cent and 1.18  per cent in the  quarter.
   These movements have provided a significant yield benefit to lenders  with
   exposure to floating rate  loans and have resulted  in a significant  sell
   off in fixed rate debt.

    

   In the  public credit  capital  markets, primary  issuance has  picked  up
   somewhat but  continues to  be  slow across  asset classes  and  secondary
   pricing has increased as investors  digest the implications of the  rising
   rate environment and  the knock-on  effects.  Fixed  rate credit  markets,
   where lenders  do not  have the  benefit  of rising  rates in  the  credit
   instrument they own, have continued to sell off reflecting higher interest
   rates.

    

   In the European high  yield market there  were a number  of new issues  in
   September but overall  year to  date issuance is  still down  62 per  cent
   versus the 2017  to 2019 average.   The iTraxx Crossover  index is a  good
   example of the volatility in the market.  The index which had already more
   than doubled to reach 580  basis points at the  end of the second  quarter
   traded in a very wide  200 basis points range  in September and peaked  at
   695 basis points in late September before closing the quarter at 638 basis
   points.

    

   There remains limited primary markets  activity for real estate  corporate
   unsecured bonds with only three new issuances in the real estate space and
   no CMBS issuance in  Europe during the quarter.   This is contributing  to
   the reduced capacity of investment banks to underwrite and distribute real
   estate risk and we  think it is  likely to continue until  the end of  the
   year.

    

   In our  last factsheet  we gave  some examples  of how  rate inflation  in
   operational real estate  could be seen  to be boosting  revenues in  hotel
   market data.  We are continuing to see that trend compounded with a strong
   dollar helping drive UK and European hotel performance.

    

   The vast majority  of gateway  markets in Europe  reported higher  average
   daily rates  (“ADRs”) in  August 2022  compared with  August 2019.   Paris
   continues to be the leader in  both total and luxury markets versus  2019,
   achieving a  premium  of  46 per  cent  and  52 per  cent  to  2019  rates
   respectively. Milan  achieved ADRs  20 per  cent and  London 16  per  cent
   higher overall. Prague was  the only city  with a lower ADR  – down 1  per
   cent versus 2019.

    

   August 2022 occupancy levels  almost reached 2019  levels, with Milan  and
   Warsaw exceeding those levels by 9  per cent and 2 per cent  respectively.
   17 out of  the 25 markets  achieved over  70 per cent  in August.  Leisure
   destinations have been  performing well,  such as Glasgow  (88 per  cent),
   Edinburgh (87 per cent), Dublin (87 per cent) and Spanish Resorts (86  per
   cent).

    

   London Heathrow saw traffic in August at 79 per cent of 2019 levels – down
   3 per cent vs. July as staff  shortages have had a negative impact on  the
   total number  of  passengers  processed. The  number  of  travellers  from
   Northern American reached 97 per cent of its 2019 level, a strong increase
   over summer up from  78 per cent  in May. Middle  Eastern travel has  also
   recovered strongly to 92 per cent of 2019 levels.

    

   The UK mini budget announcement in late September was received very  badly
   by the market.  The market had not  been prepared for the size of the  tax
   policy changes and did not like the lack of information with no  forecasts
   to back up how the books would be balanced.

    

   Interest rates shot up both at the short end as the plans are expected  to
   drive further  inflation and  have  also risen  at  the long  end  showing
   investors’ doubts over UK finances in the current government’s hands  with
   investors  and  third  parties   like  the  International  Monetary   Fund
   particularly critical of the lack of financial forecasting.

    

   Since the initial reaction  the government has been  forced by markets  to
   abandon many of  the proposed  tax cuts and  both the  Chancellor and  the
   Prime Minister have now resigned.

    

   While the initial volatility has somewhat passed, this story is not  over,
   neither the  markets nor  the Conservative  party have  yet reached  final
   conclusions  and  long  dated  gilt  markets  are  still  fragile  despite
   resignations, U-turns and Bank of England intervention. 

    

   The mini-budget  also brought  a  focus to  the pound’s  foreign  exchange
   rate.  The pound did drop significantly over the Friday and Monday of  the
   mini budget to an  all-time low of 1.035.   However, it has rallied  since
   and while the pound does look  weak against the dollar the currency  story
   is actually more one of dollar strength as both the Euro and Japanese  Yen
   are down more than the pound this year.

    

   We anticipate a slow and cautious resumption in market activity which will
   depend on assessing  how inflation  and interest  rates expectations  will
   stabilise. Disrupted markets provide opportunity for the Group allowing it
   to focus  on  deal  selection  and generating  strong  returns  with  good
   downside protections.

    

   No Credit Losses Recognised

    

   All loans within the portfolio are classified and measured at amortised
   cost less impairment.  The Group closely monitors the loans in the
   portfolio for deterioration in credit risk.  There are some loans for
   which credit risk has increased since initial recognition.  However, we
   have considered a number of scenarios and do not currently expect to
   realise a loss in the event of a default.  Therefore no expected credit
   losses have been recognised.

    

   This assessment has been made based on information in our possession at
   the date of reporting, our assessment of the risks of each loan and
   certain estimates and judgements around future performance of the assets. 

    

    

   Investment Portfolio at 30 September 2022

    

   As at 30 September 2022, the  Group had 20 investments and commitments  of
   £499.8 million as follows:

    

    

                                       Sterling       Sterling Sterling Total
                                     equivalent     equivalent     (Drawn and
                                    balance (1)       unfunded      Unfunded)
                                                commitment (1)
   Hospitals, UK                        £25.0 m                       £25.0 m
   Hotel & Residential, UK              £49.9 m                       £49.9 m
   Office, London                       £18.8 m         £1.8 m        £20.6 m
   Hotel, Oxford                        £23.0 m                       £23.0 m
   Hotel, Scotland                      £42.6 m                       £42.6 m
   Hotel, North Berwick                 £15.0 m                       £15.0 m
   Life Science, UK                     £19.5 m         £7.1 m        £26.6 m
   Hotel and Office, Northern           £12.5 m                       £12.5 m
   Ireland
   Hotels, United Kingdom               £31.4 m        £19.3 m        £50.7 m
   Office and Industrial Portfolio,      £5.5 m                        £5.5 m
   UK (2)
   Industrial Estate, UK                £27.2 m        £19.0 m        £46.2 m
   Total Sterling Loans                £270.4 m        £47.2 m       £317.6 m
   Three Shopping Centres, Spain        £30.3 m                       £30.3 m
   Shopping Centre , Spain              £14.9 m                       £14.9 m
   Hotel, Dublin                        £46.2 m                       £46.2 m
   Office, Madrid, Spain                £16.3 m         £0.9 m        £17.2 m
   Mixed Portfolio, Europe              £11.7 m                       £11.7 m
   Mixed Use, Dublin                    £10.1 m         £2.8 m        £12.9 m
   Office Portfolio, Spain               £8.4 m         £0.1 m         £8.5 m
   Office Portfolio, Ireland            £27.8 m                       £27.8 m
   Logistics Portfolio, Germany          £2.7 m                        £2.7 m
   Office and Industrial Portfolio,     £10.0 m                       £10.0 m
   The Netherlands (2)
   Total Euro Loans                    £178.4 m         £3.8 m       £182.2 m
   Total Portfolio                     £448.8 m        £51.0 m       £499.8 m

    

    1. Euro balances translated to sterling at period end exchange rate.
    2. Office and Industrial Portfolio, UK and Office and Industrial
       Portfolio, The Netherlands are one single loan agreement with sterling
       and Euro tranches.

    

    

    

   Loan to Value

    

   All assets securing the loans  undergo third party valuations before  each
   investment  closes  and  periodically  thereafter  at  a  time  considered
   appropriate by the lenders. The current weighted average age of the  dates
   of these third party valuations for the whole portfolio is just 1.2  years
   while  the  current  weighted  average  age  of  the  valuations  for  the
   income-producing portfolio (i.e. excluding loans for development or  heavy
   refurbishment) is just over 10 months.

   On the  basis  of  the  methodology  and  valuation  processes  previously
   disclosed (see  30  June  2020 factsheet)  and  including  new  valuations
   received, at 30 September 2022 the Group has an average last £ LTV of 59.9
   per cent (30 June 2022: 60.5 per cent).

   The table below shows the sensitivity of the loan to value calculation for
   movements in the underlying property  valuation and demonstrates that  the
   Group has considerable headroom within the currently reported last LTVs.

    

   Change in Valuation Hospitality Retail Residential Other Total
   -25%                      78.2%  93.4%       77.7% 78.3% 79.9%
   -20%                      73.3%  87.6%       72.9% 73.4% 74.9%
   -15%                      69.0%  82.5%       68.6% 69.1% 70.5%
   -10%                      65.2%  77.9%       64.8% 65.2% 66.6%
   -5%                       61.8%  73.8%       61.4% 61.8% 63.1%
   0%                        58.7%  70.1%       58.3% 58.7% 59.9%
   5%                        55.9%  66.7%       55.5% 55.9% 57.0%
   10%                       53.3%  63.7%       53.0% 53.4% 54.5%
   15%                       51.0%  60.9%       50.7% 51.1% 52.1%

    

   Share Price performance and Share buyback programme

   The Company's shares closed on 30 September 2022 at 91.6 pence,  resulting
   in a share price total return since the start of 2022 of 1.8 per cent.  As
   at 30 September 2022, the discount to NAV stood at 11.6 per cent, with  an
   average discount to NAV of 9.7 per  cent over the quarter. The Board,  the
   Investment Manager  and  Adviser  continue  to  believe  that  the  shares
   represent attractive value at this level.

    

   Note: the 30 September 2022  discount to NAV is  based off the current  30
   September 2022 NAV as reported  in this factsheet.  All average  discounts
   to NAV are  calculated as  the latest  cum-dividend NAV  available in  the
   market on  a  given day,  adjusted  for  any dividend  payments  from  the
   ex-dividend date onwards.

    

   The Company received authority  at the most recent  AGM to purchase up  to
   14.99 per cent of  the Ordinary Shares  in issue on 10  June 2022.  On  19
   July 2022 the Board announced that it had engaged Jefferies  International
   Limited as  buy-back agent  to effect  share buy  backs on  behalf of  the
   Company.   In order  to assist  in managing  the discount,  the Board  has
   shareholder approval to  hold in  treasury any shares  repurchased by  the
   Company, rather than cancelling them. The purpose of this active  discount
   management programme  is to  reduce discount  volatility, subject  to  the
   availability of cashflow.  During the  quarter to 30  September 2022,  the
   Company bought back 9.0 million shares  for a total consideration of  £8.5
   million. In  addition, the  Board has  been consulting  with investors  in
   recent weeks in  recognition of  the ongoing  discount control  assessment
   period.

    

    

    

    

    

   For further information, please contact:

    

   Apex Fund and Corporate Services (Guernsey) Limited    
   as Company Secretary
                                                          
   Duke Le Prevost
                                                         +44 (0)20 3530 3630
    
   Starwood Capital                                       

   Duncan MacPherson                                     +44 (0) 20 7016 3655
    

   Jefferies International Limited
                                                          
   Stuart Klein
                                                          
   Neil Winward
                                                         +44 (0) 20 7029 8000
   Gaudi Le Roux

    

   Buchanan        +44 (0) 20 7466 5000

   Helen Tarbet        +44 (0) 7788 528 143

   Henry Wilson

   Hannah Ratcliff 

   Notes:

    

   Starwood European Real  Estate Finance  Limited is  an investment  company
   listed on  the premium  segment of  the main  market of  the London  Stock
   Exchange with an investment objective to provide Shareholders with regular
   dividends and an  attractive total  return while  limiting downside  risk,
   through  the  origination,  execution,  acquisition  and  servicing  of  a
   diversified portfolio of real  estate debt investments in  the UK and  the
   wider         European          Union's          internal          market.
    2 www.starwoodeuropeanfinance.com.

    

   The Company is the largest London-listed vehicle to provide investors with
   pure play exposure to real estate lending.

    

   The Group's assets are managed by Starwood European Finance Partners
   Limited, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Starwood Capital
   Group.

   ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

   ISIN:           GG00B79WC100
   Category Code:  PFU
   TIDM:           SWEF
   LEI Code:       5493004YMVUQ9Z7JGZ50
   OAM Categories: 3.1. Additional regulated information required to be
                   disclosed under the laws of a Member State
   Sequence No.:   195693
   EQS News ID:    1468279


    
   End of Announcement EQS News Service

   ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

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