Starwood European Real Estate Finance Ltd (SWEF) 
SWEF: December 2019 Factsheet 
 
24-Jan-2020 / 07:00 GMT/BST 
Dissemination of a Regulatory Announcement that contains inside information 
according to REGULATION (EU) No 596/2014 (MAR), transmitted by EQS Group. 
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. 
 
24 January 2020 
 
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       OR INDIRECTLY, TO U.S. PERSONS OR IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, 
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       REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION 
 
Starwood European Real Estate Finance Limited: Quarterly Factsheet 
Publication 
 
Starwood European Real Estate Finance Limited (the "Company") announces that 
 the factsheet for the fourth quarter ended on 31 December 2019 is available 
       at: 
 
       www.starwoodeuropeanfinance.com [1] 
 
       Extracted text of the commentary is set out below: 
 
       Investment Portfolio at 31 December 2019 
 
As at 31 December 2019, the Group had 18 investments and commitments of GBP489 
       million as follows: 
 
                        Sterling equivalent Sterling equivalent 
                                balance (1) unfunded commitment 
                                                            (1) 
          Hospitals, UK              GBP25.0m                   - 
 Mixed use development,               GBP0.7m               GBP1.1m 
          South East UK 
Credit Linked Notes, UK              GBP21.8m                   - 
            real estate 
Hotel & Residential, UK              GBP39.9m                   - 
       Office, Scotland               GBP4.4m               GBP0.6m 
         Office, London              GBP12.6m               GBP7.9m 
    Residential, London              GBP49.0m               GBP5.7m 
          Hotel, Oxford              GBP16.7m               GBP6.3m 
        Hotel, Scotland              GBP25.9m              GBP15.5m 
   Total Sterling Loans             GBP196.0m              GBP37.1m 
Three Shopping Centres,              GBP32.0m               GBP5.5m 
                  Spain 
 Shopping Centre, Spain              GBP14.5m                   - 
 Hotel, Dublin, Ireland              GBP51.2m                   - 
  Office, Paris, France              GBP13.7m                   - 
           Hotel, Spain              GBP25.8m              GBP20.5m 
 Office & Hotel, Madrid              GBP15.8m               GBP0.9m 
Mixed Portfolio, Europe              GBP43.2m                   - 
      Mixed Use, Dublin               GBP0.7m              GBP11.9m 
Office Portfolio, Spain              GBP18.2m               GBP2.3m 
       Total Euro Loans             GBP215.1m              GBP41.1m 
        Total Portfolio             GBP411.1m              GBP78.2m 
 
1) Euro balances translated to sterling at period end exchange rates. 
 
       Fourth Quarter Portfolio Activity 
 
    The following portfolio activity occurred in the fourth quarter of 2019: 
 
 New Loans: Hotel Scotland and Hotel Oxford: on 18th November 2019 the Group 
       committed to fund two new hotel acquisition financings for a total 
 commitment of GBP64.3 million. Both investments are with the same sponsor and 
   a repeat borrower for Starwood Capital. Whilst the sponsor is the same on 
       each investment, the two loans are not cross-collateralised as the 
investments sit in different fund vehicles. Each financing has been provided 
in the form of a significant initial advance to finance an asset acquisition 
       along with a smaller capex facility to support the sponsor's capital 
      expenditure for improvements and rebranding of the hotels. The day one 
       advance amounts were GBP25.9 million and GBP16.7 million whilst the total 
 commitments are GBP41.35 million and GBP22.95 million respectively and expected 
to be drawn over the next 1-2 years. Each loan is for a term of 5 years, and 
   the Group expects to earn an attractive risk-adjusted return in line with 
       its stated investment strategy. 
 
  New Loan: Office Portfolio, Spain: on 29th November 2019, the Group closed 
      an investment in a 4-year floating rate loan secured by a portfolio of 
    office assets Spain, with Starwood Property Trust, Inc (through a wholly 
owned subsidiary) participating in 50 per cent of the mezzanine loan amount, 
 providing the Group with a net commitment of &euro24 million. The financing 
      has been provided in the form of an initial advance along with a capex 
  facility to support the sponsors' business plan to make further investment 
 in the properties. The properties are well-located within the decentralised 
    submarkets of Madrid and Barcelona. The assets are positioned to benefit 
   from the sponsors' active asset management strategy. The Group expects to 
  earn an attractive risk-adjusted return in line with its stated investment 
       strategy. 
 
       Loan Repayments: the following loans repaid during the first half of 
       December:- 
 
· Logistics, Dublin, Ireland - the remaining loan balance of &euro14.1 
million was repaid in full following a sale of the portfolio. 
 
· Regional Hotel, Portfolio, UK - the loan of GBP45.9 million was repaid in 
full following a sale of the portfolio. 
 
· Residential, Dublin, Ireland- the remaining loan balance of &euro2.2 
million was repaid in full following completion of the borrowers' business 
plan. 
 
  Q1 2020 New Loans: on 2 January 2020, the Group committed to an investment 
       in a c. 6 year floating rate loan secured by a portfolio of assets in 
 Ireland, together with Starwood Property Trust, Inc (through a wholly owned 
      subsidiary) participating in 50 per cent of the mezzanine loan amount, 
       providing the Group with a net commitment of &euro35.15 million. The 
 portfolio consists of 12 properties in Central Dublin with primarily office 
       and some small amounts of retail and residential space totalling over 
 600,000 sqf in total. The Group expects to earn an attractive risk-adjusted 
       return in line with its stated investment strategy. 
 
       Overview of 2019 Activity 
 
     2019 was another successful origination year with GBP224.7 million of new 
   commitments, being 52.1 per cent of the loan book at the beginning of the 
    year. Repayments of GBP198.3 million represented 45.9 per cent of the loan 
  book at the start of the year, being marginally higher than the average of 
  41.9 per cent over the previous four years. Net commitments were therefore 
       GBP26.4 million during the year. The table below shows the Group's loan 
       origination and repayment profile over the last five years. 
 
                        2015     2016     2017     2018     2019 
        New loans to GBP118.7m  GBP175.9m  GBP245.8m  GBP208.0m  GBP224.7m 
           borrowers 
        (commitment) 
Loan repayments and  -GBP49.0m -GBP129.3m -GBP213.1m -GBP137.2m -GBP198.3m 
amortisation 
      Net Investment  GBP69.7m   GBP46.6m   GBP32.7m   GBP70.8m   GBP26.4m 
 
     The dividend in the fourth quarter was fully covered by earnings. Total 
         comprehensive income for 2019 was GBP27.9 million (including GBP2.9m of 
 unrealised foreign exchange gains on income) and dividends of GBP25.6 million 
  were declared in relation to the year. The dividend was covered 0.98x when 
       excluding unrealised foreign exchange gains on income or 1.09x when 
       including unrealised foreign exchange gains. 
 
       Dividend 
 
      On 23 January 2020 the Directors declared a dividend in respect of the 
fourth quarter of 1.625 pence per Ordinary Share payable on 21 February 2020 
       to shareholders on the register at 31 January 2020. 
 
       Market Commentary & Outlook 
 
The fourth quarter is typically the busiest quarter for transaction activity 
levels in the commercial real estate market with a drive to get deals 
wrapped up before the holiday season often compounded by year end 
considerations. In 2019 we saw this theme start early on with limited 
additional resource capacity in the bank market in the fourth quarter. We 
had discussions with banks as early as July where balance sheet lenders had 
already earmarked the deals that were to be closed by the end of the year 
and were unwilling to take on additional mandates. In discussions with other 
market participants in December, all reported a high level of deals in 
execution including acquisitions, loan financing, securitisation, corporate 
acquisitions and refinancings. 
 
For the UK specifically the underlying real estate market has been 
predominantly robust in terms of operational and leasing performance but the 
election and Brexit deadlines have impacted the financing market with 
liquidity ebbing and flowing as events have unfolded. A number of borrowers 
keen to secure refinancing price certainty ahead of the election for larger 
transactions paid a premium to investment banks for underwritten pricing 
levels contributing to the final quarter activity level mentioned above. The 
Cass UK Commercial mortgage lending survey reported overall UK commercial 
mortgage lending up 4 per cent for the first half of 2019 versus 2018 and 
when numbers for the second half are reported we would expect that theme to 
have continued. 
 
The outcome of the general election with a decisive majority result creates 
a more stable environment for markets. While there will continue to be 
uncertainties about how the implementation of Brexit will unfold in detail, 
the market does now have certainty about the short term direction for 
withdrawal. In addition, compared to the parliamentary dynamics over the 
last decade, the size of the government's majority will now allow it to 
progress with parliamentary business more efficiently and we can also expect 
an uninterrupted five year parliament. This reduction in political 
uncertainties provides a more stable environment and we have seen the impact 
of this immediately for both the residential and commercial real estate 
markets . On the day after the election the iShares UK Property UCITS ETF 
which tracks the UK REIT sector increased by 4 per cent and at the beginning 
of 2020 started 25 per cent higher than its 2019 low in August. On the high 
end residential side Savills report that transactions over GBP5 million are up 
a third in December compared to 2018. 
 
The foreign exchange market has been more muted in its reaction to the 
election result. GBP:USD had traded in the low $1.20s during the middle of 
the year when the UK Parliament and Brexit seemed stuck. It rallied into the 
high $1.20s low $1.30s range following Boris Johnson's agreement to changes 
to the arrangements for leaving the EU. The pound rallied briefly as high as 
$1.35 post the election result but has subsequently traded back into the low 
$1.30s with a significant move backward as the government announced plans to 
lock the timing of the next phase of Brexit into law. Overall for the year 
the pound is up from $1.275 to $1.325. 
 
EUR and GBP short interest rates are largely unchanged over the past year 
however with some flattening versus 5 years. Both forward curves are very 
flat with 3 month Euribor currently at -41bps versus 5 year swap of -23bps. 
GBP 3 month Libor and the 5 year swap are both at 79 bps. 
 
In this low interest rate environment we believe the performance of the 
Company's portfolio versus other credit continues to present a particularly 
compelling risk adjusted return. The Group's pipeline remains strong and 
well diversified by sector, geography and investment type. While UK, Ireland 
and Spain remain geographical focuses for new origination the pipeline also 
includes a number of other Scandinavian and western European countries. We 
continue to see a good mix of whole and mezzanine loan opportunities and 
across the real estate asset classes. 
 
Share Price / NAV at 31 December 2019 
 
Share price (p) 104.50 
NAV (p)         103.24 
Premium         1.2% 
Dividend yield  6.2% 
Market cap      GBP431.8 m 
 
Key Portfolio Statistics at 31 December 2019 
 
Number of investments                                         18 
Percentage of currently invested portfolio in floating     80.2% 
rate loans 
Invested Loan Portfolio unlevered annualised total          7.1% 
return (1) 
Portfolio levered annualised total return (2)               7.0% 
Weighted average portfolio LTV - to Group first GBP (3)      18.4% 
Weighted average portfolio LTV - to Group last GBP (3)       63.0% 
Average loan term (stated maturity at inception)       4.1 years 
Average remaining loan term                            2.8 years 
Net Asset Value                                          GBP426.6m 
Amount drawn under Revolving Credit Facilities          (GBP29.7m) 
(excluding accrued interest) 
Loans advanced                                           GBP390.6m 
Financial assets held at fair value (including accrued    GBP30.5m 
income) 
Cash                                                      GBP36.8m 
Other net assets/ (liabilities) (including hedges)       (GBP1.6m) 
Origination Fees - current quarter                         GBP0.7m 
Origination Fees - last 12 months                          GBP1.7m 
Management Fees - current quarter                          GBP0.8m 
Management Fees - last 12 months                           GBP3.1m 
 
       (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. 13 
 of the loans are floating rate (partially or in whole and some 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 un-invested. 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 LIBOR/EURIBOR. 
 
(3) LTV to Group last GBP means the percentage which the total loan drawn 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 GBP 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. 
 
      Remaining years to     Value of loans       % of invested 
   contractual maturity*               (GBPm)           portfolio 
            0 to 1 years               28.9                7.0% 
            1 to 2 years               93.3               22.7% 
            2 to 3 years              161.5               39.3% 
            3 to 5 years              102.4               24.9% 
           5 to 10 years               25.0                6.1% 
 
  *excludes any permitted extensions. Note that borrowers may elect to repay 
       loans before contractual maturity. 
 
              Country % of invested assets 
  UK - Central London                28.1% 
                Spain                25.9% 
  Republic of Ireland                12.6% 
UK - Regional England                12.2% 
        UK - Scotland                 7.4% 
          Netherlands                 6.6% 
               France                 3.3% 
              Germany                 2.7% 
              Finland                 1.2% 
 
              Sector % of invested assets 
         Hospitality                31.4% 
Residential for sale                21.2% 
              Office                20.7% 
              Retail                13.9% 
          Healthcare                 6.1% 
    Light Industrial                 3.6% 
               Other                 1.4% 
           Logistics                 1.1% 
Residential for rent                 0.6% 
 
             Loan type % of invested assets 
           Whole loans                60.5% 
             Mezzanine                34.2% 
Other debt instruments                 5.3% 
 
Currency % of invested assets* 
Sterling                 47.7% 
    Euro                 52.3% 
 
*the currency split refers to the underlying loan currency, however the 
capital on all non-sterling exposure is hedged back to sterling. 
 
For further information, please contact: 
 
Apex Fund and Corporate Services (Guernsey) Limited as Company Secretary - 
01481 735810 
 
       Dave Taylor 
 
       Starwood Capital - 020 7016 3655 
 
       Duncan MacPherson 
 
       Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited - 020 7710 7600 
 
       Mark Bloomfield 
 
       Mark Young 
 
       Nick Donovan 
 
Maarten Freeriks 
 
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. www.starwoodeuropeanfinance.com [1]. 
 
  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: MSCM 
TIDM:          SWEF 
LEI Code:      5493004YMVUQ9Z7JGZ50 
Sequence No.:  42370 
EQS News ID:   959531 
 
End of Announcement EQS News Service 
 
 
1: https://link.cockpit.eqs.com/cgi-bin/fncls.ssp?fn=redirect&url=becc5c83790358f02808a7970e9d8d13&application_id=959531&site_id=vwd&application_name=news 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 24, 2020 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)

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