KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (KREF) CEO receives 81,250 RSUs grant

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. disclosed an insider equity award for its Chief Executive Officer, who also serves as a director. On 12/18/2025, the insider received 81,250 shares of common stock as a grant of restricted stock units at a stated price of $0, increasing beneficial ownership to 643,075 shares held directly.

The restricted stock units will vest in three equal annual installments beginning on October 1, 2026. The insider has elected to defer receipt of all shares issuable upon vesting until the earlier of five years after each vesting date or the date of their termination of service, as provided under the company’s 2025 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Salem Matthew A

(Last) (First) (Middle)

C/O KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS & CO. L.P.

30 HUDSON YARDS

(Street)

NEW YORK NY 10001

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. [ KREF ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	Chief Executive Officer

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/18/2025

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	12/18/2025		A(1)		81,250	A	$0	643,075	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. Represents a grant of restricted stock units which will vest in three equal annual installments beginning on October 1, 2026. The reporting person has elected to defer receipt of all of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the vesting of the restricted stock units until the earlier of (i) five years after the vesting date of the restricted stock units, or (ii) the date of the reporting person's Termination (as defined in the KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. 2025 Omnibus Incentive Plan).

	/s/ Kelly Galligan, as Attorney-in-Fact	12/22/2025
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What insider transaction did KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (KREF) report?

The company reported that its Chief Executive Officer and director received a grant of 81,250 restricted stock units of common stock on 12/18/2025.

How many KREF shares does the reporting person beneficially own after this transaction?

Following the reported grant, the insider beneficially owns 643,075 shares of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. common stock in direct ownership.

What is the vesting schedule for the 81,250 restricted stock units at KREF?

The 81,250 restricted stock units will vest in three equal annual installments, starting on October 1, 2026, under the company’s 2025 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

When will the KREF CEO actually receive the shares from the restricted stock units?

The CEO elected to defer receipt of all shares until the earlier of five years after each vesting date or the date of their Termination as defined in the 2025 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

What roles does the reporting person hold at KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (KREF)?

The reporting person is both a Director and an Officer, serving as the company’s Chief Executive Officer.

Is the reported KREF transaction a cash purchase of shares?

No. The filing describes the transaction as a grant of restricted stock units at a stated price of $0, rather than a cash purchase on the open market.