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Starwood Capital Group: Best Fundraising Firm – Real Estate

Starwood Capital Group is a private investment firm with a primary focus on global real estate. Since its inception in 1991, Starwood Capital has raised over USD65 billion of capital and currently has approximately USD100 billion of assets under management. Over the past 30 years, Starwood has invested in approximately USD200 billion of assets in more than 30 countries.

Starwood Capital Group is a private investment firm with a primary focus on global real estate. Since its inception in 1991, Starwood Capital has raised over USD65 billion of capital and currently has approximately USD100 billion of assets under management. Over the past 30 years, Starwood has invested in approximately USD200 billion of assets in more than 30 countries.

The firm’s most recent opportunistic fund, Starwood Distressed Opportunity Fund XII, closed in October 2021 with capital commitments exceeding USD10 billion, surpassing the USD7.6 billion raised for its predecessor vehicle. The firm and its affiliates maintain 16 offices in seven countries around the world, and currently have approximately 4,000 employees. 

Through private vehicles, as well as Starwood Real Estate Income Trust (a non-listed REIT with equity raised of approximately USD7 billion and AUM of approximately USD13 billion), the firm has invested in virtually every category of real estate on a global basis, opportunistically shifting asset classes, geographies and positions in the capital stack as it perceives risk/reward dynamics to be evolving. Importantly, the firm is both large enough to capitalise on multi-billion-dollar investment opportunities, and nimble enough to target smaller transactions when larger opportunities are overpriced. 

Starwood also manages Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD), the largest commercial mortgage real estate investment trust in the United States, which has successfully deployed over USD72 billion of capital since inception and manages a portfolio of over USD19 billion across debt and equity investments. 

Starwood believes that investing in real estate meets many of the key objectives of today’s investors current yield, inflation protection, upside potential and relative stability in volatile markets. The firm’s opportunistic real estate programme seeks to meet these objectives, while generating robust returns by taking advantage of mispriced geographies or asset classes, executing value-add asset management plans, benefitting from the spread between operating cash flows and interest payments, and maximising value upon  sale of assets. 

Starwood is committed to responsible corporate and investing practices and believes it not only contributes to the long-term success of the firm but is critical to well-functioning markets. The firm attracts the very best talent in the industry and is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. Starwood believes that maintaining a diversity of perspectives is critical to continued success. From an investing perspective, the firm’s focus on environmental, sustainability and community development is one of its core investment philosophies. As a carbon neutral firm and a signatory of the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI), the firm is dedicated to upholding high standards in the industry for environmentally and socially responsible investing.  


Barry Sternlicht, Chairman & CEO, Starwood Capital Group
Barry Sternlicht is Chairman & CEO of Starwood Capital Group, the private alternative investment firm he formed in 1991 that is focused on global real estate, hotel management, oil and gas, and energy infrastructure. Sternlicht also serves as Chairman of Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD), a leading diversified finance company, as well as Senior Advisor of Invitation Homes (NYSE: INVH), the largest publicly traded investor, owner and operator of single-family homes in the US. Previously, Sternlicht was Chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, a company he founded in 1995.

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