Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain forward-looking statements, including without limitation, statements concerning our operations, economic performance and financial condition. These forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are developed by combining currently available information with our beliefs and assumptions and are generally identified by the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate" and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance, which may be materially different from that expressed in, or implied by, any such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.
These forward-looking statements are based largely on our current beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance taking into account all information currently available to us. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us or within our control, and which could materially affect actual results, performance or achievements. Factors that may cause actual results to vary from our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurances that the results referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K will in fact occur. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, we undertake no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any such obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, changes to future results over time or otherwise.
PART I
Item 1. Business.
The following description of our business should be read in conjunction with the information included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. This description contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements due to the factors set forth in "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. References in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to "we," "our," "us," or the "Company," refer to Starwood Property Trust, Inc. All amounts are in thousands (000's) except share and per share data.
General
Starwood Property Trust, Inc. is a Maryland corporation that commenced operations on August 17, 2009, upon the completion of our initial public offering. We are focused on originating, investing in, financing and managing commercial mortgage loans and other commercial real estate debt investments, commercial mortgage-backed securities ("CMBS"), and other commercial real estate-related debt investments. In addition, we also invest in residential mortgage loans and residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS"). We collectively refer to commercial mortgage loans, other commercial real estate debt investments, CMBS and other commercial real estate-related debt investments as our target assets. We may also invest in commercial properties subject to net leases. We make certain investments in RMBS that we use as a primary alternative investment for our available cash.
Our objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted global returns to our investors over the long term, primarily through dividends and secondarily through capital appreciation. In order to achieve these objectives, we focus on asset selection and the relative value of various sectors within the debt market to construct a diversified investment portfolio designed to produce attractive returns across a variety of market conditions and economic cycles. We employ leverage, to the extent available, to fund the acquisition of our target assets, increase potential returns to our stockholders and meet our return objectives. Leverage can either be direct by utilizing private third-party financing, or indirect through originating, acquiring, or retaining subordinated mortgages, B-Notes, subordinated loan participations or mezzanine loans. Under our current repurchase agreements and bank credit facility, our total leverage may not exceed 75%, excluding the impact of bona-fide loan sales that must be accounted for as financings and consolidating any variable interest entities pursuant to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). We are organized as a holding company and conduct our business primarily through our various subsidiaries.
Since the closing of our initial public offering, we have focused primarily on opportunities that exist in the U.S. commercial mortgage loan, commercial real estate debt, and CMBS and RMBS markets. As market conditions change over time, we may adjust our strategy to take advantage of changes in interest rates and credit spreads as well as economic and credit conditions. We believe that the diversification of our portfolio of assets, our expertise among the target asset classes, and the flexibility of our strategy will position us to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for our stockholders in a variety of assets and market conditions.
We are externally managed and advised by SPT Management, LLC (our "Manager") pursuant to the terms of a management agreement. Our Manager is controlled by Barry Sternlicht, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Our Manager is an affiliate of Starwood Capital Group, a privately-held private equity firm founded and controlled by Mr. Sternlicht. Since its inception in 1991, Starwood Capital Group (including Starwood Capital-named affiliates controlled by Mr. Sternlicht) has sponsored
numerous opportunistic funds, including dedicated debt funds, dedicated hotel funds and several standalone and co-investment partnerships.
We have elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for U.S. federal income tax purposes commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2009. We generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes on our taxable income to the extent that we annually distribute all of our taxable income to stockholders and maintain our qualification as a REIT. We also operate our business in a manner that permits us to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
Our corporate headquarters office is located at 591 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, Connecticut, and our telephone number is (203) 422-8100.
Investment Strategy
We seek to maximize returns for our stockholders by constructing and managing a diversified portfolio of our target assets. Our investment strategy may include, without limitation, the following:
In order to capitalize on the changing sets of investment opportunities that may be present in the various points of an economic cycle, we may expand or refocus our investment strategy by emphasizing investments in different parts of the capital structure and different sectors of real estate. Our investment strategy may be amended from time to time, if recommended by our Manager and approved by our board of directors, without the approval of our stockholders. In addition to our Manager making direct investments on our behalf, we may enter into joint venture, management or other agreements with persons that have special expertise or sourcing capabilities.
Financing Strategy
Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and our exemption from registering under the 1940 Act, we may finance the acquisition of our target assets, to the extent available to us, through the following methods: