Business and Organization	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Business and Organization
Business and Organization	1. Business and Organization Starwood Property Trust, Inc. (“STWD” together with its subsidiaries, “we” or the “Company”) is a Maryland corporation that commenced operations in August 2009, upon the completion of our initial public offering (“IPO”). We are focused primarily on originating, acquiring, 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 both the U.S. and Europe. We refer to the following as our target assets: · commercial real estate mortgage loans, including preferred equity interests; · CMBS; and · other commercial real estate-related debt investments. We may also invest in residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”), certain residential mortgage loans, distressed or non-performing commercial loans, commercial properties subject to net leases and commercial real estate owned. 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 have two reportable business segments as of June 30, 2014: · Real estate investment lending (the “Lending Segment”)—includes all business activities of the Company, excluding the LNR business, which generally represents investments in real estate-related loans and securities that are held-for-investment. · LNR—includes all business activities of the acquired LNR Property LLC (“LNR”) business excluding the consolidation of securitization VIEs. On April 19, 2013, we acquired the equity of LNR and certain of its subsidiaries for an initial agreed upon purchase price of approximately $859 million, which was reduced for transaction expenses and distributions occurring after September 30, 2012, resulting in cash consideration of approximately $730 million. Immediately prior to the acquisition, an affiliate of the Company acquired the remaining equity comprising LNR’s commercial property division for a purchase price of $194 million. The portion of the LNR business acquired by us includes the following: (i) servicing businesses in both the U.S. and Europe that manage and work out problem assets, (ii) a finance business that is focused on selectively acquiring and managing real estate finance investments, including unrated, investment grade and non-investment grade rated CMBS, including subordinated interests of securitization and resecuritization transactions, and high yielding real estate loans; and (iii) a mortgage loan business which originates conduit loans for the primary purpose of selling these loans into securitization transactions. On January 31, 2014, we completed the spin-off of our former single family residential (“SFR”) segment to our stockholders. The newly-formed real estate investment trust, Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust (“SWAY”), is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and trades under the ticker symbol “SWAY.” Our stockholders received one common share of SWAY for every five shares of our common stock held at the close of business on January 24, 2014. As part of the spin-off, we contributed $100 million to the unlevered balance sheet of SWAY to fund its growth and operations. As of January 31, 2014, SWAY held net assets of $1.1 billion. The net assets of SWAY consisted of approximately 7,200 units of single-family homes and residential non-performing mortgage loans as of January 31, 2014. In connection with the spin-off, 40.1 million shares of SWAY were issued. Refer to Note 3 herein for additional information regarding SFR segment financial information, which has been presented within discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statements of operations included herein. We are organized and conduct our operations to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As such, we will generally not be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on that portion of our net income that is distributed to stockholders if we distribute at least 90% of our taxable income to our stockholders by prescribed dates and comply with various other requirements. In connection with the LNR acquisition, we established additional taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRSs”). TRSs permit us to participate in certain activities from which REITs are generally precluded, as long as these activities meet specific criteria, are conducted within the parameters of certain limitations established by the Code, and are conducted in entities which elect to be treated as taxable subsidiaries under the Code. To the extent these criteria are met, we will continue to maintain our qualification as a REIT. These TRSs engage in various real estate related operations, including special servicing of commercial real estate, originating and securitizing commercial mortgage loans, and investing in entities which engage in real estate related operations. As of June 30, 2014, $854.5 million of the LNR assets were owned by TRS entities. Our TRSs are not consolidated for federal income tax purposes, but are instead taxed as corporations. For financial reporting purposes, a provision for current and deferred taxes is established for the portion of earnings recognized by us with respect to our interest in TRSs. We are organized as a holding company and conduct our business primarily through our various wholly-owned subsidiaries. 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.

1. Business and Organization

Starwood Property Trust, Inc. (“STWD” together with its subsidiaries, “we” or the “Company”) is a Maryland corporation that commenced operations in August 2009, upon the completion of our initial public offering (“IPO”). We are focused primarily on originating, acquiring, 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 both the U.S. and Europe. We refer to the following as our target assets:

· commercial real estate mortgage loans, including preferred equity interests;

· CMBS; and

· other commercial real estate-related debt investments.

We may also invest in residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”), certain residential mortgage loans, distressed or non-performing commercial loans, commercial properties subject to net leases and commercial real estate owned. 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 have two reportable business segments as of June 30, 2014:

· Real estate investment lending (the “Lending Segment”)—includes all business activities of the Company, excluding the LNR business, which generally represents investments in real estate-related loans and securities that are held-for-investment.

· LNR—includes all business activities of the acquired LNR Property LLC (“LNR”) business excluding the consolidation of securitization VIEs.

On April 19, 2013, we acquired the equity of LNR and certain of its subsidiaries for an initial agreed upon purchase price of approximately $859 million, which was reduced for transaction expenses and distributions occurring after September 30, 2012, resulting in cash consideration of approximately $730 million. Immediately prior to the acquisition, an affiliate of the Company acquired the remaining equity comprising LNR’s commercial property division for a purchase price of $194 million. The portion of the LNR business acquired by us includes the following: (i) servicing businesses in both the U.S. and Europe that manage and work out problem assets, (ii) a finance business that is focused on selectively acquiring and managing real estate finance investments, including unrated, investment grade and non-investment grade rated CMBS, including subordinated interests of securitization and resecuritization transactions, and high yielding real estate loans; and (iii) a mortgage loan business which originates conduit loans for the primary purpose of selling these loans into securitization transactions.

On January 31, 2014, we completed the spin-off of our former single family residential (“SFR”) segment to our stockholders. The newly-formed real estate investment trust, Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust (“SWAY”), is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and trades under the ticker symbol “SWAY.” Our stockholders received one common share of SWAY for every five shares of our common stock held at the close of business on January 24, 2014. As part of the spin-off, we contributed $100 million to the unlevered balance sheet of SWAY to fund its growth and operations. As of January 31, 2014, SWAY held net assets of $1.1 billion. The net assets of SWAY consisted of approximately 7,200 units of single-family homes and residential non-performing mortgage loans as of January 31, 2014. In connection with the spin-off, 40.1 million shares of SWAY were issued. Refer to Note 3 herein for additional information regarding SFR segment financial information, which has been presented within discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated statements of operations included herein.

We are organized and conduct our operations to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). As such, we will generally not be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on that portion of our net income that is distributed to stockholders if we distribute at least 90% of our taxable income to our stockholders by prescribed dates and comply with various other requirements.

In connection with the LNR acquisition, we established additional taxable REIT subsidiaries (“TRSs”). TRSs permit us to participate in certain activities from which REITs are generally precluded, as long as these activities meet specific criteria, are conducted within the parameters of certain limitations established by the Code, and are conducted in entities which elect to be treated as taxable subsidiaries under the Code. To the extent these criteria are met, we will continue to maintain our qualification as a REIT.

These TRSs engage in various real estate related operations, including special servicing of commercial real estate, originating and securitizing commercial mortgage loans, and investing in entities which engage in real estate related operations. As of June 30, 2014, $854.5 million of the LNR assets were owned by TRS entities. Our TRSs are not consolidated for federal income tax purposes, but are instead taxed as corporations. For financial reporting purposes, a provision for current and deferred taxes is established for the portion of earnings recognized by us with respect to our interest in TRSs.

We are organized as a holding company and conduct our business primarily through our various wholly-owned subsidiaries. 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.