Kohalmi to head up Starwood's European drive

Private real estate investment firm Starwood Capital has recruited Zsolt Kohalmi to lead its European acquisition efforts.

Kohalmi was formerly chief investment officer at European real estate fund manager Meyer Bergman.

He joins the global private real estate firm as partner and head of European acquisitions, charged with significantly growing the firm's private equity portfolio across Europe.

Kohalmi will work alongside Peter Denton, a former BNP Paribas executive who joined Starwood last year to oversee the firm's European debt platform, rounding out Starwood's senior leadership team in Europe.

Starwood Capital is currently investing from Starwood Global Opportunity Fund IX, which has commitments exceeding $4 bn (€3 bn) and has the ability to target all sectors globally.

Starwood Capital intends to increase its focus on corporate and portfolio opportunities, and is targeting a gross internal rate of return in the mid-teens and above for its equity transactions.

Starwood has had a busy start to 2013 with the acquisition of special servicer Hatfield Philips - as part of its acquisition of LNR globally for $1 bn - as well as the acquisition of Principal Hayley hotel group in the UK for £360 mln (€423 mln).