Ex-NFL team closes third real estate fund of funds on $155m

HRJ Capital, the San Francisco fund of funds firm started by American pro-footballers Ronnie Lott and Harris Barton, has doubled its equity commitments for its latest vehicle.

HRJ Capital, the San Francisco-based private equity firm co-founded by pro-footballing teammates Ronnie Lott and Harris Barton has closed its latest fund of funds on $155 million (€102 million).

HRJ Global Real Estate Fund (GRE) III, which is the firm’s 12th fund, is more than double that of the previous fund, GRE II, which closed in 2005 on $77 million, a spokesman told PERE.

Chief executive Ed Rodden said the fund was already 100 percent committed, with investments in global opportunistic and value-added real estate funds managed by 10 managers.

Mr Rodden added in a statement that the latest fund would provide HRJ with a diversified range of investments. “We are extremely pleased with the real estate funds that have been assembled in GRE III.”

GRE III, whose investors include endowments, foundations, corporate plans, family offices, investment advisors and high net worth individuals, will be managed by Howard Fields, HRJ’s managing director of global real estate investments.

Co-founded by in 1999 by former San Francisco-49ers teammates Ronnie Lott and Harris Barton, HRJ Capital – previously known as Champion Ventures – invests in real estate, venture capital and buyout funds.