Private Equity Capital for Financial Services

Specialized

Lightyear is a specialist in financial services, a dynamic and diverse industry representing a significant portion of the U.S. economy. Financial services is opportunity rich but oft-overlooked: regulatory, tax, accounting, and business model complexities all require expertise. Our knowledge, gained over 16 years in financial services, positions Lightyear well to navigate the opportunities of this specialized space.

Experienced

Our Investment Committee has, on average, invested together at Lightyear for 13 years, worked together for over 15 years, and been in financial services for over 30 years, including in senior operational roles. Having completed over 40 investments since 2000 through its affiliated investment funds, the Lightyear team has extensive experience investing in and managing financial institutions.
Lightyear is deeply embedded in financial services, having invested in the industry for 18 years through multiple market cycles and environments. We believe our expertise in financial services and its sub-sectors allows Lightyear to identify opportunities and offer resources beyond capital to portfolio companies.

Industry Expertise

Financial services is a large and complex industry, representing approximately 15% of the S&P 500. We use top-down analysis, theme-based research, and our network to drive our sourcing. We view the industry as composed of six sectors and target growth sub-sectors within these six. Within each fund, we strive to create a diversified portfolio.
  • Asset and Wealth Management
  • Payments and Processing
  • Banking
  • Insurance
  • Brokerage
  • Specialty Finance

Creating Value

We believe our experience in the financial services industry helps create value for our portfolio companies and our investors. We strive to work hand-in-hand with management teams and owners to unlock value and create stronger companies. Below are some of the benefits and value drivers Lightyear aims to offer to our portfolio companies.

  • Access to Lightyear Network
  • Transaction Structuring
  • Add-on Acquisition Support
  • Experience in Regulated Environments
  • Operational Improvements
  • Data Analytics and Reporting Enhancements
  • Strengthened Governance
The portfolio companies presented are intended to be illustrative of the types of investments that may be made by the Funds and do not include all investments made.
Grid View List View
Investment and Wealth Management Firm HPM Partners Rebrands to Cerity Partners
01.07.2019
Advisor Group's Woodbury Financial Selected as the Preferred Affiliation Partner for Questar Advisors
10.11.2018
Lightyear Capital Acquires Controlling Stake in Augeo FI Loyalty
09.26.2018
Lightyear Capital Closes Sale of Alegeus to Vista Equity Partners
09.06.2018
Vista Equity Partners to Acquire Leading Consumer Directed Healthcare Firm Alegeus
08.07.2018
Therapy Brands Closes Investment from Lightyear Capital and Oak HC/FT to Accelerate Growth
07.24.2018
Wealth Enhancement Group Acquires Retirement Strategies, Inc. in Latest Step Toward National Strategic Expansion
07.24.2018
Lightyear Capital Names Allison Cole Head of Fundraising and Investor Relations
07.09.2018
Advisor Group's Royal Alliance Associates Acquires Signator Investors
06.21.2018
HPM Partners Announces Sale of Emigrant Bank's Interest to Lightyear Capital
01.16.2018
Lightyear Capital Closes Fourth Financial Services Buyout Fund
11.29.2017
Lightyear Capital Announces Investment in Datalot
10.03.2017
Lightyear Capital Acquires eCommission Financial Services
08.29.2017
Lightyear Capital Announces $95 Million Investment in Ygrene Energy
12.21.2016
Lightyear Capital Announces Sale of RidgeWorth Investments to Virtus Investment Partners
12.16.2016
Lightyear Capital and PSP Investments Complete Purchase of Advisor Group
05.06.2016
Lightyear Capital and PSP Investments Agree to Acquire AIG Advisor Group
01.26.2016
Lightyear Capital Announces Sale of Clarion Partners to Legg Mason
01.22.2016
Lightyear Capital Names Daniel Freyman Managing Director
01.19.2016
Lightyear Capital Completes Acquisition of Majority Equity Stake in Pathlight Capital
11.23.2015
Lightyear Capital Completes Acquisition Of Majority Equity Stake In Wealth Enhancement Group
06.08.2015
Lightyear Capital Completes Sale of Paradigm Acquisition Corp. to Summit Partners
06.02.2015
Lightyear Capital Names Martin Sullivan Operating Partner
10.20.2014
RidgeWorth Buyout Closes, Becomes Independent Investment Firm
06.02.2014
Lightyear Capital Completes Sale of Cetera Financial Group
04.29.2014
Lightyear Capital Names Michal Petrzela Managing Director
04.04.2014
Lightyear Capital Announces the Sale of Antares Holdings
02.13.2014
Lightyear Capital Announces the Sale of Cetera Financial Group
01.16.2014
Lightyear Capital Announces Closing of Controlling Investment in Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford
01.16.2013
Lightyear Capital Leads Significant Investment in Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford
10.22.2012
Lightyear Capital Closes Third Financial Services Buyout Fund
09.25.2012
Lightyear Capital Completes Acquisition of the Healthcare Benefit Solutions Business from FIS
08.15.2012
Lightyear Capital to Acquire FIS Healthcare Benefit Solutions Business for $335 Million
06.25.2012
Lightyear Capital Acquires Control Stake In Paradigm Acquistion Corp.
02.01.2012
Lightyear Capital Announces Sale of BakerCorp to Permira
04.13.2011
Lightyear Capital Sells Argus Software to Altus Group
04.12.2011
Leading Asset Manager ING Clarion Partners In Agreement to Be Acquired by Management Team and Lightyear Capital
02.15.2011
Lightyear Capital Completes Sale of Leading Crop Insurer NAU Group
07.01.2010
Lightyear Capital Sells Majority Stake in Leading Crop Insurer NAU Group
04.16.2010
Lightyear Capital Completes Acquisition of Three Broker-Dealers from the ING Advisors Network
02.01.2010
Lightyear Capital to Acquire ING Advisors Network
11.03.2009
Lightyear Capital Makes Significant Investment in Higher One Holdings
08.11.2008
Lightyear Capital Completes Antares Holdings Transaction
12.03.2007
Lightyear Capital Leads Investor Group to Create Antares Holdings
10.04.2007
Lightyear Capital Completes Final Closing on Second Financial Services Buyout Fund
03.05.2007
Lightyear Fund Completes Acquisition of Baker Tanks
11.28.2005
Lightyear Fund To Acquire Baker Tanks
10.17.2005
Lightyear Capital Sells Kepler Equities to Landsbanki Íslands. Transaction Valued at €94 Million
09.06.2005
The Lightyear Fund Invests in The NAU Group. Investment Positions Crop Insurance Company for Growth
05.25.2005
Lightyear Capital Launches New Triple-A Rated Credit Protection Company
01.03.2005
Lightyear Capital

9 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 328-0555
Business Proposals If you have a business opportunity you would like to share with us, please e-mail proposals@lycap.com

Employment Opportunities If you would like to be considered for a position at Lightyear, please e-mail a resume to careers@lycap.com
Investor Relations If you are a current or prospective investor and need more information, please e-mail IR@lycap.com

Media Inquiries Please contact Elliott Sloane at FTI Consulting at (212) 850-5722
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