Founded 2000 Type of business Private | Website www.lycap.com Founder Donald Marron Number of employees 20 Total assets 3 billion USD | |
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Lightyear Capital is a private equity firm focused on leveraged buyout and growth capital investments in financial services companies.
The firm, which is based in New York City, was founded in 2002 with the backing of UBS AG by Donald Marron. Marron is best known for building up PaineWebber over a 23-year career and completing its sale to UBS AG in late 2000 for $10.8 Billion. Marron was also a founder of Data Resources Inc.
The firm has raised approximately $3 billion since inception across its two funds. In May 2002, Lightyear closed on its first fund, The Lightyear Fund, with $750 million of investor commitments, approximately $500 million of which came from UBS AG. In 2006, the firm completed fundraising for its second private equity fund, with $850 million of commitments from over 40 investors.
Among the firm's most notable investments are Collegiate Funding Services (acquired by JPMorgan Chase), ARGUS Software, Higher One, NAU Country Insurance Company (the nation's third largest crop insurer), Antares Holdings, New Flyer Industries, and Goldleaf Financial Solutions (NASDAQ: GFSI).
In 2013, Atlanta, divested its RidgeWorth Investments to Lightyear Capital LLC for up to $265 million.