Lightyear Capital’s Acquisition of Clarion Partners

On February 15, 2011, Lightyear Capital and the management of Clarion Partners, a premier real estate investment management firm owned by ING Group, reached agreement with ING to acquire the U.S.-based real estate firm for approximately $100 million. Lightyear is a leading New York-based private equity firm focused on financial services investing. Cravath represented Lightyear in connection with this transaction. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2011.

The Cravath team included partner Peter S. Wilson and associates D. Gordon Cruess and Christopher K. Couvelier on corporate matters; partner Andrew W. Needham and associates Mark E. Dundon and Audry X. Casusol on tax matters; associates Jarrett R. Hoffman and Kevin E. Manz on executive compensation and benefits matters; and partner Kevin J. Grehan and senior attorney Gary R. Eisenman on real estate matters.