October 26, 2020
Willkie represented Simplicity in the transaction.
On October 16, Simplicity Group Holdings, a leading financial products distribution business, announced that is has been acquired by Lee Equity Partners, which will become the new majority owner of the company. Simplicity was previously majority owned by Aquiline Capital Partners.
Simplicity provides retirement solutions including annuity, life insurance, and investments to independent financial advisors, insurance professionals and their clients through its operating subsidiaries. Simplicity has acquired and owns 15 insurance distribution businesses and is one of the nation's largest and fastest growing financial product distribution companies.
Lee Equity Partners is a New York-based private equity firm that partners with successful management teams to build companies with strong growth potential. The firm invests in a range of industries where the team has deep relationships developed over decades, including business services, financial services, and healthcare services.
Aquiline Capital Partners, founded in 2005, is a private investment firm based in New York and London investing in businesses across the financial services sector in financial technology, insurance, investment management, business services, credit and healthcare. The firm has $5.3 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2019.
The Willkie team was led by partners Jeffrey Poss and Manuel Miranda, and included associates Thomas Sharkey and Halie Klein.
