Kenneth S. Blazejewski is Leader of Cleary Gottlieb’s Sponsor Solutions Group.

Ken’s practice focuses on organizing and advising private investment funds and on advising private equity secondary investors and sponsors on the full range of sponsor solution and GP-led transactions, including single asset and multi-asset continuation vehicles, credit continuation vehicles, GP stake investments, GP seeding investments, and other asset management joint ventures. In addition, Ken has deep experience working with sponsors on raising capital for a variety of investment vehicles, ranging from large buyout and secondary funds to specialized credit funds to deal-specific co-investment vehicles.

Ken joined the firm in 2007 and became counsel in 2017 and a partner in 2021. From 2011 to 2013, he was resident in the London office.

Notable Experience

Sponsor Solutions

  • Coller Capital in a number of secondaries transactions, including:

    • As lead investor in its single asset GP-led restructuring of Foundation Partners Group, a portfolio company of Access Holdings.
    • As lead investor in a single asset GP-led restructuring of Upstream Rehabilitation, a portfolio company of a Revelstoke Capital Partners 2015-vintage fund.
    • As lead investor in the GP-led restructuring of a portfolio of companies managed by Irving Place Capital into a new $1.5 billion continuation vehicle.
    • As anchor investor, along with the secondary investing unit of Goldman Sachs Group’s asset management arm, in a continuation vehicle formed by Vista to acquire Cloud Software Group.
    • In its commitment to a Revelstoke Capital Partners single asset fund investing in a preferred equity fundraise by the Revelstoke portfolio company, Fast Pace Health.
    • In its acquisition of LP positions in Avista Capital Partners Funds I, II, and III through a tender offer process.
    • In an acquisition of over $250 million of LP interests in several funds managed by J.C. Flowers through a complex tender offer and fund restructuring process and a stapled primary commitment.
  • Apollo Global Management in its anchor investment in Behrman Capital Micross CF L.P., a single-asset continuation fund managed by Behrman Capital.

  • Ares Management as lead investor in Antares’ first continuation vehicle with over $1.2 billion in commitments, representing Ares’ largest credit secondary investment to date.

  • Ares Management as lead investor in a $166 million credit asset investment vehicle sponsored by NXT Capital.

  • Ares Secondaries in certain secondary transactions and co-investments.

  • Ares Real Estate in the formation of certain co-mingled real estate funds and related advice.

  • iCapital in its acquisition of Wells Fargo’s alternatives platform.

  • Kline Hill Partners, Barings, and Adams Street Partners as lead investors in a single-asset continuation fund sponsored by fund manager TRP Capital Partners.

  • Wafra  in a number of fund formation and hybrid funds and M&A investment matters across a variety of asset classes, including credit and real assets, including Wafra’s $320 million preferred equity investment in TierPoint, a provider of datacenters.

  • A major investment bank in the auction and sale of a broad portfolio of private fund interests.

  • A large foreign pension fund in negotiating and closing an anchor investment in a number of activist hedge fund.

  • A global private equity firm in establishing a sourcing and co-investment joint venture with a major African investment platform for investments in Africa.

  • A major private equity firm in the formation of a private equity fund and the fund’s subsequent acquisition of a portfolio of collateralized loan obligations (CLOs).

  • Several private investment fund managers on their internal governance and economic arrangements, including in the context of joint ventures.

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Fund Formation

  • KKR in a wide range of fund matters, including:

    • The formation of KKR Asian Fund III-IV.
    • The formation of KKR Health Care Strategic Growth Fund I-II.
    • The formation of KKR Next Generation Technology Growth Fund I-III.
    • The formation of KKR Global Impact Fund I-II.
    • The formation of KKR Global Climate.
    • Various separate accounts, co-investment arrangements, and other strategic initiatives.
  • Pinegrove Capital Partners in the formation of its debut fund, Pinegrove Capital Partners I LP.

  • Sixth Street Partners in the formation of Sixth Street Growth Partners II.

  • TPG Angelo Gordon in connection with the formation of numerous funds, including:

    • AG Credit Solutions Fund.
    • AG Europe Realty Fund III.
    • AG Asian Realty Fund IV.
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Publications

Events

Expert Webcast’s Navigating Opportunities in Secondaries (May 23, 2024)

PLI’s Advanced Issues in Private Funds 2023 (June 6, 2023)

IBA’s 21st Annual International Conference on Private Investment Funds (March 13, 2023)

PLI’s Advanced Issues in Private Funds 2022 (June 7, 2022)

13th Annual AVCJ USA Forum, “Korea: Solid and Dependent Performer” (July 12, 2018)

The Basics of Private Equity Structuring, New York City Bar (February 9, 2018)

American Investment Council Chief Compliance Officers Working Group: Celebrity or Apprentice? Private Equity Regulation in the Trump Era (December 7, 2016)