--- title: Who we are | Clarion Capital Partners description: Clarion Capital Partners, LLC is a prominent private equity and credit firm, managing over $1 billion. It specializes in delivering distinctive investment solutions tailored for insurance carriers' variable life and annuity platforms. --- [![Clarion Logo Blue](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Clarion%20Logo%20Blue.png?width=1472&height=556&name=Clarion%20Logo%20Blue.png "Clarion Logo Blue")](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/?hsLang=en) - [PPLI & PPVA](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/ppli-ppva) - [IDFs](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/idf) - [CLO Equity](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/clo-equity) - [Resources](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/resources) - [Who We Are](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/who-we-are) - [Contact Us](mailto:inquiries@clarion-capital.com?subject=Clarion%20IDF%20Inquiry) ###### To access, please certify that you are (or that you advise) someone that is: # Get to Know Clarion Capital Partners A tradition of outperformance in private equity and credit ![Seeking](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hubfs/clarion_capital_2022/Who%20We%20Are/Frame%20(6).svg) ## Seeking Outperformance The firm was purpose-built to seek long-term outperformance — for our investors and our entrepreneur partners. We achieve results through deep domain expertise and alignment with our investors. We commit substantial capital to our funds and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our investors and partners. Our approach encourages collaboration, engagement, creativity, and discipline — prerequisites to investment results. As demonstrated by the consistent top quartile returns of our funds, this approach has been highly successful and we believe it is sustainable. ![outperformancemin](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Clarion_2023/outperformancemin.jpg?width=429&height=286&name=outperformancemin.jpg) ## Foundation for Success #### Investment success is built upon culture, character, and expertise ![collaborative](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hubfs/clarion_capital_2022/Who%20We%20Are/collaborative.svg) #### COLLABORATIVE CULTURE A culture of collaboration and respect guides the Clarion team, our engagement with market participants, our shared efforts with investee companies, and our interactions with investors. ![Deep\_expertise](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hubfs/clarion_capital_2022/Who%20We%20Are/Deep%20expertise%201.svg) #### DEEP DOMAIN EXPERTISE We provide deep expertise and decades of experience across the credit ecosystem. We have honed our skills across challenging and favorable market environments. ![Leadership](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hubfs/clarion_capital_2022/Who%20We%20Are/Leadership.svg) #### FOCUS & LEADERSHIP The members of our credit team are long-time leaders in their specialties. We combine careful origination, insightful analysis, opportunistic trading, thoughtful portfolio construction, and creativity to credit investing. ![Flexibility](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hubfs/clarion_capital_2022/Who%20We%20Are/Flexibility%201.svg) #### FLEXIBILITY & VERSATILITY Our broad skills in private credit, private equity, and across the capital markets enable us to identify opportunities, implement strategies, and manage diverse risks. ## Our Expertise ![Growth](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hubfs/clarion_capital_2022/Who%20We%20Are/Growth.svg) ###### PPLI/PPVA Building wealth with private placement life insurance [Learn More](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/ppli-ppva?hsLang=en) ![Growth](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hubfs/clarion_capital_2022/Who%20We%20Are/Growth.svg) ###### IDFs Access alternatives with insurance dedicated funds [Learn More](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/idf?hsLang=en) ![Growth](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hubfs/clarion_capital_2022/Who%20We%20Are/Growth.svg) ###### CLO Equity Compound your returns with collateralized loan obligations [Learn More](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/clo-equity?hsLang=en) ## Approved on Leading Insurance Carriers ![Prudential-Financial](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hubfs/clarion_capital_2022/Home/Prudential-Financial.svg) ![pacific-life](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hubfs/clarion_capital_2022/Home/pacific-life.svg) ![home-disc](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hubfs/clarion_capital_2022/Home/home-disc.svg) ![new lombard logo\_v2](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/clarion_capital_2022/Home/new%20lombard%20logo_v2.png?width=150&height=150&name=new%20lombard%20logo_v2.png) ![CrownGlobalInternational-Logo-Wordmark-Blue-RGB](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CrownGlobalInternational-Logo-Wordmark-Blue-RGB.png?width=2000&name=CrownGlobalInternational-Logo-Wordmark-Blue-RGB.png) ![Logo\_-\_IPL](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/clarion_capital_2022/Home/Logo_-_IPL.png?width=283&height=111&name=Logo_-_IPL.png) ![zurich](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/zurich.png?width=600&height=400&name=zurich.png) ![Advantage](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/Advantage.png?width=600&height=63&name=Advantage.png) ## Meet Our Team ![sm\_Marc\_Utay](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/sm_Marc_Utay.jpg?width=640&height=800&name=sm_Marc_Utay.jpg) View Bio ###### Marc Utay Managing Partner ![sm\_Robert\_Klein](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/sm_Robert_Klein.jpg?width=640&height=800&name=sm_Robert_Klein.jpg) View Bio ###### Robert Klein President & CIO - Structured Credit ![sm\_Ho\_Hong\_Lau](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/sm_Ho_Hong_Lau.jpg?width=640&height=800&name=sm_Ho_Hong_Lau.jpg) View Bio ###### Ho Hong Lau Principal - Structured Credit ![sm\_Doug\_Mellinger](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/sm_Doug_Mellinger.jpg?width=640&height=800&name=sm_Doug_Mellinger.jpg) View Bio ###### Doug Mellinger Managing Director & Head of Marketing ![sm\_Hubert\_Kang](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/sm_Hubert_Kang.jpg?width=640&height=800&name=sm_Hubert_Kang.jpg) View Bio ###### Hubert Kang Controller ###### Marc Utay Managing Partner - [MUTAY@CLARION-CAPITAL.COM](mailto:MUTAY@CLARION-CAPITAL.COM) - [212.821.0177](tel:212.821.0177) Marc founded Clarion in 1999 and provides the firm’s strategic vision and leadership. Marc was previously a Managing Director and Co-Head of the MET Group, the Leveraged Finance Group, and the Retail Group at Wasserstein Perella & Co. In addition, he has held senior positions at BT Securities, Kent Capital Partners, and Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc. Marc serves on the board of directors at V10 Entertainment, Ad.Net, Premiere Digital and OpenRoad Lending. Marc previously served on the board of directors at Madison Logic, SQAD, Lenox Holdings, Moravia, Ametros, Cross Mediaworks, Crowe Paradis Servicing Corporation, Great Northwest Insurance Company, Hartmann, Reliant, Strategic Outsourcing Inc., and Oceanaire. Marc graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a BSE in 1980 and an MBA in 1981. ###### Robert Klein President & CIO - Structured Credit - [RKLEIN@CLARION-CAPITAL.COM](mailto:RKLEIN@CLARION-CAPITAL.COM) - [212.821.0179](tel:212.821.0179) Robert leads Clarion’s Structured Credit group. Robert has over 30 years of experience in investment banking, credit portfolio management, and structured finance. He previously was Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Structured Credit Funds at CIFC LLC, a leading CLO manager. Prior to CIFC, Robert was lead portfolio manager at Prospect Capital where he led the firm’s CLO investments, building CLO AUM at two registered vehicles that grew to $1.5 billion in investments. Robert also worked at American Capital, Ltd. where he was a Managing Director and led the New York private equity and financial sponsor lending teams, leading numerous debt and equity investments. He worked at American Securities and American Industrial Partners, both active middle-market private equity firms. Robert began his career in the Mergers and Acquisitions groups at First Boston and Morgan Stanley. He holds a JD with Distinction from Stanford Law School and a BA summa cum laude from Yale College where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He has been admitted to the California bar (inactive status). He serves on the Committee for Ancient and Byzantine Art at the Art Institute of Chicago. He is a past Professional Fellow of the New York University Center for Law and Business. ###### Ho Hong Lau Principal - Structured Credit - [HLAU@CLARION-CAPITAL.COM](mailto:HLAU@CLARION-CAPITAL.COM) - [212.821.0171](tel:212.821.0171) Ho Hong is responsible for Clarion’s Structured Credit investment process. Ho Hong joined Clarion in 2019 as an Associate. Prior to joining Clarion, Ho Hong began his career at CIFC Asset Management LLC in 2013, where he worked in the Structured Credit and Corporate Finance teams. Within these teams at CIFC, Ho Hong contributed to CLO tranche investing and trading activities, portfolio monitoring and investor reporting, and management of CIFC’s CLO business and reporting. Ho Hong holds a M.S. in Finance from the Ohio State University and a B.A. in Economics and History from Franklin & Marshall College. ###### Doug Mellinger Managing Director & Head of Marketing - [DMELLINGER@CLARION-CAPITAL.COM](mailto:DMELLINGER@CLARION-CAPITAL.COM) - [212.821.0190](tel:212.821.0190) Doug is responsible for Clarion’s sourcing and investor relations. Doug joined the firm in 2013 from Palm Ventures where he was a Managing Director. An avid entrepreneur, Doug is a founder of numerous groups and organizations including Foundation Source, the nation’s leading provider of outsourced services for private foundations and Enherent, a global software development company. He graduated from Syracuse University where he created his own degree in Entrepreneurship and afterward founded the Young Entrepreneurs Organization. He is a longtime member of Young President’s Organization. . ###### Hubert Kang Controller - [HKANG@CLARION-CAPITAL.COM](mailto:HKANG@CLARION-CAPITAL.COM) - [212.821.0156](tel:212.821.0156) Hubert Kang has 19 years of professional experience in structured finance and tax. Prior to joining Clarion as Controller for Structured Credit, Hubert worked as a controller at Torchlight Investors, LLC, where he worked extensively on funds investing in structured finance products and real estate related debt investments. His previous professional experience includes high net worth tax compliance and planning, as well as private equity tax compliance. Hubert is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of California and holds an MBA and an MS from Northeastern University and a BA from Columbia University. ## Relationships Begin with Communication ###### Let’s Connect [![Clarion Logo KO](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Clarion%20Logo%20KO.png?width=1472&height=557&name=Clarion%20Logo%20KO.png "Clarion Logo KO")](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/?hsLang=en) #### About Us Clarion Capital Partners, LLC is a private equity and credit firm founded in 2000 with over $1 billion in assets under management. In private equity, we focus primarily on control investments in a diversified portfolio of lower-middle market companies. In credit, we specialize in Collateralized Loan Obligation (CLO) equity, CLO mezzanine, and CLO warehouse investments. #### Quick Links - [PPLI & PPVA](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/ppli-ppva) - [IDFs](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/idf) - [CLO Equity](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/clo-equity) - [Resources](https://idf.clarion-capital.com/resources) #### Contact Us Interested in learning more about tax-efficient investment strategies.? Connect with our team. [GET STARTED](mailto:inquiries@clarion-capital.com?subject=Clarion%20IDF%20Inquiry) - [LinkedIn In](https://www.linkedin.com/company/clarion-capital-partners/) ##### Copyright © 2026 by Clarion Capital Partners, LLC. All rights reserved.