Michael Chu (private equity investor)

J. Michael Chu
Born
James Michael Chu

(1958-07-05) July 5, 1958 (age 67)
EducationBA in Psychology and Economics
Alma mater
OccupationPrivate equity executive
TitleGlobal Co-CEO, L Catterton
SpouseElizabeth Kalperis Chu[1]

James Michael Chu (born July 5,1958) is an American financial businessman. He has been the private equity manager and co-chief executive officer (CEO) of L Catterton since 1989.[2][3]

Early life

Chu graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine in 1980, earning a bachelor's degree in psychology and economics with highest honours.[4] At Bates, he was a member of the board of trustees from 1995 to 2013.[5]

Career

Chu held various senior financial management positions with The First Pacific Company, a Hong Kong publicly listed investment and management company which he joined in early 1983.[5]

L Caterton

In 1989, Chu co-founded what would later become L Catterton and subsequently served as one of the firm's Global Co-CEOs.[4]

In 2015, Catterton Partners took on as minor partners Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) and Groupe Arnault (the family office of Bernard Arnault, bringing together $12 billion in assets as L Catterton.[3][6] In May 2018, his firm was listed as the 31st largest private equity firm in the world, based on capital raised over the prior five years.[7] In June 2022, L Catterton were ranked 30th in Private Equity International's 2022 PEI 300 ranking.[8][9]

Other memberships and philanthropy

Chu is a member of the Committee of 100 (a Chinese-American leadership and philanthropic organization).[4]

In 2016, Chu and his wife made a $10 million gift to Bates College, supporting the creation of a professorship and other initiatives at the institution. [1]

Personal life

Chu is married to Elizabeth Kalperis Chu. They met while studying at Bates College.[1] Their oldest son, Christopher, is a 2012 graduate of the college.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Bates College Receives $10 Million Gift from Elizabeth Kalperis Chu '80 and J. Michael Chu '80". Bates College. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  2. ^ "J. Michael Chu: Executive Profile & Biography". Businessweek. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Picker, Leslie (January 5, 2016). "LVMH's Private Equity Arm to Merge With Catterton". The New York Times. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "L Catterton Asia Acquisition Corp. (Form 424B4)". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  5. ^ a b "J. Michael Chu: Executive Profile". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  6. ^ Hirsch, Lauren (5 January 2016). "LVMH, Catterton and Groupe Arnault partner for investments". Reuters. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  7. ^ "PEI 300 full report". Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  8. ^ "PEI 300 2022: KKR beats the crowd to claim PE’s throne". Private Equity International, June 1, 2022.
  9. ^ "PEI 300". Private Equity International, June 1, 2022.