L Catterton is an American multinational private equity firm. Founded in Greenwich, Connecticut in 1989, the fund has made over 250 investments in brands across all segments of the consumer industry.[3] The firm is led by co-CEOs J. Michael Chu and Scott Dahnke.[4] Originally Catterton Partners, the fund merged with Bernard Arnault's family office and LVMH in 2016 to create L Catterton.

In June 2024, L Catterton ranked 39th in Private Equity International's PEI 300 ranking among the world's largest private equity firms.[5]

History

Founding and early history

Catterton was founded in 1989 as Catterton-Simon Partners by Carl Frischkorn (Catterton Family), his accountant Frank Vest and J. Michael Chu, along with former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury William E. Simon.[6] Between 1992 and 2002, the company invested in well-known consumer brands including P. F. Chang's, Odwalla, and Baja Fresh.[7][8] In 2001, the firm changed its name to Catterton Partners.[9][needs update]

2002–2016

Catterton Partners logo, 2015

Between 2002 and 2016, Catterton completed investments in numerous consumer growth businesses including Peloton, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Ferrara Candy Company, Outback Steakhouse, Restoration Hardware, Wellness Pet Company, and Kettle Foods.[10][11][12]

In 2003, Scott Dahnke joined the firm as a co-Managing Partner.[4] In 2008, the firm launched its first growth fund targeting investments in early to late-stage growth companies.[9] These investments included Vroom, Sweaty Betty, Il Makiage, Sweet Leaf Tea Company, Tula and Pong Research.[13][14][15][16][17][18] In 2013, the firm launched its Latin America fund targeting investments in Latin American middle market growth companies.[19] Notable investments in the Latin America strategy include Cholula Hot Sauce and NotCo.[20][21]

2016–present

In January 2016, Catterton, LVMH, and Financière Agache (previously Groupe Arnault), the family holding company of Bernard Arnault, partnered to create L Catterton.[22] The partnership combined Catterton's existing North American and Latin American private equity operations with LVMH and Groupe Arnault's pre-existing European and Asian private equity and real estate operations. The merged firm is now called L Catterton and invests globally from six fund platforms: L Catterton Flagship Buyout, L Catterton North American Growth, L Catterton Latin America, L Catterton Europe, L Catterton Asia, and L Catterton Real Estate.[23] In May 2021, Private Equity International listed L Catterton as the 32nd largest private equity firm in the world based on capital raised over the prior five years.[24]

In 2020, L Catterton raised over $5 billion for its ninth buyout fund and over $950m for its fourth growth fund.[25]

In April 2024, the company bought a majority stake in the makeup retailer Kiko Milano.[26] In June 2024, it acquired Stripes, a beauty and wellness brand focused on menopause health founded by actress Naomi Watts.[27]

In January 2025, L Catterton entered into a strategic partnership with Japanese premium fishing gear maker Megabase, aiming to expand Megabase's production and distribution network to respond to rising demand in Japan and the United States.[28]

Investments

The firm has backed several notable investments, including Birkenstock,[29] Jio Platform, Ainsworth Pet Nutrition,[30] Peloton,[31] Nature's Variety,[32] Pinarello,[33] Freetrade,[34] the Miami Design District,[35] Cover FX,[36] Polène,[37] and Ginza Six.[38]

References

  1. ^ Picker, Leslie (5 January 2016). "LVMH's Private Equity Arm to Merge With Catterton". New York Times. No. DealBook. United States. The New York Times Company. p. B3. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  2. ^ "L Catterton".
  3. ^ "L Catterton Asia Signs Definitive Agreement For $360 Mn Continuation Fund".
  4. ^ a b Why A Private Equity Firm Backed By Bernard Arnault Is Putting $400 Million Into Norwegian Cruise LineForbes
  5. ^ "2024 PEI 300 by Private Equity International - Infogram". infogram.com. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
  6. ^ Taylor, Alexander L. "Buyout Binge". TIME magazine, Jul. 16, 1984.
  7. ^ Investor Group to Take Control of Baja FreshLos Angeles Times
  8. ^ Jains, Amanda (2007-11-08). "Catterton to pay $267m for specialty retailer Restoration Hardware". Private Equity International.
  9. ^ a b "Catterton May Have Two Funds To Raise]Buyouts Inside". Buyout Insider. 2012-03-26.
  10. ^ Consumer-focused PE firm L Catterton raises $3.71b for ninth fundDealStreetAsia
  11. ^ Kodiak Cakes acquired by L Catterton, a private equity firm Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery
  12. ^ Consumer-focused PE firm L Catterton raises $3.71b for ninth fundThe Wall Street Journal
  13. ^ "Pong Research Receives Investment From Leading Consumer-Focused Private Equity Firm Catterton". L Catterton. 2011-08-16.
  14. ^ Online Used Car Retailer Vroom Announces $254 Million Series H Funding RoundBusiness Wire
  15. ^ Fitness Retailer Sweaty Betty to Prepare $524 Million SaleThe Business of Fashion
  16. ^ L Catterton-Backed Beauty Business Valued at $1.5 Billion by New InvestorsThe Wall Street Journal
  17. ^ L Catterton-Backed Catterton Swallows Stake in Sweet LeafThe New York Times
  18. ^ L Catterton Backs Skin-Care Brand TULAThe Wall Street Journal
  19. ^ Catterton Taps Former Executives of Eton Park to Run Latin America FundThe Wall Street Journal
  20. ^ L Catterton to buy Jose Cuervo-backed hot sauce brand CholulaReuters
  21. ^ Brazil's Petlove raises $150M from Riverwood, SoftBank to sell pet products and services onlineTechCrunch
  22. ^ Picker, Leslie (2016-01-05). "LVMH's Private Equity Arm to Merge With Catterton". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
  23. ^ "L Catterton and LVMH Relationship".
  24. ^ "PEI 300 full report". 3 June 2024.
  25. ^ L Catterton Seeks Nearly $7.8 Billion for New FundsThe Wall Street Journal
  26. ^ https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/l-catterton-buys-italian-accessible-make-up-brand-kiko-2024-04-26/ [bare URL]
  27. ^ Segran, Elizabeth (2024-06-24). "Naomi Watts' menopause brand, Stripes Beauty, is acquired by LVMH-backed L Catterton". Fast Company. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  28. ^ Reporter, Staff (2025-01-28). "Japan's Megabass partners with L Catterton to boost global growth | Retail Asia". retailasia.com. Retrieved 2025-02-19.
  29. ^ LVMH-Backed L Catterton Buys Iconic Sandal Maker BirkenstockBloomberg L.P.
  30. ^ "L Catterton and the Lang Gamily to Sell Ainsworth Pet Nutrition to the JM Smucker Company" (Press release).
  31. ^ "Peloton Receives 75 Million Growth Capital Investment from Catterton" (Press release).
  32. ^ Or, Amy (11 May 2016). "L Catterton Scores 6.5 Times Return in Sales of Nature's Variety". Wall Street Journal.
  33. ^ L Catterton closes on investment in Pinarello HoldingBicycle Retailer and Industry News
  34. ^ "Investment platform Freetrade raises £50m as homebound customers fuel revenue surge". Sky News. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  35. ^ "Design of the Times Showcasing Miami's Cutting Edge Design District".
  36. ^ Sandler, Emma (July 23, 2020). "Cover FX tests new launch strategy with latest products".
  37. ^ "Antoine Mothay". Business of Fashion.
  38. ^ "Ginza Six a New Template of Luxury Opens in Tokyo".
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L_Catterton
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