Morgan, Shuart & Upchurch Named Most Influential PE Investors by LABJ

June 10, 2019

Michael Morgan, managing director of Caltius Equity Partners; Rick Shuart, managing director of Caltius Structured Capital; and, Jim Upchurch, President and CEO of Caltius Capital Management were named among the Most Influential Private Equity Investors of 2019 by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Morgan co-founded Caltius Capital Management’s private equity fund with Jim Upchurch and Garrick Ahn in 1999. As a managing director of Caltius Equity Partners, Michael is instrumental in the overall success of the firm, from fundraising to sourcing, executing and managing investments. Caltius Equity Partners has acquired over $975 million of enterprise value during its 20-year history across three funds. The fund’s assets under management have increased from its $53 million first fund to its $145 million third and most recent fund. Morgan focuses on Caltius Equity Partners’ investments in the Industrial Services and Facility Services industry sectors. He has sourced or managed numerous investments in these industry sectors at Caltius, including the successful acquisitions, management, and exits of Impact Facility Services and MC Sign. Prior to joining Caltius in 1999, Morgan worked at Salomon Smith Barney in New York in its financial sponsor’s coverage group.

Shuart has been an integral member of Caltius Capital Management’s team since 1999. As a managing director of Calitus’ junior capital fund, Caltius Structured Capital, Rick is instrumental in all aspects of fundraising, business development, transaction structuring, due diligence, and portfolio management. Caltius Structured Capital’s cumulative assets under management have increased from $43 million to $1.4 billion during his tenure.  Applying his two decades of experience, Shuart derives creative, appropriate transaction structures for each client’s unique needs. His deep knowledge spans unitranche facilities, subordinated debt, and preferred and common equity investments. He structures deals to solve needs ranging from growth capital to shareholder redemptions, add-on acquisitions, shareholder dividends, and refinancings. He builds rapport with prospective clients quickly and manages the due diligence process efficiently, including work performed by legal and accounting providers.

Upchurch co-founded Caltius Capital Management in 1997. As President and CEO, he is involved in all aspects of fund management, fundraising and deal origination for Caltius Equity Partners and Caltius Structured Capital. Prior to founding Caltius, Upchurch was President of U.S. Bancorp Libra and its predecessor, Libra Investments, an investment banking firm focused on the sale, trading, and placement of debt securities.  Jim began his career as a Certified Public Accountant at KPMG. Upchurch has a wide-ranging experience that spans private debt and equity investing, sales and trading of public debt securities, portfolio management, and accounting. He has been instrumental in facilitating liquidity events and corporate growth opportunities for owners of middle market companies throughout North America.  Under his management, Caltius has invested $1.2 billion in 63 transactions since being founded in 1997.