Michael Choe - Atomization of Private Equity Decisions at Charlesbank (EP.432)
Feb 17, 2025
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Michael Choe, CEO and Co-Head of Flagship private equity strategy at Charlesbank Capital Partners, shares his journey from science to finance, shaped by his immigrant background. He discusses Charlesbank's innovative decision-making framework and the significance of the 'fan of outcomes' model in private equity. The conversation delves into the importance of human capital, structured investment strategies, and adapting to market fluctuations through systematic processes. Choe also reflects on personal growth and intriguing connections to quantum physics.
Michael Choe's immigrant background and diverse educational experiences shaped his unique approach to decision-making in finance.
Charlesbank's investment strategy emphasizes a data-driven analysis of metrics, revealing that traditional success factors may not correlate with outcomes.
The firm has adopted a fan of outcomes model to introduce probabilistic thinking, improving clarity and analytical rigor in investment decisions.
Deep dives
WCM Investment Management's Unique Approach
WCM Investment Management distinguishes itself by integrating culture research into its investment process and adopting the concept of moat trajectory. This approach allows them to deliver differentiated returns while constructing concentrated portfolios that aim to outperform the market. By operating away from the typical Wall Street influence, WCM promotes a culture that values unique perspectives and encourages innovative thinking. Their focus on utilizing wide moat investing has resulted in a commitment to challenging outdated industry practices and fostering an environment where team members can strive for excellence.
Michael Che's Journey to Private Equity
Michael Che's unique background as a Korean-American immigrant shaped his insights into decision-making and cultural frameworks. After moving back to Korea at a young age, he navigated different educational systems, which influenced his appreciation for varied approaches to problem-solving. His career trajectory took an unexpected turn from a focus on science to the finance sector after being introduced to strategic consulting. This shift ultimately led him to his current role as CEO of Charles Bank Capital Partners, where he applies his decision-making framework to enhance investment outcomes.
Charles Bank's Learning from Investment Successes
Over the years, Charles Bank has focused on refining the investment decision-making process by analyzing the correlation between various metrics and investment success. They found that factors such as earnings growth and the stability of management played a lesser role in success than previously believed. Particularly noteworthy was the realization that entry multiples did not significantly correlate with investment outcomes. This data-driven approach led to a more nuanced understanding of value and risk, enhancing the firm's ability to identify and leverage investment opportunities more effectively.
The Challenge of Adopting Probabilistic Decision-Making
Implementing a fan of outcomes model has instigated a cultural shift in how Charles Bank makes investment decisions by introducing probabilistic thinking. This model allows the team to simulate various potential outcomes and assess investment risks more dynamically compared to traditional methods. However, challenges arose in transitioning from established practices to a new framework that required simplification and clarity. Despite these hurdles, the focus on probabilistic outcomes has sharpened their analytical rigor and improved the quality of decision-making across all levels of the firm.
Exploring Asymmetric Investment Profiles
Charles Bank has identified a growing interest in companies offering specialized human capital services with a recurring revenue model, akin to software businesses. By using their new modeling tools, they assess the potential for these companies to deliver high margins while remaining capital efficient. Furthermore, they have focused on industries with historically low private equity penetration, providing ample opportunity for growth through consolidation and strategic investment. This focus reflects a broader trend of finding value in areas typically overlooked by traditional private equity approaches.
Michael Choe is the CEO and Co-Head of Flagship private equity strategy at Charlesbank Capital Partners, a $22B manager of middle-market private equity, credit, and technology opportunities that spun out of the Harvard Management Company in 1998. Our conversation covers Mike’s path from science to finance, including an immigrant story and a draw to decision-making at a young age. We discuss Charlesbank’s history and aspiration to manufacture sound decision-making as a path to investment success, applying its “fan of outcomes” thinking to talent, research, diligence, sourcing, and company operations. Learn More Follow Ted on Twitter at @tseides or LinkedIn Subscribe to the mailing list Access Transcript with Premium Membership
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