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Lebanese American University (LAU)
The Lebanese American University was founded in 1924. It operates as a secular private American university chartered by the Board of Regents of the University...
Lebanese American University (LAU)
The Lebanese American University was founded in 1924. It operates as a secular private American university chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. The institution maintains its primary endowment to fund scholarships, campus expansion, and operations. The endowment participates in private equity commitments. Confirmed positions include Charterhouse Capital Partners XI and Great Hill Partners Fund IV. Allocations span growth capital, buyout, and venture strategies. Geographic exposure covers Europe and the United States in addition to Lebanon. The university employs 955 professionals. It maintains a New York branch campus opened as a degree-granting facility in 2024. Adjacent vehicles include the LAU Health Foundation and the LAU Louis Cardahi Foundation. April 2025: Investiture of President Chaouki T. Abdallah occurred in Beirut. The endowment sits within the university governance structure. Board trustees such as Mike Ahmar and Raymond Debbane provide oversight. Investment decisions flow through the Senior Investment Officer with direct LP commitments executed via the endowment vehicle.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1924
Location
Region
Middle East
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
211 East 46th Street, New York, NY, United States
Additional offices
Beirut, Lebanon · Byblos, Lebanon
Principals
David Grosner
Senior Investment Officer / CIO
Mike Ahmar
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Lebanese American University (LAU)?
David Grosner serves as Senior Investment Officer and CIO. He has held the role since 2009.
Does LAU participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The endowment acts as a limited partner in private equity funds. Positions include Charterhouse Capital Partners XI and Great Hill Partners Fund IV.
What investment stages does LAU typically target?
Allocations cover growth capital, buyout, early stage, and secondaries. The strategy mix is listed as balanced across these approaches.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The endowment originates from university operations, donations, and investment returns. No single family or corporate source is disclosed.
How is LAU related to its medical centers?
LAU owns and operates the LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital and LAU Medical Center-Saint John's Hospital. Both function as teaching hospitals integrated with the university.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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