January 12, 2023 | 2 Minute Read
Goldman Sachs Asset Management (“Goldman Sachs”) today announced the final close of West Street Mezzanine Partners VIII (“Mezzanine Partners VIII” or the “Fund”), the latest in a series of flagship mezzanine vehicles. The Fund closed on $11.7 billion of equity, with a total fund size of $15.2bn inclusive of expected long-term asset financing.
The Fund is managed by the Private Credit business within Goldman Sachs Asset Management, with a global team of over 150 experienced credit investors drawing on the wider platform and resources of Goldman Sachs to source investments and add value to portfolio companies.
Goldman Sachs raised its first mezzanine fund in 1996 and since then has consistently been one of the largest providers of mezzanine financing globally, pioneering the development of the investment strategy. The firm’s investment teams have navigated multiple market cycles and environments, developing unique platform longevity and a strong track record.
Goldman Sachs has raised over $160 billion of commitments for investments in private credit over the past 26 years, with over $53 billion invested in mezzanine strategies. Today, the firm’s global presence, experienced team and ability to execute at scale often make it a first-choice partner for companies and financial sponsors seeking mezzanine financing. This gives the firm the ability to source proprietary investments and deliver differentiated performance for clients.
The fund will continue its focus on direct origination of junior fixed income investments in high-quality, private equity-backed businesses, leveraging the firm’s deep relationships with leading financial sponsors. To date, Mezzanine Partners VIII has invested or committed approximately $4 billion across 13 portfolio companies.
Julian Salisbury, Chief Investment Officer for Asset & Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs, said: “We are deeply appreciative of the support from existing and new limited partners. The demand is a testament to our team’s experience and track record navigating market cycles in mezzanine debt over almost three decades.
“Investors are increasingly focused on income generation and capital preservation in a higher inflation and higher interest rate environment. Given our team’s global presence, relationships with financial sponsors and depth of credit investment experience, we are confident we can continue to directly source attractive private credit investments in high quality companies with predictable cashflows and stable business models.
“We believe our differentiated approach allows us to navigate the volatile current market conditions and position ourselves to best identify investment opportunities that drive attractive risk-adjusted returns for our investors.”
Bringing together traditional and alternative investments, Goldman Sachs Asset Management provides clients around the world with a dedicated partnership and focus on long-term performance. As the primary investing area within Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), we deliver investment and advisory services for the world’s leading institutions, financial advisors and individuals, drawing from our deeply connected global network and tailored expert insights, across every region and market—overseeing more than $2 trillion in assets under supervision worldwide as of September 30, 2022. Driven by a passion for our clients’ performance, we seek to build long-term relationships based on conviction, sustainable outcomes, and shared success over time. Goldman Sachs Asset Management invests in the full spectrum of alternatives, including private equity, growth equity, private credit, real estate and infrastructure. Established in 1996, the Private Credit business within Goldman Sachs Asset Management is one of the world’s largest private credit investors with over $100 billion in assets across direct lending, mezzanine debt, hybrid capital and asset-based lending strategies. Our deep industry and product knowledge, extensive relationships and global footprint position us to deliver scaled outcomes with speed and certainty, supporting companies from the lower middle market to large cap in size. Follow us on LinkedIn.