BDT & MSD Partners

BDT & MSD Partners was formed in January 2023 through the merger of BDT & Company and MSD Partners. BDT & Company was a merchant bank established by Byron Trott to advise and provide capital to family and founder-led businesses, while MSD Partners was an investment firm originally created to manage the capital of Michael Dell and his family. The merged entity functions as a merchant bank with a dual platform consisting of a specialized advisory arm and an investment business.

The firm is co-headquartered in Chicago and New York City and emphasizes a long-term investment philosophy. It integrates the advisory heritage of Byron Trott, known for his relationships with high-profile founders like Warren Buffett, with the family-office investment expertise brought by the MSD team. In 2024, the firm was ranked 36th in Private Equity International's PEI 300 ranking of the world's largest private equity firms.

The firm actively invests across various structures, taking both majority and minority positions in diverse companies. Significant recent activity includes participating in large-scale luxury real estate financing, food manufacturing acquisitions, and taking minority stakes in high-end hospitality brands. Its leadership team comprises several high-profile veterans from Goldman Sachs, reflecting its positioning as a premier advisory and capital partner for the ultra-wealthy and family-owned enterprises.