Goldman Sachs Alternatives

Goldman Sachs Alternatives was founded in 1986 as the firm began making longer-term equity investments in private equity transactions alongside its traditional investment banking clients. During the early and mid-1980s, Goldman Sachs was a late entrant into leveraged buyouts and junk bonds, initially preferring to focus on its M&A advisory business. The firm established investment partnerships to allow clients to participate in private equity deals alongside the bank.

Since 1992, the group has raised third-party capital from a wide range of institutional investors, including pension funds, insurance companies, and sovereign wealth funds. The division operates through various institutional funds such as GS Capital Partners and West Street Capital Partners. It has grown into a major player in the alternative investment space, managing hundreds of billions of dollars across diverse asset classes.