Goldman Sachs is set to acquire Industry Ventures, a leading venture capital platform that invests across all stages of the venture capital lifecycle. The transaction entails a $665 million payment at closing, supplemented by up to $300 million in contingent consideration based on Industry Ventures' future performance through 2030. The deal is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approval and customary conditions.

Industry Ventures, founded in 2000, manages approximately $7 billion in assets under supervision and has executed over 1,000 secondary and primary investments. The firm maintains one of the largest portfolios of venture capital partnerships in the United States, spanning from seed-stage to late-stage growth investments. Its portfolio includes stakes in more than 800 venture capital and technology-focused funds, collaborating with over 325 venture capital firms as a value-added limited partner, liquidity solutions provider, and co-investment partner. According to investment performance data, Industry Ventures reports a realised net internal rate of return of 18% and a net realised multiple on invested capital of 2.2 times since its inception.

The acquisition underscores Goldman Sachs’ strategic intent to bolster its alternative investment platform, which currently manages approximately $540 billion across sectors such as growth, real estate, and private credit. Industry Ventures’ expertise in secondary markets and hybrid funds is particularly notable, reflecting the growing importance of venture capital secondaries amid traditionally slower venture exits. This move is expected to complement Goldman Sachs’ existing investing franchises and expand client access to global growth opportunities.

All 45 employees of Industry Ventures, including CEO Hans Swildens and senior managing directors Justin Burden and Roland Reynolds, are set to join Goldman Sachs. The three leaders will become partners within Goldman Sachs Asset Management, signalling a deep integration of the firm's leadership and expertise into Goldman’s broader asset management framework.

The legal advisory role in this complex deal has been undertaken by Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. Weil's team includes a wide range of specialists across private equity, private funds, tax, capital markets, executive compensation, regulatory, employment, antitrust, banking, governance, litigation, and real estate. Leading the client advisory are Private Equity partners Brian Parness and Alexander Miachika among others, illustrating the multifaceted nature of the transaction and the strategic importance Goldman Sachs assigns to this acquisition.

Goldman Sachs’ acquisition of Industry Ventures reflects its ongoing pursuit of innovation in the venture capital space, leveraging the firm’s robust financial capabilities and Industry Ventures’ niche in venture secondary investing to enhance value creation. The deal highlights the evolving landscape of venture capital investments where secondary transactions and hybrid funds are gaining prominence as critical components of liquidity and growth strategies for investors.

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Source: Noah Wire Services