News
December 01, 2025
Three Goldman Sachs ‘vulture fund’ entities in Ireland being sold
Three Goldman Sachs entities in Ireland that were used to buy hundreds of millions of euro of post-crash debt are being sold by the banking giant.
**Goldman Sachs Offloads Irish Debt-Buying Entities**
Goldman Sachs is selling three of its Irish entities, companies established to acquire distressed debt in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. These entities, often described as "vulture funds," were instrumental in purchasing hundreds of millions of euro worth of Irish debt from banks eager to offload non-performing loans and mortgages after the property market crash.
The sale marks a significant shift in Goldman Sachs' strategy in the Irish market. Following the economic downturn, many international investment firms like Goldman Sachs saw an opportunity to purchase these debts at discounted rates, hoping to profit as the Irish economy recovered. These companies became known as "vulture funds" due to their perceived practice of preying on financially vulnerable individuals and businesses.
While the names of the specific entities being sold have not been publicly disclosed, their purpose was clear: to acquire and manage distressed Irish assets. These assets included mortgages, business loans, and other forms of debt that were struggling to be repaid. The sale process is expected to attract interest from other investment firms already operating in the Irish market, as well as potentially new players looking to gain a foothold.
The disposal of these entities raises questions about the future of the underlying debt portfolios they hold. It remains to be seen whether the new owners will pursue more aggressive debt collection strategies or offer more lenient repayment terms to borrowers.
The move also highlights the evolving landscape of the Irish financial market. With the Irish economy now largely recovered, the opportunities for acquiring distressed debt are diminishing. Many of the original "vulture funds" are now either restructuring their operations or exiting the market altogether. The sale of these Goldman Sachs entities signals a further consolidation of the sector and a move away from the crisis-era focus on distressed asset acquisition. The impact on Irish borrowers whose debts are held by these entities remains to be seen as the sale progresses.
Goldman Sachs is selling three of its Irish entities, companies established to acquire distressed debt in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. These entities, often described as "vulture funds," were instrumental in purchasing hundreds of millions of euro worth of Irish debt from banks eager to offload non-performing loans and mortgages after the property market crash.
The sale marks a significant shift in Goldman Sachs' strategy in the Irish market. Following the economic downturn, many international investment firms like Goldman Sachs saw an opportunity to purchase these debts at discounted rates, hoping to profit as the Irish economy recovered. These companies became known as "vulture funds" due to their perceived practice of preying on financially vulnerable individuals and businesses.
While the names of the specific entities being sold have not been publicly disclosed, their purpose was clear: to acquire and manage distressed Irish assets. These assets included mortgages, business loans, and other forms of debt that were struggling to be repaid. The sale process is expected to attract interest from other investment firms already operating in the Irish market, as well as potentially new players looking to gain a foothold.
The disposal of these entities raises questions about the future of the underlying debt portfolios they hold. It remains to be seen whether the new owners will pursue more aggressive debt collection strategies or offer more lenient repayment terms to borrowers.
The move also highlights the evolving landscape of the Irish financial market. With the Irish economy now largely recovered, the opportunities for acquiring distressed debt are diminishing. Many of the original "vulture funds" are now either restructuring their operations or exiting the market altogether. The sale of these Goldman Sachs entities signals a further consolidation of the sector and a move away from the crisis-era focus on distressed asset acquisition. The impact on Irish borrowers whose debts are held by these entities remains to be seen as the sale progresses.
Category:
Business