
MSD Partners
Description
MSD Partners, originally established in 2009 to manage the capital of Michael Dell and his family, underwent a significant transformation in 2022 by merging with BDT & Company to form BDT & MSD Partners. This strategic combination created a leading merchant bank focused on providing long-term capital and strategic advice to family- and founder-led businesses. The firm operates with a distinctive approach that integrates advisory services with principal investing, aiming to build enduring partnerships with its portfolio companies.
BDT & MSD Partners employs a multi-asset class investment strategy, deploying capital across private equity, credit, real estate, and public equity. Their private capital arm, BDT & MSD Partners Private Capital, specializes in making control and significant minority investments in market-leading companies. These companies typically possess enterprise values ranging from $500 million to several billion dollars, reflecting the firm's focus on established, scalable businesses with strong fundamentals.
The firm's investment philosophy emphasizes a patient, long-term perspective, often providing bespoke capital solutions tailored to the unique needs of founders and families. This approach allows them to support companies through various stages of growth, succession planning, and strategic transitions. With substantial resources at its disposal, BDT & MSD Partners manages over $50 billion in assets, enabling them to execute large-scale transactions.
For their private capital investments, BDT & MSD Partners typically deploys equity checks that can range significantly based on the size and nature of the deal. While their investments are highly customized, a typical first cheque for a significant minority or control stake generally falls between approximately $75 million and can extend to over $1 billion for larger, more complex transactions. This broad range underscores their capacity to engage in a wide spectrum of private market opportunities, from substantial growth equity to large-scale buyouts.
Investor Profile
MSD Partners has backed more than 24 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 12 rounds, about 50% of its total and boasts 8 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Post Ipo Equity, Series E, Series D rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Bermuda, Israel.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, Information Technology, FinTech.
- Typical check size: $75M – $1000M.
Stage Focus
- Post Ipo Equity (17%)
- Series E (13%)
- Series D (13%)
- Series C (8%)
- Series Unknown (8%)
- Series B (8%)
- Post Ipo Debt (8%)
- Private Equity (8%)
- Series I (4%)
- Series H (4%)
Country Focus
- United States (88%)
- Bermuda (4%)
- Israel (4%)
- Cayman Islands (4%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Information Technology
- Fintech
- Machine Learning
- Biotechnology
- Asset Management
- Banking
- Financial Services
- Finance
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
Frequently Asked Questions
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