Brand: Goldman Sachs
Country of Origin: United States 🇺🇸
Founded: 1869
Founder: Marcus Goldman
Industry: Investment Banking, Asset & Wealth Management & Financial Services
Company: The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Headquarters: New York City, United States
Chairman & CEO: David Solomon
Official Website: Goldman Sachs
Featured By: ASIA Best Brands — Global Brands
About Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs is a leading global financial institution serving corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals.
Its businesses span investment banking, financial markets, asset management, private wealth management and other financial services, with offices across major financial centres worldwide.
From Commercial Paper to Global Finance
Marcus Goldman, founder of the most famous bank in the world. Image Source: First Bank.
Goldman Sachs was founded in New York in 1869 by Marcus Goldman, a German immigrant who began buying and selling promissory notes from a small office in Lower Manhattan.
His son-in-law Samuel Sachs later joined the business, and the firm adopted the name Goldman, Sachs & Co. in 1888.
From its early commercial-paper business, Goldman Sachs expanded into securities, investment banking, trading and investment management, becoming an increasingly international financial institution.
Investment Banking at the Core
Investment banking remains one of Goldman Sachs’ defining businesses.
The firm advises companies and institutions on mergers and acquisitions, financing, equity offerings, debt issuance and other major strategic transactions.
Goldman Sachs’ investment banking franchise ranked first globally in cumulative announced M&A deal volume from 2000 through 2025, according to Dealogic data cited by the firm.
Its wider Global Banking & Markets business also includes fixed-income, currency and commodities activities, equities, financing and transaction banking.
Connecting Companies With Capital
Goldman Sachs Announces Creation of Capital Solutions Group. Image Source: Goldman Sachs.
Goldman Sachs has continued expanding its capabilities as companies increasingly seek funding outside traditional public markets.
In 2025, the firm created a Capital Solutions Group, bringing together financing, origination, structuring and risk-management capabilities across public and private markets.
The move reflects the growing role of private credit and alternative financing alongside traditional equity and debt markets.
Asset and Wealth Management
Investment management has become another major pillar of Goldman Sachs.
Its Asset & Wealth Management business serves institutions, financial advisers and individuals across equities, fixed income, liquidity products and alternative investments.
As of September 30, 2026, Goldman Sachs reported a record US$4.097 trillion in assets under supervision, including US$3.046 trillion in long-term assets.
Assets under supervision include both assets managed directly by Goldman Sachs and certain other client assets for which the firm does not have full investment discretion.
Expanding Private Markets
Goldman Sachs is also growing its presence across private equity, private credit, infrastructure and real estate.
In August 2026, the firm agreed to acquire LCN Capital Partners, a real estate investment manager specialising in sale-leaseback and triple-net-lease investments. It also announced an agreement to acquire NEOS Investments, expanding its exchange-traded-fund capabilities.
These developments form part of Goldman Sachs’ strategy to expand its Asset & Wealth Management platform across both public and private markets.
Using AI to Modernise Finance
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important to Goldman Sachs internally.
In 2025, the firm introduced One Goldman Sachs 3.0, an operating model designed to use AI, automation and better data to increase efficiency.
Initial areas targeted include client onboarding and KYC, vendor management, regulatory reporting, lending, enterprise risk management and sales enablement.
Rather than positioning AI as a separate consumer product, Goldman Sachs is using the technology to redesign internal processes and increase the capacity of its financial businesses.
More Than Five Decades in Asia
Goldman Sachs established its first Asian office in Tokyo in 1974, making Japan the starting point for its permanent regional presence.
It later expanded across Asia, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.
Singapore has developed into an important Southeast Asian hub. Goldman Sachs established its Singapore office in 1989, and the location supports both Global Banking & Markets and Asset & Wealth Management, alongside engineering and operations functions.
Asia’s Growing Contribution
Asia is increasingly significant to Goldman Sachs’ financial performance.
For the first nine months of 2026, the firm generated US$10.46 billion in net revenue from Asia, compared with US$5.50 billion during the same period in 2025.
Asia accounted for approximately 19% of firmwide net revenues during the period, up from 12% a year earlier.
The figures reflect the importance of Asian capital markets, institutional clients and wealth-management opportunities to Goldman Sachs’ global franchise.
Strong Financial Performance
Goldman Sachs generated US$58.28 billion in net revenues in 2025, up 9% year over year, while net earnings reached US$17.18 billion.
Return on average common shareholders’ equity was 15.0%.
Performance strengthened further in 2026.
For the third quarter ended September 30, Goldman Sachs reported:
- US$18.68 billion in net revenues
- US$5.29 billion in net earnings
- US$17.01 diluted earnings per share
- 18.7% annualised return on common equity
For the first nine months of 2026, total net revenues reached US$56.24 billion, up 25% from the same period in 2025.
Why Goldman Sachs Is Featured on ASIA Best Brands
Goldman Sachs demonstrates how a financial institution can evolve from a small commercial-paper business into a global platform spanning investment banking, markets, asset management and wealth management.
Its investment in artificial intelligence, expansion across private markets and long-established presence throughout Asia show how the firm continues to adapt as global finance changes.
With operations across Japan, China, India, Singapore, South Korea and Southeast Asia, the region has become an increasingly important part of Goldman Sachs’ international business.
By combining financial expertise, global connectivity, investment capabilities and technology, Goldman Sachs remains one of the world’s most influential financial brands featured on ASIA Best Brands.
Official Website:
Goldman Sachs Official Website
Category: Investment Banking | Asset Management | Financial Services
Tags: Goldman Sachs, Investment Banking, Asset Management, Wealth Management, Private Markets, Artificial Intelligence, Global Banking, Asia Pacific, Financial Services, ASIA Best Brands
Sources
1. Goldman Sachs — Company History
Official history covering Marcus Goldman, the 1869 founding and development of the firm.
Goldman Sachs History
2. Goldman Sachs — 2025 Annual Report
Official information covering strategy, AI, financial performance and Asset & Wealth Management.
Goldman Sachs 2025 Annual Report
3. Goldman Sachs — Q3 2026 Results
Latest official results covering revenue, earnings and return on equity.
Goldman Sachs Q3 2026 Results
4. Goldman Sachs — Q3 2026 Financial Detail
Official data covering segment performance, Asian revenue and assets under supervision.
Goldman Sachs Q3 2026 Financial Results
5. Goldman Sachs — Global Businesses
Official overview of Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management and Platform Solutions.
Goldman Sachs Businesses
6. Goldman Sachs — Investment Banking
Official information covering M&A, capital solutions and Goldman Sachs’ investment-banking franchise.
Goldman Sachs Investment Banking
7. Goldman Sachs — Asia History
Official history covering the opening of its first Asian office in Tokyo in 1974.
Goldman Sachs in Asia
8. Goldman Sachs — Singapore
Official information covering its Southeast Asia hub and regional businesses.
Goldman Sachs Singapore