Goldman Sachs did the State some service

The Tyrrelstown Tenants Action Group will hold a protest today outside Davy House on Dawson Street as it steps up its campaign of opposition to the leases of 40 tenants being terminated by a property fund connected with developer, Twinlite.

The loans associated with these properties were acquired by Goldman Sachs from Ulster Bank in 2014 with the result that the global investment bank has been caught in the crosshairs of this row and finds itself being described as a vulture fund.

These things are rarely a case of black and white and the firm might feel a little under-appreciated given its role in saving the State substantial sums of money in connection with Bank of Ireland between 2011 and 2013.

Its advice to the Department of Finance in relation to the liability-management exercises undertaken in 2011 generated the State a benefit of €970 million above what Bank of Ireland’s advisers had initially predicted.

A couple of years later, Goldman Sachs advised the government on a pro-bono basis in connection to the purchase of the State's €3.5 billion in preference shares in the bank. Cantillon understands that its advice helped to secure an additional €60 million for the State during the course of the negotiations.

It also worked for the State on a no-fee basis in connection with AIB’s capital restructuring last year. This has paved the way for an IPO of its shares and a return of capital to taxpayers.

No doubt Goldman will be hoping to be appointed as an adviser whenever the new government presses the button on a flotation. Of course, Goldman Sachs was well remunerated for its work for the State between 2011 and 2013, when it received €7.7 million, excluding VAT, for various assignments.

But this was probably justified in the context of the substantial savings achieved for taxpayers. Not that it will get any thanks from anti-austerity TD Ruth Coppinger, who will be front and centre at today's protest.