A busted Goldman airline deal is investigated by private detectives

It was a fundraising like no other: Goldman Sachs teaming up with 2 obscure brokerages on an unusual deal. Add to that controversial financier Lars Windhorst, acting as one of the architects behind the scenes. Investors snapped up the US$1.2b in bonds that, in turn, channelled proceeds to a cluster of airlines linked to Etihad Airways. Within months, bankers handling the sale were crisscrossing the Atlantic, collecting awards for their creativity. A group of creditors is now resorting to unconventional tactics to recoup losses. They’ve hired a private intelligence firm. The mission: Dig out details into how the deal came together, including the roles played by Windhorst, the airline and the fundraising group, according to people with knowledge of the situation. <br/>