Wine.com Sips $32.5M in Debt and Equity

Wine.com, the nation's leading online wine retailer, today announced that it has raised $32.5 million in debt and equity financing from funds managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management's Private Credit Group ("GSAM PCG"). The capital will be deployed to enhance Wine.com's customer experience, brand awareness, and scale of the company's market-leading infrastructure.

"We're delighted with our new partnership with Goldman Sachs Asset Management," said Rich Bergsund, Wine.com's CEO. "Their capital, expertise and continuing support is a game changer for Wine.com as we continue to capitalize on the unique opportunities in the online wine business."

"We are proud to partner with a highly experienced management team that has built a best-in-class ecommerce platform serving an attractive demographic," said Matt Singer from GSAM PCG. "Wine.com's track record of growth and national scale creates a compelling platform and we are excited to help accelerate the company's expansion. Our investment is consistent with our strategy to partner with and provide long-term, flexible capital solutions to high growth companies that demonstrate unique and defensible business models."

Growth capital investments will include:
Product Innovation – Mobile makes up over 30% of Wine.com's revenue, and millennials make up one-third of its customers. The company will continue to invest in features and services to help customers discover the world of wine, with confidence.

Marketing – Customers are becoming increasingly loyal, as Wine.com earns their trust through world class selection and service. With a target audience of 10 million consumers, the company will invest in new channels and approaches to build brand awareness and attract new customers.

Infrastructure – Wine.com operates a proprietary, multi-node fulfillment network, and will invest with the objective of enabling order accuracy and timeliness at multiples of its current scale.

About Wine.com
Wine.com is the nation's leading online wine retailer, offering selection, guidance and convenience not found in brick and mortar stores. The company provides its customers access to the world's largest wine store, with live chat wine experts available 7 days a week. With multiple distribution centers and the most sophisticated retail wine fulfillment network in the United States, Wine.com delivers in 1-2 days to most addresses, offering date-certain delivery and the convenience of shipping to 11,000 FedEx Office, Walgreens and affiliated local pick-up sites. The company's popular StewardShip program provides unlimited wine delivery and exclusive access to new releases for $49 per year. Recently launched, the Wine.com iOS app allows users to scan, rate and purchase wines on the go. Wine.com's mission, to inspire the wine lifestyle through innovation, is captured in its brand manifesto video, viewable here.