Blackstone Inc Stock Price, News & Analysis

Blackstone (NYSE:BX) has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Certified Collectibles Group (CCG) for over $500 million. CCG specializes in authentication and grading services for collectibles and has certified over 62 million items valued at nearly $50 billion. Blackstone plans to accelerate CCG's growth by investing significantly in services, expanding its reach, and enhancing technology. CCG's leadership will remain intact, and Blackstone's extensive resources aim to bolster CCG's market presence in the collectibles industry.

Exeter Finance, a prominent indirect auto finance company, has announced its acquisition by a Warburg Pincus-led investor group from Blackstone. The terms of the transaction remain confidential. Exeter, which manages a loan portfolio exceeding $7 billion, serves over 1 million customers through its extensive network of 11,000 auto dealers. The acquisition aims to enhance Exeter's growth potential, with CEO Jason Grubb continuing in his role and investing in the firm. The deal is expected to finalize by the end of 2021, pending customary closing conditions.

Blackstone (NYSE:BX) announced a definitive agreement to invest in Simpli.fi, a leading programmatic advertising software company, valuing it at approximately $1.5 billion. This investment sees Blackstone joining GTCR as majority shareholders. Simpli.fi serves over 30,000 advertisers and manages more than 120,000 campaigns monthly. The partnership aims to enhance innovation and accelerate growth, capitalizing on the shift towards programmatic digital advertising. Blackstone has previously invested in other digital advertising tech firms and will contribute its resources to support Simpli.fi's growth trajectory.

Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust (BREIT) has agreed to acquire Home Partners of America (HPA) for $6.0 billion. This acquisition aims to expand housing access and help individuals transition to homeownership. HPA boasts a portfolio of over 17,000 homes and a commitment to responsible ownership, which BREIT plans to enhance with its experience in residential properties. The Choice Lease program will also be formally launched to address housing affordability challenges. The transaction is anticipated to close in Q3 2021, subject to approvals.

Blackstone (NYSE: BX) has announced a $250 million investment to establish a new CAR T-cell therapy company alongside Intellia Therapeutics (NASDAQ: NTLA) and Cellex. This venture will feature a blend of GEMoaB's advanced CAR-T technology and Intellia's CRISPR genomic engineering. Aimed at improving efficacy and safety across various cancers, the new company will be based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with operations in Germany. Andrew Schiermeier will lead this initiative, focusing on providing innovative treatments for tough-to-treat cancers and autoimmune conditions.

Blackstone (BX) and Vista Equity Partners have announced their agreement to acquire Ellucian, a leading higher education technology provider, from TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners. This investment will focus on innovation in digital transformation within the higher education sector, leveraging Ellucian's comprehensive ERP solutions. With over 2,700 customers globally, Ellucian aims to enhance operational efficiency for educational institutions. Blackstone emphasizes a long-term commitment, aiming to develop Ellucian's SaaS platform and expand its international market reach.

QTS Realty Trust (NYSE: QTS) and Blackstone (NYSE: BX) announced a definitive agreement for Blackstone to acquire all outstanding shares of QTS for $78.00 per share, valuing the transaction at approximately $10 billion. This represents a 21% premium to QTS' closing share price as of June 4, 2021. The deal, approved unanimously by QTS' Board, is expected to close in the second half of 2021, pending stockholder and regulatory approvals. QTS will maintain its management team and corporate headquarters post-transaction.

Blackstone (NYSE:BX) has agreed to acquire International Data Group, Inc. (IDG) from Oriental Rainbow for an enterprise value of $1.3 billion. Founded in 1964, IDG specializes in market intelligence for the technology sector. This acquisition aims to enhance IDG's capabilities and allow for substantial investment in growth opportunities. Blackstone's investment is expected to accelerate IDG's product offerings and market leadership. The deal is part of IDG's strategy to leverage advanced analytics to meet the increasing demand for technology insights.

Blackstone (NYSE:BX) announced that CFO Michael Chae will present at Morgan Stanley’s Virtual Financials, Payments, and CRE Conference on June 15, 2021, at 1:15 pm ET. A live webcast of the presentation can be accessed on Blackstone’s Shareholders section of their website. A replay will also be available shortly after the event for those unable to listen live. Blackstone manages $649 billion in assets across diverse investment vehicles and focuses on creating long-term value.