BlackRock’s Bold Bet With $12 Billion Leap into Private Credit
BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has struck a transformative $12 billion deal to acquire HPS Investment Partners, solidifying its foothold in the rapidly expanding private credit sector. This acquisition reflects a strategic push to capture a larger share of a market traditionally dominated by banks but now increasingly shaped by alternative asset managers.
HPS, a New York-based firm with $148 billion in assets under management, is a heavyweight in private credit, an arena that has grown indispensable to corporate lending. Once the acquisition is complete, BlackRock’s alternative assets portfolio will swell to nearly $600 billion, positioning it as one of the industry’s major players.
The agreement outlines a payment of $9.3 billion in BlackRock stock at closing, with an additional 2.9 million shares—currently valued at $3 billion—set to be issued over the next five years, contingent on HPS meeting specific financial milestones. BlackRock will also assume or repay $400 million of HPS’s debt. Most proceeds will go to HPS’s senior partners, with $675 million earmarked for broader employee retention.
This acquisition marks a significant milestone for BlackRock’s CEO Larry Fink, who has consistently emphasized the firm’s expansion into alternative assets. Following the company’s $12.5 billion purchase of Global Infrastructure Partners and its agreement to acquire UK-based Preqin for £2.55 billion, the HPS deal signals BlackRock’s continued pivot beyond its traditional equities and bonds.
Fink noted that BlackRock has consistently embraced bold initiatives, describing the acquisition as a critical step in enhancing the firm’s private markets capabilities. BlackRock’s chief financial officer highlighted that HPS’s senior executives would retain substantial carried interest and incentive fees from existing funds, ensuring leadership continuity.
HPS has evolved rapidly since its founding in 2007, growing its business amidst regulatory shifts that prompted banks to scale back from riskier lending. The firm has been pivotal in providing capital to distressed companies, often commanding high fees. Its strategic shift toward offering higher-quality debt to insurance clients has opened doors to blue-chip corporations like Intel and AB InBev, expanding its market reach.
Post-acquisition, HPS will merge with BlackRock’s existing private credit unit, creating a comprehensive private financing solutions platform. This unified entity will cater to BlackRock’s vast base of insurance clients, enhancing cross-selling opportunities. Ana Arsov, global head of private credit at Moody’s, called the move a game-changer, highlighting its potential to reshape the insurance lending landscape.
BlackRock also plans to broaden its private credit offerings for retail investors, aiming to replicate initiatives by rivals such as KKR and Apollo, which are actively developing private credit funds for the general public. These funds could unlock significant new capital streams, further bolstering BlackRock’s investment capabilities.
The combined business will be led by HPS’s founding trio—Scott Kapnick, Scot French, and Michael Patterson—who will also join BlackRock’s executive committee. Kapnick, serving as an observer on BlackRock’s board, expressed confidence in the merger’s transformative potential, forecasting a dominant role in both public and private markets for years to come.
BlackRock aims to finalize the acquisition by 2025, with market analysts viewing the deal as a strong signal of the firm’s commitment to staying ahead in an increasingly competitive landscape. Following the announcement, BlackRock’s shares climbed 1.9%, underscoring investor confidence in its aggressive growth strategy.
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