Blackstone And Vista Plot Smartsheet Takeover: Report
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 06 2024
0mins
Source: Benzinga
Acquisition Talks: Blackstone Inc. and Vista Equity Partners are in discussions to acquire Smartsheet Inc., valued at approximately $7 billion, with a potential deal expected soon.
Recent Performance: Smartsheet reported better-than-expected earnings and sales for the second quarter, while Blackstone continues its acquisition strategy with recent deals in logistics and data centers.
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Analyst Views on BX
Wall Street analysts forecast BX stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 111.600
Low
166.00
Averages
176.60
High
205.00
Current: 111.600
Low
166.00
Averages
176.60
High
205.00
About BX
Blackstone Inc. is an alternative asset manager. Its asset management includes global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, credit, real assets, secondaries, and hedge funds. Its Real Estate segment comprises its management of opportunistic real estate funds, Core+ real estate funds, and real estate debt strategies. Its Private Equity segment includes its management of flagship Corporate Private Equity funds, sector and geographically focused Corporate Private Equity funds, core private equity funds, an investment platform, and others. Its Credit & Insurance segment consists of Blackstone Credit & Insurance, which is organized into three overarching strategies: private corporate credit, liquid corporate credit and infrastructure and asset-based credit. Its Multi-Asset Investing segment is organized into four investment platforms: Absolute Return, Multi-Strategy, Total Portfolio Management, and Public Real Assets.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Diversified Investment Options: The Trump administration's proposal allows 401(k) plans to include alternative investments such as private credit, private equity, cryptocurrency, and real estate, aiming to provide millions of Americans with broader retirement investment choices, thereby enhancing the growth potential of retirement assets.
- Clear Compliance Process: The new rule mandates that plan fiduciaries must objectively and thoroughly assess factors like performance, fees, and liquidity of alternative assets, ensuring a prudent decision-making process when selecting investment products to protect investor interests.
- Supportive Policy Background: This proposal responds to President Trump's August 7 Executive Order, aiming to implement changes in a safe and smart manner while broadening retirement plan options and emphasizing the importance of protecting retirement assets, reflecting the government's commitment to improving the retirement investment landscape.
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- High-Risk Alerts: The bankruptcies of First Brands and Tricolor prompted JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon to warn of potential systemic issues in private credit, highlighting vulnerabilities within the sector.
- Investor Structure Shift: Unlike the depositors during the 2008 crisis, the current investor base for private credit consists mainly of institutional investors such as pensions and sovereign wealth funds, which are more capable of locking up capital for extended periods, thereby reducing systemic risk.
- Normalizing Credit Conditions: While the private credit market faces increased stress, the majority of investments are in investment-grade loans, with only a small portion in high-yield loans, suggesting that the overall stability of the market remains relatively strong.
See More
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- Proposed Regulation: The U.S. Labor Department has proposed allowing 401(k) plans to more easily include alternative assets such as cryptocurrencies and real estate, responding to President Trump's executive order aimed at enhancing asset diversification for retirement investors, potentially leading to higher returns.
- Safe Harbor Provision: The new rule establishes a 'safe harbor' to protect plan sponsors from litigation risks and outlines six factors to consider when selecting alternative investments, including performance, fees, and liquidity, which may encourage more 401(k) plans to adopt alternative assets.
- Investor Concerns: While the new rule could yield higher returns, some financial advisors express concerns that average 401(k) investors may lack the necessary knowledge and experience to manage these more complex investments, potentially leading to increased risks and costs.
- Policy Context: This proposal is set against the backdrop of the Trump administration's push for broader access to non-traditional asset classes, aiming to counter the cautious stance taken during the Biden administration regarding cryptocurrency investments, reflecting a shift towards greater flexibility and choice for retirement investors.
See More
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- Investor Sentiment: Investor sentiment in the approximately $2 trillion non-bank lending sector has been shaken by concerns over liquidity, transparency, and lending standards, with Bessent emphasizing the need for private credit lenders to maintain prudence in their loan portfolios to prevent potential impacts on the overall economy.
- Asset Transfer Regulation: Bessent noted that individual investors should be able to take advantage of private credit assets through pension or 401(k) retirement accounts, but the Treasury will be involved in regulating how private assets are transferred to individual investor accounts to prevent the transfer of
See More
