logo
Blackstone preps for IPO surge, says pipeline stronger than 2021 peak

Blackstone preps for IPO surge, says pipeline stronger than 2021 peak

Time of India6 days ago
Blackstone is preparing more companies to go public than the record IPO year of 2021, President and Chief Operating Officer Jon Gray said, in a sign of growing market optimism as equities push higher despite lingering tariff worries.
Trade deals by U.S. President Donald Trump have fueled hopes that his harsh rhetoric on tariffs could be a negotiating tool, while several recent listings have encouraged markets after a prolonged slowdown.
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Please select course:
Select a Course Category
others
Digital Marketing
healthcare
Product Management
Data Analytics
Finance
Management
Technology
Others
CXO
Leadership
Data Science
MCA
PGDM
Project Management
Degree
Data Science
Design Thinking
Cybersecurity
Healthcare
Public Policy
MBA
Artificial Intelligence
Operations Management
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
16 Weeks
Indian School of Business
CERT - ISB Cybersecurity for Leaders Program India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Gold Is Surging in 2025 — Smart Traders Are Already In
IC Markets
Learn More
Undo
CEO Steven Schwarzman, a long-time Trump donor, said investors should be patient and "give tariffs diplomacy a chance to work its way through the system", after Blackstone posted stronger-than-expected profit in the second quarter.
"The environment we see emerging of lower short-term interest rates, less uncertainty and continued economic growth, combined with a pent-up desire to transact, is the right recipe to reignite M&A and IPO activity," Gray said.
Shares of the world's largest alternative asset manager rose 3.2% and turned positive for the year after the earnings announcement.
Live Events
EARNINGS STRENGTH
The company's second-quarter profit was also boosted by strong gains in its credit business. Blackstone drew total inflows of $52.1 billion, more than half of which went to the credit and insurance segment.
The unit is a key driver of its growing influence in private credit, as more companies turn to investment firms for flexible financing.
Total assets under management rose 13% to $1.2 trillion. Fee-related performance revenue more than doubled to $472.1 million, powered by a 16% growth in perpetual capital assets under management.
Perpetual capital refers to long-term assets under management that does not have a fixed end date and cannot typically be redeemed by investors on demand.
Money managers have struggled to offload some investments made while interest rates were low in recent years, resulting in a rise in funds that hold on to assets for longer.
Fees tied both to those "evergreen" perpetual funds and growth in investments from wealthy individuals contributed to a rise in profit.
"Underlying trends are more consistent with Blackstone's long-term track record, and sets a high bar for peers," analysts at TD Cowen wrote in a note.
Distributable earnings, which represent cash that can be used to pay dividends, grew 25% to $1.6 billion, or $1.21 per share, for the three months ended June 30.
It exceeded analysts' expectation of $1.10, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Gray said Trump's reported aim to make private investments more accessible to retirement plans, where savers hold some $12 trillion, is "compelling". But Blackstone would wait and see if there is rulemaking on this, he added.
Assets under management at the company's real estate division fell 3%, but segment distributable earnings grew 10%. Schwarzman said the business was showing promising signs.
"The enormous need for debt and equity capital to build the infrastructure powering the artificial intelligence revolution has created extremely positive dynamics for our business," he said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Higher US tariffs may trim India's GDP growth by 30 bps: Barclays
Higher US tariffs may trim India's GDP growth by 30 bps: Barclays

Business Standard

time5 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

Higher US tariffs may trim India's GDP growth by 30 bps: Barclays

The 25 per cent US tariffs, plus a penalty for Russian imports, could dent India's GDP growth by 30 basis points in the current fiscal, but the higher duty is unlikely to significantly affect India's domestic demand-driven economy, Barclays said on Thursday. If the 25 per cent tariff, announced by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, is implemented from August 1, the effective average US import tariff on Indian goods will rise to 20.6 per cent in trade-weighted terms, as per Barclays estimates. This is sharply higher than both the pre 'liberation day' tariff rate of 2.7 per cent and the 90-day pause tariff rate of 11.6 per cent. In contrast, India's import tariff on US goods is lower, at 11.6 per cent in trade-weighted terms. Barclays said that given the relatively closed nature of the Indian economy, wherein domestic demand is the mainstay of growth. "We do not see this 25 per cent tariff threat impacting GDP growth meaningfully, pegging the likely impact at 30 bp. We expect final tariffs on India to settle in lower than the announced 25 per cent, as India and the US continue with trade deal talks," it said. Indian economy is projected to grow at 6.5 per cent by the Reserve Bank-- same as last fiscal, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) peg growth at 6.4 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively. At 25 per cent, tariffs on India are higher than EM Asian peers, but Barclays expect final tariffs to settle lower as trade deal talks progress. Echoing similar views, Moody's Analytics Associate Economist Aditi Raman said while the US is India's largest trade partner, the Indian economy is relatively more domestically oriented than most of the region and relies far less on trade. "Pharmaceuticals, gems, and textiles are key sectors that are likely to be hit. A point of contention is market access to the key agricultural and dairy sector, which India has historically been reluctant to grant," Raman said. Barclays further said, India is already diversifying its sources of oil supply. Should the additional 'penalty' threat materialise, we expect Indian refiners to pivot towards alternate suppliers, especially as the discount on imports of Russian oil has already narrowed. To diversify its export base, the Indian administration is showcasing a renewed zeal to ink free-trade agreements with other countries and regions. "Amid heightened global trade policy uncertainty, having a pipeline of such bilateral trade agreements is a prudent policy choice," Barclays said. India has recently inked an FTA with the US and the EFTA bloc, and it is negotiating with a number of countries, including the European Union, Oman and New Zealand. The US is India's largest trading partner, accounting for 18 per cent of India's total merchandise exports in 2024. India's USD 80 billion merchandise exports to the US are distributed in sectors which also form India's overall major exports. India's top exports to the US, electrical machinery (USD 12 billion, including smartphones), and gems and jewellery (USD 9 billion) now face tariff increases of just over 24 percentage points, compared with levels before April 2. On the rupee, Barclays said that although more pain is expected in the near term, the drop in INR vis--vis USD still looks overdone. The INR, which had already been under pressure over recent weeks, fell sharply on the tariff news, hitting a low weaker than 87.50 versus USD. "We think the rupee is looking oversold in the short term. Clearly, USDINR has bounced more than anticipated, but we think the February high of just under 88.0 remains a strong resistance level," Barclays said.

Nifty 50 tends to gain in August, shows 10-year history. Can the trend sustain amid Trump's tariff curveball?
Nifty 50 tends to gain in August, shows 10-year history. Can the trend sustain amid Trump's tariff curveball?

Mint

time5 minutes ago

  • Mint

Nifty 50 tends to gain in August, shows 10-year history. Can the trend sustain amid Trump's tariff curveball?

Indian stock market: Benchmark indices paused for breath in July after a stellar multi-month rally, as disappointing corporate earnings and persistent foreign outflows weighed on sentiment. Investor caution was further heightened by uncertainty around a potential trade deal, which ultimately failed to meet expectations. US President Donald Trump threw a curveball in the form of a 25% tariff on imports, along with a warning of unspecified penalties for energy and defence-related purchases from Russia. This promoted worries that August, which is generally a positive month for the Indian stock market, may see tempered gains as global headwinds and cautious investor sentiment persist. Historically, July and August are among the most seasonally positive months for Indian equities. The Nifty 50 index has shown a positive trend during the month of August, delivering gains in six out of the past 10 years, according to data from JM Financial, with a median return of 1.4%. While markets bucked the trend in July, declining 1.7% so far (till July 30), analysts believe that while August may be characterised by volatility, it is likely to exhibit a positive trend. Harshal Dasani, Business Head, INVasset PMS, said that August could present a turnaround. With the ambiguity around the US–India trade stance gradually resolving — even if via an adverse outcome like tariff escalation — the market may begin to stabilise, Dasani said, adding that historically, equities consolidate when the 'event risk' transitions into known outcomes. Ashish Chaturmohta, Managing Director & Fund Manager, Apex PMS, JM Financial, also opined that despite some weakness in July 2025, primarily due to a softer outlook from the IT sector and elevated provisioning in the BFSI segment, the outlook for August remains constructive. His optimism is supported by above-average monsoon rainfall and improved reservoir levels, which are expected to boost rural demand and support agriculture, and a decent earnings season. "External environment, particularly the US tariff on Indian exports, remains the key monitorable and could influence market sentiments. Overall, the market sentiment for August 2025 appears positive and aligned with historical averages," said Chaturmohta. While analysts foresee an impact of Trump's tariff threat on export-heavy sectors, barring a full-blown trade war, they see limited downside. Emkay Global, in a note today, said that although trade talks appear to have stalled, we believe this saga is far from over. "Beyond pure economics, such negotiations carry significant geopolitical weight. Despite a potential shift in the balance of negotiation power, we believe both sides are still likely to push for a deal soon," it said. India's exports to the US are only 2% of GDP, with much lower value-added embedded in them. According to Emkay's estimates, previous static analysis suggests that India's US exports could drop by $30-33 bn (0.8-0.9% of GDP) at 25%+ tariffs, not adjusting for the complexity of dynamic cross-country hits/responses. While the announcement adds some downside tail risk, it is too early to consider actual forecast changes, it added. "In fact, with the rupee stabilising near ₹ 87.5 and Brent crude easing below $73, key macro stressors seem priced in. The geopolitical risk premium is also no longer expanding. Given that the uncertainty has peaked, and past Augusts tend to favour bulls, we could now see a shift from risk-off to recalibration mode—especially if global yields cool," Dasani added. As the market is expected to be volatile amid event-driven swings, Khushi Mistry, Research Analyst at Bonanza, advised adopting a cautious and selective approach. "It is prudent to emphasise quality large-cap companies with strong balance sheets and steady domestic demand exposure, such as financials and consumption sectors, rather than chasing risky small and midcap stocks." Gradual accumulation on market dips can capture value while maintaining discipline, Mistry recommended. Jashan Arora, Director at Master Trust Group, also advised investors to stay selectively invested, focusing on quality large-caps and sectors like banking, capital goods, and auto. "Caution is advised in small caps. A staggered approach to investing may help navigate any near-term volatility." Major drivers for August could include global interest rate signals, crude oil prices, domestic inflation and GDP data, and any geopolitical developments, along with FII stance, added Arora. Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.

India may face growth, EPS risks as US slaps 25% tariffs: Goldman Sachs
India may face growth, EPS risks as US slaps 25% tariffs: Goldman Sachs

Business Standard

time5 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

India may face growth, EPS risks as US slaps 25% tariffs: Goldman Sachs

US President Donald Trump has announced a 25 per cent 'reciprocal' tariff on Indian goods, effective from August 1, along with an 'unspecified penalty' for India's energy and defence dealings with Russia. This could raise effective US tariffs on Indian imports, if implemented in full. India's trade surplus with the United States has grown significantly over the past decade. It doubled from $20 billion in FY15 to $40 billion in FY25, driven by sectors such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, and textiles. In FY25, India exported goods worth $86.5 billion to the US while importing $45.7 billion, US investment bank Goldman Sachs said in a report. Possible direct impact of higher US tariffs If the new tariffs are enforced, they could directly affect India's GDP. According to Goldman Sachs estimates, there could be an annualised drag of about 0.3 percentage points on real GDP growth. This is based on India's goods exports exposure to US final demand (around 4 per cent of GDP) and a tariff elasticity of -0.5 percentage point. The broader uncertainty surrounding US trade policy may also hurt domestic investment. Since January 2025, US trade policy uncertainty has increased sharply. This could lead Indian firms, especially those with US exposure, to delay capital expenditure. Previous estimates suggest such uncertainty could reduce India's GDP growth by 0.3 percentage points. Moderate earnings impact likely The earnings impact of the tariff move, though negative, is expected to be modest. Goods exports contribute just 2 per cent to MSCI India revenues. Analysts estimate an incremental 2 per cent hit to corporate earnings per share (EPS) if the tariffs are enforced, due to both direct impacts on exporters and indirect effects from slower growth, Goldman Sachs said. Indian equities have already underperformed their emerging market peers by 15 percentage points this year. Analysts expect this trend to continue in the near term, citing weak earnings in Q2 and valuation pressures. Export-heavy and investment-linked sectors may be more affected, while domestic sectors like financials and consumer stocks are likely to hold up better, the report mentioned. Rates and currency outlook The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) may consider another rate cut later this year due to growth risks and controlled inflation. The new tariffs could widen India's current account deficit by 0.1 per cent of GDP in 2025. Although the rupee may face further depreciation, analysts believe this is part of a healthy market adjustment.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store