Core Viewpoint - Executives from major private capital firms, including Apollo, Blackstone, and Ares, are struggling to reassure investors about the safety of their portfolios amid a selloff in the software sector driven by fears of AI disruption [1] Group 1: Impact of AI on Alternative Asset Managers - Concerns about AI's impact on software companies have negatively affected the stock prices of alternative asset managers, despite significant new client investments and a resurgence in mergers and acquisitions [1] - Executives have defended their portfolios, stating that they are well-constructed to withstand AI-related risks, with Ares reporting only 6% of its assets in software, which is highly diversified [1] - Apollo's CEO indicated that software accounts for less than 2% of its assets under management, with minimal exposure in private equity and insurance portfolios [1] Group 2: Stock Performance and Market Reactions - Despite some recovery in stock prices following earnings reports, shares of these firms remain down approximately 30% over the last six months [1] - KKR has about 7% of its portfolio in software, with its shares down 29% over the same period, while Blue Owl reported 8% exposure and a 36% decline in share price [1] - Blackstone's shares have decreased by 24% over the last six months, with software comprising 7% of its total assets and 10% of its credit holdings [1] Group 3: Executive Insights and Future Outlook - Executives from these firms express confidence in their portfolios, with Blue Owl's co-CEO stating they do not foresee meaningful losses or performance deterioration [1] - KKR's co-CEO mentioned that the firm has identified AI as both an opportunity and a risk, with $118 billion in dry powder available for investment [1] - Analysts suggest that the narrative surrounding alternative asset managers has shifted, with concerns about their role in AI financing and potential losses due to AI's transformative impact [1]

Core Insights - Blackstone Inc. has appointed Thomas Schleicher as a senior adviser for the Nordic region to enhance investor engagement and support origination efforts [1][3] Group 1: Appointment and Background - Thomas Schleicher was previously the chief investment officer of Kirkbi A/S, managing approximately 178 billion kroner ($28 billion) in assets for the Kirk Kristiansen family, owners of Lego [2] - Schleicher's prior experience includes working at private capital firm EQT AB, indicating a strong background in investment management [3] Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - Blackstone is preparing to invest $500 billion in Europe over the next decade, indicating a significant commitment to the region [3] - The firm's Nordic portfolio includes diverse strategies such as real estate, infrastructure, private equity, and growth investments [4] - Blackstone and Permira's acquisition of Adevinta ASA for about €14 billion ($16.6 billion) demonstrates active investment in the online classified sector [4] Group 3: Recent Appointments - In addition to Schleicher, Blackstone has made several senior appointments in Europe, including Franck Petitgas as vice chairman and Michele Raba as head of European corporate private equity [5] - Jon Abrahamsson Ring has also been appointed as a senior adviser for the global consumer franchise, bringing experience from his role as CEO of Inter IKEA Group [5]

Group 1 - Platinum Equity has agreed to sell Urbaser, a Spanish waste management company, to Blackstone and EQT for $6.6 billion [1] - Platinum Equity will retain ownership of Urbaser's waste management business in Argentina [1]

China's Lenovo warns of PC shipment pressure from memory shortage | ReutersSkip to main content[Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv]Lenovo Chairman and CEO Yang Yuanqing speaks at the opening ceremony of the World Internet Conference (WIC) in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, China, November 23, 2020. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab]BEIJING, Feb 12 (Reuters) - China's Lenovo Group [(0992.HK), opens new tab] warned on T ...

Core Viewpoint - Concerns about AI leading to the demise of the software industry are significantly exaggerated, according to executives from Goldman Sachs, Blackstone, Apollo, and KKR. They acknowledge that while AI will bring about a "dramatic technological cycle" and disruption, established software companies are likely to be protected and may even benefit from these changes [1][3][10]. Group 1: Market Reaction and Software Industry Outlook - The recent sell-off in the software sector was triggered by fears that AI could replace traditional software functions, leading to significant declines in stock prices for major companies like Salesforce and Adobe, resulting in the evaporation of hundreds of billions in market value [3][6][8]. - Executives from major financial institutions argue that the market's reaction is an "indiscriminate" sell-off, and the belief that all software companies will become obsolete is overly broad and unfounded [3][9][10]. - Apollo's John Zito stated that while the software industry will not disappear, its business logic will change, emphasizing that the usage of software is expected to increase significantly [4][5]. Group 2: Investment Risks and Diversification - KKR's CFO Robert Lewin indicated that approximately 15% of their private equity investments are exposed to software companies, which represents about 7% of their total assets, suggesting a manageable risk exposure [11]. - Goldman Sachs' CEO David Solomon downplayed the risk exposure in software investments, stating it is "insignificant" relative to the overall scale of their platform [13]. - The executives emphasized the importance of diversification in their investment portfolios to mitigate the impact of potential disruptions in the software sector [11][12].

Core Insights - The article discusses significant corporate actions and market dynamics, including Paramount's hostile bid for Warner Brothers, Netflix's merger opposition, and Kraft Heinz's reversal on its split plan [2][57]. Group 1: Corporate Actions - Paramount is increasing pressure for its hostile bid for Warner Brothers, with an activist investor opposing Netflix's merger [2]. - Ancora has built a stake in Warner Brothers and is pushing for engagement with Paramount, threatening to vote against the deal if Warner Brothers does not comply [3][4]. - Kraft Heinz has halted its plan to split into two, opting instead to invest $600 million in marketing and product improvements, citing a larger-than-expected opportunity [57][58]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - Duke Energy has signed deals with Microsoft and Compass to power data centers, reflecting the growing demand for electricity driven by the AI boom [7][8]. - Hyperscaler spending has surged, with Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and Oracle spending a combined $150 billion in 2022 and 2023, projected to reach around $660 billion by 2026 [10][11]. - Alphabet is tapping the debt markets for financing, similar to Apple's past strategy, to support its cloud infrastructure buildout, anticipating significant growth in its cloud business [12][13]. Group 3: Investment Trends - General Atlantic's Chairman Bill Ford emphasizes the importance of global diversification in investment strategies, with 50% of their activity outside the U.S. [20][21]. - The firm sees opportunities in emerging markets, particularly in China, despite geopolitical complexities [25][26]. - The article highlights a trend of increased investment in AI and technology sectors, with significant spending expected to reshape business models and create new market opportunities [45][46].

Core Viewpoint - Investors are evaluating XP Inc.A and Blackstone Inc. to determine which stock offers better value opportunities in the Financial - Miscellaneous Services sector [1] Group 1: Zacks Rank and Earnings Estimates - XP Inc.A has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook, while Blackstone Inc. has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3] - The Zacks Rank focuses on companies with positive earnings estimate revisions, suggesting XP is likely experiencing a more favorable earnings outlook [3] Group 2: Valuation Metrics - XP has a forward P/E ratio of 10.34, significantly lower than Blackstone's forward P/E of 20.99 [5] - XP's PEG ratio is 0.73, indicating better value relative to its expected earnings growth compared to Blackstone's PEG ratio of 1.04 [5] - XP's P/B ratio stands at 2.46, while Blackstone's P/B ratio is higher at 4.82, further indicating XP's relative undervaluation [6] Group 3: Value Grades - XP has been assigned a Value grade of A, reflecting its attractive valuation metrics, whereas Blackstone has a Value grade of D [6] - Stronger estimate revision activity and more favorable valuation metrics position XP as the superior option for value investors [7]

Core Insights - Blackstone Group (BX) is strategically investing in the artificial intelligence sector, particularly increasing its stake in AI company Anthropic to approximately $1 billion, indicating a strong commitment to AI development [2] - The management of Blackstone has indicated that if the IPO reserve projects proceed smoothly over the next 12 months, the company could experience one of its largest issuance years in history in 2026, with plans to list a series of long-term held investment projects [2] Investment Strategy - Blackstone is enhancing its investment in AI, specifically through a significant increase in its holdings in Anthropic, which reflects its strategic focus on the AI industry [2] - The anticipated IPOs in 2026 are expected to be substantial, marking a pivotal moment for Blackstone as it aims to capitalize on its long-term investments [2]

Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. Q4 2025 Company Presentation FEBRUARY 2026 Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. BLACKSTONE MORTGAGE TRUST OVERVIEW Blackstone Mortgage Trust (BXMT) is a publicly traded commercial mortgage REIT focused on real estate credit investments in North America, Europe, and Australia | B | X | M | T | i | d | b | B | l | k | h | l | f | i | l | l | t | t | t |  | g | g | s | m | a | n | a | e | y | a | c | s | o | n | e, | e | a | r | e | s | o | w | n | e | r | o | c | o | m | m | e | r ...

Group 1 - Blackstone Group has significantly increased its investment in AI unicorn Anthropic, adding approximately $200 million to its stake, bringing the total investment to around $1 billion [1] - Anthropic, the developer of the Claude AI model, has seen its post-money valuation soar to $350 billion, more than doubling from $183 billion during its Series F funding round in September 2025 [1] - The current funding round has attracted substantial interest, with Anthropic's initial fundraising target of $10 billion being more than doubled due to strong investor demand [1] Group 2 - Blackstone's investment is primarily structured through its Blackstone Private Equity Strategies Fund (BXPE), indicating a trend of top alternative investment opportunities becoming accessible to a broader wealth management market [2] - In addition to Blackstone, Anthropic has secured at least $1 billion from Coatue Management, Singapore's GIC, and Iconiq Capital, along with up to $15 billion from strategic investors like Nvidia and Microsoft [2] - Blackstone has positioned itself as the largest non-venture capital, non-sovereign investor in Anthropic, coinciding with OpenAI's ongoing efforts to negotiate a record AI funding round potentially reaching $100 billion [2]