Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Blackstone Makes $7.8B Deal for Alliance

Private equity continues to pour into financial processing

By J. Kelman,  Newser User

Posted May 17, 2007 2:55 PM CDT

(Newser) – Blackstone has snapped up credit card services provider Alliance Data for $7.8 billion, joining a surge of private equity into dull but profitable back-office firms. The 30% above-market offer for Alliance, which also runs a data processing unit, is the latest in a wave of takeovers in the financial-processing sector that started with KKR's April bid for First Data.

Dallas-based Alliance originally went public only six years ago. Today's deal to turn the company private, which includes more than $1 billion in debt, will allow senior management to stay on, Bloomberg reports. Shares in Alliance rose 25% to $78.49, close to Blackstone's $81.75 a share offer, in afternoon trading.

Signs for MasterCard and American Express are posted outside a New York parking garage in a file photo from April 26, 2006. MasterCard Inc., the world's second-biggest credit card franchise, on Wednesday, May 2, 2007 reported favorable currency exchanges and stronger use of its brand overseas pushed first-quarter profit to...
Signs for MasterCard and American Express are posted outside a New York parking garage in a file photo from April 26, 2006. MasterCard Inc., the world's second-biggest credit card franchise, on Wednesday,...   (Associated Press)
This image obtained 19 March, 2007 shows chairman and CEO of...
This image obtained 19 March, 2007 shows chairman and CEO of...   (Getty Images)
Consumer Spending Drives Two-Thirds Of U.S. Economy
Consumer Spending Drives Two-Thirds Of U.S. Economy   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Private Equity Giants See Big Payday—If They Don't Go Bust

KKR Prepares for Test of Credit Markets

$24B Buyout Buzz Boosts Macy's Shares

Blackstone Books Hilton For $26B

KKR Makes IPO Official


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne