International Business News - BX http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif A trade group representing hedge funds spent $600,000 in the second quarter to lobby on proposals to raise taxes on the industry and regulate it more closely, according to a recent disclosure form. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080815/hedge-fund-group-spent-600k-lobbying-govt-in-2q.htm Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:34:40 EDT Investment manager Blackstone Group LP said Thursday it will form a new business group focused on investments in the cleantech energy sector. The new unit, led by James D. Kiggen, will also provide advice on renewable energy strategies across Blackstone's diverse asset base. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080807/blackstone-starts-cleantech-energy-group.htm Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:57:54 EDT Investment management firm Blackstone Group LP on Wednesday declared a regular quarterly distribution of 30 cents per common unit. The distribution will be paid Sept. 12 to shareholders of record on Aug. 29. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080806/blackstone-group-declares-distribution-of-30-cents.htm Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:19:19 EDT Investment management firm Blackstone Group LP said Wednesday it swung to a loss during the second quarter due to compensation and transactional costs associated with the company's reorganization and initial public offering last year. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080806/blackstone-swings-to-loss-in-2nd-quarter.htm Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:20:57 EDT Investment manager Blackstone Group said Monday it is opening a representative office in Beijing. Shan Fu will serve as the chief representative in the office. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080804/blackstone-group-opens-office-in-beijing.htm Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:29:06 EDT Fitch Ratings on Thursday cut its ratings on FGIC Corp.'s insurance arm to junk status, saying the company will experience further credit deterioration because of exposure to mortgage-backed securities. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080731/fitch-downgrades-fgic-ratings-further-into-junk.htm Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:36:44 EDT Shares of Apria Healthcare Group Inc. fell Wednesday after the home health care company delayed releasing its full second-quarter results because of an accounting review. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080730/apria-falls-on-report-of-accounting-review.htm Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:43:29 EDT Bayview Asset Management LLC said Monday that an affiliate of private equity firm Blackstone Group has agreed to buy a minority stake in the mortgage finance company for an undisclosed sum. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080728/blackstone-buys-stake-in-bayview-asset-management.htm Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:10:12 EDT Private equity firm The Blackstone Group is buying AlliedBarton Security Services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in August, pending regulatory and other approvals. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080725/blackstone-to-buy-security-company-alliedbarton.htm Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:10:23 EDT Investment manager Blackstone Group LP said Tuesday it has partnered with German wind energy developer Windland Energieerzeugungs GmbH to build a wind farm off Germany's northern coast at a cost of more than 1 billion euros ($1.6 billion). http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080715/blackstone-invests-in-1-6b-german-wind-farm.htm Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:42:21 EDT Investment manager Blackstone Group said Monday Richard Jenrette has joined the company's board of directors. Jenrette was a co-founder of investment bank Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette Inc. and served as the company's chairman and chief executive. Jenrette has also served on boards of other companies, including McGraw-Hill Cos., Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and the American Stock Exchange. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080714/richard-jenrette-joins-blackstone-groups-board.htm Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:25:39 EDT Apria Healthcare Group Inc., a provider of home healthcare products and services, said Thursday the proposed sale of the company to an affiliate of Blackstone Group LP cleared an antitrust regulatory review. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080710/apria-sale-to-blackstone-affiliate-clears-hurdle.htm Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:40:34 EDT NBC Universal and two partners said Sunday they have reached a deal to buy The Weather Channel from Landmark Communications Inc., ending a drawn-out process that had attracted interest from several major media companies. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080706/nbc-universal-agrees-to-buy-the-weather-channel.htm Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:45:13 EDT An investment fund led by Texas Rangers owner Thomas O. Hicks has agreed to buy Graham Packaging Holdings Co. and take the maker of plastic juice and beer bottles public for $700 million plus the assumption of $2.29 billion in debt and other costs. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080630/hicks-fund-to-buy-plastic-container-maker-graham.htm Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:43:54 EDT Shares of Chemtura Corp. dropped Thursday morning after the chemicals maker said it decided not to sell itself. Chemtura, which makes flame retardant materials and plastic additives, said it did not expect to get a strong enough buyout offer. The company has been investigating its options since December, and said it will continue mulling other possibilities including selling particular businesses, buying other companies or starting joint ventures. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080626/out-of-the-gate-chemtura-sinks-as-sale-talks-end.htm Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:30:24 EDT Blackstone Group L.P. and GSO Capital Partners have purchased a $500 million stake in a new pipeline company run by industry veteran Bob Phillips. The investment in Crestwood Midstream Partners LLC represents the first time Blackstone has entered into a deal with GSO, a hedge fund it acquired last year. Investment firm Kayne Anderson and Crestwood Management LLC also participated in the funding. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080625/blackstone-gso-invest-in-pipeline-company.htm Wed, 25 Jun 2008 13:55:12 EDT Investment manager Blackstone Group LP said Monday it filed a statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register about 818 million common units. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080623/blackstone-files-statement-to-cover-common-units.htm Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:35:23 EDT The principal trade group for private equity firms spent $740,000 in the first quarter to lobby against proposals to raise taxes on buyout firms and their executives, according to a recent disclosure form. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080623/private-equity-group-spent-740-000-lobbying-in-1q.htm Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:45:07 EDT Shares of home health care companies are rising Thursday after investment firm Blackstone Group agreed to buy Apria Healthcare Group in a deal said to be worth $1.6 billion. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080619/out-of-the-gate-home-health-care-services.htm Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:19:51 EDT The Blackstone Group is offering to take Apria Healthcare Group Inc. private in a deal worth $921.9 million, offering a sizable premium on the home health care company's battered shares while leaving the door open to other bids. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20080619/blackstone-to-take-apria-private-for-1-6-billion.htm Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:38:40 EDT