Blackstone to buy Reuters F&R unit

NEW YORK: A group led by Blackstone Group LP agreed to buy a majority stake in Thomson Reuters Corp.'s financial and risk (F&R) unit in a deal that values the business at $20 billion, sealing plans for the firm's biggest buyout in a decade. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, GIC Pte, will co-invest alongside Blackstone to acquire 55% of the business, according to a statement. Thomson Reuters will retain a 45% equity stake. The unit, which provides data, analytics and trading to Wall Street and financial professionals around the world, doesn't include the news gathering operation.

"We are delighted to partner with Thomson Reuters in continuing to grow the financial and risk business," Joe Baratta, Blackstone's global head of private equity, said in the statement. "This is a landmark transaction for Blackstone and our investment partners."

Thomson Reuters said it will receive about $17 billion in proceeds, consisting of $3 billion from the Blackstone-led group and $14 billion in debt and preferred equity. The company will use the money to repay debt, establish a new standalone company, pursue organic growth and M&A and repurchase stock, according to the statement.

The new company also entered a 30-year agreement to pay Reuters News at least $325 million a year for its news and editorial content, according to the statement.

Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. will provide debt financing for the deal. The package will include leveraged loans and high-yield bonds denominated mostly in dollars, people with knowledge of the matter said earlier.

Blackstone sees attractive growth in the Thomson Reuters unit's data feed, its foreign exchange and treasury trading platforms, as well as its risk and compliance business, a person familiar with the matter said before the deal was announced. The division would also be able to improve operations more quickly as a private company, the person said. The F&R unit accounted for more than half of adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in 2016. "Blackstone's strong relationships in the financial services industry and long and successful history of corporate partnerships will help F&R provide new and innovative products and services," said Jim Smith, president and chief executive officer.