Blackstone Inc on Monday agreed to buy real estate investment trust (REIT) PS Business Parks for $7.6 billion, including debt, as dealmaking activity in the real estate sector continues to thrive in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of the take-private deal, Blackstone said its real estate affiliates will pay $187.50 cash to shareholders of PS Business Parks, representing a 12% premium from the stock’s closing price last week.
Blackstone, the world’s largest real estate investor, has been a prolific acquirer of REITs, helping drive transaction volumes in the sector to $140 billion in 2021, up from $17 billion in the previous year, according to real estate services provider JLL.
Read more: Reuters