BlackRock has successfully purchased Preqin, enhancing its private markets expertise.
BlackRock Strengthens Private Market Presence with Acquisition of Preqin
BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, has finalized the acquisition of Preqin, a leading provider of data and insights on private equity, infrastructure, real estate, and other private market investments. The $3.2 billion deal, announced in March 2025, aims to provide investors with better tools to navigate alternative investments [1][2].
The acquisition significantly strengthens BlackRock's data capabilities in private markets and enhances the transparency and technology available for managing private portfolios. By integrating Preqin's extensive and detailed private market data with its own Aladdin platform, BlackRock plans to leverage synergies between its platforms and Preqin's proprietary data [1][3].
Key impacts on the private markets sector and private portfolio transparency include:
- Enhanced Data and Analytics: Preqin's comprehensive dataset allows for better benchmarking, performance measurement, and due diligence in private markets. This can lead to more informed investment decisions and improved transparency into typically opaque private portfolio holdings [1].
- Integration with Aladdin: BlackRock’s Aladdin platform benefits from Preqin data integration by providing users—asset managers, institutions, and others—with enriched analytics and risk management tools tailored to private market investments [1]. This integration likely sets a new standard for transparency and operational efficiency in private markets.
- Sector Influence and Market Leadership: The acquisition positions BlackRock to consolidate its dominance in private markets, particularly infrastructure and other alternatives, supported by its record $12.53 trillion assets under management (AUM) and growing private/infrastructure portfolio [3][4]. Improved data access can attract more investors to private markets by increasing confidence through better transparency.
- Broader Market Implications: This move reflects a broader industry trend where large asset managers seek inorganic growth and technological advantages to compete more effectively in private markets, traditionally less liquid and less transparent than public markets [2]. The enhanced data transparency may also set pressure on competitors and portfolio managers to adopt similar technology-driven solutions.
Mark O'Hare, Preqin's founder, joins BlackRock as Vice Chairman. His leadership and expertise in private markets data will strengthen BlackRock's expansion in the sector. Joint clients of BlackRock and Preqin will have immediate integrations, such as access to Preqin benchmarks within Aladdin and eFront [1]. Preqin will be integrated into BlackRock's operations but will continue as an independent offering.
Over time, BlackRock aims to develop a unified investment framework to bridge the transparency gap between public and private portfolios. Institutional and retail investors are increasingly allocating capital to private markets, making this a strategic move for BlackRock to stay competitive in the evolving investment landscape.
BlackRock is participating in the Swiss Private Equity Conference in Zurich. No details about the financial terms of the acquisition or changes in client service levels due to the acquisition were disclosed.
[1] BlackRock Press Release, 2025. [2] Financial Times, 2025. [3] BlackRock Annual Report, 2024. [4] Preqin Annual Report, 2024.
- BlackRock, following its acquisition of Preqin, aims to provide investors with enhanced tools for navigating alternative investments, specifically private equity, infrastructure, real estate, and other private market investments, by leveraging synergies between its platforms and Preqin's proprietary data.
- The integration of Preqin's extensive and detailed private market data with BlackRock's Aladdin platform will offer users enriched analytics and risk management tools tailored to private market investments, setting a new standard for transparency and operational efficiency.
- By integrating Preqin's comprehensive dataset, BlackRock plans to enable better benchmarking, performance measurement, and due diligence in private markets, leading to more informed investment decisions and improved transparency into typically opaque private portfolio holdings.
- The acquisition of Preqin positions BlackRock to compete more effectively in private markets, including private equity, by consolidating its dominance, particularly in infrastructure and other alternative assets, supported by its vast assets under management and growing private/infrastructure portfolio.
