Blackstone Considers Buying Back Assets From Anbang
Blackstone Group is considering buying back some of its former assets from Anbang Insurance Group Co.
In the wake of the Chinese government's crackdown on foreign investment, Anbang, along with HNA Group and Dalian Wanda, have reportedly been considering the sale of U.S. assets in order to appease regulators.
Among the assets on the chopping block are Anbang's Waldorf Astoria, which Blackstone initially sold to Anbang in 2015 in a landmark $1.95B deal. Strategic Hotels & Resorts, which Blackstone had sold in 2016 for $6.5B, is also up for sale. The private equity giant is now contemplating bidding to reclaim both properties, Bloomberg reports.
Anbang has dealt with several scandals in the past year, including having its group chairman, Wu Xiaohui, detained by Chinese authorities for questioning in June — though the reasons behind the investigation are still unknown. Two months after the incident, the company's head of real estate was also instructed to cease work.
Talks are said to be in the early phases and Blackstone could still walk away.
