
GSO Capital Partners was acquired by Blackstone Inc. in 2008 for $620 million and rebranded as Blackstone Credit in 2020, later becoming Blackstone Credit & Insurance (BXCI). As of Q1 2026, BXCI manages $536 billion in total assets, making it one of the world's largest credit investors. Blackstone Inc. trades on the NYSE under the ticker BX with over $1.3 trillion in total AUM.
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| GSO Capital Partners | Blackstone Inc. | Wholly owned |
Bennett Goodman, Tripp Smith, and Doug Ostrover founded GSO Capital Partners in 2005 as an independent credit-focused alternative asset manager. The name "GSO" comes from the founders' initials. The firm specialized in senior debt, mezzanine debt, distressed credit, and other credit investments.
In March 2008, Blackstone acquired GSO Capital Partners for $620 million in cash and stock. At the time of acquisition, GSO had $9.6 billion in assets under management and fewer than 150 employees. The acquisition significantly expanded Blackstone's credit and debt investment capabilities.
Following the acquisition, GSO continued to operate under its own brand while benefiting from Blackstone's capital resources, distribution capabilities, and global deal flow. The platform expanded its investment strategies, growing from $9.6 billion in AUM at acquisition to $135 billion by 2020, with a team of over 350 people.
In 2020, Blackstone rebranded GSO Capital Partners as Blackstone Credit. The rebranding reflected the business's full integration into Blackstone's platform. Dwight Scott, then Global Head of Blackstone Credit, stated: "This name change reflects what has already happened in our business. Clients and issuers see us as part of Blackstone."
The business was later renamed Blackstone Credit & Insurance (BXCI) to reflect its expansion into insurance investment management. As of Q1 2026, BXCI manages $536 billion in total assets across corporate and real estate credit, up 15% year-over-year. The segment grew 18% year-over-year in Q1 2026, with $40 billion in inflows during the quarter.
BXCI's investment strategies span the credit markets, including private investment grade, asset-based lending, public investment grade and high yield, sustainable resources, infrastructure debt, collateralized loan obligations, direct lending, and opportunistic credit. The business also provides investment management services for insurers.
In April 2026, Blackstone closed its Capital Opportunities Fund V (COF V), the largest opportunistic credit fund raised to date, with over $10 billion in investable capital. The fund was oversubscribed and closed at its hard cap. Blackstone's opportunistic credit strategy has generated a 13% net IRR since inception in 2007.
What does Blackstone own?
Blackstone manages investment vehicles across four primary segments: real estate (including BREIT, the largest non-traded REIT in the United States), private equity (corporate buyout funds), credit and insurance (private credit and insurance solutions, formerly GSO Capital Partners), and multi-asset investing (hedge fund solutions through Strategic Partners). Blackstone does not own the assets in its funds; it manages them on behalf of institutional investors including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and insurance companies. Notable portfolio companies have included Hilton Hotels, Equity Office Properties, and Invitation Homes.
Is Blackstone publicly traded?
Yes. Blackstone Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BX. The company went public in June 2007 in an IPO that raised $4.75 billion at a valuation of approximately $31 billion. Blackstone is a component of the S&P 500 Index. The company converted to a C corporation in 2019, simplifying its tax structure and making shares more accessible to retail investors and index funds.
Who founded Blackstone?
Blackstone was founded in 1985 by Peter G. Peterson and Stephen A. Schwarzman, both of whom previously worked at Lehman Brothers. Peterson served as chairman and CEO of Lehman Brothers, and Schwarzman was a managing director. The company was founded with $400,000 in seed capital. Peterson passed away in 2018. Schwarzman continues to serve as Chairman and CEO.
Where is Blackstone headquartered?
Blackstone is headquartered at 345 Park Avenue in New York City. The company operates in over 30 countries with major offices in London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Sydney, and Frankfurt.
How many brands does Blackstone own?
Blackstone operates seven major investment platforms: BREIT, Blackstone Private Equity, Blackstone Real Estate, Blackstone Credit, Blackstone Hedge Fund Solutions, Blackstone Tactical Opportunities, and Blackstone Growth. The company does not own consumer-facing brands. Its commercial identity is tied to investment performance and institutional client relationships.
Who owns Blackstone?
Blackstone has no parent company and no controlling shareholder. Stephen A. Schwarzman holds a significant personal stake estimated at approximately 20% of outstanding shares. The largest external shareholders are institutional investors including Vanguard Group, State Street Corporation, and BlackRock, each holding single-digit percentage stakes. Schwarzman's ownership gives him substantial influence but not majority control.
What is Blackstone's AUM?
Blackstone had total assets under management of $1.13 trillion at year-end 2024, up 8.5% from $1.04 trillion at year-end 2023. Fee-earning AUM was $830.7 billion. As of mid-2026, AUM exceeded $1.2 trillion, driven by strong fundraising across private credit, real estate, and private equity.
What is BREIT?
BREIT (Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust) is a non-traded real estate investment trust managed by Blackstone. It invests primarily in stabilised, income-generating commercial real estate in the United States. BREIT has over $70 billion in AUM, making it one of the largest non-traded REITs globally. BREIT faced redemption pressures in 2022 and 2023 but stabilised in 2024 and resumed accepting net inflows.
Default Manufacturing Controversy (2014-2017): GSO Capital Partners faced significant controversy over its "default manufacturing" trading practices. The strategy involved GSO buying credit-default swaps on struggling companies' debt and then offering those companies loans with conditions designed to trigger technical defaults, allowing GSO to collect on the CDS positions. This was notably used with Spanish gaming company Codere SA and U.S. homebuilder Hovnanian Enterprises. Jon Stewart on The Daily Show called the activity "insane" and compared it to the movie Goodfellas.
Hovnanian Enterprises Legal Dispute (2017-2018): GSO became involved in a high-profile legal dispute with Solus Alternative Asset Management over its dealings with Hovnanian Enterprises. GSO had accumulated $330 million in credit protection on Hovnanian before arranging to refinance the company's debt. Solus attempted to block the debt exchange, but in January 2018, a federal judge denied Solus's request, allowing GSO and Hovnanian to proceed. The case highlighted concerns about aggressive credit trading strategies.
Distressed Hedge Fund Shutdown (2017): GSO's distressed-debt unit delivered net returns of only 3% in 2014, lost 8% in 2015, and recovered with 13% in 2016. Following these mixed results and the public relations controversies, Blackstone shut down GSO's distressed hedge fund in 2017, shifting assets into longer-term lock-up structures. This marked a strategic shift away from the controversial trading practices.
Executive Exodus (2015-2020): GSO experienced a significant exodus of senior executives following changes in compensation structure and cultural conflicts with Blackstone. Blackstone shifted from performance-based pay to lockstep compensation, which underpaid high-performing traders relative to market rates. Notable departures included Akshay Shah (who launched Kyma Capital) and Ryan Mollett (who joined Angelo Gordon). These exits reflected tensions between GSO's aggressive trading culture and Blackstone's more conservative corporate approach.
Cultural Integration Challenges (2008-2015): Following Blackstone's 2008 acquisition, the integration process faced challenges due to cultural differences. GSO was known for its less formal, more aggressive trading culture, which contrasted with Blackstone's hierarchical environment. Former employees noted differences in dress code and operational procedures that created friction during the integration period.
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