Skadden, Macfarlanes Steer BlackRock’s $3.2 Billion Preqin Deal

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom advised BlackRock, Inc. on its purchase of Preqin, a private markets data provider, for approximately $3.2 billion in cash.

Macfarlanes guided Preqin in the transaction.

The deal will expand BlackRock’s data capabilities, allowing the asset management company to analyze data on markets for private assets and expand its Aladdin technology systems, BlackRock said in a statement.

Skadden’s deal team is led by corporate partners Richard Youle, head of the firm’s London office and co-head of the firm’s private equity group, and Katja Butler, co-head of Skadden’s UK corporate practice.

Other partners on the deal include antitrust and competition partner Kenneth Schwartz; tax partner Alex Jupp; financial institutions regulatory partner Sebastian Barling; intellectual property and technology partner Resa Schlossberg; executive compensation and benefits partner Shalom Huber; and capital markets partner Laura Kaufmann-Belkhayat.

The Macfarlanes team was led by corporate and M&A partners Howard Corney, head of the firm’s M&A group, Alex Edmondson, head of the firm’s private equity practice and Tim Redman.

The deal is expected to close before the end of the year, subject to closing conditions and regulatory approvals.