Apollo Wraps Up Bridge Buyout, Expands Real Estate Platform

Acquisition Overview - Apollo Global Management, Inc. has completed the acquisition of Bridge Investment Group Holdings Inc. for $1.5 billion in an all-stock transaction [1][8] - The acquisition enhances Apollo's scale in real estate equity and improves its origination capabilities in growth areas [1][2] Financial Details - Bridge stockholders will receive 0.07081 shares of Apollo stock for each Bridge Class A common share, valued at $11.50 [3] - The transaction is expected to be accretive to Apollo's fee-related earnings and nearly doubles its real estate assets under management (AUM) to over $110 billion [4][8] Strategic Implications - Bridge will operate as a platform company within Apollo's asset management business, retaining its brand and management team [2][8] - The integration of Bridge is anticipated to strengthen Apollo's hybrid and equity offerings, particularly for institutional and wealth clients [4] Growth Strategy - Apollo has been pursuing inorganic growth through acquisitions, including the recent acquisition of Argo Infrastructure Partners and partnerships with Citigroup and State Street [5][6] - The company aims to scale total AUM to $1.5 trillion by 2029, supported by its robust liquidity [6] Market Performance - Over the past year, Apollo shares have increased by 20.9%, outperforming the industry average rise of 18.4% [7]