Blackstone Acquires International Gemological Institute
Blackstone Acquires International Gemological Institute
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Blackstone Acquires International Gemological Institute

Deutsche Bank, Ernst & Young, Deloitte and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted as advisors.
RE+D magazine
22.05.2023

Blackstone (NYSE:BX) announced today that private equity funds managed by Blackstone (“Blackstone”) have acquired International Gemological Institute (“IGI”) from Shanghai Yuyuan Tourist Mart (Group) Co., Ltd. (SHSE:600655), a subsidiary of Fosun, and Roland Lorie, who belongs to the founding family. Blackstone announced today that private equity funds managed by Blackstone have acquired International Gemological Institute from Shanghai Yuyuan Tourist Mart (Group) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Fosun, and Roland Lorie, who belongs to the founding family.

Founded in 1975 in Antwerp, IGI is a global leader in independent certification of diamonds, gemstones, and jewelry, with a global footprint of 29 laboratories and 18 schools of gemology across 10 countries. 

IGI is the world’s first gemological laboratory to hold ISO accreditation in both natural and lab-grown diamonds. Since 2005, IGI has pioneered the certification of lab-grown diamonds, paving the authentication and standardization of a rapidly growing industry.

Deutsche Bank, Ernst & Young, Deloitte and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted as advisors to Yuyuan and Roland Lorie on the transaction. KPMG, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas acted as advisors to Blackstone.