8-KEarnings & ResultsExhibits & Filings

Blackstone Inc. 8-K Report, Financial Results (Jul 22, 2010)

Filed July 22, 2010For Securities:BX

Summary

Blackstone Inc. (BX), then known as The Blackstone Group L.P., filed an 8-K on July 22, 2010, to announce its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010. The filing primarily serves to furnish investors with a press release detailing these results. A key aspect of this disclosure is Blackstone's use and definition of several non-GAAP financial measures, which are critical for understanding the company's performance and value creation. These measures, including Economic Net Income (ENI), ENI After Taxes, Net Fee Related Earnings from Operations, EBITDA-NFRE, and Distributable Earnings, are presented to provide a clearer view of operational profitability and amounts available for distribution, distinct from GAAP reporting. Investors should note that Blackstone's management uses these non-GAAP measures to make key decisions regarding resource allocation, compensation, and assessing the sufficiency of recurring revenues to cover operating expenses. The press release, attached as Exhibit 99.1, provides reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to their GAAP counterparts. The company emphasizes that these non-GAAP figures should be considered supplemental to, and not a substitute for, GAAP-based financial statements.

Key Highlights

  • 1The 8-K filing on July 22, 2010, reports Blackstone's financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.
  • 2The primary purpose of the filing is to attach a press release (Exhibit 99.1) containing the detailed financial results.
  • 3Blackstone utilizes and discloses several non-GAAP financial measures to provide investors with additional insights into its performance.
  • 4Key non-GAAP measures highlighted include Economic Net Income (ENI), ENI After Taxes, Net Fee Related Earnings from Operations, EBITDA-NFRE, and Distributable Earnings.
  • 5ENI is presented as a primary measure of value creation and performance, excluding certain tax and IPO/acquisition-related items.
  • 6Net Fee Related Earnings from Operations aims to show profitability from core operations before performance fees and investment gains/losses.
  • 7Distributable Earnings is a supplemental measure indicating amounts available for distribution to unitholders, aiming to reflect realized earnings.
  • 8The company explicitly states that these non-GAAP measures are supplemental and should be considered alongside GAAP-based financial information.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main purpose of this 8-K filing is to officially announce and provide investors with Blackstone's financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010. It includes a press release with detailed financial information and the definitions of key non-GAAP financial measures used by the company.

The key non-GAAP financial measures discussed are Economic Net Income (ENI), Economic Net Income After Taxes, Net Fee Related Earnings from Operations, EBITDA-NFRE (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes and Depreciation and Amortization from Net Fee Related Earnings from Operations), and Distributable Earnings. These measures are used to provide a different perspective on performance and profitability.

Blackstone uses non-GAAP financial measures because management believes they offer a more insightful view of the company's value creation, performance, and operational profitability. These measures often exclude certain items like taxes, IPO and acquisition-related costs, and the impact of consolidated investment funds to highlight recurring operational results and amounts available for distribution.

No, investors should not rely solely on the non-GAAP measures. The filing explicitly states that these non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).