BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) plans to acquire private markets data data solutions provider Preqin for £2.55 billion ($3.2 billion) in cash. This acquisition enhances BlackRock’s investment technology by adding a complementary data business and expanding into the emerging private markets data segment. With over 20 years of experience, Preqin covers 190,000 funds, 60,000 fund managers, and 30,000 private markets investors, reaching over 200,000 users. Preqin is expected to generate ~$240 million in 2024, with growth of 20% annually over the past three years. BlackRock’s Aladdin platform, serving over 1,000 clients, will integrate Preqin with eFront to streamline data, ...