Private equity funds managed by Blackstone have acquired International Gemological Institute (IGI), a specialist in the independent certification of diamonds, gemstones, and jewellery from Shanghai Yuyuan Tourist Mart, a subsidiary of Fosun, and Roland Lorie, a member of the company’s founding family.
Private equity funds managed by Blackstone have acquired International Gemological Institute (IGI), a specialist in the independent certification of diamonds, gemstones, and jewellery from Shanghai Yuyuan Tourist Mart, a subsidiary of Fosun, and Roland Lorie, a member of the company’s founding family.
Founded in 1975 in Antwerp, IGI has a global footprint of 29 laboratories and 18 schools of gemology across 10 countries, and 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 standardisation 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.
