Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation and Blackstone Inc. have announced the closing of a significant transaction involving the sale of approximately $2 billion in performing commercial real estate loans. These loans, originally acquired from Sandy Spring Bank, have been sold to vehicles affiliated with Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies. This transaction comes as part of Atlantic Union's broader strategy following its merger with Sandy Spring Bancorp. The sale helps Atlantic Union reduce its commercial real estate concentration and provides capacity for future growth. Blackstone, leveraging its vast expertise and $76 billion in assets under management, sees this as an opportunity to access diverse real estate credit investments. The partnership underscores both companies' commitment to strategic financial solutions and value creation for their stakeholders.