.............................. OMB APPROVAL .............................. OMB Number: 3235-0006 Expires: December 31, 2009 Estimated average burden hours per response:.............22.6 .............................. UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 13F FORM 13F COVER PAGE Report for the Calendar Year or Quarter Ended: September 30, 2008 ----------------------- Check Here if Amendment / /; Amendment Number: --------- This Amendment (Check only one.): / / is a restatement. / / adds new holdings entries. Institutional Investment Manager Filing this Report: Name: The Blackstone Group L.P. ------------------------------- Address: 345 Park Avenue ------------------------------- New York, NY 10154 ------------------------------- Form 13F File Number: 28-13114 --------------------- The institutional investment manager filing this report and the person by whom it is signed hereby represent that the person signing the report is authorized to submit it, that all information contained herein is true, correct and complete, and that it is understood that all required items, statements, schedules, lists, and tables, are considered integral parts of this form. Person Signing this Report on Behalf of Reporting Manager: Name: Robert L. Friedman ------------------------------- Title: Authorized Person ------------------------------- Phone: (212) 583-5000 ------------------------------- Signature, Place, and Date of Signing: /s/ Robert L. Friedman New York, NY November 14, 2008 ------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------- [Signature] [City, State] [Date] Report Type (Check only one): /X/ 13F HOLDINGS REPORT. (Check here if all holdings of this reporting manager are reported in this report.) / / 13F NOTICE. (Check here if no holdings reported are in this report, and all holdings are reported by other reporting manager(s).) / / 13F COMBINATION REPORT. (Check here if a portion of the holdings for this reporting manager are reported in this report and a portion are reported by other reporting manager(s).) FORM 13F SUMMARY PAGE Report Summary: Number of Other Included Managers: 3 -------------------- Form 13F Information Table Entry Total: 72 -------------------- Form 13F Information Table Value Total: $ 1,516,945 -------------------- (thousands) List of Other Included Managers: Provide a numbered list of the name(s) and Form 13F file number(s) of all institutional investment managers with respect to which this report is filed, other than the manager filing this report. Number Form 13F File Number Name 1 28-13113 Blackstone Capital Partners V L.P. ------ ----------------- ---------------------------------- 2 28-12319 Blackstone Kailix Advisors L.L.C. ------ ----------------- ---------------------------------- 3 28-12332 GSO Capital Partners LP ------ ----------------- ---------------------------------- Explanatory Note: The Blackstone Group L.P. is managed and operated by its general partner, Blackstone Group Management L.L.C., which is in turn wholly-owned by Blackstone's senior managing directors and controlled by its two founders, Mr. Stephen A. Schwarzman and Mr. Peter G. Peterson. FORM 13F INFORMATION TABLE THE BLACKSTONE GROUP L.P. FOR QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 Voting Authority Value (x Shrs or prn SH/ Investment Other ---------------------- Name of Issuer Title of Class CUSIP $1000) amt PRN Put/Call Discretion Managers Sole Shared None --------------------- ---------------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---- -------- ---------- -------- ---------- ------ ---- AK STL HLDG CORP COM 001547108 $ 25,920 1,000,000 SH SOLE 2 1,000,000 ALCOA INC (a) COM 013817101 $ 5,645 250,000 SH CALL SOLE 3 250,000 ALPHA NATURAL RESOURCES INC COM 02076X102 $ 144,004 2,800,000 SH SOLE 2 2,800,000 ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORP COM 018581108 $ 155,639 2,455,648 SH SOLE 1 2,455,648 APPLIED MICRO CIRCUITS CORP COM NEW 03822W406 $ 11,212 1,874,998 SH SOLE 2 1,874,998 BARCLAYS BK PLC IPMS INDIA ETN 06739F291 $ 466 10,300 SH SOLE 10,300 BHP BILLITON LTD SPONSORED ADR 088606108 $ 31,194 600,000 SH SOLE 2 600,000 CALPINE CORP COM NEW 131347304 $ 26,414 2,031,857 SH SOLE 2,031,857 CELANESE CORP DEL COM SER A 150870103 $ 27,974 1,002,303 SH SOLE 2 1,002,303 CHINA MOBILE LIMITED SPONSORED ADR 16941M109 $ 228 4,550 SH SOLE 4,550 CKE RESTAURANTS INC COM 12561E105 $ 544 51,300 SH SOLE 3 51,300 DANA HOLDING CORP COM 235825205 $ 11,931 2,465,122 SH SOLE 2,465,122 DIRECTV GROUP INC COM 25459L106 $ 65,450 2,500,000 SH SOLE 2 2,500,000 EAGLE ROCK ENERGY PARTNERS L UNIT 26985R104 $ 9,984 948,141 SH SOLE 3 948,141 FBR CAPITAL MARKETS CORP COM 30247C301 $ 225 34,732 SH SOLE 34,732 FBR CAPITAL MARKETS CORP COM 30247C301 $ 1,225 189,089 SH SOLE 3 189,089 FIFTH STREET FINANCE CORP COM 31678A103 $ 2,513 250,000 SH SOLE 2 250,000 Voting Authority Value (x Shrs or prn SH/ Investment Other ---------------------- Name of Issuer Title of Class CUSIP $1000) amt PRN Put/Call Discretion Managers Sole Shared None --------------------- ---------------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---- -------- ---------- -------- ---------- ------ ---- FINISAR COM 31787A101 $ 10,100 10,000,000 SH SOLE 2 10,000,000 FOCUS MEDIA HLDG LTD SPONSORED ADR 34415V109 $ 232 8,150 SH SOLE 8,150 GENERAL MLS INC COM 370334104 $ 10,308 150,000 SH SOLE 2 150,000 GEORGIA GULF CORP COM PAR $0.01 373200203 $ 2,545 1,018,091 SH SOLE 3 1,018,091 GOODRICH CORP COM 382388106 $ 10,874 261,392 SH SOLE 2 261,392 HARMAN INTL INDS INC COM 413086109 $ 42,588 1,250,000 SH SOLE 2 1,250,000 HESS CORP COM 42809H107 $ 53,065 646,500 SH SOLE 2 646,500 HDFC BANK LTD ADR REPS 3 SHS 40415F101 $ 467 5,500 SH SOLE 5,500 HONEYWELL INTL INC COM 438516106 $ 20,775 500,000 SH SOLE 2 500,000 HUNTSMAN CORP COM 447011107 $ 3,365 267,035 SH SOLE 267,035 HUNTSMAN CORP COM 447011107 $ 3,465 275,000 SH CALL SOLE 275,000 HUNTSMAN CORP COM 447011107 $ 3,745 297,200 SH SOLE 3 297,200 HUNTSMAN CORP COM 447011107 $ 5,670 450,000 SH CALL SOLE 3 450,000 ISHARES INC MSCI TAIWAN 464286731 $ 257 23,800 SH SOLE 23,800 ISHARES INC MSCI SINGAPORE 464286673 $ 107 11,000 SH SOLE 11,000 ISHARES INC MSCI S KOREA 464286772 $ 103 2,600 SH SOLE 2,600 ISHARES TR FTSE XNHUA IDX 464287184 $ 265 7,700 SH SOLE 7,700 ISHARES TR RUSSELL 2000 464287655 $ 34,000 500,000 SH PUT SOLE 3 500,000 KB HOME COM 48666K109 $ 4,920 250,000 SH SOLE 2 250,000 LEHMAN BROS HLDGS INC COM 524908100 $ 20 92,500 SH SOLE 92,500 LEHMAN BROS HLDGS INC COM 524908100 $ 27 125,000 SH PUT SOLE 125,000 LEHMAN BROS HLDGS INC COM 524908100 $ 27 125,000 SH CALL SOLE 125,000 LEHMAN BROS HLDGS INC COM 524908100 $ 24 113,500 SH SOLE 3 113,500 Voting Authority Value (x Shrs or prn SH/ Investment Other ---------------------- Name of Issuer Title of Class CUSIP $1000) amt PRN Put/Call Discretion Managers Sole Shared None --------------------- ---------------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---- -------- ---------- -------- ---------- ------ ---- LEHMAN BROS HLDGS INC COM 524908100 $ 54 250,000 SH PUT SOLE 3 250,000 LEHMAN BROS HLDGS INC COM 524908100 $ 54 250,000 SH CALL SOLE 3 250,000 LENDER PROCESSING SVCS INC COM 52602E102 $ 7,630 250,000 SH SOLE 2 250,000 LORILLARD INC COM 544147101 $ 106,725 1,500,000 SH SOLE 2 1,500,000 MERRILL LYNCH & CO INC COM 590188108 $ 44,275 1,750,000 SH SOLE 2 1,750,000 MORGAN STANLEY ASIA PAC FD I COM 61744U106 $ 365 27,267 SH SOLE 27,267 MORGAN STANLEY CHINA A SH FD COM 617468103 $ 259 8,950 SH SOLE 8,950 NETEASE COM INC SPONSORED ADR 64110W102 $ 961 42,150 SH SOLE 42,150 NORTHWEST AIRLS CORP COM 667280408 $ 27,090 3,000,000 SH SOLE 2 3,000,000 NRG ENERGY INC COM NEW 629377508 $ 12,375 500,000 SH SOLE 2 500,000 ORBITZ WORLDWIDE INC COM 68557K109 $ 270,145 46,021,327 SH SOLE 1 46,021,327 OSG AMER L P COM UNIT LPI 671028108 $ 4,420 500,000 SH SOLE 2 500,000 PACTIV CORP COM 695257105 $ 12,415 500,000 SH SOLE 2 500,000 PETROCHINA CO LTD SPONSORED ADR 71646E100 $ 366 3,560 SH SOLE 3,560 PRECISION CASTPARTS CORP COM 740189105 $ 63,024 800,000 SH SOLE 2 800,000 PULTE HOMES INC COM 745867101 $ 4,890 350,000 SH SOLE 2 350,000 ROCKWOOD HLDGS INC COM 774415103 $ 64,150 2,500,000 SH SOLE 2 2,500,000 RYLAND GROUP INC COM 783764103 $ 5,304 200,000 SH SOLE 2 200,000 SANDRIDGE ENERGY INC COM 80007P307 $ 21,778 1,111,111 SH SOLE 3 1,111,111 SPDR TR UNIT SER 1 78462F103 $ 57,995 500,000 SH PUT SOLE 3 500,000 TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MFG LTD SPONSORED ADR 874039100 $ 171 18,250 SH SOLE 18,250 TIME WARNER CABLE INC CL A 88732J108 $ 399 16,503 SH SOLE 16,503 Voting Authority Value (x Shrs or prn SH/ Investment Other ---------------------- Name of Issuer Title of Class CUSIP $1000) amt PRN Put/Call Discretion Managers Sole Shared None --------------------- ---------------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---- -------- ---------- -------- ---------- ------ ---- TOLL BROTHERS INC COM 889478103 $ 5,046 200,000 SH SOLE 2 200,000 TRANS1 INC COM 89385X105 $ 1,236 125,000 SH SOLE 2 125,000 TRANSOCEAN INC NEW SHS G90073100 $ 21,968 200,000 SH SOLE 2 200,000 VIRGIN MOBILE USA INC CL A 92769R108 $ 2,205 750,000 SH SOLE 2 750,000 WACHOVIA CORP NEW COM 929903102 $ 44 12,500 SH SOLE 12,500 WACHOVIA CORP NEW COM 929903102 $ 875 250,000 SH PUT SOLE 250,000 WACHOVIA CORP NEW COM 929903102 $ 122 34,800 SH SOLE 3 34,800 WACHOVIA CORP NEW COM 929903102 $ 1,750 500,000 SH PUT SOLE 3 500,000 WALTER INDS INC COM 93317Q105 $ 47,450 1,000,000 SH SOLE 2 1,000,000 YRC WORLDWIDE INC COM 984249102 $ 3,887 325,000 SH SOLE 2 325,000 (a) Includes two series of ALCOA INC call options.