ChainCatcher news, according to the Financial Times citing informed sources, BlackRock is in preliminary discussions with Millennium Management about a strategic partnership that could allow the world's largest asset management company to acquire a stake in this highly profitable hedge fund management firm.Although any stake may be small, this potential collaboration reflects BlackRock's pursuit of expanding into the alternative investment space, while also showing that Millennium's 76-year-old founder, Izzy Englander, is continuing to grow and diversify his business.Informed sources indicate that negotiations are still in the early stages and may not result in an agreement. If BlackRock does indeed acquire a stake in Millennium, it would mark the first time in 35 years that Englander has accepted external investment into Millennium's management company.