More signs of private equity rebound

October 19, 2009 | By Jim Kim

The private equity industry gathered in Dubai for one of the biggest conference of the year, Super Return Middle East. The conventional wisdom is that the industry is showing modest signs of a rebound. The rising IPO market has been seen as such a sign, though it's fair to say not all portfolio companies have turned the corner.

It's also worth noting that Fortress Investment Group (FIG)-backed RailAmerica did not fare well in its IPO last week. Blackstone has deals to sell five companies, four of which are complete and one imminent. The firm is also evaluating the prospects for up to seven IPOs; one, Team Health, has already filed, notes Reuters.

Improving debt market condition seem to have people more excited. Reuters noted that two executives--Stephen Schwarzman of the Blackstone Group and David Rubenstein of the Carlyle Group--noted that deals in the $3 billion to $5 billion range are possible now.

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