Everyone in the private equity (private equity news) industry was hoping that an improved initial public offering environment would offer more exit opportunities. For a while, those hopes seemed dashed. But now, we're seeing a spate of deal news.

The latest is that NXP, the Dutch chipmaker bought by KKR and others four years ago, aims to raise at least $1 billion in what would be the year's largest IPO, reports Bloomberg. Earlier, Bain Capital-owned Sensata Technologies completed the largest domestic deal, selling $569 million of shares at the low end of its expected price range.

First Wind Holdings, owned by D.E. Shaw Madison Dearborn Partners, is also contemplating an offering. Higher One, owned by Lightyear Capital, and Metals USA, owned by Apollo, and SciQuest, are also planning offerings. In Europe, optimism is just as high. Amadeus, a flight-reservations firm, owned by BC Partners Cinven, aims to raise a whopping $1.2 billion in Europe's largest IPO of 2010. 

For more:
- here's the Bloomberg article

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