We've noted before that the time is right for strategic deals, and we've seen a spate of them recently. The absence of financial buyers was certainly seen as one reason these deals might rise, but the period of absence may be short lived.

The New York Times reports that the Blackstone Group is in negotiations to buy Anheuser-Busch's InBev theme park unit for up to $3 billion. The talks are fluid, but if it happened it would be one of the largest deals since the credit crisis took hold. It would definitely send a message that the private equity industry is primed to come storming back on all fronts--exits as well as purchases. There's a whole lot of cash that the industry must put to work, and valuations are attractive.

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