Bloomberg reports that the Blackstone Group, Thomas H. Lee Partners and TPG Capital are willing to pay more than $15 billion including debt for Fidelity National Information Services, which is a stunning price given the recent history of deals. The last private equity (private equity news) deal north of that, worth more than $10 billion, was Blackstone's $20 billion takeover of Hilton Worldwide in October 2007. That same month, the historic $32 billion buyout of Texas power utility TXU Corp., the biggest LBO in history, was announced. 

It's been downhill in the industry ever since. But most agree that deal-making seems to be on the upswing. Financing certainly seems to be opening back up after a few years of extreme tightness. So far this year, banks have agreed to extend nearly $4 billion in loans, to finance leveraged buyouts. That compares with $268 million at this time last year, according to Standard & Poor's. There's certainly a lot of dry powder that the top firms can put to use. The revival comes at a time when more private equity firms are testing the IPO market. Keep you eye on the HCA proposed offering. 

For more:
- here's a Bloomberg article on Fidelity National Information Services

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