Over the last 11 years, Asia's IPO market has ascended while the U.S. market has imploded. Led by China, which has raised $76 billion through IPOs in 2010, Asia's share of global IPOs has increased from 12% in 1999 to 66%. Meanwhile, U.S. IPOs have declined from around 44% to 11% during the same time period, according to Bloomberg.
After seeing interest from potential buyers, children's clothing retailer Gymboree has hired Goldman Sachs to auction itself off, and more private-equity firms have already stepped in to say they want to play. Gymboree executives are reportedly looking for price of $55 to $60 a share.
Peter Langerman's Franklin Mutual Series fund family invests like a private equity fund or hedge fund when it wants to, even though the clients are retail investors who pay low fees on small deposits.
Just a year ago, private equity was frozen amid fear that the global economic system would fall into the abyss. While the world avoided that worst-case scenario and growth hasn't exactly roared back, the world economy is perking up -- and so is dealmaking.
