Blackstone 'to list firms'

DUBAI: Private equity firm Blackstone Group is planning to list up to eight of its portfolio companies, according to a source who received a letter the firm sent to investors on Friday.

The letter details that Blackstone is positioning one company - hospital staffing firm Team Health - for an IPO and evaluating the potential for seven others, the source said.

It also says that Blackstone is in the process of five realizations this year - meaning sales of companies it owns. Of these, four have already been announced and one is imminent, the source said.