Apollo said to be in talks with Abu Dhabi

LONDON (CNNMoney.com) -- Apollo Management could be the next private equity firm to head to the public markets.

The firm founded by Leon Black is in talks to sell a stake to the investment arm of the Abu Dhabi government - a move which could come ahead of a public listing, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal published Thursday.

Black was in Abu Dhabi for talks early last week, the newspaper said, adding that a deal is not certain.

Blackstone Group (Charts) sold a stake of less than 10 percent to the investment arm of the Chinese government ahead of its initial public offering. Many industry watchers say that offering, which raised $4.1 billion last month, has paved the way for other private equity firms to follow suit.

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts filed earlier this week to go public in a $1.25 billion offering. Apollo Management has long been considered a prime candidate for a public listing.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is considered one of the most powerful institutional investors in the world