UK entertainment group Merlin Entertainments and food company United Biscuits are among the wave of Blackstone Group portfolio companies expected to float after the US buyout giant revealed it was planning to test resurgent equity markets with a host of listings.

Blackstone said it was looking to test the market for initial public offerings by listing up to eight companies, according to a letter sent to its investors last Friday and United Biscuits, Merlin Entertainments and UK restaurant group Tragus, are among those expected to come to market, according to equity capital markets participants and investment bankers. US healthcare business TeamHealth, one of the largest healthcare outsourcers in the country, is also expected to float.