SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones) -- Leveraged-buyout giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts joined the growing list of private-equity firms hoping to be traded in the public market late Tuesday, with a widely anticipated filing to raise $1.25bn (€917m) through an initial public offering.

KKR's IPO would follow that of rival private-equity firm The Blackstone Group, which offered a 12% stake on the New York Stock Exchange June 22, and raised $4.13bn.