It appears there may be another possible bidder for Reed Elsevier’s Reed Business Information.

International private equity firm Permira has emerged as a potential suitor for the trade magazine publisher, according to a report [1] in the London Times. Permira joins a growing list of potential suitors, including Providence Equity Partners, Cinven and Apax Partners. Apax owns Incisive Media and recently acquired Emap’s b-to-b group for $2 billion through a partnership with the Guardian Media Group. Apax and Incisive also bought U.S.-based ALM [1] last year for $630 million.

Last month, Reed Elsevier announced its planned divestiture of RBI [1] as part of the company’s preliminary financial results statement for 2007.

Industry observers put an RBI sale at about $2-2.5 billion [1]. Other suitors could include Court Square Ventures (formerly Citigroup Venture Capital) and Bain & Company.