This year, the Milwaukee money management firm's mid-cap portfolios have already had five buyouts.

Each is in a different industry, and four of the five happened because a private-equity firm bought the publicly traded company and took it private, said Amy Croen, a principal and co-president of the firm.

Geneva's experience reflects a surge in private-equity activity, which includes all types of private transactions, such as leveraged buyouts and venture- and angel-capital investments.

"It's a function of low interest rates, low inflation and a global environment, coupled with equity valuation parameters being very attractive," Croen said.

Stocks are very reasonably priced and so is debt, she said.