Neiman Marcus Inc operates a small empire of 41 stores and a few select subsidiaries. It's certainly no fashion industry giant but it's a big enough mover and shaker that it's IPO will change the face of the industry in no small way as the budding company gets its first infusion of public capital. Time will tell if Marcus can develop a sufficient return on equity to drive it to the fore and keep the cash flowing.

Neiman Marcus Inc filed registration papers on Monday for an initial public offering as its private equity owners eye an exit for their long-held investment in the luxury department store operator.

The Dallas-based retailer has been in the hands of private equity since 2005, when TPG Capital and Warburg Pincus LLC led a group that bought the Dallas-based retailer for $5.1 billion.

The IPO registration may signal little more than Neiman Marcus’ desire to keep its options open. (Read More)