The report identified over 1,000 European listed companies that were taken private during the period, dwarfing the 130 that chose to relocate listings to the US. The findings suggest that private ownership has emerged as the preferred route for many companies seeking growth, stability, and improved valuation away from the volatility of public markets. Major recent examples include Sycamore Partners' bid for UK pharmacy chain Boots, KKR's '22bn acquisition of Telecom Italia's NetCo, and Blackstone and Permira's $13bn take-private of Adevinta. London has also seen high-profile names such as Morrisons and Worldpay exit the stock exchange in favour of private ownership. While some policymakers have voiced concerns over the implications for market liquidity and transparency, investors and private equity leaders point to the growing role of private capital in supporting innovation, restructuring, and cross-border growth'especially during periods of macroeconomic uncertainty. Hamish Mair,...
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