Taking Companies Private

In a take-private, a private equity firm buys all the shares of a public company and delists it. Here is why companies go private, how shareholders are paid and what a real 2025–26 take-private looked like on a chart.

Why go private

• Freedom from quarterly earnings pressure to make long-term changes.
• Lower costs of public reporting and compliance.
• A buyer sees value the public market is missing.
• Big restructurings can be easier out of the spotlight.

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