5 Most Famous Companies That Went Private

In this article we are going to list the 5 famous companies that went private. For a detailed coverage of this topic and a more comprehensive list, please head on over to the 12 famous companies that went private.

5. Alliance Boots

Year the company went from public to private: 2012

Alliance Boots was a pharmaceutical company and had a presence in at least 27 countries. In 2007, it was delisted after AB Acquisitions Limited bought out the company in a private equity transaction which was worth $22.2 billion. This was the biggest buyout at the time in all of Europe.

4. H.J. Heinz

Year the company went from public to private: 2013

Heinz is one of the most famous condiment companies in the world, as well as one of the oldest, having been established more than 150 years ago in 1869. The food processing company has plants in all six populated continents and sells its products in more than 200 companies and territories globally. According to the company, it has at least 150 number one or number two brands globally. Its ketchup market share in the United States is greater than 50%, which shows absolute market domination. In 2013, Heinz was taken private by Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A) and the Brazilian company 3G Capital, worth $23 billion.

3. Dell (NYSE:DELL)

Year the company went from public to private: 2013

Dell is one of the most famous companies for laptops and computers, along with accessories. It is the third biggest PC vendor in the world right now and is one of the biggest companies headquartered in Texas. In 2013, a leveraged buyout led by the founder of the company Michael Dell, resulted in the company being taken private at a value of $24.4 billion, before being relisted in 2016 as Dell Technologies which was formed as a result of the merger between Dell and EMC Corporation.

2. Hilton Worldwide Holdings (NYSE:HLT)

Year the company went from public to private: 2007

Second on the list of the most famous companies that went private is the Hilton hotel chain, which is one of the most famous and biggest hotel chains in the world. The company currently has at least 3,000 locations in more than 75 countries across the world, and attracted interest from Blackrock (NSYE:BLK), which resulted in the property being bought for $26 billion in 2007. The company reenlisted on the stock exchange in 2013, though Blackrock continued holding 45% of the total outstanding shares of the company.

1. EQ Office

Year the company went from public to private: 2007

Topping the list of the most famous companies that went private is EQ Office. The real estate company was the largest owner of office space in the US, which is why its unsurprising to see that it was bought out by Blackstone for $39 billion.

See also: 15 Biggest Public Companies in the World Heading Into 2021 and 5 Public Companies That Don’t Drug Test in 2019