Easing the rules to let companies flourish is not something to fear | business

let me start with a disclaimer. I chair a public company that is subject to a takeover and am close to another that is contemplating a stock market listing. What follows in no way reflects on either of those situations. But they, and a report issued by KPMG last week, have prompted me to reflect again on the strictures imposed by a listing, and alternative sources of equity financing.

KPMG trumpets that companies raised £16.8 billion from 120 flotations on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) last year, the highest number of IPOs since 2007. This was part of a global phenomenon, driven by the abundant liquidity sloshing around economies and pandemic excitement about technology and healthcare industries.

The public markets tend to place higher valuations