The concern of this book is fourfold: firstly, to analyse the impact of privatization on firms performance. Secondly, to understand the determinants of the post-privatization performance behaviour,that is, why and how privatization works. In third place, to investigate the change in performance behaviour of firms that make the transition from private closely held (family)ownership to public ownership, through initial public offerings (IPOs)or direct sales (DSs). Lastly, to understand the causes that may explain a certain performance behaviour of those family companies after going public.