The value of public to private ownership deals in Yorkshire has soared during 2000, with companies from the Bradford district leading the way.

Newly released figures from the Centre for Management Buy-out Research show there were four public to private transactions in the county this year - worth £459 million - compared to three in 1999 (at £173m).

Topping the list was Keighley household goods giant Peter Black, which moved off the stock exchange in a £230m management buyout headed by chairman Gordon Black.

BPT - formerly Bradford Property Trust - also turned its back on shareholders following a buyout funded by Deutsche Bank's real estate private equity operation and Grainger Trust.

The newly-released study listed the other two transactions as Sanderson (£115m) and Allied Textiles (£107m).

Experts believe the upward trend in public to private transactions has stemmed from investor frustration at the low rating of their shares.

The research, sponsored by Barclays Private Equity and Deloitte & Touche Corporate Finance, found nationally the public to private market has grown from seven transactions, worth £0.4 billion, in 1997 to 44 worth £9bn in 2000.

The value of the total buy-out market in 2000 is £21.5bn. Public to private deals account for almost 44 per cent of the total value of the buy-out market in 2000.

Tom Lamb, UK MD of Barclays Private Equity, said: "Five of the top ten buy-outs this year are public to private transactions. With values rising so quickly, who would bet against a FT-SE 100 company going private?"