当美国股市走向“邀请制”：私募交易催生越来越多巨无霸私企，普通散户被“拒之门外”

Group 1 - The largest stock issuance this year occurred through a private placement by OpenAI, raising $40 billion, surpassing all IPOs and exceeding the largest IPO in history by over $10 billion [1] - The trend indicates a shift in the U.S. capital markets from broad public participation to a more exclusive "elite circle" of wealthy investors [1][4] - The number of publicly listed companies in the U.S. has halved since the late 1990s, with only about 4,000 companies currently listed compared to over 8,000 at the peak of the internet bubble [2] Group 2 - The median age of companies going public has increased from 6 years in 2000 to 14 years now, meaning companies often reach maturity before entering the public market [3] - Companies are delaying IPOs not due to a lack of funds, but because private markets are providing unprecedented financial support with lower disclosure requirements [3] - Notable companies like Figure AI and Databricks have seen their valuations soar in the private market before going public, with Figure AI's valuation increasing from $2.6 billion to approximately $39 billion [5] Group 3 - The private market is largely accessible only to "qualified investors," defined by the SEC as individuals with a net worth of at least $1 million or an annual income of $200,000 [4] - Major investment banks like Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs have established private market divisions, catering to large asset managers and institutional investors [6] - SpaceX exemplifies this trend, with its valuation rising to $800 billion through private financing, primarily involving long-term supporters and selected institutional funds [6] Group 4 - Regulatory concerns have emerged regarding the market's "layered operation," with the SEC chair noting that the most explosive growth phases are now confined to private markets [7] - The distribution mechanism of returns is undergoing structural changes, leading to a reconfiguration of the capital market despite its apparent openness [8] - The IPO process is increasingly viewed as a culmination of value release rather than a starting point for growth, with ordinary retail investors missing out on critical growth phases [9]