Boutique investment bank Centerview has no go-public plans, co-founder says

By David French

WEST PALM BEACH, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The co-founder of Centerview Partners said on Tuesday the privately owned boutique investment bank has no plans to go public.

"We are the only firm of note that is private, and that gives us tons of advantage," Blair Effron told the WSJ Invest Live event in West Palm Beach, Florida, in response to a question about a WSJ press report a year ago saying the firm was considering an initial public offering or the sale of a stake.

Effron said its private ownership meant it benefited from being able to think long term, and invest in its business - including paying its staff well.

New York-based Centerview is among the most successful boutique investment banks on Wall Street, advising on mergers and acquisitions, corporate activism and other strategic actions. Founded in 2006 by Effron and Robert Pruzan, it also has offices in London, Paris, Menlo Park and San Francisco, according to its website.

While ruling out a strategic transaction involving his own firm, Effron said there could be consolidation among investment banks, driven by large financial institutions seeking to gain access to the best deal advisors and a greater M&A footprint.

Such deals would follow on from Japan's Mizuho 8411.T acquiring U.S. boutique advisor Greenhill & Co in 2023, and Evercore EVR.N striking a deal last year to buy U.K.-based Robey Warshaw.

Global dealmaking activity is also expected to maintain its buoyant momentum, Effron said, having recorded the second-best dealmaking year ever in 2025. Among the factors continuing to drive dealmaking include a positive economic outlook, pent-up demand involving companies owned by private equity firms, and good financing markets for deals.