Definitions for "Privatisation"
Privatisation is the process whereby government-run businesses are taken to the stock market, and the shares offered to investors. The UK has been particularly active in this hiving off of the major state utilities, and substantial profits have been made by many investors who took up the offers.
Dealing with the transfer of businesses from the state to the private sector. This commonly involves complex contractual structures to be put in place, and the industries concerned are usually closely regulated.
The full transfer of publicly-owned assets into the private sector through a sale or flotation on the stock market.