Could this be a sign of things to come? Earlier today, Gander Mountain (NASDAQ:GMTN) announced its two largest shareholders have made a deal to take the company private.

In an economic environment where regulations are increasing by the minute and costs are rising even faster, middle-weight companies are quickly realizing it is better business to buy their shares from the secondary market and go private.

Sure, the move is costing Gander Mountain a pretty penny – a premium of about 35% of Friday’s closing price – but the handful of investors that created the deal are certain their company will be better served without the regulations of the public market and without the ever-peering eyes of thousands of interested investors.

If you have been watching this $100-million company over the past few months, you know its share price has not taken advantage of the bullish run in the overall markets. After a wide second-quarter loss, shares of the outdoor retailer plunged by close to 40%.

The timing of today’s announcement is certainly a sign the company’s board believes the worst is over. By making the move now, the few investors that will be left in the company will get a relative bargain, even if they are paying a decent premium.

Of course, this story may be far from over. With the markets increasing in value at a rapid pace over the past few months, long-term investors may not be happy to cash out at these prices. There’s a good chance the company may have a fight on its hands as shareholders fight to get the buyout price as high as they possibly can.

Paying attention, Obama?

Really, the biggest story here is not the overnight surge and the potential for more gains. The big news is stories like this are likely to happen more and more often in the near future.

We have all heard of the fallout from the semi-recent Sarbanes-Oxley infusion of oversight and regulations. Scores of the world’s largest companies are doing all they can to remain out of tightly regulated American markets.

But now that the Obama administration has its eye on everything from executive pay to corporate travel, you can bet a slew of firms have their bean counters figuring out the most effective way forward… public or private?

In the long run, the trend will be detrimental to American investors. But in the short-term, as the markets add a premium to all companies that may be tempted to bail out of the realm of publicly traded shares, investors will prosper.

If you are on a hunt for companies ready to make the move, look for firms with well-established businesses and small market values. Gander Mountain with its limited growth ability and low market cap is a perfect example.

This should be a glaring clue for any politician or regulator that the world of business is uneasy with current actions. Forcing businesses into an unregulated shell will not be good for the nation’s economy.

Source: Gander Mountain: Going Private, Sending a Message