It might be a matter of executive preference. Lots of people don't want to deal with the regulatory attention and mandatory reporting which comes from a company being publicly traded.

No, not at all. Nobody would invest if they thought that were the case. It does mean they believe they will need to delay their IPO a year or more.

Not really. On general grounds, you expect to take a haircut when you offer shares privately, because there are fewer investors competing for the shares you're selling.

or fact that private investors are looking at making their own return.