Private Equity

Private equity’s exit headache could get worse before it gets better

Is history repeating itself? Fears are rising that current portfolios will take as long to sell as pre-financial crisis vintages

PE firms own 29,000 unsold companies, but many of these will take time to sell
PE firms own 29,000 unsold companies, but many of these will take time to sell Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Cash-starved investors are hoping that 2025 will be the year they get liquidity back from their private equity firms. They might be left feeling disappointed.

New research suggests that private equity’s towering pile of unsold assets could get even larger before it gets smaller.

WSJ Logo