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Private equity stuck with 33,575 unsold businesses

financeAug 10, 202653223

The New York Times reported on August 10, 2026, that private equity firms are holding 33,575 portfolio companies they cannot sell, Maureen Farrell writes. Even amid a booming deal-making environment, firms are unable to exit a growing number of investments at values their investors require. That unsold inventory is pressuring investor returns and firms' exit plans. The buildup of unsellable assets raises questions about fundraising, mark-to-market valuations, and how managers will deliver expected gains to limited partners.

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