PE backlog hits 33,000 companies as software exits freeze solid

PE backlog hits 33,000 companies as software exits freeze solid

8h ago
SaaStr SaaS HoarderSH Gtm_strategy New

The Gist

  • PE firms now hold 33,000 unsold companies worth $3.8 trillion, per Bain's 2026 report
  • Average holding period hits 7 years vs. 5-6 year target, with 40% held over 5 years
  • Software unicorns face hardest exits, with 1,000+ stuck at 2021 valuations
  • Fundraising drops 16% in 2025 as LPs pull back from stalled PE model

RevBots.ai View:

GTM teams at PE-backed SaaS companies should brace for extended holding periods and tighter budgets as exit options evaporate.

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