Private Equity managers invest in privately held and certain public companies. In general, they take controlling positions and/or board seats with the goal of supporting the operations of the companies or restructuring them to create value and, ultimately, deliver substantial returns to investors. Private equity managers employ a range of strategies, and they typically take several years to invest their capital and realize returns. Because of their approach and constraints, Private Equity may not be suitable for all investors. For example, Private Equity managers often require that money be "locked up" for a specific period of time; investments in Private Equity are typically illiquid for 10-12 years.