The listed private equity sector has begun to enjoy a return in investor confidence following an extended period of anxiety after the financial crisis.

An index of listed private equity shares, the LPX Europe, rose by 25% last year, outpacing the FTSE All Share index, according to a report by JP Morgan Cazenove. The bank predicts the sector will continue to attract investor interest, with the index set for a further 14% rise in 2013.