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A pan-European survey of wealth managers by LPEQ found 53 per cent of investors in listed private equity intended to increase their exposure to the asset class in the coming year.

The survey also revealed a further 13 per cent of respondents new to the sector planned to invest in listed private equity vehicles, such as private equity investment trusts.

Ian Armitage, chairman of LPEQ, said the results were encouraging for the listed private equity sector, given the recent market tumult.

He added: "Lack of adequate information still prevents more investment in listed private equity - something LPEQ members are committed to improving."

The survey also found 79 per cent of wealth managers saw the asset class as a key part of portfolio diversification.

Private equity investment trusts have had a volatile year, with many of the funds trading at wider discounts as investor concerns over liquidity surfaced.

Almost two-thirds of respondents said wide discounts shown by listed private equity companies in recent months had created buying opportunities for investors.

In spite of a newfound risk appetite, confidence in the asset class remains low, with just 40 per cent of respondents believing listed private equity companies would outperform in the long term, compared with 73 per cent in 2007.

John Newlands, head of investment companies research at Brewin Dolphin, said private equity investment trusts such as HgCapital, Eclectica Private Equity and Dunedin Enterprise had all performed quite well despite difficult market conditions.

He added: "If you look at the equity yield on these trusts, there is probably still quite a lot of value out there."