Private Equity Confidence Survey Central Europe
Resilience Remains
The Private Equity Confidence Survey has been tracking the changing sentiments of the Central European investment community every six months since 2003. Deloitte Central Europe proudly presents the latest report which marks the 46th edition of the programme.
Resilience Remains
Serving as a barometer of sentiment of private equity practitioners in the region for over 20 years, the Deloitte Central European (CE) Private Equity (PE) Confidence Survey Index score has climbed gently to land at 135, comfortably above our historical average of 116. The latest result highlights the ongoing importance of experience-based expertise among the region’s private equity community.
Central European Private Equity Index: Key findings
Respondents are increasingly confident that market activity will increase in 2026, with 56% optimistic, up from just 28% last time. Only 8% expect activity to decline.
Sentiment regarding the economy is strong, nearly half (46%) expecting conditions to improve, up from a quarter (24%) in H1. There has also been a marked increase in expectations around financial efficiency of investments, with over half (53%) expecting it to improve.
Confidence around the availability of debt finance continues to grow in Central Europe, with 51% expecting debt availability to increase – up from 41% last time and the third semester in a row of noticeable increase. Alongside this is a near halving of respondents expecting liquidity to reduce, from 7% to just 4%.
We are very encouraged to see confidence among the region’s deal-doers remain high. It is a testament to their experience in building businesses across cycles and ability to identify and realize opportunity as they create sustainable value in the companies they back,
says Jan Vomacka, Deloitte Partner and Private Equity Leader.
The financial support and expertise of seasoned private equity investors can deliver a step change in the growth of businesses, helping them expand geographically and boost revenues, profits and headcount as they create market leaders.
Central Europe PE Confidence Index
The Index has continued its rise to land at 135, comfortably above our historical average of 116 and signalling renewed optimism for 2026. A slight dip a year ago was likely a reflection of uncertainty around the new US administration, with the year that has passed since allowing investors to gain confidence around navigating the ongoing uncertainty and reacting with agility.
As 2026 gets underway, it is clear that this agility to deal with seems to be permanent volatility is vital. Ongoing and new geopolitical tensions may yet dent the Index once again.
