Private equity professionals are expecting a boost in activity in 2010, according to research by professional services firm BDO.

The study indicates that nine out of ten private equity houses expect to see a rise in the rate of investments this year, and just under half (44 per cent) are expanding their teams in anticipation of more activity.

Alex White, corporate finance partner at BDO, said: 'Businesses have been vocal in complaining about lack of access to debt, but on the equity side, access to risk capital has never been better. There is unprecedented availability of private equity which still needs to be invested, creating opportunities for business owners who want to sell or raise finance for growth and expansion.'

Respondents were also confident that the number of exits would increase, with 53 per cent predicting a dramatic rise in 2011, going up to 76 per cent in 2012.

White added: 'PE managers say the sales of older investments were unsustainably low in 2009, with most citing delays of between one and two years, but the forecast for the next 18 months heralds a flurry of exit activity.'