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Central Europe’s Untapped Edge: Abris Capital on Building Market Leaders in High-Growth Niches

In this conversation at 0100 EE25, Edgar Kolesnik, Partner at Abris Capital Partners, shares why Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) remains one of the most compelling—yet underappreciated—regions for private equity investment.

Kolesnik outlines three core advantages that define the region:

  • Structural growth: CEE holds 25% of the EU population but only 10% of GDP—signaling room for long-term expansion.

  • Limited competition: An abundance of SMEs primed for succession, digitization, or regional expansion.

  • Strong, cost-efficient talent: A mature pool of STEM-skilled executives and lower labor costs than Western Europe.

Abris’s strategy focuses on transforming local market leaders into regional champions, particularly in sectors like technology, healthcare, and specialized manufacturing. Their “sell before you buy” approach ensures value creation is tailored with clear exit paths in mind.

Despite global headwinds, Abris closed five exits worth over €1 billion in the past year—a testament to the firm’s disciplined execution and focus on exit readiness.

Kolesnik also touches on the region’s evolving commitment to ESG and sustainability, noting Abris actively tracks 600+ ESG indicators annually—not just to manage risk but to drive value.

“Central Europe is appealing—it’s just not always well understood. But for investors seeking diversification and superior returns, the opportunities are here,” says Kolesnik.

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