The latest Thomson Financial research show the amount of M&A deals announced globally plunged by 31%, to $661bn (£330bn) in the first quarter this year because of the liquidity crisis. In the UK, the total value of the deals announced fell 40%, to $47bn.
UK’s top dealmakers in the in the period were Goldmans Sach, Citigroup and Lehman Bros. They benefited from advising the Chinese on their $14bn grab of a 9% stake in mining giant Rio Tinto, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Thomson's research shows global buyout activity reached a four-year low after six years of continuous growth.
The private equity sector in particular was hard hit by the liquidity crisis, reflected in a 77% slump in the value of deals announced around the world in the first three months, to just $43.5bn.
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