M&A numbers hit 4-year low

THE number of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the first quarter of 2008 was at its lowest level for four years, new figures have shown.

In a further sign that market turmoil is continuing to put a brake on deal-making activity, the value of global M&A dropped 40 per cent to £325 billion, compared with the same time last year.

The data from Dealogic showed it was the least active first quarter since 2004.

Tony Burgess, global head of M&A at Deutsche Bank, said the virtual departure of private equity from the market had led to volumes falling sharply.