European sponsor-backed mergers and acquisitions fell more than 60% in the three months to March compared to the same period last year, as private equity takeovers slumped to their lowest level since 2004.
Private equity M&A totalled $23.9bn (â¬15.2bn) in the first three months compared to $61.4bn in the same period last year, according to the latest figures from data provider Dealogic.