Lockdowns that went into effect to help stem the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year grounded many private-equity deal makers and curbed first-half merger and acquisition transactions, figures from data provider Dealogic show.

The data show that deal volume and value in the US fell sharply during the first half as the rapidly spreading outbreak, collapsing demand and resulting economic uncertainty left many deal makers at private-equity firms focused on stabilising their portfolio companies rather than chasing new opportunities.