M&A deals increase so far in 2006

Merger and acquisitions activity funded by U.S. private equity firms rose 70% to $297.5 billion in the first nine months of 2006, according Dealogic's third quarter mergers and acquisitions review. In Europe, buyout-backed mergers and acquisitions totaled $213.6 billion, up 27% from $168.2 billion in the first nine months of 2005. Forty percent of the European activity was in the United Kingdom, which had $84.6 billion for the nine months ended Sept. 30, up 91% from the nine months of 2005. Private equity-backed mergers and acquisitions in Asia, excluding Japan, rose 78% to $28.9 billion for the same period.