UK acquisitions hit 16-year low

Office of National Statistics figures show the value of deals has plunged

Acquisitions in the UK are at their lowest since 1994, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

The value of acquisitions in the UK by UK-based firms in the fourth quarter of 2010 was up to £3.8bn from £3bn in Q3, but the total value of acquisitions for the year was down to £10.1bn, compared with £12.2bn in 2009.

Foreign investment also dropped, with acquisitions by overseas firms falling to £9.8bn in Q4, compared with £12.1bn in Q3. However, acquisitions hit £39.2bn for the whole year, from £32bn in 2009.

UK companies also kept their purse strings under control when it came to overseas acquisitions in the quarter, with activity decreasing to £3.5bn in Q4 2010, from £5.3bn in Q3. But the overall value of outward acquisitions increased to £12.2bn from £10.1bn the previous year.