Private equity activity has fallen to its lowest proportion of overall global mergers and acquisition activity since 1995, demonstrating the near-stasis of the buyout market.

Buyout activity in the fourth quarter has so far accounted for just 1.3% of global overall M&A activity in value terms, according to figures from Dealogic. There were 348 private equity deals worth a combined $10.7bn (€7.7bn), compared to 7,309 M&A deals worth $796.6bn globally.