Private equity deals in the financial services sector will surge by 50% in the second half after missing expectations during the crisis, as financial groups divest assets to meet new regulatory requirements, according to new research.

Deals involving financial services firms will rise to $12bn globally in the second half of the year, compared with $8bn in the first half, according to advisory firm Freeman & Co. Activity in the first half of last year totalled $7.3bn, the firm said.