New research shows that the fees charged by private equity firms when they acquire a company rose in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, despite the industry going through its worst downturn for the decade.

The research, by data provider Preqin and law firm Dechert, looked at fee income in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. The report said there was a "noteworthy increase" globally in average transaction fees - which are charged by private equity firms to their portfolio companies at the point of acquisition - compared with before the financial crisis.