The number of M&A deals which took place in the UK in 2013 was identical to the previous year, but deal value decreased 11.5% to £7.4bn compared to £80.7bn in 2012, the lowest level for 12 years according to Mergermarket's 2013 UK M&A trend report.

Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley topped the financial advisor league table by value during 2013, all with increased deal values compared to 2012. Goldman Sachs took the lead after it advised on £133.2bn-worth of deals, replacing Barclays which was ranked first in 2012 but is now in sixth place. Guggenheim Partners saw the biggest jump by value as it came up from the 104th position in 2012 to 7th in 2013 with £82.1bn-worth of deals.;p>

The report shows the value of inbound M&A deals from foreign players during Q4 was at its lowest in nearly four years (Q2 2011 valued at £8.5bn). With £9.1bn-worth of deals the final quarter represented a decline by more than 20% compared to both Q3 2013 (£11.7bn, -22.2%) and Q4 2012 (£11.8bn, -22.9%).

Companies based in the US remained the most active acquirers of UK companies in 2013 with 216 deals valued at £27.4bn taking a 63.4% market share in the inbound M&A activity. The Virgin Media acquisition for £16bn accounted for a large proportion of this total.

Private equity buyouts during 2013 were also similar in number to those in 2012 (219 compared to 221 last year), but deal value plunged by nearly a third to £14.4bn compared to £22.2bn.

UK Leisure companies were the most targeted by value for buyouts during 2013. Mergermarket's research shows a total of £3.2bn-worth of deals hit the highest value and volume since 2009 (39 buyouts valued at £8.4bn) and over three times the value in 2012 (£0.9bn).

Lloyds TSB development continued its reign as top private equity firm for buyouts for value and volume based on the 14 deals it backed during 2013, three more than in 2012 and with a total deal value of £329m.