Chart of the Week: Buyout-backed M&A Deals Recover From 2008 Trough

On a deal value basis it’s not clear whether 2012 will beat last year’s mark, although the number of deals is tracking better (suggesting a drop in exit size this year). The European debt crisis and continued pressure on the U.S. economy have weighed on the M&A market this year, despite recent actions by the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank to shore up growth.