Value of UK acquisitions decreases.

Inward, outward and domestic acquisitions all decreased in value during quarter four of 2012, according to data.

M&A figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the value of inward acquisitions - acquisitions in the UK by foreign companies - fell from £8.2 billion in quarter three to £1.6 billion.

Meanwhile, outward acquisitions - acquisitions made abroad by UK firms - dropped to £1.3 billion from £8.2 billion in the previous quarter.

On the other hand, domestic acquisitions - mergers and acquisitions between UK companies - were valued at £0.6 billion in Q4, on a par with the value reported in the previous quarter.

For 2012 as a whole, the annual value for inward acquisitions was £16.7 billion - the lowest reported value since £9.3 billion in 2003.

The total value of outward acquisitions was £16.4 billion over the year, down from £50.2 billion in 2011, while the total value of domestic acquisitions fell to £3.3 billion, its lowest level since 1983.

Copyright Press Association 2013