Private-equity M&A reaches record

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- The volume of private-equity backed mergers and acquisitions in the United States so far this year has reached record levels, research firm Dealogic said Thursday. More than 500 deals worth $157.4 billion and backed by private equity have been announced in 2006, according to data Dealogic compiled through June 14. That's a record and almost double the volume during the same period of 2005, the firm reported.