The financial crisis and recession have put a brake on most deals, other than mergers between crumbling banks, as credit has dried up and confidence has shrivelled.

• 由于信贷市场已经干涸，人们的信心严重受挫，此次金融危机及随之而来的经济衰退已经阻止了许多交易的顺利开展，而不仅限于溃败的银行之间的合并。