Nordic private equity investments fell off a cliff in Q4 2011, according to data from the latest unquote” Nordic Private Equity Index, in association with KPMG.

A mere €556.14m of deals were complete in the Nordic region in the final three months of 2011, less than a quarter of that seen in the previous quarter and even further below the peak seen in Q2.

However, volume figures are a little more positive, with deal numbers dropping only a third quarter-on-quarter. While the trend is still indicative of the difficulties faced across Europe in later 2011, it is not quite as disastrous as the value numbers - driven largely by boom in large buyouts earlier in the year - would suggest.

On an annual basis the Nordic market appear far healthier, with total market value for 2011 hitting €11.1bn, up from €8.58bn the previous year.

The outlook of private equity practitioners has become increasingly pessimistic. More than half of those surveyed think large buyouts will decrease in volume this year and 56% believe the mid-market will remain stable.

The full unquote" Nordic Private Equity Index, in association with KPMG, is available to download HERE.