Deal activity levels dipped below paltry Q3 figures, highlighting the hibernation the industry is in the midst of.

PE houses across the UK are now expected to take stock and reflect on a tumultuous 2011. A few sizeable deals were still signed off in the past few weeks, including the $1.12bn SBO of Capital Safety Group by KKR and Doughty Hanson paying £250m to buy Asco from Phoenix.

Leverage, however, remained elusive, while macro-economic issues are casting further doubt on whether activity will pick up in the new year.

What do deal-doers expect in terms of dealflow over the coming months? And what impact does the economic uncertainty have on private equity portfolios?

Each quarter unquote" works together with corporate finance boutique Corbett Keeling to take the industry's temperature with its one-minute survey. Make sure you have your say by completing the survey HERE.

Results will be published on unquote.com next month.