The number and value of acquisitions and mergers involving British companies fell in the second quarter of the year, according to official figures published yesterday. The biggest fall was in takeovers by overseas companies of British firms, which fell to £2.7 billion sterling from £6.2 billion in the first months of the year. The Office for National Statistics, which compiled the data, said the high first-quarter figure was driven by the takeovers of three British electricity companies by US giants for about £1 billion each. - (PA)