Almost three quarters of UK executives involved in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have admitted that their deals have been delayed due to a loss of critical data.

A study by tech firm ansarada, which polled over 500 bankers, lawyers, consultants, found that the temporary or permanent loss of information located in documents, emails, devices and IT systems was common.

These data losses, according to the report, accounted for deals being delayed by an average of 12 days.

Meanwhile, more than one in 10 dealmakers were not certain that their data was secure while trying to close deals during 2015.

Latest figures suggest that 339 deals worth £256bn collapsed due to loss of data in 2014 – the highest number since 2008.

“Considering the sensitive nature of M&A deals, it’s alarming to think that ‘data-loss’ remains such a big issue for the industry,” says Stephen Dearing, ansarada's managing director for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. 

“With recent advancements in technology and security policies, dealmakers should be in complete control of the information they need to close a deal efficiently and to a tight deadline.”