By Lars Mucklejohn US corporates and private equity firms are readying a deals offensive on the London Stock Exchange this year as dealmaking in the City rebounds from a slump last year, according to a London investment bank. In its annual mergers and acquisitions (M&A) report today, bankers at Peel Hunt said they were expecting to see a “recovery” of inbound bid interest from North American corporates on smaller UK firms, as well as increased merger activity among UK listed firms “to create businesses of greater scale and relevance”. “While the operating environment for many companies remains…