The value of mergers and acquisitions worldwide in 2006 rose by 37.9%t compared with 2005, setting a new record of $3.8 trillion (2.9 trillion euros), financial data provider Thomson Financial revealed on Jan. 3.

The previous record for merger and acquisition activity was set in 2000, when deals worth $3.4 trillion were recorded for 2006 at the end of December.

Activity in 2006 spiked in the final quarter of the year when nearly a third of the total value of deals was registered.

Investment funds accounted for 19.9% of the merger and acquisition activity in 2006 with deals worth $757.6 billion, Thomson said.