According to data compiled by Bloomberg, buyers spent $3.8 trillion on mergers and acquisitions in 2015, the highest amount ever, surpassing the previous record set in 2007, before the financial crisis.

Bloomberg noted that according to a recent survey, companies seem more optimistic about pursuing M&A than they were last year with almost 60% of executives expected to carry out acquisitions in the next 12 months, up from 40% a year earlier.

Bloomberg said the fourth quarter was the busiest of last year, with $1.3 trillion in transactions announced, passing the trillion-dollar mark for the first time since the second quarter of 2007.