Global merger and acquisition levels in the technology sector broke through the €100bn ($130bn) barrier in 2006, the first time since the height of the dotcom boom in 2000.

According to figures published today by PwC, M&A values were boosted by 18 mega deals, transactions with a value of more than €1bn. The largest of these was the €11.1bn merger of France's Alcatel with Lucent Technologies of the US. The number of top level deals was up from 14 in 2005. Aggressive bids from private equity investors also helped boost deal values in 2006.