About $US5.18 billion ($8 billion) in non-life merger and acquisition (M&A) deals were made in the fourth quarter last year, according to research and consulting group GlobalData.

The value represents a 28.2% increase over the preceding quarter and is almost double that of the corresponding quarter of 2018.

North America dominated with $US4.7 billion ($7.2 billion) of deals transacted during the period.

HCC Insurance’s $US3.1 billion ($4.8 billion) purchase of Privilege Underwriters was the biggest deal made in the December quarter.