Divestitures have hit $1.64 trillion (€1.15 trillion), a record for any year up to late September, as big companies sold off units this year in order to complete megadeals, particularly in European mergers such as Barclays' bid for ABN Amro.

The value of global divestitures jumped 25% this year to $1.64 trillion, from $1.31 trillion last year. That makes for the highest divestiture volume on record as of this time of year.