For all the uncertainty about the global economy, that isn't dampening the appetite for M&A.

In the last 24 hours alone, we've seen almost $40 billion in major takeovers. The deals span from the oil patch, to data analytics, paint production, and the hotel industry. Year-to-date, total pending takeover activity has surged more than 500 percent, with no sign of a slowdown.

Canada's Bankers Petroleum Ltd (BNK.TO), one of Albania's largest foreign investors, said on Sunday it has agreed to be acquired by affiliates of China's Geo-Jade Petroleum Corp for $575 million.

Bankers Petroleum said it will be bought by firms owned by the Chinese oil and gas exploration and production company for $2.20 per share.

The Canadian company said its corporate and technical headquarters will remain in Calgary. The deal is subject to shareholder approval at a meeting before the end of May. Bankers Petroleum said the company will be delisted after the sale.

And business research provider IHS Inc (IHS.N) said it would merge with London-based financial data provider Markit Ltd (MRKT.O) in a deal valued at more than US$13 billion.

IHS shareholders will own about 57 percent of the combined company, while the rest will be owned by Markit shareholders.

Meanwhile, the Sherwin-Williams Co (SHW.N) has agreed to acquire rival U.S. paint company Valspar Corp (VAL.N), the companies said on Sunday, in an all-cash deal valued at about US$9.3 billion.

Sherwin-Williams will pay US$113 a share, or a premium of about 41 percent to Valspar's volume weighted average price for the 30 days through March 18, they said in a statement.

Valspar shares closed at US$83.83 on Friday on the New York Stock Exchange, and Sherwin-Williams ended at US$288.69.

Sherwin-Williams said the deal had "an enterprise value of about US$11.3 billion." The value includes debt and equity.

In a separate deal, market data firm Environics Analytics has bulked up with the acquisition of Boire Filler Group, a company that helps clients make better use of their customer information.

The takeover, Environics’ fourth in a little over a year, will add expertise in custom analysis to the company’s core business of selling software and database products.

Ten employees from Boire Filler have joined the Environics team, including founders Richard Boire and Larry Filler. Environics has just over 100 employees.

Environics sells proprietary databases, which include highly detailed information on demographics, lifestyle and purchase behaviour, broken down by specific neighbourhoods across Canada. Boire Fuller will help client companies integrate this broad data with the information that they gather themselves, about their own customers.

Meanwhile, Marriott International Inc. (MAR.O) said it made a higher offer for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc (HOT.N) that was accepted by the owner of the Sheraton and Westin hotel brands.

The new stock-and-cash offer is worth US$79.53 per share, or $13.6 billion, and tops an all-cash offer from China's Anbang Insurance Group Co, worth $78 per share, or $13.16 billion.

- With wire files