Ernst and Young (EY, following a rebrand) has found that IoT and data analytics M&A activity propelled the global Tech M&A to a record quarter – for deals worth more than $1bn. With 28 such transactions, private equity buyers set an all-time record, and Chinese buyers already passing the total they spent in 2015. EY notes that a “combination of digital disruption and slow organic growth drove Q2 2016 to near unprecedented deal-making levels for the technology sector overall.” In total, there were 1,039 deals in the second quarter, which is up 4% sequentially and 2% compared to Q2 2015. In terms of dollars, Q2 2016 was $55m higher than Q2 2015, but the quarter is only smaller than Q1…