Goldman Sachs has topped the latest mergers and acquisitions (M&A) league table of the top 10 financial advisers in the financial services sector based on deal value in the first quarter (Q1)2019, according to GlobalData, a leading data analytics company.

The US-based multinational investment bank secured the top spot based on the total advised deal value of US$81.4bn. However, in terms of deal volume, it came second behind JP Morgan with ninedeals.

According to GlobalData, which tracks all M&A, private equity/venture capital and asset transaction activity around the world to compile the league table, Credit Suisse and Centerview came in second and third positions, advising on deals worth a total of US$47.2bn and US$43.8bn, respectively.

Ravi Tokala, Financial Deals Analyst at GlobalData, says: “Goldman Sachs emerged as the top financial adviser in the financial services sector, mainly driven by its involvement in two big-ticket deals – the merger of Fidelity National and Worldpay for US$43bn and BB&T and the merger of SunTrust Banks for US$28.2bn. Though JP Morgan advised on the highest number of deals among the top 10 advisers, it remained at seventh position in value terms due to its involvement in low-value transactions.”

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Global financial services deals market in Q1 2019

The financial services sector saw an impressive overall rise of 38.8% in deal value from US$101.1bn in Q1 2018 to US$140.3bn in Q1 2019. Deal volume too grew by 41.3% from 760 in Q1 2018 to 1,074 in Q1 2019.

Goldman Sachs, which topped the financial services table of M&A financial advisers, was ranked second in the recently released global league table of top 20 M&A financial advisers by GlobalData.

Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson tops list of top 10 M&A legal advisers

US-based Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson led the top 10 legal advisers table for Q1 2019 with a value of US$71.2bn through two deals. Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom stood a distant second with US$48.4bn through eight deals. In the global league table of top 20 M&A legal advisers, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson was ranked five. The global league table was led by Kirkland & Ellis.