JP Morgan held the top rank in the latest global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) league table of the top 10 financial advisers for the information and communication technology (ICT) sector based on deal value in the first three quarters (Q1-Q3) of 2019, according to GlobalData, a leading data analytics company.

The New York-based financial institution took the top spot with a deal value of US$183.9bn for advising on 50 deals.

According to GlobalData, which tracks all M&A, private equity/venture capital and asset transaction activity around the world to compile league tables, Goldman Sachs finished at second position with 57 deals worth US$128.3bn and Morgan Stanley at third position with 44 deals worth US$112.3bn.

Nagarjun Sura, Financial Deals Analyst at GlobalData, says: “JP Morgan and Kirkland emerged as the top financial and legal advisers, respectively in the ICT sector mainly driven by their involvement in two big ticket deals – Fiserv’s acquisition of First Data and CBS Merger with Viacom. Interestingly, the top six financial advisers and nine of the top 10 legal advisers were represented in these two transactions.”

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Global ICT deals market in Q1-Q3 2019

The ICT sector witnessed a decline of 9.73% in deal value from US$574.05bn in Q1-Q3 2018 to US$518.19bn in Q1-Q3 2019. Deal volume, however, increased by 33.98% from 10,636 to 14,250.

JP Morgan, which topped the ICT deals league table, was ranked second in the recently released global league table of top 20 M&A financial advisers by GlobalData.

Goldman Sachs, which stood at second place in the ICT deals league table, ranked top in the global list.

Kirkland & Ellis heads top 10 M&A legal advisers list

US-based law firm Kirkland & Ellis led the top 10 legal advisers table for Q1-Q3 2019 with a value of US$123.9bn through 127 deals. It was followed by Latham & Watkins, which advised on 86 deals with a combined value of US$123.0bn. With 23 deals worth US$111.8bn, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton stood at third position.

Kirkland & Ellis secured second position in the global league table of top 20 M&A legal advisers for Q1-Q3 2019.