Barclays was the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financial adviser in the automotive sector during the first quarter (Q1) of 2025 by both value and volume, according to the latest financial advisers league table by GlobalData, which ranks financial advisers by the value and volume of M&A deals on which they advised.

Based on its Deals Database, the leading data and analytics company has revealed that Barclays achieved this leading position by advising on two deals worth $2.1 billion.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “During Q1 2025, Barclays advised on two deals, of which one was the $1.4 billion deal for the acquisition of Dowlais by American Axle & Manufacturing. This deal played a pivotal role in placing Barclays at the top position by value. Meanwhile, its ranking in terms of volume jumped from the 14^th position in Q1 2024 to the top position in Q1 2025.

An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database reveals that JP Morgan and Rothschild & Co jointly occupied the second position in terms of value with each of them advising on a deal worth $1.4 billion, followed by Goldman Sachs with $701 million.

Meanwhile, Ernst & Young and KPMG jointly occupied the second position in terms of volume with two deals each, followed by JP Morgan and Rothschild & Co, which jointly occupied the next spot with each of them advising on one deal.