Top Investment Banks for M&A Excellence in 2025

After Two Muted Years, 2024 Didn’t Quite Meet Expectations; Hopes for 2025 Are Already Wobbling

Down in the bustling financial districts, the feel was neither bleak nor overly jubilant. Just another chat over a coffee discussing the *dance* called M&A. It seems that persistent inflation and capricious interest rates were the lead partners in 2024, casting a dim light on buy-side confidence, despite the jig gaining some traction. Wrap up the year, and global deal value bumped up by 16%, stalling at a not-too-shabby $3.4 trillion, as per [Dealogic](https://www.dealogic.com). Still, whispers of fresh geopolitical tensions and a latent global trade skirmish linger—making 2025 feel like the turbo-charged carousel we didn’t order. Armed with these early signals, dealmakers gear up for a turbulent ride.

Let’s throw in some numbers for a clearer picture. Since January, the M&A scene tallied $418.9 billion globally—down 17% compared to this period last year. February had us at $199.1 billion, undershooting January by 9% and showing a 30% y-o-y decline. Mega deals lost their pizzazz too. Only four deals over $5 billion in February marked just half of last year’s bonanza. Yet, there’s still some light: European M&A flickered brightly with a 21% uptick from January 2025.

Before we get too bogged down in the mess, let’s salute some unsung heroes from 2024 who added a sparkle to the M&A cosmos.

Global, North America

Goldman Sachs

Now, if we’re talking about flexing muscle in M&A, Goldman Sachs knows how to throw a punch. They waved the flag high by advising giants like Kellanova in its $35.9 billion moonshot sale to Mars. This massive US merger, involving brands like Pringles and Pop-Tarts, snagged them $92 million in advisory fees.

Goldman was on a tear, directing a private equity consortium on a hefty £5.4 billion acquisition of Hargreaves Lansdown. The firm also danced through the $8.4 billion Amcor-Berry Global Group deal with co-advisors UBS. Goldman’s fingerprints were all over Blackstone’s A$24 billion takeover of data center pro AirTrunk too—a nod to their tech infrastructure savvy.

Through these maneuvers, Goldman Sachs flexed serious clout, boasting $1 trillion in global M&A mandates—trumping Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan along the way. Talk about financial bravado.

Africa

Absa

Pivot to Africa, and there’s an exciting new buzz. The continent, emerging as a prized frontier for deals, stood resilient amidst global headwinds. In 2023, Sub-Saharan Africa locked in $18.9 billion through 304 deals.

Central to this was Absa Bank. Cutting across divestitures, cross-border actions, and a slew of leveraged buyouts, Absa proved a maestro. They navigated these treacherous waters, boosting deals like the sale of MTN Guinea Bissau to Telecel Group Mobile and Emtel’s IPO in Mauritius. Their knack for navigating complex environments is becoming legendary.

Asia-Pacific

UBS

Over in Asia-Pacific, UBS is bossing the M&A scene for 2024, both in value and volume. With 30 deals worth $14.4 billion, UBS leads the digital transformation, pushing trends in AI, tech, fintech, and data consumption.

Despite global political shifts and easing inflation, UBS sees sunshine on the horizon. Equipped with monetary visibility and a lively stock market, companies are set to embark on strategic escapades. UBS foresees a bustling 2025, powered by increased macro clarity and hungry investors.

With each deal, UBS only cements its leading status.

Central and Eastern Europe

Bank Pekao

Turning to Central and Eastern Europe, last year was hard-sledding with a significant drop in private equity activity and shrinking deal volumes, especially in automotive and real estate. Nonetheless, Bank Pekao held its ground.

Nurturing its niche in the resilient tech and industrial sectors, Pekao orchestrated deals like the €9.3 million Vinci Da Gama and Kodano link-up. They toyed with the idea of upping stakes by potentially acquiring a chunk of Alior Bank from insurance group PZU. It hints at Pekao’s future maneuvering in the region.

Latin America

Bradesco BBI

In Latin America, Bradesco BBI played it daring, climbing ranks in the Brazilian M&A scene. The bank toppled seasoned leaders like BTG Pactual, boasting transactions around a cool $10 billion and netting $24 million from 43 deals.

Bradesco made waves with Equatorial Energia’s $1.2 billion stake purchase in Sabesp. Watch out for their continued charge in a volatile Latin American financial theater.

Middle East

Rothschild & Co

Rothschild & Co needs no introduction. The advisory powerhouse supported savvy Middle Eastern transactions, sealing 25 deals worth $24.2 billion, showcasing an adroit touch with *geopolitical* acumen.

From guiding Masdar on its historic €2.4 billion energy deal with Terna Energy, to plotting investments by ADIA and APG in Indonesia’s infrastructure, Rothschild’s stature only seems to be growing.

Western Europe

Rothschild & Co

In the Western European theatre, Rothschild & Co owned the stage, steering 296 deals through the year. As the sole European contender among the global top 10, they hit a whopping $82.3 billion deal volume. They drove Cinven’s $5.2 billion Alter Domus acquisition and held a firm hand in Neptune Energy’s $5 billion sale splurge.

Looking ahead, they’re craftily advising John Wood Group amidst its stormy refinancing woes. Rothschild is commanding the European M&A ocean with unyielding dexterity.

As we dive into 2025, here’s a nod to the best M&A advisors who set the stages worldwide in recent memory. May the dance continue with flair and flourish!

Make it snappy and savvy, just the way a New Yorker would. Got to keep it exciting enough to read like the Discovery Wheel in Central Park—full of twists, dips, and maybe a nice smattering of cash. We’re all for the financial fandango, right?