Group 1 - BMO Capital Markets led the M&A financial advisory rankings in the metals and mining sector for Q1–Q3 2025, advising on 12 deals valued at $7.3 billion, securing the top position in both deal value and volume [1][2] - BMO Capital Markets was the only adviser to achieve double-digit deal volume during this period, advising on three billion-dollar deals [2] - JP Morgan followed in deal value with transactions worth $5.5 billion, while CIBC Capital Markets, National Bank of Canada, and GenCap Mining Advisory completed the top five with deal values of $4.4 billion and $2.6 billion, respectively [2] Group 2 - In terms of deal volume, Evans & Evans secured the second position with seven deals, while Beaumont Cornish also completed seven deals but ranked third due to lesser-value deals [3] - CIBC Capital Markets and SP Angel Corporate Finance took the fourth and fifth spots in deal volume, both advising on six deals, with CIBC ranking higher due to greater deal value [3] Group 3 - GlobalData's league tables are based on real-time tracking of various reliable sources, with a dedicated team of analysts monitoring these sources to gather detailed information on each deal [4]

Herbert Smith Freehills and Cassels Brock & Blackwell emerged as the leading mergers and acquisitions (M&A) legal advisers in the metals and mining sector during the first three quarters of 2025 (Q1–Q3 2025) in terms of value and volume, respectively. According to GlobalData's latest league table, Herbert Smith Freehills – now Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer – secured its top position by advising on deals worth $5.8bn. Cassels Brock & Blackwell led in volume by advising on 16 deals. GlobalData lead analys ...

Core Insights - AI is fundamentally transforming the insurance industry by enhancing underwriting, expediting claims processing, and creating hyper-personalized customer experiences [1][4] - A conference hosted by GlobalData and Celent on October 22 aims to provide a strategic AI blueprint for insurance firms to capitalize on emerging opportunities [1][4] Sector Coverage - The conference will address AI's impact on various sectors including: - Insurance - Banking & Payments - Wealth and Asset Management - Health Insurance and Healthcare Providers - InsurTech Startups - Tech Vendors & Consultants - Regulators & Policy Advisers [2][5] Key Themes - Current state of AI in insurance operations and its applications for efficiency, accuracy, and client satisfaction [4] - Real-world case studies demonstrating the effectiveness of AI in the insurance sector [4] - Exploration of the next frontier, "Agentic AI," and its potential to further transform the industry [4] - Practical strategies for navigating challenges associated with AI implementation [4] Speakers - Notable speakers include: - Janthana Kaenprakhamroy, CEO & Founder of Tapoly - John Davies, Commercial Director for Marsh Digital Client Experience - Will Ross, CEO and Co-founder of Federato - Beatriz Benito, Lead Analyst, Insurance, GlobalData - Keith Raymond, Principal Analyst, Celent's North American insurance practice - Ben Carey-Evans, Senior Insurance Analyst, GlobalData - Charlie Hutcherson, Analyst, Insurance, GlobalData - Douglas Blakey, Group Editor Banking and Payments, GlobalData [5]

Core Insights - JP Morgan and Rothschild & Co have emerged as the leading financial advisers in the Middle East & African (MEA) region for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) during the first three quarters of 2025, with JP Morgan leading by value and Rothschild & Co by volume [1][2] Group 1: JP Morgan's Performance - JP Morgan's advisory services were linked to transactions totaling $56.5 billion in Q1-Q3 2025, marking a significant improvement from not being in the top 10 by value in the same period of 2024 [1][3] - A key transaction contributing to JP Morgan's top position by value was the acquisition of Electronic Arts by a consortium of investors for approximately $55 billion [3] Group 2: Rothschild & Co's Performance - Rothschild & Co improved its ranking by deal volume from second place in Q1-Q3 2024 to the top position in Q1-Q3 2025, having been involved in six deals [2] - In the volume rankings, KPMG secured the second position with five deals, while Rand Merchant Bank also had five deals but with lower deal value [4] Group 3: Other Advisers - Qatalyst Partners ranked second in value with advisory roles in deals worth $25 billion [3] - Houlihan Lokey and William Blair each advised on $2.5 billion worth of deals, while Goldman Sachs followed with $2.2 billion [4]

Core Insights - Paul Hastings and TriLegal are the leading M&A legal advisers in the Asia-Pacific region for Q1-Q3 2025, with Paul Hastings leading in deal value and TriLegal in deal volume [1][2] Deal Value - Paul Hastings secured the top position with a total deal value of $23.1 billion, being the only adviser to surpass the $20 billion mark during this period [1][2] - The firm's significant involvement in a $22.8 billion deal for the acquisition of a majority stake in ports from CK Hutchison Holdings and Panama ports was crucial for its top ranking [2][3] - Clifford Chance ranked second in deal value, advising on transactions totaling $16.8 billion, followed by Norton Rose Fulbright with $13.9 billion, Herbert Smith Freehills with $10.5 billion, and King & Wood Mallesons with $9.9 billion [3] Deal Volume - TriLegal distinguished itself by advising on 42 deals, maintaining its leadership position in deal volume from the previous year [2][3] - AZB & Partners secured the second spot in deal volume with 36 transactions, followed by Khaitan & Co with 23 deals, Baker McKenzie with 20 deals, and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas with 19 deals [4] Data Source and Methodology - GlobalData's league tables are based on real-time tracking of thousands of company and advisory firm websites, with a dedicated team of analysts gathering in-depth details for each deal [5]

Core Insights - A&O Shearman and CMS have emerged as the leading legal advisers in European M&A for Q1-Q3 2025, with A&O Shearman leading in deal value and CMS in deal volume [1][2] Deal Value - A&O Shearman advised on transactions totaling $71.7 billion, securing the top position in deal value [1] - The firm participated in 16 billion-dollar deals, including one mega deal valued over $10 billion [3] - Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom ranked second in deal value with $49.3 billion, followed by Latham & Watkins at $37.8 billion, White & Case at $37.2 billion, and Kirkland & Ellis at $29.1 billion [4] Deal Volume - CMS led in deal volume with 185 deals, maintaining its top position from Q1-Q3 2024 [2] - White & Case ranked second in deal volume with 99 deals, followed by A&O Shearman with 95 deals, Cuatrecasas with 76 deals, and Baker McKenzie with 68 deals [4] Data Source and Methodology - The rankings are based on data from GlobalData, which tracks thousands of company and advisory firm websites to gather detailed information on each deal [5]

Core Insights - Bank of America and Rothschild & Co have emerged as the leading financial advisers in Europe's M&A sector for Q1-Q3 2025, with Bank of America leading in deal value and Rothschild & Co in deal volume [1][2] Group 1: Bank of America - Bank of America advised on deals with a cumulative worth of $49.4 billion, marking a more than three-fold year-on-year increase in deal value [2] - The bank's ranking by value jumped from 13th to the top position due to its involvement in seven billion-dollar deals, including a significant deal valued at approximately $20 billion [2][3] - Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan followed Bank of America in deal value, advising on transactions worth $46.6 billion and $37.4 billion, respectively [3][4] Group 2: Rothschild & Co - Rothschild & Co led in deal volume, advising on 81 transactions during Q1-Q3 2025, despite a year-on-year decline in the number of deals [1][3] - The firm maintained its leadership position in deal volume from Q1-Q3 2024 and ranked fifth in terms of deal value with $27.4 billion [3][4] Group 3: Other Advisers - PwC ranked second in deal volume with 74 advised deals, while Clearwater also advised on 74 deals but ranked third due to lower deal value [4] - Houlihan Lokey and Ernst & Young completed the top five in deal volume, advising on 71 and 69 deals, respectively [4]

Core Insights - Geopolitical conflict is identified as the most significant risk impacting businesses in the next 12 months, with 40.0% of respondents in a GlobalData poll highlighting its importance [2] - Aon's 2025 Global Risk Management Survey indicates that geopolitical volatility has entered the top ten global risks for the first time in its 19-year history, reflecting the interconnectedness of global markets [3] Business Impact - Ongoing geopolitical tensions are disrupting global supply chains, causing energy market volatility, and increasing regulatory uncertainty for businesses [2] - The survey results show that high inflation (32.7%), digitalisation (10.4%), and cybersecurity (9.9%) are viewed as lesser risks compared to geopolitical conflict [2] Insurance Industry Response - The rise of geopolitical risk presents both challenges and opportunities for insurers, as traditional models may not adequately cover the consequences of political instability [4] - Insurers are encouraged to adopt scenario modeling and geopolitical risk mapping to better understand the cascading effects of regional tensions on global markets [4] Strategic Recommendations - Strengthening partnerships with risk intelligence providers and developing parametric or event-based products can facilitate faster payouts in volatile environments [5] - Proactive client engagement is essential, with insurers playing a strategic advisory role to help clients quantify geopolitical exposure and integrate risk mitigation into broader resilience plans [5]

Core Insights - China's approach to digital currencies has shifted dramatically from a complete ban on crypto mining and trading in 2021 to the planned launch of the yuan-backed stablecoin (AxCNH) by September 2025, alongside the establishment of an operational center for the digital yuan (e-CNY) in Shanghai [1] Group 1: Strategic Importance - The developments in China's digital currency landscape reflect its response to US trade tensions and the dominance of the USD in the digital currency space [2] - The People's Bank of China's digital currency (e-CNY) has seen significant adoption, with digital currency holders in China becoming the third-most active users for payment purposes [3] Group 2: International Focus - The AxCNH stablecoin aims to facilitate cross-border transactions linked to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), enhancing the global reach of the yuan [4] - The opening of the e-CNY operating center in Shanghai is also motivated by the need for improved cross-border payment capabilities [5] Group 3: Technological Advancements - Advancements in digital currency and blockchain technologies are expected to level the playing field against US payment systems, potentially shifting the international balance of power in payments [5] Group 4: Economic Implications - China's shift in attitude towards digital currencies indicates their strategic importance beyond just payment systems, as the demand for the national currency and treasuries may outweigh concerns over capital flight [6] - The new digital currency initiatives are anticipated to help maintain demand for the renminbi amid current trade balance uncertainties [6]

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has expressed concerns regarding the updated reforms to business property relief (BPR) and agricultural property relief (APR), describing the changes as "very disappointing". Under the revised plans, an estate that qualifies for 100% BPR or APR will be entitled to a new £1m ($1.34m) allowance. Any qualifying property value exceeding £1m will be subject to a 50% relief rate. This adjustment means that a couple could potentially transfer ...