M&A Market Overview - Last year saw merger and acquisition (M&A) deals climb to an almost record high, with a record 70 deals each worth more than $10 billion by the end of 2025, making it the second-biggest year on record after 2021 [4] Company Performance - Citigroup reported an 84% jump in advisory fees during the fourth quarter of 2025, contributing to record revenues for the bank in M&A advisory services [2] - CEO Jane Fraser highlighted significant progress in 2025, stating that investments are driving strong top-line growth across all five business segments [3] Competitive Landscape - Larger competitor JPMorgan Chase experienced only a 6% increase in M&A activity for 2025, indicating that Citigroup and other Wall Street banks are facing increased competition from boutique advisers like Evercore and PJT Partners [4] - The M&A market is currently characterized by a focus on mega deals, with large-cap companies outperforming small caps [5] Transaction Banking Transformation - Transaction banking is gaining strategic importance as its cost structure evolves, moving from legacy systems to technology-enabled services [6] - Citigroup's multiyear investment in data platforms and modernization efforts has led to over 80% of its transformation programs nearing completion, which has reduced operational risk and marginal costs in high-volume businesses [7]