Core Insights - JP Morgan and Houlihan Lokey ranked first in two league tables for M&A activity in the consumer sector during the first nine months of the year, according to GlobalData [1] - Morgan Stanley led in transaction value, advising on deals worth a cumulative $30.56 billion, while Houlihan Lokey advised on the highest number of deals, totaling 22 [1][2] - In the first nine months of 2024, Houlihan Lokey advised on 25 transactions, maintaining its leadership position in deal volume despite a year-on-year decline in the total number of deals [3] Transaction Details - Morgan Stanley was involved in Keurig Dr Pepper's acquisition of JDE Peet's for €15.7 billion ($18.36 billion) and the subsequent split of the combined business [2] - Houlihan Lokey's advisory work primarily focused on food transactions, including Kraft Heinz's asset sale in Italy [2] Competitor Rankings - Bank of America ranked second in deal value, advising on transactions worth $28.51 billion, followed by Lazard with $27.83 billion from 12 deals, JP Morgan with $11.08 billion, and Goldman Sachs with $10.82 billion [4] - In terms of deal volume, Spayne Lindsay led with 16 transactions, followed by Rothschild & Co. with 14, Deloitte with 13, and both Bank of America and Lazard with 12 [4] Data Source and Methodology - GlobalData's league tables are based on real-time tracking of company and advisory firm websites, with a team of analysts gathering detailed information on each deal [5]

Core Insights - S&W has appointed Jonathan Broadis as a partner in its transaction services practice to enhance its value creation advisory services [1][4] - Broadis brings over 25 years of experience in value creation, previously leading the UK M&A consulting division at Tata Consultancy Services [1][2] - His expertise includes operational, financial, and technology due diligence, as well as M&A integration and synergy development [2][3] Company Developments - Broadis will focus on expanding S&W's value creation advisory offerings and improving M&A services while building trusted advisor relationships with clients [4] - Mark Benka, head of transaction services at S&W, expressed enthusiasm about Broadis joining the team to enhance capabilities in value creation [4][5] - S&W recently announced the acquisition of Beechwood Partners in August 2025, which strengthens its presence in Ireland [5]

Core Insights - Seeking Alpha welcomes MAK Invest as a new contributing analyst, providing a platform for investment ideas and insights [1] Group 1: Analyst Background - The analyst has a decade of experience in public market investments, particularly in the UK and Asia [2] - Previous roles include asset management, portfolio consulting, and academic writing, with a focus on executing portfolios across various sectors [2] - The analyst holds an MSc in Banking & Finance and an MBA with a concentration in Finance, with research topics related to share price movements and stock market volatility [2] - Experience in M&A Advisory for three years, covering mid-market mandates in Healthcare, Consumer, and TMT sectors [2] - The analyst will focus on aerospace & defense and healthcare sectors in future contributions [2]