Barclays and Goldman Sachs were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financial advisers in the automotive sector for H1 2021 by value and volume, respectively. Barclays advised on three deals worth US$7.6bn, which was the highest value among all the advisers. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs led in volume terms having advised on four deals worth US$6.1bn. A total of 404 M&A deals were announced in the sector during H1 2021, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

According to GlobalData’s report, ‘Global and Automotive M&A Report Financial Adviser League Tables H1 2021’, deal value for the sector increased by 181.8% from US$22bn in H1 2020 to US$62bn in H1 2021.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “None of the advisers involved in M&A transactions in the automotive sector were able to register double-digit deal volume. Moreover, the total value of deals advised by some of the advisers featuring in the list of top ten by volume did not even cross US$100m.

“However, both Barclays and Goldman Sachs managed to advise on some of the billion-dollar deals (valued more than or equal to US$1bn). While Barclays went ahead to lead by value, Goldman Sachs, apart from leading by volume, was also able to occupy the fourth position by value.”

Citi occupied the second position in terms of value with two deals worth US$6.1bn, followed by Bank of America with three deals worth US$6.1bn. Goldman Sachs occupied the fourth position by value, followed by Jefferies with two deals worth US$6bn.

JP Morgan occupied the second position in terms of volume with four deals worth US$4.7bn, followed by PwC with four deals worth US$916m and Ernst & Young with four deals worth US$40m. Barclays occupied the fifth position by volume.