Boutique Firms Steal the Show on Year’s Top Health-Care Deal

Boutique Firms Steal the Show on Year’s Top Health-Care Deal

Astra's boutique-heavy lineup was reminiscent of the $40 billion sale of British chip designer Arm.

Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg









Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg





Boutique advisory firms are taking most of the limelight on the year's biggest health-care deal.AstraZeneca Plc tapped Evercore Inc. and Centerview Partners as lead financial advisers on its $39 billion takeover of Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. This deal helped Evercore jump three places higher in the mergers and acquisitions league tables, to No. 9 globally, while Centerview moved up five spots to No. 12, according to data