What have an American tobacco company, a UK brewing and pubs group, and a German charitable foundation got in common? All were involved in mergers or takeovers during the second quarter that helped propel M&A revenues at Lazard up 17% as the advisory firm rode the global dealmaking wave.

Advisory and asset management firm Lazard on Thursday joined its American investment banking peers in reporting a rise in revenues from M&A advice, which at $273 million for the three months ended June 30 were 17% higher than a year earlier and the firm's highest for that business in any second quarter.