Lazard is celebrating two big victories after the bank was named as adviser on two mega-mergers announced in the US this morning.

The independent investment bank was named as lead financial adviser to tobacco firm Reynolds American for its more than $25 billion acquisition of rival Lorillard just hours after it was named as adviser to specialty chemicals company Rockwood on its $6.2 billion sale to Albemarle. It is the only bank named on both deals.