Genentech has brought in Goldman Sachs to advise its board on a $41.3bn (€26.1bn) bid from pharmaceutical giant Roche, extending the US bank’s already considerable lead at the top of the global mergers and acquisitions league table.

Goldman Sachs is advising Genentech's board directors on the bid from Roche, which will extend the US investment bank's position at the top of the global M&A table to more than $170bn, and mean it has had a role on nine out of the 10 largest deals announced so far this year.