NEW YORK, Dec 10(Reuters) -

Goldman Sachs ( GS ) expects "strategic" deals by companies

to accelerate in 2025 including large-scale mergers and

acquisitions, its finance chief said on Tuesday.

"The intensity of our client dialog is accelerating and there

are aspects of the overall strategic activity which are becoming

more pronounced," Chief Financial Officer Dennis Coleman said at

the Goldman Sachs Financial Services conference in New York.

"There is certainly elevated confidence with CEOs and

clients that there could be more by way of larger-scale

transactions, more strategic activity that could take place,"

Coleman said.

The Wall Street powerhouse has benefited from a rebound in

investment banking over the last year, cementing its top spot in

global rankings of mergers and acquisitions.

In one of the biggest deals of the year, Goldman advised

Cheez-It maker Kellanova ( K ), which agreed to be purchased by candy

giant Mars in August for nearly $36 billion.

Buyouts from private equity firms have been slow, but

Coleman said he expects activity to pick up next year.

There are also expectations that less regulatory burden

post elections could unlock more activity, he said.