Bain & Company’s latest research shows that finance leaders are increasingly committing serious capital to artificial intelligence, with spending accelerating and benefits already emerging within finance teams.

In a global survey of more than 100 CFOs, 83% said they intend to raise company-wide AI investment by over 15% in the next two years, with a notable portion directed toward finance. Within that group, 42% expect their AI budgets to grow by at least 30% over the same period.

This upward trend is already evident in the short term. More than half of respondents are increasing AI spending by over 15% this year, while nearly 21% anticipate increases exceeding 30%. Over the coming year, most AI investment within finance will focus on financial planning, analysis, and reporting activities.

The survey sample includes a strong representation of large enterprises—half of the CFOs come from companies generating $5 billion or more in revenue, including 26 organizations with annual revenues above $10 billion.

According to Michael Heric, a partner at Bain & Company, finance leaders are at a critical inflection point. AI has moved beyond experimental use cases and is becoming central to finance operations. Meaningful investment in AI is now essential for improving productivity, managing risk, and influencing overall business performance.

The research also points to a clear relationship between the scale of AI adoption and the returns achieved. Among CFOs who have implemented AI broadly—whether through machine learning, generative AI, or autonomous agents—over 40% report high satisfaction with results. This compares to just 25% satisfaction among those still in pilot stages. Satisfaction levels rise above 60% for organizations with the most advanced AI capabilities, though overall satisfaction across all respondents stands at 31%.

While reducing costs and improving efficiency remain primary drivers for AI investment, CFOs identify speed as the most significant benefit. In a climate marked by economic uncertainty and supply chain challenges, AI enables finance teams to quickly detect risks, update forecasts, and redirect capital—offering a meaningful competitive edge.

Despite growing investment, most companies have yet to fully scale AI. Bain estimates that only 15% to 25% of CFOs have successfully expanded AI across their finance functions.

To turn AI investments into sustained performance gains, Bain outlines four key priorities for CFOs:

Media contacts
Mike Simon (New York) — Email: Michael.simon@bain.com
Gary Duncan (London) — Email: gary.duncan@bain.com
Ann Lee (Singapore) — Email: ann.lee@bain.com  

Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB), a fully licensed financial institution supported by Whampoa Group and Mumtalakat, has announced a new collaboration with BNY. Through this partnership, SGB will join BNY’s correspondent banking network and gain access to its Fixed Income Brokerage platform.

As part of BNY’s correspondent banking ecosystem, SGB enhances its capabilities by incorporating a major U.S. dollar clearing partner into its growing payments and banking infrastructure. This move strengthens the bank’s ability to deliver continuous, real-time settlement services for global corporate clients.

Additionally, SGB will leverage BNY’s Fixed Income Brokerage platform to facilitate trading in money market funds and U.S. Treasury bills. This enables its crypto-focused clients to invest in U.S. government-backed securities, offering a pathway to diversify capital from digital assets into traditional fixed-income instruments.

The partnership represents another milestone in SGB’s vision of creating a streamlined and compliant banking framework that bridges digital and conventional currencies. Its proprietary settlement system, SGB Net, already connects with J.P. Morgan’s Wire 365 to enable fast, round-the-clock USD clearing and settlement. The integration with BNY further strengthens this ecosystem by acting as a secure institutional hub for investing in stable assets such as U.S. Treasuries.

Group 1 Automotive Inc, a Fortune 250 automotive retail company operating 254 dealerships across the United States and the United Kingdom, announced its financial performance for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year ended 2025.

Executive Commentary
Daryl Kenningham, President and Chief Executive Officer of Group 1 Automotive, stated that the fourth quarter concluded a historic year for the Company. Total revenues reached $22.6 billion, reflecting a 13.2% increase compared to the prior year. Record revenue levels were achieved across all primary operating segments, alongside all-time highs in parts and service as well as finance and insurance gross profit. These results underscore the durability of Group 1’s diversified operating model and its continued emphasis on operational discipline.

Throughout 2025, the Company maintained a disciplined approach to capital deployment, including the repurchase of more than 10% of outstanding common shares. Through proactive portfolio optimization, Group 1 expanded shareholder value by acquiring high-performing Lexus and Acura dealerships in Fort Myers, along with Mercedes-Benz dealerships in South Austin and Buckhead, while exiting 13 underperforming locations.

Detailed reconciliations for GAAP and non-GAAP results, including diluted earnings per share from continuing and discontinued operations, are provided in the accompanying financial schedules.
 
Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Summary

 
Full Year 2025 Financial Overview

 
U.K. Operational Update
In October 2025, Group 1 announced a nationwide restructuring initiative in the United Kingdom, which included workforce adjustments and the strategic closure of selected facilities. As a result, the Company recorded $8.1 million in restructuring charges during the fourth quarter and $28.4 million for the full year. Additional actions are anticipated in 2026 as part of ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs.
 
Corporate Development Activity
During 2025, Group 1 acquired dealership operations expected to generate approximately $640 million in annual revenue, all of which were successfully integrated into existing operations.
In the fourth quarter, the Company divested one Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram dealership in the U.S. and closed several U.K. locations, including one Toyota, two BMW/MINI, and one Volkswagen dealership. Total annualized revenues associated with dispositions and franchise terminations during the year were approximately $775 million.
 
Share Repurchase Activity

Future repurchases will be subject to market conditions, regulatory considerations, Board approval, and covenant limitations, and may be executed through open-market transactions, Rule 10b5-1 plans, or privately negotiated agreements.
 
Earnings Conference Call Information
Group 1’s executive leadership will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET to review fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results. The call will be webcast live on the Company’s investor relations website, with a replay available for 30 days. Supporting presentation materials will also be posted online.
 
Company Overview
Group 1 Automotive owns and operates 254 dealerships, 315 franchises, and 32 collision centers across the U.S. and U.K., representing 36 automotive brands. Through its physical locations and digital platforms, the Company sells new and pre-owned vehicles, provides financing solutions, offers service contracts, performs maintenance and repair services, and supplies automotive parts.
 
Forward-Looking Statements and Non-GAAP Measures
This release includes forward-looking statements based on current expectations and assumptions regarding future business performance, economic conditions, and strategic initiatives. These statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements.

The Company also reports certain non-GAAP financial measures to provide additional insight into operational performance. These metrics exclude items not directly related to core operations and should be reviewed alongside the most comparable GAAP measures. Group 1 believes these measures enhance period-to-period comparability and support a clearer understanding of long-term trends.