Categories

LEGAL ADVISER OF THE YEAR

This award is open to any legal team that works on venture capital/private equity transactions. The award is based upon the overall achievements of the adviser in the calendar year of 2009.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:

  • Quality and growth of the private equity practice e.g. amount of business compared to previous years, case studies, testimonials
  • The added value that the adviser has provided to private equity houses
  • Evidence of genuine innovation and creativity of approach in solving legal issues
  • Professionalism e.g. testimonials from private equity houses regarding execution capabilities, contribution to the industry as a whole

CORPORATE FINANCE HOUSE OF THE YEAR - Independent

This award is based upon the overall achievements of a corporate finance boutique in the calendar year of 2009.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:

  • Quality and growth of the private equity practice e.g. dealflow compared to previous years, case studies, testimonials
  • The added value that the boutique has provided to private equity houses
  • Innovation e.g. creative deal structures, deal origination
  • Professionalism e.g. testimonials from private equity houses regarding execution capabilities, contribution to the industry as a whole, quality of management of the boutique as a business

CORPORATE FINANCE HOUSE OF THE YEAR - Large

This award is open to the corporate finance houses and corporate finance divisions of accountancy firms and investment banks and is based on overall achievement in the calendar year of 2009.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:

  • Quality and growth of the private equity practice e.g. deal flow compared to previous years, case studies, testimonials
  • The added value that the boutique has provided to private equity houses
  • Innovation e.g. creative deal structures, deal origination
  • Professionalism e.g. testimonials from private equity houses regarding execution capabilities, contribution to the industry as a whole, quality of management of the boutique as a business

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FIRM OF THE YEAR - Generalist

This award is open to the professional services divisions of accountancy firms. The award is based upon the overall achievements of the adviser in the calendar year of 2009.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:

  • Quality and growth of the private equity practice e.g. amount of business compared to previous years, case studies, testimonials
  • The added value that the firm as a whole has provided to private equity houses
  • Evidence of genuine innovation and creativity of approach in the respective field
  • Professionalism e.g. testimonials from private equity houses regarding execution capabilities, contribution to the industry as a whole

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FIRM OF THE YEAR - Specialist

This award is open to financial and specialist due diligence service providers, debt and restructuring advisory experts and placement agents. The award is based upon the overall achievements of the adviser in the calendar year of 2009.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:

  • Quality and growth of the private equity practice e.g. amount of business compared to previous years, case studies, testimonials
  • The added value that the firm as a whole has provided to private equity houses
  • Evidence of genuine innovation and creativity of approach in the respective field
  • Professionalism e.g. testimonials from private equity houses regarding execution capabilities, contribution to the industry as a whole

DEBT PROVIDER OF THE YEAR - Banks

This award is open to UK and international banking institutions lending into the UK private equity market. The award is based upon the overall achievements of the debt provider in the calendar year of 2009.

DEBT PROVIDER OF THE YEAR - Specialist lenders

This award is open to specialist providers of debt funding for private equity deals including mezzanine providers, asset-based lenders and integrated finance providers. The award is based upon the overall achievements of the debt provider in the calendar year of 2009.  

FUNDRAISING OF THE YEAR

This award is to recognise skill, professionalism and innovation in fundraising.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:

  • The geographical and institutional sources of funding
  • An innovative fund structure
  • The introduction of new investors to the asset class
  • Relevant ethical considerations
  • The quality of the presentation and marketing of the fund
  • The speed with which it was raised
  • Whether, given the prevailing market conditions, the fundraising outperformed what could reasonably have been expected
  • Endorsements and testimonials from investors in the fund

VENTURE CAPITAL HOUSE OF THE YEAR

This is open to all venture capital houses operating in the UK. It recognises the outstanding achievement of an individual house in the calendar year of 2009.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:

  • How the house’s performance this year compares to those of previous years
  • The range and quality of its new deals
  • Its successful exits
  • Its overall returns on investment
  • The level and success of fundraising activity and of its funds’ performance
  • The general expansion of the business (such as appointments of new staff, opening of new offices etc)
  • Its general contribution to entrepreneurship
  • Endorsements and testimonials from other parties involved with the firm

BUYOUT HOUSE OF THE YEAR

This is open to all buyout houses operating in the UK. It recognises the outstanding achievement of an individual house in the calendar year of 2009.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:

  • How the house’s performance this year compares to those of previous years
  • The range and quality of its new deals
  • Its successful exits
  • Its overall returns on investment
  • The level and success of fundraising activity and of its funds’ performance
  • The general expansion of the business (such as appointments of new staff, opening of new offices etc)
  • Its general contribution to entrepreneurship
  • Endorsements and testimonials from other parties involved with the firm

TURNAROUND HOUSE OF THE YEAR

This is open to all turnaround houses operating in the UK. It recognises the outstanding achievement of an individual house in the calendar year of 2009.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:

  • How the house’s performance this year compares to those of previous years
  • The range and quality of its new deals
  • Its successful exits
  • Its overall returns on investment
  • The level and success of fundraising activity and of its funds’ performance
  • The general expansion of the business (such as appointments of new staff, opening of new offices etc)
  • Its general contribution to entrepreneurship
  • Endorsements and testimonials from other parties involved with the firm

DEAL OF THE YEAR

This award is open to all deals that were exited in 2009. It recognises the contribution of the private equity industry to the success of businesses.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:

  • An exit that has created a substantial return on investment
  • Evidence of the GP’s or VC’s role in helping to create value and contributing to the strategic development of the business
  • Evidence that the investment has materially out-performed in its marketplace
  • Supporting evidence of the wider business impact that the investee company has made (such as new technology developed, new markets established, the creation of new jobs)
  • Endorsements and testimonials from other parties involved in the company and/or the deal

SECONDARIES HOUSE OF THE YEAR

This award is open to all limited partnership and direct secondaries houses and recognises overall achievement in the calendar year of 2009.

THE TRANSPARENCY & REPORTING AWARD

This award is open to all venture capital and private equity houses and recognises exceptional quality of transparency, reporting and engagement with wider stakeholders.

PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

This award is open to any individual involved in the venture capital/private equity industry who, in the opinion of the editor of Real Deals and the judges, has made an outstanding individual contribution in 2009 to the industry as a whole. This award is not open for self-nomination.

HALL OF FAME

The Hall of Fame recognises those individuals who have made an outstanding long-term contribution to the private equity industry in the UK. This award is not open for self-nomination.