2023 Categories
Advisory Awards
- Asset Based Lender of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of asset-based lenders in the calendar year of 2022. The award will be given to an ABL that can show evidence of winning new business, delivering innovative ABL structures and creative documentation, growing market share while maintaining credit quality and developing teams.
- Commercial Due Diligence Provider of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of commercial due diligence advisers in the calendar year of 2022. The award will be given to the provider that can demonstrate how it is creating value for clients through the provision of high-quality analysis, genuine market insight and service, as well as the overall evolution of team and strategy. Deals worked on and growth of market share will also be taken into account.
- European Corporate Finance House of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of corporate financiers advising on continental European deals in the calendar year of 2022. The award will be given to the firm that can demonstrate how it has provided strategic and technical support that has helped clients to win auctions in a competitive market and add genuine value on exit. Growth of market share, deals advised on and overall evolution of team and strategy will also be taken into account.
- Fund Administrator of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of fund administrators in the calendar year of 2022. The award will be given to the fund administrator that can evidence how it has provided clients with fast, accurate reporting and analysis and demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the rapidly changing regulatory environment. The award will also recognise fund administrators that have been able to use technology, AI and process automation to bring down costs for clients and speed up service delivery.
- Lender of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of banks and specialist lenders in the calendar year of 2022. The award will be given to the bank/specialist lender that can demonstrate how it has stood out from its peers in a competitive market, show examples of how it has been able to tailor its offer to meet client needs, and evidence a growing or meaningful market share of the European acquisition finance market while maintaining credit quality.
- Pan-European Legal Adviser of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of pan-European legal advisers in the calendar year of 2022. The award will be given to the firm that is able to demonstrate how it has differentiated its offer and delivered value to clients through outstanding execution, commercial awareness and the capacity of its team to find creative solutions to problems. Growth of market share, deals advised on and overall evolution of team and strategy will also be taken into account.
- Placement Agent of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of placement agents in the calendar year of 2022. The award will be given to the placement agent that can demonstrate how it has worked with clients to secure funding through outstanding execution, market insight and close partnerships and understanding of LP networks, as well as the overall evolution of team and strategy. Growth of market share, managers advised, and overall evolution of team and strategy will also be taken into account.
- Regional Legal Adviser of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of regional legal advisers in the calendar year of 2022. The award will be given to the firm that is able to demonstrate how it has differentiated its offer and delivered value to clients through outstanding execution, commercial awareness and the capacity of its team to find creative solutions to problems. Growth of market share, deals advised on and overall evolution of team and strategy will also be taken into account.
- Political Due Diligence of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of political due diligence advisers in the calendar year of 2022. The award will be given to the adviser that can demonstrate how it has created a bespoke service that creates value for clients by providing unmatched insight into specific business issues or industry trends. Growth of market share, deals advised on and overall evolution of team and strategy will also be taken into account.
- Financial Due Diligence of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of financial due diligence advisers in the calendar year of 2022. The award will be given to the adviser that can demonstrate how it has created a bespoke service that creates value for clients by providing unmatched insight into specific business issues or industry trends. Growth of market share, deals advised on and overall evolution of team and strategy will also be taken into account.
- Technical Due Diligence of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of technical due diligence advisers in the calendar year of 2022. The award will be given to the adviser that can demonstrate how it has created a bespoke service that creates value for clients by providing unmatched insight into specific business issues or industry trends. Growth of market share, deals advised on and overall evolution of team and strategy will also be taken into account.
- Specialist Adviser of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of specialist advisers in the calendar year of 2022. The award will be given to the adviser that can demonstrate how it has created a bespoke service that creates value for clients by providing unmatched insight into specific business issues or industry trends. Growth of market share, deals advised on and overall evolution of team and strategy will also be taken into account.
- UK Corporate Finance House of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of corporate financiers advising on UK deals in the calendar year of 2022. The award will be given to the firm that can demonstrate how it has provided strategic and technical support that has helped clients to win auctions in a competitive market and add genuine value on exit. Growth of market share, deals advised on and overall evolution of team and strategy will also be taken into account.
Deal of the Year
- Central and Eastern European Deal of the Year
- This award recognises private equity deals involving a target company headquartered in central and eastern Europe which was exited in 2022.
- France and Benelux Deal of the Year
- This award recognises private equity deals involving a target company headquartered in France and the Benelux which was exited in 2022.
- DACH Deal of the Year
- This award recognises private equity deals involving a target company headquartered in Germany, Switzerland or Austria which was exited in 2022.
- Mediterranean Deal of the Year
- This award recognises private equity deals involving a target company headquartered in the Mediterranean which was exited in 2022.
- Nordic Deal of the Year
- This award recognises private equity deals involving a target company headquartered in Nordics which was exited in 2022.
- UK Small-cap Deal of the Year (EV on entry less than €25m)
- This award recognises outstanding deals involving a target company headquartered in the UK in 2022 that had an EV of less than €25m on entry.
- UK Lower Mid-cap Deal of the year (EV on entry of €25-100m)
- This award recognises outstanding deals involving a target company headquartered in the UK in 2022 in the Lower Mid-cap section of the market that had an EV entry between €25-100m.
- UK Upper Mid-cap Deal of the year (EV on entry of €100m+)
- This award recognises outstanding deals headquartered in the UK in 2022 in the Upper Mid-cap section of the market that has EV on entry of €100m+.
House of the Year
- Continental Regional House of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of buyout houses focused on a particular region of the Continental market in the calendar year of 2022, reflecting success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm.
- Global House of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of Global buyout houses in the calendar year of 2022 reflecting success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm.
- Pan-European House of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of Pan-European buyout houses in the calendar year of 2022, reflecting success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm.
- Special Situations House of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of European Special Situations Houses in the calendar year of 2022 , reflecting success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm.
- UK Small-cap House of the Year (EV on entry less than €25m)
- This award recognises the overall achievement in the 2022 calendar year of UK buyout houses in the small-cap segment - those that typically target investments in businesses with an EV of less than €25m. The award reflects success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm.
- UK Mid-cap House of the Year (EV on more than €25m)
- This award recognises the overall achievement in the 2022 calendar year of UK buyout houses in the mid-cap segment - those that typically target investments in businesses with an EV of more than €25m. The award reflects success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm.
Specialist Awards
- Co-investor of the Year
- The co-investor of the year award recognises excellence in the LP community with respect to building manager relationships, deal selection and creating value alongside sponsors through co-investment.
- Environmental, Social and Governance - GP
- This award recognises a firm’s commitment to best practice in environmental, social and corporate governance. Judges will look at how ESG is integrated with the firm’s investment strategy, how ESG data is collected and how your policies have stood out from your peers.
- Environmental, Social and Governance - LP
- This award recognises a firm’s commitment to best practice in environmental, social and corporate governance. Judges will look at how ESG is integrated with the firm’s investment strategy, how ESG data is collected and how your policies have stood out from your peers.
- Diversity and Inclusion Leader of the Year - GP
- The diversity and inclusion leader of the year award recognises excellence in the GP communities with respect to companies who have made a real difference to improving D&I within their firm, at portfolio company level and in the wider investment community
- Diversity and Inclusion Leader of the Year - LP
- The diversity and inclusion leader of the year award recognises excellence in the LP communities with respect to companies who have made a real difference to improving D&I within their firm, at portfolio company level and in the wider investment community
- European Mid-Cap Private Equity Fund
- This award has been created to recognise mid-cap funds that have delivered significant returns, (funds will need to have been at least 50% realised). Judges will look at the fund’s overall performance, standout deals and its ability to deliver strong returns for its investors.
- Mid-Cap Private Equity Investment Leader
- This award is designed to recognise a private equity investor for their outstanding contribution to their firm, their LPs, and their portfolio companies. Judges will be looking for evidence of innovation, commercial acumen, efficient processes, and testimonials from colleagues, clients, and partners.
- Private Equity Hall of Fame
- The Hall of Fame recognises the contribution of an individual to the private equity industry, including their representation of the industry to government, business and the public, their work in improving the fiscal and legal environment for the industry, and success in their own field. This is not a self-nomination, recipient is nominated by the Real Deals editorial team.
Venture Capital/Growth Awards
- VC/Growth Deal of the Year
- This category is open to all venture capital deals involving a target company headquartered in Europe which was exited in 2022. The judges for this award will take into account financial return, but also the contribution of the venture capital house of the growth of the company and the wider company
- VC/Growth House of the Year
- This award recognises the overall achievement of VC buyout houses in the calendar year of 2022, reflecting success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm
- Diversity and Inclusion Leader of the Year - VC
- The diversity and inclusion leader of the year award recognises excellence in the VC communities with respect to companies who have made a real difference to improving D&I within their firm, at portfolio company level and in the wider investment community
- Environmental, Social and Governance - VC
- This award recognises a firm’s commitment to best practice in environmental, social and corporate governance. Judges will look at how ESG is integrated with the firm’s investment strategy, how ESG data is collected and how your policies have stood out from your peers.