Categories

This award recognises excellence and innovation amongst next-generation fund managers in the European private equity market. Judges will look for evidence that the firm’s strategy fills a real market gap, innovation in sourcing and quality and diversity of LPs, as well as successful fundraising and, if applicable, returns. Firms entering this category should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe, and should have raised no more than two funds as of November 2025.

This award recognises the overall achievement in the last year of European buyout houses in the mid-cap segment – those that typically target investments in businesses with an EV on entry between €50m and €100m. The award reflects success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm. Firms entering this category should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe, and will be judged on the performance of their mid-cap investment strategy since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement in the last year of European buyout houses in the upper mid-cap segment – those that typically target investments in businesses with an EV on entry between €100m and €500m. The award reflects success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm. Firms entering this category should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe, and will be judged on the performance of their upper mid-cap investment strategy since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement in the last year of European buyout houses operating different private equity strategies across the European midmarket. To qualify, firms must have two or more active funds or business units with clearly differentiated strategies and objectives. The award reflects success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm. Firms entering this category should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe, and will be judged on their performance since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement in the last year of European buyout houses in the large-cap segment – those that typically target investments in businesses with an EV on entry of more than €500m. The award reflects success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm. Firms entering this category should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe, and will be judged on the performance of their large-cap investment strategy since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement in the last year of European buyout houses in the small-cap segment – those that typically target investments in businesses with an EV on entry of less than €25m. The award reflects success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm. Firms entering this category should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe, and will be judged on the performance of their small-cap investment strategy since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement in the last year of European buyout houses in the lower mid-cap segment – those that typically target investments in businesses with an EV on entry between €25m and €50m. The award reflects success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm. Firms entering this category should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe, and will be judged on the performance of their lower mid-cap investment strategy since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises private equity exits completed since 1 October 2024, where the portfolio company was headquartered in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. Entries should showcase how the sponsor created value during the holding period, as well as demonstrating growth key financial metrics.

This award recognises private equity exits completed since 1 October 2024, where the portfolio company was headquartered in Central or Eastern Europe. Entries should showcase how the sponsor created value during the holding period, as well as demonstrating growth key financial metrics.

This award recognises private equity exits completed since 1 October 2024, where the portfolio company was headquartered in Southern Europe. Entries should showcase how the sponsor created value during the holding period, as well as demonstrating growth key financial metrics.

This award recognises private equity exits completed since 1 October 2024, involving portfolio companies headquartered in the UK or Republic of Ireland with an enterprise value on entry between £25m and £100m. Entries should showcase how the sponsor created value during the holding period, as well as demonstrating growth key financial metrics.

This award recognises private equity exits completed since 1 October 2024, involving portfolio companies headquartered in the UK or Republic of Ireland with an enterprise value on entry of less than £25m. Entries should showcase how the sponsor created value during the holding period, as well as demonstrating growth key financial metrics.

This award recognises private equity exits completed since 1 October 2024, where the portfolio company was headquartered in France, Belgium, Luxembourg or The Netherlands. Entries should showcase how the sponsor created value during the holding period, as well as demonstrating growth key financial metrics.

This award recognises private equity exits completed since 1 October 2024, involving portfolio companies headquartered in the UK or Republic of Ireland with an enterprise value on entry of more than £100m. Entries should showcase how the sponsor created value during the holding period, as well as demonstrating growth key financial metrics.

This award recognises private equity exits completed since 1 October 2024, where the portfolio company was headquartered in the Nordic region. Entries should showcase how the sponsor created value during the holding period, as well as demonstrating growth key financial metrics.

This award recognises the most outstanding investor in the secondaries space. The award is open to all secondaries investors based or active in the European private equity market, with judges paying close attention to transactions involving European vehicles during the judging period. The award reflects success in fundraising, new deals and realisations, as well as the overall evolution of the firm during the judging period (since 1 October 2024).

This award recognises the standout fundraising programme completed by a GP during the judging period (i.e. since 1 October 2024). Judges will consider a number of factors to measure success, including, but not limited to, the speed of fundraising (from launch to final close), appetite for commitments from existing and new LPs and any innovation demonstrated in the structuring terms and conditions governing the vehicle. The award is open to GPs having closed a fund that will be deployed wholly or largely towards European targets. Firms who have raised multiple funds during the period should submit separate entries for each fund.

This award recognises the closed-ended funds that have generated the most exceptional returns for their limited partners (LPs). Judges will look at the net returns generated to date for LPs, as well as the consistency of performance across the fund’s portfolio. The award is open to any PE/VC fund that was largely invested in European assets and to qualify, vehicles need to be at least 50% realised by 30 November 2025.

This award recognises a small-cap 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 firms’ policies have stood out from those of their peers. Firms entering this category should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe with an average deal size of under €100m, and will be judged on their performance since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises a mid-cap private equity 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 firms’ policies have stood out from those of their peers. Firms entering this category should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe with an average deal size over €100m, and will be judged on their performance since 1 October 2024.

 This award recognises the overall achievement of asset-based lenders (ABLs) in the last year. The award will be given to an ABL that can show evidence of winning new business, delivering innovative ABL structures and creative documentation and growing market share while maintaining credit quality and developing teams. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world, but will be judged only on their European deal activity since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement of lending banks in the last year. The award will be given to the bank lender that an 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. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world, but will be judged only on their European deal activity since 1 October 2024.

 This award acknowledges the accomplishments of non-bank lenders in the last year. The accolade will be given to the lender that can best demonstrate how it has stood out in a competitive market landscape. Entrants should provide examples of how they have customised their offerings to fulfil client requirements and grow their share of the European acquisition finance market. The scope of this award includes private debt funds and all other non-bank lenders. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world, but will be judged only on their European deal activity since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement of corporate financiers advising on European deals in the last year. 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. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world, but will be judged only on their European deal activity since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement of commercial due diligence advisers in the last year. The award will be given to the provider that can demonstrate how it has created value for clients through the provision of high-quality analysis, genuine market insight and service, as well as the overall evolution of its team and strategy. Deals worked on and growth of market share will also be taken into account. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world, but will be judged only on their European deal activity since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement of financial due diligence advisers in the last year. 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. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world, but will be judged only on their European deal activity since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement of technology or cyber security due diligence advisers in the last year. 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. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world, but will be judged only on their European deal activity since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement of specialist due diligence advisers in the last year. Examples of services provided could include political, management, ESG or any other specialist due diligence. The award will be given to the adviser that can demonstrate how it has delivered 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. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world, but will be judged only on their European deal activity since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement of regional legal advisers in the last year. The award will be given to the firm that is able to demonstrate how it has differentiated its offering 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. Entrants will be judged on their private equity activity in a specific country or group of countries within Europe (for example, UK, Benelux, DACH, etc.) since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement of pan-European legal advisers in the last year. The award will be given to the firm that is able to demonstrate how it has differentiated its offering 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. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world, but will be judged only on their European private equity activity since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement of fundraising advisers in the last year. The award will be given to the placement agent or fundraising adviser that has worked with clients to secure commitments 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. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world, but will be judged only on their European deal activity since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement of providers of M&A insurance to the private equity market in the last year. The award will be given to the firm that is able to demonstrate how it has differentiated its offering and delivered value to clients through innovative insurance products and excellent customer service. Growth of market share, premiums volume and overall evolution of team and strategy will also be taken into account. Entrants can be brokers or underwriters and can be headquartered anywhere in the world, but will be judged only on their European private equity activity since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises firms displaying excellence in the provision of software or data solutions to support front office private equity activity. Entrants should demonstrate how their technology supports private equity clients in dealmaking or value creation. Success in this category depends on a mixture of client and revenue growth, as well as innovations and product or brand development that demonstrates new thinking and which can boast significant success and positive customer feedback through glowing client testimonials. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world, but will be judged only on their European private equity activity since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement of post-deal private equity advisers. The award will be given to an adviser that can demonstrate how it has helped its private equity clients add value to their portfolio companies, delivering improved efficiency or tangible growth. Growth of market share, projects advised on and overall evolution of team and strategy will also be taken into account. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world, but will be judged only on their European private equity activity since 1 October 2024.

This award recognises the overall achievement of advisory groups that have excelled in the increasingly important secondaries space. It will be presented to the standout adviser that has sourced, structured and executed the most notable and innovative European secondary transactions, including continuation vehicles and other GP-led secondaries situations. Growth of market share, volume of transactions intermediated and overall evolution of team and strategy will also be taken into account.

This award recognises excellence in the private equity community with respect to companies that have made a real difference to improving diversity, equity and inclusion within their firm, at portfolio company level and in the wider investment community. The award is open to private equity GPs, LPs or advisers headquartered in Europe and will recognise progress on DEI since 1 October 2024 - for example in the form of new policies or improved metrics - as well as the firm’s overall approach to the issue.