This award recognises the overall achievement since 1 October 2025 of European buyout houses in the small-cap segment - firms typically targeting businesses with an EV on entry of less than €25m. Judges will assess success in fundraising, new deals and exits, and the firm's overall evolution over the period. Entrants should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe, and will be judged solely on the European performance of their small-cap strategy.

This award recognises the overall achievement since 1 October 2025 of European buyout houses in the mid-cap segment - firms typically targeting businesses with an EV on entry between €50m and €100m. Judges will assess success in fundraising, new deals and exits, and the firm's overall evolution over the period. Entrants should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe, and will be judged solely on the European performance of their mid-cap strategy.

This award recognises the overall achievement since 1 October 2025 of European buyout houses in the lower mid-cap segment - firms typically targeting businesses with an EV on entry between €25m and €50m. Judges will assess success in fundraising, new deals and exits, and the firm's overall evolution over the period. Entrants should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe, and will be judged solely on the European performance of their lower mid-cap strategy.

This award recognises the overall achievement since 1 October 2025 of European buyout houses in the upper mid-cap segment - firms typically targeting businesses with an EV on entry between €100m and €500m. Judges will assess success in fundraising, new deals and exits, and the firm's overall evolution over the period. Entrants should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe, and will be judged solely on the European performance of their upper mid-cap strategy.

This award recognises the overall achievement since 1 October 2025 of European buyout houses in the large-cap segment - firms typically targeting businesses with an EV on entry of more than €500m. Judges will assess success in fundraising, new deals and exits, and the firm's overall evolution over the period. Entrants should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe, and will be judged solely on the European performance of their large-cap strategy.

This award recognises the overall achievement since 1 October 2025 of European buyout houses operating multiple private equity strategies across the mid-market. To qualify, firms must have two or more active funds or business units with clearly differentiated strategies and objectives. Judges will assess success in fundraising, new deals and exits, and the firm's overall evolution over the period. Entrants should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe.

This award recognises excellence and innovation among next-generation fund managers in the European private equity market. Judges will look for evidence that the firm's strategy fills a genuine market gap, innovation in sourcing, and the quality and diversity of its LP base, as well as successful fundraising and, where applicable, returns. Entrants should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe, and should have raised no more than two funds as of November 2026.

This award recognises private equity exits completed since 1 October 2025, where the portfolio company was headquartered in Central or Eastern Europe. Entries should show how the sponsor created value during the holding period, backed by key financial metrics demonstrating growth.

This award recognises private equity exits completed since 1 October 2025, where the portfolio company was headquartered in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. Entries should show how the sponsor created value during the holding period, backed by key financial metrics demonstrating growth.

This award recognises private equity exits completed since 1 October 2025, where the portfolio company was headquartered in France, Belgium, Luxembourg or the Netherlands. Entries should show how the sponsor created value during the holding period, backed by key financial metrics demonstrating growth.

This award recognises private equity exits completed since 1 October 2025, where the portfolio company was headquartered in Southern Europe. Entries should show how the sponsor created value during the holding period, backed by key financial metrics demonstrating growth.

This award recognises private equity exits completed since 1 October 2025, where the portfolio company was headquartered in the Nordic region. Entries should show how the sponsor created value during the holding period, backed by key financial metrics demonstrating growth.

This award recognises private equity exits completed since 1 October 2025, involving portfolio companies headquartered in the UK or Republic of Ireland with an enterprise value on entry of less than £25m. Entries should show how the sponsor created value during the holding period, backed by key financial metrics demonstrating growth.

This award recognises private equity exits completed since 1 October 2025, involving portfolio companies headquartered in the UK or Republic of Ireland with an enterprise value on entry between £25m and £100m. Entries should show how the sponsor created value during the holding period, backed by key financial metrics demonstrating growth.

This award recognises private equity exits completed since 1 October 2025, involving portfolio companies headquartered in the UK or Republic of Ireland with an enterprise value on entry of more than £100m. Entries should show how the sponsor created value during the holding period, backed by key financial metrics demonstrating growth.

This award recognises the most outstanding investor in the secondaries space. It is open to all secondaries investors based or active in the European private equity market; judges will focus on transactions involving European vehicles completed during the judging period. The award reflects success in fundraising, new deals and realisations, and the firm's overall evolution since 1 October 2025.

This award recognises the standout fundraising programme completed by a GP since 1 October 2025. Judges will consider factors including the speed of fundraising (from launch to final close), appetite for commitments from existing and new LPs, and any innovation in the vehicle's structuring terms and conditions. The award is open to GPs that have closed a private equity fund to be deployed wholly or largely towards European targets. Firms that have raised multiple funds during the period should submit a separate entry 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 net returns generated to date and the consistency of performance across the fund's portfolio. The award is open to any PE/VC fund largely invested in European assets; to qualify, vehicles need to be at least 50% realised by 30 November 2026.

This award recognises a firm's commitment to best practice in environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. Judges will look at how ESG is integrated into the firm's investment strategy, how ESG data is collected, and how the firm's policies stand out from its peers. Entrants should be headquartered, or have significant local operations, in Europe, and will be judged on their performance since 1 October 2025.

This award recognises the overall achievement of asset-based lenders (ABLs) since 1 October 2025. It will be given to an ABL that can show evidence of winning new business, delivering innovative ABL structures and documentation, and growing market share while maintaining credit quality and developing its team. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world but will be judged only on their European deal activity.

This award recognises the overall achievement of lending banks since 1 October 2025. It will be given to the bank lender that can demonstrate how it has stood out from its peers in a competitive market, show examples of tailoring its offer to client needs, and evidence a growing or meaningful 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.

This award recognises the achievements of non-bank lenders since 1 October 2025, including private debt funds and all other alternative lenders. It will be given to the lender that best demonstrates how it has stood out in a competitive market, customising its offering to client needs and growing its share of the European acquisition finance market. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world but will be judged only on their European deal activity.

This award recognises the overall achievement of advisory firms connecting sponsors with lenders for transactions completed since 1 October 2025. Entrants will be judged on their European PE activity and their ability to secure and structure leverage - senior, unitranche and mezzanine - for buyouts, refinancings and dividend recapitalisations. Judges will look at how firms optimise capital structures while securing competitive pricing and flexible terms.

This award recognises the overall achievement of corporate financiers advising on European deals since 1 October 2025. It will be given to the firm that can demonstrate strategic and technical support that has helped clients launch or win auctions in a competitive market and add genuine value on exit. Growth in market share, deals advised on, and the overall evolution of the team and strategy will also be considered. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world but will be judged only on their European deal activity.

This award recognises the overall achievement of commercial due diligence advisers since 1 October 2025. It will be given to the provider that can demonstrate how it has created value for clients through high-quality analysis, genuine market insight and service, and the overall evolution of its team and strategy. Deals worked on and growth in market share will also be considered. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world but will be judged only on their European deal activity.

This award recognises the overall achievement of financial due diligence advisers since 1 October 2025. It will be given to the adviser that can demonstrate a bespoke service creating value for clients through unmatched insight into specific business issues or industry trends. Growth in market share, deals advised on, and the overall evolution of team and strategy will also be considered. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world but will be judged only on their European deal activity.

This award recognises the overall achievement of technology or cybersecurity due diligence advisers since 1 October 2025. It will be given to the adviser that can demonstrate a bespoke service creating value for clients through unmatched insight into specific business issues or industry trends. Growth in market share, deals advised on, and the overall evolution of team and strategy will also be considered. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world but will be judged only on their European deal activity.

This award recognises the overall achievement of specialist due diligence advisers since 1 October 2025 - for example, political, management or ESG due diligence. It will be given to the adviser that can demonstrate a bespoke service creating value for clients through unmatched insight into specific business issues or industry trends. Growth in market share, deals advised on, and the overall evolution of team and strategy will also be considered. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world but will be judged only on their European deal activity.

This award recognises the overall achievement of national or regional legal advisers since 1 October 2025. It will be given to the firm that demonstrates how it has differentiated its offering and delivered value to clients through outstanding execution, commercial awareness, and the ability to find creative solutions to problems. Growth in market share, deals advised on, and the overall evolution of team and strategy will also be considered. Entrants will be judged on their private equity activity in a specific country or group of countries within Europe (for example, the UK, Benelux or DACH).

This award recognises the overall achievement of pan-European legal advisers since 1 October 2025. It will be given to the firm that demonstrates how it has differentiated its offering and delivered value to clients through outstanding execution, commercial awareness, and the ability to find creative solutions to problems. Growth in market share, deals advised on, and the overall evolution of team and strategy will also be considered. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world but will be judged only on their European private equity activity.

This award recognises the overall achievement of fundraising advisers since 1 October 2025. It will be given to the placement agent or fundraising adviser that has helped clients secure commitments through outstanding execution, market insight, and strong LP relationships and understanding, alongside the overall evolution of team and strategy. Growth in market share, managers advised, and team evolution will also be considered. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world but will be judged only on their advisory activity for European funds.

This award recognises the overall achievement of providers of M&A insurance to the private equity market since 1 October 2025. It will be given to the firm that demonstrates how it has differentiated its offering and delivered value to clients through innovative insurance products and excellent customer service. Growth in market share, premium volumes and the overall evolution of team and strategy will also be considered. Entrants can be brokers or underwriters, headquartered anywhere in the world, but will be judged only on their European private equity activity.

This award recognises firms demonstrating excellence in providing software, data solutions or AI to support front-office private equity activity. Entrants should show how their technology or AI innovation supports private equity clients in dealmaking or value creation. Success in this category depends on a mix of client and revenue growth, alongside innovation and product or brand development backed by strong client feedback. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world but will be judged only on their European activity since 1 October 2025. Entrants are invited to provide a short video demonstrating their software offering in practice; generic marketing videos are strongly discouraged.

This award recognises the overall achievement of post-deal private equity advisers since 1 October 2025. It will be given to an adviser that can demonstrate how it has helped private equity clients add value to portfolio companies, delivering improved efficiency or tangible growth. Growth in market share, projects advised on, and the overall evolution of team and strategy will also be considered. Entrants can be headquartered anywhere in the world but will be judged only on their European private equity activity.

This award recognises firms making a genuine difference to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the European PE space - within their own organisation, at portfolio company level, and across the wider investment community. It is open to private equity GPs, LPs or advisers headquartered in Europe, and will recognise progress on DEI since 1 October 2025, for example through new policies or improved metrics, alongside the firm's overall approach to the issue.