2019 Winners
Advisory Awards
Lender of the Year
This award recognises the overall achievement of banks and specialist lenders in the calendar year of 2018.
Winner – Bank of the Year: Investec Bank
Finalists:
- Beechbrook Capital
- Hayfin Capital Management
- HSBC UK
- OakNorth
- Pemberton Asset Management
- Tikehau Investment Management
Asset-Based Lender of the Year
This award recognises the overall achievement of asset-based lenders in the calendar year of 2018, reflecting success in new business, market share and credit quality as well as the overall evolution of team and strategy.
Winner: ABN AMRO Commercial Finance
Finalists:
- BNP Paribas Commercial Finance
- Idinvest Partners
- Leumi ABL
- Wells Fargo Capital Finance
Specialist Adviser of the Year
This award recognises the overall achievement of specialist advisers in the calendar year of 2018, reflecting success in creating value for clients through the provision of bespoke advice in specialist areas, as well as the overall evolution of team and strategy.
Winner – AlixPartners
Finalists:
- Aon M&A and Transaction Solutions
- GK Strategy
- Intechnica
- Intuitus
- JCRA
- SIA Group
- Validus Risk Management
- WA Communications
Commercial Due Diligence Adviser of the Year
This award recognises the overall achievement of commercial due diligence advisers in the calendar year of 2018, reflecting success in 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.
Winner – Armstrong
Finalists:
- Candesic
- CIL Management Consultants
- Connell Consulting
- Fairgrove Partners
- Luminii Consulting
- onefourzero
- Woozle Research
Placement Agent of the Year
This award recognises the overall achievement of placement agents in the calendar year of 2018, reflecting success in creating value for clients through outstanding execution, market insight, close partnerships with clients and investor networks, as well as the overall evolution of team and strategy.
Winner – Rede Partners
Finalists:
- Asante Capital Group
- Athos Partners
- Campbell Lutyens
- Jasmin Capital
- MVision Private Equity Advisers
Fund Administrator of the Year
This award recognises the overall achievement of fund administrators in the calendar year of 2018, reflecting success in creating value for clients through the use of technology, understanding of ever-changing regulation and best-in-class reporting and analysis, as well as the overall evolution of team and strategy.
Winner – Aztec Group
Finalists:
- Apex Group
- Crestbridge
- Intertrust
- JTC
- Langham Hall
- RBC Investor & Treasury Services
- SGG Group
- Vistra
Pan-European Legal Adviser of the Year
This award recognises the overall achievement of pan-European legal advisers in the calendar year of 2018, reflecting success in creating value for clients through outstanding execution, commercial awareness and ability to deliver creative solutions to problems, as well as the overall evolution of team and strategy.
Winner – Latham & Watkins
Finalists:
- Clifford Chance
- DLA Piper
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
- Linklaters
- Ropes & Gray
- Sidley Austin
- Weil Gotshal & Manges
Regional Legal Adviser of the Year
This award recognises the overall achievement of regional legal advisers in the calendar year of 2018, reflecting success in creating value for clients through outstanding execution, commercial awareness and ability to deliver creative solutions to problems, as well as the overall evolution of team and strategy.
Winner – Addleshaw Goddard
Finalists:
- Capital Law
- Charles Russell Speechlys
- Foot Anstey
- Gateley
- Schofield Sweeney
- Shoosmiths
- Taylor Wessing
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 2018, reflecting success in creating value for clients through outstanding execution and the provision of genuine market and sector insight, as well as the overall evolution of team and strategy.
Winner – GCA Altium
Finalists:
- Arma Partners
- BDO
- Cavendish Corporate Finance
- Grant Thornton
- Houlihan Lokey
- Investec Corporate & Investment Bank
- Livingstone
Pan-European Corporate Finance House of the Year
This award recognises the overall achievement of corporate financiers advising on pan-European deals in the calendar year of 2018, reflecting success in creating value for clients through outstanding execution and the provision of genuine market and sector insight, as well as the overall evolution of team and strategy.
Winner – Alantra
Finalists:
- Baird
- Clearwater International
- DC Advisory
- GCA Altium
- PwC Corporate Finance
- Rothschild & Co
- William Blair
House of the Year
UK House of the Year
This award recognises the overall achievement of UK buyout houses in the calendar year of 2018, reflecting success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm.
Winner – Inflexion Private Equity
Finalists:
- Apiary Capital
- ECI Partners
- Epiris
- Graphite Capital
- NorthEdge Capital
- Pollen Street Capital
Continental Regional House of the Year - Large
This award recognises the overall achievement of buyout houses focused on a particular region of the Continental market in the calendar year of 2018, reflecting success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm.
Winner – Ambienta
Finalists:
- Artá Capital
- Axcel
- ECM Equity Capital Management
- Miura Private Equity
Continental Regional House of the Year - Small (Fund smaller than €300m)
This award recognises the overall achievement of buyout houses focused on a particular region of the Continental market in the calendar year of 2018, reflecting success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm.
Winner – Ambienta
Finalists:
- Artá Capital
- Axcel
- ECM Equity Capital Management
- Miura Private Equity
Pan-European House of the Year
This award recognises the overall achievement of Pan-European buyout houses in the calendar year of 2018, reflecting success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm.
Winner – Hg
Finalists:
- Bridgepoint
- Capvis
- Equistone Partners Europe
- Investindustrial
- Nordic Capital
- PAI Partners
- Triton
Global House of the Year
This award recognises the overall achievement of Global buyout houses in the calendar year of 2018 reflecting success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm.
Winner – The Carlyle Group
Finalists:
- Advent International
- BC Partners
- CVC Capital Partners
- EQT
- Hellman & Friedman
- Towerbrook Capital Partners
Special Situations House of the Year
This award recognises the overall achievement of European Special Situations Houses in the calendar year of 2018, reflecting success in fundraising, new deals and exits, as well as the overall evolution of the firm.
Winner – Alchemy Partners
Finalists:
- Endless
- H2 Equity Partners
- Rutland Partners
- Sun European Partners
- SVPGlobal
Grand Prix House of the Year
This award will be voted for on the evening and will go to the house deemed to be strongest from across all the regional winners.
Winner – Inflexion Private Equity
Deal of the Year
UK Small Deal of the Year (Enterprise value on entry of less than €25m)
This award recognises all private equity deals involving a target company headquartered in the UK which was exited in 2018, with an entry EV of less than €25m.
Winner – Synova Capital for Mandata
Finalists:
- Bestport Private Equity and FPE Capital for Creditcall
- Encore Capital for Stagecoach
- Mobeus Equity Partners for VSI
- Next Wave Partners for The Delivery Group
UK Mid-Cap Deal of the Year (Enterprise value on entry of €25m-€200m)
This award recognises private equity deals involving a target company headquartered in the UK which was exited in 2018, with an entry EV of €25m-€200m.
Winner – Sovereign Capital Partners for Linnaeus Group
Finalists:
- Bowmark Capital for Nexus Vehicle Rental
- CBPE Capital for JTC
- ECI Partners for Great Rail Journeys
- Equistone Partners Europe and Inflexion Private Equity for UK Power Reserve
- Palatine Private Equity for Westleigh
- Silverfleet Capital for Ipes
UK Large Deal of the Year (Enterprise value on entry of over €200m)
This award recognises private equity deals involving a target company headquartered in the UK which was exited in 2018, with an entry EV of over €200m.
Winner – Bridgepoint for Pret A Manger
Finalists:
- BC Partners for Sabre
- CVC Capital Partners for Sky Bet
- Duke Street for wagamama
- EMK Capital, Bregal Investments and KKR for Cognita
- Hg for IRIS
- Investindustrial for Aston Martin Lagonda
Central and Eastern Europe Deal of the Year
This award recognises private equity deals involving a target company headquartered in central and eastern Europe which was exited in 2018.
Winner – ARX Equity Partners for VUES
Finalists:
- Abris Capital Partners for Urgent Cargus
- CVC Capital Partners for Avast
- Horizon Capital for Purcari Wineries
- KKR for United Group
- Mid Europa Partners for PKL
Germany, Austria and Switzerland Deal of the Year
This award recognises private equity deals involving a target company headquartered in Germany, Switzerland or Austria which was exited in 2018.
Winner – EQT Partners for Sportradar
Finalists:
- 3i Group for ATESTEO
- Ambienta for Oskar Nolte
- Equistone Partners Europe for Caseking
- Gimv for Mackevision
- IK Investment Partners for Transnorm
- Oakley Capital for Damovo
- Partners Group and Capvis for VAT Group
- Triton for Aventics
Nordic Deal of the Year
his award recognises private equity deals involving a target company headquartered in Nordics which was exited in 2018.
Winner – Nordic Capital for AniCura
Finalists:
- Adelis Equity Partners for Med Group
- Bridgepoint Development Capital for Trustly
- FSN Capital for Netcompany
- KKR for Välinge
- KKR and Triton for Mehiläinen
- Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan for Helly Hansen
- Verdane Capital for JSB Group
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 2018.
Winner – Apax Partners for Azelis
Finalists:
- Avedon Capital for CycloMedia
- Bridgepoint Development Capital for Acteon
- Eurazeo for Asmodee
- H2 Equity Partners for Reparenco
- Montagu Private Equity for Nemera
- Stage Capital for STI Group
Mediterranean Deal of the Year
This award recognises private equity deals involving a target company headquartered in the Mediterranean which was exited in 2018.
Winner – Cinven for Ufinet Group
Finalists:
- AGIC Capital for Gimatic
- Ardian for Italmatch
- Blackstone for Versace
- Capvis for Faster Group
- Diana Capital and GED Capital for Megafood
- Oakley Capital for Facile.it
- Sun European Partners for ELIX Polymers
Grand Prix Deal of the Year
This award will be voted for on the evening and will go to the exit deemed to be strongest from across all the regional winners.
Winner – Bridgepoint for Pret A Manger
Special Awards
The Environmental, Social and Governance Award
This award recognises a firm’s commitment to best practice in environmental, social and corporate governance. The shortlist was collated following nominations from a specialist LP judging panel.
Winner – Summa Equity
Finalists:
- Ambienta
- The Carlyle Group
- Eurazeo
- IK Investment Partners
- PAI Partners
- Triton
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.
Winner – Patrick Sayer