Date: Thursday 30th June

Millennium Mayfair
44 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, London

Time: 7pm - Midnight. Dress code: Black Tie

2011 Award Categories

M&A Small Company Deal of the Year (deal value: £2.5 million to £50 million)

This award will seek to recognise and commend the CEO and management team of a fast growing, UK company that has successfully made a major acquisition or completed a notable exit during the past 12 months. The judges will assess either the viability and the prudence of the financing package for an acquisition, or the sale price achieved for an exit. They will also examine the operational and strategic synergies created by the deal.

M&A Large Company Deal of the Year (deal value: £50 million to £500 million)

For this category, the judges will identify an ambitious UK company that has completed a transformational acquisition or negotiated a commendable exit during the past 12 months. The judges will scrutinise either the robustness of the financing package for an acquisition, or the value of the sale price negotiated for an exit. They will also assess the business case for the deal in advancing the long-term plans of the acquirer.

Buy-out of the Year

This award will recognise the most transformational buy-out during the past 12 months (MBO, BIMBO, MBI or switching from public to private company). The judges will assess how the deal intends to progress the ambitions of the business, how stakeholders were managed and how funds were raised to complete the deal.

M&A Finance Provider of the Year

The judges will seek to identify a finance specialist that has shown itself time and again to be the difference between the success or failure of a deal (mergers, acquisitions, buy-outs, turnarounds, refinancing and fundraising). The winner will have shown incisiveness, an ability to work with a number of parties and an appreciation of how to balance risk taking with prudence when necessary.

IPO of the Year

This award is open to the management teams or advisers of companies that floated on the public markets in the 12 months to the end of February 2011. The judges will be looking for evidence of an ambitious growth strategy behind the IPO, and a post-float performance that supports that strategy and reflects market expectations.

M&A Corporate Finance Boutique of the Year

The judges will recognise and salute the firm that has repeatedly delivered high-quality, pragmatic advice on quality deals. The winner will be gaining a reputation for its expertise and demonstrating an ability to punch above its weight.

M&A Law Firm of the Year

The judges will be looking for a firm that provides efficient, high-quality advice on deals. The winner will have demonstrated excellent sector expertise and consistency, as well as consummate negotiating skills.

M&A Accountancy Firm of the Year

The judges of this award will be looking for evidence of a firm that has worked on a range of outstanding deals. The winner will excel at strategic input, quality of financial modelling and speed of execution.

M&A Due Diligence Specialist of the Year

The judges will be looking for a firm that consistently provides quality advice on complex M&A transactions. The winner will have a strong record of assessing financial, commercial, regulatory and technological criteria for UK and cross-border M&A deals.

Dealmaker of the Year

This award is open to CEOs, venture capitalists and corporate finance specialists who have shown exceptional innovation, skill and commercial awareness in relation to acquisitions, buy-outs or mergers. The judges will also look for evidence of a dealmaker who knows how to add long-term value to a business.