Debtwire Direct Lending Awards 

Debtwire will be announcing the winners of the 2024 Direct Lending Awards at a gala dinner in London on 23 May. 

The awards ceremony will take place after the Private Credit conference and registration for the gala dinner is separate to registration for the conference.

Following on from the success of the two editions of the Direct Lending Awards, this year will return bigger and better, with five new categories and twenty prizes awarded on the night. 

Debtwire's Direct Lending Awards recognise the best performing European direct lending funds and regional direct lending managers. This year will also include People’s Choice Awards for the best performing large-cap, mid-cap and small-cap European funds managers of the year. 

Our rigorous judging process is unique. It starts with analysis of our market-leading league tables followed by a shortlist announcement and scrutiny by a panel of expert judges. Which means a Direct Lending Award from Debtwire is true recognition of an outstanding year, which we recognise from 1st January 2023 – 31st December 2023. 

Process: 

First, we analyse our market-leading league tables and announce a shortlist. These shortlisted candidates are then invited to provide their submissions for the awards. The deadline for the People's Choice Awards submissions is Friday 29th March and the deadline for all other awards submissions is the week of 15th April. 

Next, our expert panel of judges review these submissions and choose the winners. As there is only one winner per category, a Direct Lending Award from Debtwire is true recognition of the best in the Direct Lending field. 

Finally, the winners will be announced on 23 May at the Debtwire Direct Lending Awards in London. Stay tuned for details on our winners.  

Awards Categories:

• European large-cap direct lending manager of the year – People’s Choice Award
• European mid-cap direct lending manager of the year – People’s Choice Award
• European small-cap direct lending manager of the year – People’s Choice Award
• ESG direct lending manager of the year 
• Nordic direct lending manager of the year 
• France direct lending manager of the year
• DACH & Poland direct lending manager of the year 
• UK & Ireland direct lending manager of the year 
• Italy direct lending manager of the year 
• Iberia direct lending manager of the year 
• Benelux direct lending manager of the year
• European large-cap direct lending fund of the year 
• European mid-market direct lending fund of the year 
• European small-cap direct lending fund of the year

Introducing 5 new categories this year:  

• Senior debt provider of the year 
• Junior debt provider of the year
• Direct lending deal of the year – Large-cap 
• Direct lending deal of the year – Mid-market 
• Direct lending deal of the year – Small-cap