STAGES OF PITCHING: 

Winners of the Mergermarket European M&A Awards will be announced on 27 November. If you're an advisor interested in entering, here's how it works.

Step 1: Data analysis

We analyse M&A league table data to identify the top-ranked firms and form a shortlist which includes international and local advisors.  

The analysis considers the overall value of transactions (GBP equivalent) as well as overall volume (deal count) in equal measure - meaning that even if your transactions have undisclosed values, every deal counts.

 
The period under review is for deals announced between 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024 - a full twelve months of activity.  

Our M&A league tables capture the role of an advisor mandated on any side of the deal (to the bidder, target or seller). As a result, outlying deals can sometimes mean international advisors appear in the league tables of countries where they do not have a permanent presence. To help counteract this, we use a proprietary method to ensure locally headquartered advisors are well-represented in their domestic categories.

Step 2: Shortlist announced 

When the analysis is complete, we announce a shortlist. Only firms that appear on the shortlist are eligible to enter Mergermarket's European M&A Awards.

Contact olivia.cummins@iongroup.com for further information.

Step 3: Send a pitch by Wednesday 9th October

Each of the firms who successfully make the M&A awards shortlist is invited to write a 300-word pitch. The pitch is handed to a panel of M&A veterans who will review all of the entries received, compare them with our league table data and debate who deserves to win.

This means the pitch is the most important stage of the process! Judges are looking for the story behind the data, such as the value-adding nature of the advisory work you provided to clients, examples of innovative or creative solutions to complex situations and how you helped get the deal across the line. You can find tips for pitching here. 

Step 4: Judging  

In October, our judges will review all the pitches and data. The judges come from a wide variety of industry backgrounds, including investment banking, private equity, financial advisory, legal advisory, academia and journalism. They apply their knowledge to interpret if the deal data combined with what's written in the pitch all adds up to a winning entry.

Step 5: Awards announcement on 27 November at the Mergermarket European M&A Awards 2024 

We will be announcing the top dealmakers from across the region on 27 November 2024 at the Mergermarket European M&A Awards 2024 in the Natural History Museum, London. Stay tuned on which firms will be awarded.