Step 1: Data analysis in early April
League table data lies at the heart of all the Mergermarket M&A Awards categories. Following the league tables announcement for Q3, 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 overall value of transactions (USD 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 April 1 2020 to March 31 2021 - a full twelve months of activity.
M&A advisors who wish to be considered for the awards must appear within Mergermarket's league tables. There's no charge to submit your deals to us.
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 week beginning April 12 2021
The M&A awards shortlist will be announced as soon as the league tables analysis is complete. This year, the shortlist will be released the week beginning April 12 2021.
Only firms that appear in the shortlist are eligible to enter Mergermarket's North America M&A Awards.
Step 3: Send a pitch by May 12 2021
Each of the firms who successfully make the M&A awards shortlist are 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 it 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. There is more guidance on what judges are looking for here.
Clare Hope
Entries and Packages, Acuris
Tell us the story of your year in just 300 words.
Step 4: Judging during May 2021
Our judges will review all of the pitches and the 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: Winners announced Thursday June 17 2021
Watch the winners ceremony live online, featuring market commentary and profiles of the winners.
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