The annual Deals and Dealmakers Awards has returned for its 25th year.
Entries are now open for the deal-making companies, lawyers, accountants, advisers, bankers and backers moving the market during the last 12 months.
If you're interested, the deadline is 5 May and all the details are here.
The ceremony takes place on 24 August at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Glasgow central, and is a great opportunity for networking with the best and brightest in Scottish deal-making.
The categories, as ever, are:
Acquisitive Company of the Year
This award recognises the Scottish-headquartered company which delivered the most ambitious and innovative acquisition or acquisition strategy in 2022/23.
Corporate Finance Team of the Year
This category will celebrate the team that made the greatest contribution to a deal or deals in the year. It may be a lead advisory, financial diligence or tax team - or a team providing specialist diligence - market insight or advice to bring an edge to deal-making in Scotland.
Early Stage Deal of the Year - in partnership with RBC Brewin Dolphin
This category recognises the quality of the investment capital, the level of syndication of the investment, the scale of the market opportunity for the company and the potential return for investors, as well as the role of the management team and its advisors in realising the deal.
Emerging Dealmaker of the Year
This award will recognise a newcomer to the Scottish deal-making community who has played a key role in making a deal or deals happen. The individual may have identified the opportunity or played a key role during negotiations.
Funder of the Year
This one recognises the role of the funding community in making deals happen. The funder may have provided debt, equity or an alternative source of finance and supported the management teams of Scottish-based companies to add value and take the business to another level.
Legal Advisor of the Year
This award recognises the skills of legal advisors involved in deals. The judges will be looking at a range of factors including innovation and the ability to resolve complicated issues. Individual lawyers or teams at individual firms can be nominated for this award.
Diversity and Inclusion Award
This award recognises an organisation, team or individual who embrace diversity and/or have brought to life an excellent example of working towards inclusion for all within dealmaking. The category will cover excellence in all areas of diversity including gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, race and religion.
SME Deal of the Year
This award is for a Scottish-based company with an annual turnover of less than £20m that has been involved in a transformational deal, whether acquisition, sale, fundraising, buy-out or buy-in.
Sale of the Year
This award is for the Scottish-headquartered company which carried out the most successful and impressive sale or sales in 2022/23.
Transformational Deal of the Year - in partnership with PIB Insurance Brokers
This category recognises the deal of any type - including management buyouts, buy-ins, employee buy-outs - which transforms the fortunes of a Scottish-headquartered business.
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