The outstanding performance of management teams, private equity firms, M&A lawyers, accountants, corporate finance boutiques and lenders was celebrated at the M&A Awards.

The outstanding performance of management teams, private equity firms, M&A lawyers, accountants, corporate finance boutiques and lenders was celebrated at the M&A Awards.

Osborne Clarke bagged the award for best law firm of the year, while advisory group Tenon won M&A accountancy firm of the year and Icon Corporate Finance won corporate finance boutique of the year.
 
The M&A Awards, which were held at the Hilton Park Lane on 19 May 2009, are based on M&A Magazine’s transaction data and independent expert opinion from a panel of leading M&A practitioners.
 
Richard Morley, director at NBGI Private Equity, had an eventful evening, winning M&A Personality of the Year. Morley scooped the accolade for his role in some of the UK’s most lucrative private equity transactions of recent years. One such deal was NBGI’s exit of Hamworth Heating, a well-established and respected brand in the UK commercial boiler market, generating a six times money multiple and an IRR of 37.5 per cent.
 
Buyout house ECI Partners’ exit of Racal Acoustics, a UK provider of hearing protection and communications products for military and avionics applications, to Esterline Technologies for £115 million, was awarded M&A Deal of the Year for netting a 4.7 times cash multiple and 67 per cent IRR.
  
 
Sara Williams, CEO Vitesse Media, said: ‘The financial climate means many acquisitive companies are relying more than ever on the advice they receive from their various advisers. We feel it is important to recognise the achievements of these leading players in the mid-market space.’
 
For more information about the M&A Awards, including details of the judging panel and award criteria – please go to www.manda-awards.co.uk