THE 17TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL M&A AWARDS
For over two decades, The M&A Advisor has been the definitive voice in dealmaking—honoring achievement, sharing thought leadership, and connecting the world’s most accomplished deal professionals. Our Awards programs shine a spotlight on the innovators, strategists, and firms that are shaping the global dealmaking landscape.
The 17th Annual International M&A Awards set the standard for excellence among organizations with a multinational presence. These Awards celebrate the leading professionals, firms, transactions, restructurings, financings, and products and services that define global dealmaking. From cross-border megadeals to domestic transactions with significant international impact, we recognize those who are driving the industry forward and setting the benchmark for the world to follow.
IMPORTANT CRITERIA SECTION
Transactions must include an international element, but they do not need to be strictly cross-border to qualify. Cross-border deals are eligible, as are transactions involving multinational corporations or other international stakeholders or deals that expand international market presence or capabilities. There is no requirement for a U.S.-based party.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Transaction, financing, or restructuring must have a minimum value of $10 million USD.
- Transaction, financing, or restructuring must have been completed between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.
- Firms, products, services, and/or professionals must have been active internationally.
The 2026 Awards will also honor the expanding cohort of international firms and professionals driving global growth through innovative restructuring, strategic financing, and transformative M&A.
A. SUBMISSION DEADLINES
NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED for this year.
B. AWARD CATEGORIES
- Accounting/Due Diligence Firm of the Year
- Boutique Investment Banking Firm of the Year
- Investment Banking Firm of the Year
- Law Firm of the Year
- Lender Firm of the Year
- Valuation Firm of the Year
- Communications Firm of the Year
- Strategic Corporation of the Year
- Private Equity Firm of the Year
- Consulting Firm of the Year
- Corporate Development Professional of the Year
- Investment Banker of the Year
- Legal Advisor of the Year
- Lender Professional of the Year
- Private Equity Professional of the Year
- Service Professional of the Year
- Product/Service of the Year
- M&A Deal of the Year
- Corporate/Strategic Deal of the Year (transaction must be a corporate acquisition or divestiture)
- Cross Border Deal of the Year (buyer and seller must be domiciled in different countries)
- Private Equity Deal of the Year (must be a private equity acquisition or private equity sale)
- Equity Financing of the Year
- Debt Financing of the Year
- Restructuring Deal of the Year
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Consumer Discretionary Deal of the Year
Sub-sectors include: Restaurants; Retailing; Media; Consumer Services; Casino; Apparel; Consumer Durables; Automobile and components -
Consumer Staples Deal of the Year
Sub-sectors include: Food Retail; Food Distributors; Agriculture; Drug Retail; Hypermarkets and Super Centers; Food; Beverages; Tobacco; House and Cleaning Products/Supplies; Baby, Dental, Family and/or Feminine Products -
Energy Deal of the Year
Sub-sectors include: Energy Equipment; Energy Services; Oil; Gas; Consumable Fuels; Coal -
Financials Deal of the Year
Sub-sectors include: Banks; Insurance; Real Estate; Diversified Financial Services; Capital Markets -
Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year
Sub-sectors include: Healthcare Equipment and Services; Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology and Life -
Industrials Deal of the Year
Sub-sectors include: Aerospace and Defense; Engineering; Construction; Electrical Equipment; Industrial Conglomerates; Machinery; Trading Companies; Distributors; Commercial Printing; Environmental Services; Office Services; Office Supplies; Security and Alarm Services; Transportation -
Information Technology Deal of the Year
Sub-sectors include: IT Services; Internet; Software; Software Services; Technology Hardware and Equipment; Technology Storage; Radio and Television Broadcasting Equipment; Semiconductors -
Materials Deal of the Year
Sub-sectors include: Chemicals; Construction Materials; Containers Packaging; Metals; Mining; Paper; Forest Products - Professional Services Deal of the Year (includes business to business services across different sectors and sub-sectors)
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Telecommunication Services Deal of the Year
Sub-sectors include: Broadband Telecommunications; Satellite Communications; Wireless Communications -
Utilities Deal of the Year
Sub-sectors include: Electric Utilities; Gas Utilities; Water Utilities; Independent Power; Renewable Electricity Producers - Real Estate Deal of the Year
- Regional Deal of the Year (Regions include: Africa; Asia; Europe; Middle-East; North America – United States; South America, Latin America; North America – Outside United States; Oceania (Australia and surroundings); other)
C. QUALIFYING CRITERIA SECTION
- a.) To qualify for Firm of the Year, the nominated organization must be active internationally
- b.) To qualify for Product/Service of The Year the product or service must be used internationally
- c.) To qualify for Professional of the Year, the individual must be active internationally
- d.) To qualify for M&A Transaction of the Year, Restructuring Deal of the Year, Financing of the Year, Sector and/or Regional Deal of the Year, the deal must adhere to the following criteria:
- The deal must have a minimum value of $10mm USD
- The deal must have been completed between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026
- The deal must not have received an award in the previous year’s International M&A Awards.
- The deal should include one or more international aspects.
D. NOMINATION FEES
- A nominal processing fee applies to all nominations, structured as follows:
- Base Fee: $325
- Additional Fee: $95 for each award category selected
- Timing Adjustments: Depending on the submission date, a $100 early discount or a $100 late fee may apply
- Full payment is required for nominations to be processed. For your convenience, we accept credit card payments. To pay by invoice, please contact The M&A Advisor at awards@maadvisor.com or +1 (212) 951-1550.
E. NOMINATION SUBMISSION PROCESS
- Deals, firms, products/services, and professionals can be nominated in multiple ways:
- Self-nomination
- Colleague nomination
- Client nomination
- 1.) Create an Account – Set up an account to manage your nominations. You can enter and save data at your convenience. Please note that once payment is submitted, no further changes can be made.
- 2.) Prepare a Nomination Form – Submit a separate form for each award category or transaction you wish to enter. Award categories include:
- a.) Restructuring
- b.) M&A Transaction
- c.) Refinancing
- d.) Sector
- e.) Firm
- f.) Turnaround Product/Service
- g.) Professional
- 3.) Gather Required Information – Each submission should include:
- a.) Contact information for nominator, nominee, and marketing/media/communication representatives
- b.) Name of the transaction, refinancing, restructuring, firm, product/service, or professional being nominated
- c.) Applicable nomination category
- d.) Detailed profile of the transaction, refinancing, restructuring, product/service, firm, or professional
- e.) Links to additional supporting information
- f.) For transaction, refinancing, and restructuring categories: date of completion/closing, deal value or value range, and deal team members
- 4.) Multiple Categories – Each transaction may be submitted in multiple award categories if applicable.
- 5.) Required Information for Multiple Categories
a.) detailed profile of the transaction, refinancing, restructuring, product/service, firm, or professional
b.) Links to additional resources or information about the nominated transaction, professional, firm, or individual
c.) For transaction, refinancing, and restructuring categories:
- i. Date the deal was completed or closed
- ii. Deal value or value range
- iii. Deal team members
- 6.) Submit Payment – Credit card information is required to complete the nomination submission.
F. JUDGING PROCESS SECTION
The M&A Advisor leverages research services to access both real-time and historical information on the companies, markets, deals, and individuals represented in the nominations. All submissions are evaluated by an independent committee of industry leaders in M&A, restructuring, and refinancing. Judging is conducted on a secure datasite using trusted technology to ensure that every nomination is processed and reviewed securely and confidentially.
- a.) M&A transaction, restructuring, deal financing, sector and/or regional, submissions will be judged on the following criteria:
- Deal profile (30% of the score)
- Deal challenges (25% of the score)
- Deal benefits (25% of the score)
- International scope (10% of the score)
- Completeness and adherence to nomination form instructions (10% of the score)
- b.) Firm submissions will be judged on the following criteria:
- Firm’s profile (10% of the score)
- Firm’s unique attributes and. industry impact (40% of the score)
- Firm’s deal activity (40% of the score)
- Completeness and adherence to nomination form instructions (10% of the score)
- c.) Product/Service submissions will be judged on the following criteria:
- Product/Service’s profile (30% of the score)
- Product/Service’s benefits and unique attributes (30% of the score)
- Product/Service’s market share, growth trajectory, and industry impact (30% of the score)
- Completeness and adherence to nomination form instructions (10% of the score)
- d.) Professional of the Year submissions will be judged on the following criteria:
- Professional’s profile (30% of the score)
- Professional’s activity (30% of the score)
- Professionals’ unique attributes and industry impact (30% of the score)
- Completeness and adherence to nomination form instructions (10% of the score)
G. CONFIDENTIALITY
The M&A Advisor and its independent judges will uphold the highest standards of confidentiality for all information provided. Once Award Winners are selected, only the transaction or product/service name, the dealmaker, and the firm names will be publicly shared. While a dollar range may be indicated for transaction, refinancing, and restructuring categories, the actual transaction values will remain confidential.
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If you have questions regarding the awards program, contact: awards@maadvisor.com
The M&A Advisor
+1 (212) 812-2136
www.maadvisor.com