INDEPENDENT CORPORATE FINANCE HOUSE OF THE YEAR

This award is based upon the overall achievements of an independent corporate finance house in the calendar year of 2007.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:
- Quality and growth of the private equity practice - e.g. dealflow compared to previous years, case studies, testimonials
- The added value that the boutique has provided to private equity houses
- Innovation - e.g. creative deal structures, deal origination
- Professionalism - e.g. testimonials from private equity houses regarding execution capabilities, contribution to the industry as a whole, quality of management of the boutique as a business

FINANCIAL ADVISER OF THE YEAR

This award is open to the corporate finance houses and corporate finance divisions of accountancy firms and investment banks. The award is based upon advice given to a private equity firm in a specific transaction, whether on the buy- or sell-side, in the calendar year of 2007.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:
- The added value that the adviser has provided to private equity houses
- Innovation - e.g. creative deal structure, deal origination
- Professionalism - e.g. testimonials from private equity houses regarding execution capabilities, contribution to the industry as a whole
-Overall quality of service, including testimonial

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FIRM OF THE YEAR

This award is open to professional services firms, such accountancy firms, insurance brokers, and actuarial firms that serve the private equity industry. This would include financial and specialist due diligence services, debt advisory and fundraising services. The award is based upon the overall achievements of the adviser in the calendar year of 2007.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:
- Quality and growth of the private equity practice - e.g. amount of business compared to previous years, case studies, testimonials
- The added value that the firm as a whole has provided to private equity houses
- Evidence of genuine innovation and creativity of approach in the respective field
- Professionalism - e.g. testimonials from private equity houses regarding execution capabilities, contribution to the industry as a whole

LEGAL ADVISER OF THE YEAR

This award is open to any legal team that works on venture capital/private equity transactions. The award is based upon the overall achievements of the adviser in the calendar year of 2007.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:

- Quality and growth of the private equity practice - e.g. amount of business compared to previous years, case studies, testimonials
- The added value that the adviser has provided to private equity houses
- Evidence of genuine innovation and creativity of approach in solving legal issues
- Professionalism - e.g. testimonials from private equity houses regarding execution capabilities, contribution to the industry as a whole

DEBT PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

This award is open to all providers of debt funding for private equity deals. This would include banks, mezzanine providers, asset-based lenders and integrated funding providers. The award is based upon the overall achievements of the debt provider in the calendar year of 2007.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:
- Quality and growth of the private equity practice - e.g. scale, size and number of transactions compared to previous years, case studies, testimonials
- The added value that the debt provider has provided to private equity houses
- Innovation - e.g. creative structures, tailoring of debt packages
- Professionalism - e.g. testimonials from private equity houses regarding execution capabilities, contribution to the industry as a whole

FUND OF THE YEAR

This award is to recognise skill, professionalism and innovation in fund-raising. It is not judged on the size of the fund.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:
- The geographical and institutional sources of funding
- An innovative fund structure
- The introduction of new investors to the asset class
- Relevant ethical considerations
- The quality of the presentation and marketing of the fund
- The speed with which it was raised
- Whether, given the prevailing market conditions, the fundraising outperformed what could reasonably have been expected
- Endorsements and testimonials from investors in the fund

PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

This award is open to any individual involved in the venture capital/private equity industry who, in the opinion of the editor of Real Deals and the judges, has made an outstanding individual contribution in 2007 to the industry as a whole.

VENTURE CAPITAL DEAL OF THE YEAR

This award is open to all seed, start-up and early-stage deals that were exited in 2007. It recognises the contribution of the venture capital industry to young and high-growth businesses. Entries should come from the (lead) private equity house involved, not from the advisers.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:
- An exit that has created a substantial return on investment
- Evidence of the VC’s role in helping to create value and contributing to the strategic development of the business
- Evidence that the investment has materially out-performed in its marketplace
- Supporting evidence of the wider business impact that the investee company has made (such as new technology developed, new markets established, the creation of new jobs)
- Endorsements and testimonials from other parties involved in the company and/or the deal

MID-MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR

This award is open to all expansion/development capital deals and middle-market buy-outs/buy-ins (up to £350m in deal value) that were exited in 2007. It recognises the contribution of the private equity industry to the success of businesses in the UK mid-market segment. Entries should come from the (lead) private equity house involved, not from the advisers.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:
- An exit that has created a substantial return on a medium or long-term investment
- Evidence of the investors’ role in creating value and contributing to the strategic development of the business
- Evidence that the investment has materially out-performed in its marketplace
- Supporting evidence of the wider business impact that the investee company has made (such as new technology developed, new markets exploited, the creation of new jobs)
- Endorsements and testimonials from other parties involved in the company and/or the deal

LARGE DEAL OF THE YEAR

This award is open to all large buy-outs/buy-ins (greater than £350m in deal value) that were exited in 2007. It recognises the contribution of the private equity industry to the success of businesses that it backs. Entries should come from the (lead) private equity house involved, not from the advisers.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:
- An exit that has created a substantial return on a medium or long-term investment
- Evidence of the GP's role in unlocking value and contributing to the strategic development of the business.
- Evidence that the investment has materially out performed in its marketplace
- Supporting evidence of the wider business impact that the investee company has made (such as new markets developed, new technology exploited, the creation of new jobs)
- Endorsements and testimonials from other parties involved in the company and/or the deal

HOUSE OF THE YEAR

This is open to all venture capital and private equity houses operating in the UK. It recognises the outstanding achievement of an individual house in the calendar year of 2007.

THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR:
- How the house’s performance this year compares to those of previous years
- The range and quality of its new deals
- Its successful exits
- Its overall returns on investment
- The level and success of fundraising activity and of its funds’ performance
- The general expansion of the business (such as appointments of new staff, opening of new offices etc)
- Its general contribution to entrepreneurship
- Endorsements and testimonials from other parties involved with the firm