This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the PEI Awards – with a twist. As readers may know, we have made changes to the Awards voting process: the winners and runners up in each category will not be decided by popular vote. Instead, they will now be decided by the same judging panel of Private Equity International editors who previously focused on producing the shortlists.
We have also reduced the number of awards categories to celebrate the achievements that truly matter to the market at large. As such, our annual awards now comprise 28 categories across all geographies.
All secondaries-related categories have been migrated to our affiliate title Secondaries Investor. You can find details of how to submit your nominations for the Secondaries Investor Awards here.
You can read more about our decision to change the PEI Awards here.
The nominations process for the PEI Awards remains unchanged. Click HERE to remind us of your firm’s achievements over the past 12 months – the deadline is Friday, 15 November 2024.
Our judging panel, comprising senior members of PEI Group’s global editorial teams, will draw up the list of winners and runners up in November and December based on your submissions and by canvassing the views of colleagues and contacts in the market to find out which firms, institutions, funds and exits stood out during the year. Meet our judging panel here.
Frequently asked questions
When do I need to submit information?
The deadline for submissions is Friday, 15 November 2024. Entries must be submitted by 23:59 ET.
How much information should I submit?
There is a 5,000 character (roughly 500 words) limit on submissions via the text box.
What information is useful?
This is an annual awards process, so information relating to your organisation’s activity over the past 12 months – from 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2024 – is key. Think about useful metrics: if you are a placement agent or a fund formation lawyer, how many funds have you advised and how much capital was raised? Which GPs or LPs have you worked with? If you are a GP, how active have you been in terms of exits and investments, what returns have exits generated and have you had some fundraising success?
Avoid unsupported general statements (“we have had another busy year/we are a leading firm”).
Brief and to the point is probably the best piece of advice we can offer. You can make multiple submissions for multiple categories in one go using our submissions form. Alternatively, you are welcome to make individual submissions for each category using the form.
Where do I submit?
Here.
Can I submit confidential information?
You can; please mark it as strictly confidential. It will then be taken into consideration and not published.
What are the categories?
Please see the full list below.
What goes into the categories?
All award nominations are inherently subjective. Our choices take into account a mixture of qualitative and quantitative criteria, including non-financial considerations, when selecting what goes into each category. We are looking for evidence of how active, but also how innovative, a firm has been. For example, we don’t just look at the biggest deals or exits of the year – though these may well feature – we also look for transactions that are unique in some way.
Here are some pointers based on the broad categories:
Firm of the Year: This category tries to capture everything of note a manager has done over the preceding 12 months. This includes deals, both on the buy-side and sell-side; funds raised or being raised; and other noteworthy initiatives. We privilege all activities that have closed or reached a conclusion within the 12-month period we are examining, but, unlike in other categories, we will consider initiatives, fundraisings and deals that have started but not yet concluded.
Fundraise of the Year: In this category, we are only looking at fundraising processes that have reached a final close within the 12-month period under consideration. Fundraisings that have started or are still underway will not be considered.
Exit of the Year: The award will be assessed in context of type of exit – either through acquisition, IPO, management buyout, or through the secondary market – the value added to the portfolio company, as well as financial success. Partial exits within the 12-month period will be considered, as will continuation fund processes.
Can I submit multiple entries?
Yes. You can use the submissions form to submit for multiple categories in one go. You are also welcome to make multiple submissions for each category if you prefer. If the information supplied is applicable to two or more categories, then please duplicate the same entry.
How are the winners decided?
The winners and runners up are based on two main factors: submissions from the industry, which we call for every year; and the editorial team’s expertise, drawn from our coverage and conversations with sources.
The winners and runners up are independently compiled by our editorial team – we don’t rely on external judges’ panels. You can read bios of the judges here.
Is there a cost for submitting?
There are no costs associated with submitting for the PEI Awards.
What are the key dates?
- Tuesday, 29 October: call for submissions
- Friday, 15 November: deadline for submissions
- Q1 2025: award winners and runners up announced online, as well as in the March Annual Review
The categories in full:
AMERICAS
- Limited Partner of the Year in the Americas
- Large-cap Firm of the Year in the Americas
- Mid-Market Firm of the Year in the Americas
- Firm of the Year in Latin America
- Fundraise of the Year in the Americas
- Exit of the Year in the Americas
- Placement Agent of the Year in the Americas
- Law Firm of the Year in the Americas: Fund Formation
- Law Firm of the Year in the Americas: Transactions
EMEA
- Limited Partner of the Year in EMEA
- Large-Cap Firm of the Year in EMEA
- Mid-Market Firm of the Year in EMEA
- Firm of the Year in Africa
- Firm of the Year in MENA
- Fundraise of the Year in EMEA
- Exit of the Year in EMEA
- Placement Agent of the Year in EMEA
- Law Firm of the Year in EMEA: Fund Formation
- Law Firm of the Year in EMEA: Transactions
ASIA-PACIFIC
- Limited Partner of the Year in Asia-Pacific
- Large-Cap Firm of the Year in Asia-Pacific
- Mid-Market Firm of the Year in Asia-Pacific
- Firm of the Year in Southeast Asia
- Fundraise of the Year in Asia-Pacific
- Exit of the Year in Asia-Pacific
- Placement Agent of the Year in Asia-Pacific
- Law Firm of the Year in Asia-Pacific: Transactions
- Law Firm of the Year in Asia-Pacific: Fund Formation
CLICK HERE to access the submission form.
