The Mergermarket European PE Awards 2026 filled The Brewery in London on 29 September. Eighteen categories on the shortlist, but one recurring judging criterion: not what a firm claimed, but what it could show.
Most awards nights are memorable only for the wine. This one, however, was worth listening to. Louise Beale hosted and was fantastic. She kept eighteen categories moving with real pace and warmth, so the room stayed with her until the final announcement. Mergermarket also ran a well-organised evening: the food was fantastic, and the after-dinner casino and arcade games were every bit as good.
What the Mergermarket European PE Awards judges rewarded
What struck me was how consistently the citations came back to proof. For example, Oakley Capital took Lower Mid-Market Exit for vLex on “significant organic EBITDA growth” and “a compelling value creation journey”. Inflexion then took Mid-Market Exit for Avantus Aerospace on “the degree of difficulty involved and the strength of the value creation story”. The same firm also won Mid-Market Manager of the Year for the third consecutive year. Likewise, CBPE won Lower Mid-Market Manager on “a strong track record of exits” and “a clearly articulated value creation strategy”. Multiple expansion, though, did not feature in any citation I heard.
The advisory awards told the same story
The advisory categories told the same story from the other side of the table. Candesic won Commercial Due Diligence for insight that “moves beyond market analysis”. Evology, meanwhile, took Specialist Due Diligence for a significant carve-out with critical security considerations. It also showed detailed evidence of what it delivered. Lincoln International won Debt Advisor because, in the judges’ words, capital structures are increasingly sophisticated and financing solutions more complex. Clearwater took Financial Advisor. White & Case and Weil, Gotshal & Manges won the two legal categories, while Rede Partners took Placement Agent for the third year running.
Fundraising: raised well and fast
Fundraising was the sharpest test. There were fifteen submissions, but the judges shortlisted only those that “raised well and fast” in a highly selective market. Nyver Capital Partners won Emerging Manager Fundraise for Nyver I, specifically for its European focus and LP base. Norvestor then won Fundraise of the Year for Norvestor X, which it raised at exceptional speed with blue-chip backing. HSBC was the judges’ unanimous choice for Bank Lender of the Year, and Coller EQT took Secondaries Investor.
What the Mergermarket European PE Awards mean for your next exit
Congratulations to every winner and everyone shortlisted. The pattern is the lesson. In 2026 the market is paying for value that survives scrutiny: organic growth, operational improvement, and a diligence story that holds up. In short, value that cannot be evidenced was never fully created. It was only ever claimed.
Key takeaways
- Build the value creation evidence file from Day One, not twelve months before exit. The judges, like buyers, reward what a seller can show.
- Treat specialist diligence on carve-outs, technology and security as part of the equity story rather than a closing formality.
- Finally, in a selective fundraising market, judges treat speed and LP quality as proof of conviction, not just outcomes.