Lagos, Nigeria – DealMakers AFRICA will host its West Africa Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Awards in Lagos, recognizing the advisory firms driving corporate finance activity across the region. The awards, a key event for the financial community, underscore Lagos’s growing importance as a hub for investment and dealmaking in West Africa. This initiative reflects a broader effort to track and celebrate the increasing sophistication of M&A activity throughout the continent, excluding South Africa.
Founded in 2008, DealMakers AFRICA has develop into a leading source of information on African M&A, publishing quarterly reports that detail transactions and rank advisory firms based on deal value and volume. These league tables, produced on a country-by-country basis, provide a benchmark for performance and a valuable resource for companies seeking financial advisors. The platform’s commitment to data-driven analysis has established it as a trusted voice in the African financial landscape.
The West Africa M&A Awards will honor firms involved in a wide range of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, equity raisings, listings, debt financing, and private equity deals. While the majority of awards are based on objective criteria – the size and number of deals completed – three categories will incorporate a degree of subjective assessment. These include the Deal of the Year, Private Equity Deal of the Year, and Individual DealMaker of the Year awards, which will be determined through nominations submitted by advisory firms across both East and West Africa.
According to DealMakers AFRICA co-founder Marylou Greig, the awards are a testament to the resilience of advisory firms operating in a challenging economic climate. “The quality of transactions completed during the year reflects not only strong deal-making capability but also the depth of professional expertise that exists across the region’s advisory firms,” Greig said. This recognition is particularly significant given the complex global and regional economic environment.
A History of Celebrating African Finance
DealMakers AFRICA first launched its standalone awards ceremony in Nairobi in March 2019, recognizing the growing M&A activity in East Africa. The expansion to Lagos with the inaugural West Africa event in March 2024 signaled the platform’s commitment to covering the entire continent. Looking ahead, DealMakers AFRICA plans to host dedicated ceremonies in both Nairobi and Lagos in 2026, further solidifying its presence in these key financial centers.
The choice of Lagos as the host city is deliberate, highlighting its pivotal role as a financial hub for West Africa. Greig emphasized that the awards aim to acknowledge the professionals – advisors, financiers, and legal experts – who operate behind the scenes to facilitate complex transactions. “Their efforts help facilitate investment, support corporate growth and strengthen investment markets across the region,” she explained.
The Collaborative Nature of M&A
Greig also underscored the collaborative nature of the M&A ecosystem. “The success of the firms and individuals recognized at this year’s events underscores the collaborative nature of the M&A ecosystem. Each transaction is the product of many months of hard work, creativity and negotiation, and the awards provide an opportunity to acknowledge those contributions,” she stated. This collaborative spirit is essential for driving successful deals and fostering economic growth.
DealMakers AFRICA’s long-term vision extends beyond East and West Africa. The platform aims to build closer relationships with advisory firms across the entire continent, with plans to expand coverage into North and Southern Africa. This expansion will support the development of more comprehensive league tables and awards that accurately reflect the realities of dealmaking activity across Africa. DealMakers AFRICA provides detailed information on its methodology and past awards on its website.
The platform’s commitment to recognizing excellence in the M&A space is expected to further stimulate activity and attract investment to the region. By celebrating the achievements of advisory firms and the professionals who drive these deals, DealMakers AFRICA is playing a vital role in shaping the future of African finance.
The next major event for DealMakers AFRICA will be the hosting of dedicated awards ceremonies in both Nairobi and Lagos in 2026. Further details regarding dates and nomination processes will be announced in the coming months.
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