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Leading mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions and advisory firms in West Africa took centre stage at the DealMakers AFRICA Annual Gala Awards held in Lagos, with top performers across corporate finance transactions recognised for their roles in high-value deals.
The ceremony, which held at EbonyLife Place, Victoria Island, celebrated key activities in the M&A and broader corporate finance landscape over the past year. Awards were largely determined by measurable criteria such as deal value and transaction volume, while select categories were decided through a detailed review of impact and complexity.
Organisers noted that categories including Deal of the Year, Private Equity Deal of the Year, and Individual DealMaker of the Year were assessed based on execution challenges, transformational impact, value creation potential, and nominations from advisory firms.
In the highly competitive West Africa Deal of the Year category, five major transactions were shortlisted, including Presco’s ₦236 billion rights issue, Bosquet Investments’ acquisition of a 21.22 per cent stake in Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, GTCO’s international equity offering and listing on the London Stock Exchange, the sale of a 60 per cent stake in Eko Electricity Distribution Company by West Power and Gas, and the listing of the MOFI Real Estate Investment Fund on the Nigerian Exchange.
GTCO’s international equity offering and listing on the London Stock Exchange emerged winner, a deal described as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s capital market and a reflection of increasing participation by African financial institutions in global markets.
Similarly, in the Private Equity Deal of the Year category, Helios Investment Partners’ exit of its 75 per cent stake in Axxela clinched the top prize. The transaction was recognised as one of the largest private equity exits in Nigeria’s energy sector in recent years, underscoring sustained investor interest in infrastructure assets.
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For the Individual DealMaker of the Year category, seven professionals made the final shortlist from an initial 13 nominees. The award was jointly won by Seyi Bella, partner at Banwo & Ighodalo, and Bimbo Oyeyiga, Head of Corporate Finance at Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria.
Other honours at the event highlighted leading financial and legal advisers across various segments. In the M&A category, Standard Chartered Bank ranked first as financial adviser by deal value, ahead of Morgan Stanley and Stanbic IBTC Capital, while Enexus Finance led by deal activity.
In legal advisory rankings for M&A transactions, Dentons emerged top by deal value, followed by Templars and Asafo & Co, while Asafo & Co led in terms of deal activity.
In the equity market segment, Coronation Merchant Bank topped the financial advisers’ chart by value, with FCMB Capital Markets and CardinalStone Partners following closely. CardinalStone Partners, however, led by transaction activity.
Banwo & Ighodalo dominated the legal advisory space in equity transactions, ranking first by both value and activity. Other notable firms included Olaniwun Ajayi, Templars, ALN Nigeria | Aluko & Oyebode, and Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie.
In the debt market category, Stanbic IBTC Capital emerged the leading financial adviser by both value and activity, ahead of Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria and Vetiva Advisory Services. Banwo & Ighodalo also maintained top position in legal advisory rankings for debt transactions.
DealMakers AFRICA also acknowledged the contributions of strategic partners, including TSM Network Ltd, for supporting the successful hosting of the event.
The DealMakers Awards, originally launched in South Africa in 2000, were expanded across the continent in 2008 under the DealMakers AFRICA platform, and have since become a benchmark for recognising excellence in Africa’s deal-making ecosystem.
