Let’s hear it for architects of deals
Feb 6 2008 by Iain Laing, The Journal
DEALS always make headlines in The Journal – they are the lifeblood of a healthy economy. But the men and women who work tirelessly to make these deals happen often go unnoticed.
Today we will try to make sure that never happens again as we launch the Dealmakers Awards, which will name and reward the people behind the action.
The awards will shine a spotlight on the lawyers, accountants, bankers, investment companies, advisers and on the companies themselves for skilful and effective corporate buying and selling.
The Journal editor Brian Aitken said: “The North-East has a fantastic wealth of talent in its professional services sector. These awards will highlight the very best corporate professionals in the region.
“Although our professional services sector ranks with the best in the country, it sadly often gets overlooked by the region’s business world.
“But the wheels of commerce could not run without these professionals. They are essential to the growth of business in the region. We want to ensure that the movers and shakers behind the deals get the recognition that is due to them.”
And it’s not just the big stock market buy-outs that will get all the attention – we will also be rewarding the takeovers and management buy-ins at small and medium-sized companies which are so important to the growth of the North-East economy.
We also have awards to recognise the special contributions of the individuals who make the most impressive contribution to the region’s dealmaking.
The awards are being launched by both The Journal and its Middlesbrough sister paper the Evening Gazette and entries can come from all sectors right across their circulation area from the south of Teesside, across County Durham, west to Cumbria and as far north as the Scottish Borders.
The awards have attracted big-name sponsors from the region’s corporate services sector. The main title sponsor is Newcastle law firm Watson Burton and other backers include UBS Wealth Management, accountancy firm UNW and Lloyds TSB.
And the academic partner for the awards is Durham Business School, which will be researching the deals before the judges make their decision.
Deputy dean of the school Professor Rob Dixon said: “As academic partner for the awards, Durham Business School is proud to be associated with the launch of The Journal and Evening Gazette Deals Awards.
“The awards have been created to recognise and reward the valuable corporate finance expertise which exists in the North-East and the significant contribution it makes to the UK economy.
“The awards, based on deals completed within 2007, will recognise the exceptional achievements of companies in the North-East and those people who lead the region’s corporate finance market place.
“Seven award categories have been created to reflect these activities, both for the companies who initiate the deals and also the dealmakers who see them through to completion.
“The role of Durham Business School is to draw on its expertise as a global leader of business education, research and knowledge transfer, and research the nominations on behalf of The Journal and the Evening Gazette by working with the judging panel to assess all the nominees and choose an overall winner.”
