Dealmakers are awarded extra time

Apr 2 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

WITH dealmakers working flat out in the run up to new tax year and the changes in Capital Gains Tax the deadline for the inaugural Journal Deal Awards has been put back two weeks.

Deal activity is peaking this week and along with our sponsors we believe it is fair to allow this activity to be included in the North East Deal Awards.

Launched by The Journal and our sponsors earlier this year, the awards are designed to recognise the importance to the regional economy of business deals and the people who create them.

We have received a whole host of entries to ensure the competition in the various categories will be hard-fought but there are now a further two weeks to enter.

Journal editor Brian Aitken said: “Dealmakers across the region are being kept busy and we want to see these deals and the people who are making them given an opportunity to enter the competition. The North East has a fantastic wealth of talent in its professional services sector. These awards will highlight the very best.

“Deals are fundamental to business growth. We will be looking for the boldest, quickest, cleverest and most efficient. While deals often hit the headlines, the entrepreneurs and professionals behind them do not always get the credit they deserve – now they will.”

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. And there are awards to recognise the individuals who make the most impressive contribution to the region’s dealmaking.

Award categories are: Acquisition of the Year, Sale of the Year, MBO/MBI of the Year, Small/Mid-Size Company Deal of the Year, Emerging Dealmaker of the Year, Dealmaker of the Year and Deal of the Year. Then there will be the overall Deal of the Year award.