The 7th Annual M&A Awards Belgium was a night to remember, bringing together the finest dealmakers, investors, and corporate leaders from across the country.
Check out all the photos here.
Photography: Vincent Gorissen
On November 28, the crème de la crème of the Belgian M&A community gathered for the highlight of the year: the 7th Annual M&A Awards Belgium. Held at Paleis 10 in Brussels, the event was a spectacular celebration of the year's standout deals and the professionals who brought them to life. With 800 attendees – up from 600 the previous year – this edition cemented its status as the premier gathering for Belgian dealmakers, investors, and corporate leaders.
A night of glamour and recognition
The evening began with a sophisticated reception, where guests mingled over wine, champagne, oysters, and elegant hors d'oeuvres. The cheerful atmosphere set the stage for the main event: the award ceremony held in the striking auditorium of the Brussels Expo.
The evening's host, Xavier Taveirne, set a lively tone by introducing the event’s main sponsor, Ansarada, through an entertaining and cleverly crafted video. Following his warm welcome, Community Manager Charlotte Declercq took the stage. A former M&A lawyer, Charlotte has dedicated herself to advancing and professionalizing Belgium’s M&A Community, with remarkable success. Attendance at the M&A Awards has soared from 600 guests last year to 800 in 2024. Interest in the community’s broader initiatives is also on the rise, including round tables, M&A forums, exclusive gatherings for young talents, and access to valuable resources on MandA.be and Dealmakerdata.be.
Charlotte outlined her ambitious goals for 2025: fostering deeper engagement with private equity managers, increasing the participation of M&A Directors who play pivotal roles in transactions, and enhancing outreach to French-speaking regions of Belgium. These aims are already reflected in upcoming events such as the inaugural Private Equity Summit on December 11 at Loyens & Loeff and an M&A Directors and CFO roundtable scheduled for February 27, 2025, at Telenet.
Next, jury chairwoman Lieve Creten took the stage to shed light on the rigorous selection process for the evening’s nominees and winners. The experienced jury evaluated submissions against five key criteria. The first was the deal rationale and strategic vision underpinning the transaction. Financial impact and value creation, particularly contributions to EBITDA growth, formed the second pillar. Thirdly, the jury considered the deal’s implications for stakeholders, including its broader societal impact. The complexity of the transaction and the skill with which dealmakers navigated these challenges were also heavily weighted. Finally, the track record, culture, and leadership of the parties involved played a crucial role.
Lieve emphasized the jury’s strict independence, noting that members abstained from voting in cases of potential conflicts of interest. The process was further strengthened by the knowledge partnership of Vlerick Business School, which conducted a comprehensive assessment of the more than 100 submitted deals.
These insights provided the audience with a deeper appreciation of the exceptional efforts behind the evening’s celebrated achievements.
The winners: Deals that shaped 2024
The night celebrated excellence across seven categories, showcasing the ingenuity and determination driving Belgium’s M&A sector.
- Best Venture Capital Deal – Life Sciences: PanTera secured this award with a groundbreaking 93 million dollars Series A funding round to advance a revolutionary cancer treatment using localized radiation.
- Best Venture Capital Deal – Technology: Ghent-based Aikido triumphed for its 12 million dollars funding round in the competitive cybersecurity sector, earning praise for its innovation and growth potential.
- Best Mid Cap Private Equity Exit: Smile Invest took gold for its strategic exit of SmartSD, a digital transformation success story in security systems distribution.
- Best Large Cap Private Equity Exit: Summit Partners was lauded for the exit of CluePoints, an AI-powered leader in clinical trial quality management.
- Best Corporate Deal – Mid Cap: The acquisition of Belgian department store chain INNO by Axcent of Scandinavia and SKEL demonstrated exceptional stakeholder management and strategic vision.
- Best Corporate Deal – Large Cap: CMB’s takeover of Euronav impressed with its ambitions to transform the shipping industry through sustainable practices and robust access to capital markets.
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Renowned M&A lawyer Wim Dejonghe received this prestigious honor for his pivotal contributions to both the Belgian and international M&A landscapes.
Read more about the winners here.
A feast for the senses
After the awards, attendees indulged in a lavish dinner. The menu included a delicate scallop and pork belly starter or a bold eggplant and gochujang alternative. For the main course, veal fillet or celeriac tataki delighted the palate, all paired with exquisite wines. The meal concluded with a delicious walking dessert featuring tiramisu, crème brûlée, and pavlova, accompanied by atmospheric music.
Looking ahead to 2025
As the evening drew to a close, attendees reveled in the success of the Belgian M&A market in 2024 and shared optimistic outlooks for the year ahead. With a growing community, innovative deals, and events like the upcoming Private Equity Summit and M&A Directors roundtable, 2025 promises to be another banner year for Belgian dealmakers.
This year’s M&A Awards not only celebrated the best in the business but also reinforced the strength and vibrancy of Belgium’s M&A sector. As the Belgian M&A community looks ahead to 2025, the energy and optimism from this unforgettable event are set to propel the industry to even greater heights.
