ACQ Global Awards 2014

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We frequently represent clients who are based outside the United States but are involved in U.S.-centered or cross-border disputes or investigations. This includes work for foreign sovereigns. We provide the same excellent representation to those clients as we do to our U.S.-based clients, often teaming up with leading lawyers from other parts of the world. MoloLamken LLP. During the last couple of years the ICD has been able to establish a number of Islamic banks and Ijarah companies in its member countries and has an ambitious plan for the near future to create more Islamic finance channels in other ICD member countries…. Islamic Development Bank Of The Year, Islamic Corporation For The Development Of The Private Sector (ICD)

Timur Rustem has created an award-winning team which is rapidly establishing itself at the forefront of Criminal Defence work; with its focus on private work, it is a niche City law firm which has positioned itself as a specialist and leader in Serious Crime. Rustem Guardian Solicitors For over 25 years, Avondale have created and maximised business sales, acquisitions and shareholder value, exceeding projected values time and time again. We are proud to have one of the largest and longest established, specialist corporate teams in the UK, with experienced professionals specialising solely in the sale of businesses. We provide unrivalled coverage of the business sales and acquisitions market with the highest success rate in the industry. Operating from our UK headquarters near London, our research and marketing teams, combined with our international network, provides an impressive global reach for buyers and sellers alike. Avondale “We have been delighted with the support the PNC [Business Credit] team has provided us with. It was a complex deal and their patience, flexibility and naturally collaborative approach……..made a significant difference.” James Gunton, Exponent Private Equity.

“PNC [Business Credit] was receptive to the deal from the very outset and impressed us with their ‘can do’ attitude. The team’s flexibility, pragmatism and sector experience was refreshing.” Mike Kirby, Managing Director, Knighton Foods

Our experienced team possesses in-depth industry knowledge in Thailand, and combined with our global network, this allows PwC to deliver appropriate tax and legal solutions, formulate tax strategies and planning, and help our clients to manage implementation and risk. Manage your tax activities with PwC Thailand.

“We are delighted to have been awarded ASSET APPRAISER OF THE YEAR & CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING ADVISOR OF THE YEAR. These awards, voted by the industry, recognises our sustained commitment to providing a truly distinctive asset valuation, advisory and disposal business, driven by passion, integrity and commitment to our clients. It is particularly pleasing that the unique approach we call Asset Ingenuity has been recognised in this way.” Paul Craig, Managing Director of SIA Group AppleTree Capital, is an alternative investments advisor specializing in Emerging Markets and Absolute Return strategies.

The founding members, Michael Nicoletos and Dimitris Apistoulas have a combined experience of more than 20 years in financial markets and they have been working together since 2005. AppleTree Capital focuses on a niche part of the Emerging Markets world, which is often overlooked by the traditional Emerging Markets funds. AppleTree Capital.

KPMG’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) practice are proud to receive the Global ACQ AML Advisory of the Year award.

KPMG member have worked on many of the largest global AML transformation programs, Know Your Customer (KYC) remediations and Sanctions lookback investigations. We also advise on regulatory actions, conduct gap analyses of member clients’ AML and Sanctions controls and assist clients to draft risk-based and practical AML policies and procedures.

KPMG is a global network of professional providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 156 countries and have more than 156,000 people working in member around the world. Brian Dilley, Global Head of AML Services

With 60 years of operating in Zambia, we provide Audit, Tax and Advisory services, delivering a globally consistent set of multidisciplinary finance and accounting skills and capabilities based on deep industry knowledge. Our industry specialisation helps KPMG people to develop a rich understanding of clients’ businesses, acquire insight, skills and resources required to address industry-specific issues and opportunities.

Audit services Our Audit services include: ■ Financial statement audit ■ Financial statement reviews ■ Agreed upon procedures Tax services Our Tax services include: ■ Corporate Tax ■ International Executive Services ■ Indirect Tax ■ Company Statutory Services Advisory services Contact us: Our Advisory services include amongst others: First Floor, Elunda Two ■ Transactions and Restructuring Addis Ababa Roundabout ■ Risk and Compliance Rhodes Park Lusaka ■ Internal Audit Co-sourcing Unit 14 Lyness House ■ Performance and Technology Freedom Avenue ■ Forensic Kitwe.

■ IT Advisory Telephone: +260 211 372 900 Email: zm-fmzambia@kpmg.com.

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Since 2003 ACQ, one of the world’s leading markets magazines has singled out the outstanding institutions and individuals in the sector.

Over the years, the Awards for Excellence have evolved with the markets they cover.

ACQ’s Awards now incorporate more global product categories than ANY other title in the arena, best-inclass awards in all regions around the world.

All the awards have one central theme – they recognise institutions and individuals that demonstrate leadership, innovation, and momentum in the markets in which they excel.

In this volatile and unpredictable environment, the need for business to be forward thinking and innovative has never been greater: the need for managers to think and plan beyond the short term; the need for workforces to embrace change; the need for companies, large and small, to consider how to build sustainable enterprises in a world where competition is tougher than “We believe that good ever.

ACQ has been celebrating achievement, innovation and brilliance in our annual awards for much of that time. Every year, we seek the assistance of our tens of thousands of readers to nominate and recognise industry leaders, eminent individuals, exemplary teams and distinguished organisations, which we believe represent the benchmark of achievement and best practice in a variety of fields. We strive to recognise an ever-widening spectrum of services, markets, industries and organisations. We believe that by consulting our readers we can better identify the groups that are confronting the issues which face us at this complex juncture, and our awards will rise above the status of participation certificate and actually be an endorsement of their work.

news should travel fast.

When you put your news into the right hands, you give people the power to shape the world”

ACQ Magazine is the longest and most established magazine of its kind! Anybody can make that claim, but ACQ really is different. Serving the markets for a decade, which other publications can draw on such experience?

This year, awards again feature candidates from Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East/Africa. It is important to note that some notable examples are recognised for their International presence where geography is no barrier to their skills and performance.

Finally, we would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to our principal sponsors, Widza.com for being so generous and for helping us make this event so successful in 2014.

HOW TO REACH ACQ ACQ welcomes news and views from its readers. Correspondence should be sent to customerservice@acqmagazine.com For more information about ACQ visit www.acq5.com. ACQ Copyright © 2014 ACQ is published under licence from Metropolis International Group Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without permission.

SAFE HARBOR The interviews in this publication may contain certain forward looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations of the businesses profiled. These statements and forecasts involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend upon circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors which could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward looking statements and forecasts. The statements may have been made with reference to forecast price changes, economic conditions and the current regulatory environment. Nothing in these announcements should be construed as a profit forecast.

361 CAPITAL US - ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT FUND OF THE YEAR - 361 MANAGED FUTURES STRATEGY FUND

CLARK HILL PLC US (CHICAGO) – IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ABELA MALDONADO & ASOCIADOS LTDA COLOMBIA – COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

CROSS BORDER STRATEGIES LLC US - DEBT FINANCING ADVISORY OF THE YEAR (MID MARKET)

AGILITH CAPITAL LLC CANADA - FUND MANAGEMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR

DANTAS, LEE BROCK & CAMARGO ADVOGADOS BRAZIL - FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

AIP ASSET MANAGEMENT CANADA – PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR

DANTAS, LEE BROCK & CAMARGO ADVOGADOS BRAZIL - LEADING CUSTOMER SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

AIP ASSET MANAGEMENT CANADA – INVESTMENT FUND PORTFOLIO MANAGER OF THE YEAR, JAY BALA

DANTAS, LEE BROCK & CAMARGO ADVOGADOS BRAZIL - LITIGATION - MOST RESPECTED LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ALCHEMY SYSTEMS US – CORPORATE TRAINING FIRM OF THE YEAR

DASCIAD INTELLIGENCE US – DUE DILIGENCE ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

ALLEN, PINNIX & NICHOLS P.A. US – ADMINISTRATIVE / REGULATORY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

DAVIS LLP CANADA – PRO BONO LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ALLEN, PINNIX & NICHOLS P.A. US (NORTH CAROLINA) - LAWYER OF THE YEAR, NOEL L. ALLEN

DAVIS LLP CANADA – PPP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ALTUS ECONOMICS US - TRANSFER PRICING ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU BRAZIL - TRANSFER PRICING FIRM OF THE YEAR

ALVAREZ & MARSAL US - RISK MANAGEMENT & INSURANCE ADVISOR OF THE YEAR, YVETTE CONNOR

DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU LATIN AMERICA - OVERALL TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

ALVAREZ & MARSAL US - RISK MANAGEMENT & INSURANCE ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

DEMOTECH, INC. US – NICHE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR (INSURANCE)

AMETHYST CAPTIVE INSURANCE SOLUTIONS, INC. US - INSURANCE MANAGEMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR

DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP US (WASHINGTON D.C) – CAPITAL MARKETS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ARANEDA & STROUD IMMIGRATION LAW GROUP US (CAROLINA) - CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP US (WASHINGTON D.C) – DIVERSITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ARANEDA & STROUD IMMIGRATION LAW GROUP US (CAROLINA) - IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP US (WASHINGTON D.C) – ANTI-CURRUPTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BASILIO ADVOGADOS BRAZIL - ARBITRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP US (WASHINGTON D.C) – CAPITAL MARKETS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BASILIO ADVOGADOS BRAZIL - COMMERCIAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP US (WASHINGTON D.C) – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, CHRISTOPHER J. BARRY

BAY TRUST INTERNATIONAL LTD BELIZE - LEADING INTERNATIONAL TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP US (Minneapolis, MN) – CAPITAL MARKETS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BAYOU CITY CAPITAL US - CTA MANAGER OF THE YEAR

DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP US (Minneapolis, MN) – DIVERSITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BMC GROUP US - DEAL MANAGEMENT SOLUTION OF THE YEAR (SMARTROOM™)

DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP US (Minneapolis, MN) – ANTI-CURRUPTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BMC GROUP US - NICHE SOLUTIONS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR (TURNAROUND)

DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP US (Minneapolis, MN) – CAPITAL MARKETS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BROWN & LIPINSKY LLP US - WHISTLEBLOWER ATTORNEY OF THE YEAR, DAREN H. LIPINSKY, ESQ.

DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP US (Seattle, WA) – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, CHRISTOPHER J. BARRY

BURLESON LLP US - LEADING INDEPENDENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

DSN INTERNATIONAL TAX ADVISORS INC. US – INDEPENDENT CORPORATE TAX ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASIA LLC US - BOUTIQUE INVESTMENT BANK OF THE YEAR

DUFF & PHELPS US (NY) – VALUATION ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASIA LLC US - TURNAROUND DEAL OF THE YEAR (AGFEED USA - SMITHFIELD/MURPHY BROWN AND TRIOAK FOODS)

DUFF & PHELPS US (NY) – VALUATION ADVISOR OF THE YEAR, CHRIS FRANZEK

C&L ATTORNEYS S.C. MEXICO - IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

E&Y CENTRAL AMERICA INC. COSTA RICA - TAX ADVISER OF THE YEAR

CADWALADER, WICKERSHAM & TAFT LLP US (NEW YORK) – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, GREGORY A. MARKEL

EDGE LEGAL STRATEGIES, P.S.C. PUERTO RICO – MOST TRUSTED LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

CAMPBELLS CAYMAN ISLANDS - INSOLVENCY AND RESTRUCTURING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ERNST & YOUNG LLP US - ADVISOR OF THE YEAR (FRAUD INVESTIGATION AND DISPUTE SERVICES), GREG WOLSKI

CAPSTONE PARTNERS LLC US - MIDDLE MARKET INVESTMENT BANK OF THE YEAR CARICO JOHNSON TOOMEY US (CALIFORNIA) - MID-MARKET LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CARVALHO FAIRBAIRN GUIDI BRAZIL - IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CARVALHO FAIRBAIRN GUIDI BRAZIL - IP LAWYER OF THE YEAR, JULIO GUIDI LIMA DA ROCHA CARVALHO FAIRBAIRN GUIDI BRAZIL - REAL ESTATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CASARES, CASTELAZO, FRÍAS Y ZÁRATE, S.C. MEXICO - INTERNATIONAL - COMPETITION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CASTELLANOS & CO COLOMBIA - IP PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CENTRAL LAW - DIAZ DURAN & ASOCIADOS GUATEMALA – INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CLARK HILL PLC US (CHICAGO) – LEADING IP LAWYER OF THE YEAR, MICHAEL M. GEOFFREY

ERNST & YOUNG LLP US - FORENSIC DUE DILIGENCE ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR ERNST & YOUNG LLP US - TRANSACTION RISK ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR EY MEXICO - TRANSFER PRICING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR EY ARGENTINA ARGENTINA - FULL SERVICE TAX ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR EY ARGENTINA ARGENTINA - INVESTMENT FUNDS ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR EY VENEZUELA VENEZUELA - TAX CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR, JOSE ANTONIO VELAZQUEZ FAYER GIPSON LLP US - ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR FERNANDEZ MANZO ASOCIADOS MEXICO – INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR FERNANDEZ MANZO ASOCIADOS MEXICO – SANITARY REGISTRATIONS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

FIALA & WEAVER P.L.L.C. US (DC) – IP STRATEGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

INTERCORP GROUP BRAZIL - INTL TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

FRAGOMEN, DEL REY, BERNSEN & LOEWY LLP CANADA - BUSINESS IMMIGRATION LAWYER OF THE YEAR, DAVID CRAWFORD

INVESTORS GROUP FINANCIAL SERVICES CANADA - FINANCIAL ADVISOR OF THE YEAR, SHAFIK HIRANI

FRAGOMEN, DEL REY, BERNSEN & LOEWY LLP CANADA - FOREIGN TALENT IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY OF THE YEAR, AUDREA J. GOLDING

IPIPELINE USA - NICHE SOLUTIONS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR (INSURANCE)

FRANKFURT KURNIT KLEIN + SELZ, PC US – ART LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ITG WORLDWIDE US - INTERNATIONAL BENEFITS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

FRANKFURT KURNIT KLEIN + SELZ, PC US – LAWYER OF THE YEAR (ADVERTISING, MARKETING, BRANDING, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS), JEFFREY A. GREENBAUM

ITG WORLDWIDE US - NICHE ADVISER OF THE YEAR (MEDICAL INSURANCE)

FREY BUCK, P.S. US (WASHINGTON) – TRIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (FEDERAL) FULBROOK MANAGEMENT LLC US - THIRD PARTY LITIGATION ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR GABLEGOTWALS US (OKLAHOMA) – OVERALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR GABLEGOTWALS US (OKLAHOMA) – LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR GALNET ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC US (ILLINOIS) – VOLATILITY ARBITRAGE CTA FUND OF THE YEAR, (GALNET ALPHA FUND LLC) GALNET ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC US (ILLINOIS) – VOLATILITY ARBITRAGE CTA FUND OF THE YEAR, (GALNET ALPHA FUND LLC) GEC RISK ADVISORY LLC US – CORPORATE RISK CRISIS ADVISORY OF THE YEAR GEC RISK ADVISORY LLC US – CORPORATE RISK CRISIS ADVISORY OF THE YEAR GLC ADVISORS & CO., LLC. US (NY) - INDEPENDENT INVESTMENT BANKING ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR GOBER HILGERS PLLC US - GOVERNMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR GOLUB CAPITAL US - CREDIT ASSET MANAGER OF THE YEAR GORDON | MCGRATH, ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW JAMAICA - CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR EISNER JAFFE GORRY CHAPMAN & ROSS US - RISING STAR - INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS ATTORNEY OF THE YEAR - MANISH S. ANTANI GRANADEIRO GUIMARAES ADVOGADOS BRAZIL – EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR GRANT THORNTON LLP CANADA - TRANSFER PRICING ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR GRUPO GNP ARGENTINA - TAX FIRM OF THE YEAR GUILLERMO N PEREZ, GRUPO GNP ARGENTINA - TAX CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR HALTOM & DOAN US (ARKANSAS) – IP ATTORNEY OF THE YEAR, JENNIFER DOAN HANDLER THAYER, LLP US (ILLINOIS) - LARGE TIER - ESTATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR HANNA HASL-KELCHNER, THE NO NONSENSE LAWYER US - LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY OF THE YEAR HARTER SECREST & EMERY LLP USA (NEW YORK) - REGULATORY COMPLIANCE ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR (HEALTH CARE) HOGG, SHAIN & SCHECK CANADA – BOUTIQUE TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR HOLMES & COMPANY CANADA - COMMERCIAL BUSINESS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR HOLMES & COMPANY CANADA - CORPORATE GOVERNANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR HUGHES HUBBARD & REED LLP US - LEADING DIVERSITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - DIVERSITY FOR WOMEN HUGHES HUBBARD & REED LLP US - LEADING DIVERSITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - MINORITIES HUGHES HUBBARD & REED LLP US (NEW YORK) – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, JAMES GIDDENS HUGHES HUBBARD & REED LLP US (NEW YORK) – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, CANDACE BEINECKE HUGHES HUBBARD & REED LLP US - AVIATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IJW & CO. CANADA - CORPORATE FINANCE BOUTIQUE OF THE YEAR INTERCONNECT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. CANADA - BOUTIQUE FINANCIAL PLANNING ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

JORDAN, KNAUFF & COMPANY US (CHICAGO IL) - BOUTIQUE M&A ADVISORY OF THE YEAR JORDAN, KNAUFF & COMPANY US (CHICAGO IL) - LEADING ADVISOR OF THE YEAR - MR. G. COOK JORDAN, JR. JORDAN, KNAUFF & COMPANY (FINANCIAL ADVISORY TO THE VENDOR) US (CHICAGO IL) - DEAL OF THE YEAR (DYNAPOWER SALE TO PFINGSTEN) JOSEPH SAVERI LAW FIRM US (SAN FRANCISCO) – ANTITRUST LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR JOSEPH SAVERI LAW FIRM US (SAN FRANCISCO) – ANTITRUST LITIGATION LAWYER OF THE YEAR, JOSEPH R. SAVERI KATONA & MIR LLP US (NEW YORK) - IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR KEHRER BIELAN RESEARCH & CONSULTING US - RESEARCH & CONSULTING FIRM OF THE YEAR (FINANCIAL SERVICES) KLEIN LYONS BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS CANADA - APPELLATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR KSI MEXICO MEXICO - ACCOUNTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR LAURA COLLADA SALCIDO - DUMONT BERGMAN BIDER & CO SC MEXICO - TRADEMARK LAWYER OF THE YEAR LAW FIRM JÁUREGUI Y DEL VALLE, S.C. (FORMERLY DEL VALLE TORRES S.C. ) MEXICO - CORPORATE TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LOCKEBRIDGE LLC US - LEADING INVESTMENT BANK OF THE YEAR LOWIS & GELLEN LLP US - (ILLINOIS) - GENERAL CORPORATE PRACTICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LOZANO BLANCO & ASOCIADOS COLOMBIA - CROSS ACTION LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LUCY CRUZ DE QUIÑONES - QUIÑONES CRUZ ABOGADOS COLOMBIA - TAX LAWYER OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP US - BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP US - CAPITAL MARKETS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP US - CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP US - CROSS BORDER LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP US - ENERGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP US - INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP US - INTERNATIONAL TRADE & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP US - ISLAMIC FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP US - M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP US - MINING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP US - OIL & GAS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MARASHLIAN & DONAHUE, LLC (THE COMMLAW GROUP) US - LEADING CUSTOMER SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MARSHALL GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP US (MIDWEST) – PATENT PROSECUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MARSHALL GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP US (MIDWEST) – BIOTECHNOLOGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MARSHALL GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP US (MIDWEST) – IP LAWYER OF THE YEAR, DONALD W. RUPERT MARTHA MCCARTHY & COMPANY CANADA - NICHE - FAMILY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MARVAL O'FARRELL & MAIRAL ARGENTINA – CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SCHEEF & STONE US (TEXAS) – MOST RESPECTED BRAND OF THE YEAR (LEGAL)

MARVAL O'FARRELL & MAIRAL ARGENTINA – ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SCOTIA PRIVATE CLIENT GROUP CANADA (TORONTO) – PRIVATE CLIENT ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

MCGLADREY US – NICHE ADVISORY OF THE YEAR (CONSTRUCTION)

SECOND ALPHA PARTNERS US – SECONDARY INVESTMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR

MCGLADREY US – NATIONAL TAX ACCOUNTING FIRM OF THE YEAR

SEESE, P.A. US (FLORIDA - MIAMI) - BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MILARÉ ADVOGADOS BRAZIL - LEADING CUSTOMER SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SEWARD & KISSEL LLP US - SHIPPING & MARITIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MISKIN LAW OFFICES CANADA - NICHE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (ADR)

SEWARD & KISSEL LLP US - SHIPPING & MARITIME LAWYER OF THE YEAR - LARRY RUTKOWSKI

MOLOLAMKEN LLP US - BOUTIQUE LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SEWARD & KISSEL LLP US (NY) - PROJECT FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MOLOLAMKEN LLP US (NY) - CROSS-BORDER WHITE COLLAR CRIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SFERA LEGAL COSTA RICA - OVERALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MOLOLAMKEN LLP US (NY) - LITIGATION LAWYER OF THE YEAR, STEVEN MOLO

SHAPIRO COHEN, BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS, PATENT AND TRADE MARK AGENTS CANADA - FULL SERVICE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

NAVIGANT US - ENERGY SECTOR CONSULTING FIRM OF THE YEAR

SIMON LESSER PC US (NEW YORK) - COPYRIGHT LAWYER OF THE YEAR, LEONARD F. LESSER, ESQ.

NORTHWORKS IP CANADA - IP STRATEGY ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

SOLOMON HARRIS CAYMAN ISLANDS – OFFSHORE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

NORTHWORKS IP CANADA - IP STRATEGIST OF THE YEAR, PETER COWAN

STONE AND ASSOCIATES LTD US (ILLINOIS) - CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

O'CONOR & POWER ARGENTINA - FULL SERVICE IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

STONE AND ASSOCIATES LTD US (ILLINOIS) - CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAWYER OF THE YEAR, JED STONE

PANAGORA ASSET MANAGEMENT US (MA) - INDEPENDENT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PARTNERS INC USA (MARYLAND) – BOUTIQUE TURNAROUND CONSULTING FIRM OF THE YEAR

PARDINI & ASOCIADOS PANAMA - M&A / CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PARTNERS INC USA – BOUTIQUE TURNAROUND CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR, JOHN M. COLLARD

PARRISWHITTAKER BAHAMAS - CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP US - LEADING DIVERSITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

PARRISWHITTAKER BAHAMAS - SHIPPING & MARITIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SUNBELT BUSINESS BROKERS-CANADA CANADA – LEADING DEAL BROKER OF THE YEAR

PAULO FREITAS RIBEIRO, PAULO FREITAS RIBEIRO |ADVOGADOS ASSOCIADOS BRAZIL - WHITE COLLAR CRIME - LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, DISPUTE RESOLUTION

TECHNOLOGY & MARKETING VENTURES, INC. US - CORPORATE TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER OF THE YEAR (ELECTRONIC-BOARDROOM TMVI® SOLUTIONS)

PEREIRA DOS SANTOS, QUADROS & ADVOGADOS (PSQA ADVOGADOS) BRAZIL – BOUTIQUE BUSINESS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR PORTILLA, RUY-DÍAZ & AGUILAR S.C. ABOGADOS MEXICO - FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR PWC BERMUDA BERMUDA – INSURANCE AND REINSURANCE FIRM OF THE YEAR QUIÑONES CRUZ ABOGADOS COLOMBIA - TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR RAYMOND JAMES US (FL) – INVESTMENT BANK ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR RAYMOND JAMES US (FL) – INVESTMENT BANK ADVISOR OF THE YEAR, JAMES E. BUNN REGULATORY LAW CHAMBERS CANADA - ENERGY REGULATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

TEXTURA CORPORATION US – NICHE TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER OF THE YEAR (CONSTRUCTION) TEXTURA CORPORATION US – CEO OF THE YEAR, PATRICK ALLIN THE COMMPLIANCE GROUP, INC. US - NICHE CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR (TELECOMS) THE DODD LAW FIRM US (ALABAMA) – CIVIL LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR THE DODD LAW FIRM US (ALABAMA) – CRIMINAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR THE DODD LAW FIRM US (ALABAMA) – LITIGATION LAWYER OF THE YEAR, HUBE DODD THE ENTREPRENEUR LAW CENTER US (FLORIDA) - INDEPENDENT BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ROBINSON & COLE LLP US (CONNECTICUT) – CORPORATE LAWYER OF THE YEAR, WILLIAM T. SELLAY

THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTER US – NICHE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE OF THE YEAR (ARBITRATION)

ROBUST METHODS LLC US - ABSOLUTE RETURNS FIRM OF THE YEAR

THE SPAULDING GROUP US - GIPS CONSULTING FIRM OF THE YEAR

ROBUST METHODS LLC US - ABSOLUTE RETURNS FIRM OF THE YEAR

THE VAUGHN LAW FIRM US – NICHE EMPLOYMENT LAW OF THE YEAR (FEDERAL LAW)

RODRÍGUEZ DÁVALOS ASOCIADOS ABOGADOS MEXICO - ENERGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

THE VAUGHN LAW FIRM US – LAWYER OF THE YEAR (FEDERAL LAW), CHRISTOPHER D. VAUGHN

SADIS & GOLDBERG LLP US - PRIVATE FUNDS / HEDGE FUNDS LAWYER OF THE YEAR, RON S. GEFFNER

TODD Y ASOCIADOS, S.C. MEXICO - NATURAL RESOURCES & MINING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SADIS & GOLDBERG LLP US - PRIVATE FUNDS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

UHY SANDOVAL ALIAGA Y ASOCIADOS SOCIEDAD CIVIL PERU - FULL SERVICE ACCOUNTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR

SANTAMARINA Y STETA MEXICO - AVIATION LAW OF THE YEAR

UMB FUND SERVICES US - FUND ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR (ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS)

SANTAMARINA Y STETA MEXICO - CAPITAL MARKETS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

UPCHURCH WATSON WHITE & MAX US (ALABAMA) – ADR LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SANTAMARINA Y STETA MEXICO - ENVIRONMENTAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

UPCHURCH WATSON WHITE & MAX US (ALABAMA) – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, RODNEY A. MAX

SANTAMARINA Y STETA MEXICO - LEADING CUSTOMER SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

UPCHURCH WATSON WHITE & MAX US (ALABAMA) – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, ARTHUR J. HANES, JR

SCHEEF & STONE US (TEXAS) – LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

URQUIZA, PIMENTEL E FONTI ADVOGADOS BRAZIL - WHITE COLLAR CRIME - LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, SYLVIA URQUIZA

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

VANCITY CANADA (VANCOUVER) – BANK OF THE YEAR VANRELL IP URUGUAY – IP ADVISORY OF THE YEAR VANRELL IP URUGUAY – IP ADVISOR OF THE YEAR, JUAN VANRELL VARGAS & VARGAS ABOGADOS COLOMBIA – OVERALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR VARGAS & VARGAS ABOGADOS COLOMBIA – LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR VAZQUEZ ALDANA, HERNANDEZ GOMEZ & ASOCIADOS MEXICO - CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR VEIRANO ADVOGADOS BRAZIL – ANTI-TRUST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR VEIRANO ADVOGADOS BRAZIL – ANTI-TRUST LAWYER OF THE YEAR, OLAVO CHINAGLIA VEIRANO ADVOGADOS BRAZIL – INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAWYER OF THE YEAR, ANA TERESA CAETANO VEIRANO ADVOGADOS BRAZIL – EMPLOYMENT LAWYER OF THE YEAR, JOSÉ CARLOS WAHLE VEIRANO ADVOGADOS BRAZIL – TAX & CUSTOMS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR VETTORI RUBINSTEIN & FOZ BRAZIL - INTERNATIONAL TAX PLANNING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR WALKER & PESKIND, PLLC USA (ARIZONA) - SMALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR WALKERS GLOBAL CAYMAN ISLANDS - LEADING ADVISOR OF THE YEAR (INTERNATIONAL) WILSON ELSER MOSKOWITZ EDELMAN & DICKER LLP US - LEADING DIVERSITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR WILSON ELSER MOSKOWITZ EDELMAN & DICKER LLP US – ERISA LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR WILSON ELSER MOSKOWITZ EDELMAN & DICKER LLP US – BANKRUPTCY / RESTRUCTURING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR WINTHROP COUCHOT PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION US (CA) – BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEY OF THE YEAR, RICHARD H GOLUBOW ZRRG ABOGADOS S.C. MEXICO – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, ALEJANDRO I. RODRÍGUEZ GALLEGOS

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ADAMAS ASSET MANAGEMENT ASIA - ALTERNATIVE ASSET MANAGEMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR

EPLEGAL VIETNAM – SHIPPING & MARITIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ADAMAS ASSET MANAGEMENT ASIA - LENDER OF THE YEAR

EPLEGAL VIETNAM – DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ADAMAS ASSET MANAGEMENT, JAPAN OPPORTUNITIES FUND ASIA - FUND OF FUNDS

EQUIS FUNDS GROUP ASIA - ENERGY / INFRASTRUCTURE PE MANAGEMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR

AIG (AIG AUSTRALIA LIMITED) AUSTRALIA – INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE YEAR

ESGUERRA AND BLANCO LAW OFFICES PHILIPPINES - CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

AIG (AIG AUSTRALIA LIMITED) AUSTRALIA – INSURANCE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR, (GOLD COMPLETE)

ESGUERRA AND BLANCO LAW OFFICES PHILIPPINES - CRIMINAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ALLBRIGHT LAW OFFICES CHINA – LEADING IP ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

ESGUERRA AND BLANCO LAW OFFICES PHILIPPINES - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ALLBRIGHT LAW OFFICES CHINA – PATENT INFRINGEMENT LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ESGUERRA AND BLANCO LAW OFFICES PHILIPPINES - LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ANAND AND ANAND INDIA - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

EY INDIA – FULL SERVICE TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

ASIA FRONTIER CAPITAL LIMITED ASIA - BOUTIQUE FUND MANAGER OF THE YEAR / NICHE FUND MANAGER OF THE YEAR

EY INDIA – TRANSACTION TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

AVENIR CAPITAL AUSTRALIA - ABSOLUTE RETURN FUND MANAGER OF THE YEAR

EY NEW ZEALAND – TRANSACTION TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

AZB & PARTNERS INDIA - CORPORATE GOVERNANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

GAGRATS INDIA - AVIATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

AZB & PARTNERS INDIA - M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

GAGRATS INDIA - TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BEAM CORP AUSTRALIA – INDEPENDENT CORPORATE ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

GIA CAT CONSULTING AND AUDITING COMPANY VIETNAM - LEADING INDEPENDENT ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

BELL GULLY NEW ZEALAND - LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

GIA CAT CONSULTING AND AUDITING COMPANY VIETNAM - TAX ACCOUNTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR

BIRLASOFT INDIA - COMPANY OF THE YEAR

GLORIA JAMES-CIVETTA & CO SINGAPORE - LAWYER OF THE YEAR, GLORIA JAMES-CIVETTA

BROAD AND BRIGHT CHINA - ANTITRUST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

GROUND FLOOR WENTWORTH CHAMBERS AUSTRALIA – CHAMBERS OF THE YEAR

CHANG TSI & PARTNERS CHINA - IP RIGHTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

GROUND FLOOR WENTWORTH CHAMBERS AUSTRALIA – TAX LAW BARRISTER OF THE YEAR, DAVID RUSSELL AM QC

CHO & PARTNERS SOUTH KOREA - LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

GROUND FLOOR WENTWORTH CHAMBERS AUSTRALIA – LEADING INTERNATIONAL TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

CHOW KING & ASSOCIATES HONG KONG - IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

HARRY RIGNEY AUSTRALIA – SUPERANNUATION/TRUSTS LAWYER OF THE YEAR

CLARENDON LAWYERS AUSTRALIA - M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

HLB TAX LAWYERS THAILAND - TAX ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

CLARENDON LAWYERS AUSTRALIA (MELBOURNE) - BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

IGNATIUS ANDY LAW OFFICES INDONESIA - DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

COLIN NG & PARTNERS LLP SINGAPORE - LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, LISA THENG

IK HYUN SEO, CHO & PARTNERS SOUTH KOREA - LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR

CST TAX ADVISORS AUSTRALIA – INTERNATIONAL TAXATION FIRM OF THE YEAR

JEFF LEONG, POON & WONG MALAYSIA - MID SIZE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

CST TAX ADVISORS AUSTRALIA – ACCOUNTING AND COMPLIANCE ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

KAP RTS INDONESIA – AUDIT ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

CST TAX ADVISORS AUSTRALIA – INTERNATIONAL TAXATION ADVISOR OF THE YEAR, JOHN MARCARIAN

KAP RTS INDONESIA - FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING FIRM OF THE YEAR

CUATRECASAS, GONÇALVES PEREIRA CHINA - 2014 RISING STAR, OMAR PUERTAS

KARANJAWALA & COMPANY INDIA - BOUTIQUE LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

CULLENS AUSTRALIA – PATENT AND TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS OF THE YEAR

KARANJAWALA & COMPANY INDIA - DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAWYER OF THE YEAR, MR R N KARANJAWALA

DEACONS HONG KONG - LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (BANKING & FINANCE)

KEROGEN CAPITAL (ASIA) LIMITED INTERNATIONAL – OIL AND GAS FUND MANAGER OF THE YEAR

DEACONS HONG KONG - LAWYER OF THE YEAR (BANKING & FINANCE), SIMON DEANE

KHAITAN & CO INDIA - FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

DEACONS HONG KONG - OVERALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

KHAITAN & CO INDIA - M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

DEEP & FAR ATTORNEYS AT LAW TAIWAN - IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

KHAITAN SUD & PARTNERS INDIA - PROJECT FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

DESAI & DIWANJI INDIA - HIGH LEVEL M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

KPMG HONG KONG - AML FIRM OF THE YEAR

DESAI & DIWANJI INDIA - PROJECT FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

KPMG ASPAC - FULL SERVICE FORENSIC ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

DIVINALAW PHILIPPINES - LEADING INDEPENDENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

KPMG ASPAC - ANTI-BRIBERY / CORRUPTION ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

ELLIS TERRY NEW ZEALAND – IP ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

LALL LAHIRI & SALHOTRA INDIA (GURGAON) - IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

EPLEGAL VIETNAM – ENERGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LALL LAHIRI & SALHOTRA INDIA - IP ENFORCEMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (SME)

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

LALL LAHIRI & SALHOTRA INDIA - LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, RAHUL CHAUDHRY

PACT GROUP AUSTRALIA – COMPANY OF THE YEAR (MANUFACTURING)

LEE & KO KOREA – LABOR / EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK AUSTRALIA - LEADING IP LAWYER OF THE YEAR, RUSSELL WATERS

LEE & KO KOREA – LABOR / EMPLOYMENT LAWYER OF THE YEAR, PAUL H. CHO

PHOENIX LEGAL INDIA - PRIVATE EQUITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LORENZ INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS KYRGYZ REPUBLIC - MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

PIPARA & CO. GUJARAT - CROSS BORDER ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

LOWNDES ASSOCIATES NEW ZEALAND – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, MARK LOWNDES

PJSLAW THE PHILIPPINES – FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LUBIS GANIE SUROWIDJOJO INDONESIA - ARBITRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

PJSLAW THE PHILIPPINES – PPP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LUBIS GANIE SUROWIDJOJO INDONESIA - CAPITAL MARKETS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

PJSLAW THE PHILIPPINES – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, MONALISA C. DIMALANTA

LUBIS GANIE SUROWIDJOJO INDONESIA - CLIENT CHOICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

PRADHAN & ASSOCIATES NEPAL – COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LUBIS GANIE SUROWIDJOJO INDONESIA - COMMERCIAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

PWC THAILAND - FULL SERVICE TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

LUBIS GANIE SUROWIDJOJO INDONESIA - INSOLVENCY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

PWC THAILAND – TRANSFER PRICING ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

LUBIS GANIE SUROWIDJOJO INDONESIA - OVERALL LAWYER OF THE YEAR, DR. MOHAMED IDWAN GANIE

PWC THAILAND – INTERNATIONAL TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

LUBIS GANIE SUROWIDJOJO INDONESIA - PROJECT FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

PWC THAILAND – INDIRECT TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP CHINA - INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

R K DEWAN & CO INDIA - TRADEMARK LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP CHINA - OVERSEAS BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

REDCLAYS CAPITAL PVT LTD INDIA - PRIVATE EQUITY AND VENTURE CAPITAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP CHINA - OVERSEAS M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

RICH IP & CO TAIWAN – PATENT PROSECUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MARKA AUDIT BISHKEK, LTD KYRGYZ REPUBLIC – INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTING / BUSINESS ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

RICH IP & CO TAIWAN – IP LAWYER OF THE YEAR, RUSSELL HORNG

MASUDA & PARTNERS LAW OFFICE JAPAN - EMPLOYMENT & LABOUR LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ROCA JUNYENT CHINA - 2014 RISING STAR, JOSÉ LUIS RUIZ GALÁN

MCKINLEY PLOWMAN & ASSOCIATES AUSTRALIA - CROSS BORDER ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

ROOSDIONO & PARTNERS (A MEMBER OF ZICOLAW) INDONESIA - CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MEHTA & MEHTA ASSOCIATES, GURGAON, INDIA INDIA - GLOBAL PATENTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SABELBERG MORCOS LAWYERS AUSTRALIA - IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MEHTA & MEHTA ASSOCIATES, GURGAON, INDIA DR. RAMESH KR. MEHTA, INDIA - GLOBAL PATENTS ATTORNEY OF THE YEAR

SECURITY BANK PHILIPPINES - BANK OF THE YEAR

MESSRS. JULIUS & CREASY SRI LANKA - EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SLP ENVIRONMENTAL CO., LTD SINGAPORE - ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

MINTER ELLISON LAWYERS AUSTRALIA - LEADING EMPLOYMENT LAWYER OF THE YEAR, DAN WILLIAMS

SLP ENVIRONMENTAL CO., LTD VIETNAM - ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

MITRY LAWYERS AUSTRALIA - BOUTIQUE - CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SPARKE HELMORE LAWYERS AUSTRALIA - VENTURE CAPITAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MUC INDONESIA – TRANSFER PRICING ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

STANDARD CHARTERED INDIA - BANK OF THE YEAR (WEALTH MANAGEMENT)

MUC INDONESIA – TAX ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

STRATEGIC CAPITAL SERVICES LIMITED AUSTRALIA - PLACEMENT AGENCY OF THE YEAR STRATEGIC CAPITAL SERVICES LIMITED

MUNDKUR LAW PARTNERS INDIA - BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SUGIMURA INTERNATIONAL PATENT & TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS JAPAN - IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MUNDKUR LAW PARTNERS INDIA - COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SUGIMURA INTERNATIONAL PATENT AND TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS JAPAN - TRADEMARK FIRM OF THE YEAR

MUNDKUR LAW PARTNERS INDIA - CORPORATE & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

TAE YEON CHO, CHO & PARTNERS SOUTH KOREA - LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR

NORTON WHITE AUSTRALIA - AVIATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

TGT LEGAL NEW ZEALAND – LEADING ESTATE PLANNING ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

NORTON WHITE AUSTRALIA - SHIPPING & MARITIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

YUASA AND HARA JAPAN - BIOTECHNOLOGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

O.P. KHAITAN & CO INDIA - INDEPENDENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR OLDHAM, LI & NIE, LAWYERS HONG KONG – MANAGING PARTNER OF THE YEAR, GORDON OLDHAM OLDHAM, LI & NIE, LAWYERS HONG KONG – DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR OLDHAM, LI & NIE, LAWYERS HONG KONG – EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR OLDHAM, LI & NIE, LAWYERS HONG KONG – CSR LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR OLDHAM, LI & NIE, LAWYERS HONG KONG - COMMERCIAL BUSINESS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

A. & K. METAXOPOULOS & PARTNERS LAW FIRM GREECE – MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ATRIUM PARTNERS A/S DENMARK - M&A ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

A.A. XENOPHONTOS & ASSOCIATES CYPRUS - FULL SERVICE ACCOUTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR

AVAST SOFTWARE S.R.O. CZECH – OVERALL COMPANY OF THE YEAR

A.G. PAPHITIS & CO LLC CYPRUS - CORPORATE GOVERNANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

AVONDALE UK - M&A ADVISER OF THE YEAR

A.G. PAPHITIS & CO LLC CYPRUS - OVERALL FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BABBE CHANNEL ISLANDS - DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

A.G. PAPHITIS & CO LLC CYPRUS - LAWYER OF THE YEAR, ANGELOS G. PAPHITIS

BABBE GUERNSEY - COMMERCIAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

A.T. KEARNEY AB. SWEDEN - STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR

BAKER & MCKENZIE UK - 2014 RISING STAR, PHYLLIS TOWNSEND

ABELS AVOCATS SWITZERLAND - CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BAKER TILLY UK - 2014 RISING STAR, CLAIRE CHAPMAN

ABREU ADVOGADOS PORTUGAL (LISBON) - INDEPENDENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BAKER TILLY UK - 2014 RISING STAR, JOAN FOSTER

AC AVVOCATI E COMMERCIALISTI ITALY – CIVIL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BANCA IMI ITALY - INVESTMENT BANK OF THE YEAR

AC AVVOCATI E COMMERCIALISTI ITALY – EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BANK LEUMI (UK) GROUP UK – BOUTIQUE BANK OF THE YEAR

ACOLIN FUND SERVICES SWITZERLAND - FOREIGN INVESTMENT ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

BARGATE MURRAY SOLICITORS UK - COMMERCIAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ACROSS LEGAL SPAIN - COMPANY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BARGATE MURRAY SOLICITORS UK - SHIPPING & MARITIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ACROSS LEGAL SPAIN - CROSS BORDER LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BARLOW ROBBINS LLP UK - COMMERCIAL MEDIATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ACXIT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT GMBH GERMANY - BOUTIQUE MERCHANT BANKING FIRM OF THE YEAR

BARLOW ROBBINS LLP UK - PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ADVOKATFIRMAET SCHJØDT AS NORWAY - OVERALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BARNETT WADDINGHAM LLP UK - ACTUARIAL ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

ADVOKÁTNÍ KANCELÁŘ BROŽ & SOKOL & NOVÁK S.R.O CZECH REPUBLIC – INDEPENDENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BARNETT WADDINGHAM LLP UK - PENSIONS ADVISOR OF THE YEAR

AFRICAN ALPHA INVESTMENT PARTNERS UK - NICHE INVESTMENTS FIRM OF THE YEAR

BCM & PARTNERS SWITZERLAND - CREDIT FUND SPECIALISTS OF THE YEAR

AFSCHRIFT G.E.I.E BELGIUM - BUSINESS CRIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BDO UK - 2014 RISING STAR, CHARLOTTE LUCK

AFSCHRIFT G.E.I.E BELGIUM - TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR FOR

BDO UK - 2014 RISING STAR, JAMES CAPPER

AFSCHRIFT G.E.I.E. BELGIUM - HR ADVISORY OF THE YEAR FOR

BEDELL UK - 2014 RISING STAR, KELLYANN OZOUF

AKUĞUR LAW FIRM TURKEY - ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION FIRM OF THE YEAR

BEDELL CRISTIN UK - 2014 RISING STAR, NANCY CHIEN

ALCEDA FUND MANAGEMENT S.A. LUXEMBOURG – UCITS SOLUTION PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

BERKELEY LAW UK - 2014 RISING STAR, ALEX BOOTHMAN

ALCEDA FUND MANAGEMENT S.A. LUXEMBOURG – FUND STRUCTURING SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR

BIRCHAM DYSON BELL UK - 2014 RISING STAR, MATTHEW BRAITHWAITE

ALESCO RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES UK - OIL AND GAS CONSULTING FIRM OF THE YEAR

BIRCHAM DYSON BELL UK - 2014 RISING STAR, HELEN BARNETT

ALISON MATTHEWS CONSULTING UK – MONEY LAUNDERING ADVISOR OF THE YEAR, ALISON MATTHEWS

BIRD & BIRD SPAIN - ENERGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ALKANE ENERGY PLC UK – COMPANY OF THE YEAR (POWER GENERATION)

BIRD & BIRD SPAIN - ENERGY LAWYER OF THE YEAR, HERMENEGILDO ALTOZANO

ANDREY DELCHEV & PARTNERS - EUROLEX BULGARIA BULGARIA - ENERGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BIRSEL LAW OFFICES TURKEY - PROJECT FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ANDREY DELCHEV & PARTNERS - EUROLEX BULGARIA BULGARIA - OVERALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BIRSEL LAW OFFICES TURKEY - ENERGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ANGERMANN M&A INTERNATIONAL GMBH GERMANY - CORPORATE FINANCE BOUTIQUE OF THE YEAR

BLACKFORDS LLP UK - SERIOUS FRAUD LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

AON BENFIELD EUROPE – REINSURANCE BROKER OF THE YEAR

BLACKTRACE NETHERLANDS - INDEPENDENT M&A ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

AON BENFIELD UK – REINSURANCE BROKER OF THE YEAR

BLUEMIND CORPORATE FINANCE STRATEGY BENELUX - INDEPENDENT CORPORATE FINANCE FIRM OF THE YEAR

APARTMENT LAW IRELAND - NICHE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (APARTMENT LAW)

BNY MELLON UK - INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ADVISORY (INSURANCE) OF THE YEAR

APOSTOLOS GEORGIADES & ASSOCIATES GREECE - DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BNY MELLON UK - PENSIONS CUSTODIAN ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

ARMSTRONG INVESTMENT MANAGERS LLP UK – MACRO FUND MANAGER OF THE YEAR

BNY MELLON FUND SERVICES (IRELAND) LTD IRELAND - ACCOUNTING & ADMINISTRATION ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

ARSENE TAXAND FRANCE - INDIRECT TAX ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

BNY MELLON FUND SERVICES (IRELAND) LTD IRELAND - CUSTODY TRANSFER AGENCY OF THE YEAR

ARTHUR D. LITTLE AB SWEDEN - PRIVATE EQUITY ADVISOR OF THE YEAR

BNY MELLON FUND SERVICES (IRELAND) LTD IRELAND - FUND ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

ARTHUR D. LITTLE AB. SWEDEN - PRIVATE EQUITY ADVISOR OF THE YEAR

BODDY MATTHEWS SOLICITORS UK – SME FRANCHISE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ASHURST SPAIN - 2014 RISING STAR, ISMAEL FERNÁNDEZ ANTÓN

BOJORGE & ASSOCIATES SPAIN - IMMIGRATION LAW, FIRM OF THE YEAR

ASHURST SPAIN - 2014 RISING STAR, JAVIER HERNÁNDEZ GALANTE

BOND DICKINSON UK - 2014 RISING STAR, LUKE BUSBRIDGE

ASHURST SPAIN - 2014 RISING STAR, RAFAEL BAENA

BONN STEICHEN & PARTNER LUXEMBOURG - PRIVATE EQUITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ATRIUM PARTNERS A/S DENMARK - CORPORATE FINANCE HOUSE OF THE YEAR

BONN STEICHEN & PARTNERS LUXEMBOURG - ISLAMIC FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ATRIUM PARTNERS A/S DENMARK - DEBT & CAPITAL ADVISOR OF THE YEAR

BRABNERS UK - 2014 RISING STAR, DAVID MCGURNAGHAN

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

BREVALEX FRANCE – MECHANICAL PATENTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

CROWDCONTROLHQ UK - NICHE CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR (SOCIAL MEDIA RISK MANAGEMENT)

BRIDGEWATER MANAGEMENT CONSULTING GROUP IRELAND - BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

CUNNINGHAMS SOLICITORS UK – REGIONAL FRAUD & BUSINESS CRIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BULLGUARD UK - GAMECHANGER OF THE YEAR, NEDKO IVANOV, CEO

CUATRECASAS, GONÇALVES PEREIRA SPAIN - 2014 RISING STAR, CÉSAR RIVERA

BUREAU VAN DIJK UK - M&A SOLUTIONS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR (BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE)

CUATRECASAS, GONÇALVES PEREIRA PORTUGAL - 2014 RISING STAR, JOÃO MATTAMOUROS RESENDE

BUREAU VAN DIJK UK - TRANSFER PRICING SOLUTIONS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

CUATRECASAS, GONÇALVES PEREIRA SPAIN - 2014 RISING STAR, MARIANA NORTON

BWSP HAMMOND BOGARU & ASSOCIATES ROMANIA – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, CHRISTIAN BOGARU

CUNNINGHAMS SOLICITORS UK – REGIONAL FRAUD & BUSINESS CRIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

CABINET BORNHAUSER FRANCE - TRUST & ESTATE LAWYER OF THE YEAR, MARC BORNHAUSER

D.N.TZOUGANATOS & PARTNERS GREECE - COMPETITION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

CAIADO GUERREIRO & ASSOCIADOS, SOCIEDADE DE ADVOGADOS, R.L. PORTUGAL - AVIATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR

DABELSTEIN & PASSEHL GERMANY – INSURANCE & REINSURANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DABELSTEIN & PASSEHL GERMANY – SHIPPING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

CAIADO GUERREIRO & ASSOCIADOS, SOCIEDADE DE ADVOGADOS, R.L. PORTUGAL - CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR CAIADO GUERREIRO & ASSOCIADOS, SOCIEDADE DE ADVOGADOS, R.L. PORTUGAL - TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR CAIADO GUERREIRO & ASSOCIADOS, SOCIEDADE DE ADVOGADOS, R.L. PORTUGAL – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, JOÃO CAIADO GUERREIRO CAM TRADE MARKS & IP SERVICES ENGLAND - TRADEMARK LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CAMPION INSURANCE IRELAND - IRISH INSURANCE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR CAPITAL BANK AUSTRIA – PRIVATE BANK OF THE YEAR CAPITAL BANK AUSTRIA – PRIVATE BANK OF THE YEAR CAPPCOPARTNERS UK - OPERATIONAL TRANSFORMATION ADVISORY OF THE YEAR CARBON ZERO UK (WALES) – BUSINESS OF THE YEAR CARLTON STRATEGY ADVISORS LIMITED UK - COMMERCIAL DUE DILIGENCE ADVISOR OF THE YEAR CARTER PERRY BAILEY LLP UK - ARBITRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CARTER PERRY BAILEY LLP UK - INSURANCE LAWYER OF THE YEAR, WILLIAM STURGE CARTER PERRY BAILEY LLP UK - REINSURANCE AND ARBITRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CARTERWOOD UK - PROPERTY CONSULTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR CASTLE CORPORATE FINANCE UK – OWNER MANAGED BUSINESS ADVISORY OF THE YEAR CAVENDISH CORPORATE FINANCE LLP UK - CORPORATE FINANCE BOUTIQUE OF THE YEAR CAVENDISH CORPORATE FINANCE LLP UK - LEADING INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISORY OF THE YEAR CENTRIC COMMERCIAL FINANCE UK – ALL ASSET LENDER OF THE YEAR CENTRIC COMMERCIAL FINANCE UK - INVOICE DISCOUNTER OF THE YEAR CERMAK A SPOL. LAW AND PATENT OFFICE CZECH REPUBLIC - CROSS BORDER LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CERMAK A SPOL. LAW AND PATENT OFFICE CZECH REPUBLIC - PATENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CESKOSLOVENSKA OBCHODNI BANKA, A. S. CZECH REPUBLIC – BANK OF THE YEAR CHARLES RUSSELL UK - 2014 RISING STAR, NICOLA THORPE CISCO SYSTEMS SPAIN - 2014 RISING STAR, BEATRIZ DELGADO CLEARLYSO UK – SOCIAL INVESTMENT ADVISORY OF THE YEAR COMMERCIAL FINANCE BROKERS (UK) LIMITED UK - BROKER OF THE YEAR (COMMERCIAL FINANCE) CONAX AS NORWAY - GAMECHANGER OF THE YEAR - MORTEN SOLBAKKEN CLINTONS UK - 2014 RISING STAR, ANDREW KIDD

DABELSTEIN & PASSEHL GERMANY – TRANSPORT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DABELSTEIN & PASSEHL GERMANY - AVIATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DALLA VERITA & ASSOCIATI ITALY – FINANCIAL PLANNING ADVISORY OF THE YEAR DAX & PARTNER AUSTRIA - NICHE - CONTRACT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DBK PARTNERS CZECH REPUBLIC - COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DE PEDRAZA ABOGADOS, S.L.P. SPAIN – 2014 RISING STAR, MAR DE PEDRAZA DE PEDRAZA ABOGADOS, S.L.P. SPAIN – SMALL CRIMINAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DEARSON WINYARD INTERNATIONAL LIMITED ENGLAND - IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DEBLOCKLAW BELGIUM - CONTRACT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DEL BENE & ASSOCIATI ITALY – BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DELFINO E ASSOCIATI WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP, STUDIO LEGALE ITALY – LEADING M&A ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR DELOITTE UK - 2014 RISING STAR, MARK STOKES DELOITTE UK - 2014 RISING STAR, MIKE DONOVAN DELOITTE UK - 2014 RISING STAR, RUSSELL GIBSON DELOITTE UK - 2014 RISING STAR, REBECCA HUNT DELOITTE ABOGADOS SPAIN - 2014 RISING STAR, JORDI MARISTANY DENNEMEYER & ASSOCIATES GERMANY - IP DUE DILIGENCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DERİCİOĞLU&YAŞAR LAW OFFICE TURKEY - COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DERİCİOĞLU&YAŞAR LAW OFFICE TURKEY - INTERNET LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DERİCİOĞLU&YAŞAR LAW OFFICE TURKEY - REAL ESTATE / PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DESTEK PATENT INC. TURKEY - IP ADVISORY OF THE YEAR DFK MALTA TAX & CONSULTANCY LIMITED MALTA – TAX ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR DIENER ADVISORY SWITZERLAND - ACCOUNTING ADVISOR OF THE YEAR, FLORIAN DIENER DIENER ADVISORY SWITZERLAND - ACCOUNTING FIRM OF THE YEAR DIXON WILSON UK - 2014 RISING STAR, JAMES STEVENS DORALT SEIST CSOKLICH RECHTSANWALTS-PARTNERSCHAFT AUSTRIA - COMMERCIAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DORALT SEIST CSOKLICH RECHTSANWALTS-PARTNERSCHAFT AUSTRIA - CROSS BORDER LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

COLLYER BRISTOW UK - 2014 RISING STAR, PETER DANIEL

DORU TRĂILĂ, SILVIU STRATULAT, ADRIANA ALMĂȘAN, ANDREI ALBULESCU – ATTORNEYS AT LAW (TSAA – ATTORNEYS AT LAW) ROMANIA – M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

COLLYER BRISTOW UK - 2014 RISING STAR, ALISON KEMPENAAR

DORU TRĂILĂ, SILVIU STRATULAT, ADRIANA ALMĂȘAN, ANDREI ALBULESCU – ATTORNEYS AT LAW (TSAA – ATTORNEYS AT LAW) ROMANIA – BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

COMMERCIAL FINANCE BROKERS (UK) LIMITED UK – BROKER OF THE YEAR (COMMERCIAL FINANCE) CORATELLA - STUDIO LEGALE ITALY - ECONOMIC CRIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CRACA DI CARLO GUFFANTI PISAPIA TATOZZI & ASSOCIATI ITALY – LITIGATION AND ARBITRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CREFOVI UK – NICHE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (FASHION & LUXURY GOODS)

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

DORU TRĂILĂ, SILVIU STRATULAT, ADRIANA ALMĂȘAN, ANDREI ALBULESCU – ATTORNEYS AT LAW (TSAA – ATTORNEYS AT LAW) ROMANIA – COMPETITION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DOUGLAS SILAS SOLICITORS UK - EDUCATION LAWYER OF THE YEAR, DOUGLAS SILAS DOUGLAS SILAS SOLICITORS UK - NICHE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (EDUCATION)

DR RAJEEV DHAR UK – NICHE PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR (EMPLOYMENT / INSURANCE)

FF&P WEALTH PLANNING UK - 2014 RISING STAR, DAVID NELSON

DR. HORST IHLAS GERMANY - INSURANCE BROKER OF THE YEAR

FENIX LEGAL KB SWEDEN – PATENTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

EC3\LEGAL UK - INSURANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

FENIX LEGAL KB SWEDEN – COPYRIGHTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ECIJA SPAIN - 2014 RISING STAR, ALEJANDRO TOURIÑO PENA

FENIX LEGAL KB SWEDEN – ARBITRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

EISENFÜHR SPEISER GERMANY – IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (CHEMISTRY AND LIFE SCIENCES)

FIDUCIANA TRUST (CYPRUS) LIMITED CYPRUS - TRUST ADMINISTRATION SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEA

ELIAS PARASKEVAS ATTORNEYS GREECE - M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

FIRST NAMES GROUP UK - 2014 RISING STAR, ROBIN MCCAULEY

ELMAN WALL UK – NICHE ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR (TRAVEL)

FIRST NAMES GROUP UK - 2014 RISING STAR, PAULA THOMPSON

ELMAN WALL CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS UK – NICHE ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR (TRAVEL)

FISCALREPS UK - NICHE ADVISORY OF THE YEAR (INSURANCE TAX SOLUTIONS)

EMD - MALTA MALTA - INTERNATIONAL TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

FLORIAN AIGNER, AFR RECHTSANWÄLTE GERMANY - PRIVATE EQUITY LAWYER OF THE YEAR

ENGEL PATENTANWALTSKANZLEI GERMANY – LEADING IP ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

FRAGOMEN UK - 2014 RISING STAR, EDMOND WAN

EQUITA CORPORATE FINANCE LLP UK - LEAD TRANSACTION ADVISOR OF THE YEAR

FRANK HIRTH UK - 2014 RISING STAR, RHEA LUCIA-HENNIS

ESQUIVEL ADVOGADOS PORTUGAL - PROJECTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

FREDRICH GRAF VON WESTPHALEN & PARTNER GERMANY - PRODUCT LIABILITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ETUDE MAX MAILLIET (E2M) LUXEMBOURG – ANTI-FRAUD / ASSET RECOVERY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

FULCRUM CHAMBERS LLP ENGLAND - CORPORATE BRIBERY & CORRUPTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

EUROPEAN WEALTH UK - DISCRETIONARY FUND MANAGERS FIRM OF THE YEAR

FULCRUM CHAMBERS LLP ENGLAND - CORPORATE BRIBERY & CORRUPTION LAWYER OF THE YEAR, IVAN PEARCE

EUROPEAN WEALTH UK - INVESTMENT STRATEGY FIRM OF THE YEAR

FUND CORPORATION CHANNEL ISLANDS – OUTSOURCED INVESTMENT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

EVERSHEDS HUNGARY – MANAGING PARTNER OF THE YEAR, ÁGNES SZENT-IVÁNY

G.C. ECONOMOU & ASSOCIATES GREECE - MARITIME ARBITRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

EVERSHEDS HUNGARY – LIFE SCIENCES LAWYER OF THE YEAR, PÉTER KOMÁROMI

GARCÍA-TREVIJANO ABOGADOS SPAIN - 2014 RISING STAR, MIGUEL ÁNGEL RECUERDA GIRELA

EVERSHEDS HUNGARY – INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

GE CAPITAL EUROPE - LEVERAGED FINANCE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR (MID MARKET)

EXCELLO LAW UK - DEBT RECOVERY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

GEHRKE ZUMBROICH & PARTNER GERMANY - REAL ESTATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

EY HUNGARY – TRANSACTION TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GEN & TEMIZER | ÖZER TURKEY - M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

EY SWEDEN - INTERNATIONAL TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GEORGE Y. YIANGOU L.L.C CYPRUS (NICOSIA) - CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

EY SWEDEN - BUSINESS TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GEORGIA CONSTANTINOU-PANAYIOTOU LAW OFFICE CYPRUS – CONTRACT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

EY SWEDEN - COMPLIANCE & REPORTING ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GEORGIA CONSTANTINOU-PANAYIOTOU LAW OFFICE CYPRUS – CONTRACT LAWYER OF THE YEAR, GEORGIA CONSTANTINOU-PANAYIOTOU

EY SWEDEN - HUMAN CAPITAL ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GI PARTNERS UK – PRIVATE INVESTMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR (HEALTHCARE)

EY SWEDEN - INDIRECT TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GILL MANSFIELD COMMERCIAL MEDIATION UK – COMMERCIAL MEDIATOR OF THE YEAR, GILL MANSFIELD

EY SWEDEN - TRANSACTION TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GLI FINANCE LIMITED GUERNSEY - INVESTMENT FUNDS FIRM OF THE YEAR

EY SWEDEN - TRANSFER PRICING ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GO INDUSTRY DOVE BID UK - ASSET DISPOSAL FIRM OF THE YEAR

EY LUXEMBOURG LUXEMBOURG – BUSINESS TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GÓMEZ-ACEBO & POMBO SPAIN - 2014 RISING STAR, DANIEL MARÍN MORENO

EY LUXEMBOURG LUXEMBOURG – FULL SERVICE TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GÓMEZ-ACEBO & POMBO UK - 2014 RISING STAR, MIGUEL LAMO DE ESPINOSA

EY LUXEMBOURG LUXEMBOURG – COMPLIANCE & REPORTING ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GQ EMPLOYMENT LAW UK – BOUTIQUE EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

EY LUXEMBOURG LUXEMBOURG – INTERNATIONAL TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GQ EMPLOYMENT LAW UK – LAWYER OF THE YEAR (EMPLOYMENT), JON GILLIGAN

EY LUXEMBOURG LUXEMBOURG – INDIRECT TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GRAF PATSCH TAUCHER RECHTSANWÄLTE GMBH AUSTRIA - CORPORATE - MOST RESPECTED LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

EY LUXEMBOURG LUXEMBOURG – TRANSFER PRICING ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GRAHAM ASSOCIATES (INTERNATIONAL) LTD UK - TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

EY LUXEMBOURG LUXEMBOURG – TRANSACTION TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GRANT THORNTON LIMITED CHANNEL ISLANDS - LEADING ADVISORY (ACCOUNTANCY & AUDIT)

EY LUXEMBOURG LUXEMBOURG – TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR (FINANCIAL MARKETS)

GRANT THORNTON LIMITED GUERNSEY - INSOLVENCY ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

EY LUXEMBOURG LUXEMBOURG – HUMAN CAPITAL ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GREEN SQUARE UK - NICHE CORPORATE FINANCE BOUTIQUE OF THE YEAR

EY UK - 2014 RISING STAR, SOPHIA WATSHAM

GROUP LAW FIRM TURKEY - OVERALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

FARRER & CO UK - 2014 RISING STAR, EDWARD CHIVERS

GRUENDEL RECHTSANWÄLTE GERMANY - MOST RESPECTED SMALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

FARRER & CO UK - 2014 RISING STAR, ALEXANDRA HOLLINGSHEAD

GRUENDEL RECHTSANWÄLTE GERMANY - VENTURE CAPITAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

FARRER & CO UK - 2014 RISING STAR, ALEXIS HILLE

GRUPPO PONZI INVESTIGAZIONI S.R.L. ITALY - INVESTIGATION AGENCY OF THE YEAR (CORPORATE)

FENECH & FENECH ADVOCATES MALTA – LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

GURLICH & CO. CZECH REPUBLIC – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, JUDR. RICHARD GURLICH, PH.D

FENECH & FENECH ADVOCATES MALTA – TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

HAMILTON ADVOKATBYRA SWEDEN - PUBLIC PROCUREMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

HAMILTON ADVOKATBYRA SWEDEN - PUBLIC PROCUREMENT LAWYER OF THE YEAR, Fredrik Linder .

HAPP LUTHER GERMANY - CORPORATE & M&A FIRM OF THE YEAR

KHALIL & KANE UK - 2014 RISING STAR, SIMON KHALIL

HAROLD SMITH CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS UK – REGIONAL FINANCIAL / BUSINESS ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

KONEČNÁ & ZACHA CENTRAL EUROPE - OVERALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

HEINKELEIN | VOIGT ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW GERMANY - FORMAT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

KONEČNÁ & ZACHA CZECH REPUBLIC - REAL ESTATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

HERITAGE CORPORATE SERVICES LIMITED GUERNSEY - LEADING ADVISORY OF THE YEAR (FIDUCIARY)

KOZLOWSKI & PARTNERS LAW FIRM POLAND - CUSTOMER SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

HERITAGE CORPORATE SERVICES LIMITED GUERNSEY – MARINE AND AVIATION ASSET ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

KOZLOWSKI & PARTNERS LAW FIRM POLAND – FOREIGN INVESTMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

HERITAGE INTERNATIONAL FUND MANAGERS LIMITED GUERNSEY - FUND AMINISTRATION ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

KPMG UK - 2014 RISING STAR, KATY SHAW

HERMANN GERMANY - INSOLVENCY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

KPMG LLP UK - FULL SERVICE FORENSIC ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

HGF LIMITED UK – LEADING BIOTECH & PHARMACEUTICALS ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

KPMG LLP UK - ANTI-BRIBERY / CORRUPTION ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

HITACHI CAPITAL INVOICE FINANCE UK - FACTORING LENDER OF THE YEAR

KPMG TURKEY TURKEY - FULL SERVICE ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

HOLLAND CORPORATE FINANCE NETHERLANDS - LEADING FINANCIAL ADVISOR OF THE YEAR

KRZYZEWSKY UGYVEDI IRODA HUNGARY – SPORTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

HUGHES HUBBARD & REED LLP FRANCE - ARBITRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LA TORRE MORGESE CESARO RIO STUDIO LEGALE ASSOCIATO ITALY - CORPORATE GOVERNANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

HUGHES HUBBARD & REED LLP FRANCE - BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LA TORRE MORGESE CESARO RIO STUDIO LEGALE ASSOCIATO ITALY - INVESTMENTS FUNDS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

HUGHES HUBBARD & REED LLP FRANCE - ANTITRUST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LAMB CHAMBERS ENGLAND – IP BARRISTER OF THE YEAR - CHRIS PEARSON IP COUNSEL

HUGHES HUBBARD & REED LLP FRANCE - COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LAMB CHAMBERS ENGLAND – IP LAW TEAM OF THE YEAR – INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

IEG – INVESTMENT BANKING GROUP GERMANY – INVESTMENT BANKING ADVISORY OF THE YEAR INDEXINVESTOR LTD SWITZERLAND - ASSET MANAGER OF THE YEAR INDEXINVESTOR LTD SWITZERLAND - ETF WEALTH MANAGER OF THE YEAR INFINITY PARTNERSHIP LIMITED SCOTLAND - CORPORATE FINANCE BOUTIQUE OF THE YEAR ING DIRECT SPAIN - 2014 RISING STAR, FRANCISCO JAVIER RAMÍREZ ARBUÉS INTELS RUSSIA - IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IP.JAESCHKE MARKEN-UND MEDIENRECHT GERMANY - CORPORATE IP LAWYER OF THE YEAR, DR. LARS JAESCHKE, LL.M, ISLAM & CO CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS UK – REGIONAL FINANCIAL ADVISORY OF THE YEAR JABRE CAPITAL PARTNERS S.A. SWITZERLAND - INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT / ADVISORY SERVICES PROVIDER OF THE YEAR (PRIVATE CLIENT)

KLEINWORT BENSON TRUSTEES (JERSEY) UK - 2014 RISING STAR, JOEL SMITH

LAMONT PRIDMORE UK – DYNAMIC ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR LANGHAM HALL UK LLP UK - PRIVATE EQUITY & REAL ESTATE FUND ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR LATORRE MORGESE CESARO RIO ITALY - INTERNATIONAL CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LAWFIRM BUSSE & MIESSEN GERMANY - FRANCHISE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LEGAL & GENERAL PROPERTY AND COMMERCIAL LENDING UK - LEADING PENSIONS ADVISORY OF THE YEAR, BILL HUGHES LEUMI ABL LIMITED UK - ASSET BASED LENDER OF THE YEAR LEUMI ABL LIMITED UK – SME ASSET BASED LENDER OF THE YEAR LEUPOLD LEGAL GERMANY - GAMING / GAMBLING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LEUPOLD LEGAL GERMANY - IT LAWYER OF THE YEAR, ANDREAS LEUPOLD

JAMES COUZENS NOTARY PUBLIC UK – REGIONAL NOTARY PUBLIC OF THE YEAR, JAMES COUZENS

LEVI SOLICITORS UK (LEEDS) - REGIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

JAMES LOVE LEGAL UK – INDEPENDENT IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LEWIS NEDAS LAW UK - CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

JAMES HAMBRO & CO UK - 2014 RISING STAR, SIMON BROOKES

LEWIS NEDAS LAW UK - LEADING CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAWYER OF THE YEAR - JEFFREY LEWIS

JASMIN CAPITAL FRANCE - PRIVATE PLACEMENT AGENT OF THE YEAR

LINDNER LAW AUSTRIA - INDEPENDENT CONTRACT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

JHK ACCOUNTANTS UK – NICHE ADVISORY FRIM OF THE YEAR (MEDICAL)

LITMUS ADVISORY LIMITED UK - DEBT ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

KALLIOLAW ASIANAJOTOIMISTO OY - ATTORNEYS AT LAW FINLAND - LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LLOYD PLATT & CO. UK – LEADING DIVORCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

KALLIOLAW ASIANAJOTOIMISTO OY - ATTORNEYS AT LAW FINLAND - LAWYER OF THE YEAR - JUKKA KALLIO

LUCENTUM LIMITED UK - REGIONAL ACCOUNTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR

KALLIOLAW ASIANAJOTOIMISTO OY - ATTORNEYS AT LAW FINLAND - PRIVATE EQUITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LUIS MIGUEL AMARAL - ADVOGADO PORTUGAL - LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, LUIS MIGUEL AMARAL

KANNAVA, KITROMILIDOU & CO LLC CYPRUS - BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LUIS MIGUEL AMARAL - ADVOGADO PORTUGAL – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, LUIS MIGUEL AMARA

KANNAVA, KITROMILIDOU & CO LLC CYPRUS - INVESTMENT FUNDS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LW TAX GERMANY – BOUTIQUE TAX ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

KANNAVA, KITROMILIDOU & CO LLC CYPRUS (LIMASSOL) - CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

M & P BERNITSAS LAW OFFICES GREECE - EU LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

KAYE SCHOLER UK - 2014 RISING STAR, JEFFREY LEE

M & P BERNITSAS LAW OFFICES GREECE – CAPITAL MARKETS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

KAYE SCHOLER LLP UK – 2014 RISING STAR, JEFFREY LEE

MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP RUSSIA - INTERNATIONAL M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

KBS CORPORATE UK – CF ADVISORY OF THE YEAR (UPTO £50M)

MACFARLANES UK - 2014 RISING STAR, HATTIE MIALL

KERMAN & CO LLP UK - AIM ADVISORY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MANAGEMENT MOBILITY CONSULTING FRANCE - COMPANY RELOCATION SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

KERMAN & CO LLP UK - ENERGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MANNBENHAM ADVOCATES LIMITED ISLE OF MANN - AVIATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

KERMAN & CO LLP UK - SPORT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MANNHEIMER SWARTLING SWEDEN - INSURANCE & REINSURANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

MARAVELA & ASOCIATII ROMANIA – M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

NEUMANS LLP UK - FRAUD & WHITE COLLAR CRIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MANNBENHAM ADVOCATES LIMITED ISLE OF MANN - ARBITRATION AND LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

NEW QUADRANT PARTNERS UK - 2014 RISING STAR, SOPHIE BRANDRAM

MATTHEW WILKINSON SOLICITORS UK – PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

NIELSEN MEINL, ADVOKÁTNÍ KANCELÁŘ, S. R. O. CZECH REPUBLIC – HEALTHCARE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MAURICE TURNOR GARDNER UK - 2014 RISING STAR, EDWARD BURTON

NIELSEN MEINL, ADVOKÁTNÍ KANCELÁŘ, S. R. O. CZECH REPUBLIC – TMT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MAURICE TURNOR GARDNER UK - 2014 RISING STAR, EESHA ARORA

NORTH COURT INVESTIGATIONS UK – PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS AGENCY OF THE YEAR (CORPORATE / LEGAL)

MAVEN CAPITAL PARTNERS UK LLP UK - SMALL BUYOUT HOUSE OF THE YEAR

NORWICH ACCOUNTANCY SERVICES LTD UK – REGIONAL TAX / ACCOUNTING ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY UK - 2014 RISING STAR, DHANA SABANATHAN

O2 CONSULTING RUSSIA – BOUTIQUE FULL SERVICE LAW FORM OF THE YEAR

MEDIASTIC-MARTINEAU ASSOCIES AARPI FRANCE - IT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

O2 CONSULTING RUSSIA - LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, ZHANNA TOMASHEVSKAYA

MERIDIAN PRIVATE UK - 2014 RISING STAR, PETER GATE

O2 CONSULTING. RUSSIA - LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, OLGA YAUDZEMIS

METIS PARTNERS LTD UK - SPECIALIST IP ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

ODVETNIKI DOLŽAN, VIDMAR & ZEMLJARIČ SLOVENIA - BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MEYERLUSTENBERGER | LACHENAL SWITZERLAND - REAL ESTATE LAWYER OF THE YEAR, DR. WOLFGANG MÜLLER

ODVETNIKI DOLŽAN, VIDMAR & ZEMLJARIČ SLOVENIA - CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MHA MACINTYRE HUDSON UK – LEADING INTERNATIONAL TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

ODVETNIKI DOLŽAN, VIDMAR & ZEMLJARIČ SLOVENIA - CAPITAL MARKETS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MEYERLUSTENBERGER | LACHENAL SWITZERLAND – REAL ESTATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ODVETNIKI DOLŽAN, VIDMAR & ZEMLJARIČ SLOVENIA - INDEPENDENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

MILLENIUM ASSOCIATES AG SWITZERLAND - INDEPENDENT FIRM OF THE YEAR

OESA LIMITED UK – NICHE CONSULTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR (LEGAL AND REGULATORY)

MILLENIUM ASSOCIATES AG SWITZERLAND - LEADING M&A ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

OESA LIMITED UK – NICHE CONSULTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR (LEGAL AND REGULATORY) OFFSHORETAX.RO ROMANIA - COMPANY FORMATION SPECIALIST FIRM OF THE YEAR

MISHCON DE REYA UK - 2014 RISING STAR, CHARLIE SOSNA MISHCON DE REYA UK - 2014 RISING STAR, HELEN CURTIS-GOULDING MJ HUDSON UK - (NICHE) LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (ALTERNATIVE ASSETS) MOALEM WEITEMEYER BENDTSEN DENMARK – CAPITAL MARKETS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MOALEM WEITEMEYER BENDTSEN DENMARK – INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MOALEM WEITEMEYER BENDTSEN DENMARK – M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MOALEM WEITEMEYER BENDTSEN DENMARK – MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MONFRINI CRETTOL & ASSOCIES SWITZERLAND - FRAUD LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MONTANIOS & MONTANIOS LLC, ADVOCATES & LEGAL CONSULTANTS CYPRUS – AVIATION LAWYER OF THE YEAR, ERIC MONTANIOS MONTREUX CAPITAL MANAGEMENT SWITZERLAND - INVESTMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR (ALTERNATIVE FUNDS) MOORE STEPHENS GUERNSEY - 2014 RISING STAR, SAM BIRD MOORE STEPHENS ISLE OF MAN ISLE OF MAN - ACCOUNTING FIRM OF THE YEAR / FIRM OF THE YEAR MOORE STEPHENS ISLE OF MAN ISLE OF MAN - LEADING PRIVATE CLIENT ADVISOR OF THE YEAR, CLIVE DIXON MORONI & PARTNERS ITALY - ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR (RENEWABLE ENERGY) MOTIEKA & AUDZEVICIUS LITHUANIA - DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MURANO SYSTEMS UK - DATA AND RESEARCH VENDOR OF THE YEAR MURDOCHS SOLICITORS UK - MATRIMONIAL LAWYER OF THE YEAR, ROBERT FORMAN MURDOCHS SOLICITORS UK - PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINE & REGULATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MW TRADE MARKS UK - LEADING PATENT & TRADEMARK LAWYER OF THE YEAR, JON WYNESS MY CONTROLLER UK – REGIONAL BUSINESS PLANNING & TAX ADVISORY SERVICES TEAM OF THE YEAR NCI LAW GROUP LLC CYPRUS – COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR NAUTILUS TRUST JERSEY - 2014 RISING STAR, LAURA MOREL NEDBANK PRIVATE WEALTH LIMITED CHANNEL ISLANDS – PRIVATE BANK OF THE YEAR NEDBANK PRIVATE WEALTH LIMITED CHANNEL ISLANDS – WEALTH MANAGER OF THE YEAR NEDGROUP TRUST LIMITED GUERNSEY - LEADING ADVISORY OF THE YEAR (FIDUCIARY) NESTOR NESTOR DICULESCU KINGSTON PETERSEN SCA ROMANIA – COMPETITION & ANTI-TRUST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR NEUFLIZE ASYMETRIQUE FRANCE - ABSOLUTE FUND OF THE YEAR

OLSWANG GERMANY LLP GERMANY – MEDIA LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR OLSWANG GERMANY LLP GERMANY – OUTSOURCING ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR OLSWANG GERMANY LLP GERMANY – DIVERSITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR OLSWANG GERMANY LLP GERMANY – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, DR. STEFAN LÜTJE OGIER LEGAL JERSEY JERSEY - 2014 RISING STAR, ROBERT DOBBYN ORBIS PARTNERS LLP UK - TURNAROUND & RESTRUCTURING ADVISORY OF THE YEAR ORIGEN FINANCIAL SERVICES UK – RETIREMENT PLANNING ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR OSPELT & PARTNER ATTORNEYS AT LAW LTD LIECHTENSTEIN - INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR OST ENERGY LTD UK - TECHNICAL ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR OW LAW LLP UK - CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR OW LAW LLP UK - EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR OXFORD CONSULTING ASSOCIATES LLP UK - NICHE CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR (HEALTHCARE) P. N. KOURTELLOS & ASSOCIATES LLC CYPRUS - LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR P. N. KOURTELLOS & ASSOCIATES LLC CYPRUS – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, DR. PAVLOS NEOFYTOU KOURTELLOS PAKSOY TURKEY – CAPITAL MARKETS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR PAKSOY TURKEY - DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR PAKSOY TURKEY – FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR PAKSOY TURKEY - PRIVATE EQUITY LAWYER OF THE YEAR, ELVAN AZIZ PARADIGM RISK CONSULTING LIMITED UK – RISK CONSULTING ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR PATENTSHIP PATENT ATTORNEYS GERMANY - IP LAWYER OF THE YEAR, DR ROBERT KLINSKI PATENTSHIP PATENT ATTORNEYS GERMANY - IP LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR PCB LITIGATION LLP UK - ANTI-FRAUD / ASSET RECOVERY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR PAYNE HICKS BEACH UK - 2014 RISING STAR, FREDDIE BJORN PCF SOLUTIONS LIMITED UK - MANAGEMENT ADVISORY OF THE YEAR PENNINGTONS MANCHES UK - 2014 RISING STAR, ADRIAN MOSS PFW AEROSPACE GMBH GERMANY – COMPANY OF THE YEAR (AEROSPACE)

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

PHAEDON A. MICHAEL & CO LLC CYPRUS - M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ROGÉRIO FERNANDES FERREIRA & ASSOCIADOS PORTUGAL – LEADING TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

PHAEDON A. MICHAEL & CO LLC CYPRUS - M&A LAWYER OF THE YEAR, PHAEDON MICHAEL

ROTHSCHILD GMBH GERMANY - CROSS BORDER M&A ADVISOR OF THE YEAR

PHARMACY PARTNERS UK - NICHE DEBT PROVIDER OF THE YEAR (HEALTHCARE)

ROUSAUD COSTAS DURAN SPAIN - 2014 RISING STAR, IGNASI COSTAS

PKL RECHTSANWALTE GERMANY - TURNAROUND ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

RUSSELL ADVOCATEN NETHERLANDS – CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

PLATINUM PARTNERS GMBH GERMANY – CROSS BORDER M&A ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

RUSSELL ADVOCATEN NETHERLANDS - FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

PNC BUSINESS CREDIT UK - ASSET BASED LENDER OF THE YEAR (MID MARKET)

RUSSELL COOKE UK - 2014 RISING STAR, JENNY BIRD

POLAKIS SARRIS & CO LLC CYPRUS - DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

RUSSIAN DIRECT INVESTMENT FUND RUSSIA - INVESTMENT FUND OF THE YEAR / PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM OF THE YEAR

POLAKIS SARRIS & CO LLC CYPRUS - TAX INVESTIGATIONS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

RUSTEM GUARDIAN SOLICITORS UK - NICHE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (SEXUAL OFFENCES)

POLAKIS SARRIS & CO LLC CYPRUS - TRUST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

RUSTEM GUARDIAN SOLICITORS UK - NICHE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (TERRORISM CHARGES)

POLLYANNA CAPITAL PARTNERS RUSSIA - CROSS BORDER M&A ADVISOR OF THE YEAR

SAFFERY CHAMPNESS UK - 2014 RISING STAR, EMMA HENDRON

POLLYANNA CAPITAL PARTNERS RUSSIA - M&A ADVISOR OF THE YEAR

SAFFERY CHAMPNESS SWITZERLAND - 2014 RISING STAR, LUCY ELDRIDGE

PORTILLION CAPITAL LIMITED UK - INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER OF THE YEAR (SHARIA)

SAFFERY CHAMPNESS REGISTERED FIDUCIARIES GUERNSEY - 2014 RISING STAR, NICK FORD

PORTILLION CAPITAL LIMITED UK - SEIS FUND OF THE YEAR, PORTILLION CAPITAL SHARIA COMPLAINT SEIS FUND

SAGARDOY ABOGADOS SPAIN - 2014 RISING STAR, IVÁN GAYARRE CONDE

PRIME ADVOCATES UK – SOCIAL FINANCE ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

SALAMANCA GROUP UK - 2014 RISING STAR, CATHERINE GRUM

PUNTER SOUTHALL TRANSACTION SERVICES UK – ACTURIAL ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

SALAMANDER SUISSE SWITZERLAND - TRUST & COMPANY SERVICES ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

PWC CHANNEL ISLANDS - LARGE FULL SERVICE ACCOUNTANT OF THE YEAR

SAVIN MARTINET ASSOCIÉS FRANCE - ENVIRONMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

PWC UK - BUSINESS CONTINUITY MANAGEMENT CONSULTING FIRM OF THE YEAR

SCHIEBE UND COLLEGEN GERMANY - BANKRUPTCY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

PWC GERMANY GERMANY – MOST TRUSTED - PRIVATE EQUITY ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

SCHIEBE UND COLLEGEN GERMANY - BANKRUPTCY LAWYER OF THE YEAR, DR. ROBERT SCHIEBE

PWC LLP UK - SUSTAINABILITY PRIVATE EQUITY ADVISOR OF THE YEAR

SCHINDLER RECHTSANWÄLTE GMBH AUSTRIA – PRIVATE EQUITY LAWYER OF THE YEAR, FLORIAN CVAK

PWC LUXEMBOURG - PRIVATE EQUITY TAX ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

SCHNITZER RECHTSANWALTS GMBH AUSTRIA – PUBLIC PROCUREMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

PWC LUXEMBOURG - MANAGEMENT INCENTIVES ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

SCHWEISSGUT GMBH VERMOGENSMANAGEMENT & CONSULTING AUSTRIA - MOST TRUSTED - WEALTH MANAGEMENT ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

PWC LUXEMBOURG - TAX ADVISOR OF THE YEAR, MAARTEN VERJANS

SERRA LOPES, CORTES MARTINS & ASSOCIADOS PORTUGAL - 2014 RISING STAR, RAFAEL LUCAS PIRES

QUENTIN BARGATE, BARGATE MURRAY SOLICITORS UK - INSURANCE LAWYER OF THE YEAR

SEUFERT RECHTSANWALTE GERMANY - HEALTHCARE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

QUENTIN BARGATE, BARGATE MURRAY SOLICITORS UK - MARITIME LAWYER OF THE YEAR

SHERRARDS SOLICITORS LLP ENGLAND - MOST TRUSTED - LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART & SULLIVAN, LLP GERMANY - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SIA GROUP UK - ASSET APPRAISER OF THE YEAR

QUINN LEGAL ISLE OF MAN - LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SIA GROUP UK - CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING ADVISOR OF THE YEAR

R C BROWN UK - PORTFOLIO MANAGEROF THE YEAR (PRIVATE CLIENT)

SINCERIUS TRANSACTION SERVICES NETHERLANDS - FINANCIAL DUE DILIGENCE ADVISOR OF THE YEAR

RAPOSO BERNARDO PORTUGAL - BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SIRIUS LEGAL BELGIUM - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

RAWLINSON & HUNTER UK - 2014 RISING STAR, TREVOR WARMINGTON

SIRIUS LEGAL BELGIUM - TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

RAWLISON BUTLER LLP UK (SOUTH EAST) – CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SMART HR SOLUTIONS LIMITED ISLE OF MAN - HR CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR

RAWLISON BUTLER LLP UK (SOUTH EAST) – CORPORATE LAWYER OF THE YEAR, TIM SADKA

SMART HR SOLUTIONS LIMITED UK - OFFSHORE HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR

RAWLISON BUTLER LLP UK (SOUTH EAST) – COMMERCIAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SRS ADVOGADOS PORTUGAL – DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAWYER OF THE YEAR, LEONOR CUNHA

RBS INVOICE FINANCE UK - INVOICE FINANCE BANK OF THE YEAR

SRS ADVOGADOS PORTUGAL – DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

RBS INVOICE FINANCE UK - LARGE ASSET BASED LENDER OF THE YEAR

SRS ADVOGADOS PORTUGAL - EMPLOYMENT & LABOUR LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

REGULATORY STRATEGIES LTD UK - DATA PROTECTION CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR

SRS ADVOGADOS PORTUGAL - COMMERCIAL & COMPANY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

RETTER ATTORNEYS LUXEMBOURG - TRUST & ESTATES LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SRS ADVOGADOS PORTUGAL - COMPETITION & ANTI-TRUST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

RIALTO CONSULTANCY UK - TRANSITION COACHING CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR

SMITH & WILLIAMSON UK - 2014 RISING STAR, HELEN JOHN

RISKCOM GMBH GERMANY - ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

SMITH & WILLIAMSON UK - 2014 RISING STAR, REBECCA BURTON

ROBERTS JACKSON SOLICITORS UK - NICHE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (INDUSTRIAL DISEASE)

STEER AND CO UK - NICHE ADVISOR OF THE YEAR (TMT) REBECCA STEER

ROCG IRELAND – NICHE CONSULTING FIRM OF THE YEAR

STEER AND CO UK - NICHE ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR (TMT)

ROGÉRIO ALVES & ASSOCIADOS - SOCIEDADE DE ADVOGADOS, R.L. PORTUGAL - ARBITRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

STJ ADVISORS UK - SENIOR EQUITY ADVISOR FIRM OF THE YEAR STJ ADVISORS UK - SENIOR EQUITY ADVISOR FIRM OF THE YEAR

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

STM GROUP GIBRALTAR - CORPORATE / TRUSTEE SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

VERSARIEN PLC UK – AIM LISTED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR

STREATHERS UK - 2014 RISING STAR, NICK STONE

VIBERTS - JERSEY LAWYERS JERSEY - LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

STRELIA BELGIUM - NEW LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

VISION HUNTERS OY LTD FINLAND - M&A ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

STUDIO LEGALE SUTTI ITALY - CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

VÖLKL. RECHTSANWÄLTE AUSTRIA - BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

VÖLKL. RECHTSANWÄLTE STUDIO LEGALE SUTTI ITALY - INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL LITIGATION ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR AUSTRIA - LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR STURGEON VENTURES LLP UK - BUSINESS INCUBATOR OF THE YEAR

WALKER MORRIS UK - SPORTS LAWYER OF THE YEAR - DAVID HINCHLIFFE

SYMEOU & KONNARIS LLC CYPRUS – OVERALL CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

WATSON, FARLEY & WILLIAMS SPAIN - 2014 RISING STAR, MARÍA PILAR GARCÍA GUIJARRO

TAVERNIER TSCHANZ SWITZERLAND - M&A LAWYER OF THE YEAR, JACQUES BONVIN

WBW WEREMCZUK BOBEL & PARTNERS POLAND - COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

THE CHAMBERS OF WILLIAM CLEGG QC UK - CRIME CHAMBERS OF THE YEAR

WBW WEREMCZUK BOBEL & PARTNERS POLAND - REGIONAL - INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

TAYLOR WESSING UK - 2014 RISING STAR, KIRSTIE MCGUIGAN

WEDLAKE BELL UK - 2014 RISING STAR, CAROLINE COOK

THE INMAR LEGAL CO RUSSIA - BUSINESS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

WEDLAKE BELL UK - 2014 RISING STAR, VICTORIA MAHON DE PALACIOS

THE TAX GUYS UK – REGIONAL TAX ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

WEIL & ASSOCIÉS FRANCE - LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

THIRTEEN OLD SQUARE CHAMBERS ENGLAND - INSOLVENCY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

WEIL & ASSOCIÉS FRANCE - M&A LAWYER OF THE YEAR, ERIC WEIL

WESLEYAN THIRTEEN OLD SQUARE CHAMBERS ENGLAND - INSOLVENCY LAWYER OF THE YEAR, PROF MARK WATSON GANDY UK - INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE YEAR THOMAS AND THOMAS PARTNERS LLP UK - BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (LICENSING)

WILLIAM FRY IRELAND - CUSTOMER SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

THOMAS EGGAR LLP UK – 2014 RISING STAR, MARK PEARCE

WILLIAM FRY I RELAND - INSOLVENCY AND RESTRUCTURING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

TILNEY BESTINVEST SCOTLAND - STOCKBROKING FIRM OF THE YEAR

WILLIAM FRY IRELAND - ENERGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

TOUCH FINANCIAL UK INVOICE FINANCE BROKER OF THE YEAR

WILLIAM FRY IRELAND - EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

TOWRY UK - 2014 RISING STAR, BEN GLASSMAN

WILLIAM FRY IRELAND - INSURANCE & REINSURANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

TOWRY UK - 2014 RISING STAR, HARPAL SRA

WILLIAM FRY IRELAND - PENSIONS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

TREA CAPITAL PARTNERS, S.V., SPAIN - EMERGING MARKETS CREDIT FUND OF THE YEAR (3G CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES FUND)

WILLIAM FRY IRELAND - LEADING CLIENT CARE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

TRUST CORPORATION OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS GUERNSEY – LEADING ESTATE PLANNING ADVISORY OF THE YEAR UHY AUDIT CD SRL ROMANIA – AUDIT ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR TREA CAPITAL PARTNERS, S.V., SPAIN - HEDGE FUND MANAGER OF THE YEAR TURCAN CONNELL UK - 2014 RISING STAR, ALIX STORRIE ÜNLÜ & CO TURKEY - INVESTMENT BANK OF THE YEAR URS UK - ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE FIRM OF THE YEAR VAKHNINA AND PARTNERS RUSSIA - LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, DR. TATYANA VAKHNINA VAKHNINA AND PARTNERS RUSSIA - PATENT & TRADEMARK LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR VALEA AB SWEDEN – FULL SERVICE IP FIRM OF THE YEAR ALEA AB SWEDEN – IP ADVISOR OF THE YEAR, Anders Havstam VALENTE ASSOCIATI GEB PARTNERS ITALY - INTERNATIONAL TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR VALENTE ASSOCIATI GEB PARTNERS ITALY - LITIGATION TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR VALENTE ASSOCIATI GEB PARTNERS ITALY - TAX LAWYER OF THE YEAR, PROF. PIERGIORGIO VALENTE VALENTE ASSOCIATI GEB PARTNERS ITALY - TRANSFER PRICING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR VALLETTA FUND SERVICES LIMITED MALTA - FUND ADMINISTRATION SPECIALIST FIRM OF THE YEAR VALUE & RISK VALUATION SERVICES GERMANY – ASSET VALUATION ADVISORY OF THE YEAR VALUE & RISK VALUATION SERVICES GERMANY – RISK MANAGEMENT ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

WINHELLER RECHTSANWALTSGESELLSCHAFT MBH GERMANY - FOUNDATIONS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR WINHELLER RECHTSANWALTSGESELLSCHAFT MBH GERMANY - NON-PROFIT SECTOR LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR WITHERS UK - 2014 RISING STAR, CHARLIE TEE WITHERS UK - 2014 RISING STAR, JAIME MCLEMORE WOLLEN MICHELMORE LLP UK - REGIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (SOUTH WEST) WOLLEN MICHELMORE LLP MOST TRUSTED - LICENSING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR WOODS SQUARED LIMITED UK – BUSINESS GROWTH ADVISORY OF THE YEAR WRAGGE LAWRENCE GRAHAM UK - 2014 RISING STAR, ALISTAIR ROBERTSON WRAGGE LAWRENCE GRAHAM UK - 2014 RISING STAR, KATIE COLES XANTHOS DIGITAL MARKETING UK – STRATEGIC E-COMMERCE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR YOUR LEGAL PARTNERS GREECE - BANKING & FINANCE LAWYER OF THE YEAR, KATERINA CHRISTODOULOU ZBM PATENTS & TRADEMARKS SPAIN - MID-MARKET - PARTNERSHIP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ZEINER & ZEINER AUSTRIA - AVIATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ZEUS CAPITAL LTD UK - CF ADVISORY OF THE YEAR ZEUS CAPITAL LTD UK - INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISORY OF THE YEAR ZINC GROUP LTD UK – DEBT COLLECTIONS BUSINESS OF THE YEAR ΜARINOS - KATSAS - LIASKOS & ASSOCIATES GREECE - MOST TRUSTED - IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA ABOU JAOUDE & ASSOCIATES LAW FIRM LEBANON - OVERALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ABOU JAOUDE & ASSOCIATES LAW FIRM LEBANON - CORPORATE FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ACTIVA INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY GHANA LTD GHANA - COMPANY OF THE YEAR (INSURANCE) ADAMS & ADAMS SOUTH AFRICA - ANTI-TRUST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ADAMS & ADAMS SOUTH AFRICA - LIFE SCIENCES LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ADAMS & ADAMS SOUTH AFRICA - PATENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ALATHEER AUDIT AND CONSULTING BAHRAIN - CORPORATE SUPPORT SERVICES FIRM OF THE YEAR ALEXANDER FORBES GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED SOUTH AFRICA – GAMECHANGER OF THE YEAR - EDWARD KIESWETTER, CEO ALLIED COMPLIANCE CONSULTANTS UAE – FULL SERVICE BUSINESS CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR ALLIED COMPLIANCE CONSULTANTS UAE – INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR, HOSSAM M. ABD EL-RAHMAN AQUA TECH DIVING SERVICES SOUTH AFRICA – NICHE SULUTION PROVIDER OF THE YEAR (SHIPPING & MARITIME) ASHITIVA & COMPANY ADVOCATES KENYA - COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR AZHARI LEGAL CONSULTANCY UAE - ARBITRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR AZHARI LEGAL CONSULTANCY UAE - BOUTIQUE TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR BERNADT VUKIC POTASH & GETZ SOUTH AFRICA - BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR BURGAN BANK GROUP MENA - BANK OF THE YEAR FOR CHOPPIES GROUP AFRICA - COMPANY OF THE YEAR COX YEATS ATTORNEYS SOUTH AFRICA - CONSTRUCTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DR. A. KLAGSBALD & CO. LAW OFFICES ISRAEL - DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DR. A. KLAGSBALD & CO. LAW OFFICES ISRAEL - DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAWYER OF THE YEAR, DR AVIGDOR KLAGSBALD E&Y - ETHIOPIA ETHIOPIA - CORPORATE FINANCE ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR EHRLICH & FENSTER ISRAEL – BIOTECH PATENTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR EHRLICH & FENSTER ISRAEL – PATENT PROSECUTION LAWYER OF THE YEAR EHRLICH & FENSTER ISRAEL – TRADEMARKS LAWYER OF THE YEAR, DR. GAL EHRLICH ENSAFRICA SOUTH AFRICA - GLOBAL FIRM OF THE YEAR ERNST & YOUNG LIMITADA MOZAMBIQUE - FULL SERVICE TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR ERNST & YOUNG LIMITADA MOZAMBIQUE - INTERNATIONAL TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GREENSTONE EQUITY PARTNERS MENA - CORPORATE FINANCE ADVISOR OF THE YEAR GREENSTONE EQUITY PARTNERS MENA - FUND PLACEMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR GREENSTONE EQUITY PARTNERS MENA - INVESTMENT ADVISOR OF THE YEAR IBA GLOBAL PTY LTD SOUTH AFRICA - INTERNATIONAL FULL SERVICE BUSINESS ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR ISLAMIC CORPORATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR (ICD) SAUDI ARABIA - ISLAMIC BANK OF THE YEAR JOHN HARRIS & CO. ISRAEL – MARITIME LAWYER OF THE YEAR, ADV. JOHN HARRIS KBH KAANUUN UAE - BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR / LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR KETTANI LAW FIRM MOROCCO - AVIATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR KETTANI LAW FIRM MOROCCO - LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR KETTANI LAW FIRM MOROCCO - M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR KETTANI LAW FIRM MOROCCO - BUSINESS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR KPMG SOUTH AFRICA - FULL SERVICE FORENSIC ADVISORY OF THE YEAR KPMG SOUTH AFRICA - ANTI-BRIBERY / CORRUPTION ADVISORY OF THE YEAR KPMG ZAMBIA ZAMBIA – AUDITORS OF THE YEAR LCF GROUP ANGOLA – ANTI-FRAUD / ASSET RECOVERY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LCF GROUP ANGOLA – ANTI-FRAUD / ASSET RECOVERY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LEGUM AMICUSS UAE – FOREIGN SMALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LEGUM AMICUSS UAE – LEADING ANTI- MONEY LAUNDERING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, KARTEEKKA TYAGGI LPA LAW FIRM ALBANIA LTD ALBANIA - FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LUMENROCK SOUTH AFRICA - FULL SERVICE BUSINESS ADVISORY OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP LEBANON - INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP SAUDI ARABIA - INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP SAUDI ARABIA - OVERSEAS CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP SAUDI ARABIA - OVERSEAS M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP SAUDI ARABIA - OVERSEAS PRIVATE EQUITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MAALOUF ASHFORD & TALBOT, LLP UAE - INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ERNST & YOUNG LIMITADA MOZAMBIQUE - INDIRECT TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

MARLON SHEVELEW & ASSOCIATES SOUTH AFRICA - COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ERNST & YOUNG LIMITADA MOZAMBIQUE - HUMAN CAPITAL ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

MARLON SHEVELEW & ASSOCIATES SOUTH AFRICA - CONSUMER LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ERNST & YOUNG LIMITADA MOZAMBIQUE - TAX RISK ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

MAY AND COMPANY SOUTH AFRICA – LEADING ESTATE PLANNING ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

ERNST & YOUNG LIMITADA MOZAMBIQUE - TRANSACTION TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

ML DLAMINI ATTORNEYS KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND – OVERALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ERNST & YOUNG LIMITADA MOZAMBIQUE - TRANSFER PRICING ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

N. DOWUONA & COMPANY GHANA – PPP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ERNST & YOUNG LIMITADA MOZAMBIQUE - BUSINESS TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

PAMOJA CAPITAL KENYA – CORPORATE FINANCE ADVISORY BOUTIQUE OF THE YEAR

ERRIAH CHAMBERS MAURITIUS - CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

PREMIER FINANCIAL SERVICES LIMITED MAURITIUS - COMPANY & TRUST FORMATION ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

ERRIAH CHAMBERS (LEX AFRICA) MAURITIUS - LEADING M&A ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

RAND MERCHANT BANK AFRICA - INVESTMENT BANK OF THE YEAR

EY (AL AIBAN, AL OSAIMI & PARTNERS) KUWAIT – FULL SERVICE TAX ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

RAND MERCHANT BANK SOUTH AFRICA - DEBT HOUSE OF THE YEAR

EY (AL AIBAN, AL OSAIMI & PARTNERS) KUWAIT – INVESTMENT FUNDS ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

RAND MERCHANT BANK SOUTH AFRICA - INVESTMENT BANK OF THE YEAR

FERNANDA LOPES & ASSOCIADOS ADVOGADOS MOZAMBIQUE - LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

RAND MERCHANT BANK SOUTH AFRICA - M&A ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

FRALAW – FERREIRA ROCHA ADVOGADOS MOZAMBIQUE - BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

RSM ASHVIR KENYA - TAX ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

FWU GLOBAL TAKAFUL SOLUTIONS UAE (DUBAI) – TAKAFUL SOLUTIONS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

SAHRA PETROLEUM CONSULTING YEMEN - NICHE ADVISORY OF THE YEAR (OIL & GAS)

FWU GLOBAL TAKAFUL SOLUTIONS UAE (DUBAI) – SUKUK STRUCTURE OF THE YEAR

SHALAKANY LAW OFFICE EGYPT - M&A ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

GBSH CONSULT SOUTH AFRICA - LEADING CONSULTACY FIRM OF THE YEAR

SMIEDT & ASSOCIATES SOUTH AFRICA - BUSINESS LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

GLYN MARAIS INC. SOUTH AFRICA - CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

SOVEREIGN CORPORATE SERVICES JLT UAE - TRUST ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

GLYN MARAIS INC. SOUTH AFRICA - LAW FIRM TO DEAL OF THE YEAR - (VICTORIA & ALFRED (V&A) WATERFRONT)

SOVEREIGN CORPORATE SERVICES JLT UAE - PENSION SCHEME ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

GLYN MARAIS INC. SOUTH AFRICA - LAWYER OF THE YEAR - FRANCOIS MARAIS

SOVEREIGN TRUST CONSULTANCY BAHRAIN W.L.L. BAHRAIN - CORPORATE STRATEGY ADVISOR OF THE YEAR

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

STEPHENSON HARWOOD MIDDLE EAST LLP UAE - ARBITRATION AND LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR STEPHENSON HARWOOD MIDDLE EAST LLP UAE - MARITIME & SHIPPING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR THE NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO. LTD MAURITIUS – GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE YEAR THE NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO. LTD MAURITIUS – COMPANY OF THE YEAR (CORPORATE GOVERANCE) TOKUNBO ORIMOBI LP NIGERIA – LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR TOKUNBO ORIMOBI LP NIGERIA - LAWYER OF THE YEAR, AJIBOLA OLUYEDE TOKUNBO ORIMOBI LP NIGERIA – FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR TOKUNBO ORIMOBI LP NIGERIA – PROJECT FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR TOKUNBO ORIMOBI LP NIGERIA – CRIMINAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR TRLPLAW NIGERIA – LAWYER OF THE YEAR, MICHAEL ORIMOBI V-SQUARED BUSINESS RESCUE SERVICES SOUTH AFRICA - NICHE ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR (TURNAROUND) WAWERU GATONYE & CO. KENYA - DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR WEBBER WENTZEL SOUTH AFRICA - AVIATION LAW OF THE YEAR ZALLOUM & LASWI LAW FIRM JORDAN - INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ZEMEDENEH NEGATU - E&Y - ETHIOPIA ETHIOPIA - MANAGING PARTNER OF THE YEAR

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

International ALLIOTT GROUP INTERNATIONAL - PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ALLIANCE OF THE YEAR

LEGIS FUND SERVICES OFFSHORE - FUND AMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR (CHANNEL ISLANDS)

APPLETREE CAPITAL GS S.A INTERNATIONAL - NICHE FINANCIAL ADVISORY OF THE YEAR (ABSOLUTE RETURN)

MIDAXO INTERNATIONAL – PROJECT MANAGEMENT / M&A SOFTWARE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

APPLETREE CAPITAL GS S.A INTERNATIONAL - NICHE FINANCIAL ADVISORY OF THE YEAR (EMERGING MARKETS)

OLIVER WYMAN INTERNATIONAL - MANAGEMENT CONSULTING FIRM OF THE YEAR

BENCHMARK INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL – MID-MARKET CORPORATE FINANCE ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

OPUS FUND SERVICES INTERNATIONAL - HEDGE FUNDS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

BIRLASOFT INTERNATIONAL - TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER OF THE YEAR (BANKING & FINANCE)

OPUS FUND SERVICES OFFSHORE - HEDGE FUNDS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

ERM INTERNATIONAL – ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

ORACLE CAPITAL GROUP INTERNATIONAL – MULTI-FAMILY OFFICE OF THE YEAR

GEC RISK ADVISORY LLC INTERNATIONAL – GOVERNANCE ADVISOR OF THE YEAR, ANDREA BONIME-BLANC

ORACLE CAPITAL GROUP INTERNATIONAL – WEALTH CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR

GEC RISK ADVISORY LLC INTERNATIONAL – GOVERNANCE ADVISOR OF THE YEAR, ANDREA BONIME-BLANC\

ORANGEFIELD FUND SERVICES INTERNATIONAL - TRUST ADMINISTRATION ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

GLOBAL RISK MANAGEMENT ADVISORS, INC. INTERNATIONAL – INDEPENDENT RISK MANAGEMKENT ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

ORANGEFIELD FUND SERVICES INTERNATIONAL - TRUST ADMINISTRATION ADVISOR OF THE YEAR, JOSEPH HOLMAN

GLOBELEQ INTERNATIONAL - ENERGY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR (EMERGING MARKETS) GOAL GROUP INTERNATIONAL – CLASS ACTIONS RECOVERY FIRM OF THE YEAR GOAL GROUP INTERNATIONAL – TAX RECLAMATION SERVICES FIRM OF THE YEAR INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE BANKING SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL - WEALTH MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR INTRALINKS INTERNATIONAL - VDR PROVIDER OF THE YEAR KB ASSOCIATES OFFSHORE - SPECIALIST FUNDS CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR

PATH SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL - CORE BANKING SYSTEM PROVIDER OF THE YEAR – (ISLAMIC FINANCE) RUPERT TALBOT-GARMAN INTERNATIONAL – NICHE ARBITRATION CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR SAS INTERNATIONAL – ANTI-FRAUD TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER OF THE YEAR SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE INTERNATIONAL – INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION BODY OF THE YEAR THE BUSINESS CONTINUITY INSTITUTE INTERNATIONAL – TRAINING RESOURCE OF THE YEAR (BUSINESS CONTINUITY)

KPMG INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL - AML ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

WEALTHTOUCH INTERNATIONAL – NICHE TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER OF THE YEAR (INVESTMENT REPORTING)

KUHNEN & WACKER INTERNATIONAL - FULL SERVICE IP FIRM OF THE YEAR

WELCOME REAL-TIME INTERNATIONAL - NICHE SOLUTIONS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR (RETAIL BANKING)

KUHNEN & WACKER INTERNATIONAL - FULL SERVICE IP LAWYER OF THE YEAR, RAINER ANDREAS KUHNEN

WELLS FARGO INSURANCE TRUST SERVICES INTERNATIONAL - INSURANCE TRUST BANK OF THE YEAR

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

The americas

The Americas, or America, also known as the New World, are the combined continental landmasses of North America and South America, in the Western Hemisphere. Along with their associated islands, they cover 8.3% of the Earth's total surface area (28.4% of its land area). The topography is dominated by the American Cordillera, a long chain of mountains that run the length of the west coast. The flatter eastern side of the Americas is dominated by large river basins, such as the Amazon, Mississippi, and La Plata. Since the Americas extend 14,000 km (8,700 mi) from north to south, the climate and ecology vary widely, from the arctic tundra of Northern Canada, Greenland, and Alaska, to the tropical rain forests in Central America and South America.

Humans first settled the Americas from Asia between 40,000 BCE and 15,000 BCE. A second migration of Na-Dene speakers followed later from Asia. The subsequent migration of the Inuit into the neo-arctic around 3500 BCE completed what is generally regarded as the settlement by the indigenous peoples of the Americas. The first known European settlement in the Americas was by the Norse explorer Leif Ericson. However the colonization never became permanent and was later abandoned.

The voyages of Christopher Columbus from 1492 to 1502 resulted in permanent contact with European (and subsequently, other Old World) powers, which led to the Columbian exchange. Diseases introduced from Europe and Africa devastated the Indigenous peoples, and the European powers colonised the Americas. Mass emigration from Europe, including large numbers of indentured servants, and forced immigration of African slaves largely replaced the Indigenous Peoples. Beginning

with the American Revolution in 1776 and Haitian Revolution in 1791, the European powers began to decolonise the Americas.

Currently, almost all of the population of the Americas resides in independent countries; however, the legacy of the colonisation and settlement by Europeans is that the Americas share many common cultural traits, most notably Christianity and the use of Indo-European languages; primarily Spanish, English, and Portuguese. More than 900 million people live in the Americas, the most populous countries being the United States, Brazil, and Mexico, the most populous cities being S達o Paulo, Mexico City and New York City.

labour market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits.

US

CENTRAL AMERICA

The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace.

Over the last decade, following a long period of political turmoil and civil conflict, most Central American countries achieved moderate economic growth, although with wide variations among them. Average yearly growth between 2000 and 2011 ranged from 6.4% in Panama, which was the best performer, to 1.9% in El Salvador.

US business firms enjoy greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop new products.

At the same time, they face higher barriers to enter their rivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering US markets. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment; their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier

In December 2012, the Federal Reserve Board announced plans to purchase $85 billion per month of mortgage-backed and Treasury securities in an effort to hold down long-term interest rates, and to keep short term rates near zero until unemployment drops to 6.5% from the December rate of 7.8%, or until inflation rises above 2.5%.

The outlook for the Central American region remains positive in 2014 due to its tight trade links with a strengthening United States economy. Current forecasts estimate regional growth rates from 3.5% in 2014 to 4.2% in 2016. Driven by a broad public transportation investment program (including the expansion of the canal), Panama will continue to be an outlier, with high growth rates at 7.3% for 2014, moderating to above 6% for 2015 and 2016.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Yet, Central America continues to face complex development challenges, including reducing poverty and inequality levels, addressing bottlenecks to intra and extra regional trade, and improving citizen security.

Central America’s poverty reduction since 2000 has been modest. Poverty fell by 9% in the region compared to a decline of 40% for Latin America. Moreover, inequality remained flat as the net change in the Gini coefficient in Central America was almost zero. This is in contrast to Latin America, which started with higher levels of inequality than Central America but ended the decade with lower levels.

Despite the ups and downs in the last decade (as poverty rose following the food and fuel price shocks of 2007-2008 and the global financial crisis of 2008-2009), there is a pattern of falling levels of extreme poverty. The poorest in Central America benefited most over the period, either from increased incomes from labour or from social protection programs for poor households with seniors and young children.

Caribbean. With growth strengthening steadily from 2.9% in 2014, to 3.2 in 2015 and 3.7 in 2016, the region’s expected average growth is up from last year’s modest 2.5%.

On the other hand, the continued decline in commodity prices threatens to reduce export revenues in 2014. Food and industrial metal prices have declined by 14 and 47.5%, respectively, since their 2011 peaks. What’s more, capital flows to the region are projected to decline by 3.7% in 2014 as a result of the U.S. Federal Reserve tapering its quantitative easing program since January 2014. This is likely to impact domestic demand and ease GDP growth.

LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN

Latin America’s economic powerhouses, Brazil and Mexico, are projected to grow 2.4 and 3.4% respectively. Mexico’s reform agenda has fuelled investor optimism, leading to a gain of 1.8 % on last year’s growth, whereas Brazil would be in the same position as last year.

The forecasted top growth performers for 2014 include Panama (7.3%) and Peru (5.5%).

Elsewhere in the region, rates are expected to remain robust with many countries in Central America likely to grow between 3-5% in 2014.

Furthermore, regional exports are poised to grow from 4.0% in 2014 to 5.4% in 2016. For the first time, several countries are using exchange rates as shock absorbers and economic boosters. Depreciated currencies make the export and local industries more competitive and boost job creation.

As economic conditions in advanced economies improve in 2014 and beyond, the economic outlook is fairly upbeat for Latin America & the

Steady growth and sound economic policies improved the lives of millions in the region over the past decade. The poverty rate dropped from

Central America is also facing the need to facilitate growth of its international trade. The region’s commerce has increased significantly in the past decade, in great part as a result of efforts to reduce tariffs, as well as improvements in market access due to the entry into force of free trade agreements.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

42% in 2000 to 25% in 2012, while the ranks of the middle class increased from 22 to 34% in those same years. For the first time ever, the number of people belonging to the middle class now surpass the number of poor, a sign that Latin America and the Caribbean is progressing toward a middle-class region.

Despite progress in the past decade, inequality in the region remains high, and may be stagnating.

C A N A DA FUND MANAGEMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR

Agilith Capital is a Toronto-based investment manager founded in 2007. The Company was established to capitalize on the partners’ core belief that superior performance can be generated through focused strategies and in depth industry experience.

Our mission is to generate wealth for investors through relentless analysis without the constraint of focusing on market capitalization or maintaining index weightings.

We invest alongside our clients and have one of the best fee structures from the perspective of client alignment. Our management fee is equal or better than many comparable equity funds and the performance fee is only earned if we perform. Our high water mark is never reset and our hurdles are annual rather than absolute.

Agilith Capital offerings include the Agilith North American Diversified Fund LP, Agilith Long Only Fund and Private Client Services

Our flagship fund, the Agilith North American Diversified Fund, was launched in 2007 amidst some of the most volatile markets of our generation and through the turmoil, we have kept our focus on fundamentals and used sell offs as opportunities to build our clients’ wealth. Our disciplined process of focusing on fundamentals and understanding the impact of broader market themes on valuation has allowed us to identify great investment opportunities even in the midst of turbulence.

With decades of industry experience, the Agilith team has seen many investment cycles and has learned the long term value of maintaining a steady had through turbulent times.

Tr e v o r D a l e

Director Client Services, Associate Por tfolio Manager Agilith Capital Inc 8 0 R i c h m o n d S t . W. , S u i t e 2 0 3 , To r o n t o , O N . M 5 H 2 A 4 Te l : ( 4 1 6 ) 6 3 7 4 6 2 9 tdale@agilith.com w w w.agilith.com f a c e b o o k . c o m / A G I L I T H C A P I TA L I N C

CANADA PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR INVESTMENT FUND PORTFOLIO MANAGER OF THE YEAR, JAY BALA AIP Asset Management (“AIP” ) is an investment fund and portfolio management firm focused on generating superior risk adjusted returns for institutional clients, hedge funds, family offices and high net worth individuals.

PORTFOLIOS AS UNIQUE AS EVERY INVESTOR Our investment process originates with periodic review of developments in the macroeconomic landscape and financial markets. Inputs from this review are used to formulate investment strategies that reflect our long-term perspectives and model portfolios covering a whole spectrum of risk profiles. This top-down analysis has broad implications for asset allocation, industry weightings and security selections.

With these model portfolios as guides, individual portfolios are constructed and fine-tuned. Portfolios are continuously monitored to ensure that they are consistent with clients’ goals and risk tolerance. The investment team also sets out contingency plans should they occur.

Investment Philosophy At AIP, our goal is to protect and grow our clients’ wealth over time. Our investment philosophy integrates research into a rigorous investment process in order to deliver superior results.

Investing for the long term: We believe that superior and consistent returns can only be achieved by identifying long-term trends in the markets, and understanding the structural shifts that affect these trends. This focus requires a deep understanding of the interplay between macroeconomic factors and among different asset classes. Being patient will allow us to use the market’s short-term thinking to our advantage since our longer term approach makes us opportunistic as price dislocations arise.

Managing risk wisely: We recognize that risk inherently drives returns. As we strive to strike a balance between risk and return, we complement our continuous search for new investment opportunities across asset classes with focused and disciplined

portfolio management and a proactive risk management system.

This is done by having a strong understanding of what constitutes the real value of a business.

Focused approach to value creation: Our choice of investments is generated through a thoughtful and thorough selection process that focuses on the intrinsic value and growth potential of each investment. We believe that being focused leads us to isolate key issues of importance to a company in the midst of market noise. Since we believe this defined set of disciplines can improve decision-making and repeat successful outcomes, we adhere strictly to our process.

Value Discipline: We do not follow the crowd. We believe that by identifying investment opportunities trading at what we believe to be substantial discounts to their estimated intrinsic values, we aim to build portfolios that can accommodate future uncertainty and demonstrate resilience in market downturns.

And this is critical to achieving compelling long-term returns.

Jay Bala, CFA Portfolio Manager Jay Bala is AIP's Senior Portfolio Manager. He has worked for a number of hedge funds including the AIP-Kingsmont Funds and Third Eye Capital/Sprott Funds. Prior to that, Jay was an equity Research Analyst at a leading independent boutique investment bank and worked at the family office of one of Canada’s wealthiest families. Jay holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto and is a CFA charter holder.

Jay is a nominee for the 2014 E+Y Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

If you expect more from your investments, we'd love to hear from you.

Founding partner

77 King Street West, Suite 4140 Toronto, Ontario M5K 1E7 Canada Phone: 416.601.0808 Toll-free: 855.275.0868 Fax: 888.900.4123 info@aipassetmanagement.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

USA IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Immigration and federal criminal defense law Araneda & Stroud is a private law firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina, that handles immigration law and federal criminal law defense. Our attorneys each have more than 19 years of legal experience and both are law graduates from the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill.

Our principal attorney, Jorgelina E. Araneda, has been practicing law in the Raleigh area since 1994 as Araneda Law Firm. W. Randall Stroud worked with area law firms since the mid-1990s until he joined the partnership of Waller, Stroud, Stewart & Araneda in 2001. Araneda & Stroud Immigration Law Group was formed in 2007.

Our attorneys have extensive litigation experience in Federal Court, Immigration Court, and North Carolina state courts, with published decisions and legal articles. Our attorneys serve in positions within the Carolinas Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

Executive PHILIP A. TOOMEY E m a i l : i n f o @ a r a n e d a l a w. c o m A r a n e d a L a w F i r m , P. C . • 4 6 0 0 M a r r i o t t Drive, Suite 350, Raleigh, NC 27612 919-788-9225 • i n f o @ a r a n e d a l a w. c o m

BELIZE LEA DING INTERNATIONAL TAX A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR

OFFSHORE SOLUTIONS through its operating companies, offers to

ies can provide full management services for International Insurance

Professionals, Banks, Intermediaries and individual clients a standard

Companies established in Belize.

of excellence that provides confidence for the development of secure relationship.

BTIL is fully licensed to establish Belize International Trusts and

We have adopted the boutique style of business where the services

Foundations and to act as Trustees of such trusts as well trusts

are bespoke rather that standard.

established in other jurisdictions and to administer Belize Interna-

We believe that we deliver an efficient cost effective service whilst

tional Foundations. Its main specialisation is the administration of

operating with the highest integrity and at the same time giving

UK law Pension and Remuneration Trusts

confidence to our clients.

BITTERNE INTERNATIONAL TRUST CONSULTANTS LIMITED – BITCL is Offshore Solutions Group Services

also a fully licensed Trust Company that is providing Foundation services as well as offering an alternative trustee should areas of

THE OSL GROUP is set up in such a way that it can cater for the

conflict arise.

diverse and complex problems presented to it by, Practitioners, Banks, Intermediaries and Individuals.

Glen CH Wilson FCIS TEP, Group President and Managing Director

Each company is established to perform specific roles to combine

Glen has been in the Offshore Services Industry for some 40 years with experience in Bermuda, The Cayman Islands, Switzerland and Belize and extensive knowledge of Nevis, The British Virgin Islands and The Bahamas.

with each other to give a cohesive service and structuring for all our clients.

The group is independent of any Bank or other Financial Institution.

Services offered by the group are: • IBC incorporation and management • Full Corporate management services • LLC establishment and management • Full Trust and Foundation services

His experience covers International Insurance, Mutual Funds, IBC’s, LLC’s, Trusts and Foundations. Glen Is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Secretaries and has been a Full member of STEP since its foundation and was a founder member of the Geneva and Zurich Branches.

He is Vice –President of the Belize Chapter of STEP He is an accredited lecturer in Anti Money laundering for the International Compliance Association.

Offshore Solutions Group

• International Insurance Company Establishment and Management • Mutual Fund Establishment and Management BTCSL is fully licensed to act as a Registered Agent and Registered Office for IBC’s and LLC’s established in Belize and to carry out the function of Trust and Foundation Agent under the International Trust and Foundation Laws. BTCSL provides trust, corporate and IT consultancy to the Offshore Financial Services industry as a whole, but in particular to other providers in Belize. BTCSL through two subsidiar-

G l e n C H W i l s o n F C I S T E P, G r o u p P r e s i d e n t a n d M a n a g i n g D i r e c t o r

S u i t e # 5 0 1 , 5 t h F l o o r, T h e M a t a l o n B u s i n e s s C e n t e r / P. O .

Box 2130 C o n e y D r i v e , B e l i z e C i t y, B e l i z e Phone: ++501 223 1756 Fax: ++501 223 1775 E-mail Us: MD@oslbelize.com

L i c e n s e d b y T h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l F i n a n c i a l S e r v i c e s C o m m i s s i o n o f B e l i z e a s C o r p o r a t e a n d t r u s t S e rACQ v i c eGLOBAL s P r o vAWARDS i d e r s 2014

USA CTA MANAGER OF THE YEAR Bayou City Capital’s Investment Team, Robert Hay and Will Monroe, has over 45 years of futures and options experience, having traded options in several asset classes in various market regimes, including the S&P 500, natural gas, and electricity futures markets.

The firm was founded by Robert Hay with Will Monroe joining in 2011. Founded with friends and family assets, the Strategy was originally utilized over multiple asset classes. Bayou City Capital began focusing solely on the S&P 500 for the Strategy in 2004, which is based upon two premises:

Over its 10+ year track record, the Strategy has generated annualized returns of 23%. Recent developments to the Strategy are designed to increase risk-adjusted performance. Moving forward, the Firm’s goal revolves around increasing the annualized performance while decreasing the volatility of returns over time.

Investment in the Strategy is available through a Managed Account or Commodity Pool and comes with monthly liquidity, a competitive fee structure and advantageous tax treatment.

Robert Hay

1) The overall directional trend of the equity market drifts positive over the long-term.

2) Options on the S&P 500 are overvalued as the future volatility the options' prices imply is an overestimate, on average, of the market volatility that actually occurs.

Under these premises, the Fund writes options on S&P 500 futures at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in order to benefit from market appreciation and the passage of time. Bayou City Capital focuses on short-term options with high premiums; the Fund manages its position with further option trades or S&P 500 futures.

The liquidity of the S&P 500 futures market allows for efficient management and full scalability of the Strategy.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Will Monroe

Bayou City Capital, LP 10000 Memorial Suite 330 Houston, TX 77024 w w w. b a y o u c i t y c a p i t a l . c o m 713-520-0993 willmonroe@bayoucitycapital.com

USA WHISTLEBLOWER AT TORNEY OF THE YEAR

Brown & Lipinsky LLP is an “AV” rated full service litigation firm located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California which specializes in employment law. With over 100 years of combined legal experience, our aggressive and detail-oriented approach has allowed us to obtain significant and lasting results for our clients, making Brown & Lipinsky LLP one of the most accomplished employment law firms in the Inland Empire.

Daren H. Lipinsky is the managing partner of Brown & Lipinsky LLP’s Employment Litigation Department. His aggressive and dedicated approach to the rights of employees has resulted in numerous six and seven-figure successes against some of the nation’s largest employers.

Mr. Lipinsky has been recognized by Inland Empire Magazine’s Top Lawyers 2010 - 2013 Editions, and has been honored repeatedly by Super Lawyers Magazine in the area of Employment Litigation. In 2014, Mr. Lipinsky was named “California Whistleblower Attorney of the Year” by Corporate Intl Magazine. Mr. Lipinsky is co-author of the book, “Inside the Minds: Representing Employees in Sexual Harassment Cases,” Thompson Reuters (2012).

Executive MR Haberkorn

BROWN & LIPINSKY LLP 5 8 1 1 P i n e Av e n u e , S u i t e A , C h i n o Hills, CA 91709 (909) 597-2445 / (909) 597-6199

USA (NEW YORK) – LEADING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, GREGORY A. MARKEL Greg Markel is a nationally known trial lawyer who has been lead counsel in very high stakes securities litigation, corporate governance litigation, mergers and acquisition litigation and antitrust litigation. Mr. Markel is currently representing major corporate and financial institiution clients in cases alleging manipulation of commodities markets, securities cases under the Securities Act of 1933 and Securities Exchange Act of 1934, merger litigation, derivatives cases, contract cases involving mortgage back securities and antirust litigation.

He has been recognized for years as a leader in the profession by many publications including: 2013 Lawyer of the Year for Mergers and Acquisition by Best Lawyers, LawDragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America, and one of the 100 Securities Litigators You Need to Know, one of the Top 100 Lawyers in New York by Super Lawyers, highly ranked by Chambers for Securities Litigation, Benchmark as a National Litigation Star, for outstanding performance by Best Lawyer’s in America, Legal 500 Leading Commercial Litigators, “Best in Class” in the legal profession by BestofUS.com, The International Who’s Who of Commercial Litigators and many others.

Greg is a graduate of Yale Law School, the University of Michigan with an MBA in Finance and Columbia College.

He is a member of the Litigation and Antitrust sections of the American Bar Association; the Federal Bar Council; the City Bar Committee on Securities Litigation; the Securities Industry Association – Compliance & Legal Division; the New York State Bar Association, Commercial Litigation Section, is a Fellow of the New York Bar Foundation and is a member of the Boards of the Legal Aid Society, the New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA) and Junior Achievement of New York.

He is frequently called on to comment on legal issues including for The Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, Bloomberg Radio, The New York Times, Time, Newsweek, The Daily and the Associated Press. Greg also frequently speaks to the press and others on a wide range of topics.

Greg Markel Co-Chair Litigation Department Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP One World Financial Center New York, NY 10281 Tel: +1 212.504 6112 Fax: +1 212.504.6666 greg.markel@cwt.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

USA MIDDLE MARKE T INVESTMENT BANK OF THE YEAR

Capstone Partners LLC is a premier international investment banking firm dedicated to serving the corporate finance needs of middle market business owners, investors and creditors.

The firm provides corporate sale & divestiture, merger & acquisition, private placement, corporate restructuring, valuation and financial advisory services. Capstone also has a merchant banking capability to actively co-invest in transactions.

The firm was initially founded in 2002, resulting from the acquisition of the Boston corporate finance practice of Arthur Andersen. Over the past several years, Capstone has grown to include offices in Chicago, London, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego and Silicon Valley.

The firm also has an alliance with Cedar Management Consulting International to provide superior cross-border M&A capabilities for middle market clients. Capstone maintains dedicated industry practices across seven verticals: Business Services, Consumer Products, Education & Training, Government & Defense, Health & Medical, Industrial & Manufacturing and Technology & Telecom.

Capstone has developed one of the most comprehensive investment banking platforms in the middle market. Its key differentiating attributes include: • Senior Attention – With its most senior resources committed to each engagement, Capstone’s clients benefit from the creativity and experience of seasoned managing directors.

• Industry Expertise – Capstone has developed specific industry expertise by representing niche market leaders. Its specialized skill set provides clients with enhanced execution speed and surety.

• Broad Presence – With six US offices and an office in London, Capstone maintains a highly active international presence. It has closed transactions in over 40 states and 20 countries.

• Entrepreneurial Culture – Like most of its clients, Capstone is a classic entrepreneurial story.

Capstone is a privately-held, independent firm made up of entrepreneurs that serve entrepreneurs.

• Merchant Banking – Capstone maintains its own investment fund to co-invest in select situations. It reserves this capability exclusively for clients of the firm.

As a result of its creativity and aggressiveness, Capstone has consistently been ranked as one of the top firms in the United States and has earned such coveted titles as USA Middle Market Investment Bank of the Year, North American Middle Market Firm of the Year and Global M&A Boutique Investment Banking Firm of the Year.

Founder & President John Ferrara

jferrara@capstonellc.com w w w. c a p s t o n e l l c . c o m 176 Federal Street, 3rd Floor Boston, MA 02110 (617) 619-3325

USA MID-MARKE T LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Based in El Segundo, California, the law firm of Carico Johnson Toomey LLP offers a level of experience and expertise right in the South Bay area that is rare outside of downtown Los Angeles and the West Side.

COMMITTED TO CLIENT SERVICE Our location is convenient for clients, and we’ve earned our strong reputation in the local community through years of collaboration with South Bay CPAs, financial planners, fellow attorneys, commercial and investment bankers, insurance brokers, and other legal and business leaders. Our attorneys are active—personally and professionally—in the South Bay community.

Carico Johnson Toomey LLP is recognized both for the impressive academic credentials of our attorneys and the real-world results that we create for our clients. Our approach to the practice of law, our business philosophy and our commitment to client service are all directed by our core values and our three guiding principles: Thorough Analysis, Practical Advice and Outstanding Service.

OUR DIFFERENCE It is not at all unusual for a law firm to claim to be professional, competent and responsible, and to declare that it takes a personal interest in its clients. At Carico Johnson Toomey LLP, those traits are the minimum requirement for anyone who works in the firm—the admission ticket, so to speak, without which employment is not offered or continued.

We go well beyond those minimum requirements to offer our clients an approach to the delivery of legal services that meets their needs and exceeds their expectations. And we are diligent to measure our results to make sure that we are continually improving as a practice.

Our organizational philosophy is summed up in three phrases: Thorough Analysis, Practical Advice and Outstanding Service.

Thorough Analysis requires that we take the time to understand cases from our clients’ points of view. Before we start any work, we first listen carefully to gain a complete understanding of our clients’ goals and objectives. We familiarize ourselves with all relevant documents, we speak

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

with every stakeholder in the case, and we review relevant law. Because we care deeply about serving our clients with integrity, if we believe that we cannot deliver on a particular client’s expectations, we work with the client to find a qualified referral from among our broad range of sources.

Practical Advice means that we produce results that are uncomplicated and understandable for our clients—results with real value for their personal or business lives. We don’t want our clients to feel like they need an interpreter to make sense of the counsel we provide, and we don’t want them to feel like we’re spending more time protecting our own interests that we are spending than working for them. One of the most significant assets at Carico Johnson Toomey LLC is our experienced attorneys, who have proven track records of providing practical solutions to complex problems.

Outstanding Service begins by listening carefully to our clients’ needs—but it doesn’t end there. It means that we work closely with clients throughout our relationship to create mutually agreed-upon goals and expected outcomes and to put together a realistic timetable for completion of each task related to reaching the goals and outcomes. It means that we promptly return telephone calls and e-mails, and we provide clear and detailed billing statements. In short, it means that we put ourselves in our clients’ shoes so that they will know that we take a personal interest in the success of every one of our clients. Our strong reputation in the South Bay community depends on it.

In addition to our organizational philosophy, we strictly adhere to our core values, which take our firm to a higher level than simply the professional obligations—such as confidentiality, communication and competence—that every firm is expected to uphold.

PHILIP A. TOOMEY ptoomey@cjtllp.com

Our core values are: •Honesty •Civility •Attention •Integrity •Hard work

Executive

•Growth •Personal accountability •Focus •Proactive outlook •Tenacity

C a r i c o J o h n s o n To o m e y L L P 841 Apollo St. Suite 450 El Segundo, California 90245 P: (310) 545-0010 F: (310) 546-5477

BRAZIL IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IP LAWYER OF THE YEAR, JULIO GUIDI LIMA DA ROCHA REAL ESTATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Car valho, Fairbairn & Guidi Law Firm offers legal advice with excellence and quality.

Its main goal is to act in a full-ser vice capacity, attending to clients’ legal requirements in full. The firm has specialised itself in corporative areas that affect the ever yday life of companies of all sizes, such as intellectual property, real estate law, tributar y law, labour law, business law, copyright and contracts. Julio Guidi, a partner at the firm, has won international prizes and has published academic articles in the field of intellectual property. Daniel Fairbairn is the main leader concerning real estate law in Brazil and Mr. Car valho is the best professional for contracts.

In this area, the lawyer or agent for industrial property in Brazil is the most recommended professional who cares and protects the industrial property rights of clients who want tranquillity and professionalism. The industrial property sector of any enterprise – whether micro, small, medium or large business – should be considered as one of the most important.

The records, the actions or litigation involving trademark, patent, copyright or any other type of IP, must be represented by a competent patent attorney or lawyer with experience in the area, which clients will find at Car valho, Fairbairn & Guidi Law Firm.

The firm’s professionals are concerned with the clients’ satisfaction, based on values such as transparency, speed and efficiency in the defence of the clients’ interests.

It strives to increase the number of international clients interested in doing business with Brazil.

Car valho, Fairbairn & Guidi Law Firm always provides the best prices and best payment terms for clients. There are not only promotions to attract new clients, but the old ones are also retained. Client loyalty in many cases is also maintained due to the customised service offered by the firm.

Carvalho, Fairbairn & Guidi Advogados Rua Araújo Porto Alegre n. 70, Grupo 906 / 908, Centro.

Rio de Janeiro - RJ - CEP 20030015 +55 21 3281-4258 +55 21 9136-8767

GUATEMALA INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

F ou n d ed i n 1990 i n the c i ty of Gu a t e m a la , D ía z - D u r á n & A so ciad os | C e ntra l L a w pro v id e s , s in c e t h e n , pro fessi o n a l s e rv i c e on l e ga l m a t t e r s , c o n s u lt a n c y , a s well as a wi de ra nge of re l a te d s e r v ic e s . T h e F ir m h a s po sitio n ed i ts e l f a s one of the m o s t p r e s t ig io u s a n d successf u l.

W o r k ing u n d er t h e p h i l o so p h y o f Seven Co u n t r i es: O n e C o n t a c t Po i n t , al l o ws u s t o ef f i ci en t l y m an ag e o u r f ir m s r eso u r ces an d exp er t i se, wh i ch i m p l i es co st e f f e c t ive o r i en t ed ser vi ces f o r o u r cl i en t s an d a s im p lif icat i o n o f t h e o ver al l p r o cess o f d o i n g b u si n ess in t h e reg i o n .

Díaz- D u r án & A s oc i a dos | C e n t r a l L a w Gu a t e m a la c ou n ts with the i nfra s truc ture , p r o f e s s io n a ls a n d necessar y s ta ff to prov i de i ts c lie n t s w it h a n e f f ic ie n t and im m ed i a te s e rv i c e i n a l l l e g a l m a t t e r s in w h ic h t h e y mi g h t n eed c ouns e l i ng wi th.

The m u ltin ati ona l foc us ha s c h a r a c t e r iz e d t h e F ir m rep resen ting the i nte re s ts of lo c a l a n d in t e r n a t io n a l c lien ts with a pre c i s e a nd pe rs o n a liz e d s e r v ic e . Giv e n th at g lo b ali z a ti on of s e rv i c e s is t o d a y a r e a lit y , Díaz- D u r án & A s oc i a dos | C e n t r a l L a w , h a s e s t a b lis h e d a p resen ce i n a l l C e ntra l A me r ic a , P a n a m a a n d t h e Do m in ican Re publ i c . T hi s a l l ow s u s t o p r o v id e o u r c lien ts a va ri e ty of opti ons i n t h e ir r e g io n a l le g a l op eratio n s, c oordi na te d from o n e c o n t a c t p o in t .

CEN TR A L LAW i s the re s ul t of a m e r g e o f o u r F ir m w it h lead i n g law fi rms i n the Re gi o n . C e n t r a l L a w w a s fo u n d ed in 2002 a fte r a 3-y e a r p e r io d o f m e t ic u lo u s mar ket an d i nv e s tme nt a na l y s i s o f t h e C e n t r a l Am er i can R e gi on, P a na má a nd D o m in ic a n R e p u b lic .

With 1 1 o f fi c e s i n the c ountri e s o f Gu a t e m a la , E l Sa l vad o r , H ondura s , N i c a ra gua , C o s t a R ic a , P a n a m a and t h e Do mi ni c a n Re publ i c , C E N T R A L L A W h a s h e lp e d devel o p d o m e s ti c a nd fore i gn c o r p o r a t io n s a s w e ll a s finan ci al ins ti tuti ons i n the c o u n t r ie s w h e r e t h e f ir m ´s off i ces ar e l oc a te d.

Juan Pablo Carrasco de Groote

Partner Díaz-Durán & Asociados | Central Law Tel: +502 2383 6000 jpcarrasco@central-law.com www.central-law.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

USA DEBT FINANCING A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR (MID MARKE T)

Cross Border Strategies’ founder and Managing Director, Stephen B. Lewis, is a 30+year veteran of the financial services industry, with 20 of those years focused exclusively on assisting middle market companies with cross-border financing transactions.

Steve has extensive cash flow, asset-based and restructuring experience in more than 30 countries having completed dozens of cross-border financing transactions of varying types. Since Steve’s role in a transaction is one of facilitator and deal advocate rather than representing only one party or side to the transaction, all parties to the transaction are able to benefit from the depth and breadth of experience Steve has on offer so that the best possible outcome for all concerned that fits with the strategic direction of the parties can be achieved in the most time and cost efficient manner possible.

From a financing perspective, the main challenge in sourcing and arranging a cross-border financing is the ever changing landscape of who is in the market, who has withdrawn from the market and who has changed their approach to the market and identifying what those changes are. This is particularly true in the middle market. Larger transactions attract a lot of attention from the global names well known to everyone in the deal business. To address the needs of middle market borrowers, Steve has made and continues to develop contacts with traditional and non-traditional sources of financing all over the world

historically they have liked to look their customers in the eye before extending credit. While in the US the idea of using technology to get deals done and completing transactions without ever having met the people responsible for the other side of the deal has become the an accepted practice, Cross Border Strategies is acutely aware and in tune with the notion that in the international arena there continues to be a strong bias towards developing trust on a personal level before doing business. Having lived abroad twice in his career, Steve has experienced this preference for personal interaction first hand and spends considerable time educating the firm’s clients on the benefits the development of solid relationships early on in a transaction will have on the long term success of the deal. As Steve is fond of saying, “Technology is fine, but it should not be allowed to substitute for human interaction, particularly when the transaction requires the blending of cultures and business practices that have to be explained and learned.”

Steve is a graduate of DePauw University with a B.A. in Latin American Studies (with High Distinction) and holds a J.D. from Indiana University School of Law. He is a qualified attorney and a member of the Association for Corporate Growth, the Turnaround Management Association, the American Bar Association and is a former member of the Asset Based Finance Association (UK).

Managing Director Stephen B. Lewis

Cross Border Strategies LLC 233 E. 13th Street, Suite 1805 Chicago, IL 60605 +1.312.493.0402 slewis@crossborderstrategiesllc.com

Lenders, by their very nature are cautious. As such,

BRAZIL ❖ FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ❖ LITIGATION – MOST RESPECTED LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ❖ LEADING CUSTOMER SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Founded in 2003 and ranked among the 10 largest law firms in Brazil, DLBCA has built a reputation with clients for being more than just a large law office or an association of- excel lent professionals. Innovation, creativity and an approach to business that proposes tailor-made solutions are the - hall marks of DLBCA to be found in its clients’ projects across a wide range of business sectors and fields of Law. Respon sible for directly managing a portfolio of over 150,000 - law suits, DLBCA stands out for its efficiency and the high levels of success that its operations entail.

In the light of the constant growth, DLBCA now has specific departments that optimize the office’s results and adminis tration, including finance, logistics, human resources, sales, institutional, engineering and IT. All this enables DLBCA to offer solutions, ranging from a client’s start-up activities, to legal support for product development, to lawsuit portfolio management, contingency mapping, reducing litigation and correcting operational failures.

Given its holistic approach, DLBCA has also advanced- in Infor mation Technology, developing the “4DATA” platform-that com bines ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and Business - Intel ligence solutions providing real-time, precise and transparent information so that clients can take the best decisions quickly, in addition to monitoring the activities being developed by the Av. Juscelino Kubitschek, 28 different departments of DLBCA and the client themselves.

DLBCA is member of the Association of Tax Consultant – AITC & AVRIO, an alliance with 73 law firms in Europe, Asia and Oceania with the purpose of promoting- a net work of worldwide legal practice and with the objective DLBCA’s team of talent is headed up by specialist -profes sionals who are constantly updated on new trends and - prac of supplying legal services to Clients as if it were a single tices and who have an enhanced approach to business; the global law firm. Growing development has hoisted DLBCA team consists of 400 professionals of whom 250 engage to the position as one of the leaders in the legal industry. in Law, and whose experience provides the legal security The 2013 edition of the Análise Advocacia 500 yearbook required for handling the most diverse operations within the saw DLBCA among the Top 3 offices that were most to the th fore in Consumer Relations, the 10 largest law firm in field of business of their clients, as well as for successful - Bra th lawsuits and case management. zil and ranked 7in the full-service category.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

WINNER

6th, 7th and 10th floors 04543-000 - São Paulo - Brazil contato@dlbca.com.br T +55 11 2149 5423 F +55 11 3167 3805 www.dlbca.com.br

USA DUE DILIGENCE A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR Dasciad Intelligence ( HYPERLINK "http://www.dasciad.com" www.dasciad.com) is an investigative firm in the greater Chicago area, doing business throughout the U.S. as well as internationally.

Founded in early 2010, we at Dasciad are grateful to our clients who have helped us to succeed and to blossom into our current form – a growing investigative consultancy with exciting projects and satisfied clients.

In the past several years we have been involved in both small and large-scale investigations, across Asia, Europe, North America and South America. In some of our projects, we have watched our findings unfold and shape important business decisions as reported in national and international media.

Dasciad has investigated slates of board director candidates proposed by activist investors in proxy battles and we have provided support due diligence for investors with large positions in publicly-traded companies. We have identified misrepresentations made by a CFO candidate prior to his being hired. Our asset investigations have allowed clients to determine whether litigation is a prudent course.

We perform background due diligence on individuals and businesses across the globe, for private equity firms, investment banks, law firms, and corporate clients. Every day we perform background research on subjects including management teams, potential investment partners, board director candidates, expert witnesses, and new employees.

We research and analyze litigation records, global media reports and trade publications, Internet presence and public information on social networking websites, regulatory and sanctioning watch lists, bankruptcy or insolvency records, liens and judgments, and property records. We review financial and corporate filings and access disciplinary records maintained by regulators.

Upon request, we perform interviews of references and identified sources, to develop a deeper reputational profile of our subjects. Dasciad never accesses non-public information unless it appears in public source records such as bankruptcy and litigation documents.

We provide an essential service to our clients and to the economy, providing intelligence about business partners, and uncovering skeletons in the closet before they tumble out. Sometimes due diligence reaffirms our client’s course of action. We believe our clients can best manage issues before they close their deals, by hiring Dasciad to perform due diligence.

Dina Gaspari P r e si d e nt

T. 3 1 2 . 2 1 2 . 3 5 5 9 E. dg@dasciad.com w w w. d a s c i a d . c o m

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

LATIN AMERICA / BRAZIL

LATIN AMERICA - OVERALL TAX ADVISORY OF THE YEAR BRAZIL - TRANSFER PRICING FIRM OF THE YEAR

Local knowledge, global recognition Deloitte is a leading provider of tax consulting services in Brazil, and it also counts on a recognized team of specialists, some of whom have been named the best in their areas in the country. Our services include support in the following areas: Business Taxes, Indirect Taxes, Individual Taxation and Cross-border taxes.

Deloitte sets the standard for providing services around the world, which is a result of our efforts in finding the best business solutions and our commitment to the success of our clients.

We are proud to be named Latin America - Overall Tax Advisory of the Year and Brazil – Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year , providing our clients with complete assistance for their business strategies.

Cristina Berry Partner of Tax Advisory +55 11 5186 1013 caberry@deloitte.com

www.deloitte.com.br www.deloitte.dbbrazil.com.br Š2014 Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. All rights reserverd.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Carlos Eduardo Ayub Partner of Transfer Pricing +55 11 5186 1227 carlosayub@deloitte.com

USA NICHE FINANCI AL ANALYSIS PROV IDER OF THE YEAR (INSURANCE) Incorporated in 1985, Demotech, Inc. is a financial analysis firm serving the Property and Casualty as well as the Title insurance industry. We entered the insurance company ratings sector to level the playing field and assist financially stable insurers that had been ignored, neglected or under-rated by rating agencies. Although our approach for leveling the playing field has been to secure specific accreditations, an increasing number of entities are voluntarily recognizing the value and integrity of Financial Stability Ratings ® (FSRs).

Although FSRs may be new to you, Demotech has been reviewing and rating insurers since 1989. Our impressive long-term survival rate of insurers designated as Stable underscores our capability to provide reliable information.

Equally important to our capability to identify financially stable insurers is an independent examination of our process. Recently, The Florida State University’s College of Business Risk Management and Insurance compared our FSRs to ratings issued by A. M. Best, Standard and Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch. The study reviewed thousands of insurer ratings issued over a nine year period. The results were released in A Comprehensive Examination of Insurer Financial Strength Ratings . The study and its executive summary contained the following conclusions: 1. Demotech serves the need of another unique group of insurers, namely those that are geographically focused.

3. There is also general consistency in the firms that each agency would categorize as financially secure.

4. These results have important public policy implications for insurers, regulators and consumers as they work to better understand the ratings process. Of particular importance to most is the comparability of Demotech ratings to other agencies.

5. Given that lenders often have requirements related to the use of rated insurers and some states require ratings to operate in a state, the results suggest that Demotech serves an important service within the ratings community and plays a very important role in the insurance market.

Demotech’s capability to level the playing field continues to grow because our capability to identify and support financially stable insurers has been documented through a comparison of our historical record of accomplishment and an independent analysis of our FSRs versus the insurer ratings issued by A. M. Best, Standard and Poor’s, Fitch and Moody’s Investor Services.

Today we review, rate and follow more than four hundred insurance companies. The size of the carriers range from small to members of world famous, publicly traded insurers, such as members of the Allstate family. We also review mutual carriers of all sizes, including members of the Nationwide family.

Joseph Petrelli P r e si d e nt Demotech, Inc. 2 7 1 5 Tu l l e r P a r k w a y Dublin Ohio 43017-2310 USA Main: (800) 354-7207 Direct: (614) 526-2160 FA X : ( 6 1 4 ) 5 2 6 - 2 1 6 1

2. Comparisons of Demotech ratings to other agencies show relative consistency in the factors that drive Demotech ratings compared to agencies such as A. M. Best, Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s, and Fitch.

JPetrelli@demotech.com

PUERTO RICO MOST TRUSTED LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR EDGE is a results oriented law firm established by several proprietary partners of one of Puerto Rico’s largest corporate law firms. We are able to provide counselling in all major areas of the law.

EDGE represents a host of leading corporations in a variety of industries, foreign and domestic, among which rank: Fortune 500 companies, hotel and residential developers and operators, infrastructure development and ITS corporations, equity funds, retailers, healthcare management companies and professionals, insurance companies and publicly traded corporations from around the United States and Europe. EDGE is a member of GLOBALAW, an international law group and one of the leading legal networks in the world.

GLOBALAW is a worldwide network of 91 independent law firms with over 5,000 lawyers in 165 cities in over 90 countries around the world.

It provides our clients with an international legal resource and global reach.

EDGE and its attorneys have conducted negotiations and overseen transactions for clients in the United States and Europe. Emphasis is on business transactions and reorganizations, including entity formation and dissolution, mergers and acquisitions, financing, corporate governance, trademarks, commercial contracts, commercial leases, labor and employment law matters and all other agreements pertaining to the purchase, formation, operation, disposition and dissolution of businesses including capitalization documents.

Also, our litigation attorneys offer ample and successful trial experience in the areas of labor and employment law, civil and commercial litigation, health law and appellate practice in both local and federal courts.

Our experienced and dynamic attorneys are committed to providing quick, thorough and cost efficient results for our clients’ needs. In conjunction with our clients we develop successful strategies to achieve their business goals.

Eliseo Roques, Esq. Managing Shareholder

E D G E L E G A L S T R AT E G I E S , P. S . C .

252 Ponce de León Avenue C i t i b a n k To w e r, 1 2 t h F l o o r San Juan, PR 00918 PUERTO RICO

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

USA Tr a ns act ion Ris k Adv isory Fir m of the Yea r Adv isor of the Yea r (Fr au d Invest igat ion a n d Dis pute Serv ices), Greg Wols k i FORENSIC DUE DILIGENCE A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. Ernst & Young LLP is a client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited operating in the US.

you and your legal advisors, we assemble the right multidisciplinary and culturally aligned team, and bring an objective approach and fresh perspective to these challenging situations, wherever you are in the world. And because we understand that you need a tailored service as much as consistent methodologies, we work to give you the benefit of our broad sector experience, our deep subject matter knowledge and the latest insights from our work worldwide.

Transaction Forensics is a separate service line in Ernst & Young LLP’s Fraud Investigation & Dispute Services practice. Transaction Forensics focuses on due diligence services (primarily related to anti–corruption and other forensic due diligence) and disputes and investigations that stem from contemplated and completed merger and acquisition transactions.

About EY’s Fraud Investigation & Dispute Services

Partner

Gregory E. Wolski

Dealing with complex issues of fraud, regulatory compliance and business disputes can detract from efforts to succeed. Better management of fraud risk and compliance exposure is a critical business priority – no matter what the industry sector is. Our more-than-2,500 fraud investigation and dispute professionals around the world bring the analytical and technical skills needed to quickly and effectively conduct financial and other investigations and gather and analyze electronic evidence. Working closely with

Fraud Investigation & Dispute Services E r n s t & Yo u n g L L P 155 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606, United States of America Office: +1 312 879 3383 | Fax: +1 866 2 9 7 5 6 8 2 | g r e g o r y. w o l s k i @ e y. c o m Mobile: +1 312 560 3383 We b s i t e : h t t p : / / w w w. e y. c o m

ARGENTINA FULL SERV ICE TAX A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR IN VESTMENT FUNDS A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR Function in EY Partner in charge of the Transaction Advisory Services in Argentina Partner in charge of the Transaction Advisory Services in South America Professional experience and clients Daniel has accumulated an extensive experience in providing consulting services in Mergers & Acquisition, Valuation advisory services, for transactional and/or strategic purposes in the region (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela) Dedicated to both national and multinational companies, Daniel has gained exposure to range of industries, which includes Financial institutions, Retail & Consumer Products, Energy & Power and Utilities, among others.

Projects Daniel completed include: Advisory services to strategic companies and/or private equity firms during processes related to asset purchases and/or the search for strategic partners in the region Advisory services to international groups related to the process of selling their assets in the region Advisory services to multinational companies in asset valuations during business unit sale processes, consulting restructuring services to multinational companies, rate review advisory services to utility, advisory services in fund raising to national companies.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

He also led several due diligence processes in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, among other countries in the region.

Education Certified Public Accountant, graduated from Universidad de Buenos Aires Master degree in international business from the L’Ecole des Ponts et Chaussëes - Paris, France

Daniel Serventi TAS Managing Partner

USA ENTERTA INMENT & SPORTS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Fayer Gipson LLP is a boutique entertainment and intellectual property law firm which offers its clients a vast array of entertainment, IP and litigation services unparalleled by other firms of its size. Its cases and transactional matters involve many of the most recognizable names in the fields of entertainment, technology, new media, fashion, advertising, and film and television financing, production and distribution. All of its attorneys have been honored by California Super Lawyers as “Rising Stars” in the fields of entertainment and IP law. Fayer Gipson founders, Elliot Gipson and Greg Fayer, have been selected by prestigious British-based Who’s Who Legal as among the top 150 entertainment and sports lawyers in the United States, and Mr. Fayer was selected as among California’s top 75 IP litigators by the Daily Journal, California’s most widely-circulated legal publication.

Fayer Gipson LLP has achieved precedent-setting results discussed by top media outlets and cited in top legal treatises. Fayer Gipson’s attorneys have developed the comprehensive legal strategies behind multi-million and billion-dollar high-profile litigation and behind deals with and for many of the top names in the entertainment and technology industries, making global legal, business and entertainment headlines and precedent-setting case law in

the process. The firm’s fast-growing track record of success is built on its aggressive, results-oriented approach and on its elite roster of attorneys – all trained at Top-5 law schools, tested at trial before judges and juries, and honored with distinction by their peers.

Partner Profiles: Gregory Fayer is the head of Fayer Gipson’s litigation practice. He has served as lead counsel in numerous high-profile entertainment and intellectual property disputes. He has been featured in stories on ABC World News and in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Hollywood Reporter and many other national and international publications.

Elliot Gipson is the head of Fayer Gipson’s transactional practice. His entertainment practice focuses on new media, motion pictures, and television. He represents production companies, multi-channel networks, and distributors as well as producers and entertainment and media executives in all manner of disputes, contracts, licensing and deal-making. His IP practice focuses on U.S. and international trademark portfolio management, prosecution, cancellation, opposition and controversy work.

Gregory A. Fayer

Elliot B. Gipson Fayer Gipson LLP w w w. f a y e r g i p s o n . c o m info@fayergipson.com Te l . 0 0 . 1 . 3 1 0 . 5 5 7 . 3 5 5 8

MEXICO INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR SANITARY REGISTRATIONS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Fernandez Manzo is one of the leading firms of Intelectual Property protection in Mexico, with more than 34 years in business.

We are a highly qualified team, as every member of our firm is a specialist in their field and provides dedicated and personalized services with constant innovation, thus contributing with their experience to the attainment of a good evolution in our client's businesses.

Lic. Herminio Fernandez Co Founder Director

herminiof@fernandezmanzo.com.mx

This Office has the mission to perform an integral personalized service fulfilling the needs and responding the expectations of our clients, based on the excellence and integrity of our collaborators.

Our Firm is governed by high levels of ethics, honesty, excellence and experience.

We make our best effort to maximize the attention to the needs and expectations of our clients to provide them constant results.

Cordillera de los Andes #320, Tel: (5255) 5514-5126 / 5525-5586 Col. Lomas de Chapultepec, C.P. Fax: (5255) 5207-3911 11000, Mexico, D.F.

info@fernandezmanzo.com.mx www.fernandezmanzo.com

Lic. Gabriela Fernandez

Manager of the Patent Division

gabyf@fernandezmanzo.com.mx

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

USA (DC) – IP STRATEGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Fiala & Weaver P.L.L.C. is a law firm specializing in all areas of intellectual property law, including patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret law. We help our clients secure their investment in innovation through the procurement, enforcement and transfer of intellectual property rights. In addition to being experienced legal practitioners, our attorneys possess technical degrees and industry experience working for technology companies. This combination of legal and technical expertise allows us to understand our clients’ business objectives and provide focused legal advice for achieving them.

We work with a variety of clients to secure intellectual property rights in many areas of technology including electrical, mechanical, software, Internet, mobile devices, communications, and many other technology spaces.

Examples of such technologies include analog and digital circuits, semiconductor processing/fabrication, integrated circuit packaging, wired and wireless communication systems and protocols, computer software, operating systems, computer architecture, microprocessors, graphics processors, cloud-based applications, computer networking, data compression and encryption, Internet-related applications, radio frequency identification (RFID), optics, digital image detection, photosensors, speech recognition, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), mobile devices, data storage, biometrics, 3D television,

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

nanotechnology, MEMS technology, medical devices, power generation, storage devices and system, and business methods/e-commerce.

We draft, file, and prosecute patent applications in the U.S. and around the world for U.S. based and international corporations. We work with a network of international law firms to secure intellectual property rights for clients anywhere in the world.

We believe our firm owes its success to our clear focus on quality. Our number one focus is on providing high quality work product to our clients in a timely fashion. We believe this sets us apart from other law firms specializing in intellectual property.

To learn more about our firm, please come visit us at www.fwiplaw.com. To view our articles about news and events in the world of intellectual property law, please visit www.fwiplaw.com/news.

DIRECTOR Jeffrey S. Weaver F I A L A & W E AV E R P. L . L . C .

1 7 0 1 P e n n s y l v a n i a Av e n u e , N . W. Suite 300 Washington, D.C. 20006 USA Phone: 202.244.3003 Fax: 202.244.3088 office: 425.270.3680 mobile: 301.996.2789 e - m a i l : j w e a v e r @ f w i p l a w. c o m w w w. f w i p l a w. c o m

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

USA (WASHINGTON) – TRIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (FEDERAL) Companies subjected to the travails of civil litigation face abundant risk and uncertainty. Victory is not a matter of luck. It is not borne of endless pretrial discovery or dependent on having the biggest team, the gaudiest technology or the greatest war chest. Victory comes from a well-planned campaign built on a careful understanding of the client’s needs. Victory comes from crafting the seminal facts into the best possible narrative and giving the jury a reason to believe in the client’s case. Whether the topic is complex or emotional, victory in trial comes from telling the best story credibly, simply and well.

At Frey Buck, we have been winning hard cases for decades.

We have the experience that makes the difference in the toughest cases from catastrophic loss to class actions, commercial litigation to civil rights. We render the complex simple and bring objectivity to emotion, leading jurors to understand and sympathize with our clients’ positions. We learned long ago that litigating to get to mediation is a recipe for failure, a waste that leaves a client unacceptably exposed. With creativity and credibility, we prepare our cases to win at trial; our opponents know we are ready to do just that. We maximize our clients’ prospects by making the other side blink.

Frey Buck’s attorneys bring that same vigor to their representation of clients in family law matters, estate planning, victim’s rights, trademark and copyright, property and title disputes, and myriad other fields.

The senior leadership of the firm, Ted Buck and Thomas D. Frey, along with special counsel to the firm, Anne M. Bremner, have collectively tried hundreds of civil actions covering a broad panoply of issues including the successful defense of multiple class actions. They and their team of talented attorneys and paralegals recognize that tenacity, professionalism and creativity yield success.

Our approach is efficient and effective. We believe that exceptional client communication is essential to success.

We work with our clients to help them define their goals and then assure they know what is happening and why, making the uncertainty of litigation manageable.

Ted Buck E: tbuck@freybuck.com Frey Buck P.S. 1200 Fifth Ave Suite 1900 Seattle, WA 98101 T: 206.486.8000 E: info@freybuck.com

USA THIRD PARTY LI TIGATION A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

Fulbrook Capital Management is among the newer entrants to the Funding industry. It is different in that, among other things, it: • Specializes in selective, high stakes commercial claims, typically international.

• Occupies a needy, different, space, dedicated to (a) advising commercial claimants on evaluating their claims, and, (b) assisting qualified claimants in accessing capital (from a variety of capital sources) needed to support the claim and claimant.

• Is a “hands on” entity, as opposed to a “hands off” entity (as are all established dedicated funders). It is thus committed to and capable of enhancing various claims in their chances to succeed.

Fulbrook has in this last year been given, by three different business journals conducting separate wide-ranging surveys, the award for being the best in 2013 in the Third Party Funding Industry. It has just received a similar award for 2014.

Fulbrook does not control any claim; the claimant is left in control. Nor does it ever act as a lawyer or another professional. It is solely an independent consultant and advisor.

Fulbrook’s Chairman, CEO and founder, Selvyn Seidel, was a recognized commercial litigator for over forty years, most of this time with Latham & Watkins, a leading international law

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

firm. During this career, he co-founded the New York Office of Latham, now the largest in the firm; was the chairman of international practice, which grew from no offices abroad to over 40, with the firm recognized as an international leader (just recognized as the first of 40 top non-UK firms in London); and at other times, the chairman of international litigation and arbitration; and the New York Office litigation practice; while he maintained an active litigation practice in complex litigations.

He is also experienced and recognized in the Funding industry.

In this connection, and before founding and leading Fulbrook to where it is today, he co-founded in 2009, and chaired, Burford, a public institutional funder that is now the largest in the world.

He teaches or has taught and lectured on the industry at leading law schools (including Oxford Law, Harvard Law School, Columbia Law School, and New York University School of Law); and at many conferences in different parts of the western and eastern world. He is widely cited in the media.

He has here been frequently described as a leading force (such as in a description in a 2012 study which referred to Mr. Seidel as “probably the frontrunner in the industry.”)

Mr. Seidel graduated in 1964 from the University of Chicago (B.A. Economics); Berkeley Law School in 1967 (with distinction, member of the California Law Review); Oxford University, Diploma in Law in 1968).

Chairman & CEO Selvyn Seidel F U L B R O O K C A P I TA L M A N A G E M E N T, L L C 7 5 0 7 t h Av e n u e , 2 7 t h F l o o r N e w Yo r k , N Y 1 0 0 1 9 Office: (212) 354-1058 Mobile: (646) 620-8976 Email: sseidel@fulbrookmanagement.com w w w. f u l b r o o k m a n a g e m e n t . c o m

USA

GLC Advisors & Co., LLC

In depen dent Investment Ba n k ing Adv isory Fir m of the Yea r GLC Advisors is a leading independent investment banking advisory firm delivering objective, senior-level advice with offices in New York, San Francisco and Charlotte. The senior professionals at GLC have worked together for more than a decade. The Managing Directors at GLC have run advisory groups at Credit Suisse, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Morgan Stanley and UBS. They have worked through multiple economic cycles dating back to 1980's and have led more than 300 transactions representing a transaction value of over $400 billion. Recent mandates include the City of Detroit, Foxwoods Resort & Casino, Visteon, Nortel, Lightsquared, Smurfit Stone, Alion, Ahern, Chukchansi, Wastequip, Hampson Industries, Rural Metro, Squaw Valley, Trico Marine, Majestic Star, Heckler & Koch, Rivers Casino, America Safety Razor, School Specialty, USEC and OnCure.

GLC focuses on four main business lines: Financing, M&A, Restructuring and Valuation.

The Financing business provides structuring and placement of debt and equity capital for event driven situations. The M&A practice provides buy and sell side services as well as due diligence and Fairness Opinions. The Restructuring team has been ranked Top 10 by Thompson Reuters in each year since 2010 and provides advice to companies and creditors in both out-of-court and in-court reorganizations.

The Valuation business provides independent and transparent valuations including portfolio valuations, impairment testing, litigation support services and Solvency Opinions.

GLC is affiliated with Global Leveraged Capital and GLC Merchant Banking, the investment arm of Global Leveraged Capital. With over $500 million of assets under management, GLC Merchant Banking focuses primarily on the middle market and invests debt and equity capital for leveraged buyouts, strategic acquisitions, recapitalizations and growth financings.

Contact Soren Reynertson Managing General Partner GLC Advisors & Co., LLC. 8 0 5 T h i r d Av e n u e 20th Floor N e w Yo r k , N Y 1 0 0 2 2 212.542.4540 (main) 212.542.4541 (fax)

USA CREDI T ASSE T MANAGER OF THE YEAR

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

JAMAICA CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR GORDON | McGRATH, as the modern expression of the finest traditions of the Jamaican Bar, focuses on providing legal solutions to clients' various legal problems, from commonplace to complex, combining fresh thinking with legal talent and expertise, buttressed by the use of technology. GORDON | McGRATH is poised to be a leading law firm in Jamaica and ultimately the wider Caribbean.

Lead by its principal, Roderick Gordon, it aggressively pursues and defends the interests of its clientele in all its areas of practice, and takes its goal of providing timely legal solutions seriously.

SPECIALIZING IN Corporate / Commercial Law Intellectual Property Sports Law Media and Entertainment Law Reputation Management Dispute Resolution Real Estate and Property Development Probate, Wills and Planning

GORDON | McGRATH maintains its standards of excellence as it meets- and in many cases exceeds- its clients' expectations. Its corporate goal is to provide each client with the distinguished performance he or she deserves, and to consistently uphold its standards of integrity, sound judgment, confidentiality and professional conduct. Its proven ability to deliver consistently good representation is the competitive edge that is one of its keys to success.

Suites 1 & 2, 10th Floor 63-65 Knutsford Boulevard Kingston 5 Jamaica, W.I T (876) 926-7706 926-6479 929-4786 929-3767

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

www.grantthornton.ca/services/tax/transfer_pricing

ARGENTINA TAX CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR - GUILLERMO N. PÉREZ - GRUPO GNP TAX FIRM OF THE YEAR, GRUPO GNP Grupo GNP offers international and local tax solutions, according to the requirements of each industry. We provide a wide range of tax services working close to our clients, understanding their philosophy and transforming consulting and compliance of tax regulations into strategies and business opportunities.

Grupo GNP focuses on high quality and understanding, pursuing and improving its clients’ needs. This led Grupo GNP, in only 7 years, to achieve a top position in the local Tax market, and a strong presence at regional level.

We are sponsors and speakers in the major congresses and Business Forums in Argentina (IDEA; IAEF; Vistage, UCES, UCA; Cronista Comercial, etc.).

Grupo GNP and its CEO Guillermo N. Pérez have received prestigious awards and nominations, both locally and internationally: • “Best Tax Firm, Argentina” - World Finance Legal Awards – 2013 and ACQ Awards 2013.

• Guillermo N. Pérez: “Best Tax Consultant, Argentina” - World Finance Legal Awards – 2013 and ACQ Awards 2013.

• Nomination to: “Professional Firm of the Year" in the Transfer Pricing area - International Tax Review - Americas Awards – 2012 -2013.

• Nomination to: “Tax Professional Firm of the Year" - International Tax Review - Americas Awards – 2013.

• Special Mention: for participation in the “Business Institutional Excellence Award ", - IDEA - 2012.

• Included in the ranking "Best Employers".

Apertura 2013.

• Included into the “100 Firms Recognized for their Performance During 2013”: - World Finance-2013.

Tax Service lines: F i s c a l S t r a t e g y a n d Ta x P l a n n i n g • Ta x r e t u r n s • D u e D i l i g e n c e s • Ta x A u d i t • Ta x L i t i g a t i o n • L o c a l a n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l A d v i s e • Tr a n s f e r Pricing• Outsourcing

CEO and Country Tax Leader

Guillermo N. Pérez guillermo.perez@grupognp.com

International, Corporate and I n d i r e c t Ta x

Sebastián Mancuso

sebastian.mancuso@grupognp.com

Valeria Brocos

valeria.brocos@grupognp.com

Leonardo De Gennaro

leonardo.de.gennaro@grupognp.com Tr a n s f e r P r i c i n g – O u t s o u r c i n g

Juan Elias Pérez Bay jperezbay@beytech.net b e y Te c h , a G r u p o G N P M e m b e r F i r m w w w. g r u p o g n p . c o m info@grupognp.com Te l : + 5 4 1 1 5 2 1 8 4 6 0 0

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

USA (ILLINOIS) – LARGE TIER - ESTATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Handler Thayer, LLP has been consistently recognized as one of the elite private client law firms in North America. In fact, no other law firm in North America has received more wealth industry honors in the last three years. In addition to other awards, Handler Thayer, LLP has been named Best Private Client Law Firm in the United States, Best Private Client Law Firm in North America and Best Overall Law Firm in the United States. In addition to its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, firm attorneys are based in Washington, D.C., Boca Raton, Florida and Beirut, Lebanon.

Handler Thayer, LLP is dedicated to rendering superior, technologically current, and innovative professional services to affluent families, family offices and privately-held companies. In furtherance of this objective, the firm attracts and develops highly qualified attorneys with business and financial backgrounds committed to personal and professional excellence. Firm attorneys have received numerous individual honors as top attorneys in the areas of Taxation, Business & Corporate Law, Trusts & Estates, Estate Planning, Real Estate and Philanthropy. In addition, firm attorneys frequently publish professional articles, books and treatises in addition to lecturing, teaching and conducting professional education sessions.

HANDLER THAYER IS A LAW FIRM BUILT UPON INNOVATION OF LEGAL THOUGHT, UNSURPASSED CLIENT SERVICE, AND UNCOMPROMISING PRINCIPLES. The firm’s reputation has been built upon a foundation of integrity, community service and creative, cutting edge, business, tax, and financial solutions. Above all, it is the firm's unique combination of exceptional work product and highly responsive, personalized client services that makes Handler Thayer one of the premier private client law firms.

Financial and Estate Planning The firm maintains a sophisticated financial and estate planning practice which focuses on delivering thoughtful, creative and cutting-edge planning strategies to affluent individuals. The firm's comprehensive financial and estate planning services include drafting, implementation, asset protection, financial planning, pre-marital planning, estate administration, estate contests, probate services, tax controversy, tax litigation, estate planning, family office structuring and advanced planning.

Chicago, IL

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Washington, DC

H A N D L E R T H AY E R H E A D Q U A R T E R S H a n d l e r T h a y e r, L L P Attorneys and Counselors at Law 191 North Wacker Drive, 23rd Floor Chicago, Illinois 60606-1633 Te l e p h o n e ( 3 1 2 ) 6 4 1 - 2 1 0 0

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We l l i n g t o n , F L

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Beirut, Lebanon

USA LEA DERSHIP DEVELOPMENT A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR What you do in business and how you do it determines your M.O., your modus operandi. It’s how you roll. But, small hinges can swing big doors. Business reputations and lawsuits are made or broken by details. As a result, knowing which details matter and which don’t help separate great business enterprises from the merely good ones. Yet ironically, the legal aspects of business are among the least understood components of business leadership by decision makers.

Business M.O., LLC fills this leadership gap for smart executives, managers, and entrepreneurs by helping them identify, create, and implement strategies to allocate their legal risks and manage conflict more the development of high performance and high integrity business cultures that help build great businesses.

Leadership services include executive education, executive coaching, management training, mastermind groups, and independent general counsel services.

Visit www.nononsenselawyer.com/businessmo/ for more information.

Business M.O., LLC was founded by Hanna Hasl-Kelchner, Esq., The No Nonsense Lawyer™ and America’s Legal

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Advocate for Entrepreneurs. Ms. Hasl-Kelchner is a licensed attorney and speaker whose specialty is the intersection of business and law.

She is also an award winning best-selling author of Champions: Knockout Strategies for Health, Wealth and Success from Today’s Leading Experts; and Legal Literacy: What Every Manager Should Know About the Law. With more than 30 years of experience in private, government and in-house legal practice, an MBA from Cornell University, and teaching experience at two top tier US MBA programs (Duke University Fuqua School of Business and the Darden School at the University of Virginia), she understands what makes the world of business and law tick.

Her analyses and recommendations have assisted influential decision makers ranging from start-ups to Big Tobacco, and the White House. Her expertise has also been featured in numerous print publications, on radio and television. She makes a no nonsense connection between law and business that is easy to understand, simple and fun. That’s why she’s been called a “lawyer you can love” by a Chicken Soup for the Soul co-author.

Hanna Hasl-Kelchner The No Nonsense Lawyer Founder and CEO Business M.O., LLC 179 E. Franklin Street, #54 Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA 27514 T 919-636-9677 E info@nononsenselawyer.com www.nononsenselawyer.com/ businessmo/

USA (NEW YORK) - REGULATORY COMPLI ANCE A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR (HEALTH CARE) Harter Secrest & Emery LLP provides legal services to the full spectrum of clients ranging from individuals and family-owned businesses to Fortune 100 companies. With offices in Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, Corning, and New York, HSE comprises more than 120 attorneys and 260 staff. U.S. News & World Report/Best Lawyers® ranked HSE #1 among all Western New York law firms for 2013-14 and awarded our Health Care practice Tier 1 status each of the four years that the rankings have been conducted .In an increasingly complex regulatory environment, the "profession" of health care is now the "business" of health care, with providers facing new risks, challenges, and opportunities.

Providers must rapidly adapt to these challenges, addressing issues across the health care spectrum involving statutory and regulatory compliance, corporate compliance, shrinking reimbursements, competition, managed-care contracting, new contractual relationships, and the need to develop a more efficient delivery model.

contracts, and the numerous other matters that regularly arise. HSE is adept at handling the full range of special projects, serving as counsel in affiliations, reorganizations, corporate structuring and governance matters for not-for-profit and for-profit entities/systems. HSE offers clients a variety of options and solutions, and then assists in selecting and implementing an approach designed to achieve the desired result.

HSE clients are discerning, relying on them for high value, cost effective results and the foresight to anticipate challenges before they arise. HSE earns their loyalty and trust by consistently exceeding expectations and actively partnering with clients to successfully resolve their legal and business challenges. HSE is the go-to firm for health care professionals and organizations seeking legal wellness in all regulatory, operational, and business arenas.

R o s s P. L a n z a f a m e , E s q .

For over 45 years, HSE has represented the full range of health care providers regarding a myriad of legal issues. HSE’s Health Care attorneys bring uniquely diverse talents (including regulatory, corporate, tax, employment, and litigation) to our practice. With years of experience and thorough understanding of the complex legal and business problems facing providers, HSE crafts creative and varied solutions to those problems. HSE guides providers on day-to-day operational, business, and regulatory issues involving patients, medical staff, medical records, financing, reimbursement, tax,

1600 Bausch & Lomb Place R o c h e s t e r, N Y 1 4 6 0 4 - 2 7 1 1 585.232.6500 r l a n z a f a m e @ h s e l a w. c o m w w w. h s e l a w. c o m

C A N A DA BOUTIQUE FINANCI AL PLANNING A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR Interconnect Financial Services Inc. is an independent financial planning company associated with Manulife Securities Incorporated. Founded in 1981, this boutique financial planning firm has been helping people format effective retirement strategies for over 30 years by utilizing a dedicated client-focused approach.

At Interconnect, their clients are the number one priority, which encourages the philosophy of customized plans tailored to the unique needs of each client. By using a Financial Vision process to bring their clients’ objectives to the surface, they work with them to ensure their goals are met, allowing their clients to focus more on enjoying what’s important to them in life. From their experience, they’ve found this systematic planning approach is more dynamic and provides their clients with much more value when compared to larger convoluted plans that have only standard relevance to retirement needs in general.

Having a chartered accountant as part of the team allows them to provide comprehensive tax planning. This differentiates Interconnect by helping them fill the service gap between a typical financial planner and an accountant – a service area many people could use, but unfortunately don’t have access to. This service is of particular importance for business owners, and of course, individuals who enjoy paying less tax.

Interconnect is extremely passionate about educating children about financial literacy. For example, Bryan Sommer, Director at Interconnect, has created a free financial literacy app called “Pogo Pig Savings”, available on iTunes. The app teaches kids about self-control and financial saving. The concept is based on a long-term study

by Duke University that states a child’s financial success can be determined as early as three years old by looking at self-control alone. Recently, Bryan has also released a children’s book called “Pogo Pig Learns About Goal Setting”, available on Amazon. It teaches kids how to set goals and save money for these goals. Bryan is particularly excited about this project as he and his wife are expecting their first baby early January 2015.

Interconnects overriding philosophy of putting their clients’ needs first ensures that they are there for their clients during their many life changes. This ensures their clients’ financial plan stays current so that intelligent and informed decisions are made. At Interconnect, they know that they are doing their job when their clients feel supported and as part of the family throughout their financial journey. This allows their clients to enjoy what's really important to them in life.

B r y a n D . S o m m e r, B C o m m , C A , C F P, C I M Certified Financial Planner

Interconnect Financial Services Inc. 3 1 0 - 1 5 2 5 2 3 2 n d Av e S u r r e y, B . C . V 3 Z 0 R 7 CANADA t: (604) 538-1723 f: (604) 538-9616 w : w w w. i n t e r c o n n e c t f i n a n c i a l . c o m e:bryan.sommer@manulifesecurities.ca

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

BRAZIL INTL TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Intercorp Group is a high level consulting firm specializing in Tax, Estate Planning and Fiduciary structures. Our team consists of professionals with extensive experience. We operate in a very unique way in addressing issues of taxation, accounting and international transactions. Once we have assisted our clients in determining their needs, our primary purpose is to facilitate and coordinate the development and implementation of the steps involved in their project.

Intercorp Group was established under the guidance of Leonardo Braune with the purpose of becoming one of the few truly international tax consulting boutiques, providing high quality tax services as well as estate planning and fiduciary structuring services, delivering to its clients only the most efficient, practical and customized solutions.

Our initial step is to assign one of our qualified coordinators, who will act throughout the entire advisory and consulting process. Our coordinators have access to an international network of professionals and specialists in many areas and are responsible for "playing the role of the client", being therefore extremely capable of clarifying questions and giving suggestions and practical solutions to their issues. Commitment, creativity, technicality, quality and reliability are our core strengths. At Intercorp Group, our clients can have

direct or indirect access to a unique global network of specialists and professionals who will work in a simple, clear and objective manner.

For over 20 years, Leonardo Braune has acted as a tax consultant in the areas of international tax, real estate planning, wealth preservation, fiduciary advice, implementation and management of international structures and project management.

He began his career as a trainee at Arthur Andersen where he quickly became Senior Manager of the tax consulting area, acting significantly in many segments there and working very closely with several international offices on significant global projects.

With a vast experience in tax, an extremely diversified client base and a very strong global network of top specialists in many different business related areas, Leonardo Braune has been a part of a large number of successful projects in several industries such as oil and gas, telecommunications, real estate, international services, investment funds and asset management.

Managing Partner leonardo leonardo@intercorpgroup.com Rio de Janeiro T + 55 21 3282 5288 London T + 44 20 3427 3308

USA NICHE SOLUTIONS PROV IDER OF THE YEAR (INSURANCE)

Dramatically Improving How Life Insurance, Annuity and Health Products Are Sold.

At iPipeline, we take pride in leading the information technology and services industry in providing web-based software tools that drive straight-through processing and deliver speedto-market advantages for the insurance and financial services markets. iPipeline is the leader in providing the next-generation suite of SaaS-based solutions With the recent acquisition of Aplifi® we are now able to offer the industry’s most powerful and comprehensive platform for the marketing, selling and processing of life insurance, annuity and health products. In 2013, iPipeline's platform serviced 13 million requests for life products, generated nearly 170 million quotes, and supported 160,000 annuity orders that resulted in $16 billion of annual deposits to annuity funds. iPipeline's channel solutions for carriers, distributors, producers and financial professionals automate activities for CRM, forms distribution and processing, quotes and illustrations, in Good Order e-Applications, agency management, data services, policy delivery and related services, enabling the insurance industry to market, sell, and process faster. iPipeline provides the process automation and seamless integration needed on a global basis to make a

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

sale by aggregating 125 carriers, 1,200 distributors and their financial professionals and licensed advisors in a single, Web-based environment – the iPipeline Customer Network. With headquarters in Exton, Pennsylvania, iPipeline has locations in Atlanta, Charlotte, Danville, Fort Lauderdale, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City, Tokyo, UK, and Vancouver.

To further explore how iPipeline can assist you in simplifying and accelerating the marketing, selling and processing of life, annuity, preneed, final expense, long-term care, disability, cancer, and medicare supplement/advantage products, contact us at (484) 348-6555 or email sales@ipipeline.com Visit us at www.ipipeline.com.

CMO

Michael Persiano mpersiano@ipipeline.com iPipeline 2 2 2 Va l l e y C r e e k B l v d . , S u i t e 3 0 0 E x t o n , PA 1 9 3 4 1 USA Phone: (484) 348-6555 Fax: (484) 348-6559

C A N A DA FINANCI AL A DV ISOR OF THE YEAR, SHAFIK HIRANI

It’s been a whirlwind year for Shafik who has been continuously in the spotlight this year. We have named him Canada’s Financial Advisor of the Year for his many accomplishments throughout 2014 and for his career as a financial advisor over the course of the last 20 years. Hirani has been ranked in the Presidents Elite (Top 1% of his firm’s financial advisors ranked by production). Nobody besides Shafik has ever won it simultaneously while winning National Manager of the Year. (Shafik won it repeatedly for 7 years until he resigned in 2013 winning National manager of Year for unprecedented 7th time in a row). Resigning from management was a tough call but his main focus has always been on his clients. His resolve is to help his clients establish solid financial plans and manage their Investment Portfolios in a clear, transparent fashion. Shafik has managed to stay on top winning several awards and we continually see him being called on by the Media as an authority on financial matters.

This year alone Shafik has been featured in the following publications:

“Top 50 Advisors in Canada” -2014 –Wealth Professional Magazine

“Corporate Owned Insurance Specialist of the Year, Canada”-2014 - Wealth and Finance International Magazine .

Most recently the buzz has been on his astonishing $365K TFSA, back to back top performing TFSA in Canada for the past 2 years. It all started when he was featured in the Financial Post in 2013 for his $170K TFSA. This year he managed to get his portfolio up to $365K and was featured on the front page ofthe Financial Post with and an article outlining his “black swan” investing style. Then Money Sense reached out to feature Shafik in the Great TFSA Race December issue of the magazine. With all the buzz regarding large gains in TFSA’s being audited by the CRA naturally BNN called on Hirani to discuss the CRA crackdown. Shafik is now a regular guest on the BNN Business Day AM.

“Top Performing TFSA Investor”in Canada by the

Hirani was ranked

Financial Post for 2013 and 2014

BNN is not the only one knocking on Hirani’s door.

CTV has had Shafik on Alberta Primetime News as a regular panelist for years along with Global TV’s Energy TV and CBC Radio.

The road to success has not been an easy one but Shafik has proven to be one of Canada’s top advisors year after year. In addition to his media buzz, Shafik has had a number of accomplishments in the Canadian Financial Services Industry including National Manager of the Year for his firm for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 (an impressive achievement, considering the firm has 500 branch managers).

“Hirani was ranked #1 Branch Manager at Investors Group for 2006,2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. (Out of 400+ managers” Shafik has also been amongst the top 1% of the 4,500+ advisors at Investors Group nationally year after year.

Shafik has not always been the boisterous outspoken individual you see today. In his early years he struggled with a fear of public speaking and was always known as the “shy” kid. It wasn’t until being nominated as his Grade 12 Valedictorian that he really came into his own.

Hirani is 5 time recipient of his firms

"BusinessAchievement Award" .Annually Awarded to 5 out of 4500 financial advisors Nationally for success in Business

Licensed by The International Financial Services Commission of Belize as Corporate and trust Services Providers

C A N A DA FINANCI AL A DV ISOR OF THE YEAR, SHAFIK HIRANI

Hirani reminisces on the day he found out he would have to give an inspirational speech at his graduation… he clammed up, puked 3 times, and stressed about it until graduation day. He worked on his speech for days re-writing it over and over again.

Before he took the podium he was sweating profusely and his hand wouldn’t stop shaking, but then it all changed. After the first words came out he was instantly hooked. After the speech he said it was like being on a “high”, he loved that he could engage people and really affect them with the words he was saying.

When Shafik entered the Financial Services Industry after receiving his Honors Degree in Finance with a double major in Neuropsychology, he knew that speaking to the public about his unique philosophies on Financial Planning and Investing was going to be at the fore front of his business plan.

Hirani delivers over 100 speaking engagements per year to a number of corporations and industry students from areas such as effective portfolio management techniques to minimize risk and maximize return to Outlook for Capital Markets and Macro-economic environment. Shafik has been coined the financial advisors' advisor. His favourite and award winning seminar "The Psychology of Wealth" in which Hirani has won a plethora of awards. His seminars have been noted as “insightful, entertaining, illuminating, and refreshing” by publications such as the Calgary Herald, Global TV, Go Magazine, and the Canadian Association for Financial Planners. This seminar provides people info on Shafik's viewpoints regarding the mistakes most advisors and investors make. Shafik outlines his philosophies on the problems with "traditional" financial planning and why he takes "a contrariness" approach. He speaks of making paradigm shifts away from working for your money to making the money work for you, away from acting and treating yourself like a person to working like a corporation and most importantly Hirani emphasizes - away from pointing one's finger externally (towards markets,

future economy) and beginning to point internally to the person in the mirror and focusing on the Psychology of how one makes a decision.

A quote from Shafik: " They psychology of decision making is paramount and nobody understands this. The Egyptians built the pyramids wide before building tall. But Canadians feel you get affluent by just continuing to build wide.

That's not true. In 20 years of dealing with affluent investors I've never seen a single person build their wealth by tradition "max out your RRSP/TFSA and pay down your mortgage" approach. People need to focus on the psychology of how we decide". Unfortunately, as Aristotle said "we are the architects of our own demise". Basically he meant - "who do I have to protect me from me?". Psychologists call certain challenges cognitive dissonance. We don't associate our current selves with our future selves. But intuitively we know “you can't build a puzzle without a picture of the box”.”

Hirani has delivered speeches to fellow financial advisors - throughout Canada and internationally to the elite financial advisors in Edinborough Scotland, Tokyo japan, Shanghai, China, Venice Italy, Bora Bora Tahitii, Greece, St Petersburg Russia, Austria Germany and countless more. Not only is Shafik active educating his clients, and other financial advisors he takes an active role in the community teaching the Certified Financial Planning Designation at Mount Royal University, a past Vice President for the Canadian Association of Financial Advisors and founded the Hirani Foundation for Charitable Giving which provides grants to Alberta Charities in need.

Investors Group Financial Services # 8 0 0 - 3 3 3 7 t h Av e n u e , S W | C a l g a r y | AB | T2P 2Z1 Ph: (403) 284-0494 | Fax: (403) 2 8 9 - 9 6 7 4 | To l l F r e e : ( 8 0 0 ) 3 4 7 - 0 2 9 6 Email: shafik.hirani@igprivatewealth.com w w w. s h a f i k h i r a n i . c o m

S h a f i k H i r a n i ( a b o v e ) h a s b e e n a w a r d e d P r e s i d e n t s E l i t e . ( To p 1 % o f f i r m s f i n a n c i a l a d v i s o r s r a n k e d b y p r o d u c t i o n . N o b o d y b e s i d e s S h a f i k h a s e v e r w o n i t s i m u l t a n e o u s l y w h i l e w i n n i n g N a t i o n a l m a n a g e r o f t h e y e a r. ( S h a f i k w o n i t r e p e a t e d l y f o r 7 y e a r s u n t i l h e r e s i g n e d i n 2 0 1 3 w i n n i n g N a t i o n a l m a n a g e r o f Ye a r f o r u n p r e c e d e n t e d 7 t h t i m e i n a r o w ) Licensed by The International Financial Services Commission of Belize as Corporate and trust Services Providers

itg

USA

Worldwide

INTERNATIONAL BENEFI TS PROV IDER OF THE YEAR

International Insurance Specialists

NICHE A DV ISER OF THE YEAR (MEDICAL INSURANCE) ITG Worldwide understands that today's increasingly global economy is forcing many employers to rethink the way they approach global mobility, including health insurance and employee benefits. Companies of all sizes are taking a more hands on approach to international benefits.

Our team of international insurance experts is led by Scott Maras, Global Sales Director. Mr. Maras has more than 20 years of experience in the global insurance brokerage and financial services industries.

Scott and the benefits team service small, medium and large international organizations.

As a leading expert in international benefits, ITG Worldwide is frequently involved in solving benefits challenges that arise as a result of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. As a global benefits specialty firm, we are uniquely positioned to serve clients undergoing these complex business activities.

We place the utmost value on providing our clients with exceptional service and can help define and solve any individual or group international insurance need.

We have long-standing relationships with all of the global insurance carriers and have the ability to offer a wide range of international products from short-term medical insurance for individuals to a full line of employee benefits for global corporations. We also offer coverage for foreign nationals in the U.S., third country nationals and high-risk coverage for war zones.

Please take a few minutes to visit our website at www.itgworldwide.com and to check out our web page for ACQ5 readers at:

About ITG Worldwide. http://www.itgworldwide.com/partners/acq.html)

Scott Maras, CEBS CLU CPCU Senior Vice President and Global Sales Director 515.954.7392 scottm@itgworldwide.com

California Office (San Francisco Bay Area) 500 Professional Center Drive, Suite 515 Novato, CA 94945 USA

nationals and high-risk coverage for war zones.

Mid-America Office 6600 University Avenue. Suite 117 Des Moines, IA 50324 USA

Phone: 415.898.0584 Toll-Free: 877.598.8646 Fax: 415.373.0786

www.itgworldwide.com

USA (SAN FRANCISCO) – ANTITRUST LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (SAN FRANCISCO) – ANTITRUST LITIGATION LAWYER OF THE YEAR, JOSEPH R. SAVERI The Joseph Saveri Law Firm, Inc. specializes in antitrust law and complex civil and class action litigation in federal and state courts throughout the United States and in cases across the globe. The firm was founded in 2012 by Joseph R. Saveri. Since that time, the firm has quickly developed a track record of success in prosecuting cases on behalf of its clients and performing the highest quality legal work. In the short period of time it has existed, it has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in results for its clients. Recently, the firm has been ranked as a 2014 Best Lawyers and US News Best Law Firm in the area of antitrust litigation.

Throughout these cases, Mr. Saveri has displayed the energy, vision and commitment that leadership requires, combined with the ability to listen, share and work cooperatively so that the litigation team operates equitably, efficiently, and without friction. Mr. Saveri serves or has served as lead counsel in many class actions and other complex cases, including most recently the Titanium Dioxide, High Tech Employee, Capacitors and TFT (Flat Panel) cases.

With more than 25 years’ civil litigation experience, Joseph R. Saveri has handled cases for entrepreneurs, businesses and government entities. Cases have involved numerous industries, including technology, banking and financial services, insurance, energy, pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, computer hardware, computer software, manufacturing inputs, travel and transportation, paper products, cosmetics, and consumer electronics. Mr. Saveri has established himself as one of the country’s top litigators in the antitrust field.

Over the past 25 years, Mr. Saveri has investigated, prosecuted and successfully resolved numerous antitrust class actions and other complex cases. He has served both as a court-appointed leader of such efforts, and as a valued member of the teams operating under the leadership of others. As lead or co-lead counsel in many of these cases, he has taken a personal leadership role in organizing litigation, setting strategy, establishing and directing teams of lawyers, and assigning specific tasks to teams of attorneys in a way that ensures the efficient use of resources and maximizes the talents of the litigation team.

Joseph R. Saveri jsaveri@saverilawfirm.com 505 Montgomery Street, Suite 625 San Francisco, CA 94111 US Tel: 415-500-6800 Facsimile: 415-395-9940

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

C A N A DA APPELLATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Klein Lyons is one of the leading providers of legal expertise in Canadian class action law.

With offices in Vancouver and Toronto, Klein Lyons focuses solely on plaintiff class actions, mass tort and personal injury claims. As one of the first class action firms in Canada, the firm has experience in a wide range landmark class action cases including Dow Corning Breast Implants, Hepatitis C Tainted Blood, Woodlands Residential School, Air Canada Retiree Benefits, Securities Class Actions, and more. Current cases include metal-on-metal hip implants and various drug class actions such as Champix, Propecia and Hormone Replacement Therapy.

The national class action practice is led by David Klein, who is recognized by Lexpert and Benchmark Canada as one of the most frequently recommended lawyers in class action litigation, and by Best Lawyers in Canada as leading counsel in class action litigation. David has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for thousands of victims in a wide range of landmark lawsuits.

Mr. Klein was plaintiffs´ counsel in the first class actions certified in three provinces in Canada as well as the first prospectus misrepresentation class action and the first tobacco class action certified in Canada. A member of the Bars of Ontario, British Columbia and Washington State, he has represented plaintiffs in actions in the Superior and Appellate courts across Canada in a host of cases

involving defective products, environmental accidents, securities misrepresentations, pension benefits, deceptive marketing, food poisoning outbreaks, and institutional abuse.

Mr. Klein has held several positions with Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia including President in 1998-1999. He is periodically consulted by the Ministry of the Attorney-General on matters relating to the Class Proceedings Act, by the Rules Committee of the BC Supreme Court on rules amendments related to class proceedings and by the BC Public Guardian and Trustee on the protection of persons with legal disabilities in class proceedings.

Mr. Klein is a prolific writer and speaker on legal issues, and has given over 100 papers and presentations to various organizations, law schools, bar and trial lawyers associations across North America. Mr. Klein is frequently sought out by the media to comment on current issues related to class action law in Canada.

The firm believes in helping individuals who may not have the resources to sue government agencies and large corporations.

Millions of dollars have been won and distributed to clients. The firm has donated a portion of settlements to the Sauder School of Business at UBC and the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association.

David Klein Managing Partner

Phone: 00 1 604 874 7171 Email: dklein@kleinlyons.com W e b : w w w. k l e i n l y o n s . c o m

MEXICO ACCOUNTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR We are a firm that is composed of a team of highly qualified professionals; we distinguish ourselves by our quality auditing services, tax, and legal advice.

• •

Mission KSi México was founded with the mission of ensuring the security and legal and fiscal tranquility of our clients through the audit.

• •

And that our customers and partners, are fully informed that is why we commit ourselves to the editing, publication and distribution of informational documents obtaining the permits and registrations that require its circulation.

•

Vision Consolidate as a firm institutional leader in accounting, financial and legal services, recognized in the domestic market and overseas by our experience, security, trust and business projection, all this in conjunction with the objectives, projects and values of our clients.

Values • • • • • • • • • • • •

Security Trust.

Integrity.

Loyalty and confidentiality.

Respect.

Cooperation and Fellowship.

Responsability.

Commitment.

Proactive Attitude to Innovation and Creativity.

Quality Service.

Transparency.

Certainty Seguridad Accounting Services

• • • • • • • • • • •

Our accounting services consist of: Preparation of chart of accounts Encoding and recording of expenditure policies, income and daily, manually or directly on the systems of computation Reconciliation of bank accounts of our clients Calculation of taxes Federal (SSRIS, flat tax, VAT, etc.) and local (payroll taxes, property taxes, water, etc.), as well as the presentation of their respective statements Purification and reconciliation of balances of accounts Balance and results Determination and worker contributions whole Patron Saint to the IMSS INFONAVIT Preparation of financial statements Preparation of cash flow Analysis and interpretation of financial statements, including the implementation of financial reasons Preparation of projected financial statements Application of the inflation bulletin B-10 effect on the financial States Implementation of the Bulletin D-4 tax deferred Implementation of the Bulletin D-3 (duties) Application of bulletin C-8 valuation of Intangibles assets Expert in the accounting field Conversion of financial statements to US GAAP

• Administration of payroll (identification, payment and fulfilment of tax duties)

Corporativo Cd. de México Paseo de la Reforma 935 Col. Lomas de Chapultepec Deleg. Miguel Hidalgo, C.P.:11000 CONTACT Mexico city +52 55 5520 5353 Mexican Republic: 01 800 849 6614

MEXICO TRA DEMARK LAWYER OF THE YEAR, LAURA COLLA DA SALCIDO

Laura Collada has been the managing partner of Dumont Bergman Bider & Co S.C (DBB) since 2008, and has worked there since 2000. The firm is an IP boutique established more than 70 years ago and is a traditional key player on IP issues. She graduated with honours from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo deMéxico (ITAM). She has law specializations in IP, corporate, civil, constitutional and environmental law from Universidad Panamericana and a legal specialization in contracts from the ITAM, all of them with honours. Mrs. Collada started in the field in a renowned IP firm and then moved to work at the Mexican Trademark Office where she was the subdirector for the Prevention of Unfair Competition in charge of all administrative infractions. She returned to private practice in 2000, joining DBB in which she was in charge of the litigation department.

Mrs. Collada has been teaching IP litigation as well as copyrights at several colleges and universities including ITAM, Universidad Panamericana and ITESM. She has also written about IP for national newspapers and international IP magazines. She speaks at conferences organized by various organizations. Mrs. Collada actively participates in AMPPI (Mexican Chapter of AIPPI) where she is the chair of the Trademark Committee. She was also involved in other organizations such as INTA, AIPPI, Marques, PTMG, ASIPI (for which she is National Delegate), AIPF (member of the board) and BMA (Mexican Bar). Mrs. Collada’s practice includes the complete lifecycle of IP rights, from consultancy, strategies, filing and

prosecution, to resolving disputes involving these rights through litigation as well as negotiating settlements. Under her supervision, DBB achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification (by TUV Rheinland) for having a quality management system. DBB is the first IP firm in Mexico that has been certified in all areas. Mrs. Collada has recruited several lawyers and engineering leaders in the field to support and enhance her team in order to provide legal services related to IP such as regulatory, corporate, IT, data protection, and valuation of IP assets. Mrs. Collada is also in charge of client relations and travels worldwide attending conferences and/or visiting clients. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

Managing Partner Laura Collada Av e n i d a I n s u r g e n t e s S u r 1 8 9 8 P e n t O f f i c e 2 1 F l o o r, C o l o n i a F l o r i d a C . P. 01030, Del. Álvaro Obregón. Mexico C i t y, M E X I C O .

Te l : ( 5 2 ) ( 5 5 ) 5 3 2 2 - 6 2 3 0 Fax: (52) (55) 5661-3056 lcollada@dumont.com.mx w w w. d u m o n t . c o m . m x

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

MEXICO CORPORATE TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Jáuregui y Del Valle, S.C. was originally founded in 1975 and the Firm is now the result of the merger between Jáuregui y Navarrete, S.C. and Del Valle Torres, S.C. during 2013, becoming one of Mexico’s foremost law firms, distinguished by domestic and foreign clients for its leadership, creativity, quality and coverage of a diversified number of legal services, which include mergers & acquisitions, domestic and international tax advice, tax and administrative litigation, joint ventures structuring, antitrust, corporate and project finance; commercial, civil, labor, arbitration, mediation, international trade, customs law, intellectual property, transportation and environmental law.

The Firm represents domestic and foreign clients involved in a wide range of economic activities, including but not limited to real estate; energy, including oil and gas, renewable and electricity; telecommunications, internet, media, infrastructure; banking, insurance, securities.

The Firm has consistently implemented innovative transactions and is a market leader in advising highly-regulated entities and in structuring foreign equity investments for those companies. The Firm is also a major provider of legal services in all kinds of financings, privatizations of government-owned companies of all types and of public services, and in advising and assisting clients in all steps of qualifications for public bid processes and

negotiations of procurement, services, infrastructure and other kinds of agreements with government entities.

The Firm specializes in tax consulting, including but not limited to federal and local tax and administrative litigations regarding tax assessments, refunds and levies, and is composed of highly specialized professionals with international expertise in cross-border and domestic transactions.

It has ample experience in the structuring of investment funds for relevant real estate funds and pension plans, both domestic and international, and it provides tax advice to high net-worth and individuals, international banks and insurance companies on the design of products for purposes of private client related work and estate planning. Its services include the design and implementation of tax strategies, corporate reorganizations and restructurings, tax reports, tax litigation, economic and transfer pricing analysis, labor, employment and social security tax strategies.

The Firm has broad expertise in administrative reviews before the tax authorities, as well as litigation on nullity Petitions and Amparo procedures before the Mexican Federal Court of Tax and Administrative Justice.

Ta x P r a c t i c e L e a d e r a n d M a n a g i n g Pa rt n e r M r. L u i s G e r a r d o D e l V a l l e To r r e s

J á u r e g u i y D e l Va l l e , S . C .

To r r e A r c o s B o s q u e s I , P a s e o d e l o s Ta m a r i n d o s N o . 4 0 0 - B P i s o s 8 y 9 , Bosques de las Lomas, 05120, M é x i c o , D . F. Ph. +52 (55) 5267-4500 w w w. j a u r e g u i y d e l v a l l e . c o m

USA LEADING INVESTMENT BANK OF THE YEAR, LOCKEBRIDGE LLC

Headquartered in the Boston area, LockeBridge is an investment banking firm focused on middle market transactions; primarily assisting clients with liquidity events, capital raises, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and valuations generally between $5M – $100M. Through our client-centric, “no retainer” process (see “Uncommon Business Model” below), we eliminate conflicts of interest and create an alignment of objectives between the Client and LockeBridge. The LockeBridge Core Value Proposition is uniquely positioned to deliver seasoned expertise, multiple global bids and unprecedented success rates—all without requiring upfront retainer fees.* Uncommon Business Model What differentiates LockeBridge from the competition is our uncommon business model. Prior to engaging with a client, we invest a substantial amount of time and resources conducting due diligence at our own expense.

This diligence process enables us to identify potential value deflators and transaction showstoppers while assessing, at a very high confidence level, the probability of achieving the clients’ objectives. This critical assessment is an essential factor in justifying the substantial investment LockeBridge makes, with no retainer from the client, in order to execute the merger and acquisition process.

Additionally, the value deflators identified during the diligence process can be addressed via our proprietary pre-sale consulting process, which typically results in significant value enhancement. The foregoing enables LockeBridge to attract seasoned advisors from among the world's top business schools and advisory firms, who insure execution performance resulting in an unparalleled closing rate at an optimal valuation.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

LockeBridge has been recognized, with numerous national and international awards, for delivering superior results to our clients (view http://www.lockebridge.com/Awards.html), but more importantly our client-centric approach has proven to deliver premium value and true goal alignment with our clients’ objectives. This Partnership relationship is the backbone of the LockeBridge Model.

Scott Waxler is the Managing Partner of LockeBridge. He has won various highly acclaimed awards including the M&A Advisor’s “Deal Maker of the Year”. Throughout his 20+ year history in the investment banking, merger and acquisition business Scott has founded and exited numerous firms and has published dozens of articles.

Scott Waxler LockeBridge, LLC 12 Waltham Street Lexington, MA 02421 www.lockebridge.com Office: 781.676.2001 Mobile: 978.764.0727 Email: swaxler@lockebridge.com

USA ILLINOIS - GENERAL CORPORATE PRACTICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Lowis & Gellen LLP is a 53-attorney firm with an international client base including banks, insurance companies and businesses in a range of industries and sizes. Lowis & Gellen LLP’s corporate department provides a full range of corporate and general business counseling to public and private companies as well as newly formed businesses, partnerships and joint ventures. We advise a wide range of industrial, commercial, financial and service enterprises, including the specialized businesses of insurance, equipment, banking, food, health care and real estate. Our services include negotiating and drafting distribution, licensing and fulfillment agreements, shareholder and management agreements, employment and non-competition agreements as well as leases, loan and financing documents and other complex business contracts.

Gerald Haberkorn is Lowis & Gellen LLP’s senior partner responsible for its corporate, real estate and banking practice. His transactional practice includes negotiating and drafting commercial transactional documentation, stock and asset purchase agreements, joint venture and strategic alliance agreements and many other types of corporate, commercial and financial agreements.

Jerry has published a variety of articles, teaches a course at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago and maintains an active litigation practice that includes lawsuits involving allegations of misrepresentations, business fraud, foreclosures, stock valuation, misappropriation of trade secrets, copyright and trademark infringement. He holds a certificate in Business Management from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management in addition to his law degree (J.D. with honors).

Approximately ten of our lawyers focus on commercial practice and an equal amount focus on corporate transactions. The remaining attorneys at the firm are focused upon commercial litigation and corporate defense litigation. We also handle the real estate needs for our clients acquiring, leasing or disposing of real estate assets. Our attorneys are admitted to practice law in states throughout the U.S. including California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York and Wisconsin. Five of our corporate and finance attorneys have each earned advanced business degrees.

Executive MR Haberkorn L o w i s & G e l l e n L L P ’s m a i n o f f i c e i s l o c a t e d a t 2 0 0 W. A d a m s S t r e e t , S u i t e 1900, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The main phone number is 312.364.2500.

Additional information is available on t h e F i r m ’s w e b s i t e a t h t t p : / / w w w. l o w i s - g e l l e n . c o m / l o w i s gellen/

USA U S - B A N K I N G & F I N A N C E L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R U S - C A PI TA L M A R K E TS L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R U S - C O R P O R AT E L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R U S - C R O S S B O R D E R L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R U S - E N E RGY L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R U S - I N T E R N AT IO N A L L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R U S - I N T E R N AT IO N A L T R A D E & F I N A N C E L AW F I R M O F T H E U S - IS L A M IC F I N A N C E L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R U S - M & A L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R U S - M I N I N G L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R U S - OI L & GAS L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R C H I N A - I N T E R N AT IO N A L L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R C H I N A - OV E R S E AS B A N K I N G & F I N A N C E L AW F I R M O F T H E C H I N A - OV E R S E AS M & A L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R L E B A N O N - I N T E R N AT IO N A L L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R R U S S I A - I N T E R N AT IO N A L M & A L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R S A U DI A R A B I A - I N T E R N AT IO N A L L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R S A U DI A R A B I A - O V E R S E A S C O R P O R AT E L AW F I R M O F T H E SA U DI A R A B I A - OV E R S E AS M & A L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R S A U DI A R A B I A - O V E R S E A S P R I VAT E E Q U I T Y L AW F I R M O F U A E - I N T E R N AT IO N A L L AW F I R M O F T H E Y E A R Maalouf Ashford & Talbot is among the world’s leading international financial services law firms with offices in New York City, Moscow, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Riyadh, Beirut and Sao Paulo.

John J. Maalouf, Senior Partner of the Firm, has been ranked as one of the Top 10 International Trade & Finance Lawyers in the United States for the past nine consecutive years by the U.S. Lawyer Rankings (2006 – 2014 Editions) due to his commitment to excellence and outstanding client service.

Maalouf Ashford & Talbot’s lawyers are internationally recognized as leading experts in the areas of International Finance Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Oil & Gas Law, Private Equity Law, Project Finance Law, Asset Finance Law, Banking Law, Capital Markets Law, Corporate Law, Cross Border Law, Shipping & Maritime Law, Antitrust Law, Sharia Law, and Tax Law.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

YEAR

YEAR

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In addition, Mr. Maalouf is an internationally recognized expert on matters involving China business law and co-author of the book "Inside the Minds: Best Practices for Mergers & Acquisitions in China", published by Thomson West, the world's most respected name in legal publishing. Maalouf Ashford & Talbot was among the first U.S. law firms in China, and the firm’s legal agreements and documents have become the industry standard used by other law firms today.

John J. Maalouf is also a recognized expert in the field of international initial public offerings (IPO’s) and is a leader in taking companies public on numerous international stock exchanges, including the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange.

Maalouf Ashford’s reputation for excellence and breadth of expertise has made it the law firm of choice for many of the worlds leading corporations as they address the diverse legal and business challenges which they face.

John J. Maalouf Senior Partner Maalouf Ashford & Talbot, LLP 500 Fifth Avenue, 14th Fl. New York, New York 10110 T 212.789.8717 F 212.789.8718 E John.maalouf@maaloufashford.com www.maaloufashford.com

USA LEA DING CUSTOMER SERV ICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Marashlian & Donahue, LLC, The CommLaw Group, is not your ordinary law firm. Together with The Commpliance Group (www.CommplianceGroup.com), its affiliated consultancy, The CommLaw Group is a professional services “organization” that was specially designed and staffed to service the full-range of legal, consulting and compliance needs of the telecommunications, broadcast, information technology and Internet services industries. Boasting a vibrant and diverse communications law practice, The CommLaw Group currently serves hundreds of clients throughout the U.S. and internationally. The firm’s loyal base includes clients of all shapes and sizes, from start-ups to Fortune 100 enterprises, and from practically every sector of the communications and info tech industries. The firm also serves the intellectual property, privacy law, litigation and general business law needs of its clientele.

In 2005, anticipating the seismic shift in the market for effective, yet affordable legal services, the firm set out to engineer its one-of-a-kind, “Full Spectrum” professional services business model. The groundbreaking processes developed by the firm enable it to provide value-driven, high-quality professional services that deliver business-savvy solutions for reasonable, predictable, task appropriate costs; all provided with the customer-friendly approach that has become the firms’ hallmark characteristic.

structured to promote stability and accommodate growth. We work hard to avoid sticker shock through proactive and candid communications with our clients and by ensuring our clients’ objectives are properly aligned with their budgetary expectations, and vice versa, prior to embarking on projects. And in a world in which “customer service” is considered a relic, we turn back the clock by pushing our attorneys and consulting professionals to continually expand and deepen not only their professional services skills, but their client servicing skills, as well.

The CommLaw Group is led by its founder and managing partner, Jonathan S. Marashlian, an AV Preeminent Rated, nationally-recognized expert in the areas of communications taxes, regulatory fees, regulatory litigation, audits, advocacy and defense.

Winner of a SmartCEO Executive Management Award for his innovation and leadership in the legal profession, Mr. Marashlian was also awarded Client Choice Awards by Lexology / International Law Office in 2013 and 2014; named overall winner in the Telecommunications Law – USA category.

The CommLaw Group is the recipient of multiple ACQ Law and ACQ Global Awards and was named “Customer Service Law Firm of the Year” and “Best Communications Law Firm of the Year” in the U.S.

Our professional services rates, flexible billing arrangements, and compensation system are all

Director Jonathan S. Marashlian MARASHLIAN & DONAHUE, LLC The CommLaw Group 1420 Spring Hill Rd., Suite 401 McLean, Virginia 22102 Te l : 7 0 3 - 7 1 4 - 1 3 1 3 E-mail: jsm@commlawgroup.com w w w. C o m m L a w G r o u p . c o m

CANADA NICHE - FAMILY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Martha McCarthy is the winner of the Ontario Bar Association 2007 Award of Excellence in Family Law. Martha was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1991, winning the Silver Medal and the Family Law and Advocacy Prizes. Martha has practised family law since her call, first in a large Bay Street firm, then the largest family law specialist boutique in Canada, and now with her own firm.

Martha was counsel for M. in M. v. H. which after eight years and a decision from the Supreme Court of Canada resulted in widespread amendments to include same-sex couples as spouses in both federal and provincial legislation. In 2000, she commenced the equal marriage case Halpern, which resulted in the first decision in the country and internationally calling for immediate same-sex marriage, effective June 10, 2003. Martha later acted for the Hendricks couple in Quebec, and the Dunbar couple in the Yukon in cases that opened up equal marriage in those provinces as well. She was counsel to the Ontario and Quebec couples on the Supreme Court Marriage Reference and, just to complete the circle, was counsel to the applicant in the first same-sex divorce in Canada. In 2006, Martha acted for lesbian families who won the right to immediately register both mothers as their children's parents, and intervened on behalf of these families in AA v. BB v.

CC, a case achieving legal recognition for a three parent family.

Apart from gay and lesbian equality issues, Martha's areas of specialty include the interaction of family issues with business organization and valuation, shareholders' remedies, marriage contracts, equality claims in family law, child representation and the effect of divorce on children. She is a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Martha was awarded the Law Society Medal in 2013.

Martha is a frequent advocate, author and commentator on issues of gay and lesbian equality, and our evolving concept of family.

Martha McCarthy Martha can be reached at: martha@mccarthyco.ca 416-862-6226

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

BRAZIL LEA DING CUSTOMER SERV ICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR – MILARÉ A DVOGA DOS Given the new demands of contemporary society, the Law Firm Milaré Advogados appeared in 1996 and is considered pioneer in Brazil as a law firm dedicated solely to environmental advocacy, having been established in the market for its high expertise in providing preventive and litigation legal advice.

Coordinated by the founding and senior partner Professor Édis Milaré, the firm boasts:

Widely consecrated in environmental actions both in the explanation of the doctrine and in conducting practical actions related to judicial and administrative procedures in the environmental sphere, Milaré Advogados is a boutique law firm, exclusively focused on all aspects of environmental matter.

· Roberta Jardim de Morais as the head of the agribusiness, real estate, biosafety, natural and genetic resources, forestry, transport and infrastructure group;

With a team of highly qualified professionals of great prestige, both in the ambit of Law and in Environmental Management, our lawyers are experts in Environmental Law (focusing on administrative, civil, criminal or tax), Environmental Heritage and Biosafety, counting on the support of a qualified technical group formed by Sociologists, Geographers, Chemists and Biologists.

· Juliana Flavia Mattei as heads of the cps, construction and engineering , carbon and the retail market group;

The advisory consulting and litigation provided include all matters related to Environmental Law, in particular in the following sectors: · energy, mining and banking; · agribusiness, real estate, natural and genetic resources, biosafety and forestry; · contaminated areas, allotments and solid waste; · transport infrastructure and audits; · gas, construction and engineering, carbon and the retail market; and · criminal law and cultural heritage.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

· Priscila Santos Artigas as the head of the energy, mining and banking group;

· Rita Maria Borges Franco as heads of the contaminated areas, allotments, solid waste and audits group;

· Édis Milaré as head of the criminal law and cultural heritage group.

It is important to highlight that Milaré Advogados has an important role for the doctrine of environmental law as well.

The Law of Environment, written by Professor Milaré, is the most important book in the area and is now in its ninth edition.

Professor Milaré also coordinated the first book about the new Forestry Brazilian Law (Law 12.651/2012); which established a completely new regime for the protection of forestry in Brazil, presenting important changes especially for agribusiness.

+55 (11) 3046-7470 – Extension number: 7425 Rua Clodomiro Amazonas, n . º 1 0 9 9 – 1 2 t h f l o o r, I t a i m Bibi CEP: 04537-012 São Paulo/SP - Brasil

USA

BOUTIQUE LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (NY) - CROSS-BORDER WHITE COLLAR CRIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (NY) - LITIGATION LAWYER OF THE YEAR, STEVEN MOLO

Who We Are MoloLamken is a law fir m focused exclusively on representing clients in complex litigation. We handle civil as well as criminal and regulator y matters across the United States. Our clients are across the globe.

Our founding partners, Steven Molo and Jeffrey Lamken, developed national reputations based on their courtroom successes while partners at large full-ser vice fir ms where they held leadership positions. With an abiding belief that complex litigation is most effectively handled by smaller teams comprised of smart, highly experienced lawyers focused on results rather than process, they for med the fir m in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

We provide experienced advocacy before judges, juries, and courts of appeal, including the Supreme Court of the United States. We also represent clients in regulator y and criminal investigations and conduct inter nal investigations.

Our lawyers are courtroom advocates, not merely paper litigators.

We possess years of collective experience acting for plaintiffs and defendants in high stakes disputes.

Our strength lies in the intellect, creativity, and tenacity of our lawyers and our experience in applying those traits to achieve great results for clients in serious matters.

A New Model Recent economic circumstances have caused many to question how legal ser vices are delivered. Those questions were at the forefront of our thinking when we founded the fir m. Our str ucture and way of practicing reflect the new realities brought on by client concer ns over quality, unpredictability of cost, and insensitivity to the business effects of litigation.

The value proposition we offer is simple: First, we listen. Rather than begin by telling clients the answer, we take time to understand the problem. Then we develop a strategy all agree will be the most likely to bring about a successful result.

Second, we bring experienced judgment to ever y level of the representation. Our team consists exclusively of people who can contribute meaningfully from the start. We do not have a summer associate program or look to hire recent law school graduates.

Third, we are focused on the value our representation brings to clients and results. And we str ucture fee arrangements that reward them.

Fourth, we are committed to using technology and alter native staffing str uctures that allow us to draw on needed subject matter

expertise on a case-by-case basis and allow us to focus on what we do best develop and execute on winning strategies as advocates.

We continue to look for ways to improve upon the deliver y of our ser vices and, as a growing organization, we remain open to adopting alter native approaches that make us better and benefit our clients.

Fee Arrangements We look to establish fee arrangements that provide clients with predictability and reward us for efficiency and results.

As a team of highly experienced lawyers who have achieved great results for clients in the past, we are able to focus and be more efficient and effective than fir ms that place competing demands on frequently changing personnel.

We favor sharing risk with our clients and look to understand their goals in a matter, then str ucture a fee arrangement that is fair and that recognizes the value in achieving those goals. There are many ways in which such fee arrangements can be str uctured. Flat fees, percentage holdbacks, milestone payments, and partial contingencies are just some of the ways to achieve a fair and predictable fee.

While we will enter into hourly billing arrangements with clients, our strong preference is to find a way to reach a professional commercial arrangement centered on value rather than time spent on a matter.

How We Handle Cases We believe complex litigation – at ever y stage – is best handled through a collaborative effort undertaken by the fir m and the client.

Whether mapping out a discover y plan, developing an investigation strategy, preparing for trial, or analyzing issues for an appeal, our emphasis is on teamwork and communication. We draw on a broad range of skills within the fir m, and if the matter warrants it, we will draw on expertise outside the fir m from established resources.

Typically, for matters in the pre-trial or discover y stage or during the course of an investigation, teams – including the client in person or by phone – meet regularly, of ten weekly, to review developments and strategy. That meeting is followed by an email that sets forth the near ter m course of action and makes any needed adjustments to the broader strategy.

With briefs in both appellate and trial courts, we work to circulate draf ts early and elicit substantive and stylistic contributions from the team.

We are intimately familiar with, and fulfill, our obligations concer ning electronic discover y. But unlike many fir ms, we recognize that

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

USA

BOUTIQUE LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (NY) - CROSS-BORDER WHITE COLLAR CRIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (NY) - LITIGATION LAWYER OF THE YEAR, STEVEN MOLO

the most efficient, cost-effective way to handle much of that work is to partner with outside vendors – who can provide state-of -the-art technology and systems – rather than have our own staff, junior lawyers, or contract attor neys per for m the work at a substantially higher price.

Each step of the litigation process – from the filing of a complaint or answer through trial and appeal – is planned and executed using our proprietar y project management system.

He is co-author of the leading treatise Corporate Inter nal Investigations, as well as many other publications. He has lectured at several top U.S. law schools and taught at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.

“A fabulous courtroom litigator who lights up the room with his presence.”

Chambers and Partners

All of this allows us to “play larger than our size”. Our core team is engaged where we provide the greatest value and if we, along with the client, believe that additional resources are needed, we will find the best possible people and the most cost-effective solution to fill that need rather than have lawyers per for ming work for which they may not be the best fit.

Inter national Clients We frequently represent clients who are based outside the United States but are involved in U.S.-centered or cross-border disputes or investigations. This includes work for foreign sovereigns. We provide the same excellent representation to those clients as we do to our U.S.-based clients, of ten teaming up with leading lawyers from other parts of the world.

Steven F. Molo New York Litigation Lawyer of the Year Steven Molo, one of the countr y's leading courtroom advocates, is a founding partner of MoloLamken LLP. He represents corporations, boards, funds, investors, inventors, and individuals in complex business litigation, white collar criminal and regulator y matters, and IP litigation.

For the past five years he's been named to Lawdragon's list of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America. He has been recognized in SuperLawyers, Best Lawyers in America, Chambers' Guide to the World's Leading Business Lawyers, Benchmark Litigation, Euromoney, PLC Which Lawyer, and other guides to the leaders of the legal profession.

D i r e c t o r , C o r p o r at e

T im Smooth New Yor k 5 4 0 M a d i s o n Av e n u e New Yor k, NY 10022 T: 212.607.8160 F: 2 1 2 . 6 0 7 . 8 1 6 1

Mr. Molo is dual qualified, having been licensed as a Solicitor on the Roll of Attor neys of the Law Society of England and Wales for the past seven years.

Wa s h i n g to n , D . C .

He began his career as a prosecutor in Chicago, then practiced with Winston & Strawn, where he was a senior litigator and member of that fir m’s Executive Committee. He was a litigation partner with the Wall Street fir m Shear man & Sterling before founding MoloLamken with Jeffrey Lamken in October 2009.

F: 2 0 2 . 5 5 6 . 2 0 0 1

Mr. Molo tries civil and criminal cases before juries and judges throughout the countr y. He has extensive experience in post-trial and appellate advocacy as well.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

6 0 0 N e w H a m p s h i r e Av e n u e , N . W. Wa s h i n g to n , D . C . 2 0 0 3 7 T: 202.556.2000

Chicago 3 0 0 N o rt h L a S a l l e S t r e e t Chicago, IL 60654 T: 312.450.6700 F: 3 1 2 . 4 5 0 . 6 7 0 1

CANADA NICHE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (ADR) www.adrworks.com has been the website of the Murray Miskin Law Office and law firm since 1997.

Originally the site focused on both the Miskin Law Office and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

Now this site is specifically dedicated to the law firm and its work. We separately operate a number of Alternative Dispute Resolution web sites with our main one being adrworks.ca Miskin Law Offices is operated by Murray Miskin, an Ontario lawyer since 1981. The Miskin Law Office which first opened in Whitby in 1988, is now open by appointment only in Whitby and continuing with the main office in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.

We are providing less local law firm legal services and now have a national focus on Asbestos (Mesothelioma) and drug injury claims. We have a new informational website on asbestos and mesothelioma which is asbestosfacts.ca We no longer have a Toronto office or the Adrworks facility and use other facilities in Toronto as necessary. Murray Miskin is now working extensively in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution instead of civil litigation in Ontario courts. Alternative Dispute Resolution practitioners must be independent and neutral in their work to resolve disputes. As a result, it is necessary for Murray Miskin to avoid conflicts of interest which arise through representing clients against insurers in personal injury claims and so we are now referring motor vehicle injury cases to other qualified lawyers. The law firm is referring real estate deals to Eva Chen one of our associate lawyers who maintains our former Whitby office and

we are happy to hear from real estate clients and will see that they receive quality service from Eva. Murray Miskin continues to meet clients at his former Whitby office by appointments which are usually available one day each week.

Murray Miskin continues to prepare Wills and handle estates. Murray Miskin continues to work on national dangerous product cases to get compensation from drug companies and asbestos trusts. This includes, as our main law firm work getting compensation for Canadians with asbestos related diseases such as Mesothelioma. With recent settlement agreements and court approval we are working on getting compensation for persons injured by the drugs Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra. The Miskin law firm continues to take on new clients for the class action against Bayer related to the birth control pill known as Yaz or Yasmin which has a number of dangerous side effects for some people.

Call the Miskin law firm at a local or toll free number as shown on our contact info page, or email: miskinlaw@yahoo.com with enquiries.

Please call to a number local to your or our toll free number if there is no local number. All phone calls to any of our numbers are handled centrally through our internet based IP phone system with the following telephone numbers to reach Miskin Law Offices:

MISKIN LAW OFFICE Telephone: (905) 430-8880 Facsimile: (905) 430-0772 Toronto Line: (416) 492-0989 Ajax Line: (905) 428-8000 Peterborough Line: (705) 755-7363 MAIN OFFICE: 380 Armour Rd – Time Square Building Suite 263 Peterborough, Ontario K9H 7L7 E-MAIL: miskinlaw@yahoo.com

USA ENERGY SECTOR CONSULTING FIRM OF THE YEAR

In today’s electric power and natural gas utility industry, management decisions are increasingly influenced by “clean energy” issues such as the impacts of future carbon legislation, meeting renewable energy portfolio standards, energy efficiency mandates, and deploying smart grid technologies within a regulatory construct. Navigant’s global energy experts focus on issues across the entire energy value chain including energy efficiency, demand response, emerging technologies, smart grid, renewables, climate change, generation resource procurement, transmission, markets, performance improvement, oil and natural gas, rates and regulation, as well as providing energy market research reports in the areas of clean technologies, smart grid, and emerging energy-related markets.

Navigant’s Global Energy Practice is comprised of more than 375 full-time consultants plus dozens of independent advisors supporting clients in the U.S. and across the globe. We are recognized for providing the global energy industry with clear and innovative solutions for evaluating, planning, developing, and enhancing the operating value of energy assets and investments within the world’s continually evolving markets and regulatory structures.

Navigant’s global energy experts offer deep industry knowledge, and functional expertise, in a range of services to public power and investor owned utilities, independent power producers, financial entities, law firms, domestic and international government agencies and organizations, and energy equipment providers.

Our energy services include: • Electric market assessments and price forecasts • Energy procurement/sourcing • Transmission planning, development, and operations • Integrated resource planning • Regulatory compliance • Electric regulatory support • Smart grid distribution systems operations • Grid resiliency/hardening • Energy storage • R&D strategy development • Energy efficiency/demand side management program design, evaluation, and market and research characterization • Demand response strategy and planning • Technology/market characterization and assessment • Oil and natural gas market intelligence, strategic insight, strategy development and implementation, and operational excellence • Strategic and business planning • Performance improvement and benchmarking • Capital project development and implementation support • Litigation support For more information about Navigant’s Global Energy Practice, go to: www.navigant.com/energy

Jan Vrins 255 Alhambra Circle Suite 810 Coral Gables, FL 33134 Tel; 305.341.7839 www.navigant.com/energy

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

USA INDEPENDENT IN VESTMENT MANAGEMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR

Founded in 1989, PanAgora Asset Management is a premier provider of investment solutions spanning most major asset classes and risk ranges.

We manage portfolios using sophisticated quantitative techniques that incorporate fundamental insights and vast amounts of market information. While PanAgora’s investment strategies are highly systematic in nature, the processes deployed within these strategies are built and overseen by talented professionals with significant and diverse investment experience.

Innovative research plays a central role in our investment philosophy and process, and is an essential component of our firm’s ability to deliver attractive investment results. Most investment team members are engaged in original research using fundamental intuition, market intelligence, modern finance and scientific methods.

beta strategies designed to generate more stable returns and greater downside protection by capturing both Market Risk premia (Risk Parity) and Factor Risk premia in a more efficient manner than traditional approaches.

Contact information: PanAgora Asset Management 4 7 0 A t l a n t i c Av e n u e , 8 t h F l o o r Boston, MA 02210 w w w. p a n a g o r a . c o m

PanAgora offers both absolute and relative return strategies within Alternative, Risk Premia, and Active Equity disciplines. PanAgora’s Equity capabilities include absolute return, long-short, and long-only strategies spanning the full universe of Global Developed and Emerging markets, as well as sub-categories focused on specific regions, capitalizations, and styles. PanAgora’s Multi-Asset capabilities include absolute return and alternative

Contact Person: R o b e r t J o b , C FA , H e a d o f B u s i n e s s Development & Client Solutions 617 439 6300 rjob@panagora.com

Bahamas

ParrisWhittaker C O U N S E L

&

AT T O R N E Y S - AT- L AW

CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Senior litigator Arthur K Parris jr at award-winning Bahamas law firm ParrisWhittaker cements his position as top corporate lawyer, building on his formidable reputation as one of the leading legal authorities in the Bahamas.

Having commenced his career in 1979 at the legendary Bahamas law firm Callenders & Co, Mr Parris joined with an associate in 2011 to create ParrisWhittaker - a leaner, more modern practice designed to respond effectively and efficiently to the demands of the contemporary corporate world. The firm has since moved from strength to strength, swiftly gaining status as one of the most sought-after practices in the Bahamas, and a top destination for corporations seeking the most incisive, expert corporate legal advice.

Arthur K Parris jr combines more than thirty years’ experience and expertise in corporate law with an ability to convey the most complex and intricate matters in the clearest terms, working alongside firms ranging from local sole traders to large-scale international corporations to ensure their business thrives.

This unique combination of experience and superb client handling skills has been acquired over the course of a wide-ranging and thriving corporate legal practice. He applies the same integrity, dedication and fierce determination to act in his clients’ best interest whatever the project, from new shopping centre and condominium complexes to commercial transactions and local financing affairs.

Important corporate sectors in which Mr Parris has worked with notable success include licensing, Securities Commission work, deals, complicated corporate formations, and the management of both Bahamian and foreign-owned companies.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Other key practice areas include: Shareholder Disputes

Joint Venture Agreements

Intellectual Property, Trademarks, Trade Names

Conveyances & Mortgages

Copyright and Designs

Corporate Services

Company Law

Ebusiness & Ecommerce Law

Share Purchase Agreements

GBPA License applications

Commercial/Contractual Matters

Government Relations

Promissory Notes

Subdivision Matters

Lease Agreements

Insolvency & Restructuring

Mr Parris has a sound international reputation, working with clients from the US, UK, Canada, South Africa, Italy, France, and other countries. Nonetheless, he retains a deep connection to the Bahamas: he is a member of the Bahamas Bar Association, and his clients benefit from his professional relationships with Bahamian financial and corporate institutions.

ParrisWhittaker is a local law firm founded by two top lawyers: Arthur K Parris jr, real estate/commercial expert, and Jacy Whittaker, a litigator with extraordinary energy and an outstanding track record. With the addition of partner Kenra Parris-Whittaker, the firm has a combined 60 years of experience, and brings a new level of energy and commitment to the Bahamian legal market.

A rt h u r K P a r r i s j r p a rt n e r P A R R I S W H I T TA K E R S u i t e 1 0 , S e v e nt e e n C e nt r e , B a n k L a n e P.O. Box F-4301 8 F r e e p o rt , G r a n d B a h a m a , T h e B a h a m a s

T : + 242 352 6110 W : w w w. p a r r i s w h i t t a k e r. c o m E : a k p a r r i s @ p a r r i s w h i t t a k e r. c o m

Bahamas

ParrisWhittaker C O U N S E L

&

AT T O R N E Y S - AT- L AW

SHIPPING & MARI TIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Award-winning lawyer Kenra ParrisWhittaker ’s status as leading shipping and maritime lawyer in the Bahamas has been achieved by a combination of exceptional dedication to her clients’ interest, and a thorough grasp of the often complex legislation in the maritime and shipping sector. Whether working for individual crew members to secure their rights, or on behalf of major international shipping corporations, Mrs ParrisWhittaker ’s legal practice is guided by her central belief that access to justice should be open to all.

As recent high-profile cases have indicated, her legal expertise and determination to achieve the best possible outcome for her client meets with notable successes.

From pursuing personal injury compensation for crew members, to achieving an important High Court ruling in which a significant sum was successfully secured for a client, Mrs Parris-Whittaker applies the same dedication to each case, often achieving remarkable outcomes for her clients.

Perhaps central to her successful approach is an understanding of the need for speed when it comes to maritime law. Once at sea, shipping and maritime clients too often discover how quickly their rights become a distant prospect on the horizon. Mrs Parris-Whittaker responds with legal advice as swift as it is incisive, implementing every legal tool at her disposal on behalf of her clients.

Among the many areas in which Mrs Parris-Whittaker has successfully advised shipping and maritime clients are: • • • •

Effective resolution of maritime lien disputes; Swift and effective ship arrests; Satisfactory resolution of ship arrests; and Advocacy for the rights of crew members.

Crucially, she places a particular emphasis in developing mutually productive professional relationships with institutions such as the Port Authorities. Her reputation and status as a top maritime and shipping lawyer is such that her professional partnerships pay important dividends when acting on behalf of clients. Above all, she is guided by that central ethos – that all clients, from crew members to major shipping corporations, deserve fair and open access to justice.

ParrisWhittaker is a local law firm founded by two top lawyers: Arthur K. Parris, Jr, real estate/commercial expert, and Jacy Whittaker, a litigator with extraordinary energy and an outstanding track record. With the addition of partner Kenra Parris-Whittaker, the firm has a combined 60 years of experience, and brings a new level of energy and commitment to the Bahamian legal market.

K e n r a P a r r i s - W h i t ta k e r p a rt n e r P A R R I S W H I T TA K E R S u i t e 1 0 , S e v e nt e e n C e nt r e , B a n k L a n e P.O. Box F-4301 8 F r e e p o rt , G r a n d B a h a m a , T h e B a h a m a s T: +242 352 6110 E : k w @ p a r r i s w h i t t a k e r. c o m W: w w w. p a r r i s w h i t t a k e r. c o m

BRAZIL WHI TE COLLAR CRIME - LEA DING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, DISPUTE RESOLUTION

"We started practicing criminal law some decades ago, when that field in Brazil was undergoing a transition period. Originally it was based on the protection of individual legal rights, such as freedom, life and property. At that time in Brazil, criminal law was focused on individuals, regardless if victims or perpetrators of crimes against other individuals.

The practice was always conducted by boutique law firms, in which a small number of lawyers handled directly the cases brought by their clients.

By the end of the 80’s, however, criminal law practice was already expanding. New laws, aiming at the protection of collective interests and rights were enacted. The practice was no longer concentrated solely on personal and individual injuries, but rather also on damages to collective interests. Economic criminal law rises. Criminal conducts are attributed to administrators and employees of large corporations.

Corporations are also the object of investigations and their administrators are often charged with crimes.

Our practice developed in this scenario.

We experienced traditional practice and witnessed the rise and development of economical criminal law. The firm became reference and started working on many

cases involving crimes of economic nature.

The lesson we learned from our journey is that the challenge in modern criminal law practice resides in understanding the demands and business of corporations, without losing sight of the personal nature of the defense. To understand the company and its necessities without forgetting that, ultimately, the charges always befall on a human being.

Our firm mission is to overcome this challenge. To be technical without being mechanical.

Founded in January 2000, by attorney Paulo Freitas Ribeiro, a specialist in the practice of criminal law and Professor of Criminal Procedure Law, our firm stands out in the legal community and among its clients thanks to the academic excellence and technical experience of our legal team.

We are fully structured to support our clients in Brazil and abroad, especially in the following matters: Traditional Criminal Law, Economic Criminal Law, Securities Regulations Crimes, Anti-Trust Crimes, Tax Crimes, Environmental Crimes, Intellectual Property Crimes, Bid Rigging, Cyber Crimes, Congressional Committee Procedures and Compliance."

Paulo Freitas Ribeiro, Paulo Freitas Ribeiro |Advogados Associados

Rio de Ja ne iro A v. N i l o P e ç a n h a 5 0 / 1 9 0 9 Centro Rio de Janeiro - RJ CEP 20020-100 Te l ( 2 1 ) 2 2 6 2 - 7 4 2 2 Fax (21) 2262-7421

S ã o Pa u lo Rua Sabará, 566 19º andar Conjunto Comercial 192 Higienópolis - SP CEP 01239-010 Te l ( 1 1 ) 2 3 3 8 - 4 8 8 0

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

BRAZIL BOUTIQUE BUSINESS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Based in Sao Paulo and Curitiba, PSQA ADVOGADOS was established in 2001 and is a well-connected boutique law firm acting for prestigious international and domestic companies andinstitutions, family offices and high-networth entrepreneurial individuals in a wide range of practice areas.

We regularly act for a number of family-owned businesses and corporations and in some cases we sit on the boards of these companies. We are always prepared to act as a sounding board where required, as a kind of 'in-house counsel', particularly for family-owned companies.

Rua Funchal, 418, 35o. andar

We are and have remained out of choice a relatively small firm with a compliment of 6-10 lawyers at any one time, together with supporting administrative, secretarial and paralegal staff. This enables us to remain flexible, efficient and cost effective.

Vila Olímpia 04.551-060 São Paulo-SP Brasil Fone/Fax: (55 11) 3521-7395 Rua Santa Rita de Cássia,

We are dedicated to our clients and go out of our way to provide a personal and professional service. We are experienced and deal with most aspects of commercial and private client laws, which in short include Corporate Law, Taxation, Asset & Succession Planning and M&A.

130/195 Ahú 80.540-200 Curitiba-PR Brasil Fone/Fax: (55 41) 3018-8866

We are one of the members of LEI – Law Europe International, a Worldwide Legal Network.We are authorized and regulated by the Brazilian Bar Association.

E-mail: mail@psqa.com.br H o m e p a g e : w w w. p s q a . c o m . b r

Mexico FULL SERV ICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Portilla, Ruy-Diaz y Aguilar, S.C. is a

and acquisitions; real estate; social

we take a preventive, coordinated, and

law firm with enormous experience

security; and tax and trusts.

strategic approach to advise our clients.

PORTILLA, RUY-DÍAZ & AGUILAR

Our firm currently has 6 partners,

The firm and its lawyers actively

and 15 associates, and a supporting

participate in various public and private

Bosques de Guayacanes 117 Col. Bosques de las Lomas C.P. 11700 . México, D.F.

gained by their members in serving clients, based on superior ethics, quality and professionalism. Some of our clients are some of the largest and bestknown companies in the world, such as international law firms, both national and multinational, as well as financial institutions, and of course, smaller firms

organisations at an international level, technical specialists and administrative Queretaro and Los Cabos.

which keeps us attuned to what is

T +52 (55) 559 66047 +52 (55) 524 51953

happening in the community and the

E cportilla@portilla.com.mx

world at large. It enables us to not only understand better and be closer to our

The specialisation and development

clients’ needs, but also to participate

of each practice area of the firm, the

in and have an influence upon the

of the law including: administrative;

and the deep knowledge which we

bindings and privatisations; arbitration;

A more detailed description and further

have of Mexico, its legal system, markets

information is available upon request

and individuals.

civil and commercial litigation;

Sabinos 213 Col. Jurica C.P. 76100 . Stgo. de Queretaro, Qro. T +52 (442) 218 4766 +52 (442) 218 5706 E ruy-diaz@portilla.com.mx

at cportilla@portilla.com.mx or on our

Blvd. Paseo de los Cabos #150 Int. 119 . San José del Cabo.

C.P. 23405 . Baja California Sur, México.

consumer protection; product liability;

clients innovative, timely, and complete

corporate and contracts; intellectual

solutions to their needs at very good

property, criminal litigation; franchising;

T +52 (624) 173 9738

and competitive prices. In order to

health; immigration; labour; mergers

F +52 (624) 173 9738

avoid problems before they develop,

E iguerrero@portilla.com.mx

website http://www.portilla.com.mx.

www.portilla.com.mx

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

BERMUDA INSURANCE AND REINSURANCE FIRM OF THE YEAR PwC Bermuda is the largest professional services firm in Bermuda, and the leading provider of services to the Bermuda insurance and reinsurance industry. It has the leading brand presence in the insurance market and is part of a global insurance practice that is the leader globally in providing insurance assurance, advisory and tax services.

We also serve the leading asset management organisations in Bermuda and throughout the PwC global network PwC Bermuda’s alternative risk transfer and insurancelinked securities practice, which also encompasses the firm’s deep bench strength in advising the alternative investments sector, is a core part of the practice.

The firm’s in-house expertise focuses principally on its key industry groups, including commercial (re)insurers, captive insurance and offshore investment funds. PwC provides a full range of advisory and consulting services in the areas of governance, innovation & technology, operations, regulation, risk & control, strategy & growth, sustainability, talent, the economy and the capital markets.

“This award represents in part the deep commitment we have made to Bermuda in the many areas in which companies are looking for a trusted business adviser. From my standpoint, these awards are a testament to the incredible professionals that I have the privilege of calling colleagues.”

One of PwC Bermuda’s recent successes was a largescale, multi-year and multi-geography global enterprise risk management and economic capital modelling project for a global public insurer and reinsurer.

In addition, PwC Bermuda has the leading offshore tax practice which provides services in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. PwC also provides regulatory advisory services spanning Solvency II, FATCA, IFRS and AML on multiple engagements.

Arthur Wightman insurance leader

"We are delighted and humbled to receive this award," said Arthur Wightman, Insurance Leader - PwC Bermuda.“Our clients value the wider context in which we are able to deliver our services. We leverage the largest global network of insurance professionals, which we deliver through professionals who are based in Bermuda.

PwC Bermuda Contact Details & Mailing address Dorchester House 7 Church Street Hamilton HM 11 Bermuda Tel: (441) 295 2000 www.pwc.com/bm

C A N A DA ENERGY REGULATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Alberta-based law firm Regulatory Law Chambers (“RLC”) is an energy boutique law firm dedicated to excellence in energy regulatory matters. RLC specializes in oil and gas, electricity, renewable energies, climate change, tolls and tariff, commercial electricity, compliance and environmental related matters. The firm represents clients in proceedings before the Alberta regulators for resource development and utilities, namely the Alberta Energy Regulator and the Alberta Utilities Commission, and also the National Energy Board (“NEB”), superior and appellate Courts, and in energy related arbitrations and mediations.

Co-founder and now sole partner, Rosa Twyman, moved from South Africa to Calgary, Alberta in 1999 and was admitted to the Alberta Bar in 2000. Rosa has exclusively practised law in the energy industry since 2001, first as commercial oil and gas litigation counsel, and then as an energy regulatory lawyer in oil, gas and electricity matters. In 2014, Rosa received the Energy (Electricity) Lexpert Zenith Award: Celebrating Today’s Leaders in Practice Excellence. Rosa is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), the Canadian Energy Law Foundation and the Independent Power Producers Society of Alberta.

RLC values trust and honesty in their relationships with their highly sophisticated clients and experts. The firm enjoys working as a team both internally and with industry. The flexibility and focus afforded by RLC’s smaller size enables RLC to offer responsive and efficient representation, and great attention to detail in complex proceedings.

RLC’s roster of clients ranges from blue-chip to development stage companies across pipeline, oil and gas, electricity and renewable energy. RLC has assisted clients in: • Legal matters related to fracturing activities, including seismicity and cross-flow matters; • Obtaining regulatory approvals for facilities; • Complex regulatory proceedings on electricity market rule development and power purchase arrangement disputes; • Tolls and tariff matters; • Negotiating and entering into resource development commercial arrangements; and • Enforcement and environmental compliance.

RLC prepares and distributes the Energy Regulatory Report, a monthly report summarizing decisions of the NEB and Alberta regulators. This allows the firm and clients to keep up to date on developments in the regulatory industry in Alberta and Canada.

RLC prides themselves in providing practical and strategic advice and effective advocacy.

R o s a Tw y m a n , S o l e P a r t n e r a n d O w n e r Ph: 403-930-7991 E m a i l : R o s a . Tw y m a n @ R L C h a m b e r s . c a Regulatory Law Chambers # 6 0 1 , 8 8 8 F o u r t h Av e n u e S W C a l g a r y, A l b e r t a T 2 P 0 V 2 Ph: 403-532-7990 Fax: 403-532-7993 w w w. R e g u l a t o r y L a w C h a m b e r s . c a

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Mexico ENERGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Founded in 1995, Rodriguez Dávalos Asociados (RDA) is undoubtedly one of the leading energy law firms in Mexico and a major participant in the energy business.

RDA has played a key role in some of the largest energy and power projects in Mexico.

Highly experienced and knowledgeable, RDA has structured and executed numerous first-of-a-kind projects.

Covering the full scope of legal services of a sophisticated industry, RDA has been helping clients to do business in and from Mexico for the past 20 years. RDA’s prestige and solid presence is based in the fact that it has an extensive knowledge of the key capabilities for dealing with the energy business. RDA has represented both, Mexican state-owned entities and energy related corporations.

Understanding the business allows our team to address effectively and efficiently our client’s needs. In a sophisticated and rapid changing industry, we have been able to tailor successful strategies and solutions. Our team represents clients on local, state and national regulatory matters.

RDA has become over the years a legal and consulting firm with special focus on oil, gas and electricity businesses. Mr. Rodriguez, our founding partner has positioned RDA as the leading consulting firm in the energy and infrastructure businesses.

He has led numerous first-of-a-kind projects, such as the first privately owned LPG pipelines, the first compressed

natural gas transportation system, the first private petrochemical pipeline and the first solar-generated operational electricity project in Mexico.

As part of its consulting business, RDA has helped in complex and innovative projects such as financing IPP (Independent Power Producers) companies before the Federal Electricity Commission, which have a cumulative installed capacity of over 2,500 MW. RDA is currently advising on one of the most important pipeline projects of natural gas in Mexico, as well as a private storage plant in the Bajío. It is also advising the Bordo Poniente Landfill project (BPL). BPL project consists in the generation of electricity by biogas through the collection of the Mexico City waste. Additionally, RDA is developing a project to export electricity to Central America, among others. In conclusion, such dynamic rhythm proves the firm’s professionalism and extensive experience in the sector.

The RDA team has managed and structured very important infrastructure projects of the energy industry. These projects have provided RDA with a vast cumulative knowledge of doing business in Mexico. RDA walks with its clients through all the stages of a project providing an adequate legal framework and expertise on: Natural Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Green or Renewable energies, Energy-related Maritime Activities, Rights of Way, Government Services & Contracts and Electricity, among others.

Jesús Rodríguez Dávalos Rodríguez Dávalos Asociados Abogados.

Monte Himalaya 450 Lomas de Chapultepec M é x i c o , D . F. 1 1 0 0 0 Te l . + 5 2 ( 5 5 ) 5 2 0 2 - 0 4 0 5 Fax. +52 (55) 5202-3772 jrodriguez@rdabogados.com.mx h t t p : / / w w w. r d a b o g a d o s . c o m . m x /

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

USA SECONDARY IN VESTMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR Second Alpha Partners is a specialized private equity firm focused on direct secondary investments. The firm crafts innovative capital solutions that allow founders, executives, angels, VCs and other institutional investors in private companies to achieve liquidity prior to company sales or IPOs. Second Alpha buys shares and convertible securities in mature venture-stage, growth-equity and middle-market companies on a secondary basis and also invests capital directly into growth companies.

Second Alpha primarily targets North American companies in the software, media and telecommunications industries. As companies increasingly require greater maturity and scale to achieve optimal exits, founders, managers and investors struggle with extended holding periods for their shareholdings. Second Alpha provides full and partial solutions for the liquidity issues that many of these shareholders face.

Second Alpha’s team has structured numerous types of secondary-linked, special situations and traditional equity investments in private companies, from the simplest to the most complex and exotic. Regardless of the specifics of a given situation, those who approach Second Alpha can expect a response that is knowledgeable, constructive, friendly and discrete.

Second Alpha Partners has offices in New York, NY and Cambridge, MA. For more information visit SecondAlpha.com.

Jim Sanger Managing Partner and Co-Founder Second Alpha Partners 245 First Street, Suite 1813 Cambridge, MA, USA +1 (617) 658-1091 jim@secondalpha.com

Second Alpha thinks in terms of relationships not transactions. So Second Alpha is willing to do more than just write a check. The firm is able to leverage its team’s extensive experience in the venture industry to better position the companies in which it invests for long-term success.

Richard Brekka Managing Partner and Co-Founder Second Alpha Partners 2 7 6 F i f t h Av e n u e , S u i t e 9 0 1 N e w Yo r k , N Y 1 0 0 0 1 , U S A +1 (212) 446-1601 rbrekka@secondalpha.com

USA CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR, JED STONE CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Jed Stone is a criminal defense lawyer with a nation-wide reputation for excellence. Stone & Associates, Ltd. is a boutique criminal defense law firm that represents persons charged with serious criminal offenses in both state and federal courts.

Mr. Stone is a Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers. The Chicago Bar Association has bestowed him with the title “Master Advocate.” Among the many honors and awards granted to Jed Stone, he was awarded the Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Public Interest Lawyer of the Year by the Chicago Kent College of Law and given the NAACP Freedom and Justice Award.

Mr. Stone holds a faculty appointment at Lake Forest College as a lecturer in the Department of Politics where he teaches law courses with a focus on race and justice issues. His firm, Stone & Associates, Ltd., has represented over 100 persons charged with first degree murder, including over 20 capital trials. Stone & Associates has been at the center of the movement to exonerate innocent men and women in America’s prisons and jails.

Jed Stone At to r n ey at L aw

415 Washington Street, Suite 107 Waukegan, IL 60085 P: 847-336-7888 F: 847-336-0733 jstone@jedstone.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

USA LEA DING DI VERSI TY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - LGBT LEA DING DI VERSI TY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is committed to diversity and inclusion, and these principles are firmly embedded in our Firm’s culture. The commitment and engagement of the Firm’s management and leadership are instrumental to our efforts, because they set the tone from the top. We value the unique abilities and perspectives of every individual, and we support diversity and inclusion in its broadest sense, including race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability and religious affiliation.

The Firm’s Diversity Committee, which is charged with assisting in the development of a diverse and inclusive workforce, is comprised of lawyers who hold positions of leadership and influence within the Firm. Members of the Diversity Committee include the Firm’s senior chairman, members of the Firm’s Management Committee, practice group managing partners, hiring partners, assigning partners, chairs of the Firm’s associate affinity networks, and chairs of the Women’s Initiative Committee. The Firm’s Diversity Management Department (“DMD”), develops implements and coordinates the Firm’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, events and programs.

Realizing the importance of an integrated approach, the DMD works closely with our Recruiting, Professional Development and Legal Personnel Departments to monitor the effectiveness of our extensive diversity initiatives and

programs to further the Firm’s mission. Because the Firm understands the value of bringing together individuals with similar experiences and backgrounds, we have a number of active lawyer networks that meet regularly to facilitate the professional development and advancement of their members and to enhance the inclusive environment at the Firm overall: the Asian Associates Network (“AAN”), the LGBT Network, and the Network of Black & Latino Lawyers (“NOBLL”). They accomplish their goals by (i) offering a candid forum for members to discuss topics of interest; (ii) hosting panel discussions and speakers on a variety of educational topics to enrich the Firm’s professional development initiatives; and (iii) providing mentorship opportunities. Members also actively participate in recruiting law students.

We will continue to make diversity and inclusion initiatives among the Firm’s top priorities, and are honored to receive ACQ5’s recognition for our achievements for the second consecutive year.

Executive MR Haberkorn

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP 125 Broad Street N e w Yo r k , N Y 1 0 0 0 4 - 2 4 9 8 T: 2 1 2 - 5 5 8 - 4 0 0 0 F: 212-558-3588 W: w w w. s u l l c r o m . c o m

CANADA LEADING DEAL BROKER OF THE YEAR

Sunbelt Business Brokers is Canada’s Premiere Business Brokerage With more than 30 offices in Canada and the largest number of certified professional brokers in the country, Sunbelt Canada has more exposure to the market than anyone else. The company has recently added new offices in Saint John, N.B.; St. John’s, N.L.; the South Shore of Montreal, Que.; and Sudbury, Ont.; to meet the growing need.

The Canadian offices benefit from access to an international network of more than 250 licensed offices and 1,400 brokers that coordinate the sale of some 3,000 small- and mid-sized businesses annually.

No matter what size of business you are looking to buy or sell, they have the expertise and resources you require.

The demand for medium-sized businesses has suffered little with the global financial climate, and many investors are enlisting the help of qualified business brokers to aid them in acquiring exceptional companies, says Sunbelt Canada president Greg Kells.

“We are now seeing many more successful small businesses coming on the market—a trend we expect to continue for some years to come,” says Kells.

“Business sellers will face more competition for the attention and funds of small business buyers who will be more selective given increased choice. Owners

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

will benefit from using an experienced broker to find the right buyer and the right terms for their business transfer.”

As an intermediary between sellers and buyers, Sunbelt’s business brokers typically assess the value of the business; develop a marketing plan and the marketing collaterals; advertise it for sale without disclosing its identity; handle the initial potential buyer interviews, discussions, and negotiations with prospective buyers; assist buyers with selection and drafting of offers; manage the negotiations between buyer and seller; facilitate the due diligence investigation; recommend professionals to assist in the transaction; coordinate the preparation of closing documents and generally assist with the business transition.

In all cases, their brokers deliver the highest value to their clients, providing the all-important expertise to understand and match needs, managing the transaction and controlling the process, respecting time lines and channeling the flow of information required to bring the deal to a conclusion that is satisfying to both buyer and seller.

GREG KELLS

PRESIDENT Sunbelt

Business Brokers

Canada 2821 Riverside Drive OTTAWA ON K1V 8N4 CANADA Tel. 1 800 905 3557 gregkells@sunbeltnetwork.com sunbeltcanada.com

USA NICHE CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR (TELECOMS)

The Commpliance Group is a leading consulting firm specializing in compliance management and transactional services for telecommunications, broadcast media, VoIP and other communications & information technology companies. Our consulting professionals combine their extensive industry experience with CommTRACK$, our proprietary, compliance management technology platform, to deliver clients a broad range of professionally managed, technology enhanced solutions designed to fulfill a broad range of complex regulatory obligations.

Established in 2002 as the consulting division of Marashlian & Donahue, LLC, The CommLaw Group (a nationally-recognized, Washington, DC area telecommunications law firm), The Commpliance Group delivers predictable and affordable options for communications companies seeking to achieve compliance with the intricate web of federal and state regulations. The secret to our organization’s success is our unique ability to provide a “Full Spectrum” of scalable solutions tailored to meet the individualized demands of each company we serve. We have successfully delivered on our promise to make reliable and affordable services available to companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 100 enterprises for over a decade. Today, The Commpliance Group serves hundreds of clients located throughout North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia.

Taking a cue from our clients, whose cutting edge communications technologies are driving innovation and cost-savings, The Commpliance Group brings this same spirit to the delivery of professional services.

Our mission is to match our sophisticated regulatory management experience with cutting-edge technologies to deliver a simplified regulatory compliance experience for our clientele. Our customizable solutions are adapted to each client’s specific regulatory needs, and are designed to meet all the challenging demands of multi-jurisdictional compliance. Some unique features include cloud-based management, fulfillment, and retention of critical compliance documentation, dedicated one-on-one consultancy services, and access to leading experts in regulatory compliance.

The Commpliance Group helps will all phases of regulatory compliance, including market entry, post-entry ongoing compliance, and market exit and transfer. Specifically we have customizable solutions to help effectively secure all necessary licenses and registrations, including FCC 499 registration, 214 licensing, state Public Utility licenses, and Secretary of State authorizations. Once licensed, we provide managed, ongoing post-licensing compliance services that are personalized to each individual company's unique needs.

We provide what you need, when you need it, as well as the ability to grow and evolve alongside your organization.

General Manager Christopher A. Canter T H E C O M M P L I A N C E G R O U P, I N C .

1420 Spring Hill Rd., Suite 401 McLean, Virginia 22102 Te l : 7 0 3 - 7 1 4 - 1 3 0 8 E-mail: cac@CommplianceGroup.com w w w. C o m m p l i a n c e G r o u p . c o m

USA INDEPENDENT BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ACQ Magazine, a leading London-based magazine serving the M&A advisory community has named The Entrepreneur Law Center the Independent Boutique Law Firm of the Year in the United States for the second consecutive year in its 2014 ACQ Global Awards. The firm received 28,246 nominations in this category of awards from 105,642 industry peers, representing over 27% of the vote to win the award. The Entrepreneur Law Center is a boutique law firm offering a broad range of legal and advisory services to emerging enterprises, entrepreneurs, large and small businesses, and individuals.

The firm’s multidisciplinary focus differentiates it from traditional law firms. The firm provides business planning, transactional, corporate, turnaround, and international services to companies ranging from middle market growth companies to start-ups and due diligence and transactional services to the venture capital, private equity, hedge fund, and angel investor community. Ken has enjoyed a career track very atypical of most attorneys. Having started his career nearly 25 years ago at Arthur Andersen and then moving on to Ernst & Young’s consulting practice, Ken later served as a CFO of an early stage international venture before becoming an attorney. As an attorney, before founding the Entrepreneur Law Center, he was the managing partner for a small full service model law firm. Ken is not only a practicing attorney, but has also studied in the prestigious programs such as MIT’s Entrepreneurship Development Program and earned a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship in Applied Technologies at the University of South Florida, a joint program between the engineering, medical and business schools at USF. He also holds a master’s degree in forensic accounting and an MBA. These additional skill sets provide a more wide ranging set of services than traditional law firms, a more encompassing strategic focus.

When asked about his firm, Ken said, “I’ve found a market niche in delivering services that typically are provided by large firms in a boutique model. By continually investing in professional development, I can definitely see a differentiation from other traditional law firms. I co-counsel with other large firms when my clients require traditional litigation or specialized services such as those involving patents, but I see my relationship with my clients as more of a strategic advisor than only an attorney. Most companies seek the advice of attorneys when they have a transaction to structure or when they become embroiled in litigation. My clients have seen the value of having that relationship at all other times, which allows them to more effectively decide which transactions to pursue and how to avoid costly litigation in the first place. Having served large multinational clients on pre-acquisition due diligence engagements as well as similar transactional services to angel investors looking at start-ups, I can honestly say that a boutique firm can compete in the global marketplace.

The clients are diverse but delivering services at a personal level doesn’t change no matter the size of the client. It’s simply a matter of deploying a set of skills and attempting to provide a “better, cheaper, faster” model to my clients.”

The Entrepreneur Law Center helps me see down the road a bit when I’m evaluating the future of my company. It can be hard to think strategically when dealing with the day to day grind of running a growing business in the Caribbean with not only multiple distribution channels and operations, but emerging products. There are just so many ways to grow your company, and through the years, Ken has helped me tremendously in developing a strategy that will help my company become what I’ve envisioned,” says Tim Collins, President of Caribbean Trading Company, a longstanding client. “I don’t know of any other attorneys who

can contribute these many skills to help my company. Ken has studied business law at universities in China, the West Indies, and Europe, and his global perspective has been a great asset to Caribbean Trading Company’s international growth,” said Collins.

Dennis Wilkinson, a longstanding client and veteran senior executive with numerous freight forwarding companies, including his current role directing transpacific services for DHL Global Forwarding says, “I have worked with many attorneys both on a personal and professional basis and Ken was absolutely the best. Without a doubt his common sense approach coupled with flawless strategy produced positive results far greater than expected.

Being a Chartered Merger & Acquisition Professional with the Middle Market Investment Banking Association, a Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor, a Master Analyst in Financial Forensics, a Certified Business Intermediary, a Certified Due Diligence Professional, and a Certified Fraud Examiner are simply not skill sets commonly found in even large law firms, much less in one attorney directing his own boutique firm.” Through the years, the Entrepreneur Law Center has provided Dennis’ companies with services ranging from structuring mergers and acquisitions to due diligence of potential acquisition targets on behalf of multinational freight forwarders.

Another longstanding client and friend, Ron Clark Ball, an established executive in the defense industry following a career as a US Navy F-14A Tomcat pilot, endorsed Ken as follows, “Ken has built a firm tailored to respond to the strategic needs of a varied group of high-profile, global business leaders that are his clients. His contributions transcend legal advice into a more cohesive and encompassing strategic insight, while maintaining the “big picture” perspective. Having been a student of law at Humboldt University in Berlin, the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing, and the University of the West Indies in Barbados, coupled with having grown up in Frankfurt, Germany and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ken has an in-depth, experienced understanding of a wide spectrum of international issues, from both a cultural as well as an international business perspective. When I face important business decisions, be it micro or wide angled, Ken is always my first call.”

Stanley and Debbie Britt, who own a fast growing and highly successful e-travel venture, said the following, “we initially hired the firm to help us deal with some growth pains we were experiencing with both litigation and structuring our business. However, over the past five years, we’ve come to value Ken’s advice in virtually every aspect of our business.”

The Entrepreneur Law Center this year expanded from Orlando and opened a second office in Tampa at the Tampa Bay Technology Incubator at USF CONNECT. USF CONNECT is the epicenter of Tampa Bay’s Innovation Ecosystem, which is a network of innovation-based companies, research, business development tools and government resources. The firm is well positioned to help the emerging cluster of high tech and biotech companies launching from incubator and has now established a permanent presence in Tampa Bay’s innovative ecosystem.

Ken Hamner T h e E n t r e p r e n e u r L a w C e n t e r, P. L .

2 5 0 N o r t h O r a n g e Av e n u e , S u i t e 1200 Orlando, Florida 32801 Phone: 407-601-4980 Fax: 407-601-4981 k h a m n e r @ e n t r e p r e n e u r l a w c t r. c o m w w w. e n t r e p r e n e u r l a w c t r. c o m

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

US GIPS CONSULTING FIRM OF THE YEAR

We’re extremely proud, humbled, and excited to have been named for this award. We are in our 25th year in business, and for most of this time have devoted 100% of our efforts to investment performance measurement. The role of investment performance measurement has grown considerably over the past 25 years, and we’re pleased to have been a big part of this growth.

It’s an exciting and dynamic place to work.

We have been a champion not only of the field of investment performance and risk measurement, but also a strong advocate of those in the field. We originated the idea for a certification program for investment performance measurement professionals, and today foster and support the CFA Institute’s CIPM program.

Spaulding Verification Services is the GIPS verification arm of The Spaulding Group. This segment of our business has grown in an exceptional manner, rising from less than ten clients five years ago, to close to 200 today, whose assets under management range from less than 100 million to more than 800 billion USD. While most of these clients are domiciled in the North America, we have an increasing number in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. We made a conscious decision to differentiate ourselves from our competition in a number of ways. We only use senior level verifiers, verifications are conducted onsite, and we recommend annual verifications (many verifiers recommend quarterly, which only benefits the verifier). We educate our clients on the Standards and compliance, and keep them up to date on the standards through monthly webinars and an exclusive, client only print-newsletter. We give our verification clients a proprietary GIPS Orientation Kit, which is filled with tools and templates to make achieving and maintaining compliance as easy as possible. We’re proud to report that our client retention rate is nearly 100 percent.

Much of what we do is about content delivery. We’re always looking for new ways to provide valuable, actionable content to our clients. A year ago we started a monthly Q&A webinar series (“The Performance Measurement Think Tank”), which allows members to get their most pressing questions answered by our team of performance specialists.. This has been extremely successful, with members from across the globe. Our Performance Measurement Forum is in its 17th year. We host meetings in both Europe and North America. It has been a tremendous group, that brings together performance measurement professionals to address a variety of important topics.

While we’re passionate about performance, we’re also critically aware of our responsibility to the industry. This means being willing to share our views, which at times may appear to be in conflict with our own business’s needs.

For example, we strongly discourage our verification clients from having “examinations” performed, simply because we don’t believe it’s an investment for them, but rather than a cost. As far as we know, we’re the only verification firm who has made this point clear. We expect our clients to work in an ethical and honest fashion, and we’re obligated to do the same thing. By being forthright about our thinking, even if it may not be popular or what others want to hear, we make it clear that in the end, it’s what’s best for our clients and the industry that truly matters.

We are honoured to have been chosen for this award. We strive to put our clients’ needs above everything else in our business, and this award is a reflection that our client centered focus is working.

Everything we do is about performance measurement. By being so devoted to this segment of the market, we understand the subject and what’s needed. In addition to verifications, we engage in consulting assignments on a fairly regular basis. Our consulting practice includes two unique and proprietary services: software certification and operations reviews. We conduct two conference each year (Europe and North America), which have become the dominant performance measurement events in our industry. We host two interactive membership groups, the Performance Measurement Forum and the Asset Owners’ Performance Measurement Roundtable.

We have published The Journal of Performance Measurement for over 18 years, and have published a number of books. We conduct training on performance measurement (both in-house and open enrolment) on a variety of performance and risk topics. We are also actively involved with research, conducting our own annual surveys as well as proprietary studies for clients. Our clients are institutional asset managers, asset owners, custodians, high net worth and retail asset managers, broker/dealers, and software vendors.

Christopher Spaulding

The Spaulding Group 33 Clyde Road, Suite 103 Somerset, NJ 08873 w w w. S p a u l d i n g G r p . c o m w w w. G I P S Ve r i f i c a t i o n s . c o m Office:732-873-5700 Cell: 732-816-6644 Fax: 732-873-3997

Licensed by The International Financial Services Commission of Belize as Corporate and trust Services Providers ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

USA NICHE EMPLOYMENT LAW OF THE YEAR (FEDERAL LAW)

The Vaughn Law Firm is dedicated to providing top-notch legal representation to federal employees. We represent clients all over the world and are committed to adhering to the highest ethical standards.

Our ability and experience, as federal employment attorneys, to represent federal employees is unique. If you are a federal employee seeking legal representation, then you need a law firm that has the experience working in this highly specialized field. Whether you have been discriminated or retaliated against, have been improperly terminated, demoted or suspended, are suffering retaliation for whistleblowing or need assistance in applying for retirement, the federal employment attorneys at The Vaughn Law Firm are ready to represent you.

Federal employees have Constitutionally protected rights, however, if you do not know how to exercise those rights, then they offer little protection. Rest assured that The Vaughn Law Firm knows how to protect your rights.

The Vaughn Law Firm will work with you during your claim, that means that you will be kept informed every step of the way; we will promptly responded to your questions; we will keep you informed of the status and all developments in your case; and most importantly we will give you an accurate appraisal of your case. We will not simply continue your case forward if the case has a bad development. We are licensed by the State Bar of Georgia, the District of Columbia Bar, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Court of Appeals of Georgia, Supreme Court of Georgia, Second Circuit Court of Appeals, Third Circuit Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Vaughn Law Firm, LLC 246 Sycamore Street Suite 150 Decatur, GA 30030 Phone: 404-378-1290 Fax: 404-378-1295 cvaughn@thevaughnlawfirm.com

Mexico

TODD Y ASOCIADOS, S.C.

NATURAL RESOURCES & MINING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

TyA is a Boutique Law Firm specialized in rendering top quality legal advice to all sort of Mexican Companies, Foreign Companies, Mexican Companies with Foreign Investment, Mexican and International Financial Institutions, Authorities and Individuals in areas such as: • • • • • • • • • • •

Corporate Law Natural Resources, Energy & Mining Shareholders-Corporate Disputes Transactional (M&A – Finance) Foreign Investments Corporate Governance Aviation Securities and Banking Litigation Tax Administrative

TyA represents National and Foreign clients, who participate in a wide variety of transactions, strategic alliances, financial investments and business activities, such as infrastructure, industry, commerce and services. Throughout the years, TyA has represented in a consistent and efficient way a great number of companies world-wide recognized, branch leaders, not only with aneffective and constant legal advice, but by supporting their Boards of Directors or Committees in taking strategic decisions. The different needs of our clients, have taken us to establish long lasting relationships with several law firms in the main cities around the world.

TyA members add around 45 years of experience in providing legal advice and legal services to Mexican and International Clients in a variety of legal services covering from the implementation and planning of a new business or venture, the advice in day to day operations, the legal compliance of obligations before authorities, the solving of internal or external conflicts, the expansion of the business or the implementation of highly complex transactions.

What makes us different from others is the added value combination of years of experience led by lawyers with more than 30 years advising top level clients, Public and Private Companies, leaders of the Mexican and International economy, mixed with a young team of lawyers with fresh, innovative and efficient knowledge, ideas and experience, which allows TyA to have a new approach with its Clients, approach given always in a personal and direct way, creating a direct contact Partner - Client.

Fernando Todd Dip ftodd@todd.com.mx Fernando Todd Dip is a partner at Todd y Asociados and a member of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, National Association of Corporate Counsels and American Bar Association.

Mr Todd has acted in complex corporate matters for domestic and foreign companies, including worldwide leader companies in the natural resources industry. This includes mergers and acquisitions, spin-offs, and corporate reorganizations.

He also acts as independent director of publicly traded and private companies in Mexico. He advises natural resources companies with participations in Mexico and abroad on their daily corporate, reorganizations, M&A including due diligence and acquisitions/sales of projects through the purchase of assets or companies. He also assists with the financing of companies for the development of new projects.

He earned his Juris Doctor from Universidad Iberoamericana Mexico City, Mexico; his LLM on Corporations Law at Universidad Panamericana, Mexico City, obtaining the Summa Cum Laude distinction; and completed the Management Program for Lawyers at Yale School of Management, Yale University.

He speaks Spanish and English.

Todd y Asociados, SC Schiller 316, Polanco Mexico City, Mexico

t. +52 55 52036333 www.todd.com.mx

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

PERU

FULL SERVICE ACCOUNTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR

UHY Sandoval Aliaga y Asociados S.C. de R.L. is a member of Urbach Hacker Young Inter national Limited, a UK company, and for ms part of the inter national UHY network of legally independent accounting and consulting fir ms. UHY is the brand name for the UHY inter national network. The ser vices described herein are provided by the Fir m and not by UHY or any other member fir m of UHY. Neither UHY nor any member of UHY has any liability for ser vices provided by other members.

We are organized inter nationally around the UHY brand by a shared vision: quality of work and integrity of ser vices.

As a global entity, UHY has the depth and breadth of work for your company to do business in overseas business efficiency and success. Our drive for professionalism, quality, integrity, innovation and global reach have realized substantial growth in our histor y of 24 years, both for us and our customers.

Ser vices A udit UHY Sandoval Aliaga provides a full range of audit ser vices to help our clients to achieve their objectives, control risks and improve profitability of their businesses.

clear vision to all parties. We work in all types of civil litigation, such as loss of profits, loss of profit claims, damages or medical malpractice, facilitating the necessar y objective scope for lawyers and courts in tackling complicated accounting issues. Do not hesitate to contact us to resolve any dispute which you may face.

Feasibility plans It is nor mal for a company's life there are moments of growth punctuated by crises that may depreciate the value of the company and even in the worst cases, lead to bankr uptcy.

When it feels the first symptoms of a possible crisis, we will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the situation and develop an action plan to stabilize the company by improving cash flow and profitability. UHY Sandoval Aliaga also helps you in bankr uptcy proceedings you may present. We will ensure that the process meets all legal standards and advise you throughout the entire bankr uptcy process.

Business ser vices and Accounting Ser vices Business ser vices of UHY Sandoval Aliaga are based in detailed maintaining of accounting records and include the production of financial statements according to the for mats and customer needs.

Our ser vices include: • Financial Accounting

• Auditing

• Compliance with tax obligations

• Special investigations

• Risk Management

• Forensic Accounting

• Projections of cash and benefits

• Feasibility plans

• Outsourcing (Business Process Outsourcing)

Our audit team is equipped with high technical and professional level which ensures the highest quality ser vice. We work under the principles of integrity, quality and independence.

Auditing Comply with mandator y statutor y requirements is essential, but an annual audit is more than a legal obligation. It is an opportunity to get an updated view of your business. That is why each audit we go beyond the assessment of financial reporting, to offer clients a comprehensive and objective analysis that allows you to identif y risks and strengths of your company and its growth potential.

Special Investigations There are many situations where it is needed an independent review of the accounts of a company. UHY Sandoval Aliaga and his team of expert auditors has been appointed to carr y out special investigations because we are prepared to analyze thoroughly and objectively all aspects of a company's financial infor mation. We are specialized in investigations in legal, commercial, contractual, personal and family areas.

Forensic accounting The auditors of UHY Sandoval Aliaga act as expert accountant in cases of fraud and other criminal cases, ensuring an impartial and

• Management Accounting Our goal is to improve your business, so our ser vices are not limited to your accounts, but also analyzes trends in operations and financial ratios.

Financial Accounting The Commercial Code and other corporate law in Per u, require maintenance and updating of accounting records, and the failure of that obligation may cause serious consequences for managers or entrepreneurs.

Our accounting ser vices include: • Preparation of computerized monthly accounting • Preparation of periodic VAT declarations • Preparation of periodic withholding statements • Preparation of the annual Statement of Withholding • Preparing periodic declarations of corporate income tax, if applicable

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

PERU

FULL SERVICE ACCOUNTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR

• Preparation of annual accounts, including financial statements, and memor y management report • Preparation of the annual corporate income tax, based on infor mation provided by the customer • Preparation and production of the annual statement of transactions with third parties Our system is flexible, so we adapt the ser vices we provide to your needs. We will decide together the work plan that best suits your needs and conditions.

Tax ser vices: fulfillment of obligations UHY Sandoval Aliaga tries to infor m all companies that compliance with tax obligations is an area that should not be taking risks because the failure of them may have ver y negative consequences for your business.

Our fulfillment ser vices ensure that you meet all legal requirements relating with accounting and corporate tax and include the preparation and filing of all tax retur ns.

Business Consulting - Risk Management It is necessar y that companies are prepared to provide infor mation on their financial statements at the same time must meet the legal requirements in relation to financial accounting and taxation.

In UHY Sandoval Aliaga we can help you to establish for mal processes of risk management to help you assess, reduce or eliminate the major risks that your company face in order to avoid irreversible damage. We will work strategically to suit your needs.

Projections of cash and benefits Many businesses have ended in bankr uptcy for lack of liquidity to pay suppliers when they could not wait and not be aware of this lack of liquidity. To have Cash Flow studies and Profit Forecast is essential when making decisions which involve capital investment.

The team of UHY Sandoval Aliaga will prepare detailed analysis of Cash Flow and Profit Forecast that will give you a global vision of the financial status of your company in developing strategic plans.

Outsourcing - exter nal financial advisers The current economic environment requires all companies to have updated financial infor mation. We know that the hiring of specialized accounting is ver y expensive for many businesses, so we have designed the Remote Accounting tr ying to help you meeting your needs in this regard.

Remote Accounting of UHY Sandoval Aliaga allows you to obtain the necessar y financial infor mation for managing your business at a lower cost than having an accounting department.

Business Consulting - Management Accounting In UHY Sandoval Aliaga we have a team of high level senior professionals with extensive experience in providing management accounting ser vices to public and private companies.

Regardless of the size and complexity of the tax and financial str ucture of your company, UHY Sandoval Aliaga guarantees a ser vice where always will assess the various options when making a decision and will choose the one that ensures an improvement in the

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

profitability of your business in each of the stages it goes through.

Tax Advice - Tax Ser vices In UHY Sandoval Aliaga we advise you to choose more efficient tax to per for m specific operations, whether acquisitions, divestitures or reorganizations of companies.

The most requested ser vices by our customers: • Inter national Taxation • Reorganization of groups of companies • Corporate Taxation • Complaints and contentious-administrative • Restr ucturing of family businesses • Transfer pricing Reorganization of groups of companies In UHY Sandoval Aliaga we can help you create and reorganize your group of companies and advise you on the most suitable str ucture for maximum profitability.

The reorganization of your company will aim at: • Achieve greater efficiency in the transfer of benefits between group companies • Find synergies in business costs, dividends and organizing activities • The reorganization would made by merger, exchange of securities or any other option to eliminate the unnecessar y tax costs that over the years settle in companies.

Corporate Taxation For your business growth, you must have solid advice that can protect you against ever y eventuality and allows you to take advantage of opportunities that come your way.

UHY Sandoval Aliaga knows that a smart tax advice can help you achieve significant benefits, such as optimizing the tax burden on specific large-value transactions.

We can help with issues such as: • Preparation and presentation of self -assessments • Advice on timing and other payment dates • Buying or selling a business • Processing of grants for investment • Foreign credit and foreign currency

PERU

FULL SERVICE ACCOUNTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR

• Fiscal consolidation • Planning for the compensation of tax losses • Capital gains • Deductions designed to encourage certain activities • Inter national Tax Advice

In UHY Sandoval Aliaga, we have an attitude aimed at our customers always get the best results in each of the tasks assigned to us: • Mergers and Acquisitions • Business Plan • Feasibility analysis • Financial Risk Analysis

• Mergers, divisions and other operations of corporate groups reorganization

• Strategic business advice

• Optimization of the sequence

• Transactions

• Complaints and Appeals

• Financing Plan

UHY Sandoval Aliaga has a team of professionals with extensive experience in administrative complaints. We work meticulously to find the best strategy to defend our client's claim in order to meet the required deliver y dates and deadlines.

UHY Sandoval Aliaga, the partner in charge of the commission will keep in touch with you during all the process, plus: • It will provide an initial evaluation of the demand’s financial aspects

• AIM

• It will help identif y key aspects and strategies before the filing of the resource • We assist you in finding valuable infor mation and documentation for your case • We advise on the choice of lawyers from the beginning to the end and act as an expert accountant • Develop an expert report for your use either in negotiation or in the process • In judicial review, we will advise you on financial and accounting aspects in a comprehensible language without specific jargon and explaining complex concepts in a transparent manner.

Transfer pricing Recently, the transfer pricing legislation has undergone important changes that affect any operation carried out between a company and its parent, the individual shareholder or manager.

UHY Sandoval Aliaga has a team that specializes in transfer pricing to help you organize a comprehensive strategy to maximize the efficiency of transactions and minimize fiscal risks. We will prepare the master file, file for regulator y parent company of the group and for each of the entities.

Corporate Finance Our Corporate Finance team provides multidisciplinar y ser vices and ensuring high quality work guaranteed by years of experience in providing such ser vices.

As your tr usted advisors, we make sure that when you need the assistance of other professionals, such as banks, lawyers, brokers and investors, we recommend only the best.

Inter nationalization of Business The inter nationalization of a company is a future strategy that, today, is proving its worth as companies that have already been inter nationalized have a greater ability to face the current economic crisis.

UHY Sandoval Aliaga can advise and support your company throughout all the process of inter nationalization through comprehensive advice to ensure maximum confidentiality in our work and commitment to safeguard the interests and the creation of value for your company.

Our competitive advantage is clear, we have more than 200 offices in over 70 countries allowing us to have the local knowledge and support at all times to assist our clients in whatever countr y they decide to operate.

From the moment the customer decides to implement the inter nationalization process, we will be supporting throughout the entire process that will be str uctured along the following parameters: • Market research • Identification Competition • Identification of Targets • Analysis of risks and opportunities • Study of economic and legal environment • Study of financial system • Search multilateral funding

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

PERU

FULL SERVICE ACCOUNTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR

• Coordination with state and regional promotion abroad • Negotiation process • Letter of Intent (LOI) • Due Diligence Process • Sale (SPA) / Merger / Joint Venture • Advice and Labor Ser vices In UHY Sandoval Aliaga we guarantee full update regarding the legislative changes that continuously occurs in the field of social work.

Our Labor Advisor y team offers the following ser vices: • Employment legal advice • Collective bargaining • Outsourcing • Recr uitment • Remuneration systems • Prevention of occupational risks • Work Inspections • Due diligence and audit work • Grants • Training • Fulfillment of obligations • Court representation of the social The work will have at all times effective planning that anticipates possible problems that may arise and our team will be always ready to offer appropriate solutions to them.

S a n d o va l A l i a g a & A s o c i a d o s Sociead Civil is: Lima - Perú: Calle Cura Muñecas 181 San Is idro.

T e l e fa x : 5 1 1 7 1 2 4 3 4 3 E m a i l : c . s a n d o va l @ u h y e n p e r u . n e t

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

USA FUND A DMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR (ALTERNATI VE IN VESTMENTS)

UMB Fund Services provides a broad array of services for mutual funds and alternative investments – as well as turnkey solutions for launching a mutual fund, a collective fund or a registered alternative fund.

UMB Fund Services is a boutique service provider that differentiates itself from competing firms through its intense focus on service. The company is truly client-focused and strives to deliver on its vision of providing the unparalleled customer experience.

The Alternative Investment Services division of UMB Fund Services began operations in 1991. As a pioneer in the alternative investment servicing industry, UMB Fund Services has built the expertise to provide a one-stop solution to provide clients with the entire range of Chief Financial Officer services for hedge funds, funds of funds, private equity funds and all types of registered alternative funds.

T h e c o m p a n y ’s f u l l - s e r v i c e l i n e u p f o r alternative funds includes:

• • • • • •

Product formation assistance Administration Fund accounting Investor accounting and reporting Tax Custody (through UMB Bank, n.a.)

Whether a manager needs services for a “traditional” or registered fund, UMB Fund Services has the experience, expertise and capabilities to meet those needs. The company’s advantages include unparalleled service, leading-edge technology, and the stability of a highly capitalized parent organization that has been around for 100+ years.

Milwaukee, WI K a n s a s C i t y, M O Ogden, UT C h a d d s F o r d , PA

UMB Fund Services is able to manage all components of administration, accounting, tax and regulatory compliance, and client service and reporting. The team’s infrastructure is “dropped in” to each client’s operations, creating efficiencies and economies of scale.

Anthony Fischer E x e c ut i v e V ic e P r e si d e nt B u si n e s s D e v e lo p m e nt 267.349.8065 a n t h o n y. f i s c h e r @ u m b . c o m w w w. u m b f s . c o m

COLOMBIA OVERALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR VARGAS & VARGAS Abogados, is a recognized law firm, established in Bogotá D.C., it provides its services in the matters of litigation, advisory and consultancy to both public and private companies, business organizations, individuals, national and foreign, within the whole national territory, in important areas such as, business criminal law, human rights, corporate law, Oil & Gas, mining regulation, labour and social security law, M&A, civil, administrative and insurance law, foreign investment, amongst others.

The firm counts with a prominent and structured work force, highlighting its professionalism, skill, ethics and commitment, as well as the synergy between experience and youth characteristic of its lawyers. This has taken it to being Avant-garde and able to tackle new areas of law, achieving reputation, positioning and recognition nationally and abroad.

The confidentiality, responsibility, seriousness, commitment, professionalism and opportunity in the management of each and every one of the businesses entrusted by our clients, has allowed us to successfully draw with success, creative solutions, accurate techniques and strategies in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, also in the structuring and development of every business, combining each and every one of the disciplines of our work team.

VARGAS & VARGAS Abogados has participated in numerous transactions in both national and international negotiations on various sectors, advising local and foreign clients, successfully concluding the assigned tasks. The firm also counts with strategic allies in different countries, like correspondent firms and private institutions, which are a fundamental support in order to give the client the best attention oriented towards the perfection of businesses.

The firm specializes in consultancy and litigations before several national and international jurisdictional bodies and its professional services are provided in English, Spanish and French.

Luis Fernando Vargas Rodríguez Partner luisfernando@vargasvargasabogados.com

VARGAS & VARGAS Abogados Cra. 13 A No. 89 – 38 Oficina 521 Edificio Nippon Center Phone: +57 1 5306971 - +57 321-2052688 Bogotá D.C. – Colombia info@vargasvargasabogados.com www.vargasvargasabogados.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Mexico CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Vázquez Aldana, Hernández Gómez & Asociados (VAHG) operates in Mexico City and Guadalajara, Mexico, being the largest Mexican member firm in Consulegis, EEIG; servicing clients across the Mexican Territory. VAHG has consolidated more than 50 years of legal practice. VAHG is formed as a result of the prestige, experience, reputation, business approach, high ethical values and professional standards, responsiveness, accountability and trust of its Partners.

VAGH is now recognized as a leading legal firm in Corporate Law, M&A, Banking and Securities Law, Real Estate Law as well as corporate transactions in general, including Notary Public and Commercial Notary Public services, within its geographic area in Mexico.

As a result of its non-stop search for high added value, VAHG is proud of having the trust of worldwide known Mexican and multinational companies as a result of the adoption of its business model.

VAGH represents an invaluable sum of prestige and reputation with strengths and capabilities to conduct international transactions, operating under the highest standards of services and quality, together with a singular personal approach, developing a unique strategic competitive factor and high appreciation of its clients.

To meet growing demands, companies are opening multiple offices around the globe and, in many cases, opting to gain a foothold by acquiring local entities or local businesses. As a result, companies need to retain legal counsel with both geographic capability and local substantive expertise. This counsel will need to assist in negotiating and documenting transactions involving parties in multiple countries that typically have varying, and sometimes conflicting, legal, regulatory, and taxation environments.

VAHG shall provide project and transaction coordination services focus on understanding the company's legal and business needs and being an expertise in the many substantive legal issues typically inherent in any legal transaction. VAHG shall manage all of the constituent elements required to bring the transaction or project to a successful conclusion.

Therefore, is said VAHG is a law firm dedicated to complex multinational mergers, acquisitions and other corporate projects.

Lic. Fernando Hernández Gómez VA Z Q U E Z A L D A N A , H E R N A N D E Z GOMEZ & ASOCIADOS N O TA R Í A Y C O R R E D U R Í A Juan Ruiz de Alarcón 320 Col. Arcos Sur Guadalajara, Jalisco México 44100 T 52 (33) 38171731 ext. 229 F 52 (33) 38171732

BRAZIL INTERNATIONAL TAX PLANNING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Vettori Rubinstein & Foz is a leading Brazilian boutique law firm providing solution-oriented legal ser vices in tax planning, corporate law, wealth planning, contracts, litigation and controversies, real estate and negotiation matters. The firm’s partners combine extensive professional experience and distinguished international academic credentials.

The firm’s tax practice focuses on tax advice for domestic and cross-border transactions; taxation of IP and technology transactions; tax controversies, audits and litigation; taxation of real estate investments and transactions; taxation of financial and capital markets; taxation of cross-border investments; taxation of non-residents with Brazilian-sourced income; tax planning for businesses reorganizations, start-ups and merger and acquisitions; and taxation of high net worth individuals.

Vettori, Rubinstein & Foz Advogados balances its boutique-sized staff, which enables partner-intensive ser vices and the development of long-term relationships with clients, with a high-level of in-depth legal expertise. The firm represents both foreign and Brazilian global corporations and start-ups in a broad array of industries, as well as public sector entities.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Gustavo G. Vettori received his LL.M. degree from the University of Michigan and both his PhD and LL.B. from the University of São Paulo. He is a Professor at University of Sao Paulo’s Business, Economics and Accounting School (FEA-USP) and at Fundação Getúlio Vargas – FGV, besides guest lecturing at numerous postgraduate courses and conferences. He has authored and co-authored several papers and chapters in books, both in Brazil and abroad.

Flavio Rubinstein received an LL.M. degree from Har vard Law School and a PhD, a Master of Laws and an LL.B. degrees from University of São Paulo, as well as a 2014 Senior Fellowship from University of Melbourne Law School. He is a Professor at Fundação Getúlio Vargas – FGV and at São Judas University School of Law, besides guest lecturing on a regular basis at numerous postgraduate courses and conferences. He has authored or co-authored several papers and books, both in Brazil and abroad, and is a staff writer of the renowned European international tax law journal Rivista Diritto e Pratica Tributaria, as well as the editor for Brazil of Derivatives and Financial Instruments, a leading corporate law publication edited by the prestigious International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD).

Gustavo Vettori Senior Partner Te l : + 5 5 ( 1 1 ) 3 8 2 6 - 6 9 1 1 v e t t o r i @ v r f l a w. c o m . b r w w w. v r f l a w. c o m . b r

Flavio Rubinstein Senior Partner Te l : + 5 5 ( 1 1 ) 3 8 2 6 - 6 9 1 1 r u b i n s t e i n @ v r f l a w. c o m . b r w w w. v r f l a w. c o m . b r

USA BANKRUPTCY AT TORNEY OF THE YEAR, RICHARD H GOLUBOW Richard H Golubow is a founding member and the managing shareholder of Winthrop Couchot Professional Corporation, a premier bankruptcy law firm established in 1995 and located in Newport Beach, California.

Devoting his practice to the areas of complex bankruptcy and business reorganisations, litigation, liquidations and acquisitions, Mr Golubow’s clients include debtors, creditors, creditor committees, bankruptcy trustees, assignees for the benefit of creditors, receivers and asset purchasers in a wide range of industries, including retail, manufacturing, distribution, importing, construction, entertainment, education, non-profit institutions, healthcare, hospitality, real estate, automotive, golf and country club, biotech, transportation, telecommunications and Internet businesses.

He has achieved an ‘AV Preeminent’ (5 out of 5) Peer Rating, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer recognition, generated from evaluations by other members of the bar and the judiciary for legal ability and ethical standards. He is also rated "superb" (10 out of 10) by the leading independent attorney rating service, AVVO, and has been selected by his peers as a Super Lawyer, representing the top 5% of practising attorneys in Southern California. Mr Golubow is a member of the International Network of Boutique Law Firms (INBLF), an invitation only network of lawyers from single-discipline boutique law firms with the highest level of knowledge, experience, reputation and credentials comparable or superior to what can be found at the highest-ranking full-service law firms.

Further, Mr Golubow served as an educational co-chair for the California Bankruptcy Forum’s 24th Annual Insolvency Conference in May 2012. He has lectured or been interviewed on varied insolvency related topics including recently, as a guest on Commercial Real Estate Radio (creradio.com) discussing the topic of Commercial Real Estate Bankruptcy – What You Need to Know, on April 4, 2014 and discussing the topic of Investing in Distressed Real Property in Bankruptcy, on February 13, 2014; and as a moderator for ‘Debtor-Creditor Feud: The Good, the Bad and the Reality of Receiverships’ at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association 24th Annual Convention in November 2012.

He was also a panellist for Bankruptcy in the Americas, Roundtable, September 2014, produced by Financier Worldwide; ‘But I Thought We Were Safe: Are Priority Claims and Legacy Employee Liabilities at Risk in a 363 Sale?’ at the American Bankruptcy Institute's 25th Annual Winter Leadership Conference in December 2013; ‘War of the Roses, The Impact of Divorce Proceedings on Business and Personal Bankruptcy Cases’ at the California Bankruptcy Forum’s 25th Annual Insolvency Conference in May 2013; ‘Bankruptcy Reorganization Plan Strategies for Debtors, Lenders and Creditors Proposing or Opposing a Plan of Reorganization’, a webinar produced by Strafford Publications in September 2011; the US Bankruptcy Roundtable, October 2012 and October 2010, produced by Financier Worldwide; and for the US Automobile Sector Roundtable, February 2009, produced by Financier Worldwide.

Prior to entering private practice, Mr Golubow served as judicial law clerk and judicial extern to the Honourable John J Wilson, United States Bankruptcy Judge in the Central District of California, Santa Ana Division.

Richard H Golubow

Fo u n di ng M e m b e r Winthrop Couchot Professional Corporation Te l : + 1 9 4 9 7 2 0 4 1 3 5 rgolubow@winthropcouchot.com w w w. w i n t h r o p c o u c h o t . c o m

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ASIA PACIFIC

EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC

SOUTH ASIA

East Asia and Pacific remains the world’s growth engine despite a challenging external environment, with developing economies in the region growing by 7.2% in 2013.

South Asia has experienced a long period of robust economic growth, averaging 6% a year over the past 20 years. This strong growth has translated into declining poverty and impressive improvements in human development. The percentage of people living on less than $1.25 a day fell in South Asia from 61% to 36% between 1981 and 2008. The proportion of poor is lower now in South Asia than any time since 1981. Still, the South Asia region is home to many of the developing world’s poor.

According to the World Bank’s most recent poverty estimates, about 571 million people in the region survive on less than $1.25 a day, and they make up more than 44% of the developing world’s poor.

The proportion of people living in poverty in the region has steadily declined. Today, it is estimated that less than 10% of the region’s population lives on $1.25 a day. However, much more work needs to be done to build shared prosperity because there are still close to half a billion people living on $2 per day.

Countries in the region range from China, the world’s second largest economy, to the Pacific Island countries, some of the world’s smallest and most remote. Of all regions, East Asia and Pacific has the second highest number of fragile and conflict-affected states. Sustaining 61% of global losses from disasters in the past 20 years, it is the most disaster-stricken region in the world, with Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Philippines as the latest example of a major natural disaster.

In the short term, developing countries in the region have navigated the global economic crisis successfully and maintained high growth.

In the mid-term, ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth is a major challenge for the region, which will require more and better quality investments in infrastructure and in the skills of the growing labour force.

Managing the effects of climate change and disaster risk, rapid urbanization, improving governance and institutions, and encouraging private-sector led growth to create jobs are critical to reduce poverty and build shared prosperity. Countries also need to prepare for volatility and shocks, by expanding safety nets to protect the poor and vulnerable.

working-age population, a quarter of the world’s middle-class consumers, the largest number of poor and undernourished in the world, and several fragile states of global geopolitical importance. With inclusive growth, South Asia has the potential to change global poverty.

As referenced in the January 2013 Global Economic Prospects, growth in South Asia weakened to an estimated 5.4% in 2012 from 7.4% in 2011, mainly as a result of a slowdown in India, where GDP growth was forecast to be 5.4% in the fiscal year ending in March 2013. Weak global demand exacerbated region-specific factors, including subdued investment growth, electricity shortages, policy uncertainties, and a weak monsoon. Regional GDP is projected to grow by 5.7% in the 2013 calendar year, 6.4% in 2014, and 6.7% in 2015, driven by improvement in export demand, policy reforms in India, stronger investment activity, and normal agricultural production.

South Asia will play an important role in the global development story as it takes its place in the Asian Century. It has the world’s largest

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

AUSTRALIA The Australian economy has experienced continuous growth and features low unemployment, contained inflation, very low public debt, and a strong and stable financial system.

By 2012, Australia had experienced more than 20 years of continued economic growth, averaging 3.5% a year. Demand for resources and energy from Asia and especially China has grown rapidly, creating a channel for resources investments and growth in commodity exports.

The high Australian dollar has hurt the manufacturing sector, while the services sector is the largest part of the Australian economy, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of jobs.

Australia was comparatively unaffected by the global financial crisis as the banking system has remained strong and inflation is under control. Australia has benefited from a dramatic surge in its terms of trade in recent years, stemming from rising global commodity prices.

Australia is a significant exporter of natural resources, energy, and food. Australia's abundant and diverse natural resources attract high levels of foreign investment and include extensive reserves of coal, iron, copper, gold, natural gas, uranium, and renewable energy sources. A series of major investments, such as the US$40 billion Gorgon Liquid Natural Gas project, will significantly expand the resources sector. Australia is an open market with minimal restrictions on imports of goods and services. The process of opening up has increased productivity, stimulated growth, and made the economy more flexible and dynamic.

Australia plays an active role in the World Trade Organization, APEC, the G20, and other trade forums.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Australia has bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) with Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, and the US, has a regional FTA with ASEAN and New Zealand, is negotiating agreements with China, India, Indonesia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, as well as with its Pacific neighbours and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and is also working on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement with Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US, and Vietnam.

ASIA ALTERNATIVE ASSET MANAGEMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR – ADAMAS ASSET MANAGEMENT LENDER OF THE YEAR – ADAMAS ASSET MANAGEMENT FUND OF FUNDS – JAPAN OPPORTUNITIES FUND The Company: Adamas Asset Management (HK) Limited (Adamas HK) is an independent asset manager wholly owned by the partners focused on generating uncorrelated returns capitalizing on market inefficiencies in the public and private Asian capital markets, with special focus on Greater China and Japan. Current firm assets under management are over US$600mm.

Adamas Greater China Credit Fund: Adamas specializes on funding growth companies in the Greater China region by underwriting secure loans, typically senior in the capital structure, collateralized with offshore assets and personal guarantees which helps to mitigate the credit risk and potential enforcement issues in mainland China.

The Fund targets to generate 18-20% net returns and 2x net cash return over a 5 year investment period. The Adamas Greater China Credit Fund (Fund II) had it’s first close in August 2013 with commitments of $79mm.

Adamas plans to raise $200mm with final close expected at the end of 2014.

of experience in the hedge fund industry in Asia. The Adamas Japan Opportunity Fund was up 25% in 2014 and outpaced the Topix by more than 50% since its inception.

Partner and CIO (Asset Allocation Group) of Adamas, Mark Hibbs, comments : “Japan, even after the great returns of 2013, remains very much the sleeping giant… as a result, the investment case remains compelling.”

Managing Partner and CEO of Adamas, Paul Heffner states: “The sentiment to invest in China is similar to when Hong Kong / China experienced SARS in 2003. Global investors today are concerned about the expansion of credit since 2010, increasing number of corporate defaults and the collapse of the property market. Less than 10% of SMEs in China have access to bank financing and with the equity market just slowly picking up, there are limited channels open to fund growing companies.

According to Heffner, this is the space Adamas fills as we work with growing companies that have aspirations to become leaders in their respective industries. “

Paul Heffner Managing Partner and CEO

Adamas Japan Opportunity Fund: Founded by Paul Heffner in 2006, the Adamas Japan Opportunity Fund (“JOF”) is a multi-strategy fund with a focus on Japan. JOF is managed by Mr. Mark Hibbs, Partner & CIO (Asset Allocation Group), who has 16 years

1801-03, 18/F, Tai Yau Building, 181 Johnston Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong Tel : +852 3793-6200

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

CHINA LEADING IP ADVISORY OF THE YEAR PATENT INFRINGEMENT LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Key areas of practice: Anti-trust and Competition; Banking and Finance; Corporate and Commercial; Dispute Resolution; Foreign Direct Investment; Foreign Exchange; Labor and Employment; Insurance; International Trade; Intellectual Property; Maritime; Mergers and Acquisitions; Private Equity and Venture Capital; Real Estate and Construction; Securities and Capital Markets; and Taxation.

Our lawyers have played critical roles in advising the government on, and actually drafting, many of the core Chinese laws and regulations involved in our daily practice today. Our practitioners possess a wealth of first-hand experience and legal expertise in providing effective solutions to the most complex of legal issues regarding the application of laws and regulations, governmental approvals and legal procedures.

We are one of the leading full-service Chinese law firms in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), and the largest law firm based in Shanghai (and in the whole Eastern China region). As the only national law firm headquartered in Shanghai, we provide a comprehensive range of high-quality legal services to both domestic and international clients from our offices in Shanghai, and our branch offices in Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Nanjing, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Taiyuan and Xiamen.

We are consistently recognized by various institutions (e.g., Asia Law and Practice, Asia Legal Business, Chambers and Partners, and Legal 500) as one of the top PRC law firms in major rankings.

We have more than 900 registered lawyers (including nearly 300 partners and senior consultants). Aside from our regular working language of Chinese (Mandarin and major dialects), many of our lawyers are also fluent in English, Japanese, Korean, French, German, and other major languages, and many are also admitted in international jurisdictions. Our partners and senior consultants came to the firm from diverse professional and personal backgrounds. Many transactional lawyers have practiced for years in top international law firms and/or in leading multinational companies. A number of our litigators once were judges and prosecutors, and many serve as active arbitrators. We also have access to a strong network of former government officials and legislators. Supported by a large team of translators and legal assistants, our professionals have undertaken many complex and high profile transactions, and have won many landmark cases.

Intellectual property is one of our firm’s core practice areas.

We have extensive expertise in assisting clients to protect their intellectual property rights, including copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets and domain names. We represent our clients on a regular basis to protect their intellectual property rights through administrative, civil or criminal actions. Among the great number of court cases in which we have successfully represented our clients, three were selected by the Supreme Court of China as Top Ten Chinese Court Cases for IP Judicial Protection in 2010, 2011 and 2013.

Citigroup Tower, 14/F 33 Hua Yuan Shi Qiao Road, Shanghai, 200120 Tel: (86 21) 6105 9000 Fax: (86 21) 6105 9100 28th Floor, Hong Kong Plaza, No. 283 Huai Hai Middle Road, Shanghai, 200021 Tel: (86 21) 2326 1888 Fax: (86 21) 2326 1999 Email: glzb@allbrightlaw.com Website: www.allbrightlaw.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

INDIA ANAND AND ANAND IP365° Leading Innovating Inspiring

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Current position: ManagingPartner Practice area/industry focus: Intellectual Property, LitigationandDispute Resolution Career highlights: Pravin Anand, managing partner of the Firm, completed his law studies in New Delhi in 1979 and since then has been practicingas anadvocate anda patent andtrademark attorney.

He has been a counsel in several landmark IP cases involving the first Anton Piller Order (HMV cases); the first Mareva Injunction Order (Philips case); the first Norwich Pharmacal Order (Hollywood Cigarettes case); Moral rights of Artists (Jatin Das case); Recognition for Pro-Bono work for rural innovators at the grass root level' (National Innovation Foundation Award - Govt. of India); India's first framing case (TATA diamonds case); First order under the Hague Convention (Astra Zeneca case) andthe most recent bigticket Patent litigation cases filedagainst Novartis, Pfizer andRoche.

He is the chairman of the IPR promotion advisory committee (IPAC) constituted by the government of India, and IT committee set upby FICCI. He is the past president of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA India) and was director on the board of INTA from 2006 to 2008. He is currently President of both AIPPI and FICPI (Indian group). He has appeared as an expert witness before parliamentary committees to give evidence onamendments totrademark, patent andcopyright laws.

He is a co-author of the two volumes of Halsbury's Laws of India on Intellectual Property and serves on the editorial board of several international IP journals. Author of India chapter inCopyright Throughout the World- WEST (ThomsonReuters).

He has spoken extensively at various forums including WIPO, AIPPI, INTA, LES, IBA, LAW ASIA and the UN Conference on LDCs in the Digital World.

• The prominent awards andaccolades accordedtoMr. Anandrecently include • Best of the Best - (Legal Media GroupExpert Guide) • ILOClient Choice Award- India, 2012 • IAM Patents1000 Gold(2013) Category Lawyer • ‘Star Litigator’ - Benchmark LitigationSurvey (2013) • "Highly RecommendedLeadingLawyer" inintellectual property - Chambers andPartners (2013).

• ‘LeadingIndividual’ for intellectual property - Legal 500 (2014)

P r av i n A n a n d Anand and Anand First Channel Building Plot No. 17 A, Sector 16 A Film City , Noida 201301 (UP) India Phones : +91-120-4059300 Fax : +91-120-4243056 - 058 Email: pravin@anandandanand.com W ebsite: www .anandandanand.com

AUSTRALIA ABSOLUTE RE TURN FUND MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Avenir Capital is an investment firm specializing in fundamental, value oriented and special situation investments in global equity markets. We invest in special situations and quality companies undergoing change that we can buy at a 50% discount to a growing intrinsic value. Avenir is based in Sydney, Australia, which, given Australia’s international heritage and global outlook, allows us to be comfortable hunting out the best bargains globally in which to allocate our investor’s capital.

Our private equity background provides a distinct investment approach. Firstly, all of our investments are underpinned by deep fundamental research at the company specific level to identify extreme mispricing opportunities where we can buy businesses for 50% or less of their underlying value. Second, we worry about the downside first and exercise discipline in avoiding investment ideas that involve unacceptably high risk of permanent capital loss. Third, we focus on absolute, not relative, returns and avoid index hugging. This allows our best ideas to drive performance in a relatively concentrated manner.

And finally, we invest with a longer time horizon than many investors allowing us to benefit from opportunities that others miss due to lack of patience.

We are very fortunate to have the investors that we do as they are thoughtful investors who recognize the value of patience in investing.

Time-arbitrage is one of the most powerful weapons we have in our armoury as it allows us to find great opportunity in situations in which others do not have the patience to invest. We can take advantage of these great opportunities only because our investors allow us the latitude do so.

We are strong believers that an investment manager’s interests should be firmly aligned with their clients. We have the bulk of our own investable assets invested in the fund alongside our investors. We also have a fee structure that promotes alignment in that we charge zero annual management fee and only earn a performance fee when the fund delivers at least a 6% annual return to our investors.

The Avenir Value Fund returned over 43% net to investors in 2013 despite holding average cash balances of over 20% over the year. Avenir Capital was recently awarded the Absolute Return Fund Manager of the year, Australia and Investment Team of the Year, Australia in the 2014 International Hedge Fund Awards.

Founder and CIO Adrian-Warner Email:awarner@avenircapital.com.au w w w. a v e n i r c a p i t a l . c o m . a u Address: Level 11, 2 Bulletin Place, S y d n e y, N S W, A u s t r a l i a , 2 0 0 0 Te l e p h o n e : + 6 1 2 8 0 3 1 7 7 4 2

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

CHINA ANTI TRUST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Broad & Bright is a full-service Chinese law firm providing a broad range of specialized legal services in multiple practice areas for domestic and international clients. Among the various practice areas, Broad & Bright is one of the leading law firms in antitrust law practice in China.

The competition law team of Broad & Bright has built up professional experiences in the antitrust practice, including merger control review, monopolistic behaviors investigation and antirust compliance and counseling.

Broad & Bright handled a large number of merger control filings, many of which are either high profile or significant cases. Besides, the competition law team of Broad & Bright is the firm that handles most of the conditional clearance in China up till now. Out of MOFCOM’s 23 conditional approvals so far, Broad & Bright handled 9 conditional clearances. Most of our clients are multinational companies in various industries including chemical, machinery, electronic, medical, food, drink, automobile, information technology and etc. In addition, Broad & Bright also advised clients on some NDRC investigations on price monopolistic behavior involving hi-technology, food, and auto part industries etc.

The team leader of the competition law group is Ms. Yao FENG, founding member of Broad & Bright. She worked in MOFTEC (now the Ministry of Commerce) as governmental counsel until 2001 and worked abroad at the Washington D.C. Office of Covington & Burling till 2003.

Broad & Bright’s quality service has won the recognition by the clients and the legal society. It has been awarded by prestigious legal ranking publications such as Chambers, Global Competition Review, China Business Law Journal, China Law & Practice, Asian Law & Practice in their annual awards for PRC Firm of the Year and Deal of the Year in Competition law in recent years.

Ya o F e n g yao_feng@broadbright.com Te l : 8 6 1 0 8 5 1 3 1 8 1 8 Fax: 86 10 8513 1919 Cell phone: 138 0128 7682

South Korea LI TIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LEA DING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, TAE YEON CH O LEA DING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, IK HYUN SEO

Cho & Partners

Firm overview The firm was established in 2002 by two senior members who decided to leave a large firm environment to create a more focused, efficient and responsive practice. Based on the reputation and capabilities of the founding members, as well as the established trust and loyalty with their clients, the firm was immediately active representing multi-national clients. The firm’s clients are among the most recognized names and leaders in various business sectors, such as software and technology, retailing, luxury goods and fashion, energy, etc.

Since its establishment, the firm has continued to grow, a result of the firm’s uncompromising emphasis on maintaining its reputation for the highest level of service, professionalism and integrity. This philosophy and commitment has been essential in developing and servicing the firm’s prestigious list of clients, whose needs are sophisticated and whose matters have global impact.

The firm is proud of its approach and reputation for nurturing very close and personal relationships with its clients, the foundation of the firm’s ability to know its clients and thereby serve their needs more effectively and efficiently.

Intellectual property practice The firm has a strong and diverse practice in all aspects of intellectual property. It is very active with both domestic and international prosecution practice in both trademarks and patents, as well as related disputes and administrative proceedings. Aside from prosecution matters, the firm and its members have become particularly well-known for its capabilities in the areas of litigation, anti-counterfeiting and internet related matters.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

In the area of anti-counterfeiting and enforcement, the firm has developed a very strong reputation for its effective and creative programs in combating many difficult problems in Korea. The firm represents many brand owners and manages among the most active and effective anticounterfeiting and enforcement programs in the country.

The firm is also very active with domain name disputes, successfully reclaiming domain name registrations from cyber-squatters for trademark owners. Tae-Yeon Cho serves as outside counsel for the Internet Address Domain Name Dispute Resolution Committee, the government body that administers Korean domain name disputes.

Another member of the firm, Ik Hyun Seo, serves as a panelist for WIPO. The firm’s litigation practice is particularly active. The firm has successfully obtained several landmark decisions for its clients and is at the forefront of new developments in Korea.

Languages Spoken: English, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese and French Number of lawyers: 12 Contacts: Tae-Yeon Cho, Ik-Hyun Seo

C H O & PA R T N E R S

PRACTICE AREAS

6 t h a n d 1 3 t h F lo o r s A n n

Patents, Trademarks & Copyrights Administrative Actions Domain Names & Internet Issues Unfair Competition Litigation IP Enforcement Programs Licensing & Distribution Legislative Matters

J ay T o w e r 208 Teheran-ro, Gangnamg u S e o u l 1 3 5 - 0 8 0 S o ut h Ko r ea Tel: +82 2 6207 6800 Fax: +82 2 6207 6801 E m a i l : i h s e o @ c h o l aw . c o m W e b s i t e : w w w . c h o l aw . c o m

SINGAPORE LEA DING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, LISA THENG

Lisa Theng heads the Corporate Advisory & Corporate Commercial Practice Group and the Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia Focus Groups in Colin Ng & Partners LLP. Lisa has been in practice since 1991 and has vast experience in corporate litigation prior to focusing her practice in the areas of Corporate Advisory and Corporate and Commercial services and has developed a strong and successful practice in this area.

irregularities, fraud and issues involving directors and shareholders.

Her other experiences include cross-border joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions in the region with a focus in Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. She also advises on international sports and entertainment projects including sponsorships and logistics agreements.

In the area of corporate and commercial law, she has advised both Singapore and foreign companies in major mergers and acquisitions and disposal transactions and has also advised on investments, foreign direct investments into Singapore and in Asia.

She has advised oil and gas, manufacturing, exhibition, manufacturing, trading, publishing, food & beverage, healthcare, oil and gas, technology and leisure and entertainment companies on a range of issues. These issues include restructurings, investments, joint ventures, corporate governance and compliance, and acquisitions.

Lisa Theng

Joint Managing Partner Colin Ng & Partners LLP Corporate M&A Corporate & Commercial, Corporate Governance and Corporate Advisory

In the area of corporate advisory, Lisa has advised listed companies and their audit committees and Boards in relation to potential disputes,

prefix: +65 6349 8711 l t h e n g @ c n p l a w. c o m w w w. c n p l a w. c o m

AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL TAXATION FIRM OF THE YEAR ACCOUNTING AND COMPLI ANCE ADV ISORY OF THE YEAR INTERNATIONAL TAXATION ADV ISOR OF THE YEAR, JOHN MARCARI AN CST Tax Advisors is the only global firm that focuses on global expatriate private clients and family offices.

With over 20 years of client service experience we develop tax strategies that benefit you as you move between jurisdictions.

Our international team will integrate your tax and accounting in both your home and destination countries. We work collaboratively with global banks, law firms and other service providers to provide a seamless service. Our unique ability to operate across ‘Expatland’ has led a number of private Banks to trust us by referring their own private clients.

“If Expatland was a single country it would be the 5th largest country in the world” The CST Difference Our team consists of chartered accountants and lawyers qualified in USA, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, UK and Israel.

Our truly unique group structure – being one firm in multiple markets – allows us to work together as one team when a client solution spans more than one jurisdiction.

As we enter new markets globally we form strategic relationships with local specialists – law firms, immigration consultants, estate planners – to identify the needs of our clients as they move into and out of that jurisdiction.

Only this unique approach allows CST Tax Advisors to provide this wide range of services throughout Expatland: • Domestic taxation in the markets where we are located; • International taxation in terms of cross border tax issues; • Financial accounting in multi markets including preparation of group consolidated financial statements in key holding company jurisdictions such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Cyprus and Australia; • International tax relocation strategies for family groups and businesses; • Establishment trusts, companies and foundations for expatriate family groups and private clients.

John Ma rca r i a n CEO and Founder SINGAPORE #17-02 Level 17, SIF Building 96 Robinson Road Singapore 068899 T: + 6 5 6 2 2 6 5 5 6 6 SYDNEY 119 Alexander Street, Crows Nest NSW 2065, Australia T: + 6 1 2 8 9 2 0 0 0 7 7

Email: john.marcarian@cst.international w w w. c s t . i n t e r n a t i o n a l

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

TAIWAN IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Deep & Far attorneys-at-law was founded in 1992 and is dealing with all phases of laws with a focus on the practice in separate or in combination of all aspects of intellectual property rights (IPRs) including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, unfair competition, and/or licensing, counseling, litigation and/or transaction thereof.

The patent attorneys and patent engineers in Deep & Far normally hold outstanding and advanced degrees and are generally graduated from the top five universities in this country. Our prominent staffs are dedicated to provide the best quality service in IPRs in this country. As a proof, about one half of top 100 incorporations in this country have experiences of seeking patented their techniques, but more than one fifth of the top 100 incorporations has ever used services of this firm. Furthermore, Hi-Tech companies in the science-based industrial park located at Hsin Chu had ever played the most important role in booming the economy of this country. About one half of them has experiences in seeking patented their techniques, and out of more than 50% of the patent-experienced companies in that park have ever entrusted their IPR works to this firm. Certainly, we must also represent international giants, e.g. InterDigital, MPS, Schott Glas, Toyo Ink, Motorola, Cypress, TSMC…

It is our philosophy to provide competent legal services that other firm cannot comparably provide. The necessitated ensuing problem is how we can so provide?

Deep & Far so achieve by selecting, edifying and nurturing peoples who have the following personalities: learned in expertise, morally earnest and sincerely behaved in mind and strictly disciplined between give and take. It is well-believed that such properties are key factors for peoples to properly and competently behave themselves.

By the perseverance that we only do what and only perform works which enable this firm to be deep and far, Deep and Far can then equate the reality with its name.

More information regarding this firm could be found from the website above-identified.

Senior Partner Yu-Li. Tsai Deep & Far Attorneys-at-Law 13th Floor, 27, Sec. 3, Chung San N. Road, Taipei, Taiwan Telephone: 886-2-25856688 Fax: 886-2-25989900/25978989 email@deepnfar.com.tw http://www.deepnfar.com.tw

INDIA HIGH LEVEL M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR The Firm Founded on 1 April 1935, Desai & Diwanji is one of India’sleading law firms, helping clients achieve their goals by combining the highest global standards with local expertise.

Diwanji is also amongst India’s largest law firms.

The firm focuses on the core areas of commercial activity: corporate and M&A; capital markets; banking, finance & insurance; project finance; energy, natural resources and infrastructure; aviation; admiralty & maritime; technology, media & telecommunications; life sciences & pharmaceuticals; outsourcing; real estate & construction; litigation & dispute resolution.

We also have cross-practice groups formed to respond to the needs of our clients and the market and which comprise lawyers drawn together from a range of sector-wide issues.

Practice Areas Desai & Diwanji provides flexible support for day-to-day business needs as well as for specific transactions. With specialised knowledge of both the legal framework as well as the specific business requirements of various industry sectors, our team of lawyers work on some

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

of the most challenging, complex and stimulating transactions in India.

The firm is structured around the following practice areas: • Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity • Equity Capital Markets • Banking, Finance and Insurance • Project Finance • Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure • Aviation • Admiralty and Maritime • Technology, Media and Telecommunications • Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals •

Compensation • Outsourcing • Real Estate and Construction • Litigation, Dispute Resolution and Insolvency

Vishwang Y Desai

Our Clients

Desai & Diwanji

We are privileged to work with an impressive array of highcalibre corporations, financial institutions, funds, and governments. Our continuing success relies on our building and sustaining the trust of our clients. We aim to build longterm relationships with them – relationships that over time take the form of a real partnership.

Lentin Chambers Dalal Street Mumbai-400001 E vydesai@desaidiwanji.com T +91-22-39841000 T +91-22-22658245

THE PHILIPPINES LEA DING INDEPENDENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

DivinaLaw is a leading full-service law firm in the Philippines. It

DivinaLaw is the sole Philippine member of Lawyers Associated

takes pride in advocating and practicing dynamic lawyering -

Worldwide, a top-rated international association of over 100

prompt, proactive and result-oriented. Clients value its depth and

independent law firms from more than 50 countries.

range in experience and resources and a professional, collaborative

It is also the only Philippine member of LEGALINK, also a

work ethic - qualities that clients appreciate in an emerging and

top-ranked global network of 68 independent law firms from a

challenging market like the Philippines.

majority of the world’s commercial centers.

The firm endeavors to understand clients’ needs to give them the best legal service possible. DivinaLaw aims to exceed their expectations at every turn.

DivinaLaw's practice includes the entire spectrum of Philippine law.

Its litigation practice covers corporate, criminal and civil litigation, alternative dispute resolution, estates and trusts, immigration, labor and employment, elections, administrative regulation, and maritime law. Its corporate practice includes banking, finance and construction, mergers and acquisition, foreign investments, securities, corporate rehabilitation, insurance, public-private partnerships, mining and natural resources, energy, utilities regulation, intellectual property, sports and entertainment, and taxation.

Clients include leading companies in banking and finance, manufacturing, retail, power, oil and gas, education, health care

N i l o T. D i v i n a

Founding and Managing Partner

The firm's lawyers are some of the most qualified and experienced

Office number: (632) 822-0808 Fax number: (632) 822-7878 Mobile: +63 917 529 6251

in their respective fields, and it recruits only the top graduates

n i l o . d i v i n a @ d i v i n a l a w. c o m

and insurance, realty and property development, and technology.

from the leading law schools.

We b s i t e : w w w. d i v i n a l a w. c o m

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

VIETNAM ENERGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR SHIPPING & MARI TIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Established in 2009, EPLegal is a dynamic firm that provides comprehensive legal services in support of local Vietnamese and international commercial transactions, project financing, investment and corporate matters, mergers & acquisitions, and other legal interests. EPLegal is also the foremost law firm in the energy sector of Vietnam with the strong and experienced lawyers who could give reliable advice on various agreements and legal issues attendant to different types of industry transactions. EPLegal distinguishes itself by focusing on the corporate clients with a philosophy grounded on personal service to its valued clients, and a disciplined approach to advancing clients’ interests by producing the quickest and most advantageous commercial solutions. EPLegal’s attorneys and solicitors have profound knowledge in Vietnamese law thanks to academic education and numerous years’ practicing in international law firms and extensive ‘hands on’ practical experience dealing with commercial interests.

Mr. Tony Nguyen, the leader of EPLegal, practices in the area of commercial transactions advice and contract management with a heavy emphasis on international trade law, construction contracts, project finance and petroleum transactions. Tony has 14 years’ experience of working in the Oil & Gas, energy and FMCG industries. He has legal and contracting experience through various projects related to drilling campaigns; oil and gas

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

production operations; sales and purchasing and technical services contracts; chartering of vessels/FPSO/FSO; production services; and EPC/EPIC contracts. He also played key roles in various syndicate financing and high-profiled investment projects in Vietnam.

Beside practicing laws, Tony is also a prominent legal researcher with valuable legal works on the CISG, ICSID, WTO laws and practical implication on Vietnam, and the development of e-commerce under Vietnamese laws. He is also a usual visit-lecturer of colleagues and a number of education centers. Besides, Tony is the author of numerous legal articles relating to contract and risk management. He obtained a distinctive LLM degree in the University of the West of England and won the Best Memorial Award at the 2001 Asia Law Moot Court competition. Tony is also a well-known speaker in many international forums, seminars and workshops on contracts management, international trade and Vietnam regulatory developments.

M r N g u y e n T r u n g N a m ( To n y ) A d d r e s s : S u i t e 5 0 1 , F. 5 , 3 1 C Ly Tu Tr o n g S t . , B e n N g h e Wa r d , D i s t . 1 , H o C h i M i n h C i t y, V N Te l : + 8 4 - 8 - 3 8 2 3 2 6 4 8 Fax: +84-8-3823 2657 Email: info@eplegal.com W e b s i t e : h t t p : / / w w w. e p l e g a l . c o m Te l : + 8 4 - 8 - 3 8 2 3 2 6 4 8 ( e x t . 1 4 ) Direct: +84-8-3823 3723 Fax: +84-8-3823 2657 Mobile: 0909-661001 Email: tonynguyen@eplegal.com

INDIA (Mu mb a i) PROJECT FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR The Firm

of the most challenging, complex and stimulating transactions in India.

Founded on 1 April 1935, Desai & Diwanji is one of India’sleading law firms, helping clients achieve their goals by combining the highest global standards with local expertise.

Diwanji is also amongst India’s largest law firms.

The firm focuses on the core areas of commercial activity: corporate and M&A; capital markets; banking, finance & insurance; project finance; energy, natural resources and infrastructure; aviation; admiralty & maritime; technology, media & telecommunications; life sciences & pharmaceuticals; outsourcing; real estate & construction; litigation & dispute resolution.

We also have cross-practice groups formed to respond to the needs of our clients and the market and which comprise lawyers drawn together from a range of sector-wide issues.

Practice Areas Desai & Diwanji provides flexible support for day-to-day business needs as well as for specific transactions. With specialised knowledge of both the legal framework as well as the specific business requirements of various industry sectors, our team of lawyers work on some

The firm is structured around the following practice areas: • Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity • Equity Capital Markets • Banking, Finance and Insurance • Project Finance • Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure • Aviation • Admiralty and Maritime • Technology, Media and Telecommunications • Life Sciences and Pharmaceuticals •

Compensation • Outsourcing • Real Estate and Construction • Litigation, Dispute Resolution and Insolvency

Vishwang Y Desai

Our Clients

Desai & Diwanji

We are privileged to work with an impressive array of highcalibre corporations, financial institutions, funds, and governments. Our continuing success relies on our building and sustaining the trust of our clients. We aim to build longterm relationships with them – relationships that over time take the form of a real partnership.

Lentin Chambers Dalal Street Mumbai-400001 E vydesai@desaidiwanji.com T +91-22-39841000 T +91-22-22658245

ASIA ENERGY / INFRASTRUCTURE PE MANAGEMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR, Equis Funds Group-

Equis Funds Group (“Equis”) is honoured to be awarded “Asia - Energy/Infrastructure PE Management Firm of the Year”. Established in 2010, Equis is one of Asia’s largest independent power, energy and infrastructure private equity managers with nine offices across Asia and over US$1 billion of FUM. Since successfully holding the final close of EAF I in December 2012, Equis has established: •

Soleq, one of South-East Asia’s largest solar generation utilities, with interests in Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia;

•

Nippon Renewable Energy, Japan’s largest foreign funded solar generation utility;

•

Energon, one of Asia’s first pan-Asian solely focused wind generation utilities with interests in India, the Philippines and Japan

•

Hydreq, one of Asia’s first pan-Asian solely focused hydro generation utilities with interests in India, the Philippines and Indonesia

•

Bioeq, one of the first utilities to break ground on the first generation biofuel facilities in response to the Philippines new E10 mandate

•

Asia Networks, Asia’s first neutral hosting telecom munications infrastructure service provider with interests across Asia

•

Oriental Gas, one of China’s leading gas transmission and distribution businesses, which is uniquely positioned to implement the Chinese Government’s 12th 5 year plan energy policy initiative from coal to gas.

Core to Equis’ business and investment philosophy is that an Asia-based independent fund manager will generate unique and proprietary investment opportunities for investors in an aligned, value-enhancing manner. Equis has been able to successfully enter markets as a first-mover by isolating new government policy initiatives and macroeconomic investment themes with disciplined bottom-up sector analysis. Portfolio investment control ensures value is further created through active asset management of the construction, growth, operational and exit phases of portfolio investments.

As a leading investor in Asian power, energy and infrastructure, Equis also plays an important role in nurturing long term relationships with key stakeholders and local communities. Equis is committed to the principals of sustainable development and has ensured that sustainability remains a cornerstone of our investment management program. Equis and its portfolio investments actively fund and develop 3 core CSR objectives, the development and improvement of local community infrastructure, health and education.

For further information please visit: www.equisfg.com

CEO & Partner David Russell EQUIS FUNDS GROUP Level 3, 209 South Bridge Road Singapore 058758 Main: +65 6220 0040 Email: David.Russell@Equisfg.com www.equisfg.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

VIETNAM TAX ACCOUNTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR

Quality assured Gia Cat Consulting and Auditing Company (Gia Cat) is one of the most prominent tax accountancy firm in Vietnam. For the last fourteen years, Gia Cat have provided accountancy, tax, audit service for more than 3,000 companies.

Gia Cat has around 120 staffs. Gia Cat adopt stringent recruiment procedures to attract and select the best candidates. The staffs are regulary attending relevant professional training programmes to remain lead and keep pace with the development of the fast changing business environments and technologies.

So far, Gia Cat is the only one accounting firm in Vietnam that is issued the ISO 9000:2001 on accounting services. In the years of 2009 and 2010, Gia Cat had been in charge of tax consulting pages on three newspapers in the top ten newspapers in Vietnam.

In the year of 2013, during a very difficult economic downturn in Vietnam, Gia Cat still have developed strongly with client base around 1000 companies. It still attract some MNC clients such as Acer Vietnam, Taloca Vietnam, Bitzer Vietnam, Chi Tai Vietnam...

As the co-founder and managing director of Gia Cat, Mr Nguyen Phan Xuan Thuy has been building a good team around him-the key factor for sustaining development and ensuring success of the firm in the long term. Mr Nguyen is also the co-founder and

chairman of TS24 Corporation. TS24 is the country’s pioneer of user-friendly and tax technologies with online tax declaration tool used by over 30,000 companies in Vietnam.

Changes to regulation Frequent changes to Vietnamese business regulation has been a big problem for enterprises. Foreign companies can rely on Gia Cat’s experience and expertise to guide them through the complexities of complying with domestic regulations.

The Vietnamese Accounting Standards (VAS) and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are being constantly revised and there is a big gap between IFRS and VAS. As a professional firm, Gia Cat keep abreast of new accounting treatment, thus ensuring that its clients are adequately informed on a timely basis.

Global capabilities As an active member of Allitott Group, Gia Cat can support its clients across the globe. Alliott Group is a word wide alliance of independent accounting, law and consulting firms with more than 180 member firms in some 80 countries. Alliott Group has been voted the “Accountancy & Law Alliance of the Year in the Global Market” in the 2014 Corporate INTL Magazine Global Awards.

Managing Director

Nguyen Phan Xuan Thuy FCCA, CPA, MBA, Tax Practitioner

+84 903959621 thuy_nguyen@giac at .c om .v n www.giacat.com.v n

VIETNAM LEA DING INDEPENDENT A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR

Quality assured Founded in 2000, Gia Cat Consulting and Auditing Company (Gia Cat) is one of the most prominent tax accountancy firm in Vietnam. For the last fourteen years, Gia Cat have provided accountancy, tax, audit and advisory service for more than 3,000 companies.

Gia Cat has around 120 staffs. Gia Cat adopt stringent recruiment procedures to attract and select the best candidates. The staffs are regulary attending relevant professional training programmes to remain lead and keep pace with the development of the fast changing business environments and technologies.

Gia Cat has been choosen as the winner of the 2014 Corporate INTL Magazine under the category of The Tax Accountancy Firm of the year in Vietnam, and ACQ Global awards 2014 winner as Vietnam Tax Accountancy Firm of the year.

In the year of 2013, during a very difficult economic downturn in Vietnam, Gia Cat still have developed strongly with client base around 1000 companies.

Although most of Gia Cat’s clients are SMEs, it still attract some MNC clients such as Acer Vietnam, Taloca Vietnam, Bitzer Vietnam, Chi Tai Vietnam...

As the co-founder and managing director of Gia Cat, Mr Nguyen Phan Xuan Thuy has been building a good team around him-the key factor for sustaining development and ensuring success of the firm in the long term. Mr Nguyen is also the co-founder and

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

chairman of TS24 Corporation. TS24 is the country’s pioneer of user-friendly and tax technologies with online tax declaration tool used by over 30,000 companies in Vietnam.

Changes to regulation Frequent changes to Vietnam tax and business regulation has been a big problem for enterprises for FDI companies. Foreign companies can rely on Gia Cat’s experience and expertise to guide them through the complexities of complying with domestic regulations.

Gia Cat’s strength lies in comprehensive local knowledge of regulations and cultural matters that enables Gia Cat to come up with solutions to unique legal and economic issues in Vietnam.

Global capabilities As an active member of Allitott Group, Gia Cat can support its clients across the globe. Alliott Group is a word wide alliance of independent accounting, law and consulting firms with more than 180 member firms in some 80 countries. Alliott Group has been voted the “Accountancy & Law Alliance of the Year in the Global Market” in the 2014 Corporate INTL Magazine Global Awards.

Managing Director

Nguyen Phan Xuan Thuy FCCA, CPA, MBA, Tax Practitioner

+84 903959621 thuy_nguyen@giac at .c om .v n www.giacat.com.v n

SINGAPORE LAWYER OF THE YEAR, Glor i a Ja mes-Ci vet ta

Gloria James-Civetta & Co (GJC Law) is an established Singapore law firm. Managed by Gloria James and Gustavo Civetta, GJC Law has affiliate offices in London, Malaga, Madrid, Rotterdam and India.

The firm’s lawyers have legal expertise in the Asia Pacific, UK and European markets, including local and expat cross-border divorces, family law matters, estate law, corporate law, employment law, civil and commercial law, criminal law (white and blue collar crimes) and litigation and solicitor’s work matters.

behalf of our clients. Our international connections and strong interpersonal approach provides client with the confidence and assurance they need that their case is in safe hands.

We are a growing firm and our reputation far and wide speaks for itself. Clients of all backgrounds know their needs are taken care of – they can trust in our experience.

Gloria is a Harvard Law School trained Mediator and Associate Mediator at the State Courts and Singapore Mediation Centre. She is also a qualified Collaborative Family Practice Lawyer.

GJC Law is your lawyer, mediator, trusted advisor and caring professional for all your legal needs.

While the law may seem complex to you, GJC’s philosophy is simple: to provide a personal legal service and peace of mind for you.

Gloria James Partner 5 Coleman Street #03-05/06 Excelsior Hotel Shopping Centre Singapore 179805

GJC Law is a firm where experience and results matter. Our experience provides the results that our clients expect. At GJC Law we ensure client care and sound advice, providing ample information to clients and including them in every stage of the legal process. As skilled mediators we consistently carry out successful negotiations on

Te l : + 6 5 - 6 3 3 7 - 0 4 6 9 Fax: +65-6337-0463 E m a i l : c o n s u l t @ g j c l a w. c o m . s g w w w. g j c l a w. c o m . s g w w w. s i n g a p o r e d i v o r c e l a w y e r. c o m . s w w w. s i n g a p o r e c r i m i n a l l a w y e r. c o m

AUSTRALIA SUPERANNUATION/TRUSTS LAWYER OF THE YEAR, HARRY RIGNEY

Harry Rigney is an Australian legal practitioner and tax agent, providing professional service for clients in all Australian jurisdictions and Asia-Pacific.

Harry holds a Specialist Accreditation for Tax Law and current practising certificate from the Queensland Law Society (QLS). He chairs the Tax Specialist Accreditation Committee for QLS and is an invited attendee of the Tax Specialist Accreditation Committee for the Law Institute of Victoria.

Harry graduated in Law from UTAS in 1978 and attended Harvard Law School for his LL.M. in 1979 as Menzies Scholar. He served as Associate for the late Everett J. in the Supreme Court of Tasmania in 1980, and has taught tax and practised in tax, trusts and estate law since then.

His key services are in professional guidance for trustees and trust managers, accountancy advisors to trusts and estates, providing planning support, quality assurance and board governance support for fiduciary responsibilities.

He has been National Tax Director for PKF, senior tax manager for PWC, and author of numerous articles and other texts. He is Course Convenor for Commercial Law offered by The Tax Institute, and was founding chair of the National Education Advisory Board of The Tax Institute. He is Tax Editor for LexisNexis in Australia.

Harry has been a registered tax agent continuously since 1982, he is a Chartered Tax Advisor and member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. He has made contributions to tax policy and tax law drafting through participation in industry interaction with the Australian Taxation Office.

Harry Rigney founded TaxCoach TM in Australia in 2001; the concept has been rolled out since around the globe by unrelated parties. TaxCoach TM delivers a portfolio of services for professionals and trustees: • TaxCoach ProCare: delivery of professional training programs, devised and developed by TaxCoach, aimed at building and supporting the levels of professional competency, as and when required but underpinned by regular sessions; • TaxCoach Mentor: delivery of direct access (telephone, email, in-person) for mentor support in client services; and • TaxCoach Accredit: entitlement to certified accreditation status as being professionally supported

by TaxCoach

Harr y HM Rigney Director, TaxCoach PO Box 7128 R E D L A N D B AY Q L D 4 1 6 5 Australia Te l e p h o n e ( 0 7 ) 5 6 4 1 0 5 4 0 Facsimile: (07) 3251 0960 Email: taxcoach.live@gmail.com W W W: w w w. t a x c o a c h . c o m . a u

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

THAILAND Tax Adv isory Fir m of the Yea r

HLB Tax Lawyers Ltd. is a reputable firm of legal and tax advisors with offices in Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui.

Operating in Thailand for more than 10 years, we have built strong reputation and a clear international identity, making us “Global in Reach, Local in Touch”.

HLB Tax Lawyers Ltd. through HLB (Thailand) Ltd. is a member of HLB International, a world-wide network of over 450 independent professional accounting firms and business advisors represented in over 100 countries.

HLB International is a member of the Forum of Firms (FoF), association of international networks of accounting firms promoting consistent and high quality standards of financial and auditing practices world-wide.

HLB Tax Lawyers Ltd. provides practical, creative and reliable legal and tax consulting services to start-up companies, running businesses, consortium and joint ventures of variable industries in Thailand to optimize their cash flow, financial efficiency and profitability.

tions, project financing, business rehabilitation, recovery and restructuring, shareholders benefits protection, assets and wealth management, corporate tax planning to help individuals and businesses to reach their financial objectives while minimizing tax and financial risks.

Kwanchai Aswawongsonti is a top-notch corporate tax lawyer in Bangkok who has extensive legal experience worldwide accumulated over past 20 years of his legal career. He has assisted numerous multinational and conglomerate companies in solving their complex legal and tax issues and has been recognised as a top tier problem solver in the legal and tax services industry.

Kwanchai specialises in tax planning on assets and wealth management, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, property acquisition, property holding structure, property sale structuring as well as investments in Thailand and other regions. His clients include a world class athlete, well known writer and television presenter, conglomerate CEO and world class companies.

We have sought-after experience advising on cross-border investments, mergers and acquisi-

Bangkok Office : 990 Abdulrahim Place, 11st Fl., Suite 1101, Rama IV Rd., Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Thailand Phuket Office : 23 Moo 2, 39/1-3 Kohkaew Plaza, Thepksattri Road, Ta m b o l K o h k a e w, A m p h o e M u a n g , Phuket 83000 Te l : + ( 6 6 ) 2 6 3 6 0 3 5 4 - 5 , 2 6 3 6 0 5 8 8 - 9 Fax:+(66) 2636 3472 Mobile :+ (66) 82024 5555 Email : kwanchai@hlbtaxlawyers.com

INDONESIA AUDIT ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR KAP Razikun Tarkosunaryo (KAP RTS) was established

by Dr. Muhammad Razikun, CPA, CertIFR – who is also known as the founder of MUC Consulting group-, and Tarkosunaryo, CPA - the Chairman of the Indonesian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (IICPA).

KAP RTS recognize the importance of wider perspective in providing services to clients. Thus, KAP RTS collaborates with MSI Global Alliance, a worldwide association of independent legal and accounting firms with over 250 carefully selected member firms in 105 countries. This is to meet the demands of clients that are mainly multi-national companies with cross-border business activities. Some services provided by KAP RTS are as follows: • • • • • • • • • • • •

General Audit Internal Audit Special Audit Review and Compilation Other Assurance Services Attestation IFRS Services IFRS Conversion Project Evaluation of the Impact of Transition IFRS Due Diligence Audit on IFRS Financial Statement Reconciliation between IFRS and PSAK Tailored IFRS Training

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Dr. Muhammad Razikun

CPA, CertIFR Email: razikun@mucglobal.com KAP Razikun Tarkosunaryo MUC Building 6th Floor Jl. TB Simatupang No. 15 Tanjung Barat, Jakarta INDONESIA 12530 Phone Fax Web

: +6221 788 37 111 (hunting) : +6221 788 37 666 : www.rts.co.id

INDIA (New Delhi) - PROJECT FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Khaitan Sud & Partners Dispute R Project Finance Insurance & Reinsurance Corporate Advisory Real Estate D-41 Defence Colony New Delhi 110 024

1001- C, Tower 2, 10th Floor Indiabulls Financial Centre, Elphinstone (W) Mumbai 400 013

Tel: 91 11 4155 2824/25

Tel: 91 22 3096 5500/01/02/03 www.kspartners.co.in

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

AsPAC FULL SERVICE FORENSIC ADVISORY OF THE YEAR ANTI-BRIBERY / CORRUPTION ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services.

We operate in 155 countries and have 155,000 people working around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity.

Our member firms in Asia Pacific have a track record spanning over six decades, working with leading global and regionally-based organisations. In increasingly complex markets, we are committed to turning risk into advantage for our clients and their stakeholders through independent, credible and practical advice.

KPMG’s network of over 3,000 Forensic professionals work in 39 accredited practices within KPMG member firms around the world. In Asia Pacific, this includes large established practices in Australia, China, Japan and Singapore, supported by fully accredited Forensic practices in Malaysia, Thailand, Korea and New Zealand. The network brings a consistent global approach, combined with a tailored local focus, to sensitive and complicated cross-border engagements.

We offer robust, practical advice, helping our firms' clients deal with: • • • • • • •

fraud, misconduct and corruption investigations tracing funds, assets, companies and individuals commercial disputes regulatory compliance managing risk on buying or selling a business intellectual property and contract governance preventing and detecting fraud, misconduct or financial crime.

We can also deploy technology tools to help clients deal effectively with large amounts of data and documentation, to manage and disclose important material or highlight fraud, weaknesses and business opportunities from within corporate data.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

GRANT JAMIESON Partner in Charge Forensic, China and Asia Pacific

KPMG 8th Floor, Princes Building, 10 Chater Road Central, Hong Kong Tel 852 2140 2804 Fax 852 2869 7357 Mob 852 9267 9055 grant.jamieson@kpmg.com

INDIA (Gurgaon) - IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Lall Lahiri & Salhotra (LLS) is one of the leading law firms in India providing a full range of services to clients and across a broad industry spectrum. LLS has consistently been rated as amongst the best law firms in India and our clients have entrusted us with some of their most important and challenging legal matters.

The firm was established in the year 1983 as a dedicated Intellectual Property practice and grew to be amongst the most respect IP firms in the country, with unparalleled reputation, client base and track record. Over the years, recognising the fast evolving multi-dimensional nature of intellectual property management and practice, the firm included new areas of practice. As a result, the firm has evolved into a full-service business law firm.

Over the years, LLS has grown from a small family set up to its current stature through consistent and steadfast growth. This has partly been the result of initiative of Rahul Chaudhry, a partner at the firm since 2008. Under his leadership, the firm has seen tremendous growth of the client base, kinds of services offered, number of attorneys as well as its revenues.

non-contentious matters, LLS has been committed to providing high quality services to clients and have advised clients in fields as diverse as pharmaceuticals, Oil & Gas, FMCG, Consumer goods, IT, Fashion, Telecom, Electronics, Entertainment, Media & Publishing, Retail, Automotive amongst others.

Our practice areas include: Antitrust & Competition Corporate Compliance & Secretarial Environment Information Technology Intellectual Property Media & Telecommunications Private Equity Real Estate Securities Law

Capital Markets Energy, Oil & Natural Gas Foreign Investment & Joint Ventures Infrastructure Labour & Employment Mining & Ports Project Finance Regulatory practice & Legal compliance Dispute Resolution

Lall Lahiri & Salhotra

Mr. Chaudhry has been heading the firm's contentious and non-contentious departments to ensure the highest standards of services are provided to the clients. He is involved in every aspect of the firm's work, particularly, in strategising, advising and executing complex matters to their resolution and providing clients with business specific insights on legal affairs, whether they be operational or transactional.

Plot No. B-28 Sector 32 (Institutional Area) Gurgaon, NCR 122001 Phone: +91 124 2382202 +91 124 2382203 Fax: +91 124 4036823;2384898 Email: gpo@lls.in;

With over 30 years of experience in both contentious and

KO R E A LABOR / EMPLOYMENT LAWYER OF THE YEAR, PAUL H. CH O Paul Cho is a senior partner in the Labor and Employment Practice Group. He has been recognized by legal publications and the market for years as an expert in the field of labor and employment, particularly with respect to mergers & acquisitions, restructuring programs and crisis management.

For his efforts, Mr. Cho has been recognized as a Leading Individual in Employment by Chambers Asia Pacific, by Euromoney Publications PLC's Guide to the World's Leading Labour and Employment Lawyers, Who's Who in Labour and Employment, AsiaLaw's Leading Lawyers for Labour and Employment, and Legal 500 Asia Pacific.

Mr. Cho has more than 17 years of experience in Korea and colleagues and clients alike have commended Mr. Cho for his ability to "think outside the box" when assisting clients in reaching practical solutions given the challenges of the Korean labor and employment environment.

Mr. Cho is a co-chair of the HR Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea.

Mr. Cho regularly gives lectures in the local business community as well as those located abroad on all aspects of Korean labor and employment law in addition to strategic options and alternatives in regards to crisis management.

Mr. Cho has also authored and co-authorized numerous articles including "The American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law (Korea Chapter)", "Towers Watson Employment Terms and Conditions - Asia Pacific (Korea Chapter)" and "PLC Employment and Employee Benefits Multi-jurisdictional Guide: South Korea." Most recently, Mr. Cho appeared on Bloomberg TV’s “On the Move” with Rishaad Salamat to discuss the potential strike at Hyundai Motor.

Paul Cho Pa rt n e r H a n j i n B u i l d i n g 6 3 N a m d a e m u n- r o , J u n g- g u , S e o u l 1 0 0- 7 7 0 , K o r e a D i r e c t ) + 8 2-2 -7 7 2 - 5 9 2 2 F a x ) + 8 2 -2 - 7 7 2 -4 0 0 1 / 2 E -m a i l ) p a u l . c h o@ l e e k o . c o m w w w. l e e k o . c o m

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

INDONESIA ARBI TRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

In the course of LGS’ more than 29 years of service, we have secured our position as the premier Indonesian corporate transaction and commercial litigation law firm.

This combination of commercial law experience and litigation uniquely positions LGS to deal with the full range of commercial issues faced by our clients. We have experience representing a diverse range of clients, including domestic and multinational corporations, public and private companies, Government instrumentalities and State Owned Enterprises. We work closely with our clients to understand their problems, determine their needs, and arrive at practical solutions that are both cost-effective and viable over the long term.

We strive on addressing the challenges faced by our clients and approach them with a pragmatic view that is driven by a deep understanding of their business needs and of the surrounding practicalities of the legal and business landscape that they operate in.

One of our unique selling points is the combination of our long-standing commercial law practice and our premier litigation department that has extensive experience in dealing with commercial disputes in the context of alternative dispute resolution as well as litigation in the Indonesian courts. This allows our corporate transaction departments to benefit from such litigation experience to ensure that any transactions handled by the firm are carried out with a view to the potential for future disputes and any existing risks.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

LGS has obtained Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance certifications of ISO 9001:2008 for Quality Management systems and ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management systems to ensure the quality of the firm’s operations.

Representative Clients: Adaro Indonesia; American Bureau of Shipping; Astra International; Astratel Nusantara; Bank Mandiri; Charoen Pokphand Indonesia; DBS Bank; Goldman Sachs; Government of the Republic of Indonesia; Hitachi; Hutchison (Hong Kong); Indonesia Infrastructure Guarantee Fund; Japan Tobacco International Indonesia; Krakatau Steel; Liga Primer Indonesia (LPI); Medco Energi International; Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia; Mitsui & Co.; Mitsui Banking Corporation; Pamapersada Nusantara; Sampoerna Strategic; Sime Darby (Malaysia); Simpson, Spence & Young (SSY); Standard Chartered Bank; Sumitomo; Temasek Holdings; and Unilever Indonesia.

M a n a g i n g Pa rt n e r D r . M o h a m e d I d wa n ( ‘ K i k i ’ ) G a n i e LU B I S G A N I E S U R O W I DJ OJ O

M e n a r a I m p e r i u m , 3 0 t h F lo o r , J l . H . R . R a s u n a S a i d K av . 1 , J a k a rta 1 2 9 8 0 , I N D O N E S I A Te l : + 6 2 2 1 8 3 1 - 5 0 0 5 , 8 3 1 - 5 0 2 5 Fax: +62 21 831-5015, 831-5018 g a n i e @ l g s l a w. c o . i d w w w. l g s o n l i n e . c o m

INDONESIA CAPI TAL MARKE TS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

In the course of LGS’ more than 29 years of service, we have secured our position as the premier Indonesian corporate transaction and commercial litigation law firm.

This combination of commercial law experience and litigation uniquely positions LGS to deal with the full range of commercial issues faced by our clients. We have experience representing a diverse range of clients, including domestic and multinational corporations, public and private companies, Government instrumentalities and State Owned Enterprises. We work closely with our clients to understand their problems, determine their needs, and arrive at practical solutions that are both cost-effective and viable over the long term.

Mohamed Idwan (‘Kiki’) Ganie is the Managing Partner of Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo (LGS). He graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Indonesia and holds a PhD in Law from the University of Hamburg. Dr. Ganie has more than 30 years of legal experience, and specializes in commercial transactions and commercial litigation, and is a member of the Indonesian Association of Capital Market Lawyers.

of interest transactions, etc. Some of LGS’ clients are those among the “blue chips” companies such as Astra International, Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna, Charoen Phokphand groups, Ramayana Lestari Sentosa, Bank Universal, United Tractors, Astra Otoparts and others. Our representations include Legal Consultant for Underwriters, Bonds Issue in Foreign Stock Exchanges and Transaction under 144A Rules and/or 1065 Rules.

LGS has obtained Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance certifications of ISO 9001:2008 for Quality Management systems and ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management systems to ensure the quality of the firm’s operations.

M a n a g i n g Pa rt n e r D r . M o h a m e d I d wa n ( ‘ K i k i ’ ) G a n i e LU B I S G A N I E S U R O W I DJ OJ O

LGS is known as one of the Indonesian leading law firms in the capital market area. It has provided legal services to its clients (issuers and underwriters) in more than one hundred capital market transaction projects including Initial Public Offering (IPO), bonds issue, rights issue, merger and acquisition of public companies, investment and divestment of public companies, tender offer, conflict

M e n a r a I m p e r i u m , 3 0 t h F lo o r , J l . H . R . R a s u n a S a i d K av . 1 , J a k a rta 1 2 9 8 0 , I N D O N E S I A Te l : + 6 2 2 1 8 3 1 - 5 0 0 5 , 8 3 1 - 5 0 2 5 Fax: +62 21 831-5015, 831-5018 g a n i e @ l g s l a w. c o . i d w w w. l g s o n l i n e . c o m

IN n dDoOnN e sEiSaI A CLIENT CH OICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

In the course of LGS’ more than 29 years of service, we have secured our position as the premier Indonesian corporate transaction and commercial litigation law firm.

This combination of commercial law experience and litigation uniquely positions LGS to deal with the full range of commercial issues faced by our clients. We have experience representing a diverse range of clients, including domestic and multinational corporations, public and private companies, Government instrumentalities and State Owned Enterprises. We work closely with our clients to understand their problems, determine their needs, and arrive at practical solutions that are both cost-effective and viable over the long term.

We strive on addressing the challenges faced by our clients and approach them with a pragmatic view that is driven by a deep understanding of their business needs and of the surrounding practicalities of the legal and business landscape that they operate in.

Mohamed Idwan (‘Kiki’) Ganie is the Managing Partner of Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo (LGS). He graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Indonesia and holds a PhD in Law from the University of Hamburg. Dr. Ganie has more than 30 years of legal experience, and specializes in commercial transactions and commercial litigation, including alternative dispute resolution and has acted as an expert in a number court and arbitration proceedings. His expertise covers general corporate/company law, banking law, finance,

bankruptcy and restructuring, mining, investment, acquisitions, infrastructure projects/project finance, antitrust, and shipping/aviation, with a particular focus on corporate governance and compliance.

LGS has obtained Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance certifications of ISO 9001:2008 for Quality Management systems and ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management systems to ensure the quality of the firm’s operations.

Representative Clients: Adaro Indonesia; American Bureau of Shipping; Astra International; Astratel Nusantara; Bank Mandiri; Charoen Pokphand Indonesia; DBS Bank; Goldman Sachs; Government of the Republic of Indonesia; Hitachi; Hutchison (Hong Kong); Indonesia Infrastructure Guarantee Fund; Japan Tobacco International Indonesia; Krakatau Steel; Liga Primer Indonesia (LPI); Medco Energi International; Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia; Mitsui & Co.; Mitsui Banking Corporation; Pamapersada Nusantara; Sampoerna Strategic; Sime Darby (Malaysia); Simpson, Spence & Young (SSY); Standard Chartered Bank; Sumitomo; Temasek Holdings; and Unilever Indonesia.

M a n a g i n g Pa rt n e r D r . M o h a m e d I d wa n ( ‘ K i k i ’ ) G a n i e LU B I S G A N I E S U R O W I DJ OJ O

M e n a r a I m p e r i u m , 3 0 t h F lo o r , J l . H . R . R a s u n a S a i d K av . 1 , J a k a rta 1 2 9 8 0 , I N D O N E S I A Te l : + 6 2 2 1 8 3 1 - 5 0 0 5 , 8 3 1 - 5 0 2 5 Fax: +62 21 831-5015, 831-5018 g a n i e @ l g s l a w. c o . i d w w w. l g s o n l i n e . c o m

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

IN n dDoOnN e sEiSaI A COMMERCI AL LI TIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

In the course of LGS’ more than 29 years of service, we have secured our position as the premier Indonesian corporate transaction and commercial litigation law firm.

This combination of commercial law experience and litigation uniquely positions LGS to deal with the full range of commercial issues faced by our clients. We have experience representing a diverse range of clients, including domestic and multinational corporations, public and private companies, Government instrumentalities and State Owned Enterprises. We work closely with our clients to understand their problems, determine their needs, and arrive at practical solutions that are both cost-effective and viable over the long term.

We strive on addressing the challenges faced by our clients and approach them with a pragmatic view that is driven by a deep understanding of their business needs and of the surrounding practicalities of the legal and business landscape that they operate in.

In litigation, due to the differences of legal systems and legal realities, we have a close and intense working relationship with our foreign clients to ensure that they understand any legal impact and options available under Indonesian law (which might not be similar to the impact and options in their own jurisdictions in the same situation), so that they can have the available results and options commercially “translated” and realistically analyzed at each stage of the proceedings.

LGS has obtained Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance certifications of ISO 9001:2008 for Quality Management systems and ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management systems to ensure the quality of the firm’s operations.

M a n a g i n g Pa rt n e r D r . M o h a m e d I d wa n ( ‘ K i k i ’ ) G a n i e

One of our unique selling points is the combination of our long-standing commercial law practice and our premier litigation department that has extensive experience in dealing with commercial disputes in the context of alternative dispute resolution as well as litigation in the Indonesian courts. This allows our corporate transaction departments to benefit from such litigation experience to ensure that any transactions handled by the firm are carried out with a view to the potential for future disputes and any existing risks.

LU B I S G A N I E S U R O W I DJ OJ O

M e n a r a I m p e r i u m , 3 0 t h F lo o r , J l . H . R . R a s u n a S a i d K av . 1 , J a k a rta 1 2 9 8 0 , I N D O N E S I A Te l : + 6 2 2 1 8 3 1 - 5 0 0 5 , 8 3 1 - 5 0 2 5 Fax: +62 21 831-5015, 831-5018 g a n i e @ l g s l a w. c o . i d w w w. l g s o n l i n e . c o m

INDONESIA INSOLVENCY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

In the course of LGS’ more than 29 years of service, we have secured our position as the premier Indonesian corporate transaction and commercial litigation law firm.

This combination of commercial law experience and litigation uniquely positions LGS to deal with the full range of commercial issues faced by our clients. We have experience representing a diverse range of clients, including domestic and multinational corporations, public and private companies, Government instrumentalities and State Owned Enterprises. We work closely with our clients to understand their problems, determine their needs, and arrive at practical solutions that are both cost-effective and viable over the long term.

One of our unique selling points is the combination of our long-standing commercial law practice and our premier litigation department that has extensive experience in dealing with commercial disputes in the context of alternative dispute resolution as well as litigation in the Indonesian courts. This allows our corporate transaction departments to benefit from such litigation experience to ensure that any transactions handled by the firm are carried out with a view to the potential for future disputes and any existing risks.

LGS is proud to underline the role it has played in the restructuring process of the Indonesian banks. Since the aftermath of the economic crisis, LGS has become one of the leading law firms involved in the rebuilding of the economy its role as the primary counsel to the

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA). LGS has been actively involved in the process of suspension, take over and due diligence of the troubled banks. It has also played vital roles in the drafting of banking law amendments, Indonesian banks re-capitalization, settlement arrangements with the former owners, due diligence and negotiations in debt restructuring under IBRA supervision, as well as implementing other IBRA assignments.

LGS has obtained Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance certifications of ISO 9001:2008 for Quality Management systems and ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management systems to ensure the quality of the firm’s operations.

M a n a g i n g Pa rt n e r D r . M o h a m e d I d wa n ( ‘ K i k i ’ ) G a n i e LU B I S G A N I E S U R O W I DJ OJ O

M e n a r a I m p e r i u m , 3 0 t h F lo o r , J l . H . R . R a s u n a S a i d K av . 1 , J a k a rta 1 2 9 8 0 , I N D O N E S I A Te l : + 6 2 2 1 8 3 1 - 5 0 0 5 , 8 3 1 - 5 0 2 5 Fax: +62 21 831-5015, 831-5018 g a n i e @ l g s l a w. c o . i d w w w. l g s o n l i n e . c o m

IN n dDoOnN e sEiSaI A OVERALL LAWYER OF THE YEAR - DR. MOHAMED IDWAN GANIE

Mohamed Idwan (‘Kiki’) Ganie is the Managing Partner of Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo (LGS). He graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Indonesia and holds a PhD in Law from the University of Hamburg. Dr. Ganie has more than 30 years of legal experience, and specializes in commercial transactions and commercial litigation, including alternative dispute resolution and has acted as an expert in a number court and arbitration proceedings. His expertise covers general corporate/company law, banking law, finance, bankruptcy and restructuring, mining, investment, acquisitions, infrastructure projects/project finance, antitrust, and shipping/aviation, with a particular focus on corporate governance and compliance.

Lubis Gan ie Surowidjojo Law Firm

In the course of LGS’ more than 29 years of service, we have secured our position as the premier Indonesian corporate transaction and commercial litigation law firm.

This combination of commercial law experience and litigation uniquely positions LGS to deal with the full range of commercial issues faced by our clients. We have experience representing a diverse range of clients, including domestic and multinational corporations, public and private companies, Government instrumentalities and State Owned Enterprises. We work closely with our clients to understand their problems, determine their needs, and arrive at practical solutions that are both cost-effective and viable over the long term.

One of our unique selling points is the combination of our long-standing commercial law practice and our premier litigation department that has extensive experience in dealing with commercial disputes in the context of alternative dispute resolution as well as litigation in the Indonesian courts. This allows our corporate transaction departments to benefit from such litigation experience to ensure that any transactions handled by the firm are carried out with a view to the potential for future disputes and any existing risks.

LGS has obtained Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance certifications of ISO 9001:2008 for Quality Management systems and ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management systems to ensure the quality of the firm’s operations.

M a n a g i n g Pa rt n e r D r . M o h a m e d I d wa n ( ‘ K i k i ’ ) G a n i e LU B I S G A N I E S U R O W I DJ OJ O

M e n a r a I m p e r i u m , 3 0 t h F lo o r , J l . H . R . R a s u n a S a i d K av . 1 , J a k a rta 1 2 9 8 0 , I N D O N E S I A Te l : + 6 2 2 1 8 3 1 - 5 0 0 5 , 8 3 1 - 5 0 2 5 Fax: +62 21 831-5015, 831-5018 g a n i e @ l g s l a w. c o . i d w w w. l g s o n l i n e . c o m

INDONESIA PROJECT FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

In the course of LGS’ more than 29 years of service, we have secured our position as the premier Indonesian corporate transaction and commercial litigation law firm.

This combination of commercial law experience and litigation uniquely positions LGS to deal with the full range of commercial issues faced by our clients. We have experience representing a diverse range of clients, including domestic and multinational corporations, public and private companies, Government instrumentalities and State Owned Enterprises. We work closely with our clients to understand their problems, determine their needs, and arrive at practical solutions that are both cost-effective and viable over the long term.

government institution that insures risks of Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects stemming from a variety of sources, including unfavorable policy changes and other political risks. This replaces the previous practice of government guarantee notes that were issued on a per-project basis and creates a robust framework within which all future PPP projects in Indonesia will operate.

The infrastructure projects necessarily involve a large number of parties, both commercial and government, ranging from local regional governments to the ministerial level, and often involving projects of national significance, with the associated political aspects of their development.

Mohamed Idwan (‘Kiki’) Ganie is the Managing Partner of Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo (LGS). He graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Indonesia and holds a PhD in Law from the University of Hamburg. Dr. Ganie has more than 30 years of legal experience, and specializes in commercial transactions and commercial litigation, and is a member of the Indonesian Association of Capital Market Lawyers.

LGS has obtained Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance certifications of ISO 9001:2008 for Quality Management systems and ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management systems to ensure the quality of the firm’s operations.

LGS is acting for the Government of Indonesia (Ministry of Finance, the national electricity company (PLN), the Indonesia Infrastructure Guarantee Fund (IIGF), and Regional Governments hosting infrastructure projects) in formulating and executing the legislative and contractual framework underlying Indonesia's current and future infrastructure development. IIGF, which is an Indonesian

M a n a g i n g Pa rt n e r D r . M o h a m e d I d wa n ( ‘ K i k i ’ ) G a n i e LU B I S G A N I E S U R O W I DJ OJ O

M e n a r a I m p e r i u m , 3 0 t h F lo o r , J l . H . R . R a s u n a S a i d K av . 1 , J a k a rta 1 2 9 8 0 , I N D O N E S I A Te l : + 6 2 2 1 8 3 1 - 5 0 0 5 , 8 3 1 - 5 0 2 5 Fax: +62 21 831-5015, 831-5018 g a n i e @ l g s l a w. c o . i d w w w. l g s o n l i n e . c o m

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

AUSTRALIA CROSS BORDER A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR McKinley Plowman & Associates is a firm of Certified Practising Accountants, financial planners and finance brokers that is dedicated to supporting our clients’ goals.

Our accounting, financial planning and finance broking divisions provide the expertise and resources of large city based firms, while offering the competitive fee structure and personal service of a suburban practice.

We have expanded considerably since opening our doors in 1997 – a time when kangaroos were still bounding their way around what is now Joondalup’s thriving business district. We started our practice with goals of providing exceptional client service, providing an enjoyable place to work and becoming an employer of choice.

A great testimony to our success in achieving these goals is the many client generated referrals that have helped us become one of Perth’s biggest suburban based accounting companies. McKinley Plowman & Associates retains the energy of a young company, yet at the same time our team collectively offers many decades of local, national and international expertise in their respective fields. We are grounded in our advice, yet, at the same time, we are passionately focused on acting as an advisory partner that gets our clients to their goals.

We greatly value our clients and are committed to honouring the trust they place in us by creating visible results for them. We look forward to working with you.

Our Services Our services include a strategic combination of Business Improvement, Taxation, Finance and Wealth Creation.

A C C O U N T I N G / TA X AT I O N / BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT / W E A LT H C R E AT I O N / FINANCE / PROPERTY /

At all times, our provision of services is shaped by a professional framework of achieving asset protection, maximising profits and minimising tax.

MIGRANT SERVICES / CFO2GO

We believe that the many client generated referrals, that have helped us become one of Perth’s biggest accounting companies, represents a testimony to our success in achieving our mission of providing exceptional client service.

Phone: (08) 9301 2200 International: +61 8 9301 2200 Fax: (08) 9301 2201 International: +61 8 9301 2201 Address: L e v e l 2 , 5 D a v i d s o n Te r r a c e Joondalup WA 6027 C o n t a c t A l e c B l a c k l a w. w w w. m c k i n e l y p l o w m a n . c o m . a u

AUSTRALIA COMPANY OF THE YEAR (MANUFACTURING) Pact Group is the largest listed Australasia manufacturer of plastics packaging and the market leader in Australia and New Zealand of rigid plastics; the fastest growing packaging segment globally. Pact is a best-in-class manufacturer and innovator with a large, diversified and long-term customer base that includes many household names within the food, dairy, beverage, personal care, household consumer, chemical, agricultural, industrial, materials handling and many other sectors. Pact Group also produces steel packaging solutions primarily servicing industrial segments and materials handling and infrastructure products for a wide variety of end use markets including transport, storage, telecommunications, gas and electrical.

Since inception in 2002, Pact has adopted an aggressive yet disciplined growth strategy to deliver transformational change. Originally comprising [15] manufacturing plants, the company has successfully integrated [36] acquisitions over the past 12-years to become a leader in the packaging industry. Today, Pact has [64] manufacturing plants in [6] countries across Australia, New Zealand and Asia, servicing over [4,200] customers. This significant growth has been driven by a highly experienced and future focused management future team and, is underpinned by investment in cutting edge technology platforms, access to proven technology through international licensing agreements and a relentless commitment to innovation.

Pact established a dedicated innovation business, Inpact Innovation, in 2010 to assist customers win in their chosen categories. Inpact’s unique innovation

process investigates customer sentiment, market trends, international best practice, sustainable solutions and the latest technology. Inpact’s structure comprises a technical team of industrial designers and engineers, inventors and marketing specialists to produce industry recognized, award-winning solutions that deliver competitive advantage and commercial gain to our customers. Inpact’s innovation projects have delivered customer driven outcomes that include strategic innovation pipelines, identification of white space opportunities and enablement through PACT development to realise new concepts into the market To date in 2014, Pact Group has won over [10] design and innovation awards from customers and both national and international industry bodies, and is globally recognised as a leading packaging company.

Pact Group Holdings Ltd ABN 55 145 989 644 Level 16/644 Chapel St S o u t h Ya r r a , V I C Australia 3141 Te l e p h o n e : + 6 1 3 8 8 2 5 4 1 0 0 Fax: +61 3 9815 8388 Email: info@pactgroup.com.au w w w. p a c t g r o u p . c o m . a u

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

INDIA

(GUJARAT) - CROSS BORDER A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR Pipara & Co. is based out of Ahmedabad (Gujarat), India having branch offices at Mumbai (Maharashtra) & Surat (Gujarat). They have employee strength of around 170 consisting of more than 18 Legal and Accounting Experts. Each Department is headed by a Professional who exclusively deals in their respective field of expertise, thereby delivering Multidisciplinary solutions to clients.

Pipara & Co. has been practicing in the field of Taxation since 32 years. Considered as amongst the leading Counsels in Gujarat (India), they have established themselves as reliable, efficient and progressive consultants, experts in the fields of Direct Taxation.

With the changing laws and regulations in the Taxation Environment of India, Pipara & Co. was at the helm of affairs backed by research and in-depth knowledge of Law. International Taxation has been a relatively new field in India, and Pipara & Co. has leveraged their position in the field by gaining commanding knowledge of Double Taxation Avoidance Treaties between various countries with India. They have steered their clients (having an exposure to International Trade) towards Tax Efficient Structures and saved taxes by documenting Relief Claims under Double Taxation Laws. Their insights into the Global Economy and Economic Trends, combined with their understanding of each of their clients business gives them a competitive edge over others practitioners.

The Cross Border Taxation Advisory is managed by Mr. Naman Pipara. He has a strong grip over the subject and is well versed with tax treaties, thereby delivering timely and effective advice to clients for their Cross Border Transactions. His practical approach coupled with profound knowledge of Laws makes him stand out from other consultants.

Pipara & Co. is recognized as amongst the leaders in Cross Border Taxation Advisory, International Taxation & Transfer Pricing Practice in India.

Pipara & Co. is also a part of the MSI Global Alliance, having member firms in more than 100 Countries consisting of more than 250 Accountancy and Law Firms throughout the world.

This gives them the advantage of having access to Local Lawyers and CPA’s / Accountants in every Major Business City.

Naman Pipara I nt e r n at i o n a l Ta x at i o n Pa rt n e r - i n - C h a r g e Email: naman@pipara.com ; Landline: +91 79 40 370 370 Fax: +91 79 40370376 Direct Line : + 91 992 400 0078 w w w. p i p a r a . c o m

THAILAND FULL SERV ICE TAX A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR

Our fully integrated tax and legal services cover all aspects of taxation together with a full range of legal services.

Our experienced team possesses in-depth industry knowledge in Thailand, and combined with our global network, this allows PwC to deliver appropriate tax and legal solutions, formulate tax strategies and planning, and help our clients to manage implementation and risk. Manage your tax activities with PwC Thailand.

Our business law practice in Thailand also comprises highly qualified Thai lawyers with extensive experience of delivering quality legal services to major Thai and foreign corporations.

We offer a comprehensive range of legal services from general advisory work to full transactional support and the structuring, restructuring, documentation and implementation of large-scale commercial projects. Legal advice can be provided either independently or in conjunction with the specialist tax, financial and other business advisory services that PwC offers in Thailand.

K e y Ta x S e r v i c e s

• • • • • • • • • •

Tax Compliance Services Tax Dispute Resolution Tax Mergers & Acquisitions International Tax Services VAT (Indirect Taxation) Transfer Pricing Services Outsourcing Services Investment Promotion: BOI services International Assignment Services (IAS) Legal Services -

Corporate and Commercial Corporate Secretarial Dispute Resolution and Litigation Employment Intellectual Property Legal Mergers and Acquisitions

Tax Lead Partner M r. T h a v o r n R u j i v a n a r o m thavorn.rujivanarom@th.pwc.com P r i c e w a t e r h o u s e C o o p e r s L e g a l & Ta x Consultants Ltd. 1 5 t h F l o o r B a n g k o k C i t y To w e r, 179/74-80 South Sathorn Road Bangkok 10120 Te l . : ( 6 6 ) 2 7 8 8 0 0 0 0 Fax.: (66) 2286 2666 w w w. p w c . c o m / t h / e n / t a x / i n d e x - t a x . j h t m l

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

THAILAND

TRANSFER PRICING A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR I N T E R N AT I O N A L TA X A D V I S O R Y O F T H E Y E A R I N D I R E C T TA X A D V I S O R Y O F T H E Y E A R

Our fully integrated tax and legal services cover all aspects of taxation together with a full range of legal services.

Our experienced team possesses in-depth industry knowledge in Thailand, and combined with our global network, this allows PwC to deliver appropriate tax and legal solutions, formulate tax strategies and planning, and help our clients to manage implementation and risk.

Manage your tax activities with PwC Thailand.

Our business law practice in Thailand also comprises highly qualified Thai lawyers with extensive experience of delivering quality legal services to major Thai and foreign corpo rations, We offer a comprehensive range of legal services from general advisory work to full transactional support and the structuring, restructuring, documentation and implementation of large-scale commercial projects. Legal advice can be provided either independently or in conjunction with the specialist tax, financialand other business advisory services that PwC offers in Thailand.

Key Tax Services • Tax Compliance Services • Tax Dispute Resolution • Tax Mergers & Acquisitions • International Tax Services • VAT (Indirect Taxation) • Transfer Pricing Services • Outsourcing Services • Investment Promotion: BOI services • International Assignment Services (IAS) • Legal Services o Corporate and Commercial o Corporate Secretarial o Dispute Resolution and Litigation o Employment o Intellectual Property o Legal Mergers and Acquisitions

With the ever-increasing scrutiny of transfer pricing activity by tax authorities worldwide, we can help you develop compliant tax-efficient structures; prepare for rapid audit response; resolve transfer pricing disputes; and decrease transfer pricing exposure in future periods.

PwC’s transfer pricing professionals have recently assisted clients with the following: • Developing coordinated, centralised global documentation and defence processes that incorporate the requirements of each jurisdiction • Transfer pricing planning studies • Evaluating transfer pricing risks • Drafting economic and industry studies • Negotiating Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) • Developing sales and marketing organisations to centrally control and manage sales to third parties, as well as the accompanying risks • Benchmarking of fees related to licensing of intangible assets & royalties • Global dispute resolution and Competent Authority negotiations • Performing due diligence functions • Providing expert testimony and litigation support in many countries where our clients operate • Value Chain Transformation (VCT) • Transfer pricing analyses • Evaluation of reserves necessary for uncertain tax positions (e.g., FIN48) Contacts Peerapat Poshyanonda (Partner) Tel: +66 (0) 2344 1220 peerapat.poshyanonda@th.pwc.com

Transfer Pricing

Janaiporn Khantasomboon (Partner) Tel: +66 (0) 2344 1437 janaiporn.khantasomboon@th.pwc.com

The PwC Thailand Transfer Pricing Practice can help you manage transfer pricing risks and identify opportunities to improve the sustainable tax efficiencey of your business.

Niphan Srisukhumbowornchai (Partner) Tel: +66 (0) 2344 1435 Niphan.srisukhumbowornchai@th.pwc.com

Our combined experience enables us to develop innovative approaches for an expansive list of clients, from high growth entrepreneurs to established market leaders, in a wide range of industries. We can provide you with: • • • • •

Innovative planning ideas A broad range of documentation options Controversy resolution capabilities Access to our global network Fast and insightful updates on legislative and regulatory devel opments © Q u e nt i n B a r g at e 2 0 1 3

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

THAILAND

TRANSFER PRICING A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR I N T E R N AT I O N A L TA X A D V I S O R Y O F T H E Y E A R I N D I R E C T TA X A D V I S O R Y O F T H E Y E A R

International Tax Structuring

VAT (Indirect Taxation)

Tax Structuring services include a range of solutions designed to reduce direct and indirect tax costs through the use of efficient structuring techniques and trading arrangements. We assist with:

Through indirect tax planning, companies can gain advantages by lowering their exposure to VAT and duties, as well as optimising cash flows. Lack of familiarity with indirect tax regimes can result in unforeseen compliance costs and tax assessments resulting in avoidable penalties. Careful tax planning can circumvent any potential negative impact on business profitability.

• • • • •

International Tax Planning Tax-efficient group reorganisation Value chain transformation Group tax-planning programmes Finance and treasury

Through our integrated offerings we can help you: Align tax/fiscal and operational models • Attain sustainable structural tax improvements, increase shareholder value and cash flow • Achieve a rationalised manufacturing capacity and optimised physical distribution network • Establish potential synergies within your supply chain and operating structure Align profits with restructured business processes: Obtain the flexibility to accomodate future business changes

Our team in Thailand has worked extensively with clients on their indirect tax issues both from a Thai and an international perspective. Our services include: • •

VAT advice/planning VAT compliance review

Contacts Thavorn Rujivanarom ( Tax Lead Partner) Tel: +66 (0) 2344 1444 thavorn.rujivanarom@th.pwc.com

Contacts

Somboon Weerawutiwong (Partner) Tel: +66 (0) 2344 1247 somboon.weerawutiwong@th.pwc.com

Paul Stitt (Partner) Tel: +66 (0) 2344 1119 paul.stitt@th.pwc.com

Somsak Anakkasela (Partner) Tel: +66 (0) 2344 1253 somsak.anakkasela@th.pwc.com

Prema Rao (Associate Partner) Tel: +66 (0) 2344 1156 prema.rao@th.pwc.com

PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal & Tax Consultants Ltd. 15th Floor Bangkok City Tower, 179/74-80 South Sathorn Road Bangkok 10120 Tel.: (66) 2344 1000 Fax.: (66) 2286 2666 http://www.pwc.com/th/en/tax/index-tax.jhtml

Vanida Vasuvanichchanchai (Associate Partner) Tel: +66 (0) 2344 1303 vanida.vasuwanichchanchai@th.pwc.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

INDIA

TRA DEMARK LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

The firm: R K Dewan & Co was founded in 1942 and has completed over 71 years of committed and excellent service in the field of Intellectual Property Rights.

RKD has its head office in Mumbai, with branch offices in New Delhi, Pune, Chennai and Kolkata; cities that are the settings of the multiple geographical locations of the Patent & Trademark Offices in India. RKD is therefore well poised to serve its over 4000 corporate and individual clients worldwide including several of the top Indian companies. The firm is assisted by a complement of 85 dedicated and painstakingly trained advocates (lawyers), engineers, scientists, Patent attorneys, Trademark Attorneys, paralegals and executives equipped to deliver promptly and efficiently.

RKD has built a close-knit, dependable and extensive network of associates in India and in over 125 countries throughout the world.

They are therefore able to cater to national and international IP filing, prosecution and domestic and trans-border litigation across all tiers of the judiciary.

Our services RKD believes in offering customised, cost-effective and innovative solutions across all verticals of IP. RKD is actively involved in advising clients on every aspect of IP, including Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Design. The firm regularly handles large volumes of both IP prosecution and litigation matters on behalf of its many clients.

Having drafted and successfully prosecuted over 5,000 patent specifications globally, Dr Mohan Dewan, the head of RKD, has come to be acknowledged as an expert in the field of patent specification drafting. Dr Dewan leads the RKD team in consistently formulating and executing winning India-centric strategies for IP prosecution and litigation in the country.

RKD’s range of services include: Patents | Trademarks & Service Marks | Copyright | Design | IP Litigation | Anti-Counterfeit | Agreement Drafting | Technology Transfer | IP Valuation | IP Audit | Prior art, Patentability & Freedom to Operate Searches | Technology Maps | IP Training & Education RKD is highly sought after for its values of responsiveness, attention to detail, client-centric culture, adaptability to changing IP landscapes and transparency and honesty in all of their dealings.

Areas of Expertise RKD serves clients across a very broad spectrum of industries and all areas of technology including but not limited to: Software, Electronics & Telecommunication, Automobiles, Mechanical engineering, Power Sector, Specialty Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Biomedical Devices, Food packaging technology, Process equipment, Textiles, and the Entertainment industry.

Contact Details of Our Offices Mumbai Office (Head Office) Address R K Dewan & Co 1147-B, Mohan Villa, Shivajinagar, Pune 411016, Maharashtra, India Tel: +91-20-66871200 | Fax: +91-20-66871221 Phone: (91)(22) 2266 1662 (91)(22) 6177 5300 (91)(22) 2266 3002 Fax :(91)(22) 2265 0159 Email: dewan@rkdewanmail.com Email: niti_dewan@rkdewanmail.com Website: www.rkdewan.com MUMBAI | PUNE | DELHI | CHENNAI | KOLKATA

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

INDIA PRI VATE EQUI TY AND VENTURE CAPI TAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Redclays Capital is a Indian Venture Capital and Private Equity firm focus to invest in emerging companies with a fast growth potential, investing from early stage to growth expansion. We invest both as minority and majority Equity, in companies which show immense potential, are superior in their entrepreneurial ventures, We invests in unflappable entrepreneurial spirit, which mirrors a strong potential to grow exponentially, both in revenues and profits.

Redclays Capital a fast emerging venture capital firm founded with a vision to empower entrepreneurs across Industries to build and innovate. The most significant advantage is the strength of its experience in the industries that it invests in.We only engages in industry sectors wherein its team has intimate knowledge and extensive experience.

We proactively focus our efforts within the most promising companies independent of stage of business maturity and bring more than funding to the table. Our insight into market dynamics, competitive intelligence, and defining long-term growth strategies all come well endorsed .We blend the investment approach and ability of a totally self-determining Private Equity firm with unique access to vast geographic and industry resources

Our Investment approach involves: Identifying a promising, highly reliable, bankable and a robust company, with a dynamic management team at the helm, that is passionate about growing big.

Availability of cash on demand and transparent exit routes, that help realize the stipulated investment objectives and ROI in as less time as is possible.

During the exit phase, the investment manager consults with all the shareholders and initiates and manages the closing stage of the participation. It could be managed either through a strategic transaction like an IPO or a buy-out by another interested investor.

Our team is able to lead these delicate partnerships into compelling successful stories in various phases of the investment. Our vast network and reach of corporate, business leaders and market participants provides us with quality deals and enables us to conclude investments in a highly competitive environment.

Redclays Capital Pvt Ltd L e v e l 1 5 , C o n c o r d e To w e r s , ' U B C i t y ' , Vi t t a l M a l l y a R o a d , Bangalore 560001, India.

Te l N o : + 9 1 - 8 0 - 6 7 5 9 0 4 7 7 Fax No: +91-80-67590400 We b s i t e : w w w. r e d c l a y s . c o m

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

TAIWAN PATENT PROSECUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IP LAWYER OF THE YEAR, RUSSELL HORNG Rich IP & Co. has become a fast-growing IP firm that personally caters to each client’s intellectual property cases and IP requirements. Every senior member of Rich IP & Co. has been a supervisor and educator at other active IP firms in Taiwan and active in IP law for more than 20 years. Our senior members have also delivered more than nine hundred (900) IP seminars and training courses for patent examiners of the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO), Board of Appeal of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, judges, public prosecutors, lawyers, in-house counselors of corporations, research institutes and universities.

patent database.

In June 2005, Taiwan government established the “Taiwan Intellectual Property Training Academy (TIPA) to train 10,000 IPR practitioners for Taiwan society before the year 2015. Rich IP & Co. was designated by the TIPA to be the primary team, offering the most number and hours of patent training courses compared to all other participating Taiwan IP firms, in supporting the national project. Russell has been a counselor and senior lecturer at the TIPA since 2005.

Mr. Russell Horng, leader of Rich IP & Co. has been at the forefront and was invited by Taiwan government to provide knowledge and experiences in patent validity and infringement issues to Taiwan judges since 1996. Russell has also been invited by the Judicial Yuan to deliver a number of patent training courses for all candidates to be IP judges and the technical examination officers of the IP Court since 2005. He has been invited by the Judicial Yuan to act as an examiner for reviewing the qualification of applicants for positions as IP judges with the Taiwan IP Court.

Russel Horng E-mail: Russell.horng@richip.com E-mail: rich@richip.com

Russell has also been invited by the TIPO on numerous occasions to act as consultant, reviewer and lecturer. In 2004, Russell was asked by the Taiwan government to act as Chairman in undertaking the National Project of Improving the Quality of Taiwan Patent Filing and Examination. He was also asked by the TIPO to act as an expert reviewer of the qualification of outstanding examiners and assist the TIPO in establishing the new

Philippines

Phone: +886-2-2713-1060 Facsimile: +886-2-2713-1059 Address: 6F, No. 261, Sec. 3, Nan-king E. Rd., Taipei 105, Taiwan

BANK OF THE YEAR - SECURITY BANK

Philippines - LEADING BANK OF THE YEAR - SECURITY BANK CORPORATION -

WINNER www.securitybank.com

Security Bank Corporation is one of the Philippines’ leading universal banks serving retail, commercial, corporate and institutional clients. Established on June 18, 1951, Security Bank was publicly listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE: SECB) in 1995.

Security Bank’s major businesses include retail, commercial, corporate banking, and financial markets. It offers a wide range of services in financing and leasing, foreign exchange brokerage, stock brokerage, investment banking and asset management through its subsidiaries and affiliates.

In February 2012, the bank acquired a thrift bank, Premiere Development Bank and renamed it Security Bank Savings to further expand the bank’s distribution reach nationwide and serve the needs of the consumer finance, small and mid-sized market segments.

The Bank remains one of the most stable in the banking industry and is steadfast in its commitment to continuously provide exceptional value to its clients and stakeholders. Security Bank has been acclaimed with awards and recognition from international and local organizations for product innovation, market leadership, and best-of-class management practices.

Security Bank defines success beyond business through various educational and livelihood activities, disaster relief operations and other sustainable programs that help create positive social changes in the communities they serve.

For more information contact: investorrelationsoffice@securitybank.com.ph 'LUHFW /LQH ‡ 7UXQN /LQH

INDIA BANK OF THE YEAR ( WEALTH MANAGEMENT )

Standard Chartered Bank is India's largest international bank with 100 branches in 43 cities, a combined customer base of around two million retail customers and around 2,500 corporate and institutional relationships. Key client segments include Corporate & Institutional Clients, Commercial & Private Banking Clients as well as Retail Clients. The various product groups offered include Corporate Finance, Financial Markets, Transaction Banking, Wealth Management as well as Retail Products.

Globally, we are a leading international banking group, with more than 86,000 employees and a 150-year history in some of the world’s most dynamic markets. We bank the people and companies driving investment, trade and the creation of wealth across Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, Here for good.

Wealth Management Standard Chartered is amongst the pioneers in India to offer Wealth Management services to clients, with a dedicated specialist team focused on delivering high quality solutions to clients across segments. Our clients are central to everything we do and we support them at every level, from relationship managers who listen, to specialists who provide domain expertise, and an

entire bank which responds. Our key focus is our client’s unique financial situation, needs, and attitude to risk. And our constant endeavor is to bring together suitable products that help meet their needs.

We understand our clients, their needs and objectives. We provide actionable, relevant and objective information, and access to specialist investment knowledge. We recommend relevant investment products after careful product evaluation and assessment. Our clients can leverage our sophisticated portfolio reporting platform to get updated comprehensive reports of their investments. Clients have expressed deep appreciation and value from our regular product performance review. We also provide clients access to regular publications like Market commentary, Market view and investment strategies to help them stay updated with market and product performance.

For more information, visit https://www.sc.com/in/

M r. V i s h a l K a p o o r R e g i o n a l H e a d , We a l t h M a n a g e ment, South Asia Standard Chartered Bank C r e s c e n z o , 3 A / F, C - 3 8 / 3 9 , G Block Bandra - Kurla Complex, Bandra (East), Mumbai – 400 051, India

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Japan iP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR SUGIMURA International Patent & Trademark Attorneys is a leading IP law firm in Japan which was founded in 1923.

SUGIMURA has earned a reputation for high quality and is repeatedly ranked among the top Japanese patent and trademark firms. It has offices in Japan and the United States, providing convenient IP services to both domestic and international clients.

SUGIMURA delivers results-oriented solutions and offers customised services tailored to clients’ needs. SUGIMURA understands the importance of branding within an organisation’s corporate strategy and provides a comprehensive range of trademark-related services. The firm has extensive experience representing clients in trademark and design and patent matters, including clearance, registration, arbitration, litigation and border enforcement. SUGIMURA has distinguished itself through its quality work and has been listed as a leading Japanese trademark prosecution law firm.

SUGIMURA patent attorneys also provide a full range of patent prosecution, licensing and counselling services in virtually every technology sector. Similar to its trademark practice, SUGIMURA has differentiated itself for its quality patent draftsmanship and continues to be ranked among the top patent prosecution law firms in Japan. It ensures close collaboration among its practice groups in order to provide clients with comprehensive multi- disciplinary patent and trademark protection across sectors. Its attorneys combine legal insight, technical expertise and business acumen to deliver practical solutions and strategies for IP protection in Japan.

SUGIMURA represents both Japanese and international clients pursuing patent, design and trademark protection in Japan. Its clientele ranges from single inventors and start-ups to well-established academic institutions and multinational corporations from all sectors of the global economy, including automotive, aviation, transportation, food and beverages, consumer goods, fashion, sports and recreation, colleges and universities, chemical, software and hardware, electronics, e-commerce, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical, energy, agriculture, entertainment and media, construction, semiconductors, optics, telecommunications and manufacturing.

SUGIMURA attorneys are active in their community, presenting on topics regarding Japanese IP practice at in-house client presentations, patent seminars and law school classes. The firm also publishes articles on Japanese IP practice in magazines distributed around the world.

President Kenji Sugimura C o m m o n G a t e W e s t To w e r 3 6 F Kasumigaseki 3-2-1, Chiyoda-ku To k y o 1 0 0 - 0 0 1 3 , J a p a n Email: k.sugimura@sugi.pat.co.jp Te l : + 8 1 - 3 - 3 5 8 1 - 2 2 4 1 Fax: +81-3-3580-0506 Web: http://sugi.pat.co.jp

Partner

Senior Manager

Ta t s u y a S a w a d a

H a r u o Aw a n o

paloalto@sugi.pat.co.jp

sugimura@sugi.pat.co.jp

Japan TRA DEMARK FIRM OF THE YEAR SUGIMURA International Patent & Trademark Attorneys is a leading IP law firm in Japan which was founded in 1923. SUGIMURA has earned a reputation for high quality and is repeatedly ranked among the top Japanese patent and trademark firms. It has offices in Japan and the United States, providing convenient IP services to both domestic and international clients.

SUGIMURA delivers results-oriented solutions and offers customised services tailored to clients’ needs. SUGIMURA understands the importance of branding within an organisation’s corporate strategy and provides a comprehensive range of trademark-related services. The firm has extensive experience representing clients in trademark and design and patent matters, including clearance, registration, arbitration, litigation and border enforcement. SUGIMURA has distinguished itself through its quality work and has been listed as a leading Japanese trademark prosecution law firm.

has earned an international reputation for quality in Japanese IP prosecution and is repeatedly ranked among the top Japanese patent and trademark law firms. SUGIMURA patent and trademark attorneys possess expertise in virtually every technology sector. They are not only skilled in the nuances of IP laws and regulations; they are also technical experts in almost every industry.

SUGIMURA attorneys have years of experience SUGIMURA

working in-house at major corporations as researchers, engineers and IP professionals. Some have also served for decades at the Japanese Patent Office (JPO). This combination of expertise allows them to understand the perspectives of corporations and patentees as well as the JPO, enabling them to deliver practical and effective solutions to further their clients’ business objectives.

In order to better serve its foreign clients, SUGIMURA established a regional office in Palo Alto, California. The Palo Alto office offers clients the personalised care of a boutique firm while drawing on both the resources of its Tokyo office and the strength of its global network. At the regional office, SUGIMURA meets with clients regularly to develop IP strategies to meet their business objectives in Japan, discuss intricate technical and legal issues and offer tutorials on Japanese patent practice. Its Palo Alto and Tokyo offices work together seamlessly to deliver tailored solutions and around-the-clock service.

President Kenji Sugimura C o m m o n G a t e W e s t To w e r 3 6 F Kasumigaseki 3-2-1, Chiyoda-ku To k y o 1 0 0 - 0 0 1 3 , J a p a n Email: k.sugimura@sugi.pat.co.jp Te l : + 8 1 - 3 - 3 5 8 1 - 2 2 4 1 Fax: +81-3-3580-0506 Web: http://sugi.pat.co.jp

Partner

Chief attorney of Trademark division

Ta t s u y a S a w a d a

Yu k o M u r a m a t s u ,

paloalto@sugi.pat.co.jp

ftm@sugi.pat.co.jp

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

europe

The European Union has undergone a modest economic recovery since 2010 following the global economic crisis. A slowdown in the pace of structural reforms accompanied by economic volatility and political tensions affecting several countries may challenge the economic recovery of the region in the near future.

Economic growth in Europe remains slower than in other developing regions. For 2014, GDP growth in all regions is expected to be around 2%.

For Central and South East European (CSEE) countries, this is a slight acceleration from 2012 and 2013 when growth was feeble (0.7% in 2012 and 1.3% in 2013). Several CSEE countries will continue to experience unemployment rates of above 10% in 2014.

In the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) economies, economic growth has slowed by more than 2%age points from its 2011 level and prospects for a rebound are not promising.

In Turkey, we also note a marked slowdown in economic growth to 2% compared to 4.3% in 2013.

CSEE countries are expected to grow by 2.3% on average during 2014, while average growth for the CIS economies is projected at 1.9%.

Uncertainty in the external environment may also affect economic growth during 2014.

Speculation about the end of the quantitative easing policy in the United States significantly reduced capital flows to the region during 2013 and may continue to do so in 2014. Furthermore, political tensions in the region may affect not only the Russian and Ukrainian economies, but also other economies in the region. Lower growth expectations in Russia can be expected to slow down economic growth in its closest economic partners.

Domestic factors will also be important in shaping the effect of international forces on economic growth. High levels of external debt in some countries make them particularly vulnerable to changing conditions in international financial markets. Fiscal consolidation in some of the economies of the Western Balkans might partially offset the contribution of stronger exports to GDP growth. The high levels of Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) in the region, together with an ongoing restructuring of the banking sector, could negatively affect investment and consumer demand in 2014.

On the other hand, the projected stability of oil prices could mitigate uncertainty among energy exporters in the region. Economic recovery in the Euro Area – an important destination for exports and migrants from European countries – could also contribute to sustained economic growth in the region.

soft energy prices in Europe contribute to the East’s economic weakness.

Northern Europe’s growth will be strong according to IMF forecasts. Western European countries will grow moderately, and Southern European a little less so.

The IMF forecast is plausible but optimistic but debt is still much too high in Southern Europe.

The financial crisis is not much in the news now, but the problem lingers.

The Russia-Ukraine hostilities continue to be a major risk to all of Europe. European economies are likely to expand this year and next, but there are certainly nerves about the entire region. The downside possibilities seem much larger than the upside.

Is Europe’s economy finally getting its act together? That’s what the International Monetary Fund thinks, according to its latest World Economic Outlook. The IMF is expecting moderate growth on the Continent this year and next.

Data suggested an upward trend until recently.

Industrial production in Europe rose slowly from summer 2012 through last September. Since then, though, production has levelled off. Over the past year, countries in the European Union have expanded industrial production just 1.1 percent.

Two years ago, Eastern Europe was looking strong, but now not so much. Tension between Russia and Ukraine is part of the problem, but

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

CYPRUS CORPORATE GOVERNANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR FOR THE 3RD CONSECUTIVE YEAR OVERALL FULL SERVICE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LAWYER OF THE YEAR, ANGELOS G. PAPHITIS AGP Law Firm (A.G. Paphitis & Co LLC) is one of the fastest-growing, full-service, multi-awarded International Law Firms and Business Consultants in Cyprus.

Clients from all over the world, including private individuals and corporations, banks, multi-million and multi-billion groups and foundations, rely on AGP for tailor-made advice to help them succeed in their objectives, whatever these may be, from private matters to large business imperatives.

OUR SERVICES AGP was initially founded as company & commercial boutique law firm, which very shortly afterwards expanded to become a full-service firm. It is currently divided into three main departments, as follows: LITIGATION DEPARTMENT Our litigation team undertakes every kind of civil, commercial and company law advisory, advocacy, pleading and drafting work, regarding among others real estate, commercial and immigration issues and every kind of court case, including complex and high stakes corporate and company law disputes, property and contractual disputes, family and matrimonial disputes, personal injuries, insurance and road traffic accident claims, landlord and tenant disputes and general civil litigation disputes in Cyprus and abroad.

COMMERCIAL & CORPORATE DEPARTMENT The fast growth of our Firm is due to our unconditionally high standards and to our members’ solid academic background and experience in consulting corporate organisations and international groups on their company law, group structuring and corporate governance matters.

Furthermore, our Corporate Department represents a number of companies for their day-to-day management and administration, their AGMs and EGMs, providing all the necessary minutes and resolutions in order to ensure full compliance with Company Law requirements.

FINANCIAL SERVICES ADVISORY, PRIVATE BANKING AND PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT Our Financial Services Advisory Department offers various services among which are the following: Financial & Banking Advisory, Asset Management & Portfolio Management Advisory, Regulatory Compliance, Anti-Money Laundering and Risk Management Advisory.

AGP has undertaken licensing of a great number of Financial Services (FX) firms in Cyprus (by CySEC) and worldwide (New Zealand by FMA, Belize by FSC, BVI by FSC, UK by FSA [now FCA]). Our comprehensive package includes among others the preparation of business plans, financial forecasting, drafting of operations manuals, compliance manuals, AML and Risk Management manuals.

Angelos G.Paphitis

Managing Director AGP Chambers 84, Spyrou Kyprianou Ave, 4004 Limassol, Cyprus P.O.Box 58419, 3734 Limassol, Cyprus Tel. +357 25 731000 Fax +357 25 761004 E-mail: agp@agplaw.com www.agplaw.com

ITALY CIVIL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR AC Avvocati e Commercialisti is comprised of a close-knit team of about 25 professionals who offer consultancy services principally on tax, corporate, litigation, bankruptcy and employment law matters. AC Avvocati e Commercialisti offers a full range of services which include day-to-day accounting and administrative services, specialized expertise in arbitration and creditors' composition procedures, as well as civil law and tax-related litigation. The Firm’s clients include mid-sized and large domestic and international corporations operating principally in the manufacturing, services and financial sectors.

employees in employment termination cases and in the drafting of contracts of employment. The EPB practice of AC Avvocati e Commercialisti is specialized in providing assistance in the following matters: negotiations with trade unions, collective dismissals, transfers of undertaking, restructurings, top executives compensation and benefits, litigation, individual or collective employment issues.

The Corporate Advisory and Civil Law practice of AC Avvocati e Commercialisti is headed by Angelo Colombo and offers a one-stop shopping to clients capable of providing a full range of services covering all tax and legal matters relevant for businesses at all phases of their development: Planning and management of start-up enterprises Incorporation and drafting of deeds of incorporation, by-laws and shareholders' agreements Mergers, acquisitions, liquidations, divestments, corporate restructurings Assistance in corporate transactions involving the transfer of the company abroad Tax advice on day-to-day matters and compliance Legal assistance in connection with litigation and arbitration National and international auditing and reporting The Employment Pensions and Benefits practice of AC Avvocati e Commercialisti is headed by Martino Canal and provides day-to-day assistance in labour matters, either contentious or non contentious, to a number of corporations in the following industries: pharmaceutical, chemistry, finance, it, services, distribution, media. In addition, AC Avvocati e Commercialisti provides assistance in labour matters to other law firms in the context of M&A transactions. The EPB practice provides also assistance on a continuous basis to top managers and key

Angelo Colombo Partners

AC Avvocati e Commercialisti Piazzale Luigi Cadorna n. 2, Milan 20123 Italy +39 0287287800 +39 0287287786 angelo.colombo@actaxlaw.com martino.canal@actaxlaw.com www.actaxlaw.com

Martino Canal Partners

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

GERMANY

BOUTIQUE MERCHANT BANKING FIRM OF THE YEAR

Boutique Merchant Banking Fir m of the Year 2014 – for the second consecutive year.

A cxit Capital advised on landmark Asia-Europe acquisitions, inter national sell-sides and expands af ter a successful 2013 Acxit Capital again demonstrates its strength in advising clients on strategic East-West cross-border takeovers, inter national sell sides and Ger man restr ucturings. The anouncement of the ACQ award of Boutique Merchant Banking Fir m 2014 –Ger many, for the second consecutive year, also reflects the reputation of Acxit Capital for providing its clients with long-ter m strategic advice with tangible positive results, regardless of the complexity of the deal, regions or sectors involved.

Major transactions included advisor y ser vices for Ger many ’s Grohe Group (Grohe), one of the world’s leading providers of sanitar y fittings, in concluding the sale to Japan’s Lixil Corporation and Development Bank of Japan of an 87.5% equity interest in the company. With an implied Enterprise Value of EUR 3.06 bn, this transaction represents the largest ever Ger man investment by a Japanese company. Acxit Capital assisted Grohe as well as shareholders Texas Pacific Group (TPG) and Donaldson Lufkin Jenrette (DLJ) jointly with Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse during the complex dual track process of a possible IPO and cross-border sale providing both M&A and capital markets advice. Acxit Capital had previously advised Grohe’s break-through market entr y into China in a staged value-enhancing acquisition of the Chinese market leader, Joyou AG. In a further Ger man/Asian transaction, Ger many ’s leading branded home communications company, Gigaset AG, a for mer Siemens business, is undergoing a friendly takeover offer by the renowned Hong Kong-based consumer electronics entrepreneur, Pan Sutong through his fund Goldin Fund Pte. Ltd. Acxit Capital assisted Gigaset and the management board in this successful capital raising and partnering to secure access to strategic investors who could boost its existing and future business activities. Prior to that, Acxit had advised Gigaset in its successful debt restr ucturing.

Acxit Capital also advised Kunert AG, one of Ger many ’s leading hosier y producers and brands, and insolvency administrator Schneider Geiwitz in a successful capital-raising process following Kunert’s extensive restr ucturing according to the new Ger man insolvency laws. The renowned Austrian investor Dr. E. Grossnigg/Austroholding and a consortium of investors acquired Kunert in an asset deal.

Earlier in 2013 Acxit Capital advised Cincinatti-based Spears Inc. in its sale to Austrian Constantia Flexibles Packaging owned largely by One Equity Partners (OEP). The acquisition of a leading inter national

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

pressure sensitive labelling business for med a key part of Constantia’s expansion strategy. Spears executives assumed leading management positions in the enlarged group.

These deals bring Acxit Capital’s total completed transactions to eight for 2013 with a deal volume of approx. EUR 4 bn. placing it well ahead in the Ger man M&A league tables. Recent deals have involved inter national publicly-listed companies and projects for investor groups and corporates in different industr y sectors, with different strategic issues. This deal flow also continues to demonstrate Acxit Capital’s inter national capabilities and reach, especially into China.

Acxit Capital’s commitment to Asia is underpinned by the launch of a Hong Kong office led by a team of local experts with substantial experience in inter national finance, M&A , strategic advisor y in Asia-based operations and supply-chain management. In addition, Acxit Capital has expanded its Swiss presence in Zürich.

Acxit Capital Management is an independent, privately-owned boutique merchant banking fir m founded in 1999 with offices in Frankfurt, Zürich and Hong Kong. Ser vices include financial and strategic advisor y, capital raising, principal investments and asset management ser vices, with expertise in East-West transactions and Asia-based operations. Our activities in financial and strategic advisor y include strategic and corporate development, restr ucturing, capital markets, mergers & acquisitions and disposals. We believe in long ter m relationships with clients in all corporate finance and investment matters taking a holistic solution-based approach. We assist listed corporations, family businesses and entrepreneurs, financial sponsors, family offices and institu-tional investors both in Europe and inter nationally. We have inter national partnerships with Tata Strategic and Tata Capital in India, in China with CICC and Capital First Partners as well as Istnvest in Turkey.

Acxit Capital’s global managing partners are Johannes Lucas, Thomas Klack, Jens Tschauder, Dr. Hanns Alexander Klemm and Peter Hollmann.

F o r m o r e i n f o r m at i o n o n A c x i t C a p i ta l a n d i t s a c h i e v e m e nt s , v is i t www.acxi t.com

Dr. Ha n ns-Alexa n der Kle m m A c x i t C a p i ta l M a n a g e m e nt G m b H S i e s m ay e r st r a ß e 2 1 6 0 3 2 3 F r a n k f u rt a m M a i n Tel: +49 (0)69-7706060 Fax: +49-(0)69-77076996 E-Ma il: kle m m@acxi t.com

BELGIUM BUSINESS CRIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR HR A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR AFSCHRIFT Law Firm is specialized in domestic and international tax law and law relating to white collar crime. AFSCHRIFT law firm was established in Brussels in 1994 and over the years, has expanded its presence and activity in Antwerp, Geneva, Luxembourg, Madrid and Tel Aviv.

The firm advises all taxpayer, natural or legal persons, in order to organize at the best their personal, real property or professional patrimony. As a specialist, it helps its clients in performing transactions including by setting up international financial packages that minimize tax costs while remaining legally compliant.

The firm gives preventive and rigorous advice in relation to the decisions and behavior clients plan to adopt, so as to avoid the application of fiscal and criminal laws.

Furthermore, AFSCHRIFT Law Firm defends all taxpayers in all disputes concerning all taxes matters. The firm undergoing criminal prosecution in tax and all other financial cases, notably to assure respect for their fundamental rights.

AFSCHRIFT often appears as a “pioneer” in respect to the developed argumentation.The firm chose deliberately the “boutique” status as it dedicates its entire activity to the sphere of Tax Law and Financial Criminal Law. This situation allows the firm to gather real specialist lawyers. This grants also the firm a large independence.

With over 30 years experience in domestic and international tax law and white-collar crime law, Professor Thierry AFSCHRIFT leads the firm’s practice and advises a significant number of major companies and banks, in reorganizations, tax planning and tax litigation.

He is the Founder and a board member of the tax Management School at the Solvay Business School of the Université Libre de Bruxelles. Thierry AFSCHRIFT is deputy judge at the Court of Appeal in Brussels.

He is admitted to the Brussels Bar, the Geneva Bar, to the Bar of Luxembourg and to the Bar of Antwerp. He is the author of some 75 publications on tax issues and organizes numerous symposia on domestic and international tax matters. He has been awarded many times. He is notably listed in the world finance 100.

Thierry Afschrift AFSCHRIFT LAW FIRM Avenue Louise, 208 B-1050 Brussels BELGIQUE T +32 (0)2 646 46 36 F +32 (0)2 644 38 00 E avocats@afschrift.com www.afschrift.com

UK OIL & GAS CONSULTING FIRM OF THE YEAR

Alesco Risk Management Services Limited is an independent energy insurance broker and risk management consultant providing insurance and risk management solutions to the global energy industry. With dedicated energy specialist practitioners that provide risk management, risk consultancy and risk transfer needs for clients across a global reach and capability its core focus is to provide exemplary service and value.

Alesco offers bespoke solutions informed by the teams' broad base and depth of experience servicing the full range of energy corporations, covering onshore, offshore, under construction and fully operational assets. It is appointed on its merit and capability when providing energy insurance solutions.

With offices in London and Houston, the firm has assembled handpicked teams of premier energy insurance practitioners, equipped to service all of the risk management, risk consultancy and risk transfer needs of its clients, encompassing upstream or downstream operators, contractors and traditional or alternative producers of power.

Alesco London has longstanding and much envied relationships with insurers and reinsurers in Lloyd's of London and the wider London market, as well as all major insurers and reinsurers in the European, Bermudan and international markets. These contacts are complemented by the extensive reach

of Alesco Houston within the North American and international marketplaces.

The team’s clients include companies involved in all facets of the OIL & Gas exploration and production industry; refineries; petrochemicals and pipelines operations.

It handles single and multinational companies, from the start-ups to the integrated oil and gas companies and power companies and is established as a market leader in the provision of insurance and risk consulting services to the shale gas industry.

The Alesco team has many years of experience working with large clients to stress-test alternatives and optimise the insurance programme structure.

Alesco conducts its consulting reviews from an independent perspective to ensure that it is completely objective and can act in its clients' best interests. partner

Derek Thrumble Alesco Risk Management Services Limited 133 Hounsditch London EC3A 7AH Te l : + 4 4 ( 0 ) 2 0 7 2 0 4 8 5 7 5 Fax: +44 (0) 207 204 8998 derek_thrumble@alescorms.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK MONEY LAUNDERING ADVISOR OF THE YEAR, ALISON MATTHEWS

Alison Matthews Consulting Ltd provides practical, commercial and sensible compliance advice/training on a range of issues including anti money laundering (AML). The services include training tailored to the needs of the organisation, (either for employees or for the MLRO), the review of policies and procedures, guidance on specific issues or individual problems.

Alison has been advising on money laundering for over 20 years, she was an MLRO for over 10 years at a top 20 law firm. Before that, she was the Investment Business Executive in Professional Ethics at the Law Society of England and Wales, advising solicitors on money laundering, general conduct and investment business.

She wrote the AML Toolkit (pub Law Society 2012) and the Data Protection Toolkit (pub Law Society 2014), containing practical advice and policies and procedures which can be adapted to fit the needs of the organisation. A member of the Editorial Board of the Legal Compliance Bulletin, she writes regularly in legal publications.

She chaired the highly respected Law Society’s Money Laundering Taskforce having been an inaugural member. She was a key member of the Government’s Money Laundering Advisory Committee and SOCA’s SARs Regime Committee. She is well regarded in government and law enforcement circles and in the higher echelons of the legal profession. She is renowned as one of the UK’s leading experts on money laundering and professional conduct and is seen as a well respected, trusted, pragmatic yet commercial compliance expert with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the relevant law/regulations.

Alison Matthews Consulting Ltd helps organisations to understand and comply with the regulatory obligations, minimising the risk of being used by money launderers and/or facing disciplinary action/fines from the regulators or law enforcement by embedding a culture of compliance.

Alison lectures for all the UK Law Societies, the Isle of Man Law Society and Central Law Training on AML and other compliance issues, both publicly and in house.

FFounding o r f u r t h e rpartner information, please contact Alison Matthews at Alison Matthews Consulting Ltd alm@alisonmatthewsconsulting.co.uk 0780339814.

BULGARIA

WINNER

OVERALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Eurolex Bulgaria is a leading law firm in Bulgaria.

Ever since its establishment in 1997, the company acts as legal counsel to a wide spectrum of private and public entities. The partners in the firm, having significant legal consultants thereafter, have participated in the

acquisitions of property, enterprises or companies.

Our work on some of the biggest transactions in particular sectors, gained us the reputation of a law firm, handling the most complex local transactions in accordance with the highest international quality standards.

drafting of a significant part of the contemporary

Peers and observers report our leading position in 5

Bulgarian legislation. They are steadily considered by

main fields: corporate law and M&As, real estate and

peers and observers to be among the most prominent

construction, energy and natural resources, public

legal experts in the country.

private partnerships and competition.

At present, Eurolex Bulgaria groups 25 attorneys at

In addition, Eurolex Bulgaria has a successful long term cooperation with municipal and governmental

The members of our team are experts with proven

authorities which regularly assign us the legal

competence and international experience.

assistance on issues, related to law drafting, licensing

Eurolex Bulgaria is esteemed for its consultations to foreign companies, operating in various business sectors

procedures, conduct of public procurements, protection of competition, administrative regulation etc.

in Bulgaria. Before 2008, during the real estate boom in

The firm is recommended by Legal 500 and

the country, a major part of our practice was devoted to

Chambers and Partners as top tier and leading.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

6, Nikolay V. Gogol str.

1124 Sofia, Bulgaria tel: (+359 2) 401 9160 fax: (+359 2) 401 9170 GSM: +359 889 52 82 91

IRELAND NICHE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (APARTMENT LAW )

There are now well over half a million people in Ireland living in apartments. Chances are you are one of them. If so, you'll know that owning an apartment comes with plenty of strings attached.

Problems with developers, the running of management companies, sinking funds, service charges and difficulties with neighbours are some of the practical issues that can make owning an apartment a stressful experience.

Well at Apartment Law, what we do is take some of the most common questions asked and answer them in plain English, breaking down the jargon.

Whether you're an owner, a landlord or a tenant, we'll help you get to grips with your rights, as well as your obligations.

As an example, we can help with the smooth transition of common areas from developer to the Owners Management Company making sure that the policies, processes and procedures in place are for the benefit of all owners; and if there are problems, our knowledge and experience at Apartment Law will ensure these are resolved in a practical and cost-effective way.

Our website provides an overview of the general consultancy, legal, financial and tax advice we provide to apartment owners in Ireland. It also provide more detailed information and examples of service specifically for owner occupiers, owners management companies and their Directors, landlords & investors and apartment tenants in Ireland.

In most cases, the specific services we provide depend on our client’s own circumstances and needs. So whatever your circumstances, we are happy to discuss them with you.

Apartment Law & Sonia McEntee Solicitors Dublin provide a range of legal, management and general services specifically tailored for apartment owners, investors & landlords, management companies and apartment tenants in Ireland.

Apartment Law Harmony Court, H a r m o n y R o w, Dublin2 Dublin Te l : 0 1 6 1 4 8 0 7 4 E m a i l : i n f o @ a p a r t m e n t l a w. i e

UK MACRO FUND MANAGER OF THE YEAR Armstrong Investment Managers (AIM) is an independent, award-winning UK FCA registered investment managers. AIM is a client led, fully integrated asset management proposition for high net worth individuals, family offices and boutique wealth managers.

Our focus is on building bespoke portfolios that are entirely asset neutral encompassing bonds, equities, liquid assets, private equity and real estate. AIM has a highly distinctive approach and provides segregated accounts for institutional clients.

We manage a number of internal and external fund mandates and our flagship offerings are FP Distinction Diversified Real Return (DRR) Fund and Diversified Dynamic Solution (DDS) Fund.

among other risk factors. The funds always maintain high levels of liquidity and downside risk is constantly managed.

Our CEO, Dr Ana Armstrong, has led the firm since its inception in 2009. Ana is also non-executive director of the Aberdeen Asian Income Fund. Previously Ana worked at HBOS Plc as co-head of Insight Investment’s $2 billion Multi-Asset Group. Prior to joining Insight Ana worked at UBS Wealth Management as Director & Head of Portfolio Construction for the UBS Managed Accounts Program managing $6 billion and Fischer Francis as fixed income and futures trader. She began her career at Coutts as an investment analyst after graduating with PhD in Quantitative Economics and an MBA from Imperial College in London.

The DRR is a global multi-asset fund, which aims to deliver a return of at least inflation plus 4% per annum, over a market cycle, with no more than a third of equity volatility.

The DDS fund is a diversified macro growth fund, which aims to deliver a return of at least inflation plus 7% per annum over a market cycle, with no more than two-thirds equity volatility.

Armstrong Investment Managers (AIM)

We apply a highly disciplined tactical and trading approach. Our management team monitors portfolio attribution, including leverage, liquidity risk, concentration risk, and market event risk

T: + 4 4 2 0 7 3 7 3 5 7 6 7 F: +44 20 7681 1023 E: aim@armstrongim.com

3 Devonshire Street London, W1W 5DT United Kingdom

FRANCE INDIRECT TAX A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR, ARSENE TAXAND

Arsene Taxand works along side its clients to seize the opportunities and manage risks as regards indirect taxation. Our assistance thus focuses on reducing additional operational costs relative to these taxes, such as negative impacts on the cash flow, penalties related to regulatory irregularities, formalities induced by the non implementation of simplification measure.

• Risk audits and engineering of internal control procedures within the groups and in compliance with the financial security law or American regulations,

In the sectors where VAT and tax on wages theoretically represent a final cost (banks, insurances, holding corporations, travel agencies, associations…), we contribute, together with our international Tax network, Taxand to prepare international benchmarks making it possible to define an optimal tax strategy in compliance with applicable French and EU legislation.

• Representation and/or assistance of foreign companies with tax authorities,

Our team in charge of indirect taxation is head by Alain Recoules with two Partners, three Managers and ten professionals .

Generally, as regards VAT and registration duties, our lawyers –experts, assisted by their foreign correspondents, carry out various types of assignments: • Tax management of the flows relative to goods and services, notably in the context of internal and external reorganizations (“supply chain process”), • Optimization of financial management relative to corporation holdings (VAT/tax on wages),

• Assistance during tax audits and litigations before the French and Community courts,

•

Management of intra-Community flows,

• Adaptation of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and electronic invoicing.

Taxand Global indirect tax team Taxand’s international team of indirect tax professionals brings you the benefit of extensive knowledge and experience in nearly 50 countries. We focus on delivering informed, proactive indirect tax advice that optimizes your tax efficiency and ensures compliance, working in close cooperation with colleagues in other areas of taxation as well as legal advisors to possess the full picture and maximize your tax advantage.

Combining our experience serving multinational and national clients with our knowledge of specific industries, we provide world-class indirect tax services that meet the highest expectations of corporate decision makers at all levels across all sectors.

Alain Recoules – Arsene Taxand VAT & Indirect Taxes Tax Audit & litigation Professional Associations and Memberships French-American Chamber of Commerce

Te l . + 3 3 1 7 0 3 8 8 8 1 7 Cell.+33 626565028 alain.recoules@arsene-taxand.com w w w. a r s e n e - t a x a n d . c o m

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

CZECH OVERALL COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Avast – The Most Trusted Security in the World

Avast Software (www.avast.com), maker of the most trusted mobile and PC security in the world, protects more than 200 million people and businesses with its security applications. Avast's portfolio includes free and premium antivirus suites for consumers and businesses, protecting PCs, Macs, and Android devices. With its solutions, available in 43 languages, Avast is the most global of all security vendors.

Free protection for everyone In business for more than 25 years, Avast is one of the early pioneers of the freemium software model. Avast provides consumers with one of the most downloaded and highest-rated security software of all time.

The company develops all technology in-house, at Avast’s Prague headquarters. Avast’s main emphasis is protection against computer, Internet, and mobile cyber security threats. The software uses a layered approach, with multiple protection modules working in parallel.

history of Google Play. With its app, Avast protects users from mobile vulnerabilities that make them prone to device theft, data loss, and privacy threats, which have recently made headlines when a large number of celebrities had their private content leaked without their knowledge--or consent.

Avast has helped tens of millions of users backup their data, protect their information, and find their lost phones. The anti-theft technology that Avast pioneered two years ago will soon become a legal requirement, as California passed a state bill that requires all phones sold in the state have a “kill switch” to make stolen phones inoperable.

Avast has tracked and found more than 2.2 million lost or misplaced smartphones and users took more than 54,000 “thefties” of thieves trying to unlock their phones to aid with recovery. Avast users have also remotely locked their lost phones more than 600,000 times and remotely wiped data from their phones to protect their valuable data and privacy.

Community is a key aspect of the software’s success, as the vast size of Avast’s user base serves toward earliest possible detection of malicious agents. The software constantly monitors users’ systems for any behavioral changes and is able to inform the backend infrastructure of any suspicious actions, resulting in a truly automated, self-sustained, real-time protection cloud. Each user serves as a remote ‘malware sensor’.

Top-rated protection

Leading mobile protection

In addition to being top-ranked by consumers on popular download portals worldwide, Avast is certified by, among others, VB100, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, OPSWAT, ICSA Labs, and West Coast Labs.

In December 2011, Avast launched avast! Mobile Security, protecting users’ sensitive data on their mobile and tablet devices. In less than 2.5 years, avast! Mobile Security surpassed 100 million downloads faster than any other security application in the

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

AV-Comparatives, one of the leading testing labs in the world, published a global survey earlier this year that ranks AVAST as the most-trusted mobile security provider in North America, South America, and Europe. In Asia, a new market for AVAST, the company ranked third behind two Chinese companies.

UK

M&A ADVISER OF THE YEAR

Established in 1991, Avondale have one of the largest and longest established, specialist corporate teams in the UK providing unrivalled coverage of the business sales and acquisitions market with the highest success rate in the industr y.

Tim Hardman, Managing Director of Avondale, states “ We are delighted with the award; it is a genuine reflection of our reputation within the industr y. It is a recognition of our professionalism and ability to consistently increase value and sell businesses above the expected transaction price in the circa £1m-£20m+ arena. The past year has been a record breaking year for us with exceptional deal values and volumes and, most cr ucially, our success rate hitting 81.6%.

We would like to thank ACQ magazine and their readers for their recognition.”

Providing tr usted advice and realistic valuations is a key part of Avondale’s culture and also cr ucial to their success.

Avondale’s advisors have genuine business acumen and work closely clients to ensure they maximise transaction value, whether that be for larger clients, such as the recent Meter Provida deal or smaller clients, such as Delos Community. It may be that a client is not quite in the right position to exit and achieve the desired value. In that case Avondale’s expert business coaches works with them, providing their unique Value BuilderTM ser vice, to strategically and significantly increase business value.

Avondale tailors its Business Sales Framework, to ensure that all the prerequisite steps, skills and expertise are built into the process to deliver, if not exceed clients’ expectations. “Each client will have different objectives and needs and our sole focus is on meeting these. We lead all stages of the process, reducing our clients’ involvement allowing them to focus on their business. Each phase is as important as the next. For example, we prepare due diligence as early as possible to prevent potential pitfalls and handhold the deal all the way through, even at the final legal stages, to ensure successful completion. Our approach obviously works as we not only have the highest success rate in the industr y but also that our work is predominantly obtained via recommendation, a reflection of our technical abilities, strong ser vice ethos and principles led approach.” continues Hardman.

Innovation has always been key to Avondale in providing the ultimate M&A service to clients. Some of their key milestones include: • • • • • •

1991 – first M&A specialist in SME sector 1997 – first M&A online portal 1999 – international specialist research & partners 2007 – Value Builder – coaching, significantly increasing exit value 2013 – Highest success rate in the industry – 81.6% 2014 – Awarded “UK M&A Adviser of the Year” by ACQ magazine.

“ Going for ward, we see M&A activity further increasing with the acceleration of the economic recover y. The business community feels happier about the world with economic growth becoming a reality and no longer optimistic green shoots. In Avondale’s recent Business Growth sur vey conducted amongst UK business leaders, 67% said that they were in growth mode rather than sur vival. 20% considered acquisition as their key route to growth and 35% were considering an acquisition in the next 2 years. Funding challenges have now eased with bullish forecasts and continuing growth. Interest rates are also at an all-time low meaning that acquisitions are easier and cheaper to fund.

Many trade and financial organisations have high levels of cash in their balance sheets leaving large sums of money available for acquisitions.

Confidence in the Eurozone is retur ning, with consumer confidence at the highest levels since 2007. The Eurozone economy registered its strongest growth levels since the first half of 2011 according to the purchasing managers’ index (PMI). This will attract cash rich inter national buyers that may have previously been reticent to invest in the UK and the rest of Europe due to economic instability.

The slow pace of the recover y ironically has a positive impact on M&A . In a slow economy, organic growth is difficult and there tends to be pressure on margins. This means that business leaders have to find new methods to create and accelerate shareholder value. Acquisitions bringing economies of scale and synergy provide this.

Acquisitions deliver the opportunity to gain new products, market entr y and skills whilst decreasing reliance on diminishing legacy revenues.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK

M&A ADVISER OF THE YEAR

The increase in M&A activity is good news for all sectors but, as always, there will be hot spots. As a direct impact of the last budget, the Asset Management sector is set to become a key area of consolidation. It is estimated that as much as £15b a year could end up in the mutual fund industr y af ter the gover nment announced that pensioners would be able to take greater sums from their pension and spend as they wish rather than having to purchase annuities.

It’s estimated that 70% of private wealth belongs to those that are set to retire in the next 10 years. (Note that these retiring baby boomers will have delayed selling during the economic crisis will now be seeking to exit adding to the expanding M&A industr y). Assuming that they are not all going to r ush out and buy Lamborghinis, this will undoubtedly have an impact on the fund management industr y. The budget announcement boosted share prices in fund managers on the day and could render Asset Management companies, particularly those with a UK focus, as attractive takeover targets.

Some industr y sectors are slimming down to focus on their core activities and divesting subsidiaries that may be detracting from their key revenue generating areas.

Financial Ser vices is a key example, think of RBS’ planned sale of Citizens, their US retail banking ar m. Reuters have forecast a 30% rise in global deal values in Financial Ser vices.

TMT (Technology, Media & Telecoms) are another hot bed of M&A activity. Statistics from MergerMarket show a 54% growth last year in global deals, to more than £300m, the highest since 2006. This has been driven by ongoing innovation, new products and technology, particularly those supporting cloud, security and telecoms.

Constr uction is seen as another key area with growth faster than it has been for 8 years. M&A activity doubled in 2013 in constr uction and related sectors and is set to further increase. This has been fuelled by the general economic outlook but also Gover nment schemes such as Help to Buy. Whatever the sector, M&A activity has visibly increased, the pace of which is set to intensif y. Smart business leaders will look to M&A as a route to growth or lucrative exit. We are certainly witnessing an increase in both business sales and acquisition instr uctions at Avondale. ” concludes Hardman.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

D i r e c t o r , C o r p o r at e

Tim Hardman C h a pt e r H o u s e , 33 London Road, R e i g at e , Surrey, RH2 9HZ Tel: 01737 240888 Fax: 0872 110 7656 m a i l : av @ avo n da l e . c o . u k w w w . avo n da l e . c o . u k

Channel Islands DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - BabbĂŠ At BabbĂŠ we have an exceptional dispute resolution team.

Forceful and effective, we work across the full range of commercial activity, but with a particular focus on finance related matters. We have represented clients in some of the largest and most complex cases ever to have taken place in Guernsey.

We are widely acknowledged to be among the foremost Guernsey law firms in fields including contentious trust litigation, commercial fraud, insolvency, and professional indemnity. Due to the nature of Guernsey's status as an offshore jurisdiction we have developed significant expertise in matters that have an international dimension.

In addition to acting in the court of Guernsey, our lawyers also provide a wide range of services in support of overseas litigation, often acting as the local agent for leading international law firms.

Experience you can trust We have successfully taken a preliminary issue to the Privy Council in an action where we act for a local corporate trustee defending a claim for breach of trust arising out of the trust's investment strategy. This ÂŁ65 million pound claim involves legal issues at the heart of Guernsey trusts law and the Privy Council has now upheld our arguments.

We won an appeal to the Guernsey Court of Appeal on behalf of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), enabling it to be joined as a party to a Hastings-Bass application. This was the first such joinder anywhere in the world.

We are involved in several major funds litigation cases, variously on behalf of investors and on behalf of the fund, including giving expert evidence of Guernsey law in foreign proceedings.

We successfully acted on behalf of a major Trust Company, recently obtaining judgment for in excess of â‚Ź3million from a fiduciary agent. We also obtained a worldwide freezing order in support of the judgment and the first ever order in Guernsey for interest on costs.

We recently acted in a shareholder dispute arising out of a major onshore joint venture conducted through a Guernsey corporate vehicle. Having demonstrated the strength of our client's case in emergency injunctive proceedings, we were then able to obtain third party commercial funding for an unfair prejudice action. We achieved a satisfactory settlement of the dispute within 5 weeks.

We are acting for construction professionals in a multi-million pound dispute concerning a major mixed use development. This is one of a number of cases in which we are involved pioneering the use of e-disclosure in Guernsey.

We obtained a freezing injunction as part of a worldwide claim arising out of allegations of the fraudulent use of voyage and time charter parties for an Eastern European tanker fleet.

Ian Swan, a partner at BabbĂŠ and head of the Dispute Resolution team said, “Our success is down to the quality of our lawyers and the strength in depth we now have.â€?

Ian Swan BabbĂŠ Advocates P O Box 69, La Vieille Cour La Plaiderie, St Peter Port Guernsey GY1 4BL T : +44 (0) 1481 746176 F : +44 (0) 1481 712245 E : i.swan@babbelegal.com w w w. b a b b e l e g a l . c o m

Guernsey COMMERCI AL PROPERTY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Martyn Baudains and his team at BabbĂŠ have been involved in a significant proportion of the major property transactions that have taken place in Guernsey in the last few years.

Clients choose BabbĂŠ for the breadth of their expertise and for their ability to make the buying, selling or leasing of property as straightforward a process as possible.

Guernsey property law is a highly specialised area.

BabbĂŠ advise their clients on all aspects of property transactions, including planning considerations and environmental liabilities. BabbĂŠ assist with the development of large-scale commercial projects, and have experience with projects that have an international investment dimension. BabbĂŠ lawyers have substantial expertise in helping to resolve disputes between interested parties, including landlords, tenants, and developers.

Experience you can trust BabbĂŠ acted for Harmsworth Pension Funds Trustees Limited, the purchaser of “Park Placeâ€? for ÂŁ9.514 million and they recently acted for the funder of the highest value commercial property transaction ever to have taken place in Guernsey.

BabbĂŠ continue to be at the forefront of many of the major property transactions in Guernsey including: s 4HE PURCHASE OF A WAREHOUSE BUSINESS CONTINUITY suite for ÂŁ4.7m s 4HE PURCHASE OF THE " 1 BUILDING AT a M s 4HE PURCHASE OF SEVERAL OFFICE BLOCKS AND complexes ranging in value from ÂŁ3m to ÂŁ7m.

BabbĂŠ have also acted in many Landlord and tenant matters including for landlords in prominent “High Streetâ€? retail premises, industrial units, office blocks and other commercial premises and for tenants the leases of retail and office premises.

BabbĂŠ are also very active in commercial property financing arrangements and have been involved in a wide range of commercial property transactions.

Martyn Baudains BabbĂŠ Advocates P O Box 69, La Vieille Cour La Plaiderie, St Peter Port Guernsey GY1 4BL T +44(0) 1481 746173 F +44(0) 1481 726324 E m.baudains@babbelegal.com w w w. b a b b e l e g a l . c o m

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ITALY

INVESTMENT BANK OF THE YEAR

Banca IMI, a 100% company of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group, is the leading Investment Bank in Italy.

With a 800 bankers platform, Banca IMI operates in the areas of Investment Banking, Structured Finance and Capital Markets on the main domestic and international markets through its offices in Milan, Rome, London and New York. Banca IMI can also leverage on the widespread international network of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group and its significant presence in East Europe, Asia and Middle East.

Banca IMI has a solid experience and a successful track record in mergers & acquisitions advisory, equity offerings and debt issuances: • Banca IMI is the market leader for M&A transactions in Italy, with more than 180 completed transactions in the last five years for over €80bn, of which about 60% related to international counterparties, witnessing its extensive international coverage. Banca IMI also enjoys an

absolute domestic leadership in supporting financial sponsors, both as M&A advisor and lender. In 2013 - Banca IMI acted in the most prominent transactions of the Italian market supporting, among others, Fincantieri in the acquisition of STX OSV, Salini in the tender offer on Impregilo and subsequent merger, Autogrill in the proportional demerger of WDF, Atlantia in the merger with Gemina and Cinven in the disposal of the aviation business of Avio to General Electric.

• Banca IMI is the market leader in Italian IPOs, with over 50 transactions since 2000 and acted as bookrunner in the largest IPOs over the period 2010-2013: Prada, Moncler, Ferragamo and Enel Green Power.

• Banca IMI ranked no.1 bank for Italian corporate issuers in the period 2009-2013 and for Italian high yield issuers in 2013. Moreover, Banca IMI is market leader in Italian unrated bond transactions: its consolidated DCM platform is servicing our client base across Europe.

Advertising Message

M&A League table – Italy (Source: Thomson Reuters)

BANCA IMI offices Milan - Headquarters Largo Mattioli, 3 20121 Milan Tel +39 02 72611 London Branch 90 Queen Street London EC4N 1SA Tel +44 207 894 2600 Rome – Operational Unit Viale dell’Arte, 21 00144 Rome

DCM League table - Italy (Source: Thomson Reuters) DCM Italy – Corporate 2009-2013

DCM Italy – High Yield 2013

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Rank

Boookrunner

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 DCM

Banca IMI UniCredit BNP Paribas Societe Generale Mediobanca Deutsche Bank Credit Agricole RBS Barclays JP Morgan Total

Value ( bn)

12.20 11.87 11.18 6.69 5.92 5.89 5.68 4.36 3.71 3.50 96.94

# of issues

74 71 69 41 43 40 38 25 22 29 133

New York (Banca IMI Securities Corp) 1 William Street New York NY 10004 Tel +1 212 326 1100 Hong Kong (Intesa Sanpaolo) 36th Floor - The Lee Gardens 33 Hysan Avenue - Causeway Bay Hong Kong S.A.R. Tel. +852 2532 2700 Dubai (Intesa Sanpaolo) DIFC - Building 1 - The Gate Village 1 P.O. Box 506736 - Dubai (U.A.E.) Tel. +971 4 3729100

INVOICE FINANCE // STOCK // P&M // TRADE // PROPERTY

You build the business.

We’ll build the confidence. and extended product range of its parent, Bank Leumi (UK) plc, make a winning combination. Specialising in structured ABL facilities up to £25m with exceptional levels of client service.

Automotive components manufacturer required flexible funding to support fast growth Leumi ABL provided £7m ABL facility including CID, P&M, cashflow loan + funding from Bank Leumi (UK)

Leading recruitment specialist required flexible funding to support growth Leumi ABL provided £20m package including CID facility + finance from Bank Leumi (UK)

To find out more about the Leumi ABL approach to business call Phil Woodward on 07900 802774 or email pwoodward@leumiabl.co.uk or visit www.leumiabl.co.uk Brighton

London

Birmingham

Leeds

Manchester

Reading

UK BOUTIQUE BANK OF THE YEAR, Bank Leum i (UK) Group SME ASSET BASED LENDER OF THE YEAR, Leum i ABL Lim ited

Leumi (UK), bringing together Bank Leumi (UK) and its asset based lending specialist subsidiar y, Leumi ABL, is working to assist the growth of a wide range of businesses, many of whom str uggle to obtain the levels of flexibility they need from existing financing arrangements.

Increasingly Bank Leumi (UK) and Leumi ABL are joining forces to support businesses with an innovative and comprehensive funding package. This proves to be a winning combination for businesses seeking a supportive funding partner that is able to meet their evolving needs.

Supporting mid corporate businesses through ever changing times has ear ned the Leumi (UK) team a reputation as a funding provider who can offer the consistency and stability that is so of ten lacking in many of today ’s banking relationships.

Providing a complete working capital package for funding requirements of £1m to £25m, Leumi ABL supports growing businesses with invoice finance, stock finance and plant & machiner y finance.

Add to this the wide range of corporate banking facilities (including trade and property finance) available through the Bank and businesses can benefit from a one stop shop approach to all their commercial finance needs.

Leumi (UK)’s proposition is further strengthened by its focus on genuine relationship banking. This focus together with a credit procedure that relies on short lines of communication, clear decisions and competitive pricing underpin the first class ser vice it delivers to its clients.

Lawrence M Weiss, CEO, Bank Leumi (UK) explains: “Leumi (UK) is a highly specialised, niche bank offering clients high quality, tailormade solutions that meet their specific needs. We work closely with our clients in providing innovative str uctures which allow them to tr uly take advantage of the opportunities available to them.”

One client to have recently benefited from the Leumi (UK) combined offering is Midlands aerospace supplier, Bromford Industries.

Bank Leumi (UK) and Leumi ABL worked together to provide a flexible finance package to Bir mingham-headquartered Bromford Industries. Bromford Industries specialises in precision engineered components for the aerospace and industrial power sectors.

This deal was a refinance of a Private Equity portfolio business looking for a more flexible funding package to support growth and potential acquisition opportunities. The total funding facility of £20m included invoice discounting, stock finance, a plant & machiner y facility, and a cashflow line from Bank Leumi (UK).

Provision of the facility required a detailed understanding of the aerospace sector and its buying patter ns. The Leumi (UK) team worked closely with the management team of Bromford Industries through an involved diligence, refinancing and legal process to ensure that the facility met all future working capital requirements.

Mike Smith, Bromford Industries CEO, commented: “Since the company was acquired in 2009 we have continued the transition of the business, improved its image and reputation and responded to

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ever changing business demands. As we enter the next phase of our development it is essential the business is str uctured so as to take best advantage of future opportunities and one of the key considerations was our debt facilities.

“This is a significant opportunity for both Bromford Industries and the Leumi (UK) team, and further supports and underpins our desire to be the manufacturer of choice to our customers, whilst showing our continued commitment to invest in technology which allows us to operate in a global arena. Leumi has shown a desire to work ver y closely with our team and I look for ward to building our working relationship and the opportunities that this will bring in the future.”

Phil Woodward, Managing Director at Leumi ABL, added: “Leumi ABL together with Bank Leumi (UK) is delighted to provide a £20 million senior debt and asset based lending package that facilitates the specific working capital requirements and supports the growth aspirations of Bromford Industries. We recognise that a business of the quality and reputation of Bromford needs a commercial and responsive funding partner with detailed sector knowledge. We ver y much look for ward to working with their highly committed management team to achieve their goals in the future.”

BANK LEUMI (UK) PLC IS AUTHORISED BY THE PRUDENTIAL REGUL ATION AUTHORITY AND REGUL ATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY AND THE PRUDENTIAL REGUL ATION AUTHORITY.

B a n k L e u m i ( U K ) P lc J o n at h a n W at s o n , C h i e f C o r p o r at e F i n a n c e O f fi c e r , Bank Leumi (UK) Tel: 020 7907 8067 E m a i l : j w at s o n @ b a n k l e u m i . c o . u k B a n k L e u m i ( U K ) P lc 2 0 S t r at f o r d P l a c e London W1C 1BG www.bankleumi.co.uk Leumi ABL Limited P h i l W o o d wa r d , M a n a g i n g D i r e c to r , Leumi ABL Tel: 01273 716200 Mob: 07900 802774 E m a i l : pw o o d wa r d @ l e u m i a b l . c o . u k Leumi ABL Limited 126 Dyke Ro a d B r ig h to n E a st S u s s e x BN1 3TE www.leumiabl.co.uk

44 Worship Street, London EC2A 2EA, UK.

UK pROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR COMMERCI AL MEDI ATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Barlow Robbins is a leading Legal UK 200 full service law firm with a local, national and international client base.

Professional Negligence Our large Dispute Resolution department, has extensive experience of handling a variety of negligence claims together with various commercial disputes.

This work includes shareholder and director disputes, insolvency and contractual disputes.

Our experienced professional negligence team deals with a wide variety of claims against professionals, such as other solicitors, valuers, architects and financial advisors. Through our membership of various organisations including the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association, the Commercial Litigation Association, International Referral and the International Bar Association, our lawyers have at their disposal a wealth of resources allowing them to stay at the forefront of the changing face of professional negligence. We have built up a trusted network of experts to assist with the key evidential issues which effect professional negligence claims. Members of this network have been carefully selected to ensure that they maintain the high standards which both we and our clients expect.

We are delighted to have won the “UK – Best Professional Negligence Law Firm of the Year” award recognising the firm’s expertise in this field.

Our professional negligence lawyers pride themselves on working with clients to develop a deep understanding of their business in order to ensure that the approach to any negligence claim is bespoke to the specific needs of the client.

Commercial Mediation The award for “UK – Commercial Mediation” is evidence of the expertise of our nationally known mediators here at Barlow Robbins. David Foster, Partner and Head of the Dispute Resolution department, has been a mediator since 1996 and has a success rate of over 90% in securing settlements in commercial mediations. David is often instructed by the largest global law firms and has lectured internationally on the subject of mediation. One of the keys to his success is an empathetic style combined with a robust approach when required. Disputes with an insurance element are a particular area of expertise.

We hold memberships of a number of mediation organisations including the ADR Group, Expedite Resolution and Law South Mediation.

Dav i d F o st e r Pa rt n e r - Di s p ut e R e so lut io n +44 (0)1483 464243 DavidFoster@BarlowRobbins.com The Oriel, Sydenham Road, Guildford, S u r r e y, GU1 3SR T: + 4 4 ( 0 ) 1 4 8 3 5 6 2 9 0 1 F: +44 (0)1483 464260 DX: 2407 Guildford

SWITZERLAND CREDI T FUND SPECI ALISTS OF THE YEAR

BCM & PARTNERS – part of the C-Quadrat Group with in excess of USD 6.5 Billion - operates through BCM & Partners LLP, based in London authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority and BCM & Partners SA, based in Geneva, providing marketing services. BCM & Partners offers investors two possible solutions to their financial needs: open ended investment funds managed out of the Group’s London office and tailor made portfolio management.

BCM & Partners is one of the European most skilled and renowned counterparts in Credit markets. Far from being a giant “detaining” an asset class, the Firm provides a nimble, skilled and attractive risk/reward approach to investors’ needs. To reach such an important goal constant investments are made in talented portfolio managers and in sophisticated risk management including legal and IT. Nowadays financial markets are becoming more interconnected and reactive leaving no space to the non-professionals. Any of the Firm’s professionals has not only a solid background but is also fully committed to achieving the proposed financial targets whilst being within easy reach of investors.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

At BCM & Partners we believe any investment in credit and/or fixed income should be viewed as a medium term commitment rather than a short term lucky bite into a successful trend. BCM & Partners’ clients should aim at capital conservation and at capital appreciation over the medium term; should this be required, their financial needs are thoroughly discussed and analysed before a mutually satisfactory portfolio is put in place.

Most of BCM & Partners’ investment funds are European regulated UCITS offering daily liquidity.

The Firm’s resistance at using leverage, although allowed, has been fully appreciated by investors who never had to face any gate or similar hindrances in their contractual terms. Providing full strategy and portfolio transparency, together with sustainable track record, is something the Firm is proud of.

Awards such as being elected “Switzerland, Credit Specialist of the Year – BCM & Partners” are important milestones for any strongly committed professional working in the industry and this is particularly gratifying both for our teams and for our investors.

Director, BCM & Partners SA Fabio Michienzi

BCM & Partners SA Rue du Général Dufour 12 1204 Genève Switzerland Tel. +41-22-819 40 73

BCM & Partners LLP 1, Vine Street London W1J 0AH United Kingdom Tel. +44-207-925 87 00

e-mail: info@bcmpartners.eu Website: www.bcmpartners.eu

UK

ACTUARIAL ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR PENSIONS ADVISOR OF THE YEAR

Avoid the pensions potholes The complexity of the pensions issues in a corporate transaction make it cr ucial to take specialist independent pensions advice.

Bar nett Waddingham’s award-winning specialist corporate M&A team, part of the UK’s largest independent provider of actuarial and pensions administration ser vices, delivers expert pensions advice tailored to the specific circumstances of each deal. Our approach is captured through clear communication and practical advice on ways to manage the issues, taking into account the wider deal context.

As a national fir m employing over 120 qualified actuaries focusing on pension advice, we utilise our substantial experience in advising employers on a wide range of pensions-related issues including: • Risk management - many employers have taken steps to limit pension exposure by closing their defined benefit (DB) scheme to new entrants and increasingly to future accr ual. This still leaves them with a legacy liability that needs to be managed. Winding up the scheme immediately is not a viable option for most employers but a coordinated de-risking strategy could be established to exploit opportunities as they arise.

• Accounting for pension schemes - we provide a full range of ser vices in relation to accounting for employee benefits and other long-ter m liabilities including DB pension schemes, post-retirement medical plans and share option schemes.

M a n a g i n g Di r e cto r

A n d r e w Va u g h a n B a r n et t Wa d di n g h a m L L P A n d r e w . Va u g h a n @ B a r n e t t - Wa d d i n g h a m . c o . u k h t t p : / / w w w . b a r n e t t - wa d d i n g h a m . c o . u k / c o r p o r at e - c o n s u lt i n g /

• Scheme funding negotiations - the ever increasing compliance burden placed on tr ustees is inevitably leading them to play “hard ball” with their sponsoring employers over scheme funding. We help identif y areas of compromise to ensure that recover y plans are affordable and sensible in the context of the business as a whole.

• Benefit design - more flexible working practices and greater diversity in the workplace have increased variety in employee benefit packages. We have considerable experience in reviewing and advising on the design of existing pension plans and recommending alter native arrangements.

• Employee Benefits - our approach focuses on delivering solutions that ensure the company ’s employee benefits are compliant, efficient, deliver added value to the business and ultimately increase employee appreciation of the benefit package. Our specialist defined contribution (DC) consultants and group risk insurance experts work together to deliver an integrated and comprehensive advice ser vice, tailored to our clients’ specific requirements.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

TURKEY PROJECT FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ENERGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Birsel Law Offices is one of the oldest, most well-known and top tier law firms in Turkey founded in 1923, the establishment year of Turkish Republic. The Firm practices at the highest level of legal profession and holds to highest ethical standards, with many years of experience in advising foreign and domestic clients in complex cross-border transactions, financings, acquisitions as well as corporate and commercial matters. The Firm has advised on landmark first instance project finance transactions in Turkey and complicated secured financings in energy and other sectors. With its established know-how, experience and knowledge of the expectations of all parties to a transaction, it is considered as a leading law firm by all circles.

The Firm is capable of providing advice to its clients in Turkish, English, French and German. It also has connections in Ankara and Izmir, facilitating the rendering of services throughout Turkey. The firm has a dynamic team most of which have LL.M degrees from reputable universities in Turkey or abroad.

The Firms’ partner Begum Durukan Ozaydin (admitted to the Istanbul and New York State Bars) is a leading individual with key role in major project finance and energy deals, loan transactions, advising on award winner project finance and M&A projects in Turkey, acting for a collection of clients who are leaders in their fields, with numerous contributions to publications.

Begum Durukan Ozaydin Partner

Birsel is renowned for its involvement in the financings of landmark projects in Turkey, representing a wide range of international clients, including multilaterals, export credit agencies, foreign commercial banks as well as Turkish borrowers in sectors such as power, pipeline, airport, automotive, health, education, cement and tourism etc. Birsel’s expertise also covers public-sector financings.

Birsel Law Offices Inonu Caddesi Ongan Apartmanı No: 43 Floors: 4 - 5, 34437 Gumussuyu Istanbul, Tu r k e y

As a whole, the teams in the Firm, which performed the very initial project financing and energy deals in Turkey in the international arena, are capable of understanding the needs of domestic and foreign clients.

T +902122455015 F +902122455025 E istanbul@birsel.com w w w. b i r s e l . c o m

UK SERIOUS FRAUD LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Blackfords LLP is a specialist law firm handling serious high profile criminal and civil fraud investigations and proceedings. In addition to our City office we have offices in the South East and Cardiff.

We routinely act for corporate and individual clients investigated by the SFO, FCA, PRA, OFT, HMRC and the CPS as well as the court proceedings that flow from such investigations.

We have experience of dealing with the whole spectrum of investigations but most recently have been instructed in relation to Libor, Forex, Insider Dealing, Boiler Room, Carbon Credit, Minerals, and Marine Insurance frauds and the international anti-bribery and corruption considerations that go with such matters.

Our lawyers are all highly regarded specialists in their fields of expertise. Where required we secure our clients access to the very best Counsel at the Independent Bar. We understand that our clients’ reputation is of paramount concern to them and it is the aim of all our lawyers to ensure that remains the position.

Our clients’ interests and privacy are of the greatest concern to us and we ensure that all clients receive the highest level of service and satisfaction in all interactions with us. Clients can expect a partner level service throughout.

We can assist with dawn raids, Restraint Orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act or High Court Civil Freezing Orders, prosecuting authority interviews and all criminal and civil court proceedings.

Tr e v o r F r a n c i s , M a n a g i n g Partner

We have a specialist Proceeds of Crime and Asset Recovery team that are expert in handling issues that are peripheral to these investigations. We can also advise on issues relating to extradition and European Arrest Warrants as well as judicial review.

Our work is international with current instructions dealing with matters throughout Europe, The Americas, Africa, Middle East and the Caribbean.

t r e v o r. f r a n c i s @ b l a c k f o r d s . c o m Te l : 0 2 0 3 5 4 4 8 1 3 5 w w w. b l a c k f o r d s . c o m 15 Old Bailey London EC4M 7EF

Netherlands INDEPENDENT M&A ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR Blacktrace is delighted to receive the Acquisition International M&A Award for the second consecutive year. The Blacktrace team has worked hard to achieve results for its customers and winning this award is a welcome recognition of our distinctiveness within the international M&A market.

year. We expect this trend to continue through the year, thanks to Private Equity revival and international interest in European firms with a global focus. Another factor is China’s focus on becoming an open, market-driven economy, which opens up previously unattainable pools of resources.

Blacktrace focuses on medium and large sized businesses and our typical transaction value lies between €10 and 200 million. These values relate mainly to international corporates where consolidation and divestment are relevant strategic topics. Typical projects at Blacktrace encompass acquisitions, divestments, management buy-outs and buy-ins, corporate financing, corporate valuation and corporate exits.

Blacktrace distinguishes itself by in-depth knowledge, sector expertise, cross-border experience, a broad international network and a thorough approach. Acting fast and in a solid manner is key to being a top player. We want to build an independent M&A advisory firm that offers clients valuable specialism when they need it.

For Blacktrace, 2014 has already proven to be a fruitful year and there are still many projects in the pipeline. In order to keep up with demand for our services, Blacktrace has expanded its team substantially over the last months and due to this, Blacktrace has moved to a larger location in the centre of ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Considering the recognition we get for our work and the increasing interaction with foreign players, we expect our current growth to continue during 2014.

Blacktrace sees an M&A market that is reviving after some difficult years. Corporates are looking for consolidation opportunities again. The European M&A market showed an increase of more than 35% relative to the first quarter of last

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Jaap Smits Blacktrace Mergers & Acquisitions Hugo de Grootlaan 11, 5223 LB, s-Hertogenbosch Jaap.smits@blacktrace.nl www.blacktrace.nl

BENELUX

iNDEPENDENT CORPORATE FINANCE FIRM OF THE YEAR - BLUEMIND CORPORATE FINANCE STRATEGY

BlueMind is one of the largest independent Belgium and Luxemburg (Benelux) and has been advising medium-sized, large and fast-

Track Record Benelux. Next to assisting numerous clients, BlueMind completed 17 transactions in 2013 and couple of years.

Global Reach various awards around the globe.

For more information about BlueMind, clients and transactions, please visit www.bluemind.nl

Europalaan 6 | 5232 BC ‘s-Hertogenbosch | The Netherlands T +31(0)73 623 87 74 | F +31(0)73 623 87 75 | www.bluemind.nl

The ocean gets warmer. The Peruvian anchovy harvest suffers.

It raises the price of fishmeal, cattle feed, and beef.

We turn global insights like these into powerful investment strategies for a university endowment. The endowment funds the work of a brilliant marine biologist. She studies the Peruvian anchovy.

Proving small fish can lead to big insights.

Invested in the world.

bnymellon.com

These illustrations do not depict actual clients or investment results. The value of investments and the income from them is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise due to stock market and currency movements. When the investment is sold the amount received could be less than that originally invested. Past performance of any investment is not indicative nor a guarantee of future results. If distributed in EMEA, this advertisement is a financial promotion for Professional Clients only. This is not investment advice.

BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation and may also be used as a generic term to reference the Corporation as a whole or its various subsidiaries. Products and services may be provided under various brand names and in various countries by the subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation where authorised and regulated as required within each jurisdiction. Not all products and services are offered in all locations. This material is not intended, and should not be construed, to be an offer or solicitation of services or products or an endorsement thereof in any jurisdiction or in any circumstance that is contrary to local law or regulation. Issued by The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation with respect to services other than investment management. Issued in EMEA, with respect to investment management, by BNY Mellon Investment Management EMEA Limited, BNY Mellon Centre, 160 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4LA. Registered in England No. 1118580.

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. BNY Mellon Investment Management EMEA Limited is ultimately owned

by The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. Š2014 The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. All rights reserved.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

IRELAND BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR Bridgewater was formed in 1999 to meet the needs of companies experiencing strategic challenges and undergoing significant business transformation. Since formation, the company has built a client base of successful SME’s, multinational and blue chip clients. Bridgewater has been instrumental in adding significant value to these organisations and has a track record of success – many of these in the SME sector.

Bridgewater are at the forefront in helping fledgling businesses reach their potential. Our team of experienced and dedicated strategy professionals are chosen for their broad range of skills and are expected to have practical hands on entrepreneurial experience allied with sound academic knowledge.

Our consultants have over 50 years’ experience in delivering business strategies, transformation and organizational change programmes. We focus on the achievement of business value along with very strong analytical and communication skills which enable us to manage change initiatives to solution delivery.

consistent and expert reviews of business plans.

This solution is currently in use amongst several Enterprise Support agencies and bodies across Ireland and the UK. At Bridgewater, we understand strategic business requirements and processes and turn them into practical workable solutions through strategic guidance, business analysis, design, planning and solution delivery. It is our passion for helping small businesses grow that makes Bridgewater the best there is.

Areas of Expertise: Our service offerings are as follows – • • • • •

Strategy / Business Model Development Financial/Accounting Services Business Restructuring – Operational, Organisational, Strategic Business Planning and Feasibility Studies Training & Business Mentoring

Managing Partner Alan Carey

We are experts in Business Plan development, Market Research, Finance Consulting for growth or restructuring and Business Training/Coaching.

Bridgewater have recently been appointed as consulting partners to BusinessChallenger.com, an innovative cloud based solution to provide

UK GAMECHANGER OF THE YEAR, NEDKO I VANOV, CEO UK-based BullGuard, a global provider of antivirus and mobile security solutions for the consumer market, has undergone a period of transition in recent years and is now poised for growth both organically and through acquisition.

BullGuard has an award-winning product portfolio that includes internet security solutions, antivirus, mobile security, 24/7 identity protection, and social media protection for both home and small business users.

BullGuard CEO Nedko Ivanov has a strong track record in the technology sector. He joined the company in September 2011 and brought it to profitability in 2012 for the first time ever. Over the past three years he has refocused the business and delivered consistent growth and strong profitability in a market sector that in recent years has been challenging for almost all large vendors.

In 2012, Mike Hodges joined as COO from his previous CTO position at Picsolve International; Cam Le joined as CMO, having successfully managed the webcam business at Logitech; whilst George McDevitt joined in 2013 as CFO from Atex, having previously held a senior finance role at Oracle. In 2014 Steve Hicks was appointed Head of Global Sales, following senior positions with Panasonic and Philips.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

The Company is focused on strengthening its E-commerce activities, with growth in new online sales rising to around 40% in 2014 following growth of 34% in the previous year. Offline sales have also remained strong, benefiting from the unique revenue share program offered to resellers and an industry leading renewal rate of more than 70%.

The Company bolstered its market position with the 2013 acquisition of NovaShield, adding advanced behavioural anti-malware technology to the product offering. BullGuard will continue to seek exciting companies and technologies to further expand its product offering. The cash balance it has built over the last few years due to strong profitability, and despite investing heavily in the business, will help fund future acquisitions.

With local sales teams throughout Europe and the US and strong in-house marketing, development and support teams, BullGuard will further develop its core markets across Europe, the US and Australia, and fully exploit its database of more than 12 million contactable consumers to drive organic growth whilst expanding its product offering through strategic acquisition.

Nedko Ivanov CEO BullGuard Ltd 823 Salisbury House 29 Finsbury Circus London EC2M 5QQ Mobile: +44 7919 321 485 Email: nedko.ivanov@bullguard.com w w w. b u l l g u a r d . c o m

ENGLAND Tr a dema r k Law Fir m of the Year

Cam Trade Marks & IP Services is a boutique firm founded by Dr Roman Cholij and based in Cambridge, UK. It offers specialised trade mark services internationally but especially for the UK and EU, including searches, filing, prosecution, opposition work and enforcement, as well as design registration. Clients typically range from international companies and corporations to local and national SMEs and individuals.

Dr Roman Cholij, founder and principal trade mark attorney, is an experienced IP professional who has successfully defended the interests of both major clients, including from the Far East, Western and Eastern Europe and the USA, as well as local fledgling businesses. He is an active member of the International Trademarks Association (INTA), where for the past three years he has been on the Publications Committee, and the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA), for whom he has lectured at seminars and the annual conference, and for whose journal he has authored many articles.

He has written for other IP journals too and given talks internationally, including in Stockholm on invitation by the European Community Trade Mark Association (ECTA). He has also given workshops at the pan-European conferences of the Licensing Executives Society (LES) in Budapest and Rome. He has been on the Board of Directors of LES Britain

and Ireland and was Chair and Co-chair of the Brands committee. His expertise has also been recognised at Cambridge University and, in 2012, he was invited to join the Von Hügel Institute, St Edmund’s College, Cambridge as Research Associate to lead a project relating to IP and ethics.

Commenting on this award, Dr Cholij stated: “I feel greatly honoured that Cam Trade Marks has been recognised internationally as the 2014 England Category winner of the ACQ Global Awards.

We pride ourselves on the high quality of our work and our very personalised service towards our clients, who receive our full and undivided attention, whoever they are, be they a small or large entity. This award follows recent major cases which issued very positively for our clients – so we feel very good about the award coming so soon after. Thank you to those who nominated us for this award!”

Founder

Dr Roman Cholij

Te l : + 4 4 ( 0 ) 1 2 2 3 3 5 3 2 9 9 Te l : + 4 4 ( 0 ) 8 4 5 8 7 3 4 9 6 0 camtm@camtrademarks.com

W I N N E R UK Transfer Pricing solutions provider of the year

Empowering Transfer Pricing Analysis A data and process driven tax analysis tool that helps you with compliance, risk management and planning. TP Catalyst is used by tax authorities globally – benefit from using the same tool.

Planning

TP Management t Understand group structures

t Do feasibility analyses for new locations or structures

t Set intra-group agreements

t Compare scenarios based on different assumptions t Identify savings opportunities

Set your tax policies

Implement

t Research compliance requirements globally t Generate TP reports to include in your documentation

t Monitor using operating results

Comply

t Comply with documentation requirements - domestically and internationally t Save templates and update documentation easily - on an ongoing basis

t Highlight areas of potential TP risk

Monitor and adjust

t Run scenarios for potential TP adjustments t Challenge tax authority positions with same data sources

t Quantify potential TP adjustments for tax provisions

Compliance

Risk Management

Key datasets / tools t Industry research

t Lending margin data for intra-group finance

t Comprehensive company information

t Credit risk model for intra-group finance

t Corporate structures

t Royalty rate information for intra-group licensing of intangibles

t IBFD global library of TP legislation

bvdinfo.com/transferpricing bvdinfo.com/transferpricing bvd@bvdinfo.com 020 75495000 5000 bvd@bvdinfo.com 020 7549

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

WINNER UK M&A Solutions Provider of the Year (Business Intelligence)

Intelligence on companies, deals and multiples for M&A and private equity research We’re experts in company information – with a focus on private company information

Detailed financials for millions of private and public companies worldwide

Standardised financial reports for crossborder searching and analysis

The most comprehensive M&A deal database

Trading multiples for listed companies

Original documents and filings

Stock data, earnings estimates and detailed forecasts

Deal source documents Unrivalled corporate structures and ownership data

Reliable transaction multiples – pre and post deal Private equity intelligence and portfolio searching

News, industry research, bespoke company descriptions, directors and managers and links to relevant PEPs and Sanctions data

Bespoke comparable templates using our Excel Add-In

Flexible searching for creating specific target lists

and value tables and peer group analysis

A range of solutions – available on free trial

Integral analysis tools including volume

And coming soon...

M&A deals and rumours – international

Company information – international

Company information – UK & Ireland

Our new solution that combines deal and company data in one platform.

bvdinfo.com bvd@bvdinfo.com 020 7549 5000

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK COMMERCI AL DUE DILIGENCE A DV ISOR OF THE YEAR

ACQ Global Awards 2014 has confirmed Carlton Strategy Advisors Ltd as Commercial Due Diligence Advisor of the Year for the third consecutive year from a poll of its readership.

Commenting on the award, David McClelland, director, said, “CSA has entered its fifth year as an independent transaction services advisory firm and we are highly pleased that our private equity and corporate banking client work has gained such continuous recognition.”

CSA’s focus is on the lower-mid market where private equity and their bank partners are re-emerging as backers of accelerated growth companies in circumstances where these companies’ prospects can be validated by independent due diligence. CSA aims to identify areas where the firm can add value to client transactions by being very much director led and seeking always to provide clear, evidenced opinion in its reporting of deal risk and opportunity.

The type of deal situation that CSA will encounter most often is where the target-co may claim to hold a particular leadership position within a defined industry segment or market niche. This can render the business potentially very attractive to the investor because of the possible high barriers to entry that may protect volumes of trade and therefore forward revenues on which the equity model can be based, subject to positive due diligence. CDD can deliver a comprehensive understanding of the health and character of the potential investment business, allowing the investor and its debt lenders to navigate the transaction process and determine deal attractiveness.

Director

David McClelland Carlton Strategy Advisors:

CSA’s forte is increasingly in technical specification markets and where target-company method of differentiation and competitive advantage are important deal criteria. In the last 12 months, CSA has undertaken client project work in the nuclear energy sector and pharmaceuticals clinical trials in addition to IT support services and oilfield services, for example.

info@carlton-advisors.co.uk tel: 44 (0) 208 947 5108

AUSTRIA PRI VATE BANK OF THE YEAR Capital Bank is the private and investment bank of the Grazer Wechselseitigen (GRAWE) Group.

Together with Bank Burgenland it constitutes the "GRAWE Bankengruppe".

The Grazer Wechselseitige Group was founded in 1828 as a Fire Indemnity Insurance by Archduke Johann.

According to the tradition, Dr. Philip Meran, a direct descendent of the founder, is the president of the supervisory board of the GRAWE (Grazer Wechselseitige Versicherung). Behind the group, there is an association that ensures mutuality and independence.

The Brüll Kallmus Bank AG, a bank for institutional investors as well as the Security Kapitalanlage AG, the Fund Manager of the group, represent two of the most important subsidiaries of the Capital Bank group.

Capital bank targets wealthy individuals, families, foundations as well as corporate and institutional clients providing answers to all questions regarding the investment of wealth.

Through "Die Plattform" we offer low cost securities accounts as well as account management for clients of independent financial service providers.

The cornerstones of our success are: Unmarked festgelegt von k600048

OUR OWNER With the Grazer Wechselseitigen we have a solid, stable and above all reliable owner. Due to the continued independence of the GRAWE Group for the past 180 years, we are free to act as required by our clients and the market.

OUR INDEPENDENCE Our declaration of independence begins with every customer relationship. It provides our common understanding of cooperation. In Private Banking, we are contractually committed to our guarantee of independence.

OUR CLIENTS We aim to set an agenda and lead the way in terms of quality for the benefit of our clients. An increasing number of clients are entrusting us with a growing amount of wealth and turn to us for advice regarding all areas of institutional financial investing as well as all issues concerning corporate finance and capital market transactions. This is the best proof of customer satisfaction as well as our greatest success.

OUR EMPLOYEES We think and act in an entrepreneurial manner.

Results are what matter and work should be enjoyable. These premises are the basis for self-identification and the strong commitment of our highly qualified employees.

Christian Jauk, MBA CEO

M a g . C o n s t a n t i n Ve y d e r- M a l b e r g Member of the board

Capital Bank – Grawe Gruppe AG * * A – 8010 Graz * * Burgring 16 Te l : + 4 3 3 1 6 8 0 7 2 0 * * Fax: + 43 316 8072 2291 m a i l t o : o f fi c e @ c a p i t a l b a n k . a t * * h t t p : / / w w w. c a p i t a l b a n k . a t Firmenbuch: FN 112471 z * * Sitz in: politische Gemeinde Graz * * Firmenbuchgericht: LG für ZRS Graz * * UID: AT U 2 6 0 1 9 9 0 1 Company Disclaimer: h t t p : / / w w w. c a p i t a l b a n k . a t / d i s c l a i m e r

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK OPERATIONAL TRANSFORMATION A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR CappcoPartners is a firm of experienced sales and marketing executives who specialise in improving sales and marketing performance and executingcorporate turnarounds where revenue growth and creation is essential.

We are strategic partners for numerous private equity firms looking to generate and accelerate portfolio company value creation through operational improvement initiatives. Since 2009 CappcoPartners has added £75m in revenue to our clients and £300m in value to investors.

The success of any engagement is reliant on how the client can improve their sales and marketing processes and ability to implement industry best practices. This service includes: Sales and Brand Strategy Our processes are designed to gain competitive advantage by working with you to identify, define and exploit your unique benefits and to create consistent differentiated messages.

Lead Generation We execute lead generation campaigns by optimising the website to enhance the SEO and Social Media content to ensure website interactions are monitored and managed.

Sales Process Implementation The objective is to assist the firm implement a consistent sales process which is aligned to how their target market purchases and ensures the value is measurable through a “ROI” measurement process Mark Cappell - Managing Partner and Founder The Founder of CappcoPartners in 2009 and an experienced executive with over 25 years’ experience of managing software and service companies. Has been the CEO for 4 software and service companies and has managed 5 buy outs which have added value in excess of £300m for investors.

Mark Cappell Managing Partner

Sales Team Effectiveness

w w w. c a p p c o p a r t n e r s . c o m

A combination of bespoke and scheduled training courses focused on sales success with the focus on enabling the sales team to consistently over perform their targets.

CappcoPartners Green Park House Stratton Street London w w w. C a p p c o P a r t n e r s . c o m http://k.linkedin.com/in/markcappell

UK OWNER MANAGED BUSINESS ADVISORY OF THE YEAR

Castle Corporate Finance is a multi-award winning specialist corporate finance advisory business that delivers a bespoke, personal service to privately owned businesses considering significant structural change, such as a sale, acquisitions or raising funds. The senior team at Castle, led by Mike Norrie and Stuart Stepney, has a wealth of experience spanning decades across sectors, geographies and transaction types. They have held senior M&A positions with leading accountancy firms and bring with them extensive technical, international and practical experience.

Michael Norrie FCA, CF Principal and Director mike.norrie@castlecf.com t 01732 400 123 | m 07774 739 601

Castle offers an entrepreneurial approach, individually tailored to the needs of each assignment. Castle have an honest, unambiguous attitude to business with an overriding objective to add value.

Stuart Stepney FCCA, CF Head of Mergers and Acquisitions stuart.stepney@castlecf.com t 01732 400 123 | m 07500 999 541

www.castlecf.com Twitter @CastleCF_ Castle Corporate Finance Limited 158 High Street Tonbridge Kent TN9 1BB

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK CORPORATE FINANCE BOUTIQUE OF THE YEAR LEA DING INDEPENDENT FINANCI AL A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR During 2013 Cavendish celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Over 25 years we have had the opportunity to observe UK entrepreneurship evolve and flourish. Acting only for entrepreneurs on the sale of their businesses, Cavendish’s success has always been interwoven with entrepreneurial achievement. It has been a fascinating period, seeing entrepreneurs emerge in the late 1980s from being merely tolerated to today being rightly treasured for the wealth and employment they create.

Today entrepreneurial companies, SMEs, etc generate almost half of the total turnover of the UK private sector, provide almost 60% of all private sector jobs and inject a vital creativity and capacity for innovation into the economy.

This is reflected in our deal flow. Our debut deals involved advising on a walking sticks company and a Filofax type business. Our most recent transactions have involved companies which could not be more modern, at the forefront of technology and digital media developments, the two sectors that are driving change in today’s economy.

To achieve a successful outcome for our clients, against a continued difficult market backdrop, Cavendish has developed an unrivalled knowledge of potential buyer pools and established teams of sector specialists, who are recognised authorities in their areas offering business owners expert advice on the best preparation, strategy and likely buyers to ensure a successful sale. Utilising our international network of M&A advisors we have continued to source overseas buyers, who typically pay a premium for UK businesses – about half of the

companies we sold last year were to international buyers.

As well as our core activity, we also held knowledge-building events and seminars on various key business issues, ran networking events to help companies market to each other and supported initiatives designed to boost business growth, for example were are a partner of Tech City, which is helping to develop a new generation of UK entrepreneurs.

Director Charlotte Knight Cavendish Corporate Finance 40 Portland Place London W1B 1NB cknight@cavendish.com 020 7908 6000

UK ALL ASSET LENDER OF THE YEAR

Centric Commercial Finance is a multi-award winning independent Financial Services Group, focused on delivering event-driven asset based lending transactions to companies with revenues of more than £1million.

Typically, Centric competes against banks or large financial institutions where creativity, commercial appetite and speed of decision-making allows the team to compete successfully.

The experience of the senior management team in structuring and delivering asset based lending transactions sets Centric Commercial Finance apart. By providing access to senior decision makers, Centric offers the quantum and certainty of funding, flexible approach, speed of response and focus on service that each client's business situation demands.

Centric Commercial Finance’s model is introducer based, focused on corporate financiers, accountants, private equity firms and brokers. The one thing all key business introducers have in common is the reliance they place on Centric delivering on their promises for every asset based lending deal.

The asset based lending facilities that Centric provides are typically secured by accounts receivable (with invoice discounting as the core element) plus cash flow loans, stock, plant & machinery and property. Additional cash flow funding is available for those businesses with stronger EBITDA generation.

Centric's one stop asset based lending solution is ideally suited to businesses going through event driven change, such as mergers and acquisitions, management buyouts and buyins, exits for private equity and retirement, funding growth, refinancing, restructuring and turnarounds.

Centric’s approach and offering, integral to which is an appetite to provide additional cash flow funding alongside an asset based lending structure, has been welcomed and appreciated by the private equity community and their clients.

Centric works with an entire spectrum of businesses from fast-growth, early-stage businesses to established businesses embarking on serial acquisitions. The individual facility limit has been increased to £15 million, which has served to further strengthen its relationships with private equity houses looking to fund transactions and re-finance portfolio companies though its asset based lending platform.

-

Director Tim Hawkins Website: www.centricCFcom Email: info@centriccf.com Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8603 2900

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK IN VOICE DISCOUNTER OF THE YEAR

Centric Commercial Finance is a multi-award winning independent Financial Services Group, focused on delivering event-driven asset based lending transactions to companies with revenues of more than £1million.

The experience of the senior management team in structuring and delivering asset based lending transactions sets Centric Commercial Finance apart. By providing access to senior decision makers, Centric offers the quantum and certainty of funding, flexible approach, speed of response and focus on service that each client's business situation demands.

The asset based lending facilities that Centric provides are typically secured by accounts receivable (with invoice discounting as the core element) plus cash flow loans, stock, plant & machinery and property. Additional cash flow funding is available for those businesses with stronger EBITDA generation.

Centric's one stop asset based lending solution is ideally suited to businesses going through event driven change, such as mergers and acquisitions, management buyouts and buyins, exits for private equity and retirement, funding growth, refinancing, restructuring and turnarounds.

Typically, Centric competes against banks or large financial institutions where creativity, commercial appetite and speed of decision-making allows the team to compete successfully.

Centric Commercial Finance’s model is introducer based, focused on corporate financiers, accountants, private equity firms and brokers. The one thing all key business introducers have in common is the reliance they place on Centric delivering on their promises for every asset based lending deal.

Centric’s approach and offering, integral to which is an appetite to provide additional cash flow funding alongside an asset based lending structure, has been welcomed and appreciated by the private equity community and their clients.

Centric works with an entire spectrum of businesses from fast-growth, early-stage businesses to established businesses embarking on serial acquisitions.

The individual facility limit has been increased to £20million, which has served to further strengthen Centric’s relationships with private equity houses looking to fund transactions and re-finance portfolio companies though its asset based lending platform.

We b s i t e : w w w. c e n t r i c C F. c o m .

Email: info@centriccf.com Te l e p h o n e : + 4 4 ( 0 ) 2 0 8 6 0 3 2 9 0 0

CZECH REPUBLIC PATENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CROSS BORDER LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Čermák a spol. is a law and patent office specialising in Intellectual Property Law. Our services are highly sought after particularly in this area, especially when industrial property law matters, such as Trade Marks and Patents. Čermák a spol. provides advice and representation in general Commercial and Civil Law matters. Formally Čermák a spol. is incorporated as a public commercial company of attorneys and thus provides legal advice according to the Act no. 85/1996 Coll., on Attorneys, as amended. This means that the clients are assured that they will be provided with best available advice by qualified and registered practitioners, that their matters will be maintained confidential, and that we will not act against their interests. Čermák a spol. has been active since 1990 and in that time has acquired invaluable in-house knowledge that is not available to less specialised firms.

Patents, Utility Models, Industrial Designs, Trade Marks, Designation of Origin and Geographical Indications, Semiconductor Topographies as well as Copyright and related rights, are all part of Intellectual Property Law. In a wider sense Unfair Competition and Trade Name protection can also be included. With over 20 years of experience we have become one of the leaders in this highly specialized area of law in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. We have advised and represented the leading international companies from fields as diverse as telecommunication, IT, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, chemical companies as well as banks. We regularly handle the most prominent IP litigation in patent and trademark matters, both in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia.

MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:

PRACTICE AREAS:

Representing clients before administrative courts and the Constitutional Court of the Czech and Slovak Republics; Representing clients before European courts and the European Court of Human Rights; Representing clients in administrative proceedings, before the Czech Competition Authority (UOHS) and before the Advertising Council; Representing clients before the courts in civil and commercial disputes; Drafting and reviewing Licence Agreements and other legal agreements; Providing legal opinions and memoranda.

Intellectual Property Law Industrial Property Rights Inventions – Patents, Utility Models Brand Protection/Trade Marks Designs Unfair Competition Commercial Law Civil Law

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Čermák a spol.

Elišky Peškové 15 150 00 Prague 5 Czech Republic tel.: +420 296 167 111 fax: +420 224 946 724 e-mail: intelprop@apk.cz www.cermakaspol.com

CZECH REPUBLIC

BANK OF THE YEAR

We know the formula for success As the largest bank on the Czech market, we continue to strengthen our leading role in corporate and institutional banking. Our clients can expect a high standard of service, as well as a professional and dependable team,

tailored financial and consulting services have been designed to establish long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with our corporate and

ÄŒSOB for your success. www.csob.czACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Corporate and ACQ Institutional Banking GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK BROKER OF THE YEAR (COMMERCIAL FINANCE) “ We b eli eve tha t our no-nons e n s e a p p r o a c h t o ach i evin g o ur c l i e nts ’ obj e c ti ve s is p r o b a b ly k e y t o o u r win n i n g t he a wa rd” s a y s C E O R a lp h B la c k “ W e h a v e focu sed o n ge tti ng the mos t co m p e t it iv e r e s u lt in t h e tim el i est f a s hi on.”

R eg ard i n g C F B, Ra l ph te l l s us “ W e w o r k e x c lu s iv e ly in the co m m e rc i a l fi na nc e a re na h e lp in g S ME s f in d t h e fin an ce t h ey ne e d, wha te v e r t h e o b je c t iv e . Ou r c lie n t s c o m e fr o m a l l bus i ne s s s e c tors a n d f r o m a ll o v e r t h e U K – wh i l st we a re ba s e d i n the So u t h , o u r n e t w o r k o f B u si n ess De v e l opme nt M a na ge r s h e lp u s t o s u p p o r t t h e n eed s o f o u r c l i e nts , i n E ngl a n d , S c o t la n d , W a le s & N o r th er n I re l a nd.”

“ T h e c ul t u r e wi t h i n CFB al so h el p s set i t asi d e f r o m t h e c o m p e t i t i o n an d en su r e t h at i t r em ai n s o n e st ep ah ead . “ Ou r c u l t u r e i s so l u t i o n o r i en t at ed an d b ased o n g i vi n g o u r c lie n t s t h e ch o i ces an d o p t i o n s t h ey n eed t o m a x im ise t h e p r o p o sal s r ewar d s. We b el i eve t h at g i vi n g c le a r an d r eg u l ar co m m u n i cat i o n i s p ar am o u n t , even w h e n t h i n g s so m et i m es g o wr o n g ” “ W h ils t i t m i g h t so u n d ar r o g an t o r even a l i t t l e t wee, w e lik e t o t h i n k t h at we ar e b u si n ess p eo p l e wh o h a p p e n t o b e i n co m m er ci al f i n an ce r at h er t h an c o m m e r ci al f i n an ci er s p l ayi n g at b ei n g i n b u si n ess. Th i s id e n t if i cat i o n wi t h o u r cl i en t s al l o ws u s t o d evel o p an e m p a t hy wi t h t h em t h at set s u s ap ar t , f r o m t h e n o r m .

“ Ou r r ecent foc us on prope rty in v e s t m e n t h a s n e a t ly c o m p lem en te d our hi s tori c c ap a b ilit y in d e v e lo p m e n t fin an ce, an d we now offe r a “ s o u p t o n u t s ” s o lu t io n for in vesto rs l ook i ng to ta k e a p r o je c t f r o m b a r e la n d to fin ish ed a rti c l e for s a l e or r e t e n t io n . W e h a v e a ls o d evelo p ed a s ma l l ne twork of p r iv a t e in v e s t o r s w h o w ill ta ke an eq ui ty s ta k e i n a proj e c t , t h u s e n a b lin g t h e d evelo p er t o e x e c ute wi thout a n y o f h is o w n c a s h ” Th ese f acil i ti e s a re a v a i l a bl e to b o t h n o n - r e s id e n t s a n d re si d en t s, whe the r the y be do m ic ile d o r n o n - d o m ic ile d in t h e UK. A s Ra l ph c onti nue s t o e x p la in : “ w e h a v e h a d g r eat su cce s s i n fi na nc i ng a nd r e f in a n c in g f a c ilit ie s f o r several o ff -s hore e nti ti e s & tru s t s , in c lu d in g h ig h n e t wo rt h i n d i v i dua l s – a s l ong a s t h e U B O ( u lt im a t e b en efici al o wne r) c a n be prop e r ly id e n t if ie d a n d s o u r c e o f t h e f u n ds c onfi rme d.”

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N O R WAY GAMECHANGER OF THE YEAR - MORTEN SOLBAKKEN, CEO

NORWAY – GAMECHANGER OF THE YEAR - MORTEN SOLBAKKEN, PRESIDENT & CEO Acquired by the Switzerland-based Kudelski Group in April 2014, Conax is a global specialist in content security technology for digital TV services. ISO 9001 & 27001 certified, the company is headquartered in Norway, with offices in EMEA, Americas, Asia and Global 24/7 Support in India. Today, Conax enables secure content revenues for 400 pay-TV operators in 85 countries.

“I’m truly honoured to receive this award from the prestigious M&A publication, ACQ magazine,” says Morten Solbakken, President and CEO, Conax. “I would like to extend my gratitude to industry peers for recognition of the highly successful Conax sales and acquisition endeavour.”

Our new owner was quite clear in the key influencers for acquiring Conax; Profitability based on organizational excellence, strong business model, strong strategic synergies with its existing assets within the same value chain and success in emerging markets.

For the above, I would like to accredit my management team and the Conax global organization for their commitment to the continual success, development and growth we have achieved.

I believe that Conax and the performance of the Conax organization has been the game changer here.

This acquisition is not a typical example of a company being taken over by a competitor. In this case, the acquired company is maintained and strengthened with a long-term vision by its new owner to maximize

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

market reach and profitability; alongside the incumbent organization of the owner – including clear cost benefits and positive synergies for all.

Advice for other companies involved in M&A? The M&A process was an exciting journey, and one I would recommend going into with a very open mind.

If you are on the seller’s side, convince your current owners to engage skilled, experienced advisors, and allocate ample time for proper preparations before launching the process. This will help minimize disruption to the company, its market position and will help maintain the company’s value through the process.

Not only is the process leading to a buyout extremely interesting, challenging and rewarding – bringing the company together with our new owner and starting to cooperate with its other entities is yet another interesting venture altogether.

The Kudelski Group is an industrial and definitely long term owner for Conax. We are now working closely with our new owner to ensure we maximize their value from the acquisition. Now our focus is all about how we can leverage our combined strengths to further increase the Group’s market share and value.

Conax AS Storgata 33B 0272 Oslo N O R W AY w w w. c o n a x . c o m

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I T A LY ECONOMIC CRIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Coratella – Studio Legale operates in the field of economic and corporate criminal law and crimes against public administration, providing counseling to companies on internal organization and governance issues, advising the relevant corporate administrative and auditing bodies on their responsibilities and providing assistance on compliance issues, with the aim of preventing companies from committing criminal offences, with a specific emphasis on anti corruption.

The firm promoted and organized over the past six years the annual renowned national congress on corporate liability as a consequence of criminal offences, which takes place in Rome every last Friday of February, and counts more than 700 business operators participating each year. Coratella – Studio Legale also established the prestigious “Awards 231”, which awards companies, business owners and journalists for specific accomplishments on ethical business and compliance.

Coratella – Studio Legale was the winner of the “2014 Corporate International Magazine Global Award” as the Economic Crime Law Firm of the Year in Italy.

Crime. He also attended the 14th meeting of the United Nations Global Compact Working Group on Anticorruption, that Coratella – Studio Legale recently joined as a small business participant.

He was appointed advisor for the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Territory Protection between 2005 and 2010 and he is the author of 8 books on different criminal law issues and more than a hundred articles published on the main national economic magazines in Italy. He was appointed as contract professor for criminal law courses and masters in different law schools in Rome and participated as speaker to more than 60 congresses.

The name partner and legal representative of the firm, Claudio Coratella, matured a significant experience over the past twenty years providing court assistance in many of the most important cases in Italy. He participated in New York to the work of the United Nations Preparatory Commission for preparing draft texts of Rules of Procedure and Evidence and the Elements of

Avv. Claudio Coratella Partner Via Lago di Lesina n. 35, 00199 Rome Via Lovanio n. 10, 20121 Milan c.coratella@studiolegalecoratella.it Tel +39 06 86328700 Fax +39 06 86328722 info@studiolegalecoratella.it www.facebook.com/claudio.coratella.7 www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=10076 5961&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

ITALY LITIGATION AND ARBITRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Craca Di Carlo Guffanti Pisapia Tatozzi & Associati is an independent legal firm.

The Firm is based in Milan and provides out-of-court advisory services and assistance with litigation and arbitration proceedings in business law, company law, banking, financial and bankruptcy law matters.

The Firm is an association of five professional consultants with recognized expertise and good reputation, from the same generation and with a large background of work experience in some of the major Italian legal firms.

With the contribution of the team of consultants who over the years have achieved solid competence and professional growth under the five partners who have now joined forces, the Firm stands out in the Italian legal scene for its ability to offer highly-specialized advisory services to banks, financial intermediaries, asset management companies, insurance companies and listed companies and to corporate clients in general, as well as highly professional assistance in complex litigation proceedings (with a particular focus on company law, financial and insolvency matters). The experience and know-how developed over the years by its Partners have made the Firm a leader also in the area of M&A, financing and debt restructuring services for banks, financing institutions, industrial groups and private clients.

The Firm has chosen not to be organized into divisions, opting instead for a business model that would highlight its partners’ multidisciplinary skills and synergetic approach, with the advantage of ensuring more efficient, non-standardized services with an eye to the client’s specific targets and needs.

A highly specialized firm providing advisory services to corporate clients and assistance in litigation proceedings involving corporate law, financial services and insolvency matters.

Craca Di Carlo Guffanti Pisapia Tatozzi & Associati Via degli Omenoni 2, 20121 Milano, Italy T +39 02 3041 331 F +39 02 3041 3333 www.5lex.it

UK REGIONAL FRAUD & BUSINESS CRIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR “Cunninghams is a leading criminal practice specialising in the defence of allegations of serious fraud and corporate crime. The practice operates a nationwide service from its head office in Manchester and its base in central London.

All serious casework is partner led supported by a team of experienced criminal practitioners who have been involved in defending some of the country's most high profile allegations of fraud and business crime. The practice is a founding member of The Very High Cost Case Panel and Specialist Fraud Panel and continues to be one of an exclusive number of firms who are able to be publically funded to conduct the defence in the most serious and complicated cases. This work is complemented by a dedicated department dealing exclusively with proceedings relating to confiscation, restraint of assets in proceedings brought under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and associated legislation.

acts for businesses and individuals facing allegations of investment fraud, mortgage fraud, banking fraud and fraud investigated by HMRC including missing trader and VAT fraud. It has been involved since the inception of the Bribery Act 2010 in defending high profile allegations of bribery and corruption and has extensive experience in dealing with the most serious allegations of large scale money laundering”.

The firm advises suspects from the very outset of a criminal enquiry providing pre charge advice and negotiation, advice during interview and the highest quality representation in court proceedings. It defends against allegations brought by, amongst others, The Complex Case Units of the Crown Prosecution Service, The Serious Fraud Office, HM Revenue and Customs and the Serious and Economic Crime Units of the police. It recently successfully defended the largest prosecution ever brought by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills in respect of fraudulent trading. The firm

St Andrew's House (2nd Floor) 62 Bridge Street, Manchester M3 3BW Te l : 0 1 6 1 - 8 3 3 1 6 0 0 Fax: 0161 833 1060 Secure email address:enquiries@cunninghamssolicitors.co.uk w w w. f r a u d s o l i c i t o r. c o . u k

GREECE COMPE TI TION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

D. N. Tzouganatos & Partners is recognized as Greece’s sole competition law boutique. The firm covers the full range of competition law matters (cartel and abuse of dominance cases, mergers and state aid) and its client portfolio include Greece’s largest corporations active in various sectors of the economy such as energy, telecoms, banking, insurance, food production and media.

The law firm’s Senior Partner Dimitris Tzouganatos, Professor of Commercial Law at the School of Law of the University of Athens and former President of the Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC), has gained international acclaim and is considered a pioneer in the field.

Partner Nikos Kosmidis has extensive experience having successfully represented numerous clients before Greek courts, Regulatory Authorities and the European Commission.

The “D.N. Tzouganatos & Partners” team contribute constantly to the development and better understanding of competition law with publications and speaking engagements in Greek and international fora.

It has been the firm’s longstanding choice to pursue highly personalized client-lawyer relationships and provide business focused approach. All members of the law- firm are appreciated for their commitment and ability to

offer top quality comprehensive legal advice to their domestic and international clientele.

Besides competition law, D.N. Tzouganatos & Partners also specializes in Unfair Trade Practices, Trademarks, Arbitration, Public Procurement, Energy and Civil Law. Some of the most recent work highlights of the firm include: - Representation of Germanos SA (subsidiary of the OTE Group) before the HCC in a case concerning complaint by franchisees of Germanos for alleged RPM and prohibition of cross supplies, - Representation of Thessaloniki and Thessalia Gas Supply Companies before the Council of State for a case concerning abuse of dominance - Notification before the HCC of the acquisition of the dairy company Mevgal by Vivartia, Greece’s largest dairy company.

Contact Details: D. Ν. Tzouganatos & Partners 32, Sina St., GR-10672 Athens E m a i l : i n f o @ t z o u g a n a t o s l a w. g r Te l : + 3 0 2 1 0 3 6 2 6 8 5 5 Fax: +30210 3610134 H y p e r - l i n k : w w w. t z o u g a n a t o s l a w. g r

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

GERMANY INSURANCE & REINSURANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR SHIPPING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR TRANSPORT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR AVIATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Who we are

Insurance Law

We are an experienced and committed team of lawyers who carry out their clients' instructions promptly and professionally.

Ship hull insurance, P&I, loss of hire, goods transport insurance, cargo insurance, haulage insurance, CMR, personal liability insurance and re-insurance.

Having been in business for more than 80 years, we have an absolute and sound understanding of the interests of our clients. Where necessary, we litigate on their behalf, whilst seeking to avoid contentious proceedings where appropriate.

Through our regular activity for insurance undertakings, we can offer extensive experience in this area whether we are dealing with detailed advice on the law for the supervision of insurance companies, the drafting of comprehensive insurance conditions or the formulation of entirely new insurance concepts.

Our German and foreign clients operate world-wide. Our daily work is international-based.

We carry this out in co-operation with our office in Leer, one of busiest shipping places in Germany.

Background Dabelstein & Passehl was founded in 1930 by Dr. Hans Dabelstein. Within a short time, the Hamburg lawyer gained a reputation as a respected expert in maritime law. With the arrival of Dr. Gerhard Passehl, master mariner, Hans Dabelstein gained a partner who was not only an outstanding shipping lawyer but also a specialist in marine insurance law.

Originally Dabelstein & Passehl worked almost exclusively in the field of traditional coastal shipping (North and Baltic Seas). Since the 1970s, the firm has considerably expanded its field of activity. Today it is active world-wide.

In line with the expansion of the firm's areas of practice, the client base has increased significantly. As a result, the firm itself has continued to grow over the years, whilst maintaining the qualities and principles appreciated by its clients, namely its expertise and the individualised service it has always been in a position to provide. There are currently nine lawyers working for Dabelstein & Passehl in the Hamburg and Leer offices.

What we do International shipping law, land and air transport law, freight forwarding and insurance are the core areas of practice of Dabelstein & Passehl both in Hamburg and Leer. We are one of the largest and best known law firms in Germany practising these areas of law.

Shipping Law Collisions, salvage/assistance, general average, groundings and loss - at sea and on inland waterways - all form part of the work we do. This includes disputes under contracts of affreightment, cargo damage and personal injury, pilotage, maritime employment and public shipping law, port law and inland waterway law.

We act for our clients not only in relation to court proceedings but we also give them comprehensive advice on contracts in the maritime field (e.g. contracts of affreight¬ment and crew employment contracts), including assistance in drawing up bill of lading terms and conditions.

Yacht Insurance The area of yacht insurance is an independent specialist area, in particular the area of large and mega yachts with which we primarily deal. We advise yacht owners both on the choice of the right legal form for their owning company, as well as on the drafting of building, insurance and financing contracts. We assist yacht insurers in dealing with large scale damage and loss.

Business Law We offer our clients advice in all areas of business law from company law to corporate succession, including all inheritance questions and enforcement of wills.

Our Client Base Dabelstein & Passehl act domestically and abroad for a wide range of organisations from the shipping, shipbuilding and industry fields. The international experience of our two offices in the shipping centres of Hamburg and Leer has helped insurers, P&I Clubs, recovery agents, ship-owners, shipyards, brokers, “Assekuradeure“, plant construction business, shipbuilding suppliers, ship banks and financial services providers as well as shippers, freight forwarders, port authorities, transport companies, ship’s operators and the entire maritime service industry and its members.

International set up Jan Dreyer is the current chair of the maritime committee of the IBA, Marco Remiorz the vice chair of the ABA SIL transport law commission and the immediate past president of the young lawyers associations (AIJA) transport law commission. The firm has a strong network of international correspondents.

Ship Finance / Restrcuturing Those wishing to operate in shipping must either build or buy boats. This inevitably involves the resolution of questions of ship finance, an independent and complicated area of the law.

Our advice in this regard extends from draft sale and purchase contracts to their financing and to the registration of ships and mortgages. We act for both banks as well as shipowners in this area.

Shipyard Law and Plant Construction Shipping, shipbuilding and ship repairs are inseparably linked together. Extensive experience as in-house lawyers enables our shipbuilding specialists to give comprehensive advice not only regarding the legal aspects of a case. We support our clients in all respects relating to the conclusion and implementation of building, renovation and repair contracts. We also play an important role in advising on court procedure including foreign courts and arbitration.

We have for many years very successfully advised clients dealing in industrial plants and power station construction on the conclusion of international building, co-operation and consortium contracts. Our many years of experience is also put into good use here with regard to ship machinery construction.

Land and Air Transport Law We advise on the structuring of transport contracts in accordance with the applicable conventions (CMR, CIM, Warsaw/ Montreal Convention) and run recourse actions for insurance companies or defend claims for the carriers.

Dabelstein & Passehl Dr. Jan Dreyer/Dr. Marco Remiorz/ Dr. Dieter Schwampe/Esther Mallach 0049 40 31 77 97 0 j.dreyer@da-pa.com/m.remiorz@da-pa.com/ d.schwampe@da-pa.com/e.mallach@da-pa.com www.da-pa.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

AUSTRIA NICHE - CONTRACT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Dax & Partners was founded in 1994 and has evolved into a renowned business law firm with more than 60 employees, of which approximately 20 are trained lawyers.

The firm possesses specialists in all areas of law, in particular, in the field of corporate and business law, providing services to clients in different languages.

Due to its close and long-standing relationships with advisers from other fields of practice, Dax & Partners regularly coordinates its services with those of tax consultants, auditors and investment banks, if so requested by the client. The firm also offers its clients the coordination of advisory services in international legal transactions. In addition, Dax & Partners saw the need to develop relationships with technical advisers and specialists. In the energy, infrastructure and property development business especially, it is fundamental to also provide know-how on a technical level.

R e c h t s a n w ä l t e

The firm delivers unconventional solutions. A main pillar of its work is its partnership and close ties with its clients. Dax & Partners explores the boundaries of all possible solutions and seeks to find the right solution when faced with difficult situations. Its lawyers can look back on many years’ experience and successes in all areas of business law. The firm’s philosophy guarantees the implementation of the best possible solution, not just of the first idea that comes to mind.

Dax & Partners therefore regularly cooperates with its clients for long periods of time and not only in singular projects. The lawyers therefore know their clients very well and can therefore advise on a much higher level.

Due to the fact that Dax & Partners provides clients with services from nearly all business areas, it doesn’t have a ‘typical client’. It usually advises clients in several matters over long periods of time, therefore developing a quality client relationship. With the firm’s ability to provide individual solutions, it was able to develop cooperations with several of its clients, which are beneficial not only to the firm, but also for the clients themselves. Since Dax & Partners knows its clients, it can provide legal advice on a much higher level for them than anybody else.

G m b H

Mag. Johannes Wutzlhofer, LL.M. Partner Rechtsanwalt/attorney-at-law Dax & Partner Rechtsanwälte GmbH Rusterstraße 62, Stiege 1, Dachgeschoss 7000 Eisenstadt Zaunergasse 4-6, 1030 Wien Tel: +43 05/9004-200 Fax: +43 05/9004-299 email: wutzlhofer@daxundpartner.at website: http://www.daxundpartner.at/

CZECH REPUBLIC COMMERCI AL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DBK PARTNERS, Law Office, is a significant Czech law firm which provides comprehensive legal services. Our team is built on experienced lawyers with various fields of specialization and expertise.

To complete our legal services, we co-operate with wide range of external professionals comprising of cooperating lawyers - specialists, judicial experts, auditors, tax advisors and translators.

Our vision is to become a major Czech law office, distinguished from the competition and exceeding it by its services, approach and care. We want to excel and provide our clients with the best possible services, comfort and security.

Since our services also require knowledge of foreign laws we co-operate on a long-term basis with law offices in various foreign countries, mainly in Europe.

Our team comprises experienced lawyers with various fields of specialization and expertise. Thanks to our customer focus, integrity and commitment to all our values, we want to become the best partner in the field.

We can achieve this goal by taking a specific approach to individual customers and building the potential of each of our employees.

Fast and effective solutions are an added value for our clients. However, we provide them with more than simply a solution to their problem. We are able to predict the possible risks and proactively present various recommendations to our customers. Our goal is to have satisfied customers who use our services in the long term, keep returning to us and recommend our services to others. We have established that company image and name have a real value only if they are backed up by high-quality work.

It is of key importance for us to create a highly stable expert background on which we can rely in resolving specific problems and issues, and in which our clients will have confidence.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Therefore, we can provide our clients with comprehensive legal services in all areas of law, including the cases involving international elements.

DBK PARTNERS, Law Office, is led by its co-founder and managing partner, Ondrej David, a nationally-recognized expert in the area of commercial law. Ondrej focuses primarily on advising clients on large-scale commercial transactions and he is an expert in cross-border transactions and international taxation. He also specializes in laws governing management companies and investment funds and in taxation law. In this respect, he provides legal advice concerning the possibility of using a private capital investment fund and the selection of the most suitable type of private capital investment fund. Ondrej co-authored the “Commentary on the Czech Civil Code”.

He is the leading speaker in seminars held by DBK PARTNERS for professional public and private investors, focusing on law of investment funds.

Ondrej David Managing Partner D B K PA R T N E R S , L a w O f f i c e V Parku 2323/14, Prague, 14800, Czech Republic Te l e p h o n e + 4 2 0 2 4 4 9 1 2 4 6 3 E-mail: david@dbkp.cz w w w : w w w. d b k p . c z

SPAIN 2014 RISING STAR, MAR DE PEDRAZA SMALL CRIMINAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR After practising as a lawyer for fifteen years at two of the leading national and international law firms (J & A Garrigues and Baker & McKenzie), and securing her position as a Band 2 lawyer of the prestigious directory Chambers Europe, Mar de Pedraza (Madrid, 1973) decided to set up her own law firm as a personal undertaking, in pursuit of a new and exciting challenge, but continuing with her clear commitment to practising law in a “clear, direct and concise manner”.

De Pedraza Abogados is a boutique law firm specialising in criminal law, committed to providing its clients with highly sophisticated criminal law advice. Its specialist legal advisory services cover the traditional pre-litigation and litigation side of criminal law cases, in which it represents clients as the defence or prosecution, and the more novel “preventive” side of corporate defence and compliance, which has become a central part of criminal law advice since the entry into force in December 2010 of the amended Spanish Criminal Code.

Such specialist legal services focus on the specific area of “white-collar crime”, such as offences against financial and socio-economic interests, fraud, criminal insolvency, misappropriation, misrepresentation and falsification of documents, corporate offences, offences against the tax and social security authorities, and offences against workers’ rights, against the environment, against intellectual and industrial property or against the State Administration (such as bribery, breach of trust by public officials and embezzlement of public funds), among others.

Mar de Pedraza studied at the Universidad Complutense of Madrid (1996) and at the Universita degli Studi di Bologna (1995), and has been a member of the Madrid Bar Association (Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Madrid) since 1997.

Peers and clients have praised her for being “diligent, has in-depth knowledge of the law, is very close to the client and shows a lot of empathy. She's completely available and dedicated to the case", having received further recognition as the winner of one of Iberian Lawyer’s 40 under Forty Awards 2013.

Keen to impart her knowledge and experience further, she is a regular speaker at the Instituto de Fomento Empresarial (IFE), participates in exciting initiatives such as the Criminal Law and Financial Crime Observatory (Observatorio de Derecho Penal y Delitos Económicos) organised by the Cátedra de Investigación Económica y Forense URJC-KPMG, and currently teaches on a specialist degree course on criminal litigation at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos.

Mar de Pedraza D e Pedraza A bogad os , S .L .P. c/ A ntonio Maura 2 0, 1º D c ha.

28014 - Madrid Tlf.: + 34 91 532 3 9 43 Móvil: + 34 679 52 32 23 Fax: + 34 91 523 98 70 mar@depedrazaabogados .c om www.depedraza.com

BELGIUM

WINNER

CONTRACT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Our strong international presence is built on extensive experience of working with clients on complex legal issues. In short we

As an independent law firm, we are able to guarantee our clients a personal approach. For us the client’s interest is central. We provide high quality support and the prompt follow-up of the client’s business.

problem. With a selective team of friends and partners worldwide, we provide advice of the highest quality to clients around the world.

We work hard to achieve concrete results. The intervention of the lawyer must bring a tangible benefit for the client.

Over the years, we have designed and built our business around bringing a personal service and added value to the client.

WHAT WE DO Our firm deals with the following fields of the law:

The practice exists since 1986.

We are based in the port of Antwerp, diamond centre to the world and located right in the heart of Europe, one hour from London, Paris, Milan or Berlin and connect easily with the USA, Africa or the Middle East.

• Contract law • International Litigation, Arbitration and Mediation • Labour Law • Company law • Construction law • Liability and Insurance • Commercial Practice • Debt Collection

DEBLOCK LAW OFFICE Bourlastraat 3 2000 Antwerpen BELGIUM t. + 32 (0)3 206 22 55 f. + 32 (0)3 206 22 50 info@deblocklaw.com www.deblocklaw.com

TURKEY Inter net Law Fir m of the Yea r

With their core practice in IP Law, which is based on more than 17 years’ experience, has in time expanded and lead up to the establishment of Dericioglu & Yasar Law Office under the leadership of Mrs. Ayca Pinar EREN YASAR, Mr. Korcan DERİCİOGLU and Mr. Ahmet Munir YASAR. With its experienced and qualified team in diverse areas, Dericioglu & Yasar provide full range of legal service to its clients, either based in Turkey or abroad, depending on specific needs of their clients. The majority of their clients are national or international corporations as many of them are Fortune 500 Companies.

They provide practices in various aspects of IP Law including; litigation, commercial agreements related on IP, domain name dispute resolutions and litigations, social media dispute resolutions and litigations, strategic portfolio management, technology transfer issues, valuation and licensing of IP including domain names and due diligence.

Firm trace its history back to 1997 under the leadership of Mrs. Ayca Pinar EREN YASAR. She graduated from Ankara University Law School, which is one of the most prestigious and log-established law schools of Turkey. She is the leading partner of the firm and directly manage a team that provides advice on IP related issues, especially infringement, counterfeiting and invalidation matters. She is an

attorney at law and Chartered Turkish Patent & Trademark Attorney. She is an active member of INTA and AIPPI. Mr. Korcan DERICIOGLU was admitted to the Ankara Bar Association in 2005. He graduated from University of Lausanne with a DEA degree in Legal Issues, Crime and Security of New Technologies in 2007. He is an attorney at law and Chartered Turkish Patent & Trademark Attorney. He was the executive committee member of AIPPI Turkish National Group since its foundation until 2012. He is also a member of LES, INTA, ITECHLaw and Turkish Informatics Law Association. He is involved in several IP related EU and other government funded projects. He is a managing partner of the firm and leads a group that provides legal services on all IT Law related issues including Domain Name Disputes, Social Media Disputes addition to IP Management issues including strategic portfolio management, technology transfer, valuation and licensing of IP.

D e r i c i o g l u & Ya s a r L a w O f f i c e Cinnah caddesi 43/10 06690 Cankaya ANKARA / TURKEY T: + 9 0 3 1 2 4 4 2 6 9 9 6 F: +90 312 442 69 11 d y @ d e r i c i o g l u y a s a r. a v. t r w w w. d e r i c i o g l u y a s a r. a v. t r

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

TURKEY IP A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR

DESTEK PATENT has been a major force in intellectual property (IP) management and protection in Turkey and providing a full range of IP services including patents, trademarks, well-known marks, domain names, industrial designs and licensing for both Turkish and overseas clients since 1983.

Destek Patent’s leadership has been acknowledged with the following accolades among others: - Turkey’s top-ranked IP firm for more than 15 consecutive years according to official patent and trademark filing and registration statistics by the Turkish Patent Institute; - among the world’s top 10 IP firms for the past five years according to the international trademark filing statistics issued by the WTR 1000 and Markenfacts; and - “Turkish IP Firm of the year 2013” in IP Legal advisory award 2013 by Acquisition International.

- “Top tier recommended firm” within patent prosecution category in the international directory of IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners 2013” - Largest IP team throughout Turkey with four partners, five associates, 50 patent and trademark attorneys and a total of nearly 200 professionals - Largest office network throughout Turkey with seven offices in Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa, Izmir, Konya, Gaziantep and Adana

with over 100K trademarks, 10K patents and 70K designs since 1995 - Memberships to international associations LES, AIPPI, INTA, MARQUES, PTMG, GRUR, EPI, VPP and TOBB. - First to implement total quality management with ISO 9001: 2008 Certificate in the Turkey’s IP Business since 2001 Destek Patent also provides exclusive IP services under the registered trademarks DESTEK PATENT TV (the first and only online Turkish IP television channel), INOVERSITE (university-industry collaboration projects), DESTEK AKADEMI (continuous training of clients and in-house personnel), TEKNOPROFİL (clearance searches, freedom-to-operate opinions and technology watch-up/analysis), MARKALARM (trademark watch services), PATSIS (setting up in-company research and development and patent management systems) and ALFASOFT (in-house IP software).

We understand clients’ needs and expectations regarding expert counselling, fast response, clear communication and cost-effective quality IP services, an independent indicator of which is our high clients’ satisfaction rate.

Managing Partner Ersin Dereligil Address: D E S T E K PAT E N T, I N C .

Polaris Plaza Ahi Evran Cad. No:21 Kat:17 M a s l a k - I s t a n b u l 3 4 3 9 8 - Tu r k e y T +90-212 329 0000 F +90-212 346 0264 global@destekpatent.com.tr w w w. d e s t e k p a t e n t . c o m . t r

- Experience & expertise with thousands of IP files

ROMANIA M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR COMPE TI TION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR TSAA - Attorneys at Law is a fast growing and innovative Romanian Law Firm, highly committed to reach the highest standards in assisting our clients in business matters. Our law firm manages the entire spectrum of legal matters pertaining to business law areas both as counselors and as litigators.

TSAA’s team consists of 24 highly experienced and dedicated lawyers, most of them being previously trained amongst top tier local and multinational law firms. The legal team is closely aided by more than 10 paralegals, certified translators and assistants.

In a complex and rapidly shifting business climate, TSAA is an efficiency-oriented practice distinguished by its personal client-attorney relationship approach. Through its pioneering multigenerational attorneys, TSAA provides a dedicated and highly professional legal assistance to important local and international companies acting in the most various fields of activity, ranging from the automotive and heavy industry to pharmaceutical and food industry, being focused on providing efficient solutions to its client’s legal issues at un unsurpassed fee/quality ratio. The personal involvement and crossing beyond the service provider-client relationship boundary make TSAA a solid and reliable partner to any business, regardless of its stage of development.

Moreover, due to its strategic alliances with reputed international law firms, TSAA offers its clients enhanced capabilities, diversified services and superior business value on the global market.

Our expertise includes the following areas of practice: • Business Advisory • Mergers and Acquisitions • Banking and Project Financing • Procurement Law • Competition Law • Public-Private Partnerships • Real Estate and Urban Planning • Contract Law • Corporate • Regulatory and compliance services • Employment • Tax Law • Energy & Natural Resources • Business Criminal Law • Infrastructure • Dispute Resolution • Insolvency • Insurance and Transport • Intellectual Property

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

D o r u T R Ã I L Ã’s

E-mail: doru.traila@tsaa.ro

professional career started more than 16 years ago and, since then, he has been recognized as one of Romania’s top litigators and a contributor to national jurisprudence. Doru has successfully assisted and represented clients in dispute resolutions on legal matters pertaining to corporate law, intellectual property, insolvency and liquidation procedures, capital market operations, as well as in white collar criminality cases.

Doru is also a professor with the Faculty of Law of the University of Bucharest where he has been teaching Civil Law (Contracts), Inheritance Law and Intellectual Property Law.

Adriana ALMĂȘAN

E-mail: adriana.almasan@tsaa.ro

professional career started more than 16 years ago and, since then, he has been recognized as one of Romania’s top litigators and a contributor to national jurisprudence. Doru has successfully assisted and represented clients in dispute resolutions on legal matters pertaining to corporate law, intellectual property, insolvency and liquidation procedures, capital market operations, as well as in white collar criminality cases.

Doru is also a professor with the Faculty of Law of the University of Bucharest where he has been teaching Civil Law (Contracts), Inheritance Law and Intellectual Property Law.

S i l v i u S T R AT U L AT

E-mail: silviu.stratulat@tsaa.ro

Silviu STRATULAT has previously worked for more than 11 years within several major national and international law firms, both in Romania and abroad, advising clients in large scale international financing, corporate and M&A projects. His specialization is M&A, banking & finance and taxation. In addition, Silviu has an extensive expertise in real estate and constructions law matters.

Andrei ALBULESCU andrei.albulescu@tsaa.ro

Andrei ALBULESCU has more than 11 years of practice within top international and domestic law firms, being specialized in employment law, public procurement and PPP law. Andrei has a broad expertise in mergers and acquisitions, advising in complex mergers and acquisitions/privatization projects, but also in the reorganization of corporate and commercial relationships.

7 I o n B r e z o i a n u S t . , 5 t h & 6 t h F l o o r s , B o g ' a r t C e n t e r, 1 s t D i s t r i c t , B u c h a r e s t , R o m â n i a T: + 4 0 ( 2 1 ) 3 1 6 8 7 4 9 F : + 4 0 ( 2 1 ) 3 1 6 8 7 5 6 E - m a i l : o f fi c e @ t s a a . r o W e b s i t e : w w w. t s a a . r o

UK NICHE PSYCHI ATRIC CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR (EMPLOYMENT / INSURANCE) Dr Rajeev Dhar, a practising Consultant Psychiatrist based in Central London is renowned for the precision of his diagnostic and treatment skills. Dr Dhar has a strong international and national private practice providing clinical opinions, advice and solutions confidentially for individuals, or in collaboration with their organisations in employment matters. His uniqueness lies in using his skills as an expert in Psychiatry, a non practising Barrister and having also trained and worked in Management to deal with complex clinical matters.

Having held senior roles in Psychiatry as a NHS Clinical Director for mental health services; a member of a NHS Clinical Commissioning Board, a Honorary Academic at the Institute of Psychiatry, London and various advisory roles for organisations and corporations he is able to tune into the problems and needs of high functioning individuals and executives across various sectors of Industry.

Dr Dhar’s approach combines a scientific understanding of the latest medications; investigations and psychological approaches to work collaboratively with the individual using his unique mix of skills and experience to provide a highly effective solution to their problems as well as enhancing their performance. He has a special interest in mood problems such as work related stress, chronic burnout, depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder and the impact this has on occupational, interpersonal and relationship functioning and performance. He also delivers

presentations and seminars to organisations on mental health and occupational and organisational behaviour.

He is also a leading expert witness providing psychiatric evidence for the purposes of employment processes in organisations and across various legal jurisdictions including Employment, Mental Capacity, Personal Injury and Negligence and also published, lectured and taught widely on medicolegal matters throughout his career. He prepares reports and presents oral evidence to the Higher Courts in England and internationally on a regular basis.

Dr Rajeev Dhar

MBBS MRCPsych Barrister

Consultant Psychiatrist w w w. d r r a j e e v d h a r. c o m Appts : 02074678409; 07928613223 i n f o @ d r r a j e e v d h a r. c o m O f fi c e s : 62 Wimpole St, London W1G 8AJ 10 Harley St, London, W1G 9PF

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

GERMANY INSURANCE BROKER OF THE YEAR - Dr. IHLAS GMBH

Our clients belong to the Top Companies and Financial Institutions. We support their Inhouse Brokers, Risk Managers and Insurance Departments. Our unique selling point is 25 years of experience with the Financial Lines of publicly traded large global companies. It is great to be recognized as the winner by the ACQ5 Global Award 2014 in the category GERMANY – INSURANCE BROKER OF THE YEAR -. Many thanks for your votes!

1994 we published our first article in a law journal about Directors & Officers Insurance. 1996 the D&O-market in Germany got started and in the same year my dissertation about D&O did win a scientific university award by Deutsches Aktieninstitut. During the following 10 years there was growth in between 500% to 1000% in all important areas like the premium volume, policy count, employment market, publications and of course severity and frequency of losses. In the early 90s policies had 5 pages of small printed terms and conditions and they were used in the market up to 10 years. Today they might last less than 2 years with over 15 pages.

Large corporations and leading insurance brokers responded to this challenge with the creation of teams and departments. A regular involvement of several in- and outside experts is needed to secure quality, understanding, communication and innovation.

Talking about clients is taboo. To be responsible for Financial Lines at a company with a big headcount and a global network may but must not be a guarantee for expertise. Our company offers a list with more than 100 references ranging from A to Z about awards, memberships, publications, speaker activities at conferences and from various kinds of journals and universities: http://www.dr-ihlas.com/referenzen.html.

The ACQ 5 Global Award 2014 will now be on the top of this list!

Financial Lines are Insurance Policies covering financial losses and costs.

Financial losses are damages which are neither personal nor property damages nor consequential losses therefrom.

There is a broad and growing var iety of policies: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Bankers Blanket Bond, BBB Crime Insurance, Commercial Crime Insurance Commercial Criminal Defense Cost Insurance Directors & Officers Liability Insurance, (D&O) Directors & Officers Deductible Insurance Policy Directors & Officers Personal Policy Employment Contract Litigation Legal Cost Insurance Employment Practices Liability Insurance, (EPLI) Errors & Omissions Insurance, (E&O) Excess Policy Fiduciary Liability Insurance Financial Loss Defense Cost Insurance General Equal Treatment Law Legal Expense Cost Coverage (AGG)

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Initial Public Offering Insurance, (IPO) International Insurance Programs Kidnap, Ransom & Extortion Insurance, (KR&E) Multi Line Policies, Package Policies Outside Directorship Liability Insurance, (ODL) Pension Trustee Liability Insurance, (PTL) Professional Indemnity Insurance, (PI) Public Offering of Securities Insurance, (POSI) Representations and Warranties Insurance Side A D&O Top Manager Legal Cost Insurance Warranties & Indemnities Insurance, (W&I)

These Financial Lines are more difficult to underwrite than property or casualty lines. In the end they protect managers and balance sheets.

Interdisciplinary skills are required. The more sophisticated the underwriters get, the more separate policies are created. The economical hazard behind financial losses requires a named peril approach and is not open to an all risks policy. So the list above gets longer and longer each year. Concentration of all Financial Lines has always been our approach and is the essential key to quality and service. Until today the German insurance market is fragmented. Financial Lines are spread over the Casualty-, Credit-, E&O- and Legal-Expense-InsuranceDepartments and sometimes there is already another “D&ODepartment”. That cannot work well. Synergies are missed. Claims can trigger D&O-, E&O-, Crime- and Legal-Cost-Insurance-Policies at the same time. Then but too late it becomes obvious, that this requires an organization rather in one than in four Departments. Confidentiality can be better protected and expenses can be kept lower. Many market players still have not closed significant gaps in their product line especially regarding the insurance of Employment Practices Liability, Pension Trustee Liability, Warranties & Indemnities and Kidnap Ransom and Extortion. Employment Practices Liability Insurance as a German product wasn’t offered before 2006. Kidnap Ransom & Extortion Insurance was not permitted until 1996.

We started at a global market leader operating for Austria, Switzerland and Germany at a time when there was a very little market. Therefore we have excellent contacts with the senior underwriters and decisionsmakers because we were there before the beginning. Our underwriting experience and a former membership at the D&O task force of the German Insurance Association (GDV) are very useful. Tailor-made complex Financial Lines policies and programs are our core competence.

We are enthusiastic practitioners and specialists.

UK INSURANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

EC3\Legal was launched at the end of 2012 to fill the gap in legal and other services provided to SME intermediated businesses. EC3\Legal LLP has brought a fresh attitude and commercial approach to legal services in the insurance sector. We have become the ‘Firm of Choice’ for over 75 clients in only 18 months, and have been instructed on 22 deals worth over £200m all around the UK. Started in 2012 by Senior Partner David Coupe and now a healthy team of 12 and growing, EC3\Legal LLP is not a one dimensional, stereotypical law firm. Our clients see us as a true business partner and use us to provide much wider support than just legal advices. We are recognised and recommended as “the firm to go to” on intermediated market matters by our peers, banks, venture capital houses, corporate finance advisers and accountants supporting the sector.

We have rapidly established a reputation as a straightforward, commercially-minded law firm with a desire to “get the deal done”.

frequently on the UK intermediated insurance issues.

EC3\Legal have identified that all insurance clients need the “Five Pillars of Support” in their business. These pillars represent the specific areas of support the clients tells us that they need namely, employment; regulation and compliance; property; commercial; and corporate. EC3\Legal has strategically recruited specialists in each of these areas to meet those demands.

In summary, EC3\Legal are not only lawyers – we are business partners. By combining our commercial approach to legal provision with the use of technology, we have been able to deliver services more effectively and at a reduced cost compared to our competitors. We have invested time and effort in building a reputation for responsive, no-nonsense legal services for MGA and broker legal work. We don’t just think about plain legalities - we think about our client and their business objectives.

David Coupe has been practicing corporate commercial law for nearly 30 years, principally around the London and Lloyd’s insurance market, and in China even longer. Prior to establishing EC3\Legal, David was a partner at Ince & Co. and Clyde & Co for 20 years. A founding member of the Managing General Agents’ Association (MGAA) he is also on various consultative bodies including ones at Lloyd’s, and speaks and writes

Senior Partner

David Coupe

EC3\Legal LLP 106 Leadenhall Street, London, EC3A 4AA Office +44 (0)203 553 4884 Direct +44 (0)783 150 0371 Email david.coupe@ec3legal.com

GREECE M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTI VE YEAR

Singled out as the only Greek law firm ever listed in Financial Times’ “Most Innovative 50 European Law Firms”(2007-ranked 24th), Elias Paraskevas Attorneys was established in 1933 by the widely referred to as the “Dean of Greek Lawyers” Elias Paraskevas. Ever since, it holds true to its hallmark: the development of innovative legal minds that bring commercial awareness and add value to clients’ transactions, with unwavering integrity.

Over the past decade our firm has advised more than 50 international banks and financial institutions and over 200 leading corporations, governments, international organisations, state-owned concerns, private foundations and ultra high net-worth individuals in a wide range of M&A, banking, finance, capital markets, corporate, restructuring, litigation, real estate and private client matters, exceeding $400 billion in value. Only over the past months we have advised as Greek counsel a leading US-based telecoms company in connection with the third largest M&A deal in global history ($130 billion), as well as one of the largest US investment managers in the context of this year’s largest acquisition in one of Greek economy’s key sectors, while our recent track record also includes advising on the €200 billion Greek PSI, in some of the largest recent insurance ($16 billion) and car sector ($4 billion) M&As worldwide, in one of Europe’s largest debt

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

restructurings (€3.2 billion) as well as in the largest and most complex insolvency case ever globally.

Faithful to the values of social responsibility, the firm is renowned for its commitment to pro bono work and philanthropic endeavours through the Elias Paraskevas Foundation.

Managing Partner Dimitris Paraskevas is a top-rated lawyer with international acclaim, who envisioned and paved the way to the firm’s international growth. He is chairman and board member of many companies and charitable foundations.

He has been serving the firm’s top clientele leading all major transactions and has acted as advisor to several international organisations, including the OECD and the Council of Europe.

For his service as the Secretary for Privatisation (Ministry of Development, 1993-1999) he was named Super Salesman by the Financial Times (1999). Amongst other, he is consistently ranked one of the two top M&A attorneys in Greece and one of the international M&A leaders worldwide.

He is currently European Liaison Officer at the Banking Law Committee of the International Bar Association.

Di m i t r i s Pa r a s k e va s Managing Partner

Elias Paraskevas Attorneys

1933

7 Asklepiou Street 106 79 Athens - Greece Te l : Mob: Mob: Mob:

+30 210 36 10 333 ext. 102 +30 693 719 1900 (GR) +44 7500 222 466 (UK) +377 6439 10122 (MC)

Fax: +30 210 36 45 329 Email: d p a r a s k e v a s @ p a r a s k e v a s l a w. c o m Skype: dim.paraskevas w w w. p a r a s k e v a s l a w. c o m

M A LT A INTERNATIONAL TAX A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR – EMD EMD is a well-established multi-disciplinary firm based in Malta providing legal, tax, advisory and corporate services. Our firm is geared to provide clients with a comprehensive array of professional services to meet all of their needs including tax planning, assistance with setting up corporate structures and/or businesses in Malta and ensuring they comply with all legal and regulatory requirements, applications for financial services and i-gaming licences, obtaining residency or Maltese citizenship, or purchasing property in Malta.

The fact that Malta is a member of the European Union, has the Euro as its currency and has a very attractive tax system, means that companies incorporated in Malta, and certain financial services authorisations issued in Malta can operate freely within the EU, thereby making Malta an ideal jurisdiction to base one’s business especially as a gateway to Europe.

EMD Advocates, the firm’s legal arm, boasts a strong international legal practice with particular emphasis on a number of niche areas including tax law, iGaming, financial services, trust law, corporate law, intellectual property, aviation & aircraft registration, ship & yacht registration, immigration and residency, employment law, media & entertainment law and property and construction law.

EMD’s tax advisory team provides a full range of tax consultancy services including income tax and Value Added Tax (VAT) planning services, direct & indirect tax compliance, tax transaction services, and tax due diligence. We also act as tax consultants to expatriates and other private clients in connection with their personal tax matters. The advisory arm of the firm also provides corporate administration services, tax consultancy and compliance as well as accounting and bookkeeping services. EMD is also licensed by the Malta Financial Services Authority to act as trustee, co-trustee and corporate service provider.

Our client base ranges from multinational companies setting up an operation in Malta to high net worth individuals who may establish tax residency in Malta or establish holding and trading companies or trusts in Malta.

As members of the Trans European Law Firm Alliance (TELFA) and the Tax Representative Alliance (TRA), as well as our affiliation with USLaw, we assist clients whose affairs include elements of transnational and international tax.

EMD Va u l t s 1 3 – 1 6 Va l l e t t a W a t e r f r o n t FRN 1914 Malta Te l : + 3 5 6 2 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 Fax: +356 2123 7277 Email: info@emd.com.mt We b s i t e : w w w. e m d . c o m . m t

GERMANY LEADING IP ADVISORY OF THE YEAR Patent law firm engel patentanwaltskanzlei (engel) is clearly focused on the field of Intellectual Property. We have been orientating our way of working and structure towards the needs of medium-sized, and emergent, innovation oriented enterprises. We support these enterprises with regard to the acquisition, enforcement and defense of patents, trademarks and designs. engel is convinced that a main precondition for successful handling of patent law cases is an excellent technical understanding, both when formulating the patent application as well as for the upcoming enforcement/defense of the patent. engel’s patent attorneys bring along these skills on the basis of their university engineering education. Moreover, profound legal knowledge is required for infringement proceedings, which we are offered by our in-house specialists and our willingness to collaborate with external litigators. engel wants to support their clients in protecting their intellectual property. For this purpose, worthwhile technical innovations need to be patented, a coordinated trademark strategy needs to be pursued and unnecessary litigations need to be avoided. At the same time, legal positions need to be asserted even in court proceedings, if an amicable arrangement cannot be reached. For engel it has always top priority to find an efficient solution for the client’s legal problems – because enterprises want to be successful with entering the market with new products and ideas.

We use to advise our clients to check in preparation of placing an order whether the focusing of an enterprise and of a counselor go well together. Do you need a law firm to fight with maximum personal capacity against an overpowering opponent? Or do you rather create an adequate portfolio of intellectual property rights suitable for the enterprise? Does the counselor understand not only the legal situation of the enterprise, but also its position in the market and – especially for the field of patents – its innovations? engel has found its position and way of working and combines a technically high quality of work - which does not need to shy away from comparisons with bigger law firms - with the flexibility and way of communication of a rather small enterprise. Therefore, we can continuously offer our target audience IP counselling over many years, independent of any current questions, respectively.

Dr. Alexander Lindner engel patentanwaltskanzlei Founding partner christoph k. engel office@engel-patent.com www.engel-patent.com marktplatz 6 98527 suhl – germany tel: +49 3681 7977 0 fax: +49 3681 7977 99

UK DISCRE TIONARY FUND MANAGERS FIRM OF THE YEAR IN VESTMENT STRATEGY FIRM OF THE YEAR At European Wealth, our investment philosophy is straightforward - we think for ourselves and invest for the long term. Our goal is also simple - to deliver investment performance which protects and grows our clients' wealth over time. This requires a flexible and active investment strategy, under pinned by conviction and a clear understanding of the risks we are taking.

There are two core parts to delivering our investment strategy. First, the asset allocation decision and second, how do we want to make the actual investment? These two decisions have to be consistent and cannot be made in isolation.

There are two phases to the asset allocation decision. The first, and most important, is agreeing the long term benchmark position. The second is deciding when to vary from this strategic allocation as opportunities arise or to mitigate against a potential risk. These opportunities result from changes in the macro economic environment and business cycles, and can have a significant impact upon asset prices.

These changing themes drive a sequence of decisions. At the outset, these involve addressing the relative weightings to cash or bonds or equities. In more detail, it will mean assessing questions such as the duration and credit quality of our bond exposures, or whether to hold thematic investments such as infrastructure, or to invest in emerging markets.

Risk and return are at the heart of our approach.

We must constantly ask ourselves the question ‘will we be adequately rewarded for the risk we are taking?’ This means understanding not only where we believe the value to lie, but where others believe it should be too, and we then identify what factors may affect that value.

The top down asset allocation process is fully integrated with the ‘bottom up’ selection process for the investment assets that will ultimately comprise the portfolios. As we said before, consistency is vital in deriving the maximum benefit from combining these. In order to select the best assets we first use sophisticated quantitative screening techniques to eliminate those that do not meet our criteria. This narrows down the candidates considerably, and it leaves us with a short list to which we can then apply our more in-depth qualitative research.

The qualitative assessment involves much more than simply the investment case for each asset.

Critically, it must also have the liquidity that we need in order to both buy and sell it as required.

In addition, they must also be able to be used within the various wrappers that contain our clients’ investments.

R ic h ar d S t am m er s , In v es t m en t S t r at eg is t

Te l : 0 2 0 7 2 9 3 0 7 3 0 richard.stammers@europeanwealth.com R o d G e n t r y, C h i e f E x e c u t i v e O ff i c e r Te l : 0 2 0 7 2 9 3 0 7 3 0 Email: rod.gentry@europeanwealth.com 10-11 Austin Friars London EC2N 2HG We b s i t e : w w w. e u r o p e a n w e a l t h . c o m

!

CYPRUS TRUST ADMINISTRATION SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

!

Fiduciana Trust (Cyprus) Limited is a boutique Cyprus trustee and fiduciary services company with international coverage. The firm takes pride in offering a friendly and personal service. It focuses on offering the highest level of personalised trust, corporate and accounting services and solutions to clients. The boutique nature of the business ensures that its clients' affairs are kept strictly confidential and the most personal approach is offered in the handling of all matters.

Fiduciana provides services in trust services; corporate services; accounting & financial management; international tax planning; family office and virtual office; Cyprus funds registration and administration.

The firm's personnel consists of chartered accountants, lawyers and paralegal administrators - high calibre professionals carefully recruited and suitably trained to meet the needs of the most demanding situations. Its team is extremely dedicated, working long hours in order to give clients the best service possible. Fiduciana clients are certainly not treated as a number - each client is known on a first name basis. The firm builds a committed team of people who take total responsibility for its services locally as well as internationally. Its aim is to always exceed its client's expectations.

Fiduciana leads the field in providing added value to its clients. Where the firm provides directors for a client company, it has the ability and experience to understand their business and therefore conduct the entire business of the company, liaising with the company's owners only where appropriate. Fiduciana is proud to source highly qualified em¬ployees in order to provide a service to its clients of extraordinary quality.

Anna Homenko, Fiduciana's managing partner, has 14 years of tax, compliance, trust corporate and fiduciary experience. She is proficient in dealing with all aspects

of corporate law, including the incorporation, management and structuring of Cyprus and international corporate entities as well as advice, structuring and ongoing management of complex multijurisdictional trust structures.

Ms Homenko studied International Law in the Institute of International Relations, Kyiv Taras Shevchen-ko University, and continued her academic development in the UK, where she graduated from Keele University with a dual bachelor's degree in Law and International Politics. Following that, she completed the legal Practice Course (LPC) in Chester, UK. Ms Homenko is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and ITPA. Fiduciana aims to deliver services of the highest standard, provide solutions and guide clients, working together with expert legal, financial and tax advisers. It combines legal knowledge, fiduciary experience and business sense to ensure the best possible outcome for the client. The firm believes that the art of fiduciary services is to ensure that there are no impossible solutions, and it has that down to a fine art.

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Managing Director Anna Homenko

8 Mikinon Street 1065 Nicosia Cyprus Tel: +357 22 460890 anna.homenko@fiduciana.net www.fiduciana.net

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ENGLAND NICHE ADVISORY OF THE YEAR (INSURANCE TAX SOLUTIONS) About FiscalReps FiscalReps is a resilient, financially secure independent business providing a niche IPT compliance service to over 270 clients for more than 10 years. The combination of business stability, unparalleled subject matter expertise and operational strength means that FiscalReps is perfectly placed to deliver a service which ensures that the professional integrity of your business is never risked, especially in the current global environment when the tax affairs of corporates are under unprecedented levels of scrutiny from tax authorities and the media.

In 2013, FiscalReps submitted over 15,000 IPT returns across the EU-EEA region – all filed on time, with a total tax value of EUR204.6m across all of its clients.

• A designated FiscalReps team based in the UK consisting of a Client Director, Senior Manager, Manager, Technician and Administrator will deal with all your IPT matters, liaising with tax authorities directly, on your behalf • Twelve European languages are spoken fluently within the office • Unique standardised IPT process with up to six levels of internal review for every client IPT return prepared and submitted

The unique selling points of FiscalReps are:

• FiscalReps’ unique IPT software, taxBOX® used to validate clients’ data at a high level and prepare all the necessary IPT returns in accordance with local IPT legislation

• Unlike all other providers, FiscalReps offers a guaranteed single point of contact for IPT compliance in all territories across the EU-EEA delivered from a single office

• IPT rate tables based on FiscalReps taxSURE™ methodology, incorporating regular consultation with local tax authorities, regulatory authorities and trade bodies • A risk averse approach to IPT compliance focused on the correct application of the law and a deliberately non-aggressive stance with the tax authorities • Online secure audit trail of tax returns and reconciliations of client monies using myFiscalReps™

Mike Stalley FCA, Chief Executive Fiscal Reps Limited 200 Fowler Avenue Farnborough Business Park Farnborough Hampshire GU14 7JP UK t: +44 (0)20 7036 8070 w: www.fiscalreps.com

WINNER

Germany PRI VATE EQUI TY LAWYER OF THE YEAR - FLORI AN A IGNER AFR Rechtsanwälte was established in Munich in early 2007 by attorneys-at-law Florian Aigner, Florian Fischer and Ulrich Radlmayr as founding partners after having worked for a leading German tax and Private Equity law boutique for several years. In late 2007, the firm opened a Stuttgart branch with attorneys-at-law Dr. Roderich Fischer, Diethard Goerg and Martin Hunstein (each with several years of experience with Shearman & Sterling and Gleiss Lutz).

The private equity and venture capital (PE) practice group of AFR has an outstanding reputation in the market, in particular for small- to mid-cap transactions. Given the size of the firm, the number and volume of transactions handled is far beyond average and can even be compared to German desks of international law firms in this particular market segment. The PE practice covers all aspects and stages of the transaction, starting with tax structure and due diligence and ending with day-today advice to portfolio companies.

Industry publications have variously described AFR´s partners as “enjoying an excellent standing for their M&A and PE work since the very beginning” and “clients praising the creativity, quickwittedness and readiness for action of the relatively young firm”.

In particular, PE Partner Florian Aigner has been singled out as “strong and creative negotiator”. Florian Aigner has an exceptional track-record in rendering combined transactional and tax advice in PE as well as VC transactions on buy-side as well as sell-side.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

The firm currently has six partners and five associates and is focusing on legal and tax transaction advice, in particular in the following areas: • Advising financial investors and strategists with regard to the acquisition and sale of companies (focusing on small- to mid-cap) • acquisition and sale of companies and alternative investments as well as tax oriented asset allocation and structuring • Advising medium-sized and family-run companies in sale and acquisition processes, in particular within the scope of company‘s succession • Management in case of LBO / MBO structures (manager, funds, sellers) • Venture Capital investments (pre-seed/early and late stage), in particular serial entrepreneurs and business angels • Insolvency, corporate and tax advice in special situations • Acquisition financing (including alternative financing instruments) • Tax and products and tax structuring The firm´s approach can be characterized by highly personal and pragmatic approach, extreme responsiveness and high flexibility. Due to the firm´s lean structures, AFR´s clients enjoy a very close and dedicated personal contact to the lawyers working on the deal (“know your lawyer”). On the international front, AFR has a reliable Best-Friends-Network of renowned law firms - what is even more important - singular outstanding lawyers which rank among the best in their respective field of expertise - in the whole of Europe, South-East-Asia and on the American continent.

AFR Rechtsanwälte Möhlstraße 2 D 81675 München T +49 89 38 66 60-0 F +49 89 38 66 60-100 www.afr-legal.de

ENGLAND CORPORATE BRIBERY & CORRUPTION LAWYER OF THE YEAR, IVAN PEARCE CORPORATE BRIBERY & CORRUPTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Fulcr um Chambers LLP is an innovative law fir m comprised of barristers, solicitors and other professionals. It has established itself as an award-winning fir m providing expert advice and representation for public, private and commercial clients.

Clients are drawn from many sectors, including: publishing, financial ser vices, oil & gas, extractive industr y, electronics, constr uction, transport and infrastr ucture. The fir m provides recognised, experienced-backed expertise to assist corporates, individuals, development banks, regulators and national gover nments with their briber y and corr uption challenges.

Fulcr um has advised and appeared as trial advocates in a number of the largest inter national corr uption cases to date.

The fir m has particular experience in negotiating financial settlements through self -referrals in criminal cases with regulators and prosecutors in the United States and with the multi-lateral development banks. The fir m has also conducted wide ranging inter nal investigations on behalf of its corporate clients, both in the UK and in high-risk jurisdictions.

Fulcr um lawyers have particular expertise in advising and representing clients in relation to money laundering issues.

They of ten assist in commercial transactions, professional obligations, the regulated sector and regulator prosecutor lead investigations. Fulcr um appreciates that circumstances of ten demand quick and pragmatic advice.

In addition, the fir m has assisted corporate clients in the development of anti-money laundering strategies, training and guidance to ensure compliance with professional obligations, national and inter national legislation. Fulcr um has many years of experience in the conduct of complex fraud cases and has acted as advisers and advocates for organisations and individuals facing global fraud investigations. They have also acted for parties to the Inter national Commissions of Enquir y, examining commercial transactions involving allegations of civil and criminal fraud. Fulcr um has significant expertise in advising clients on corporate gover nance, ranging from providing specialist guidance on the various regulator y regimes, to assisting in the development of robust and effective compliance programs. The fir m’s clients have included a number of large corporations, including one of the UK’s largest retail and investment banks.

Ivan Pearce specialises in advising and representing companies and individuals in relation to regulator y and potential criminal wrongdoing. He has particular experience of dealing with prosecuting and regulator y authorities, including those located abroad with regard to corr uption issues and money laundering. He is regarded as an expert on asset for feiture and confiscation issues. In addition to representing companies he has advised, draf ted and implemented systems to ensure reputation and regulator y protection and compliance with the ter ms of the Briber y Act, the Foreign and Corr upt Practices Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Legislation. He has represented companies in relation to their exposure to multi-lateral development bank sanctions regimes and conducted investigations worldwide into issues arising across his practice area on behalf of companies. He has a proven track record having been instr ucted and appearing in the most noteworthy cases in his field of practice. These include SFO v Macmillan Publishers Ltd, R v James Ibori, and other confidential high profile inter nal investigations. He is recognised annually by Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 as a leader in the fields of asset for feiture, serious fraud and money laundering. The nature of Ivan’s practice generally means that multiple jurisdictions and legal regimes are engaged with both civil and criminal issues arising. His focus is to provide pragmatic business enabling advice to resolve matters as quickly and efficiently as possible and with an aim to avoid litigation if possible. Where appropriate, this has included self -referral routes in the United Kingdom and abroad to seek the best possible resolution. Ivan has lectured worldwide on briber y and corr uption, commercial fraud, restraint and freezing orders, money laundering, asset for feiture and civil recover y.

11 Old Square, Lincoln ’ s Inn, London WC2A 3TS T : + 44 ( 0 ) 20 7186 0420 E : enquiries @fulcrumchambers.com w: www.fulcrumchambers.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

CHANNEL ISLANDS OUTSOURCED INVESTMENT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR Fund Corporation is a regulated administrator based in Guernsey that has carved out a niche in providing bespoke and tailored solutions which address their clients’ specific and wide-ranging needs.

Set up by professionally qualified individuals looking to provide partnered solutions for clients, the firm has a successful history of working with a range of clients who may seek traditional fund administration services across a wide range of fund types and those who are looking for business partners whose focus is on helping achieve their clients’ successes over the long term. As a result, Fund Corporation has a number of joint venture arrangements that go beyond those of a pure service provider.

As an example, for one of our clients we established a regulated investment manager and regulated fund, investing into emerging markets and have developed such a strong relationship that the group is now seeking to headquarter its corporate structure and trading business in Guernsey with us.

That said, not all clients want that much input and for those we provide full service outsourced administration for closed-ended and open-ended funds in a range of asset types. These include private equity, real estate, funds of funds, equities, fixed interest and more esoteric assets.

Our core administration offering covers assistance with the regulatory approval process, including fund launch and on an on-going basis company secretarial services, accounting, treasury, the provision of directors and bespoke investor reporting for fund managers, open-ended and closed-ended funds and related holding companies and special purpose vehicles.

Fund Corporation was established in 2008 by Paul Everitt and Roger Parry, each of whom is professionally qualified and came together with a common desire to break the mold of pure service provision and use the independence of the company to allow flexibility of approach, entrepreneurialism and responsiveness in their dealings with clients. The company remains wholly owner-managed and continues to grow on these values.

Having now been operating in Guernsey for over 6 years, during October 2014 Fund Corporation will enter the next phase of its development as it becomes part of part of a larger, independently owned, global financial business that is making Guernsey its global headquarters. As part of this exciting venture, Fund Corporation will be changing its name to Lumiere Fund Services Limited.

Roger Parry T: +44 1481 732882 E: roger.parry@fundcorpci.com W: www.fundcorpci.com Paul Everitt T: +44 (0)1481 732889 E: paul.everitt@fundcorpci.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

GREECE MARI TIME ARBI TRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

G. C. Economou and Associates Law Firm provides a comprehensive specialist range of legal, financial, fiduciary, para-legal and secretarial services to local and international selected clients.

Our Senior Partner, George Economou, is a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Charter Arbitrator and on the Roster of a large number of Arbitration Institutions including the ICC and the LCIA. He has presided in many high profile arbitrators in Greece and has been involved for many years in maritime arbitrations. Members of the firm are also occupied with arbitration, primarily maritime and construction.

The Firm’s knowledge, experience and advice on matters relating to trusts, foundations, offshore jurisdictions and generally on international tax planning is unrivalled in Greece.

Members of the firm are very much involved in organizing and speaking at international conferences and Seminars on commercial arbitration, shipping and tax planning; further, they are regular contributors to international publications.

Recent engagements of our Senior Partner have been lecturing on arbitration in New York and Cyprus.

The Firm has been dealing with issues relating to shipping, ship and aircraft registration, ship-finance, property, construction, oil and gas, international tax planning, corporate and commercial activities, litigation and arbitration.

The Senior Partner has practiced for nearly fifty years in Cyprus, London, Piraeus and Athens.

G.C. Economou & Associates

Athens Office: 11, Kanari Street 106 71 Athens, Greece Te l e p h o n e : + 3 0 2 1 0 3 6 4 0 0 3 0

Over the years the Firm has acted for a great number of leading financial institutions, banks and major companies and it maintains long established relationships with many of them.

Fax:+30 210 3640082 E-mail:economou@gceassociates.gr w w w. g c e - a s s o c i a t e s . g r

The Firm has the expertise and the ability to provide practical, creative and cost-effective advice and services which combine with a professionalism and dedication to the interest of the clients which is second to none.

Piraeus Office: 144, Kolokotroni Street, 185 36 Piraeus, Greece Te l e p h o n e : + 3 0 2 1 0 4 2 8 2 3 8 3

EUROPE LEVERAGED FINANCE PROV IDER OF THE YEAR (MID MARKE T)

A LEADING EUROPEAN LEVERAGED FINANCE PROVIDER

SUPPORTING MID-MARKET GROWTH THROUGH INNOVATION

GE Capital is one of Europe’s leading providers of leveraged finance for mid-market private equity backed transactions and has a leveraged loan portfolio in excess of €5 billion across Europe covering 160 companies in the region. GE Capital provides senior and unitranche financing solutions for management buyouts, acquisitions and recapitalisations.

GE Capital has the ability to complete deals through a variety of innovative structures reflecting its cross border capabilities and appetite to hold in size. Such structures include the European Senior Secured Loan Programme (ESSLP), a €1.75bn joint venture between Ares and GE Capital to provide unitranche financing for European mid-market LBOS. In 2013, 3 unitranche financings were completed for a total value of approximately 400M€. In Q1 2014, 3 new transactions were closed, increasing the total number of deals to 7 and value of financings to above 860M€ since the unitranche programme’s inception.

With a dedicated team of professionals based in the UK, France and Germany and covering the Benelux and the Nordics, experienced in structuring and underwriting mid-market transactions, we are able to execute at considerable speed for our clients. Unlike any other lender, we can also provide unique insight in the deal process by leveraging GE’s 130+ year industrial heritage and global footprint with our Access GE program.

GE Capital has been recognized with a number of industry awards including the EMEA Unitranche Lender of the Year 2013 (in conjunction with Ares) by Private Debt Investor, European Mid Cap Lender of the Year 2013 by Private Equity International and most recently, Alternative Debt Provider of the Year in the 2014 Real Deals Private Equity Awards.

James Fenner

Howard Sharp

Our team is led by James Fenner as CEO and Howard Sharp as Head of European Originations and Sponsor Coverage.

You may reach us at Te l : + 4 4 2 0 7 3 0 2 6 3 0 0 w w w. g e c a p i t a l . e u / l e v e r a g e d

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

GERMANY REAL ESTATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR M&A A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR Gehrke Zumbroich & Partner, newly established in 2011, is a small and independent integrated, multidisciplinary law firm. Our teams of lawyers, tax advisers and chartered accounts in Bonn and Berlin offer custom-made, individual advice on highest level.

Our clients comprise companies, entrepreneurs, freelancers and self-employed persons. We act for companies of various forms and sizes: start-ups, craft businesses, small and medium-sized companies as well as listed companies.

Our expertise especially comprises corporate and real estate law, with a specific focus on transactions. In the last years Gehrke Zumbroich & Partner demonstrated its expertise in various real estate and corporate transactions and bidding processes with volumes of up to € 450 mio.

Individual Profile Matthias Gehrke Matthias Gehrke Corporate / M&A Matthias is founding member and managing partner of Gehrke Zumbroich & Partner and heads the Berlin office of Gehrke Zumbroich & Partner. He studied law in Bonn, Bochum and Los Angeles and advises his domestic and foreign clients in German, English and French.

in all aspects of corporate and real estate law, with a specific focus on merger & acquisitions.

He was responsible for various real estate and corporate transactions. Most recently he managed the structural optimization of the real estate portfolio of GSG Asset GmbH & Co. Verwaltungs KG (ORCO-GSG), Berlin. With approx. 815,000 sqm ORCO-GSG is a leading provider of office- and commercial space in Berlin.

The transaction, which involved the transfer of real estate with a value of more than EUR 400 Mio., required a comprehensive amendment of a EUR 269,6 mio. loan agreement and the negotiation of an agreement with the Investitionsbank Berlin and the State of Berlin.

Areas of Expertise

-

Corporate Law. Real Estate.

National and international Mergers & Acquisition.

Strategic Restructuring.

Private Equity and Venture Capital Transactions.

Capital Markets Law. Trade and Distribution Law.

Gehrke Zumbroich & Partner Matthias Gehrke Bregenzer Straße 3 D-10707 Berlin Germany Phone: +49-30-8872950-0 Fax: +49-30-8872-95-66 Email: gehrke@gzp-legal.de We b s i t e : w w w. g z p - l e g a l . d e

With more than 15 years of experience, Matthias advises

TURKEY M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Overview: We are an Istanbul based law firm providing legal services relevant to all aspects of business in a wide variety of sectors. The firm’s founding partners have over 30 years of combined experience in top tier global law firms, more than any other independent Turkish law firm.

The firm is listed in IFLR1000 and Chambers and Partners as a leading business law firm.

Main Practice Areas: Mergers & Acquisitions: The firm covers M&A transactions of all sizes encompassing public and private corporate/ M&A corporate restructurings.

We have acted on a wide range of strategic and private equity transactions in the Turkish market, acting for international and local clients in various sectors including retail, health, media, technology, oil and gas, banking and real estate. The firm has acted on transactions from the largest and most complex in the market to small and mid-cap deals.

The firm has also acted in relation to privatisation tender processes.

Banking, Finance & Capital Markets: The firm advises clients in the raising of equity and debt finance whether through bank or project financing, capital markets or private placements. This is a dynamic and fast moving area in terms of market and regulatory developments requiring deep regulatory and sectorial knowledge.

Energy Projects: The firm has advised various energy businesses in relation to their investments, project financing and construction projects in Turkey, both in conventional and renewable energy projects.

Dispute Resolution: The firm has extensive experience in handling litigation and arbitration matters in relation to various commercial contract disputes as well as the enforcement of foreign awards before Turkish courts. The firm has also acted in very high profile administrative law cases.

General Corporate and Regulatory Advice: The firm provides regular corporate and regulatory advice to clients establishing and operating businesses in Turkey, including on intellectual property, competition and employment law matters.

Real Estate: The firm acts on the development, ownership, operation, leasing and financing of real estate assets including commercial real estate, hotels, ports and residential projects.

Gen & Temizer | Ozer Beyazgül Caddesi No. 32 Arnavutköy/Istanbul Turkey Tel: +90 212 260 3400 Fax: +90 212 260 3404 Email: Emre Ozer (eozer@gentemizerozer.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

CYPRUS

CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

George Y. Yiangou & Co, Advocates - Legal Consultants is one of the largest and most prominent law firms in Cyprus which is continually expanding its operations.

Established in 1981 by its Managing Partner Mr. George Yiangou it focused initially on provision of high level advice in complex business and finance projects in the light of its international profile and clientele.

Today, the Firm has the capability of providing a full range of legal services delivered at utmost standards to clients throughout the globe, whether small or multinational business entities, organizations or individuals, either through its attorneys and legal consultants, or through its network of professional law representatives worldwide.

Our head office is situated in Nicosia - a major business centre of Cyprus, we also have branch offices in Athens and Thessaloniki.

Our offices are staffed with professionals who can provide high quality assistance in Greek, English, Russian, Ukrainian, French, Italian, German, Turkish, Romanian, Lithuanian and Arabic.

We presently employ 34 qualified lawyers (19 in Nicosia, 9 in Athens, 3 in Thessaloniki) 3 tax and accounting consultants and an administrative team of 55 employees.

Through 30 years of stable and diligent work on the international legal market, George Y. Yiangou & Co. has achieved successful business relations with a large number of clients all over the world and has gained a firm reputation as an efficient and reliable partner.

The Firm is a member of several professional associations including: International Bar Association, Cyprus Bar Association, ITPA (International Tax Planning Association), IAG International Advisory Group, STEP, Center of International Legal Studies, League International for Creditors (LIC), The Commercial Law League of America (CLLA), American Collectors Association (ACA), Offshore Institute, Credit Services Association (CSA) of UK. George Y. Yiangou & Co handles a full range of legal services including international tax planning which are always provided with the utmost standards and ethics of our profession.

We work with clients ranging from private individuals to multinational organisations and we are proud to see our clients’ database increasingly expanding. Our aim is to provide prompt, practical and cost effective assistance and to apply an individual approach to each of the clients bearing in mind their personal business needs and country particularities.

The Firm specialises in the areas of Corporate and Commercial Law, Banking and Finance, International Debt Collection, Energy (Oil & Gas), Admiralty & Shipping, Litigation, Arbitration, Real Estate, Intellectual

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Property/Royalties, International Tax Planning and A c c o u n t i n g & A u d i t s e r- v i c e s .

Our commitment to ensure the full satisfaction of our clients’ requests has been accomplished through implementation and upholding of the following key strategies: • assign the appropriate specialised team for the tasks to be undertaken and have always a partner in charge to oversee the progress of work, monitor the quality of the team’s input and compliance with deadlines, and to personally execute legal opinions whenever necessary; • always use the most time and cost effective ways of co-operation and communication with the parties involved in a project; • focus on results: handling the assigned work with professionalism with a view to provide high quality and solutions-oriented consultancy services and advice; • “brainstorming” meetings of the team on specific complex legal issues which require a choice of a range of possible solutions; at such meetings the pros and cons of each solution are thoroughly analysed with the result that the clients receive the most practical and safest solution adapted to their specific needs; • comply with the deadlines, no matter how strict such deadlines are, and availability and willingness to work extra hours, weekends or holidays if and when the necessity arises ; • the existence of a centralized database of deals, cases and clients which provides a very useful reference for a quick run of conflicts check, fee quotations, scope of expected work etc.

Our team’s approach to legal solutions has been and continues to be extremely well received by clients. All members of the firm are recognised for their precision, responsiveness and ability to use cutting edge technology in order to provide a response adapted to corporate strategic issues.

George Y. Yiangou & Co 12, Kennedy Avenue, Kennedy Business Centre, 2nd floor, 1087, Nicosia, Cyprus P.O. BOX: 24293, 1703, Nicosia, Cyprus Tel: +357 22 653333 +357 22 767630 Fax: +357 22 760918 +357 22 375081 Email:gyiangou@yiangou.com.cy Website: www.yiangou.com.cy

CYPRUS CONTRACT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CONTRACT LAWYER OF THE YEAR, GEORGIA CONSTANTINOU-PANAYIOTOU We are delighted to receive the ACQ 2014 award - CYPRUS CONTRACT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR, which reflects our dedication to providing our clients with legal services of exceptional quality standards, and is the result of the continuous success and growth of our firm.

- Joint Venture matters and Agreements, prevention of hostile take-overs of Companies, exercise of put/call option rights;

G C P LAW OFFICE epitomises the idea of a niche law firm, serving only international clients who seek an unrivalled level of service.

- creation, registration perfection and enforcement of encumbrances, charges, pledges, mortgage, and other types of securities, in international finance projects.

Our main areas of practice are:

The founder of G C P LAW OFFICE, Georgia ConstantinouPanayiotou, has more than twelve years’ experience in contract, corporate and company law, as the Cypriot legal counsel in numerous cross-border transaction projects in Europe and CIS. Some of her recent experience includes being Cypriot counsel for a consortium involved in the development of an international airport, handling a franchise agreement for opening top restaurant and coffee brand in Russia, and handling the negotiations and drafting of the contracts for the acquisition of 12 energy plants. Georgia is also an expert in advising high profile clients on restructuring and international mergers and acquisitions. Georgia is also the instructor of Commercial Law and Trust Law at the European University Cyprus.

- advice and counselling on liquidations, re-organizations, mergers, acquisitions, takeovers, servicing international corporate structures, international, bilateral finance, project finance, reorganizations and other finance transactions; - legal opinions for all matters pertaining to Cyprus law; - drafting corporate agreements, offering advice on protection and enforcement of shareholders rights, issuing due diligence reports; - Formation of Cyprus companies and partnerships; - Bank account(s) opening, administration and providing signatories; - Trust Formation, professional trustee, fiduciary and administration services; - Legal advice, drafting and support on commercial agreements eg. agency and distribution agreements, sale agreements, hiring and leasing of goods agreements.

- incorporation/licensing of investment services and/or fiduciary companies, legal and consulting support for establishment and operations of licensed fund structures;

Her wealth of experience has lead her into founding and successfully leading G C P LAW OFFICE since 2006. Georgia has also received the ACQ5 2014 award - CYPRUS CONTRACT LAWYER OF THE YEAR.

C O N S TA N T I N O U - PA N AY I O T O U L A W OFFICE 1 5 K a l l i p o l e o s Av e n u e | A m a r a l 3 0 O f f . 4 0 3 | P. C . 1 0 5 5 | N i c o s i a | C y p r u s T: + 3 5 7 2 2 0 0 3 1 8 2 F: +357 220031 47 w w w. g c p l a w. c o m . c y i n f o @ g c p l a w. c o m . c y

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK UK - ASSE T DISPOSAL FIRM OF THE YEAR

UK BOUTIQUE EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

GQ Employment Law LLP is a “magic circle boutique” firm based in the City of London with an overriding focus to work in partnership with its clients, concentrating on individual needs and risk appetites to deliver practical results.

The firm advises employers in all sectors, particularly financial services, and they also partner with law firms without specialist employment capability.

GQ’s team equals or surpasses many larger firms’ employment teams in terms of experience and capacity. Their innovative approach is demonstrated by the recent launch of their online Risk Indicator, the first of its kind in the UK, designed to help organisations identify their attitudes to risk around employment issues and plan accordingly.

GQ has also been recognised as a market-leading practice by the UK’s legal directories.

P a rt n e r s Pa u l Q u a i n E : p a u l . q u a i n @ g q e m p l o y m e nt l a w . c o m

Jon Gilligan E : j o n . g i l l i g a n @ g q e m p l o y m e nt l a w . c o m

Darren Isaacs E : D a r r e n . i s a a c s @ g q e m p l o y m e nt l a w . c o m

21 Ironmonger Lane, Lo n d o n EC2V 8EY Tel: 0203 375 0330 Fax: 0203 375 0332 E : g q @ g q e m p l o y m e nt l a w . c o m For details of future seminars, training and news updates visit l to r : Sophie Vanhegan, Hannah Wilcox, Paul Quain, Thomas Weatherill, Hannah Riley, Suzanne Moore, Darren Isaacs, Jon Gilligan, Caroline Baker

w w w . g q e m p l o y m e nt l a w . c o m

Complex Change Projects * Litigation (High Court and Employment Tribunal) * Senior Dismissals * Pay and Bonuses (including Employee Incentive Schemes and the Regulatory Aspects of City Pay) * Restrictive Covenants * Poaching and Team Moves * Redundancy and Business Restructuring *Executive/Senior Employee Exits Discrimination * Bullying and Harassment in the Workplace * Whistleblowing * Outsourcing, Insourcing and Off-shoring.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK LAWYER OF THE YEAR (EMPLOYMENT) Jon Gill iga n, GQ Employment Law

Jon Gilligan is a founding partner of the ‘magic circle boutique’ employment law firm, GQ Employment Law. With a focus on commercial, practical advice for employers, Jon is recognised by his clients for his common sense, entrepreneurialism and expert insight.

Jon advises City businesses and large corporates on the full range of employment work, including business restructures, international change projects, City pay regulation and bonus disputes, team moves, TUPE (especially in relation to outsourcing/insourcing transactions) and strategic and sensitive litigation issues.

Some of his recent experience includes defending a company and its owner in a High Court dispute worth hundreds of millions of pounds; advising a global investment bank on the outsourcing of its fund administration, middle office and banking services across several jurisdictions; advising a UK bank on a significant business restructure including the exit of the head of the business; and advising banks and fund management firms on their remuneration policies to ensure regulatory compliance.

Jon’s earlier experience includes successfully defending Commerzbank in the ground-breaking bonus case of Commerzbank v Keen; advising on the employment aspects of the purchase of ABN AMRO by RBS and its subsequent integration across 53 jurisdictions; and advising on the employment aspects of a number of high profile private equity transactions.

He is recognised as a leading lawyer in his field by the UK’s top legal directories.

About GQ Employment Law Founded in 2010 by former Linklaters lawyers, the firm advises employers in all sectors (with a particular focus on financial services) and also partners with law firms without specialist employment capability. GQ’s high quality team equals or surpasses many larger firms’ employment teams in terms of experience and capacity, while providing the flexibility, dynamism and personal service of a boutique.

JON GILLIGAN 21 Ironmonger Lane, Lo n d o n EC2V 8EY Tel

: 0203 375 0333

Fax

: 0203 375 0332

Mob : 07900006453 E : J O N . G I L L I G A N @ g q e m p l o y m e nt l a w . c o m For details of future seminars, training and news updates visit w w w . g q e m p l o y m e nt l a w . c o m

GUERNSEY INSOLVENCY A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR With offices in Jersey and Guernsey, Grant Thornton Limited is one of the Channel Islands' leading accounting, tax and business advisor y firms dedicated to ser ving the needs of privately held businesses, financial ser vices and private clients. We offer a full range of audit, assurance, tax, corporate recover y and advisor y ser vices. As a member firm within Grant Thornton International we have access to member and correspondent firms in over 100 countries, offering our clients specialist local knowledge supported by international expertise and methodologies.

Recover y & Reorganisation We supply a wide range of ser vices to under-performing businesses and their stakeholders. We focus on identifying and resolving issues affecting profitability, protecting enterprise value and, where necessar y, recovering value for stakeholders.

Our assignments var y from financially robust companies seeking to acquire under-performing competitors, to distressed businesses requiring an urgent solution.

Corporate Insolvency Our corporate investigation and recover y teams focus on identifying and resolving issues affecting profitability, protecting enterprise value and facilitating a full recover y where possible. These teams undertake independent business reviews, independent strategic reviews and all types and size of corporate insolvency appointments for creditors and other business stakeholders, including:

• • • • •

Administrations Company voluntary arrangements (CVAs) Administrative receiverships Compulsory liquidations and creditors’ voluntary liquidations (CVLs) Supporting other formal and informal insolvency proceedings.

Alan Roberts Alan is a Chartered Accountant and a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner specialising in insolvency and restructuring work for over 20 years. Alan qualified with one of the big four firms and has worked in the UK, US, Caribbean, Europe, Far East and the Channel Islands. His vast experience includes Protected Cell winding ups, contentious insolvency issues, complex asset recovery, forensic accounting investigations and multi jurisdictional insolvency litigation cases.

Alan Roberts DD: +44 (0)1481 753427 Email: alan.roberts@gt-ci.com

Jamie Toynton Jamie is a Certified Accountant and UK Licensed Insolvency Practitioner, specialising in Corporate Insolvency and Recovery. His experience gained in fiduciar y, commercial and private practice sectors is drawn upon in the varied demands of insolvency work.

His varied appointments as liquidator in the financial sector include investment funds, hedge funds, trust companies, banks, insurance companies and captives.

J a m i e To y n t o n DD: +44 (0)1481 753426 Email: jamie.toynton@gt-ci.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

CHANNEL ISLANDS

WINNER

LEA DING A DV ISORY (ACCOUNTANCY & AUDI T) GRANT TH ORNTON LIMI TED With offices in Jersey and Guernsey, Grant Thornton Limited is one of the Channel Islands’ leading accounting, tax and business advisory firms dedicated to serving the needs of privately held businesses, financial services and private clients. We offer a full range of audit, assurance, tax, and advisory services.

As a member firm within Grant Thornton International we have access to member and correspondent firms in over 100 countries, offering our clients specialist local knowledge supported by international expertise and methodologies.

that they face, as is evident in the many long standing client relationships that we have developed.

We have been offering practical and strategic advice to all the key sectors in the Channel Islands for many years, and work closely with our clients to understand the specific issues

• Tax

Our range of services in the Channel Islands also include: • Audit and Assurance • Accounting • Recovery and Reorganisation • Outsourced Accounting and Payroll • Private Client

Cyril Swale Grant Thornton PO Box 313 Lefebvre House Lefebvre Street St Peter Port Guernsey GY1 3TF Kensington Chambers 46/50 Kensington Place St. Helier Jersey JE1 1ET DD +44 (0)1481 753416 E cyril.swale@gt-ci.com www.gt-ci.com

TURKEY OVERALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Group Law Firm renders a full range of legal services in Turkish, English, German and French languages and cooperates with a wide range of international network of well-known law firms.

Group Law Firm focuses only on “solution” and “result” with a strong and scholarly academic background reconciled with practice. The Firm has rendered a full range of legal services mainly in following practice areas: Practice Areas

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Project Finance and PPP Commercial Contracts Corporate Law Mergers & Acquisitions Privatization Competition & Anti-Trust Law Intellectual Property Unfair Competition Litigation & Arbitration Real Estate Banking & Finance – Capital Markets Labour Law Insurance/Reinsurance Taxation European Union Law Transport Public Procurement Energy Law & Telecommunications

Group Law Firm focuses on bringing value-added legal services, aimed to bring progress to our clients’ business. Group Law Firm does not only possess the command to apply the existing laws, but also contribute to formulate the future of law of the country by its scholarly Jurists, and assist clients in achieving their goals and have proved to be highly reliable partner in Istanbul-Ankara and beyond.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Today with highly qualified team members offering a first-class service, we are fully committed to the success of our clients advising and ensuring the defense of their interests in all types of files.

Group Law Firm regularly represents various multinational companies, as well as a wide variety of closely and publicly held corporations, partnerships, emerging businesses and individuals, investment (mutual) funds, private equity houses as well as leading banking and financial institutions and leading infrastructure and construction organizations. Besides our industrial discipline and organized and intense follow-up work, we are reputed for our commercial approach to transactions and for understanding our clients' commercial goal. We focus on bringing value-added legal services, aimed to bring progress to our clients' business.

Group Law Firm is the advisor of the largest ever project of Republic of Turkey in the Energy Sector.

Besides our Industrial discipline and organized and intense follow up work, we are reputed for our commercial approach to transactions and for understanding our clients’ commercial goal.

Besides our Industrial discipline and Company: Group Law Firm Name: Ahmet Kesli E m a i l : a h m e t @ g r o u p l a w. c o m . t r We b : w w w. G r o u p L a w. c o m . t r Address: Pekintas Plaza Kat: 9 Buyukdere Cad. No: 32, 34394-00 Mecidiyekoy I s t a n b u l / Tu r k e y Phone: +90 (212) 211 66 11 Fax: +90 (212) 211 55 75

I T A LY INVESTIGATION AGENCY OF THE YEAR (CORPORATE)

My father Vittorio Ponzi founded our agency in 1958. I represent the 2nd generation of the most famous family of private investigators in Italy. As private investigation agency you know well Tom Ponzi and his works. In 1948, Tom founded “Mercurius Investigations”, and he had a rapid success in the international field: he worked with Nelson Rockefeller, Agnelli family, Enzo Ferrari, Aga Khan and many others.

In 1995, after long practice on the field , I took over the management of the historic agency Ponzi in Brescia founded by my father Vittorio, brother of the famous Tom, in this way I have preserved the family business while maintaining professionalism and confidentiality that are essential for an investigator. Additionally we still work with the same principles: ethic, privacy, deeply technical preparation and hard work.

From the beginning our agency has specialised in providing services, including, counter-surveillance, verification of absenteeism, locating of businessfinancial information and general private investigations. Recently, new security systems have been required because of many cases of industrial espionage. Hence we have invested heavily in new equipements. Moreover we gave importance to networking. In Italy most companies, which have less than 20 employees, need to create new synergies. Especially in the north, for those companies with great ideas and high specialised

staff it is necessary to know how to set up successful projects.

It seems also that several companies are unaware of the role a private investigator actually has to play in their business. Hence our goal is to explain them how our services can be useful. Through networking and the web, we give emphasise to the importance of prevention rather than cure in order to allow such companies to save time and money. Information is power and we also show firms how to protect themselves with an investigator before going into business with new suppliers and partners.

Thanks to the strong reputation we were able to build, several companies have contacted us for more than 50 years to protect businesses from these threats. The increasing problems of security are the cause of the rising demand for private investigators throughout Italy.

Our slogan comes from the Latin, but it contains a very simple concept : " vincit omnia veritas " which means: " the truth always wins " because for a real investigator truth is always the most important thing”.

Luciano Ponzi President & CEO LUCIANO PONZI INVESTIGAZIONI, Investigation Agency V i a E . To r r i c e l l i 3 5 , Ve r o n a , 37136, Italy Te l e p h o n e : + 3 9 3 8 0 8 4 1 2 8 8 8 E-mail: info@ponzi.pro w w w : w w w. l u c i a n o p o n z i . i t / e n

GERMANY For mat Law Fir m of the Yea r

WINNER 2014

GUERNSEY FUND AMINISTRATION A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR Heritage International Fund Managers Limited (“HIFM”) is a full ser vice Guernsey fund administrator with assets under management and administration in excess of US$50billion. HIFM ser vices a broad range of structures across multiple jurisdictions and has particular expertise in the establishment and servicing of private equity, property, infrastructure, emerging markets and esoteric funds.

HIFM was involved with a significant number of projects during 2013 in which clients have raised funds through the public markets. Notable achievements include the appointment as administrator to the ICG-Longbow Senior Secured UK Property Debt Fund – the first fund IPO of 2013 – and the addition of another renewable energy fund to its portfolio in the form of Bluefield’s Solar Income Fund. However, the outstanding success for HIFM was the appointment as fund administrator for Riverstone Energy Limited - the largest Investment Company IPO of 2013, raising an impressive £760m through a placing and offer for subscription 2013 proved to be a successful year not only for HIFM but also its client base. Recent reports show that HIFM clients, both established funds and new mandates, succeeded in clinching 6 positions within the Top 10 Investment Companies IPOs and Top 10 Investment Companies Secondar y Issues – an impressive statistic for any ser vice provider.

The Heritage Group has experienced substantial growth and expansion in recent years with the opening of offices in the UK and Malta and the establishment of Depositary Services for alternative investment fund managers required to comply with the provisions of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (“AIFMD”). In addition, Heritage in Guernsey has just launched a high quality office managed service with specialist support aimed at investment managers seeking to restructure their operations in response to the introduction of AIFMD. Heritage prides itself on its client partnership approach in a competitive market. Mark Huntley, HIFM managing director, commented: “We work hard at our ethos of client partnership and at making the complexity of today’s structures work efficiently and cost effectively.

We are independent and management owned and thus avoid the conflicts of interests that may affect the larger players. In a competitive market we will price competitively but we focus on adding value and our core principle is that we work in partnership with our clients; we see this as a key way to manage our risks and maintain our standards.”

Mark Huntley

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Te l : + 4 4 ( 0 ) 1 4 8 1 7 1 6 0 0 0 mark.huntley@heritage.co.gg w w w. h e r i t a g e . c o . g g

GERMANY ISOLVENCY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

We are proud to receive the ACQ Global Award in the third consecutive year in the category “Germany Insolvency Law Firm of the year”. We are honoured that this Award acknowledges our law firm`s expertise in the area of insolvency administration, debtor-in-possession-proceedings, restructuring and insolvency related consultancy.

HERMANN Rechtsanwälte Wirtschaftsprüfer Steuerberater is one of the leading German law firms in these areas. The firm advices business people as well as businesses and financial institutions in all aspects of insolvency, business law, tax, labour law, real estate and construction law. The special focus is on well-targeted services and diligent consultancy in all areas of business life and in connection with corporate crises and insolvencies, also across borders.

The roots of the law firm are in the areas of insolvency and restructuring. HERMANN Rechtsanwälte Wirtschaftsprüfer Steuerberater’s expertise is based on thousands of successful proceedings. For many years, numerous professionals within the law firm have been closely involved as insolvency administrators with the handling of insolvency proceedings and are thus familiar with all the matters accompanying insolvency. Therefore HERMANN Rechtsanwälte Wirtschaftsprüfer Steuerberater offers a competent and multi-disciplinary support to all parties involved in the insolvency proceedings including investors as well as other clients affected by business crisis.

Especially the administration of insolvency presuppose an entrepreneur and profound understanding as well as the capability of finding a solution for all subjects on the basis of legal and practical knowledge, which might come out when national and international concern is acquired, operated or sold. All these extensive expertise and detailed corporate knowledge have lead to the fact that HERMANN Rechtsanwälte Wirtschaftsprüfer Steuerberater accompanies national and international concerns as a permanent legal advisor apart from the administration of insolvency. Beside the classical middle class there are famous concerns of the industrial and service sector who are clients of HERMANN Rechtsanwälte Wirtschaftsprüfer Steuerberater. Due to the positive disposition on the market HERMANN Rechtsanwälte Wirtschaftsprüfer Steuerberater is involved in national as well as transnational M & As of all kinds of industries.

Ottmar Hermann Senior Partner HERMANN Rechtsanwälte Wirtschaft sprüfer Steuerberater Bleichstr. 2-4 60313 Fr a n kfu rt a m Ma in T.: +49 (0) 69 . 91 30 92 - 0 F: +49 (0) 69 . 91 30 92 - 30 E: fr a n kfu rt@her ma n n-l aw.com Doma in: www.her ma n n-l aw.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

GERMANY IN VESTMENT BANKING A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS | FINANCING | CFO ADVISORY

SUMMIT NEW HEIGHTS WITH IEG WWW.IEG-BANKING.COM

IEG – INVESTMENT BANKING GROUP KNESEBECKSTR. 59-61 | 10719 BERLIN | GERMANY | TEL.: +49 (30) 303016-30

SCOTLAND CORPORATE FINANCE BOUTIQUE OF THE YEAR

Infinity Partnership are a leading firm of Chartered Accountants located in the North East of Scotland and have been instrumental in a number of transactions since formation. The focus of Infinity Partnership is on deal initiation and the transactions are predominately focussed on the Oil & Gas market.

During 2013, Infinity Partnership have closed in excess of 20 transactions with a deal value in excess of GBP£200m, these have included the acquisition of a controlling stake and further investment in Xodus Group by Chiyoda Corporation; the acquisition of Prime Energy by Xodus Group and the acquisition of GeoKey by Paradigm Group. There is a solid pipeline of further transactions which Infinity Partnership are actively involved with.

Since its formation in 2011, Infinity Partnership has grown significantly achieving double digit growth each year and a turnover in excess of £1m per annum. The key to its success has been the ability to respond quickly to clients and providing a truly proactive service offering. This is achieved by having close links in the industry and an in-depth understanding of not just the local market but also overseas markets.

Infinity Partnership has clients across the UK and also a growing number located overseas.

The Infinity Partnership team is led by Simon Cowie, a Chartered Accountant with in excess of 15 years corporate finance experience.

Managing Director

Simon Cowie

I n fi n i t y P a r t n e r s h i p L i m i t e d 37 Albert Street, Aberdeen, AB25 1XU +44 (0)203 553 4884 +44 1224 618460 simon.cowie@infinity-partnership.com w w w. i n f i n i t y - p a r t n e r s h i p . c o m

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

RUSSIA IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR since 1988

INTELS group of companies means: • A full range of services related to legal protection of exclusive rights in trademarks, service marks, appellations of origin, patents, industrial designs, utility models, computer programs and data bases, company names and commercial (trade) names in Russia, the CIS countries, the Baltic States and Esastern Europe coumtries.

•

Head office: Moscow, Russia Branch offices: Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Estonia Georgia Kazakhstan Kirgizstan

Over 20 years experience in protection of intellectual property rights.

• Over 50 skilled professionals ready to be of assistance to you in protecting your intellectual property.

•

Trust of customers from about one hundred countries of the world.

• In-house trademark database which includes not only trademarks registered in Russia but pending applications as well. This database allows us to offer our clients a number of unique services, such as: a U si

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One-day searches among trademarks registered and pending in Russia; Express searches among the trademarks registered in the CIS countries INTEL S and the Baltic States; Trademark monitoring by different criteria.

3 3 P o k r o v k a s t r.

1 0 5 0 6 2 , M o s c o w, R u s s i a Te l : +7 (495) 921 4080 Fax: +7 (495) 921 4081

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Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Moldova Tajikistan Turkmenistan Ukraine Uzbekistan

Email: agency@intels.ru We b : w w w. i n t e l s . r u D e s i g n e e : P a v e l V. G u e r m a n E-mail: pguerman@intels.ru

vices

Experientia est optima magistra...

UK REGIONAL NOTARY PUBLIC OF THE YEAR, JAMES COUZENS James Couzens Notary Public in International Business I am delighted to receive this award from ACQ, which reflects my growing role in assisting international businesses.

As a notary public, I help individuals and businesses with a wide range of notarial matters. The variety and interesting background to the documents or facts I am dealing with, is what makes my job as a notary interesting. The work of a notary can be summarised as being a specialist in authenticating documents or facts for use overseas, so that they are accepted in jurisdictions around the world.

Notaries in England and Wales are legally qualified and often play an important role in international trade. It is not always appreciated that the regulation of their profession and their role is different to those of notaries in other parts of the UK, Europe, other civil law-based countries and the USA. As a business person, you are most likely to need the help of a notary when you need to get documents or facts certified or authenticated in situations such as: • Setting up companies virtually anywhere in the world • Arranging powers of attorney empowering overseas agents or lawyers to act for you • Providing evidence of a company’s existence and the standing of its officers • Registering trademarks or making patent applications overseas • Producing tender documents for use in overseas markets • Legalising documents at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or relevant embassy • Taking oaths, producing affidavits and making statutory declarations

This list does not give a complete understanding of the different situations that can arise, and of course omits other circumstances, many of which give a very interesting insight into different businesses and their requirements.

My experience as a notary in knowing how to proceed in different jurisdictions internationally can save time and money. This experience comes from dealing frequently with overseas lawyers, who can have very varied requirements when they request that documents are properly executed or facts properly authenticated. Being able to understand the individual jurisdictions, and the lawyer’s requirements within them, I see as part of my role to enable a client to successfully complete the transaction required by the foreign lawyer.

Businesses trading internationally, or seeking to set up overseas, often need a notary at short notice. I am happy to accommodate this and see clients out of hours, including weekends. Although on most occasions I see clients face to face, I can also deal with repeat business clients, where time is precious, remotely via Skype or video conference.

Many cases involve legalisation, a process which can be confusing to many. The document legalisation process is not complex in itself, but the varying requirements of the different jurisdictions can make it so. I deal with legalisation on almost a daily basis, and that experience enables me to help my clients navigate their way through the differing requirements.

Notaries may soon see process changes based on the adoption of electronic authentication, but in an age where online transactions allow speedier completion while at the same time making it easier for fraud to be perpetrated, the notary’s services are more likely to be relied upon as a secure safeguard against fraudulent activities.

James Couzens Notary Public Tel: Mob: Fax:

01296 318536 07789 623052 01296 318531

james@aylesburynotary.co.uk www.aylesburynotary.co.uk Regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

!

CYPRUS (LIMASSOL) - CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Kannava, Kitromilidou & Co LLC is a law firm with its offices located in Limassol, Cyprus. We are proud to say that in the middle of the most unprecedented global economic crisis, we started off and grew into a most dynamic law firm playing today a leading role on the legal front not only in Cyprus but internationally. Our team of experts with diversified backgrounds and experiences offer to all our clients the highest level of service within budget and on time committed at all times to achieve for the clients the best possible results, protect their interests long term and minimize risk and uncertainties for them. We always follow a pragmatic, problem-solving approach, we listen carefully to the clients’ needs and objectives (business or otherwise) and always have the appropriate solution to offer, boilerplate or innovative as the particular case may require. Our firm covers the whole legal spectrum – we offer services in the areas of Corporate/Commercial Law, Banking/Finance Law, Financial Regulation/Investment Services, Trusts/Fund Administration, Inheritance/Real Estate Law, Intellectual Property/E-Commerce, Employment Law, Immigration Law, Civil Litigation/Arbitration, Criminal Litigation, Matrimonial Disputes/Family Law and Maritime/Shipping Law. We always look ahead and always strive to improve and expand the services we offer, so we are constantly kept updated with developments and new legal opportunities and solutions for clients. We are lawyers easy to reach at any time and close to our clients in support for all their needs. Last year we received the award “Law firm of the year 2013 in Cyprus” for Investment Funds from Corporate INTL.

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Managing Director Maria Kitromilidou Markou Botsari 3, 2nd floor, 3040 Limassol, Cyprus P.O.Box 59511, 4011 Limassol, Cyprus Tel: +357 25 585583, Fax: +357 25 585582 m.kitromilidou@kpklegal.com www.kpklegal.com

UK CF ADVISORY OF THE YEAR (UPTO £50M)

KB S co r p o ra te i s a ma rk e t l e a d in g a n d a w a r d w in n in g c o m p an y s a l e s s pe c i a l i s t a nd c o r p o r a t e f in a n c e a d v is o r y wh o are d e di c a te d to a c hi e v i n g m a x im u m s h a r e h o ld e r v al u e f o r t he i r c l i e nts . T he y c a n d e m o n s t r a t e a p r o v e n track r eco rd wi th ma ny hundr e d s o f s u c c e s s f u l b u s in e s s sal es o ver the l a s t 17 y e a rs , s p a n n in g a lm o s t e v e r y m ar ket sector.

Th e f i rm h a s a de di c a te d c orp o r a t e f in a n c e d iv is io n wi th a p ro v e n tra c k re c ord i n c o m p le t in g c o m p a n y s a le tran sact i o n s from £5m - £25m . K B S C o r p o r a t e F in a n c e is d ed icat e d to the i r l a rge r c l i e n t s a n d is a c o m p le t e ly Directo r l e d s e rv i c e wi th ful l p r o je c t m a n a g e m e n t . T h e y ad d sig n i fic a nt v a l ue by ope ra t in g in c lo s e p a r t n e r s h ip wi th o n ly a s e l e c t numbe r of c lie n t s a t a n y o n e t im e .

Each Director i s e x pe ri e nc e d i n C o r p o r a t e F in a n c e w it h a so u n d tec hni c a l ba c k ground , w h ic h e n s u r e s e x p e r t tran sact i o n a l pra c ti c e a nd de a l e x e c u t io n . T h e y a r e a ls o exp erien ce d i n buy i ng a nd s e l lin g b u s in e s s e s in t e r n a tio n al l y and a re e ntre pre ne urs w h o h a v e o w n e d , r u n an d so l d th e i r own bus i ne s s e s . C o m b in e d w it h t h e m ar ketin g c a pa bi l i ti e s , pre s e n t a t io n a l e x p e r t is e a n d b u yer reach, KBS C orpora te Fin a n c e is in a u n iq u e p o sitio n t o offe r a n e x c e pti on a l s e r v ic e a n d m a x im is e sh ar eh o ld e r re wa rds .

KB S C o r p o ra te ope ra te s from o f f ic e s a c r o s s t h e w h o le o f th e U K, putti ng the m i n a p o s it io n t o o f f e r a t r u ly n at i o n al se rv i c e to the i r c l i e nt s . T h e y e m p lo y o v e r 6 0 m em b ers of hi ghl y tra i ne d a nd e x p e r ie n c e d s t a f f w h o b en ef i t fr om the c ompa ny ’s i n v e s t m e n t in in d u s t r y le ad i n g t echnol ogy . KBS C orp o r a t e ’ s d e d ic a t e d t e a m is q u al i fied in a v a ri e ty of k e y d is c ip lin e s , in c lu d in g : acco u n t an c y ; c orpora te fi na nce ; b u s in e s s m a n a g e m e n t ; an d m ar keti ng.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

T h e ir u n i q u e ap p r o ach en su r es a cl i en t ’s i n d i vi d u al c ir c u m st an ces ar e co n si d er ed wh en d evel o p i n g a t a ilo r ed sal e st r at eg y t o m eet t h ei r cl i en t ’s r eq u i r em e n t s wh i l st r eco g n i si n g t h ei r n eed f o r d i scr et i o n an d c o n f id en t i al i t y t h r o u g h o u t t h e p r o cess. Co m p r eh en si ve b u y e r r each en su r es t h at al l p o t en t i al b u yer r o u t es ar e e x p lo r ed b o t h d o m est i cal l y an d i n t er n at i o n al l y t h r o u g h t h e ir w o r l d wi d e al l i an ce n et wo r k, K B S G l o b al .

K B S C or p o r at e i s t h e o n l y n at i o n al ad vi so r wi t h i n t h e U K t o o f f er t h e o p t i o n o f ‘i n cl u si ve l eg al f ees’ wi t h t h e s a le o f a co m p an y t h r o u g h G at el ey, t h ei r n at i o n al l eg al p a r t n er wh o ar e r at ed 2 n d n at i o n al l y i n t er m s o f d eal v o lu m es. Th i s o f f er s t h ei r cl i en t s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o p ay o n ly o n e o u t l i n ed an d f i xed f ee at t h e en d o f t h e sal e t r a n s a ct i o n .

K B S C or p o r at e t akes g r eat p r i d e i n p r o vi d i n g a ser vi ce o f t h e h i g h est q u al i t y t o al l o f t h ei r cl i en t s an d was r e c e n t ly r eco g n i sed as ‘UK Deal m aker o f t h e Y ear ’ as w e ll a s t h e r ecen t acco l ad e o f ‘CF Ad vi so r y o f t h e Y ear ( U p t o £ 5 0 M)’ f r o m ACQ m ag azi n e f o r t h ei r acco m p lis h m en t s o ver t h e p ast year an d excep t i o n al ser vi ce d e liv e red .

Simon Daniels

Director Oceanic House, Navigation Park Waters Meeting Road Bolton Greater Manchester BL1 8SW T: 01204 555 081 E: daniels@kbscorporate.com

UK

Sport Law Fir m of the Yea r Energy Law Fir m of the Yea r A IM Adv isory Law Fir m of the Yea r

Kerman & Co LLP are delighted to receive three ACQ Law Awards 2014, which reflect the successful year the firm has enjoyed.

AIM For the fifth consecutive year Kerman & Co LLP’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) team has been recognised by ACQ as leaders in this market. Despite the economic downturn, the team has continued to grow with a steady stream of transactions for its growing client base listed on AIM and the ISDX Growth Market.

The firm’s energy litigation practice has also played a crucial role in safe guarding its clients’ assets and interests overseas. The team regularly handles international commercial energy litigation disputes, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution proceedings.

The capital markets team is now ranked 5th in the ARL Adviser Rankings Guide by total number of AIM clients, 5th by number of basic materials clients and 4th by number of oil & gas clients. We have now successfully completed over forty IPO’s, more than a dozen reverse takeovers and worked with our clients and their advisors to raise well in excess of US$1billion by way of placings and open offers. We currently have 33 AIM clients operating in twenty eight countries.

For further information please contact: Keith Dempster: +44 020 539 7081 or keith.dempster@kermanco.com.

The firm advises clients with international interests in many African countries, Russia, Australia, Philippines, Peru and Colombia and the USA. These growth clients see AIM as an attractive option for potential investors. The firm has acted on admissions, placings, acquisitions, and other equity and debt raising transactions including the increased use of convertible debt instruments, off-take arrangements and royalties (reflecting the difficult market conditions).

Kerman & Co LLP has recently acted on the listing of Northcote Energy Ltd (on-shore oil and gas, North America) and DekelOil Public Limited (a palm oil business). In addition, Kerman & Co. has advised Top Level Domain Holdings Limited on it’s readmission to AIM, Equatorial Palm (a palm oil producer) on a mandatory takeover and Centurion Resources Plc (now FinnAust Mining, an exploration company) in relation to a reverse takeover.

For further information contact: Michael Bennett: +44 020 539 7082 or michael.bennett@kermanco.com Energy Kerman & Co LLP’s energy team is a well regarded and diversified practice serving the needs of its clients in the global energy industry. It has been particularly successful in advising clients listed on AIM. The team has advised on a broad range of areas from the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas and other fossil fuels, such as anthracite coal; and uranium to developing and implementing alternative energy concepts. This includes advising clients who are active in developing cleantech offerings including: solar, wind and water power. The team advised Victoria Oil & Gas Plc on its over-subscribed £23.4 million placing.

Sport The firm’s Sport team provides practical commercial advice to global brands, international sporting bodies, the world’s greatest sports events, agency/management companies and high-profile individuals and is at the forefront of the development of areas such as ticketing, event management, licensing and brand protection. In addition, Kerman & Co regularly provides advice on copyright infringement, image rights, passing off and trademark infringement, particularly in the run up to, and during, the events. The team is often instructed to draft and implement anti-infringement programs and to maintain on-site offices to ensure 24/7 coverage.

The Sport team has years of expertise in advising on sponsorship contracts which has recently included the drafting of all of the sponsorship and supplier contracts for the Ryder Cup, London Marathon, RideLondon and the PGA European Tour. The team has also drafted regulations and provided advice concerning the scope and interpretation of regulations (including the interaction with European Competition Law) for a number of disciplines.

Kerman & Co LLP handles all categories of contentious work including the enforcement of contracts. It has particular expertise in obtaining Injunctions in relation to the enforcement of proprietary rights. The team recently advised the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and three Test grounds (Surrey, Durham and Lancashire) in the first litigation taken by the sport to enforce its ticket terms and conditions. The ECB and the grounds took action for breach of the ticket terms and conditions after it was discovered that a team of touts had targeted Ashes tests over the summer, acquiring over 800 tickets for resale. The action was initiated by the ECB as part of its on-going campaign against ticket touting. Kerman & Co obtained a permanent injunction against the touts as well as costs.

For further information please contact: Nick Bitel: +44 020 539 7306 or nick.bitel@kermanco.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK We operate in

KPMG is a Global Network of Professional Service firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services.

155countries 155,000 people and have

working across the world.

KPMG Forensic in the UK has a track record over more than two decades, working with leading global and regionally based organisations. In an increasingly complex market we are committed to turning risks into advantages for our clients and their stakeholders through independent, credible and practical advice.

KPMG’s network of over 3,000 Forensic professionals work in 39 accredited practices within KPMG member firms around the word. This network brings a consistent global approach, combined with a tailored local focus to sensitive and complicated cross border engagements.

We offer robust, practical advice, helping our firms’ clients deal with: • Fraud, misconduct and corruption investigations

David Hicks

Partner, Head of Forensic, UK KPMG in the UK 15 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom E14 5GL T: +44 20 76942915 M: +44 7958 258534 E: david.hicks@kpmg.co.uk

• Tracing funds, assets, companies and individuals • Commercial disputes • Regulatory compliance • Managing risk on buying or selling a business • Intellectual property • Preventing and detecting fraud, misconduct or financial crime We can also help deploy tools to help clients deal effectively with large amounts of data and documentation, to manage and disclose important material or highlight fraud, weaknesses and business opportunities from within corporate data.

KPMG has extensive credentials and experience in conducting multifaceted, cross border investigations relating to alleged violations of anti-bribery and corruption laws and regulations. We have deep knowledge of global anti-bribery laws and regulations, and we are familiar with local customs and business practices. Given our diverse skills and global resources, we can readily assemble scalable investigation teams that are tailored to optimise investigative efficiency and effectiveness. In addition to investigating allegations of bribery and corruption, we can assess such risks across organisations and their third parties.

© 2014 KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”). KPMG International provides no client services and is a Swiss entity with which the independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated.

TURKEY FULL SERV ICE A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR CORPORATE & INTERNATIONAL TAX FIRM OF THE YEAR M&A TAX TEAM OF THE YEAR PRI VATE CLIENTS TAX ADV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR Cor por ate & Inter n at ion al Tax Adv isor of the Yea r The Tax Advisory team of KPMG in Turkey, led by Ayhan Üstün (Tax Partner) includes professionals dedicated to M&A Tax and International Tax services who has been specialized in advising multinational companies to structure their mergers, acquisitions, reorganization and new investments in Turkey.

Ayhan Üstün and his team have been recognized by many professional magazines and industry overviews as one of the leading advisors in Turkey.

Having more than 1000 clients, many of which are multinationals, KPMG in Turkey is one of the pioneering professional services firms in the country today providing audit, tax and advisory services to international and local clients. Having more than 700 professionals, the company operates in 3 cities; Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara.

As a part of a comprehensive Transactions Advisory team including Financial, Commercial and Tax experts; the Tax Advisory team of KPMG in Turkey provides its clients a wide range of services, such as, pre-deal tax planning advise, analysis of alternative investment structures, due diligence, identification of tax related risks and opportunities during the investment evaluation phase, assistance in post-acquisition integration, assistance in negotiation of tax related matters with other party (buyer, seller, JV partner) and recommendation on tax effective solutions to international complexities (e.g. repatriation of cash, use of tax treaty provisions etc).

Today’s market place is highly competitive and demands quick and often difficult decisions. KPMG Turkey’s team of Tax Advisory professionals plays a key role in the strategic planning and structuring of an investment or an M&A project; ensuring that the business people have a full appreciation, at a very early stage, of the tax risks and, importantly, opportunities.

Partner, Tax AY H A N Ü S T Ü N

Director, Tax E R AY B Ü Y Ü K S E K B A N

Director, Tax BEGÜM KİTİŞ

Address: Kavacık Rüzgarlı Bahçe Mahallesi, Kavak Sok, No:29 Beykoz 3 4 8 0 5 I S TA N B U L Te l e p h o n e : + 9 0 2 1 6 6 8 1 9 0 0 0 Email: ayhanustun@kpmg.com We b : w w w. k p m g . c o m . t r

UK PRI VATE EQUI TY & REAL ESTATE FUND A DMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

www.langhamhall.com Leading Global provider of private equity and real estate fund administration and accounting services.

strength however is our hands on approach, our staff and management team give our clients unparalleled focus.

Langham Hall was founded in May 2006 by Rob Short and a group of like-minded partners, with the conviction that the world of fund administration did not deliver to the needs of today’s sophisticated managers. From the start Langham Hall was set up to be different:

Our core services for all structures across the alternative asset class include:

• As an owner managed business, our reputation and success depends on absolute client satisfaction. This makes us good listeners and a responsive partner.

• Our senior team has broad career experience in private equity fund administration, corporate finance, real estate and operational roles. We use this experience to add value beyond the core fund administration services, especially for managers at the set up stage.

• We only employ the best people, then we train and develop them.

Services Langham Hall is a specialist provider of private equity and real estate accounting and administration services. We add value to fund managers through the combination of expert accounting and high quality investor reporting, supported by leading edge internet based technology. Our core

• • • • • • • •

Fund administration Fund accountancy Treasury Investor reporting (bespoke to client) FCA Operator services AIF Depositary services Accounting for investment holding companies Provision of Directors offshore

Why are we different?

We are not a volume player or system driven administrator trying to be all things to all people.

We are highly specialised and have a distinctive understanding of all aspects of the sector, including legal and tax structuring, partnership operations, LPA terms and accounting.

Business Development Director

Clients can expect an exceptional level of personal involvement and proactive leadership from us, both during the set up of the fund and its ongoing life. This is especially true at partner level; a partner level person leads each relationship with our clients.

Managing Partner

Marie Fitzpatrick M: +44 7827 391 648 T: + 4 4 2 0 3 5 9 7 7 9 0 9 E: marie.fitzpatrick@langhamhall.com

Rob Short M : + 4 4 7 7 7 5 8 0 6 3 0 8 T: T : +44 20 3597 7905 E : rob.short@langhamhall.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

GERMANY FRANCHISE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

BUSSE & MIESSEN combines a fresh perspective with more than 60 of tradition. With a total of more than 25 lawyers, BUSSE & MIESSEN, a medium-sized operation by German standards, pursues a policy preferring strict quality standards, highly personalized client-lawyer relations and arm's length working processes over rapid growth. Long-standing relationships provide a high degree of insight into clients' specific legal concerns, financial issues or personal situation, allowing the professionals at BUSSE & MIESSEN to identify, avoid or resolve conflict, and enabling sensitive and capable problem-solving.

The firm is active in the field of Franchise Law throughout Germany and other European countries. Today, BUSSE & MIESSEN are advisors to more than 150 franchisors in Europe and North America. The firm has particular experience in the development, reorganization and expansion of franchise networks. Its Franchise Practice Group focuses exclusively on advising Franchisors and Master Franchisees in the optimization and management of franchise network. It is BUSSE & MIESSEN's paramount priority to advise Franchisors not only in the field of Franchising Law but, equally important, also in strategic questions with respect to international expansion.

According to the Who’s Who Legal, Dr. Patrick Giesler, who is an essential part of the Franchise Practice Group, is one of the leading German franchise lawyers. He is the author of numerous books and publications on Franchising Law. Furthermore, Dr. Giesler is President and founder of the International Franchise Lawyers’ Association, a world-spanning network of law firms specializing in this field.

Catering to the needs of foreign clients also outside and beyond the domain of franchising, BUSSE & MIESSEN, from its Berlin, Bonn and Leipzig offices, operates several practice groups where lawyers fully conversant in English provide advice and guidance to companies from all fields of business life, to banks, real estate partnerships and individual investors. Other key specialisations are in Real Estate, Construction and Labour law.

BUSSE & MIESSEN Lawfirm Franchise Practice Group Oxford Str. 2 1, 53111 Bonn, Germany Phone: +49 (0)228 98391-26 Fax: +49 (0)228 630283 E-Mail: blaschyzk@busse-miessen.de We b s i t e : w w w. b u s s e - m i e s s e n . d e

UK ASSE T BASED LENDER OF THE YEAR

Leumi ABL is delighted to have won the title of Asset Based Lender of the Year for the United Kingdom for the third consecutive year in the ACQ Global Awards 2014.

tooling. Leumi ABL also introduced Bank Leumi (UK) to the company who became their bankers, offering a range of services including VAT deferment and BACS.

Leumi ABL is the specialist asset based lending subsidiary of Bank Leumi (UK) plc. Providing funding from £1m to £25m, Leumi ABL provides a full range of asset based lending facilities, including stock finance and plant and machinery finance, real differentiators in today’s market.

This is supported by trade finance and property finance facilities via Bank Leumi (UK).

Magal Group have led the field in automotive mechanical engineering for more than fifty years and supply companies such as Mercedes and Jaguar Land Rover. The requirement to seek a more flexible funding provider was triggered by fast growth in the UK.

Our sales teams across the UK are seeing increasing optimism and certainty in the SME sector, and this all fuels the market appetite for reliable and flexible forms of financing that will enable confident growth and expansion. Leumi ABL continues to work closely with businesses and their advisors to ensure that financing facilities are structured creatively so as to maximise growth opportunities. The team is rapidly earning a reputation for their flexible and highly personal approach to assisting business growth.

Recent notable deals include providing financing to the Magal Group where Leumi ABL provided a £7m asset based lending facility, comprising invoice discounting, a plant & machinery loan and a further additional loan to assist with the cost of

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Early negotiations included meetings with Leumi ABL CEO, Paul Hird, and Bank Leumi (UK) CEO, Larry Weiss. A combination of access to the highest level decision makers and Leumi’s ability to offer more funding than any other funding provider, gave Magal the reassurance that the Leumi proposition could meet their needs, both now and in the future.

Kevin Lowen, Finance Director at Magal Group, commented: “Leumi ABL was able to demonstrate a flexible and innovative approach, satisfied our need for growth and gave us the confidence that they would support us in the long term.”

With economic indicators now heading the right direction, Leumi ABL is well placed to offer the consistency and stability which is so highly valued by growing businesses.

Managing Director Phil Woodward,

Leumi ABL Te l : 0 1 2 7 3 7 1 6 2 0 0 Mob: 07900 802774 Email: pwoodward@leumiabl.co.uk w w w. l e u m i a b l . c o . u k

UK CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LEA DING CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAWYER OF THE YEAR – Jeffrey Lewis The firm with offices in both Camden and in the City , has been established for over thirty years.

It was founded by Jeffrey Lewis , following a career in the City as an investment analyst ,he has a large client following amongst City professionals and companies alike.

The practice prides itself upon its combination of approachability , high degree of client care and City ethos ( but not City practices billing rates!!)

The major departments are Serious Fraud and Crime, with smaller extradition ,property , employment , Private client , company commercial, and litigation departments , so it offers a good all round service to clients.

Our Serious fraud work involves defending corporate/business investigations;insider dealing; bribery and corruption;tax/vat; money laundering ; cartels and every type of fraud. It also means that we have 30 years experience of defending investigations/prosecutions brought by the SFO/FCA/BIS/HMRC and have been involved in many of the leading prosecutions during that period.

As a result of the teams corporate investigationwork they also advise on SARs, AML and AB& C compliance issues, some have an excellent working knowledge of FCPA, BA 2010 and FACTA. The Crime department deals with cyber crime , ( historic) sexual offences , violence and drugs trafficking.

The Road traffic department is particularly successful ,and the team is highly regarded for its high acquittal rates and overall success rates.

Lewis Nedas Law has also been highly ranked by all the major ranking directories since 2004 and has won a number of awards for its work.

Members of the firm write and regularly contribute to both financial and legal publications, speak at conferences and assist a wide cross section of the media , giving expert advice and opinion on fraud and criminal justice issues.

contact our specialist lawyers on 02073872032 or use our on line enquiry facility at w w w. l e w i s n e d a s . c o . u k

AUSTRIA INDEPENDENT CONTRACT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Lindner law is a Vienna based Austrian law firm specialised in commercial law. The firm is focused on commercial contracts and conflicts deriving from those contracts.

The firm is absolutely client oriented and always considers also business issues. Lindner law addresses legal problems directly and provides its clients with feasible solutions. The firm advises during the whole contract negotiation process, provides draft contracts or supplies its clients with comments and mark-ups to contracts drafted by the contrary party. Further, the firm represents its clients in proceedings before Austrian state courts or arbitration tribunals in Austria and abroad in conflicts deriving from commercial contracts. The firm could gain a broad experience with the various types of commercial contracts, such as purchase contracts, service contracts, M&A contracts, agency contracts, distribution contracts, engineering and construction contracts, licence agreements, joint ventures and other forms of business cooperation contracts as well as transport contracts.

Lindner law’s clients are typically small and medium sized enterprises, either engaged in the various fields of industry, or enterprises providing services. Many clients are manufacturing companies which export their products all over the world. The firm’s clients are Austrian companies and companies from other jurisdictions, mainly from other European countries, which are undergoing business in Austria. In fact, the firm is broadly experienced in dealing with international cases and international clients.

Since Lindner law represents its clients also in disputes, the firm is very much aware of the importance of suitable dispute resolution clauses in commercial contracts.

Drafting these clauses Lindner law takes into account empirical data on the behaviour of the parties in disputes.

Due to its experience in litigation and arbitration the firm can perfectly identify the subjects that likely become disputable when a conflicts arises between the parties.

The firm’s focus is truly international. Lindner law has a strong international network which enables the firm to advise and represent its clients taking into account also other relevant jurisdictions. Therefore the firm’s clients are really able to count with a complete legal service, when they have to deal with commercial contracts in Austria.

Dr. Alexander Lindner

Founding partner telephone: +43-(0)1-505 70 47 e-mail: office@lindner-law.at website: www.lindner-law.at

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK LEA DING DI VORCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Lloyd Platt & Co Divorce, Criminal and Matrimonial Solicitors opened in 1992. Since that time the practice has been involved in several leading and ground breaking divorce and cohabitation cases, and continues to campaign about many important family issues including father’s rights to see their children and changes to the law of cohabitation.

Vanessa Lloyd Platt, the director of Lloyd Platt & Co regularly appears as an expert contributor on Good Morning Britain, BBC Breakfast, Sky News as well as a multitude of news and current affairs programmes both nationally and internationally. She regularly can be heard on radio programmes up and down the country on all kinds of relationship, divorce and other issues.

The practice under Vanessa’s freelance journalistic guidance regularly contributes to many daily newspapers, magazines and online forums in addition to writing a regular blog for the well-known Huffington Post.

In 2009 Lloyd Platt & Co invented the divorce voucher creating a worldwide first and global phenomenon.

In October 2013 Vanessa was voted Family Law Commenter of the Year.

In September 2014 the firm set up their white collar and road traffic criminal department under the guidance of Gary Conway which is ever growing as news of Gary’s successes spread.

In the same month, the firm teamed up with Blue Cross animal charity and invented the Pet-Nup, the world’s first deed of agreement for pet owners in the event of relationship breakdown which has attracted international acclaim.

At present the firm is working on other ground breaking issues which are set to burst into public awareness in 2015.

Lloyd Platt & Co 3rd Floor Elscot House A r c a d i a Av e n u e London N3 2JU Te l : 0 2 0 8 3 4 3 2 9 9 8 Fax: 0208 343 4950 Email: lloydplatt@divorcesolicitors.com W e b s i t e : w w w. d i v o r c e s o l i c i t o r s . c o m Tw i t t e r : @ D i v o r c e L a w y e r U K @ Va n e s s a L P l a t t

The practice has acted for clients across the social spectrum ranging from celebrities such as Lady Buck otherwise known as Countess Bienvenida Sokolov, Ann Diamond, Les Dennis, Bridget Rowe, Fiona Wright, Dr Hillary Jones, as well as a succession of pop stars, models, footballers, sports personalities and presenters. The practice also prides itself on finding sensible and innovative solutions on behalf of all of its clients, whatever the circumstances.

Each of the solicitors has their own speciality which adds to the strength of the practice. In particular Matthew Durman’s forte is complex company matters. Samantha Ellis’s strength is finance and children matters. Simon Wolman’s strength is his attention to minutia and the creation of excellent paperwork. Belinda Strange’s forte is children’s matters and finances, Felicity Mittleman specialises in assistance at Court and Vanessa’s speciality is complex financial matters and seeking out hidden assets.

GERMANY BOUTIQUE TAX ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR LW TAX is a dynamic, nationally and internationally operating tax boutique firm based in the center of Munich ,Germany. LW TAX is specialist in providing one-stop shop services for foreign groups and investors starting or expanding their business in Germany.

High service, efficiency and direct lines of communication are indispensable to LW TAX’s mission. But LW TAX offers more: Its advice is convincing and gives clients direction and is followed up by constructive support during the implementation process. In addition, LW TAX also provides tax compliance and accounting services at a fair price / performance ratio. This full-tax-service approach is the logical consequence of its advisory concept which is based on the idea that a tax project is not completed until it is successfully implemented, actually lived in practice by the client and the final tax audit of the client has been weathered.

LW TAX does not distinguish itself solely through its service-oriented and proactive approach, but also stands out as a firm that actively helps its clients to make best decisions. Therefore, LW TAX does not merely provide a list of opportunities that are available under the law, but explains which option appears to be the most opportune from a tax and a commercial point of view. This means that LW TAX actively participates in decision-making processes, where appropriate, and it subsequently offers active support in implementing the decisions made. In addition, LW TAX provides current services such as accounting, preparation of tax returns and financial statements pursuant to German and International GAAP and German tax law.

In addition the team focuses in particular on complex, often cross-border, special tax issues. These include merger and acquisition, recapitalization, restructuring, expatriate taxation as well as numerous special topics of international tax law. Alongside publicly traded company groups and private equity investors from Germany and abroad, medium-sized business,expatriates and wealthy individuals are served by the firm.

Claus Lemaitre Partner

Ansas Wittkowski Partner

LW TAX Lemaitre Wittkowski GmbH Steuerberatungsgesellschaft Schackstraße 1 D-80539 Munich - Germany T +49 (0) 89 38 66 78 99 0 E info@lwtax.de I www.lwtaw.de

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

FRANCE COMPANY RELOCATION SERV ICE PROV IDER OF THE YEAR

In June 2014, Management Mobility Consulting was named by ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS as « FRANCE – COMPANY RELOCATION SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR”.

As an international relocation management company, Management Mobility Consulting coordinates workforce mobility around the globe. The services include the full range of destination services, such as home search for expatriates and their families, orientation days to get to know the city of destination, children’s schooling, setting up of utilities, coordination of language courses, purchase of furniture, social security registration, departure services as well as immigration assistance and cross-cultural training. Management Mobility Consulting also carries out tailor made surveys in the areas of international mobility and expatriate management.

Management Mobility Consulting offers some very innovative services such as the evaluation of the candidates’ cross-cultural adaptability, “Look See” web conferences, housing safety audits, security audits of residential areas, return coaching, special VIP programmes and emergency evacuations of large groups around the clock.

To satisfy their clients’ needs, the company has developed customized webinars on various topics, for exemple, to explain the social security system, to assist spouses with their job search and to help expat teenagers with their educational orientation.

Over the last 12 months, the company won three international awards reflecting excellence of service quality and overall top level performance.

The particular strength of Management Mobility Consulting is their personalized approach to services and relationships. The company has also been recognized for their innovative tools and for a holistic team based leadership model.

A high level of satisfaction of clients and employees is demonstrated by recommendations, long lasting client relationships and high motivation of their staff.

This success has been achieved thanks to trust-based lean management, well structured processes and a very efficient customer relationship management.

Ow n e r a n d M a n a g i n g D i r e cto r

Mangement Mobility Consulting has set up training structures of young professionals in Africa where the company regularly funds humanitarian projects.

M A N A G E M E N T M O B I L I T Y C O N S U LT I N G 27-29 rue Raffet 7 5 0 1 6 PA R I S

M a rt i n a M E I N H O L D

w w w. m a n a g e m e n t - m o b i l i t y. c o m Tél : +33 1 42 15 00 69 Fax : +33 1 45 25 65 27

UK PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Matthew Wilkinson Solicitors specialise in Professional Negligence cases against Solicitors, Barristers and other lawyers. We have developed a niche practice dedicated to dealing with professional negligence claims against lawyers, which now represents over 80% of our work.

The firm was set up by Matthew Wilkinson in 1991.

Matthew’s dedication and enthusiasm is the same today as it was when he was a young law student and he takes a special interest in the law and how it can be used to help people and organisations. It was the combination of legal complexity and Matthew’s keen interest in helping people which led him to specialise in professional negligence cases. Matthew was previously a partner in a medium sized High Street practice dealing with Litigation and Business law but he had previously gained substantial experience in Property and Land law, Conveyancing, Estates and Trusts and Family law.

Matthew Wilkinson was set up primarily as a commercial firm and was involved in Commercial Litigation, Company law, Company sales and Buy-outs in the early 1990’s, but as Matthew began to concentrate on professional negligence claims against lawyers the firm began to specialise more and more to the point that solicitors negligence cases became the largest part of

the firm. Our previous experience in many areas of law helps us to identify viable cases and to help individuals and businesses who have suffered as a result of lawyer’s negligence. There is an incredible satisfaction to be gained from seeing the justice in a case and finding and winning the legal arguments to succeed with a worthwhile settlement or Judgement.

We are located in Middlesbrough in the North East of England and deal with cases against lawyers from all around England and Wales. At the end of 2011 we opened an office in London to help service our Professional negligence clients. We continue to run our cases from Middlesbrough due to the lower cost base which enables us to keep our fee rates down compared to firms solely or mainly based in the Capital. We pride ourselves on our ability to deliver results even in complex professional negligence cases. We always seek to ensure that our technical legal ability is matched by our friendly approach and high Client service standards. We have been awarded the Lexcel Law Society practice management standard, which recognises our dedication to the highest standard s of practice management and Client care.

Matthew Wilkinson BA Solicitor MPNLA is the owner of Matthew Wilkinson Solicitors Limited. www.matthewwilkinson.co.uk email: mwilkinson@matthewwilkinson.co.uk Tel: 01642 218888

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

FRANCE IT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR MEDIASTIC-Martineau Associes A.A.R.P.I. focuses on Intellectual Property, media and information technology, as well as distribution and insurance law.

We own a deep legal and technical knowledge about IT tools, procedures and processes that help to provide up-to-date, fast and relevant advice. We are truly experts in our fields of proficiencies, having deep acquaintance with the industries we work for. We consider that our creativity and savoir-faire enhance our clients’innovations.

The firm has experience in the construction of new business models for individual clients and companies.

Our lawyers speak at least three languages and work in at least two languages every day in an international context.

Mrs Anne-Katel Martineau has expertise in the acquisition and protection of intellectual property rights. She is at the intersection of digital media, entertainement and technology.

Anne-Katel Martineau

MEDIASTIC MARTINEAU ASSOCIES A.A.R.P.I.

akmartineau@medias-tic.com MEDIASTIC- MARTINEAU ASSOCIES AARPI 49, rue de Richelieu 75001 Paris France TĂŠl. : + 33 1 77 15 09 96 Fax : + 33 1 47 03 08 51 Mobile : + 33 6 60 25 23 01

UK LEA DING INTERNATIONAL TAX A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR MHA Maclntyre Hudson was founded in 1880 and works with entrepreneurial businesses to help business owners achieve their corporate and personal goals. We offer service levels and solutions which are unique to every client rather than taking a generic approach. Last year we were awarded National Firm of the Year at the British Accountancy Awards. We operate from 12 offices in Bedford, Canterbury, Chelmsford, High Wycombe, Leicester, London City, London North, Maidstone, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Peterborough and Reading serving the whole of the UK. We are also a founder member of MHA. MHA is a UK wide association of 9 respected and progressive firms of independent accountants and business advisers with 45 offices nationwide, all sharing common values and goals. Each firm is characterised by its strong reputation in its region for providing advice to entrepreneurial businesses of all sizes.

By joining together as part of MHA, member firms can offer clients an increased number of specialist accountancy services and expert business advice as well as benefiting from the in-depth sector knowledge available across the association.

We are the sole UK member of Baker Tilly International, a world leading network of independently owned and managed accountancy and business advisory firms united by a commitment to provide exceptional client service. Through our membership of Baker Tilly International we are able to provide premier accounting, assurance, tax and specialist

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

business advice worldwide, drawing on internationally recognised industry and service line experts in 137 countries.

As a firm, we have reacted quickly opportunities and client demand and as widened the breadth of services we deepened expertise through key hires activity.

to market such, have offer and and M&A

We constantly challenge ourselves to lead and compete with the very latest industry thinking and have developed corporate expertise across a variety of sectors to offer our clients the best possible advice specific to their individual circumstances and strategic goals. Our sectors are as follows: Agriculture and rural business, International business, Healthcare, Legal, Leisure and Hospitality, Manufacturing and Engineering, Media and Entertainment, Motor, Not for profit (charity and education), Property and Construction, Renewable and Sustainable Energy, Technology, Travel and Tourism, and Transport and logistics.

Rakesh Shaunak

Group Chairman

MHA MacIntyre Hudson rakesh.shaunak@mhllp.co.uk 02074294136 w w w. m h l l p . c o . u k

SWITZERLAND SWISS INDEPENDENT FIRM OF THE YEAR

MilleniumAssociates is an independent international M&A and Corporate Finance Advisory firm based in Switzerland and the UK. Founded in 2000 and owned by its partners and management, they are uniquely positioned to offer independent and non-conflicting advice to their clients.

Their high calibre M&A and Corporate Finance experts are currently active in variety of advisory assignments, supporting a wide range of international, regional and domestic clients with their global expansion or divestment strategies, as well as offering corporate finance consulting to organisations, for example examining their strategic options for partnerships, alliances and IPO or debt raising opportunities.

MilleniumAssociates supports clients through two focused yet interrelated business lines; the Corporates & Entrepreneurs Practice which specialises in working with corporates and entrepreneurial business owners all over the world with their M&A needs, while their Financial Services Practice focuses on transactions for the global financial services industry, in particular the global wealth, asset management, private banking and private equity sectors.

Clients can be global, regional or national organisations or entrepreneurs and often require a strategic solution that involves a global perspective and therefore benefit from MilleniumAssociates’ exceptionally broad professional worldwide network. This international network is augmented with a number of similarly independent and unconflicted global strategic partnerships enabling exceptional access into the key growth regions of the world and strengthening MilleniumAssociates’ local and regional coverage as well as supporting their service offering.

MilleniumAssociates is considered noteworthy in the market place in that they manage the most complex assignments by leveraging their expertise, global reach and investors’ network, whilst their independence and lack of conflicts allows them to offer totally impartial advice and their professional network and nimble approach enables them to be suitably responsive to clients’ needs and creative in finding them most the appropriate strategic solutions.

Founding Partner Ray Soudah r a y. s o u d a h @ m i l l e n i u m a s s o c i a t e s . c o m w w w. m i l l e n i u m a s s o c i a t e s . c o m +41 58 710 47 00 Kreuzstrasse 54, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland

SWITZERLAND FRAUD LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

The firm, founded in Geneva in 1945, is now composed of eleven attorneys, who advise and represent clients in complex litigation, arbitration, international banking, taxation and finance law.

Enrico Monfrini Enrico Monfrini holds a law degree of the University of Lausanne and was admitted to the bar of Geneva in 1970.

Yves Klein Yves Klein holds a Law Degree of the University of Geneva and a Diploma of Higher Studies in International of Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva, and was admitted to the Geneva bar in 1995.

Fraud profile Partners Enrico Monfrini and Yves Klein have developed the fraud practice of the firm since the end of the 1990s.

They have represented foreign governments in grand corruption cases, shareholders involved in class actions regarding market fraud cases, trans-national companies defrauded by their counterparts or employees, bankruptcy estates, victims of Ponzi schemes, clients defrauded by

their portfolio managers, etc. The amounts involved range between a few thousand US dollars to several billion US dollars.

Enrico Monfrini and Yves Klein have notably been conducting since 1999 the ground-breaking proceedings in the Nigeria v Abacha case have recovered more than US$1.3 billion in corruption proceeds in more than ten jurisdictions, and, more recently, the Haiti v Duvalier, Brazil v Dos Santos and Tunisia v Ben Ali cases.

Yves Klein is the Swiss counsel to Stanford International Bank Ltd (in liquidation), Antigua, in view of compensating the victims of the second largest Ponzi scheme in history, with liabilities in excess of US$ 5.5 billion.

Enrico Monfrini and Yves Klein are the members for Switzerland of ICC FraudNet (www.icc-fraudnet.org), the world's leading fraud and asset recovery network, operating under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), grouping the best asset recovery lawyers in more than 60 jurisdictions.

Founding Partner Enrico Monfrini Monfrini Crettol & Associes Attorneys-at-law 3, place du Molard 1204 Geneva, Switzerland Te l . : + 4 1 2 2 3 1 0 2 2 6 6 Fax: +41 22 310 24 86 E m a i l : e m o n f r i n i @ m c s w i s s l a w. c o m We b s i t e : w w w. m c s w i s s l a w. c o m Member for Switzerland of ICC F r a u d N e t ( w w w. i c c - f r a u d n e t . o r g )

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

SWITZERLAND IN VESTMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR (ALTERNATI VE FUNDS)

Founded in 2010, Montreux Capital Management is a Swiss investment firm specialising in boutique, alternative funds.

Introducing funds to some of the world’s most respected global institutions, Montreux understands the importance of a disciplined and sustainable approach in the investment process.

By focusing on specialist asset classes and strategies, Montreux Funds aim to consistently generate returns regardless of movements in Equities, Bonds and the wider property markets The Montreux Care Home Fund which gives investors the opportunity to access the UK's Residential and Specialist care home sector. This is a rewarding sector which promises long-term capital growth and sustained income based returns for investors from the highly cash generative assets. While the property market has shown dramatic volatility in recent years, one sector has consistently resisted trends. The fund capitalises on the rising demographics creating a high demand for care homes, creating a niche, low-risk, low-volatility area for investment offering consistent returns. The Fund is now involved with in excess of $100M worth of assets.

benefits, from economies of scale and other profit making opportunities to the ability to ensure a high quality of care. The operations are managed through our care home arm Montreux Living.

Opportunities in this sector have never been better as we are considerably cash richer than many of the other large operators in the industry, facilitating a market in our favour.

The Montreux Commodity Trading Fund makes profits through small arbitrage transactions (made on physical commodity forward pricing contracts in short turnaround cycles).

The Fund strategy fixes the buy and sell price at the same time. In other words, the Fund buys contracts at a discount and sells with a margin based on the same day pricing (e.g. for gold this would be the LBMA pm spot), so the Fund is not exposed to the fluctuating prices of the Underlyings.

Managing Partner – MCM Oliver Harris 2nd Floor Baarerstrasse 14-16 CH – 6300 Zug Switzerland

Our unique approach sees us invest in the business as well as the property: buying both gives the fund complete control and brings with it many

T +41 (0) 41 561 33 62 F +41 (0) 41 561 32 00 info@montreuxcm.com w w w. m o n t r e u x c m . c o m

ISLE OF MAN Lea ding Pr i vate Cl ient Adv isor of the Yea r - Cl i ve Di xon

As managing partner of Moore Stephens Isle of Man (“MSIOM”), Clive is responsible for strategy, client servicing/relationships, advising on international business structures and marketing the services of Moore Stephens globally. He personally specialises in private client work, particularly family trusts and foundations and generational planning advice.

integrated the retirement solutions division of HSBC into the MSIOM group as Moore Stephens Retirement Solutions and formed Moore Stephens Crew Benefits in 2010 to complement the group’s already substantial superyacht offering. In 2012 Moore Stephens Brokers Limited was created to bring specialised insurance products to the maritime and aviation industries.

For the 25 years that Clive has been managing partner of MSIOM he has led its growth from a small start up to now being the fifth largest firm of Chartered Accountants in the Island, with nine different business units.

Clive’s strategy of diversification saw the firm move to larger facilities on Athol Street in 1997, the acquisition of 4 Upper Church Street in 2009 and this year 32 Athol Street.

He is personally responsible for charting a course of expansion and diversification that has formed this group of independent accounting and business advisory firms into a multi-disciplinary team of over 60 professionals, delivering accountancy and tax, assurance, consultancy, trust and corporate, financial advisory, yacht and aircraft ownership structuring and registration and crew benefits, to local and international clients. The firm has been accredited by Investors In People for over seven years.

In 1997 Clive coordinated the acquisition of North West Trust and in 2006 B2B Financial which became Moore Stephens Financial Services. In 2009, at the height of the global recession, he

Clive is also partner in the Moore Stephens Offshore group that includes the offices in the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey and Gibraltar.

Qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1981 after training with EY in Birmingham UK, Clive became a Fellow of the Institute in 1992. He spent seven years in Bermuda, initially with EY before joining Aon to take up the position of President and CEO of its Bermuda subsidiary.

In 1989 Clive moved to the Isle of Man to join MSIOM.

Managing partner Clive Dixon To f i n d o u t m o r e a b o u t M o o r e S t e p h e n s Isle of Man please visit w w w. m s i o m . c o m o r f o l l o w t h e f i r m o n Tw i t t e r, F a c e b o o k and LinkedIn. Moore Stephens Chartered Accountants PO Box 25 | 26 - 28 Athol Street | Douglas Isle of Man | British Isles | IM99 1BD w w w. m s i o m . c o m

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ISLE OF MAN Accou nt ing Fir m of the yea r / Fir m of the Yea r Over the past 25 years Moore Stephens Isle of Man (“MSIOM”) has grown from a small start up to a multidiscipline firm with a team of over 65.

Serving local and international clients, MSIOM is a member firm of Moore Stephens international, one of the world's major accounting and consulting networks with 307 independent firms and 667 offices in 105 countries.

With this international perspective the MSIOM team prides itself on providing a personal, partner led service, tailored to each client’s specific need with a dedicated suite of services designed for local businesses across seven business areas.

Audit Believing that an audit is much more than a tick-the-box annual exercise, our goal is to add value by providing solid advice to help clients develop their businesses.

Fiduciary services

Tax

We help clients and their advisors create and maintain customised structures using trusts, companies, foundations and joint ventures in the Isle of Man or any other jurisdiction worldwide.

There are tax implications for almost everything and today’s decisions can very seriously affect tax in the future. We ensure that clients are aware of these issues and then help them achieve tax-efficiency whatever their situation.

Financial services Taking the role of financial partner with knowledge of financial markets and regulatory regimes, we help our clients with quality financial advice to help them to protect and grow their wealth.

Foreign exchange International inevitably means different currencies; our foreign exchange services mean fast secure payments, with competitive exchange rates and no hidden charges, 24 hours a day, every day.

A superyacht, private or commercial, is big business with hard financial considerations. To help their owners and advisors we provide yacht-ownership structures in chosen jurisdictions with a complete suite of services including registered office/place of business, directorship and trusteeship, personal wealth management, banking, active administration and secretarial support.

Insurance

With almost endless options in types and sizes of aircraft, from fixed-wing to rotor, we help clients register and operate aircraft with tailored, tax-efficient ownership structures.

With broad experience of global risk, our objective is our clients’ peace of mind so that they can get on with business and life, guiding them through every step of the underwriting process with the most reputable insurers, including Lloyds of London.

Crew Benefits

Retirement Solutions

A yacht is only as good as her crew; we help superyacht crew find financial solutions - from bank accounts to medical insurance, foreign exchange to tax advice - anywhere in the world.

We provide international retirement benefit arrangements for our clients’ employees to help them gain a competitive edge in recruiting and retaining quality personnel.

Aviation

Superyachts

To f i n d o u t m o r e a b o u t M o o r e S t e p h e n s Isle of Man please visit w w w. m s i o m . c o m o r f o l l o w t h e f i r m o n Tw i t t e r, F a c e b o o k and LinkedIn. Moore Stephens Chartered Accountants PO Box 25 | 26 - 28 Athol Street | Douglas Isle of Man | British Isles | IM99 1BD w w w. m s i o m . c o m

I T A LY A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR (RENEWABLE ENERGY)

Moroni & Partners is a leading Italian energy consultancy, operating nationally and worldwide.

M&P, with more than 1,2 GW of experience, guarantees the highest expertise in every area of renewable energies: photovoltaics, solar thermal, biomass, biogas, high-efficiency air conditioning systems, electrical systems, home automation and cogeneration.

A team of more than 50 professionals working on renewable energy sources and high energy efficiency systems is able to satisfy the needs of banks, investors, industrial customers, public entities and EPC contractors.

Our three main divisions are: Technical Advisory: helps banks, investment funds and investors who look for an independent survey on their investments.

Consultancy activities and instrumental analyses on operating energy plants are carried out.

Engineering: deals with the authorization process, the design, the construction surveillance and the safety of power plants.

Furthermore M&P offers energy saving solutions for industrial, civil and tertiary sectors.

Asset Management: performs a complete plant management, from performance monitoring to management of administrative and fiscal fulfillments related to RES activities.

Moroni & Partners cares about the quality of its services, environmental respect, energy rational use and workers’ health and safety and has obtained these voluntary certifications: ISO 9001:2008 - Quality Management System ISO 14001:2004 - Environmental Management System ISO 50001:2011 - Energy Management System BS OHSAS 18001:2007 - Occupational Health and Safety Management System

Moreover M&P takes part effectively on the issue of technical regulations since it is a member of the following committees (TC): TC 82 - Solar photovoltaic energy systems TC 88 - Wind turbines TC120 - Electrical Energy Storage (EES) Systems TC 313 - Smart grids TC 315 - Energy Efficiency We have an international vision and we follow the global market trends operating in UK, KSA, Romania, Thailand, Ecuador, Brazil, Panama, Jordan, UAE, Turkey, Morocco, Myanmar and Australia. In order to enhance our worldwide presence we have opened a new branch in London and have signed a partnership agreement with two major companies operative in the Middle East market.

In 2013 we were appointed by Acquisition International as Renewable Energy Advisory Firm of the Year – Italy and in 2014 we were awarded Energy Sector Focused Advisory Firm of the Year - Italy at the Acquisition International M&A Awards.

Moreover we have just been accredited by the World Bank and the other MDBs as advisor for engineering services and consultancy in the renewable energy market.

This acknowledgment represents, therefore, one more success after these achievements: we are truly honored to have been named Advisory Firm of the Year (Renewable Energy) for the Italian market and we would like to thank sincerely all those who helped us in obtaining this new and prestigious award.

Mauro Moroni, CEO Moroni & Partners Via del commercio, n°14A, 60021 Camerano (AN) ITALY Web: www.moroniepartners.it Tel: +39 071895023 Email: info@moroniepartners.it

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ENGLAND DATA AND RESEARCH VENDOR OF THE YEAR

Murano makes the investment process more efficient for both the fund manager and the investor by conducting research, i.e. listening to the investor and understanding where they are looking to invest. This benefits both parties: Murano pre-screens investors using bespoke, fund-specific questions. If it appears as though there could be a good match, Murano sends a report to the fund manager so that they can contact the investor directly, knowing that their fund characteristics fit within the investor’s current allocation requirements.

Our Philosophy Murano is focused on helping our clients raise assets in a new way that is cost effective and pragmatic.

• Bespoke Research. We aim to connect our clients with 2 - 4 qualified and targeted investors each week. We ask any additional questions that a fund may request us to and create an investor report containing detailed information, specific for that fund.

• Exclusivity. The information we send to our fund clients is exclusive and only sent to non-competing strategies. Investors will not get inundated with dozens of calls from various funds as a result of speaking with us.

• Focused on the Investors, not data. Our focus is ensuring that our clients get traction and that real value is gained from our service. We meet regularly with our fund clients to ensure that we are working together efficiently and are up to speed with all of their business objectives.

• A real human touch. Each client is allocated one of our highly skilled analysts that know the industry. It is their job to ensure you get results.

Results: Our record speaks for itself, clients that use us to our potential have been able to arrange meetings 40-60% of the time. Murano acts as a cost-effective extension of your sales team.

Managing Principal Ole Rollag 66, New Bond Street - London W1S 1RW - United Kingdom T: + 4 4 2 0 3 4 0 5 3 3 8 8 M: +44 794 254 4450 2 0 0 9 S u m m e r S t r e e t - S t a m f o r d , C T, 06905 - United States of America T: + 1 ( 2 0 3 ) 8 8 3 9 2 5 4 - M : + 1 ( 6 4 6 ) 460 4021

FRANCE ABSOLUTE FUND OF THE YEAR

Neuflize Asymétrique is an Absolute performance multi-strategy fund with a flexible strategy allocation based on market cycles.

The fund has a performance objective largely uncorrelated with equity market trends thanks to the fund’s asymmetrical behaviour. Volatility is held in check and steered (maximum 8%) and risk is managed by strategy and comprehensively, notably through the use of put options.

The experienced team benefits from the research and fund selection expertise of A.A.Advisors.

Laurent Bouin is the manager for Neuflize Asymétrique. He began his asset management career in 1992. He spent 12 years at CPR AM as a futures trader and fund manager, then three years at EIM SA in Switzerland as the head of the Long Only team.

Laurent Bouin joined Neuflize OBC Investissements in 2007. He has a Masters in Finance degree from Aix Marseille University.

Benjamin Hamidi has been a manager on the Absolute Performance team since September 2011 and manages the Neuflize Asymétrique team, with more than nine years of financial market experience.

Previously, he was a quantitative analyst at AAAdvisors–QCG (ABN AMRO Advisors). He has a doctorate in Economics from the University of Paris I Panthéon–Sorbonne, and a Professional and Research Master’s degree in Economics and Finance.

Florence Solal Bertram | Direction de la Communication Responsable Communication Institutionnels & Partenaires Banque Neuflize OBC 3, avenue Hoche, 75008 Paris Te l + 3 3 1 5 6 2 1 7 9 8 7 | M o b + 3 3 6 18 64 18 77| Fax +33 1 56 21 95 30 w w w. n e u f l i z e o b c . f r

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK FRAUD & WHITE COLLAR CRIME LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Neumans LLP is a boutique City of London Law Firm established to deal with and take advantage of the growing demand for expert representation in large scale and complex litigation.

Neumans incontrovertible pedigree is already highly recognised in the fields of commercial litigation, professional discipline & regulatory and civil litigation.

The firm’s specialist fraud and regulatory team is headed by the firm’s senior partner, Nabeel Sheikh, and deals exclusively with privately funded white collar and serious crime. This is an area in which the firm is highly respected and has recently attracted a lot of attention.

The Senior Partner is both recommended in the Legal Experts Directory under white collar crime, and has been acknowledged as a leading expert since 2002 in annual succession. He has also been recommended in UK editions of Legal 500 2013 and Chambers & Partners 2014.

Neumans LLP is regularly instructed in some of the largest and most high profile cases in the country. The firm is committed to providing outstanding legal representation in all cases of business crime. Its ethos is to deliver a bespoke service whilst ensuring the optimal use of client resources to achieve the best possible outcome. A track record of outstanding success in acting for a range of white collar professionals including doctors; dentists; lawyers; judges; politicians; bankers; and traders is testimony to this. Neumans’ key strength inevitably remains the diverse pool of talented lawyers that it employs.

Its reputation as one of the foremost litigation firms in the UK is well deserved as a number of the lawyers at the firm are individually recognised as experts within their respective fields.

Chambers & Partners 2014 editorial describes the firm in the following terms: “Neumans has a very powerful team of individuals…the team is thorough and comprehensive. It delivers results and gives a personalised service.”.

Nabeel Shiekh Nabeel is an internationally renowned lawyer and the senior partner and founder of Neumans LLP. Nabeel has developed a business-crime related practice dealing with all aspects of litigation, be it commercial, civil or criminal, where there is an underlying element of fraud. Nabeel’s areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, VAT/MTIC fraud; general tax fraud; money laundering; extradition and mutual legal assistance; pharmaceutical fraud; confiscation orders; restraint orders; freezing orders; boiler room frauds; banking fraud; financial services fraud; mortgage fraud; directors’ disqualification; insolvency/ bankruptcy as a result of fraud; bribery and corruption; professional discipline and regulatory.

Nabeel commonly defends those investigated by the highest level UK Government bodies/agencies and, in recent times, in international sanctions related work.

Nabeel has developed a niche client base dealing with non-UK nationals with much work referred through personal recommendation by individuals with significant wealth and/or political standing. He frequently acts in cases involving a high level of political sensitivity and is noted for his ability to act with the utmost diligence, efficiency and discretion.

Nabeel has substantial experience in all manner of proceedings where there are cross-jurisdictional issues in play. His current and previous work involves a numerous assortment of high profile cases, and there are simply too many to list.

Nabeel has been ranked as a Leading individual in Chambers UK for four successive years. The 2014 edition states: “Nabeel Sheikh enjoys a great reputation, with market commentators highlighting his ‘impressive spectrum of work’ and ‘great strategic though process.’…”.

Nabeel Shiekh

Founding partner

Neumans LLP 11 Pilgrim Street London EC4V 6RN

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7429 3900 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7429 3901 DX: 490 Chancery Lane Email: mail@neumansllp.com

UK TECHNICAL A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

OST is a wholly independent consultancy that provides technical and commercial viability advice on renewable energy projects to Investors, Lenders, Owners, Utilities, Developers and EPC Contractors. To date, we have enabled our clients to install of 8GW of capacity world-wide.

The company was established by Oliver Soper and Simon Turner in 2008 with the aim of providing exceptional consultancy services built upon a wealth of knowledge and experience. Since then, OST has experienced exponential growth year on year, with international expansion in Australia and Brazil in addition to our growing teams in Italy and South Africa.

Our multi-award winning services have facilitated solar, wind, bio and other types of renewable energy power plants to bankability throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and the USA. Furthermore, our Asset Management services complement the full lifecycle of each plant, and our Environmental and social due diligence advice is ideal for businesses wishing to optimise corporate sustainability management.

Since OST was founded, we have worked on operational and under construction plants, with a total investment value of over $10 billion. Having been involved with over 60% multi-MW solar PV project development in the UK alone, we are at the cutting edge in the industry and are highly regarded as insightful thought leaders whose experience encompasses all phases of a renewable energy plant.

Oliver and Simon, OST Energy’s founders, both agree that it is a true honour to be recognised as Technical Advisory Firm for 3 consecutive years, and are very grateful indeed.

Director

Oliver Soper

Thank you to all of our clients and colleagues for their support and for whom we continue to grow and excel year on year.

Director

S i m o n Tu r n e r

Brighton – London – Milan – Cape Town – Sydney – São Paulo E i n f o @ o s t e n e r g y. c o m T +44 (0) 1273 819429 W w w w. o s t e n e r g y. c o m @OST_Energy

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK NICHE CONSULTANCY FIRM OF THE YEAR (LEGAL AND REGULATORY)

Kate Wormald leads a niche consultancy providing legal and regulatory services to hedge funds and investment managers.

She has advised and represented a large cross section of the hedge fund community and alternative asset managers since she established Oesa Partners over 12 years ago. She has also worked with large pension funds, a well known charitable trust and other industrial corporates who require specialist legal advice in relation to their trading documentation.

Ms Wormald is well know in her field and is currently an active member of HFC UK, the 100 WHF LPAG committee and the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

Her wealth of experience is unmatched in the alternative asset manager space and she has used this to successfully run Oesa Partners as a bespoke consultancy focused on delivering timely solutions to clients.

As specialists Oesa Partners does not have the distractions of a wider portfolio and therefore offer, an unrivalled level of service and understanding in the hedge fund arena.

They are also active participants in the hedge fund industry, being closely involved in key industry developments.

Oesa Partners has three main strands to its business; advisory, documentation and project management.

Regardless of which service is being used the firm prides itself on being practical, commercial and easy to deal with.

Oesa Partners put the needs of the client first and works with their clients to find solutions to legal and regulatory issues in the most commercial and effective way to fit in with our client’s modus operandi.

As a niche consultancy Oesa Partners are able to offer a fresh and flexible approach to fees. They offer an all inclusive fixed fee so no hidden surprises or nasty overruns the invoice simply matches the original quote.

Endorsement of Oesa Partners has come in the form of four recent awards.

Kate Wormald

Managing Director

Ms Wormald qualified as a barrister and then pursued a career in the City where she worked for Daiwa Securities, Salomon Brothers (now Citi) and Goldman Sachs where she was head of the European capital markets team that encompassed all the derivative trading activity for the firm and its Prime Brokerage business. This was a period of great innovation in the markets especially derivatives and Ms Wormald participated in many of the ISDA committees that developed the master agreement, confirmations and definitions.

Firm: Oesa Partners 23 Hanover Square London W1S 1JB Tel: +44 203693 6085 Email: kate.wormald@oesa.co.uk Web: www.oesa.co.uk

ROMANIA COMPANY FORMATION SPECI ALIST FIRM OF THE YEAR

OFFSHORETAX offers company formation and management, international tax planning, asset protection, audit, banking, licensing services. It is continually adjusting to the changes that appear in local and international legislations with the purpose of offering its clients professional consultancy – that implies promptitude, quality and confidentiality – related to a proper and suitable organisation of each kind of business.

In order to offer this wide range of professional services, the firm cooperates – locally and internationally – with stable banks and a vast network of affiliates, lawyers which are familiarised with international tax planning and different international legal entities.

For all of the structures incorporated by OFFSHORETAX – even offshore companies, resident companies, trusts, foundations, limited partnership, etc – the firm offers the possibility of identity protection. For example, in order to incorporate an offshore company (IBC or Exempt Company), a minimum of one director and one shareholder is necessary. Those positions, in most jurisdictions, can be held by the same person. Clients’ protection can be accomplished by a nominee shareholder or a nominee director. The nominee directors and the nominee shareholders are usually lawyers from the jurisdiction the company is incorporated in.

Andrei Rotiu, OFFSHORETAX managing partner, has

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

worked at the firm since 2010. He specialises in international tax planning, company formation, audit, banking, e-commerce solutions and asset protection.

When recommending the appropriate jurisdiction for company formation we consider mainly the goal and business activity.

Although many offshore financial centres provide an attractive tax environment, we consider that each jurisdiction is suitable for a specific activity.

Legal entities, for instance Limited Liability Partnerships, incorporated in white-list jurisdictions, properly structured, using together with offshore vehicles, will provide the same advantages like a company incorporated in offshore financial centre, NIL tax and no accounting requirements.

The Trusts and the Foundations are used for assets protection and can hold shares of trading companies as part of international tax planning. They are used also for consolidation of family assets, worldwide assets, real estate, investments, cash deposits.

The preservation of wealth, the protection of the clients' assets or protection of company assets after the business development and profit is considered to be a key-point today.

Andrei Rotiu

Managing Partner Te l : + 4 0 3 1 4 0 8 2 1 7 5 +40751385929 andrei@offshoretax.ro w w w. o f f s h o r e t a x . r o

LIECHTENSTEIN INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Ospelt & Partner Attorneys at Law Ltd. became one of the leading law firms in Liechtenstein over the past years. This achievement is based on providing excellent advice in all matters of Liechtenstein laws and particular in civil and criminal law; business, company and taxation law; as well as administrative and constitutional law. The profound knowledge in this areas is not only used by domestic but well-known international clients who seek the best assistance available to solve their legal issues.

Another key for the law firm’s success is the established reputation of its name partner Dr. Alexander Ospelt who set up a global client network since becoming an independent practice attorney at law in 1997. Acting not only as attorney at law Dr. Alexander Ospelt is President of the Board of Liechtenstein Life Assurance AG and of the Foundation for Crisis Intervention as well as Board Member of the European Lawyers Association DACH. Furthermore, he is a member of the Academic Advisory Council of the Private University in Liechtenstein.

In offering services to demanding international clients Ospelt & Partner Attorneys at Law Ltd. uses the synergetic effects of closely associated Legacon Trust Establishment, an expert in asset protection and tax planning, and Horwath (Liechtenstein) AG, a member of Crowe Horwath International, which renders tax, finance, business and management consultancy services.

The partners and associates of Ospelt & Partner Attorneys at Law Ltd. practice not only before courts in Liechtenstein but also represent clients in legal proceedings in Austria and Switzerland. They have great experience in providing legal opinions to international issues and all matters of Liechtenstein laws, especially foundation and trust law, as well as in rendering legal advice on all kind of contracts related to Liechtenstein. Moreover, they are specialised in providing assistance to questions regarding double taxation treaties that have been concluded by Liechtenstein in recent time. The law firm’s partners also acted in some recent proceedings on mutual legal assistance requests of foreign tax authorities as representatives of clients with assets in Liechtenstein.

The languages spoken by the partners and associates of Ospelt & Partner Attorneys at Law Ltd. are English, German, French, Italian and Russian.

D r. i u r. H S G A l e x a n d e r O s p e l t , L L . M .

Ospelt & Partner Attorneys at Law Ltd. Landstrasse 99 P. O . B o x 5 3 2 LI-9494 Schaan Principality of Liechtenstein

Phone +423 236 19 19 Fax +423 236 19 15 M a i l a l e x a n d e r. o s p e l t @ o s p e l t - l a w. l i We b s i t e : w w w. o s p e l t - l a w. l i

England EMPLOYMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR OW is a leading dispute resolution and employment law firm. They specialise in dealing with complex commercial, civil and employment law disputes and now have a reputation for dealing with high value cases on behalf of both individuals and businesses.

They are known for their pragmatic and commercial approach to litigation and mediation which yields excellent results for their clients.

for its outstanding work in the fields of personal injury and clinical negligence and now handle only the most complex of cases.

The firm epitomises the idea of a niche firm providing exceptional levels of service and legal expertise to their clients.

OW’s Legal Teams are partner-led to ensure that clients receive the very best service. OW’s expertise has received recognition from businesses and individuals who have had the greatest impact in the legal world. In 2014 OW were awarded the honour of employment law firm of the year in the UK and also the further honour of clinical negligence law firm of the year in the UK in recognition of their exceptional performance, recognised expertise, innovation in client care and previous accolades

Their standout Employment Law Team have been instructed on a number of high profile and complex employment law matters. The head of the Employment Team is a recognised leading lawyer in his field and was recently invited by “Lawyer Monthly” Magazine to be the sole UK representative to provide comment and opinion upon topical employment and labour law issues in the UK. The Dispute Resolution Team has a broad range of experience dealing with commercial, civil and employment law disputes. The team is also known

The Dispute Resolution Team also provides a mediation service to assist parties in dispute or at a transactional/deal making stage in order to finalise the terms of a deal.

OW Law LLP Blake House 2a St Martins Lane York North Yorkshire YO1 6LN

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK NICHE CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR (HEALTHCARE)

Most commercial due diligence reports are ‘bland’, ‘lack useful insight’, and ‘do not help generate real value’ during the transaction. These are comments that a number of private equity and strategic investor firms have made to us in recent years, about other commercial due diligence providers – both big global players and small niche boutiques – which they have used.

how much to bid. Without clear findings and recommendations from due diligence providers, private equity firms and strategic investors find themselves losing deals – or worse: overpaying for an acquisition. These outcomes lead, in turn, to escalating costs at investment firms, and acquisitions that struggle to deliver a decent return on exit.

From a due diligence provider’s perspective, some of the reasons driving the production of bland or insipid reports are clear. Uncertainty about a hoped-for end to the recession, memories of over-optimistic projections prior to 2007, the need to be cautious when offering full reliance to investors, and the complexity of the target’s operating environment can all conspire to create a situation where most due diligence firms are not prepared to offer clear, unambiguous conclusions. Too many due diligence reports end up being little more than a re-hash of publicly available information, data from industry reports put into complex charts, and summaries of interviews with a limited number of leading figures.

Obviously, in order to offer commercial and operational due diligence support to investors, a consulting firm has to be able to demonstrate capabilities such as in-depth experience in the sector, flexibility, a fact-based analysis approach, an ability to deliver to tight timescales, and the skills to synthesize a lot of information into a clear picture. However, these are just the minimum requirements. Oxford Consulting believes that all due diligence providers need to step up to match the real needs of investor firms, rather than just deliver ‘bland’ analyses with a series of caveats and provisos. Investors want clear and meaningful recommendations, backed up by detailed, fact-based analysis and deep expertise in the target’s industry. Investors need due diligence providers that have demonstrated time and again their ability to give meaningful advice.

Although some of these due diligence reports may give a good background to the industry, the key drivers and the competitive landscape, they usually offer neither strategic insights, nor a clear view of what the acquisition target needs to do to be successful over the next five-to-ten years. The report might validate key assumptions in the Information Memorandum, but does it identify opportunities and issues that management hadn’t even considered? Investors are finding that due diligence providers often fail to give them the real clarity and the actionable insights that they need to help them decide

Our clients tell us that what makes Oxford Consulting stand out amongst all other UK consulting firms is the clarity of the rock-solid advice that we provide. We deliver detailed analysis for complex acquisitions, generating unambiguous recommendations and conclusions. Moreover; we have a reputation for getting it right!

Oxford Consulting Associates LLP Mill Street Eynsham Oxfordshire OX29 4JX Te l : + 4 4 ( 0 ) 1 8 6 5 4 6 5 8 0 8 Mob: +44 (0) 7711 686 624 w w w. o x f o r d c o n s u l t i n g . o r g

CYPRUS LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

P. N. Kourtellos & Associates, LLC provides a full gamut of legal services to businesses and corporations operating and investing in Cyprus. An independent and dynamic law firm, one of the new generation of Cyprus law firms who are breaking ground and rethinking the practice and the substance of law.

P. N. Kourtellos has dedicated itself to a focused and personalized representation and a deep understanding of business and law, traits which have admirably served clients in Cyprus and abroad. The firm members have a sophisticated understanding of business and corporate law and the implications of commercial and business litigation and provide legal advice, counsel and aggressive litigation services and legal advice to individuals and corporations.

We are delighted to receive the ACQ5 award as “CYPRUS – LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR” which recognizes the exceptional capacity of our expertise in the field of commercial law both on counseling and certainly litigation level.

The choice of legal strategy entails various business and financial consequences and adopting the appropriate legal approach is of the highest value. Whether filing an action or vigorously defending one filed against our clients, we have been persistently building on the sound understanding of the law combining the ability to apply our knowledge to the commercial realities of the circumstances and come up with an effective strategy adding further to our reputation for excellence in the chosen field.

The Latin phrase "Facta non Verba" constitutes the firm's motto meaning "Deeds not Words". The quote encompasses the firm's philosophy in practising the law and providing legal service to the client. The firm specializes in complex commercial disputes with particular focus on corporate disputes, business crime and commercial fraud. The recent years have seen our firm securing precedent-setting victories in the area of disclosure of information and confidentiality, the tracing of assets, arbitration law and insolvency proceedings. Commitment to these principles enhances our reputation both within the judiciary other lawyers and the clients. That is exactly what is offered by our law firm.

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Senior Partner Dr. Pavlos Neofytou Kourtellos P. N. Kourtellos & Associates LLC Advocates - Legal Consultants 64 Agias Fylaxeos, Aristodemou Building, Office 302, 3025, Limassol, Cyprus Tel.: +357 25 745575, Fax.: +357 25 745525 E-mail: pnk@kourtelaw.com www.kourtelaw.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

GERMANY IP LI TIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR IP LAWYER OF THE YEAR, Dr Robert Kl ins k PATENTSHIP Patent Attorneys is a patent law firm highly specialised in the fields of electrical engineering, telecommunications, digital signal processing, software, medical engineering, mechanics, chemistry and life science. PATENTSHIP offices are located in Munich and the Frankfurt area of Germany.

The firm’s services include patent and trademark prosecution, patent and trademark litigation, IP licensing and negotiation services, as well as IP valuation and IP monetisation services. Its clients include leading major and medium-sized companies, universities and research institutes.

Dr Robert Klinski, PATENTSHIP founder and managing partner, noted: “Most of our team members have a strong scientific or industrial background in various fields of technology. This background is combined with strong IP expertise gained in numerous national and international prosecution and litigation cases. This enables us to understand even the most complex technologies and the related prior art, in order to develop strong and convincing arguments in litigation proceedings, to appropriately claim related inventions and efficiently handle the prosecution proceedings. Some of the team members were involved in developing communication standards as well as hard and software realising communication standards, and contributed as inventors to developing novel communication technologies. “ PATENTSHIP’s expertise further covers the fields of chemistry, pharmaceutics and life sciences. These fields of technology enable us to provide comprehensive services to pharmaceutical companies with respect to drugs and

medical devices.

PATENTSHIP has further an IP licensing department in order to support its clients in IP licensing and monetisation.

Dr Klinski is a German and European patent and trademark attorney. He has strong expertise in IP prosecution and litigation in the areas of telecommunications, digital signal processing, RF technology, digital and analogue circuit design, coding, cryptography, software, medical systems, mechanics and optics. In addition, he is author of numerous publications in the field of digital signal processing and telecommunications. He is a member of VPP, AIPPI and EPI, and is fluent in German, English and Polish.

Recently, the firm successfully defended a major telecommunications enterprise in a German part of multinational and multiparty infringement proceedings in the field of wireless access technologies. This further achievement in a series of successfully conducted IP proceedings strengthens PATENTSHIP’s position as a leading IP law firm in the IP market.

Dr Robe r t Kl i ns ki Ma n aging Pa rtne r

Te l : +49-(0)89-75 969869-0 mai l @pat e nt shi p . e u w w w.pat e nt shi p . e u

AUSTRIA CONTRACT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR BANKING & FINANCE LAWYER OF THE YEAR, Ber n d Fletzberger

“PFR Attorneys-at-law is an independent and internationally oriented business law firm. Based in the heart of Vienna, we have four highly committed partners with a wide variety of legal expertise. Operating a partneroriented team, we ensure a dedicated and personal approach to meeting each of our client’s needs.

We are a well-known boutique firm for banking and financial services law. Bernd Fletzberger, PFR partner and banking and capital markets expert, has a broad range of experience in this area. He has established a reputation as one of Austria’s premium lawyers in regulatory banking, insurance and capital markets issues. Due to his prominent work for one of the most important European public financial institutions, PFR has a thorough understanding of the current flood of regulation. This enables us to provide meaningful advice at a very early stage and to help our clients in developing the best answers to these numerous challenges. Bernd Fletzberger is also member of the managing board of the “Austrian Society for Financial Market Law”.

Our portfolio includes the full range of questions on regulatory matters and compliance, anti money laundering, notification and approval procedures, administrative and appeal procedures as well as planning and developing payment and banking products. We also support foreign financial services providers in doing business in Austria.

Furthermore, we support businesses and banks in all issues of funding and financing and respective restructurings, e.g., classic or syndicated loans, bonds, project finance, crowd funding and investing etc. Another area of expertise is investor protection law.

Our recent work includes successful conduct of licensing proceedings with the Financial Market Authority (FMA) for payment institutions, advising investors in the takeover and restructuring of an Austrian investment firm, preparing members of the management and supervisory board of banks for fit & proper tests with the FMA, advise in connection with recovery and resolution planning and AML specific projects (including conduct of AML risk assessments and establishment of AML manuals). Most of our bank clients seek continued legal advice regarding product development, internal processes, compliance issues, outsourcing, control systems as well as administrative procedures with their supervisors.”

Dr. Bernd Fletzberger Partner

Tel: +43 1 877 04 54 fletzberger@pfr.at www.pfr.at

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

GERMANY COMPANY OF THE YEAR (AEROSPACE) In the global aerospace industry, PFW has understood the need to be present; to be close to customers and the markets in which they compete, early. Through strategic acquisitions of highly competent and complementary specialists--as well as the foundation of cost-efficient green-field operations in emerging markets-we've built a global network of specialized manufacturing plants that are continually being expanded and improved.

Consequently, for each individual project we're able to create a cost-effective, logistically optimized solution.

Local service and customization centers around the world are additionally providing, in their respective time zones, the special services tailored to specific customer needs. Thus the direct access to our highly trained specialists ensures that your requirements are always met quickly, just in time and with the highest quality, whether in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia or Australia.

Services PFW offers you a wide range of services for components in the aerospace industrie.

With the permanent development of new manufacturing processes, our product and service portfolio and our production process is updated frequently.

The company supplies Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and other leading aviation and aerospace companies with systems, structural components, components and services.

Through its strategic acquisitions, PFW constantly expands its activities in the key target markets, both in width and in depth.

Today the competence of PFW lies not only in project planning/ systems analysis, development/ construction, manufacturing, supply chain management and maintenance of its core products, but also in solid expertise in the field of metallurgy, especially in relation to titanium.

PFW Aerospace GmbH - Managing Directors Jordi Boto, CEO (mitte) J o r d i . B o t o @ p f w. a e r o

We have developed the social and cultural competence required to act as a true system integrator for the international environment. Wherever you are, PFW will speak your language.

T h o r s t e n F i s c h e r, C F O ( r e c h t s ) T h o r s t e n . F i s c h e r @ p f w. a e r o PFW Aerospace GmbH Am Neuen Rheinhafen 10, D-67346 S p e y e r, G e r m a n y T + 49 (0) 6232 616 - 0 F + 49 (0) 6232 616 - 4204

CYPRUS

M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Phaedon A. Michael & Co LLC is a law firm based in Cyprus, specialising in all aspects of Cyprus corporate, commercial, tax and trust law. In association with international and local audit firms, it tailors a full package of services. Phaedon Michael, Phaedon A. Michael & Co managing partner, is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), enabling the firm to provide stewardship services for its clients’ assets.

The firm’s ordinary course of business includes advising on international financing structures through Cyprus companies, counselling the lenders or, accordingly, the borrowers. It deals with any given corporate governance matter including, from the beginning, the incorporation of companies. This is followed by the reporting of and assistance with any further complex corporate matters.

Phaedon A. Michael & Co represents clients in their corporate actions, particularly regarding, but not limited to, their corporation reorganisation, mergers and acquisitions and the protection of their intellectual properties (IP). The firm is working closely with its domestic and foreign associates to ensure the tax optimisation. It has further expertise in banking and financial services, venture capital manufacturing, energy markets and real estate. The firm may also undertake legal due diligence in connection with acquisitions involving Cyprus and foreign companies.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Within its clientele, the firm is proud to have large international investment and commercial banks, international law firms as well as large organisations providing corporate services all over the world.

Multinational corporations and high net worth individuals are also part of the firm’s clientele giving it the ability to cross refer when requested.

What differentiates Phaedon A. Michael & Co from most other Cyprus law firms is its sole concentration upon the business side of the law. The philosophy that the firm was built on is the one following the global trend of investment into and via Cyprus and other jurisdictions driven by the favourable tax regimes.

Our firm now is run from it’s newly moved headquarters in Nicosia’s business centre, always maintaining its representative offices in Limassol as well.

Phaedon Michael Managing Partner Tel: +357 22 66 44 11 phaedon@phmlaw.com.cy 40, Themistokli Dervi, Office 102, 1066, Nicosia Cyprus Tel: +357 22 66 44 11 Fax: +357 22 66 44 64 www.phmlaw.com.cy

UK

ASSE T BASED LENDER OF THE YEAR (MID MARKE T)

With PNC Business Credit you have the confidence that comes from the strength and stability of an industr y leader dedicated to your success.

One who will be there for you today and tomorrow, supporting you in reaching your ambitions.

Loch Lomond Group Whisky Distillers £Multi-Million Acquisition

PNC Business Credit is committed to being the premier provider of full ser vice Asset Based Lending (ABL) to U K mid-market companies and is ver y proud to have won ACQ Global Awards UK Asset Based Lender of the Year Mid Market 2014.

Loch Lomond Scotch whisky is currently the only distiller y in Scotland that produces grain and malt whisky at the same site. The company ’s brands include ‘ Glen Scotia’ single malt Scotch whisky ‘High Commissioner ’ blended Scotch whisky, Glen’s Vodka, as well as ‘Loch Lomond’ single malt.

PNC Business Credit operates 48 ABL offices across the United Kingdom, United States and Canada. With over 600 deals completed in the last 3 years and with over $30bn in commitments under management, PNC Business Credit is one of the leading Asset Based Lenders in the United Kingdom and United States. PNC Business Credit is a member of the Commercial Finance Association and the British Venture Capital Association

The acquisition of Loch Lomond Distiller y Company ’s assets from the Bulloch family by Exponent Private Equity at the beginning of 2014 saw PNC Business Credit leading a club deal to support the creation of the newly formed Loch Lomond Group and acting as collateral agents for the banks.

‘Done Deal’ – More Than Just A Tag Line We deliver optimum levels of finance to power your success whatever your business and the challenges and opportunities you are facing, Our highly experienced, award winning, team has a proven track record of delivering bespoke ABL facilities to a wide variety of UK businesses, whose funding requirements range from £5 million to £100 million, with specific focus on the £5 million to £50 million deal range.

In the last 2 years alone we have completed over 35 new UK mid-market ABL transactions with total funding commitments in excess of £0.5 billion.

At PNC Business Credit, ‘Done Deal’ is more than just a tag line. It defines our business. Here are some recent examples; Knighton Foods Ltd Powdered Drinks and Desser ts £9,500,000 Merger Knighton Foods Ltd is a joint venture between Specialty Powders Holdings Ltd (SPHL) and Premier Foods. Through the joint utilisation of Premier ’s Knighton factor y in Staffordshire, home to its Bird’s, Angel Delight and Mar vel brands, the joint venture sees both parties combining their dr y powder manufacturing capabilities to create a dynamic and focused business.

The £multi-million asset based lending facility, based around inventor y, receivables and fixed assets, provides the ideal platform to refresh and expand the product portfolio and to fuel sales in a number of international markets.

James Gunton, Exponent Private Equity, said; “ We have been delighted with the support the PNC [Business Credit] team has provided us with. It was a complex deal and their patience, flexibility and naturally collaborative approach……..made a significant difference.”

Olympus Engineering Ltd Precision Engineering £6,900,000 Acquisition Established in 2000, Olympus Engineering is a manufacturer of precision components operating from a purpose built factor y based in Stoke on Trent, where it employs 160 staff. In June 2014, Olympus was acquired by CorpAcq as its first acquisition in the precision engineering sector. With its substantial recent investment in state of the art plant and machiner y and a growing customer base, Olympus is superbly positioned to bloom over the next few years.

The deal with PNC Business Credit fuelled the acquisition and supplies headroom for the continued growth for Olympus as the sector continues to strengthen.

David Martin, Group Managing Director, CorpAcq, said; “This was a landmark deal for CorpAcq that demanded sensitivity, flexibility and speed. We were delighted to have PNC by our side. Our working relationship goes from strength to strength.”

PNC Business Credit supported the merger through the provision of completion capital and ongoing working capital, which helps Knighton Foods be superbly placed to grow.

Mike Kirby, Managing Director, Knighton Foods, said; “PNC [Business Credit] was receptive to the deal from the ver y outset and impressed us with their ‘can do’ attitude. The team’s flexibility, pragmatism and sector experience was refreshing.”

Do you have a deal that needs to get done?

Telephone +44 (0) 1444 475820 or email DoneDeal@pncbusinesscredit.co.uk AssetBasedLendingUK.co.uk

u e nt i n B a r g at e reser ved. © 2014 The PNC Financial Ser vices Group, Inc. ©AllQ rights

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

2013

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

CYPRUS TAX INVESTIGATIONS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR CTRUST LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

One of the most reputable Law Firms in Cyprus. Offers a complete range of legal services specialising in: -

Companies Law

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Tax Law

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International Trusts Law

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Shipping Law

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Intellectual Property Law

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Immovable Property Law

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Migration/Immigration Law

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Competition Law

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Litigation

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LAWYER Partner

Antigoni D. Fakonti POLAKIS SARRIS & CO LLC 36, Byron Avenue Nicosia Tower Center, 8th floor, 1096 Nicosia, Cyprus P.O.Box 21341, 1506 Nicosia, Cyprus

The Firm has great experience in relation to tax issues and tax investigations. Mrs Antigoni D. Fakonti, Partner of the POLAKIS SARRIS & CO LLC, specialising in Companies, Tax and Shipping Law deals with tax and tax

Tel: +357 22 456000 Fax: +357 22 675605

investigations related issues.

http://www.polakissarris.com a.fakonti@polakissarris.com

UK INDEPENDENT FINANCI AL A DV ISER OF THE YEAR (SHARI A) SEIS FUND OF THE YEAR, PORTILLION CAPI TAL SHARI A COMPLA INT SEIS FUND Portillion Capital Ltd is a privately held, award-winning wealth and investment manager. Portillion Capital is proud to be dedicated to the provision of conventional, Shariah complaint and ethical financial solutions advising all types of investors. It is committed to pioneering authentic, new and innovative financial solutions which enhance the quality and range of financial products which are available in the market. As well as advising individual clients, high net worth individuals, family offices, retail clients, boutique wealth managers in areas of financial planning such as Investments & Savings, Pensions, Islamic & Conventional Wills and Inheritance Planning; it also helps businesses set up ethical and Shariah complaint pension schemes for their employees and raise finance.

At Portillion we feel there is an extra responsibility towards managing our investors money due to our expertise in ethical and conventional investments. We take our management responsibility very seriously and carry out very strict due diligence when picking where to place your hard earned savings by looking at all aspects of how: • • • • • •

The funds operate What geographical areas the investments are in The prevailing economy The investment style of the Fund The quality, age, and experience of the management team The risks associated with your investments.

As part of our commitment to Shariah complaint and ethical investments Portillion Capital launched the UKs First Sharia Complaint SEIS fund.

Our awarding winning Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme has

helped bridge the cultural, religious and ethnic differences helping all types of investors and entrepreneurs align the investment opportunities available to them.

Our CEO & Co-Founder Mr Kamran Sattar has led the firm since its inception in 2012. Kamran is a multi-awarding winning financial professional and under his guidance and vision the business has flourished into one of the leading wealth managers.

What Kamran had to say: I am extremely humbled that we have won these two prestigious awards; it is further an endorsement on the work and commitment me and my team continue to do and the vision we had when the firm was first incepted.

I am proud that Portillion Capital remains at the forefront of helping all types of investors become financially successful.

What really makes us stand out is that we put our investor’s needs and aspirations above all and continue to help deliver to their needs.

We take great pride when our clients tell us we have outperformed their expectations in comparison to the leading banks.

The team and I thrive on the personal satisfaction we feel when we have helped clients succeed in their financial goals.

Kamran Sattar, Chief Executive Officer

Portillion Capital Limited 25 Canada square , Level 33 , Canary Wharf , E14 5LQ T 0207 038 8020 DD 0207 038 8608 E. kamran.sattar@portillioncapital.co.uk w w w. p o r t i l l i o n c a p i t a l . c o . u k

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

GERMANY MOST TRUSTED - PRIVATE EQUITY ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR Private equity clients face diverse challenges that require in-depth expertise to be tackled effectively. We offer the professional advice needed to provide transparency for decision-makers and provide services to support our clients through a transaction from beginning to end. The dynamic nature of the industry and its oftentimes complex deal structures call for comprehensive support and practical solutions that deliver maximum value. Our dedicated private equity specialists leverage their combined experience, industry knowledge and high quality standards with our extensive resources, commitment to innovation and expert network across 157 countries. We strive to build trusting and cooperative relationships with our clients, by offering our experience and expertise to meet their needs effectively.

PwC is the leading auditing and consulting firm in Germany with €1.55 billion in turnover and 9,300 employees at 28 locations.

Our client range comprises Private Equity firms and portfolio companies in all phases of an investment: mergers & acquisitions, deals & consulting, valuation, tax services and audit & accounting and exit services. We work with our clients to develop solutions that are tailored to their needs and assist in implementing them, whether they are of a financial, commercial, regulatory, tax or legal nature. PwC’s well-versed experts have comprehensive knowledge and long-standing experience in the transaction environment, as well as a thorough understanding of the complex challenges the Private Equity industry poses. Our ultimate goal is to help our clients achieve sustainable success. For this purpose we have aligned our services to meet the current requirements of the market and will continue to adapt as conditions change.

Steve Roberts Private Equity Leader PwC Germany Friedrich Ebert Anlage 35-37 Frankfurt steven.m.roberts@de.pwc.com

UK BUSINESS CONTINUITY MANAGEMENT CONSULTING FIRM OF THE YEAR

PwC is the market leader for consulting services in Business Continuity and Resilience. We execute more than 100 resilience related engagements each year, ranging from business continuity implementation and rehearsal programmes for multi-national clients to reviews of IT resilience and business continuity audits.

Research shows that organisations now want a broader understanding of this.”

We are leading the thinking on Resilience, contributing to the forthcoming international standard on Resilience and working with both clients and public bodies to benchmark and improve understanding about what it is.

The firm is seen as a market leader because of the quality of its team, coupled with PwC‘s very broad capabilities - it has the capability to address most client concerns. Our team are members of the professional institute the BCI, risk institutes such as IRM and IOR and many are certified lead auditors for the Business Continuity Management (BCM) standard ISO 22301.

Our clients are varied across many industries and of all sizes. In the UK, where many businesses have Business Continuity and Crisis Management Plans, PwC’s work tends to focus more on assurance – reviewing plans and undertaking exercises and rehearsals. We work closely with a number of boards to run crisis rehearsals that improve their confidence and capability as leaders when managing crises. However, there are still many organisations that need plans built or rebuilt. We also do a great deal of multi-national BCM programme work.

Our objective for 2014 is to continue to develop the understanding of Resilience – helping clients find ways to pragmatically improve their Resilience to add value to their businesses.

Martin Caddick, Head of Enterprise Resilience, noted: “We try to see Business Continuity broader terms, picking up on how it inter-relates to other relevant areas such as Risk Management, Crisis Leadership or Cyber Security. This is important as it helps clients avoid duplication – reducing costs and it also improves client’s capabilities through a more integrated approach.

“Ultimately this takes us into ‘Resilience’ –which takes a long-term view– dealing with how a business can respond and adapt to change.

PORTUGAL BANKING & FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Raposo Bernardo is an international full service law firm with offices in nine different countries, two continents, yet providing the same global approach, regularly representing the interests of national and international players.

The technical knowledge and the ability to innovate, acknowledged by our clients, have helped Raposo Bernardo’s Banking and Finance practice to reach a leadership position in projects of national and international reach.

The Banking and Finance department combines the experience and prestige of having participated in the elaboration of numerous draft legislation at the request of the governments of several countries, including the participation of the head partner in the committee that drafted the Securities Code in force in Portugal and the preparation of all Banking and Finance Legal Regime of Cape Verde. As recent major operations we can highlight the constitution of the first SICAFI in Portugal involving all 9 largest Portuguese banks.

SICAFI* stands for the constitution of a collective investment entity in the form of corporate investment.

specialized in complex banking operations, such as: the unstoppable internationalization of the leading Portuguese Financial Forward Payment Solutions Company to 3 new countries, fully assisted by our legal team from the headquarters in Portugal; or the advising of recent comers operating in new markets in structural sectors like Banking, Oil & Gas, Infrastructure or Mining.

The firm is legal advisor of Central Banks and leading private Banks, as our expert team is making use of unique competence in producing legislation for the banking, financial and also insurance legislation.

Our broad network and the local presence are enablers of uncommon experience and expertise which are very appreciated by our most challenging work area, and where operations tend to be larger and longstanding.

Raposo Bernardo delivers 20 years of experience, competing with larger, long established law firms, and offering strong client outcomes, closeness and a true sense of partnership.

This is our strong commitment today as it was in the early 1995.

Internationally we have handled some of the largest and the most cutting-edge and challenging operations, as we are becoming more and more

Nelson Raposo Bernardo

managing partner and head of Banking and Finance nrbernardo@raposobernardo.com lisbon@raposobernardo.com Te l : ( + 3 5 1 ) 2 1 3 1 2 1 3 3 0

UK (SOUTH EAST) – CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (SOUTH EAST) – CORPORATE LAWYER OF THE YEAR, TIM SADKA (SOUTH EAST) – COMMERCIAL LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Rawlison Butler LLP is a leading commercial law firm with offices based in in West Sussex, and a presence in London and Kent. We provide legal advice to UK and international businesses and organisations of all sizes, which allows our clients to deal with their corporate transactions and governance efficiently, enter into effective commercial contracts, look after their HR requirements, buy and sell property and resolve any disputes. We have particular industry experience in the technology, automotive, charities, education, finance and insurance, retail, property and manufacturing and distribution sectors.

We focus on delivering timely and effective solutions to our clients, building strong relationships, providing expertise and understanding your business needs. We are proud of our client relationships and count many excellent national and international brands among our clients. We also work with a number of high and mid-net-worth individuals, both in their private capacity and as business owners.

Specialist solicitors in our Private Client Team are dedicated to looking after the legal needs of individuals, including wills and Powers of Attorney, residential conveyancing and the full range of family law matters.

Rawlison Butler is the UK member of the International Network of Boutique Law Firms. With clients trading internationally, strong relationships with law firms around the world is important to us, and INBLF membership has helped us to develop these.

We are recommended in the UK’s independent legal directories for all our main practice area teams and over a third of our Partners are singled out as ‘Leaders in their Field’.

Rawlison Butler has won a number of recent awards including “M&A Law Firm of the Year – UK” in 2013 from Lawyer Monthly Magazine and the Corporate Team were shortlisted for “Corporate Law Firm of the Year” in the 2014 Insider Dealmaker Awards. Corporate Partner Tim Sadka was shortlisted for “Corporate Lawyer of the Year” in the same awards, and is known for his work with UK and international businesses on matters including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and banking and insolvency.

Tim Sadka

Head of Corporate Team tsadka@rawlisonbutler.com Stuart Evans Head of Commercial Disputes Team

sevans@rawlisonbutler.com 01293 527744 www.rawlisonbutler.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK

Invoice Finance Provider of the Year

RBS Invoice Finance (RBSIF) has been announced as the winner of the 2014 UK Invoice Finance Provider of the Year Award by the ACQ Magazine Global Awards. This is the third consecutive year that RBSIF has won this award alongside the 2014 UK Large Asset Based Lender of the Year Award.

A major concer n for UK businesses continues to be effective cash flow management and the ability to fund their ambitions whether this be growth or simply the day-to-day management of their business. Lending solutions to meet this demand have moved beyond the conventional facilities of overdraf ts and loans and we are seeing the rise of more flexible types of funding such as invoice finance coming to the fore. Indeed those businesses that find it easier to sur vive are those that are able to manage their cash flow and keep on top of their debtor book and late payments. When payment ter ms are extended, the likelihood of customers becoming insolvent similarly increases. This uncertainty in cash flow management can trip up even the most cautious and well managed business and that is why safe and certain receipt of funds becomes a top priority in management’s minds.

facilities for KTC Edibles Limited, William Sinclair Holdings plc, DE Group Limited, Walstead Investments Limited and Muntons plc.

We are delighted to have won this award for the third consecutive year and remain focused on supporting UK businesses to manage their cash flow. RBSIF has a dedicated and experienced team with specific expertise and extensive knowledge within the SME and Corporate arena, bringing together specialists in ABL and receivables funding. They can deliver tailored, value added and bespoke solutions which address financial and business needs and our flexible proposition becomes even more attractive for clients when combined with the array of complimentar y banking products which the RBS can provide in support. We look for ward to working proactively with clients to help them achieve their aspirations for the year ahead whether it is day to day cash flow management or supporting company growth.”

Security may be required. Product fees may apply.

Debtor balances are a huge asset for companies but it can of ten take too long to tur n these into cash. Invoice finance can solve the problems of slow paying customers, shortage of working capital and protection against bad debts. Invoice finance involves a business assigning its customer sales invoices to a finance provider that can typically advance up to 85% of the sales value and can therefore be used as a flexible way to raise funds. Given that the level of finance available is directly proportional to sales, funding should automatically increase as a business expands. This flexibility links into the attractiveness of invoice finance which is becoming increasingly prevalent in today ’s market.

Martin Morrin, Managing Director at RBS Invoice Finance explains: “Today we are seeing a greater combination of funding lines in support str uctures than ever before. People are mixing asset and invoice finance with debt to ensure that they are correctly funded and using their capital wisely. It is ver y much a case of financial products moulding to the client, rather than tr ying to mould a client to the financial product. By working in partnership with our clients we can provide flexible and attractive solutions to support them in realising their strategic goals.

Our track record of executing deals for SMEs and Corporates is demonstrated through the clients we have supported over the last 12 months. These include funding the secondar y buyout for Positive Cashflow Finance alongside our banking colleagues at NatWest and the recent MBO of Automatic Alar ms. The Corporate team have also provided working capital solutions for Radius Systems Ltd and recr uitment fir m Har vey Nash plc as well as Asset Based Lending

M a n a g i n g Di r e cto r

M a rt i n M o r r i n R B S I nv o i c e F i n a n c e Sm ith House E l mwo o d Av e n u e F e lt h a m Middlesex TW13 7QD E m a rt i n . m o r r i n @ r b s i f . c o . u k T 020 8895 7576

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK

Large Asset Based Lender of the Year

RBS Invoice Finance (RBSIF) has been announced as the winner of the 2014 UK Large Asset Based Lender of the Year Award by the ACQ Magazine Global Awards. This is the second consecutive year that RBSIF has won this award alongside the UK Invoice Finance Provider of the Year Award.

2013 was a significant year for RBSIF as it saw the business pass the £1bn in advances for Asset Based Lending (ABL). This achievement is a key milestone in ABL’s being recognised as a mainstream debt str ucture. As a product ABL has evolved in sophistication and is widely accepted as a flexible and innovative funding option. It can work well for private equity transactions and can complement other finance in the capital str ucture. Used on a standalone basis, ABL can provide management with greater control as it generally requires fewer covenants, and can offer increased flexibility and also of ten pricing benefits.

Chris Hawes, Director Corporate at RBS Invoice Finance explains: “ We started the ABL business at RBS in late 2009 and have achieved this success from a standing start through the development and recr uitment of our talented and diverse team. It is ver y satisf ying to see this increasing sense of awareness around ABL. Finance directors and business leaders are increasingly attuned to the flexibility it can provide and recognise it as a pr udent and agile way of financing the business aspirations from strategic growth to M&A activity.

The impact of the downtur n has seen some str uggle to access growth funding but the advantage of ABL is that it supports the life cycle of the business. As well as accounts receivables, many businesses have a considerable amount of capital tied up in assets such as inventor y, plant & machiner y and property. ABL liberates that cash held within these assets thereby giving fast access to substantial sums of working capital. And because ABL borrowing is flexible it can work well for clients who have seasonal peaks and troughs because it moves with the fir m’s working capital cycle.”

For many of RBSIF ’s UK clients’ growth is a key driver - investing in the strong parts of their business and looking at new emerging opportunities. ABL continues to be a great tool to support this activity. This is evidenced in different ways for a variety of our clients. For example at the end of last year North East phar maceutical wholesaler DE Group Limited announced the management buyout of the business by Managing Director Mark Gulliford and Finance Director Andy Wilson. Funding to support the MBO was provided by a £37 million ABL package from RBSIF, and the ongoing funding will assist in the success of the business going for ward.Lincoln–based William Sinclair - a company specialising in commercial and domestic horticultural products, ranging from peat-free compost to plant food and seed tray, earlier this year

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

received a £28million refinance package to support the implementation of the Group’s new working capital facilities and to assist the company ’s organic and acquisition activity as well as enhancing the development of its Ellesmere Port manufacturing facility. UK headquartered manufacturer of PVC compounds, INEOS Compounds Limited has also used an ABL facility to support the fir m’s wider strategy to strengthen and grow the Compounding division of INEOS over the next 3 years.

ABL can be used as a standalone product but also a supporting str ucture as part of a banking package. For example when KTC Edibles Limited (KTC), Britain's largest private manufacturer and distributor of edible oils and fats were seeking support for its growth strategy, RBSIF worked alongside colleagues in the RBS Corporate & Institutional Banking team to provide a complete funding package. This included a £33million ABL facility, transactional banking, import letter of credit and bonds & guarantees.

Chris Hawes adds: “These deals signal a real trend towards ABL being used to fund both organic and acquisitive growth. It is exciting to see large Corporates and the professional community recognising the benefits that ABL can bring - all of which contributes to the product being increasingly accepted as a mainstream funding option.

To win this award for the second consecutive year is extremely satisf ying and we are delighted that the hard work of the team has been rewarded once again. We have started 2014 well and have a strong flow of deals in the pipeline that include both ABL and invoice discounting solutions for our PLC and Corporate customer base.”

Security may be required. Product fees may apply.

D i r e c t o r , C o r p o r at e

C h r i s H aw e s R B S I nv o i c e F i n a n c e R B S I nvoic e F i n a nc e 2 8 0 B i s h o p s g at e London EC2M 4RB T + 44 (0) 20 7672 2593 E c h r i st o p h e r . h a w e s @ r b s i f . c o . u k

UK DATA PROTECTION CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR

Regulatory Strategies (www.regulatorystrategies.co.uk) was founded in 2009 by the former Director of Regulatory and Consumer Affairs at Experian plc, Mike Bradford, and Helen Lord, a senior plc-level consumer affairs and compliance expert, on a core ‘can do’ philosophy, specifically to provide UK and international clients with highly practical and commercially focused consultancy around regulatory and consumer affairs, compliance and data protection to balance and minimise risk while at the same time driving bottom-line competitive advantage and market differential.

Working in close partnership with their clients they are committed to providing pragmatic business-orientated advice and guidance, delivering real value and solutions tailored to specific sector, geography, market and business objectives.

When dealing with regulation and compliance it is all too easy to explain why something can’t be done. And equally it is all too rare to find the skills, creativity and insight, either in-house or externally, to work with the business to find a way of actually doing something that may at first appear to be ‘no-go’.

Regulatory Strategies’ overriding client mission is to facilitate and enable business, not prevent it.

It is this unique business-minded approach that separates Regulatory Strategies from other regulatory consultancies – and is something recognised by its clients.

2014 has seen Regulatory Strategies maintain its retained client base as well as moving into new areas, including significant £multi million due diligence projects in the M&A arena.

Over the coming year inevitably all organisations in the UK and EU will face much more demanding legislation around the uses of their core business asset, namely customer data.

Regulatory Strategies is already working with a number of ‘data rich’ businesses to equip them for the inevitable challenges that lie ahead - including the likely need to have to appoint an in-house or external dedicated data protection officer.

Mike Bradford mike.bradford@regulatorystrategies.co.uk

And equally many financial services clients are having to face up to more intensive supervision under the Financial Conduct Authority regime – something Regulatory Strategies has moved into as a new line of consultancy over the past 12 months.

UK TRANSI TION COACHING CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR

• Rialto specialises in unique change management and transformation solutions, which deliver exceptional results. Our services include: Transforming the Performance Culture, Executive Outplacement & Career Realignment, Outplacement & Career Transition, Executive Search, Interim Management, Revitalising Leadership / Talent Management and Cost Optimisation • We are one of the UK’s most highly respected multi award winning consultancies. We specialise in helping businesses grow & increase organisational effectiveness and profitability by developing leadership capabilities and improving performance. Our resources include 85+ consultants located in both the UK & Europe • We have delivered on impressive return on investment figures – particularly through our Transforming the Performance Culture IP including: - 22 TPC programmes (early and current IP) over past 5 years -

£32 million redundancy and change costs saved 70-80% of a typical workforce step up performance 20-30% self-select an exit Within 7 months turned a loss making business into profit Average 12% sales increase Average 8% increase in profit 2 record sales and 2 record profit projects delivered Average 25% improvement in Engagement, Alignment and Agility

- Average 4% customer satisfaction improvement - Won ‘Best sector HR team’ Award for one client - Secured improvement in all business metrics (except one) for a major manufacturer - Created achievements which have led to 3 entries for EEF best practice awards (achieved 2nd place in all categories) - 2013 Finalist of the HR Distinction Awards adding value category - 2013 Shortlisted by the CIPD as Consultancy of the Year Rialto successfully addresses some of the most pressing leadership issues such as: • Enabling leaders and managers who are struggling to deliver great results to take increased ownership and drive improved performance through the business • Better aligning existing team capability to business requirements, creating a step change in performance whilst maintaining staff engagement during uncertain times • Innovatively restructuring, reducing or changing headcount whilst creating greater levels of energy & agility – without triggering traditional reorganisation, redundancies, trauma or the costs • Meeting stretched targets with a workforce ‘running on empty’

R ic h a r d C h i u m e nto

The Rialto Consultancy 25 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane London WC2A 1AL M: +44 (0)7768 713 293 T: + 4 4 ( 0 ) 2 0 3 0 4 3 8 6 4 0 w w w. r i a l t o c o n s u l t a n c y. c o m

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

GERMANY Env iron menta l Adv isory of the Yea r

Whether or not you chose to take a acquisition risk is your decision alone. But, before you take that decision, you should know the opportunities and the risks. RiskCom assists in making a realistic assessment of your planned undertaking. RiskCom’s probability of success studies pursue one central goal: your benefit. Our business model is entirely dependent on the amount of benefit we bring to your project.

RiskCom supports you in recognising, assessing and convincingly communicating the technical, economic, and social implications.

RiskCom offers competence in all environmental aspects of chance management of acquiring or divesting businesses: from analysis to qualitative and quantitative evaluation as well as a suitable strategy. We are well versed in supporting industries from the Pharmaceutical sector, the Automotive and Production sector as well as the (Renewable) Energy sector. Our analyses anticipate future developments: to show you how the situation can be turned to your advantage.

Whether pipelines or wind parks, landfills or ports: the more complex an undertaking, the more diverse the factors that can affect its success. The early planning phase is the optimum time for the development of a definitive probability of success study: ensure compliance with the time and cost schedules.

Every company, every project and every action has its own specific inventory of opportunities and risks. Our starting point is a comprehensive documentation inventory that leaves out not even the least critical of details. By quantifying both, the risks and opportunities, ( monetary value, probability, hazards, acceptance), we offer our clients a basis on which they can estimate the technical, economic, and social implications of their decisions more precisely, and plan the way to communicate them more effectively.

We combine the ability to make a judgement with logical analysis, methodically complemented by the risk assessment software RimPro© we have developed together with University assistance. Selection from the catalogue of tried and proven solutions and their configuration are aligned to the specific conditions.

The diversity of our fields of application documents the diversity of our clients. Regardless of the sector: we at all times adapt the scope and the assessment approach to the specifics of the individual situation.

Clients with international locations avail of competent RiskCom auditors worldwide. We provide support for projects all over the world– be it in the U.S., India, UK or Australia.

M r . U w e Da n nwo l f RiskCom GmbH F r i e d r i c h - N a u m a n n - We g 3 8 75180 Pforzheim ph: +49 7231 166 7078 fax: +49 7231 133 9949 mob.: +49 152 2920 3397 w w w. r i s k c o m . d e

UK NICHE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (INDUSTRIAL DISEASE) Roberts Jackson is one of the fastest growing law firms in the UK and has become synonymous for both excellence in client care and settling some of the most complex Industrial disease cases. The firm has become a clear leader in its field and has created an environment that produces dynamic, young and exceptional lawyers who can excel in this difficult area of law.

The firm solely specialises in industrial disease litigation and is one of the only firms solely specialising in this extremely complex area in the UK. The firm was set up in 2009 by Karen and Oliver Jackson, Karen has in excess of 20 years’ experience in disease litigation and Oliver has over 20 years of corporate development experience.

Karen and Oliver’s expertise have been instrumental in the success and growth of the company and with their combined legal knowledge they have the ability to find success in the most complex of cases.

The legal field moves quickly and the landscape can change dramatically within months. For a business within the legal field to truly prosper, a law firm needs to adapt quickly and evolve with the changes. Roberts Jackson’s proactive strategy has seized upon those changes by adapting the company before change happens in the market.

Roberts Jackson has not only become an exceptional law firm, it has become an exceptional business and it has done this while never loosing focus of the most important thing, the firm’s clients.

The firm has grown at such an exponential rate as a result of its clear focus on delivering excellent service while honing its in-house innovations and training. The firm has a proactive approach to delivering its services and this approach has solidified a reputation of excellence within the legal sector.

Roberts Jackson Solicitors Sandfield House Water Lane Wilmslow CFounding h e s h i r e partner SK9 5AR www.robertsjackson.co.uk @1RobertsJackson

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

PORTUGAL ARBI TRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ROGÉRIO ALVES & ASSOCIADOS - LAW FIRM, in Lisbon, is formed by the coming together of several lawyers around former Bar Association Chairman Rogério Alves, partaking in their love for the profession and their individual track-record.

ROGÉRIO ALVES & ASSOCIADOS - LAW FIRM’s motto is: the strong and determined defence of our clients' rights, wherever it matters.

Our main concern is to advise our clients, in a highly skilled, permanent and attentive manner, on how to best fulfil their rights and comply with their duties and obligations. To choose pre-emptive legal advice as centrepiece of dispute resolution, to uphold the law in all its aspects, to abide with applicable professional ethics and to defend, wherever necessary, the rights we are entrusted with.

ROGÉRIO ALVES & ASSOCIADOS - LAW FIRM’s determination and focus are the centrepiece in providing flawless and thourough legal advice to our clients. In the defense of our Client’s rights, ROGÉRIO ALVES & ASSOCIADOS - LAW FIRM assesses all angles in each dispute and advise its Client on how achieve their goals, under the Law. Our main practice areas are as follows: 1. Litigation & Arbitration Litigation incorporates one of the main aspects of forensics. It is where our clients’ interests must be legally defended, through courts and other decisionmaking entities.

Arbitration has been standing out within litigation as a new and modern way of accessing a final legal ruling, in a swifter, less formal and therefore more efficient manner.

Whether having litigation with criminal, civil or commercial nature, and also in matters related to private international law, we fully commit ourselves to each case, with maximum competence and fighting spirit, in order to uphold the rights of those who entrust them with us.

2. Business Law ROGÉRIO ALVES & ASSOCIADOS - LAW FIRM’s business law practice area has been created in order to provide a fully integrated and comprehensive legal service for professional clients - companies and entrepreneurs - as to start, develop and grow a business venture. Thriving to provide a vast array of legal advice designed specifically for businesses.

3. Public Law Our practise area of public law aims to provide clients with a specialised service in the various aspects of administrative law, with main focus in the areas of procurement, planning law and construction law, public employment, environmental law, fund law and community funding, expropriation and administrative law in general.

Rogério Alves & Associados – Law Firm Contact Details A d d r e s s : Av. Á l v a r e s C a b r a l , 6 1 - 4 . º , 1250-017 Lisbon Portugal Te l : + 3 5 1 2 1 3 9 1 1 0 4 0 Email: geral@raassociados.pt We b : w w w. r a a s s o c i a d o s . p t

RUSSIA IN VESTMENT FUND OF THE YEAR / PRI VATE EQUI TY FIRM OF THE YEAR

In all of its investments, RDIF is mandated to co-invest alongside the largest and most sophisticated investors globally – thus acting as a catalyst for direct investment into Russia.

Russian Grids, General Electric and Japanese Business Alliance for Smart Energy Worldwide (JASE-W) in energy-focused projects. RDIF has secured a further $5 billion from Abu-Dhabi’s Department of Finance to invest in the Russian infrastructure sector, as well as launching the ‘Centre to Attract Investment in Russian Regions’ an information resource for international investors.

As a result of the fund’s activities since inception, $3.8 billion has been invested into leading Russian companies, with RDIF contributing over $900 million and more than $2.8 billion coming from international co-investors.

In addition, RDIF continues to pursue strategic long-term relationships with key international investment players, establishing formal partnerships with sovereign wealth funds from around the world totalling over $10 billion to date.

RDIF is committed to investing alongside international partners in ventures that display high growth characteristics, and drive efficiency and modernization in the wider Russian economy. Over the past two years RDIF has invested in Cotton Way, Tigers Realm Coal, ALROSA, Rostelecom, RFP Group, Voltyre-Prom, Maykor, MICEX, Enel OGK-5, MD Medical Group and KARO Film.

RDIF also promotes Russia’s investment image worldwide by marketing often overlooked Russian economy growth statistics via international broadcast and online channels under the slogan “INVEST IN RUSSIA”.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (“RDIF”) is a $10 billion fund established by the Russian government to make equity investments primarily in the Russian economy.

The fund has also taken the lead in a number of specific growth areas, promoting investment in Russian infrastructure and the Russian regions. In 2013 RDIF was part of a consortium selected to build the new M11 road between Moscow and St Petersburg, as well partnering with each of OJSC

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

The fund has a Supervisory Board consisting of top-ranked Russian government officials and leading international business representatives, as well as an International Advisory Board made up of leaders from the largest sovereign wealth funds and global private equity funds.

Director, Media Relations Maria Medvedeva C a p i t a l C i t y , S o u t h To w e r, 7 t h fl o o r, 8 b l d . 1 P r e s n e n s kaya nab.

M o s c o w, R u s s i a 1 2 3 3 1 7 T: + 7 4 9 5 6 4 4 3 4 1 4 w w w. rd i f . r u

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

SWITZERLAND

SALAMANDER GROUP

TRUST & COMPANY SERV ICES A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR Welcome to Salamander The Salamander Group is an independent trust and company services group. We are licenced by the Financial Services Commission of the British Virgin Islands.

Our Swiss based subsidiary is a member under the regulatory supervision of ARIF (Association Romande des Intermediaires Financiers), which is recognized by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority.

We focus on the core services associated with the formation and ongoing administration related to private wealth structures and collective investment funds. We aim to

relevant in the face of a constantly evolving environment.

Our objective is to be considered by each of our clients to be one of their most trusted, professional and relied upon advisers.

Salamander is an owner managed business which enjoys complete independence. We work with many of the world’s leading institutions in banking, investment management, legal, tax and auditing. Our key strength is to bring the benefits of a highly experienced multi – disciplinary client focused team together for the benefit of our clients. This ensures that appropriate advisors and specialists can be selected for our clients as required free from potential conflicts of interests.

Our success to date is built upon the long term relationships which we have built with our clients. We take the trust which wh our clients have placed in us seriously. We repay that trust with integrity, competence and professionalism.

Contact: SALAMANDER SUISSE Leonard O’Brien Rue du Rhone 56 1204 Geneva leonard.obrien@salamanderinternational.com

Tel : +41 22 318 26 00 Fax : +41 22 318 26 01 www.salamanderinternational.com

FRANCE EN V IRONMENT LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Savin Martinet Associés offers a cross-disciplinary range of legal services (as consultant and as litigator) in the following practice areas related to industrial risks: environmental law (contaminated sites ans soils, classified installations, water, sanitation, waste, pollution…) natural resources law (mines, quarries...) urban planning, construction and sustainable real estate lawclimate / energy, biotech law (Solar power – Wind energy – CO2 market - Nanotechnologies) food law – consumer law labor and economic law litigation, arbitration, mediation.

In all of the above fields, the Firm has developed specific expertise in the techniques of: drafting and negotiating of contracts (sale, acquisition, leases, VEFA, BEFA…) legal opinions acquisition (share or assets) due diligence regulatory audits, risk audits environmental and social reporting criminal, civil or administrative litigation arbitration mediation.

Our cross-disciplinary approach to case analysis makes optimal use of specific expertise and team work. Depending on the needs of the case, the

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

teams are made up of lawyers specializing more particularly in the fields that will be required for optimal, effective handling of the matter.

Given the Firm’s organization and management choices (first law firm in Europe to be triple certified ISO 9001/year 2000, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001, see h t t p : / / w w w. s m a p a r i s . c o m /c e r t i fic a t i o n s _ G B . h t m

certifications), the legal and organizational links between corporate governance, the global quality approach and corporate social responsibility are a natural, permanent and systematic subject of reflection for the Firm’s lawyers.

In addition, the Firm is located in a building which has been renovated according to High Environmental Quality standards. The HEQ was delivered

by Certivéa in September 2009, with the achievement of five “very high performance” targets, three “high performance” targets and energetic performances complying with the requirements of the THPE (Très Haute Performance Energétique – Very High Energetic Performance) label. See h t t p : / / w w w. s m a p a r i s . c o m /n o t re i m m e u b l e H Q E _ G B .htm

Our HEQ building.

The Firm is certified as a training institute by the Ministry of Labor under No. 11.75.38578.75. Its training sessions can be supported as part of the “1% training”. It provides client training and can perform relevant legal intelligence monitoring.

Yv o n M a r t i n e t Savin Martinet Associés 33 rue des Mathurins 75008 Paris France Té l . : + 3 3 1 5 3 4 3 2 2 2 0 Fax : +33 1 53 43 22 21 martinet@smaparis.com w w w. s m a p a r i s . c o m

RUSTEM GUARDIAN LLP

UK

SOLICITORS

& ADVOCATES

NICHE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (SEXUAL OFFENCES) NICHE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (TERRORISM CHARGES)

Rustem Guardian LLP is a multi-award winning UK law firm leading private and legal aid criminal defence work in both domestic and international cases. Their office is stationed opposite The Law Society on Chancery Lane and is but a stone’s throw from both the Royal Courts of Justice and the Old Bailey, basing their operations in the heart of legal London. This high calibre firm specialises in Serious Crime spanning sexual offences, terrorism, appeals and serious fraud including very high cost cases. Rustem Guardian has grown a new commercial litigation department which reaffirms the maturity and experience of this niche law firm; a definite “one to watch”.

Rustem Guardian was founded in 2005 by Managing Partner, Mr Timur Rustem, after a very successful and high profile career based in the City of London. Just ten years on, Rustem Guardian has established itself as a formidable niche criminal defence law firm in London with a reputation associated with high profile and high complex criminal cases. Rustem Guardian LLP has a small but dedicated team with an enviable reputation for meticulous case preparation and tenacity in defending its clients. The firm’s team of solicitors speak a range of languages and regularly receive referrals from a number of foreign consulates as a result of a reputation for excellence. A leader in its sector, Rustem Guardian uniquely houses both solicitors and barristers, placing itself above other standard practicing law firms.

Rustem Guardian LLP is regularly instructed to defend the most serious and complex of prosecutions brought by agencies including the Serious Organised Crime Agency, Serious Fraud Office, Financial Conduct Authority, Office of Fair Trading, and HM Revenue and Customs. Each individual case is assigned a specialist lawyer to ensure that every client receives accurate advice and assistance.

HIGHLIGHTS OF AWARD WINNING SPECIALIST PRACTICE AREAS Sexual offences: The firm is highly regarded for its team of specialist solicitors and advocates who provide a dedicated and discreet service to private clients charged with sexual offences. The team stay one step ahead of the prosecution by utilising the skills of specialists wherever possible, including leading forensic experts, prominent legal enquiry agents, and a selection of the UK’s leading specialist barristers and Queen’s Counsel.

Timur and his team understand the pressure and stigma for those accused of such offences and the impact it can have on families.

Rustem Guardian provide a sympathetic approach to all those involved and are discreet and sensitive when advising clients; they understand the challenge in balancing vigorous case preparation with the emotional impact on clients and their immediate family. It

is no surprise that Rustem Guardian has an extraordinary high win rate when compared with the national average. Timur is well versed in dealing with the media and understands that media intrusion can often result in such allegations and can offer expert advice on how to deal with these situations.

Media: Managing Partner, Timur Rustem, has extensive experience and an exceptional reputation as an expert lawyer in the practice area of Sexual Offences which means he is regularly invited to comment or provide expert opinion in interviews and to media organisations.

Some of his appearances include:

Live Sky TV News - Comment on Sexual Offences Law– Sept, 2013 Invited as a specialist Sexual Offences lawyer to join a live news panel discussing the impact of those acquitted of historical sexual offences, following the acquittal of Coronation Street star, Michael Le Vell.

ITV News - Comment of the rise of Historical Sexual Offences arrests - Sept, 2013 Timur was asked to join a panel to offer his expert view on different areas of Sexual Offences law, and how the Jimmy Saville case has caused an increase in arrest of the falsely accused including celebrities such as Michael Le Vell.

Terrorism: Timur Rustem has a successful history of defending individuals wrongly accused of terrorist activity. In 2007, he was awarded "Lawyer of the Year" at a ceremony in the House of Lords for his relentless and determined defence of a client wrongly detained for an alleged involvement in the Airline Bombing plot in 2006.

The UK government has introduced extensive restrictive legislation since. Those facing terrorism charges or allegations relating to an alleged terrorist activity, or personal views held, require a lawyer who fully understands the complex law in this area and Rustem Guardian has a proven track record of successively defending clients accused of such involvement. Rustem Guardian believe that human rights and civil liberties are an individual's most valuable asset. Their specialist Terrorism department, headed by Timur Rustem, will provide every client with the individual one-on-one service they deserve.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

RUSTEM GUARDIAN LLP

UK

SOLICITORS

& ADVOCATES

NICHE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (SEXUAL OFFENCES) NICHE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (TERRORISM CHARGES)

OTHER SPECIALIST PRACTICE AREAS

More media:

Appeals: Rustem Guardian LLP has particular expertise in pursuing appeals for those who have been convicted at trial having been represented by another firm. It offers an unparalleled, first class service with a highly skilled team who leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of Grounds of Appeal.

Rustem Guardian have been invited to comment on various hot topics in the media, a snapshot of appearances are highlighted below.

Serious and general crime: The firm routinely represents clients at police stations, magistrates’ and Crown Courts, tribunals, the Court of Appeal, and even the Supreme Court. The firm has extensive experience of representing clients across a broad range of offences, from minor road traffic matters to the most serious of criminal charges including serious violence, drugs and sexual offences.

Serious Fraud: the serious fraud department advises clients domestically and internationally. The firm’s experience of both domestic and international serious fraud allows it to provide specific guidance to those charged with offences involving complex issues of law and jurisdiction. The firm has an outstanding reputation for defending in matters involving VAT carousel fraud, insider trading, boiler room fraud, confiscation and asset recovery, money laundering and large-scale mortgage fraud.

Commercial Litigation: Rustem Guardian is expanding via its Commercial Litigation Department, under Gareth Jones, who joins the practice with 26 years’ experience in the field. The Department specialises in providing practical and pragmatic solutions to business problems; including shareholder, director and partnership disputes. The Team represent businesses from SMEs to PLCs delivering high quality service with integrity and exceptional legal knowledge.

The team provide cost effective solutions which enable clients to concentrate on their business needs, and understanding the commercial needs of the client is at the heart of their delivery.

They also specialise in resolving disputes concerning Intellectual Property; Insurance claims; contracts; professional negligence; intellectual property and contentious probate.

The department also provide litigation services to individuals, and Gareth brings the experience of undertaking multi party actions.

These include representing victims of environmental pollution on the part of a world renowned chemical company; and bringing multiple claims contesting the validity of Shared Appreciation mortgages. The Team are currently expanding with clients seeking to challenge National Banks in the contentious area of SWAPS.

Live Sky TV News- Impact of the Victim's Code, Sept 2013 Invited as an expert criminal defence lawyer, Timur joined a live panel on the Adam Boulton news slot; giving his opinion and viewpoints on the new Victim's Code which gives victims an opportunity to influence the Judge in sentencing.

BBC World Service- Business Matters - Britain's Boiler Room Scam, July 2013 Timur was asked to speak in his capacity as a Fraud Legal Expert on Boiler Room Frauds which were high profile news at the time due to the Florida case of 3 Britons (Pope, Odoni and Gunter). To date this is still the largest Boiler Room Fraud case with sentencing in the US, after a joint investigation by the US Secret Service and the UK Financial Conduct Authority.

"I Never Said Yes" "I Never Said Yes" was part of Criminal Britain, a hard-hitting season of programmes on BBC Three which looked at how crime affects the lives of young people today and featured Timur as one of the Legal Experts.

Timur Rustem has created at Rustem Guardian Solicitors an award-winning team which is rapidly establishing itself at the forefront of Criminal Defence work; with its focus on private work, it is a niche City law firm which has positioned itself as a specialist and leader in Serious Crime.

Rustem Guardian 4th Floor 5 Chancery Lane London EC4A 1BL 0845 621 8800 (local call rate) 020 7406 7522 (local/national rate depending on your location) Facsimile: 020 7406 7523 Email info@RustemGuardian.co.uk DX 420 Chancery Lane

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

GERMANY BANKRUPTCY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR BANKRUPTCY LAWYER OF THE YEAR, Dr. Robert Schiebe For the last years Schiebe und Collegen (Lawyers and Insolvency Administrators) has been one of the leading firms in the field of insolvency administration and restructuring work in the Rhine-Main-Neckar area.

Schiebe und Collegen is represented in the most important German financial and industrial regions with currently 7 offices including cities like Frankfurt, Mainz and Mannheim.

At Schiebe und Collegen we see challenging financial situations and insolvencies as a chance for a new start.

That is why we focus on the opportunity to restructure successfully and to bring the business back on track. Our main aim is always to preserve value. During the past years we also have been successfully upholding the interests of creditors and employees in many insolvency cases.

Taking advantage of the new ESUG regulations we can start our restructuring work at a much earlier point than in the past. We belong to the few firms that already gained significant experience with the new proceedings.

SCHIEBE UND COLLEGEN Rechtsber atu ng | Insolvenzverwa ltu ng | Sa n ieru ng

Currently around 50 specialised lawyers, accountants and staff are serving our clients. We work for courts, banks and main creditors in restructuring proceedings. We offer ourservices to a wide range of businesses. Core sectors include IT/telecommunication, services, software, metal industry etc.

Dr. Robert Schiebe Ka iserstr asse 11 - 60311 Fr a n kfu rt a m Ma in Ger ma ny Phone +49 69 219315-0 Telefax +49 69 219315-99 Ema il fr a n kfu rt@schiebe.de Web www.schiebe.de

Schiebe und Collegen is DIN EN ISO 9001:2008 and InsO 9001 certified.

GERMANY hEALTHCARE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Seufert Rechtsanwälte combines a broad spectrum of commercial law capacity with highly specific industry expertise and acknowledged strength in public law. Our health care practice enjoys an excellent reputation on the market – for many years we have been among the leading national hospital specialists. We advise many clinics and hospitals in public, charitable and private ownership, a number of significant hospital owners and owner groups, associations of municipal hospitals, convalescent centres, practices and other medical care institutions. In addition, we represent hospital insurers in medical liability matters.

A large team of experienced health care experts in Munich and Leipzig covers the variety of legal areas involved. Our experts for administrative law, procurement law and real estate law - all well acquainted with healthcare issues support the team on a case-to-case basis. We provide our clients with in-depth expertise in hospital planning, hospital financing, hospital remuneration, doctors’ contract law, and employment and pension issues.

Hospitals, health care professional associations and other health service providers also benefit from our well founded strategic advice and high quality negotiation capacity vis-à-vis third parties. Our ongoing work has led to a number of highly significant administrative and court judgements on hospital planning and hospital remuneration subjects.

A large number of publications provide evidence of our health law capacity which is sought after both in university lecturing and at many training events of associations and hospital companies. Notably in health care financing issues, we have earned respect as insider discussion partner for all parties involved.

Our strong corporate practice advises on mergers, acquisitions, sales, privatisations, all forms of hospital cooperation and anti-trust issues. We are acknowledged as occupying a top position nationwide for privatisation of hospitals in public ownership, the formation of communal associations and other hospital transactions. In the course of recent years, we have advised on some of the largest corporate transactions in the healthcare industry. Our profile is equally high in advising the public sector in connection with the increasingly forced corporate law integrated cooperation or the merger of communal hospitals.

P et r a M a i e r Pa rt n e r S E U F E R T R E C H T S A N W Ä LT E Residenzstrasse 12 80333 Munich / Germany +49 89 29033-124 m a i e r @ s e u f e r t - l a w. d e w w w. s e u f e r t - l a w. d e

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK ASSE T APPRA ISER OF THE YEAR, SI A GROUP CORPORATE INSOLVENCY A DV ISOR OF THE YEAR

Innovative | Incisive | Informed When it comes to All-Asset Valuations and Sales, there’s one name you can count on. SIA Group is the preferred choice for lenders. private equity houses, corporates and recovery professionals, o ering distinctive and dynamic asset valuation, advisory and disposal solutions.

Recently voted Asset Appraiser of the Year (UK) and Corporate Restructuring Advisor of the Year (UK) 2014 in the ACQ Global Awards, SIA Group’s dependable valuation and advisory services are aligned to your desired outcomes in providing a solid foundation for growth.

We provide intelligent advice for all types of assets, including: Receivables Inventory Machinery & Equipment Intangibles Property Take the next step: Contact Paul Craig on +44 (0)207 498 4900 or email paul.craig@sia-group.co.uk to nd out how you can gain a competitive advantage from the thought leaders in asset sales and valuations.

www.sia-group.co.uk

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ISLE OF MAN HR CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR

Commenting on being awarded ‘Isle of Man - HR Consultancy of the Year 2014’, Gail Yeowell, Owner & Managing Director of Smart HR Solutions Limited (‘SmartHR’) said “I am extremely delighted and proud that SmartHR has been formally recognised as a leading provider of multi-sector HR consultancy, training and outsourcing services by ACQ (Acquisition Finance) Magazine; particularly as the Global Awards 2014 set out to recognise the achievements of those who are responding most successfully to the demands being placed on them in the new post-recession business environment. We provide a wide range of tailored services and HR expertise to our clients – from supporting new business set-ups through to assisting organisations that are restructuring, and pride ourselves on supporting organisations to achieve their objectives.”

SmartHR‘s solutions include: • HR Consultancy, Advice and Support: in all aspects of day-to-day people management to ensure our clients comply with ever changing employment legislation and minimise the risk of employment-related claims.

• HR Strategy, Audit and Planning: partnering with Boards to review or create HR strategy, conduct HR audits, identify HR priorities, recommend and create HR plans, and implement appropriate solutions.

• Retained HR Services: specialist HR expertise on a flexible basis to organisations of any size.

• E-HR Shop: our unique ‘E-HR Shop’ enables clients to download and purchase template HR documents, including HR policies, procedures, letters, forms and checklists. They are ideally suitable for IOM and UK SMEs. We can also provide tailored documents.

• HR Projects / Interim Solutions: such as reviewing and updating contracts of employment, HR policies and employee handbooks to comply with employment legislation; creating performance management frameworks to drive sustainable performance; supporting change programmes; and implementing HRMI systems.

• HR Coaching and Mentoring: on people management areas such as managing performance, discipline and grievances.

• Training and Development: we deliver courses to improve both individual and business performance, create tailored development programmes, and deliver employment law updates.

• Redundancy Support and Outplacement Services: we provide advice, guidance and documentation; can actively manage the planning and consultation process, and deliver professional outplacement services.

Owner & Managing Director G a i l Ye o w e l l

Chartered FCIPD FInstAM(Dip) FCMI FIRP

“All our clients are different... so we tailor our services to suit their exact requirements.”

T: + 4 4 1 6 2 4 6 1 9 6 1 9 M: +44 7624 478764 E : g a i l @ s m a r t h r. c o . i m w w w . s m a r t h r. c o . i m

I T A LY CORPORATE & COMMERCI AL LI TIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Studio Legale Sutti, established in 1953 by Dr. Angelo Sutti, KIR, a leading commercial litigator of his generation, is today one of the largest full-service business law firms in Italy, with a strong emphasis on excellence in contentious and para-contentious work throughout the Italian and Balkanian jurisdictions, and is routinely instructed as a consequence by its clients, their in-house counsel and their solicitors, to assist in all kinds of litigation, arbitration and mediation, namely in civil, commercial and criminal courts; in appeals; before tax, antitrust and trade authorities; before administrative, regulatory and disciplinary tribunals; and in mock trials for demonstrative or educational purposes.

The typical matters concerned include complex corporate disputes, commercial litigation and arbitrations, ADR, administrative proceedings, procedures before local and European patent and white-collar criminal defence and prosecution, internal investigations, anticounterfeiting, debt recovery, creditors’ rights in insolvency-related matters, local discovery and deposition of witnesses and, last

by not least, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments.

Several of Studio Legale Sutti’s members are admitted in multiple jurisdictions, are heard before local Supreme Courts, and are recognised scholars and authors in the fields of advocacy, civil procedure, litigation strategy, law of evidence, etc., and/or generally recommended by specialised international media and directories, besides undergoing strict internal training and continuing education programmes on subjects ranging from advocacy to theory of games to presentation techniques, from Harvard risk-tree analysis to rhetorics to neuro-linguistic programming.

Studio Legale Sutti’s services in this area are rendered, under flexible and negotiable terms, in strict cooperation with final clients and their personnel and consultants. The firm is capable to communicate with them in most European languages, and profits from its contemporary nature of a multidisciplinary practice that includes in its human resources forensic accountants, patent attorneys, ITC specialists, investigators and tax advisors.

Studio Legale Sutti Headquarters: Via Montenapoleone 8, 20121 Milan, Italy.

Also in Rome, Genoa, Venice, Bergamo, Monza, Abbiategrasso, Sofia, Bucharest, Belgrade, Zagreb, London and Tokyo.

Central Switchboard: +39 02 762041 E-mail: maildesk@sutti.com.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

I T A LY INTERNATIONAL COMMERCI AL LI TIGATION A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

Studio Legale Sutti, established in 1953 by Dr. Angelo Sutti, KIR, a leading commercial litigator of his generation, is today one of the largest full-service business law firms in Italy, with a strong emphasis on excellence in contentious and para-contentious work throughout the Italian and Balkanian jurisdictions, and is routinely instructed as a consequence by its clients, their in-house counsel and their solicitors, to assist in all kinds of litigation, arbitration and mediation, namely in civil, commercial and criminal courts; in appeals; before tax, antitrust and trade authorities; before administrative, regulatory and disciplinary tribunals; and in mock trials for demonstrative or educational purposes.

The typical matters concerned include complex corporate disputes, commercial litigation and arbitrations, ADR, administrative proceedings, procedures before local and European patent and white-collar criminal defence and prosecution, internal investigations, anticounterfeiting, debt recovery, creditors’ rights in insolvency-related matters, local discovery and deposition of witnesses and, last

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

by not least, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments.

Several of Studio Legale Sutti’s members are admitted in multiple jurisdictions, are heard before local Supreme Courts, and are recognised scholars and authors in the fields of advocacy, civil procedure, litigation strategy, law of evidence, etc., and/or generally recommended by specialised international media and directories, besides undergoing strict internal training and continuing education programmes on subjects ranging from advocacy to theory of games to presentation techniques, from Harvard risk-tree analysis to rhetorics to neuro-linguistic programming.

Studio Legale Sutti’s services in this area are rendered, under flexible and negotiable terms, in strict cooperation with final clients and their personnel and consultants. The firm is capable to communicate with them in most European languages, and profits from its contemporary nature of a multidisciplinary practice that includes in its human resources forensic accountants, patent attorneys, ITC specialists, investigators and tax advisors.

Studio Legale Sutti Headquarters: Via Montenapoleone 8, 20121 Milan, Italy.

Also in Rome, Genoa, Venice, Bergamo, Monza, Abbiategrasso, Sofia, Bucharest, Belgrade, Zagreb, London and Tokyo.

Central Switchboard: +39 02 762041 E-mail: maildesk@sutti.com.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

CYPRUS OVERALL CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Symeou & Konnaris LLC Law Firm, trading as SK Law Firm, is a pioneering prominent law firm rapidly expanding over the past years, offering legal services under various jurisdiction laws across a range of practice areas.

Christakis Konnaris - Co-founder and Managing Partner of the Firm remarked that “guided by ethics and values, the firm operates through, confidentiality experience, professionalism, commitment and complete dedication to all clients”.

The firm's policy is to deliver expert legal services in an environment that encourages professionalism and strict confidentiality.

The firm deals also with the regulatory framework which covers registration of investment firms in Cyprus and abroad as well as fund registration taking advantage of Cyprus tax advantage, and other benefits which derive from Cyprus legislation and double tax treaties.

The firm is recognized in each of its core practice areas-companies section & offshore section, tax law and international tax planning, banking and finance, real estate, intellectual property and trust and is retained on a regular basis by national and international entities in a wide range of industries.

The clients of the firm are large domestic and international entities, international law firms, well-known national and international banks, family and individual entities, financial institutions, commercial and residential real estate developers, attorneys and professionals’ accountants.

The firm’s clients benefit from the firm’s capability to combine international knowledge with local experience. The advocates and legal advisers at Symeou & Konnaris LLC, place great emphasis on enhancing long-standing relationships and a substantial knowledge of client’s business.

Our Mission: To assist our corporate and individual local and international clients achieve their business and financial objectives, on a worldwide scale by offering high quality services in all the areas of law.

-

Areas of Practice: Corporate and Commercial, Intellectual Property and Trademark, Tax Planning, Banking, Acquisition of properties, Litigation.

Languages: English, Greek, Russian and French Number of People: 22 Lawyers: 8

Panikos Symeou - Co-founder and Managing Partner of the Firm stated “the success of the Firm, its rapid expansion and the awards achieved are the direct result of the personal attention, quick response and high standards of excellence reflected in the service carried out.”

Spyrou Kyprianou 61, 4003, Limassol, Cyprus, Tel: + 357 25 818400, Fax: + 357 25 355559 E – mail: info@sklawfirm.com Web Page: www.sklaw-firm.com

SWITZERLAND M&A LAWYER OF THE YEAR, JACQUES BON V IN

Tavernier Tschanz regularly advises banks and financial companies, Swiss or foreign, on all sort of issues relating to banking law and regulations, be it in connection with the establishment of a new bank (new banking and securities dealer licence and the opening in Switzerland of branches, subsidiaries or of representative Switzerland) or regarding regulatory matters relating

Tavernier Tschanz has been retained on a regular basis as lead advisor in the context of banks’ acquisitions and banks’ mergers and has acquired a position as a market leader in this field having participated in a number of important transactions over the last few years.

to the day-to-day business of banks operating

Tavernier Tschanz has also often been called upon

in Switzerland.

to advise banking clients in the setting up and

Tavernier Tschanz works on a regular basis with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA, be it for regulatory questions relating to the operations of banks

organisation of compliance and risk management departments, including money laundering compliance procedure and regulations.

active in Switzerland or regarding issues and questions

Tavernier Tschanz banking team works in close

relating to collective investment funds; Tavernier Tschanz

cooperation with our corporate finance / M&A team to

has experience in preparing the necessary filings and

assist lenders and borrowers in international and

documentation for the granting of new banking licences,

domestic finance transactions (credit facility, loans,

for the setting up of new branches, in Switzerland or

mezzanine financing, etc.) and with our new

abroad and for all other types of submissions to be made

technologies team in connection with financing

by banks to the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory

issues, in particular in the IT sector and in connection

Authority FINMA.

with new technology issues such as e-banking.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Jacques Bonvin Tavernier Tschanz E-mail: bonvin@taverniertschanz.com http://www.taverniertschanz.com

RUSSIA BUSINESS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Inmar Legal Ltd was established in 1998. The basic line of the firm‘s activity is provision of legal support of business for Russian and foreign commercial organizations.

Our attorneys are always ready to provide competent and timely professional legal assistance in the following areas: corporate law, maritime law, complex legal support of real estate transactions, copyright, tax and customs law, general legal support to the business.

Firm’s clients include a number of large and important organizations, both in Russia and abroad, not only willing to vouch for the work of our lawyers, but also to recommend Inmar Legal Ltd as a reliable strategic partner. That is why timely application for our qualified legal help not only saves time and money to the client, but also helps to avoid a lot of further problems.

Having an excellent reputation among clients and with considerable experience in legal counseling in matters of corporate law, our firm provides legal support services to the full range of corporate legal relationships, helping customers to solve their problems in this area the most effective way, with minimal financial and time costs.

8 f l o o r, 5 a U b o r e v i c h a s t r e e t , Vladivostok, Russia Te l : 7 4 2 3 2 6 5 1 9 0 1 Fax: 7 423 265 19 02 w w w. i n m a r l e g a l . r u Chris.hart@wollenmichelmore.co.uk Te l 0 1 8 0 3 – 2 1 3 2 5 1

UK 2014 RISING STAR, MARK PEARCE Mark is a partner in Thomas Eggar’s International Tax Team. He advises high net worth individuals, families and trustees on international and domestic taxation, asset structuring and succession planning.

Mark's clients come from numerous jurisdictions which present unique challenges. Recently there have been detailed proposals from the Russian parliament to introduce anti-avoidance legislation both for controlled foreign companies and other offshore planning structures.

Mark has been responsible for co-ordinating the firm’s response to these proposals both to clients and to offshore intermediaries heavily involved with Russian clients.

Mark also advises a number of Middle Eastern families where Sharia law is a major factor in the planning.

Planning will often involve detailed co-ordination with trustees, directors and investment managers to ensure the structure is managed in a compliant manner to the client’s wishes.

Some of the most complex cases Mark deals with are for international families with family members, assets and business interests in multiple jurisdictions.

A recent example involved an elderly Monegasque client with no direct heirs but remote heirs in UK, US, Switzerland and Israel. The client wished to ensure the smooth succession of her estate.

Mark was responsible for structuring various trusts, foundations and companies so that her wishes could, in so far as possible, be implemented after her death.

Mark is considered at the forefront of tax planning as reflected in his speaking engagements. In the last 12 months Mark has presented on topics including structuring following changes in UK residential property taxation, deduction of liabilities for tax planning and the use of trusts for international families. Mark is often approached to contribute articles to newspapers and professional media and recently had numerous comments and articles published including in the financial times and on the front page of the Daily Telegraph.

Mark is a keen runner and golfer. He believes the two of his are extremely complimentary as he spends much time running around the golf course looking for his ball.

Mark Pearce E m a i l : Mark.pearce@thomaseggar.com Direct Dial: +44 (0)20 7650 3921 Reception: +44 (0)20 7972 9720 Direct Fax: +44 (0)20 7842 3900 Mobile: +44 (0)74 3578 9491 Thomas Eggar LLP 14 New Street London EC2M 4HE DX Number: 88 London w w w. t h o m a s e g g a r. c o m

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

SCOTLAND STOCKBROKING FIRM OF THE YEAR Tilney Bestinvest is a leading UK investment and financial planning firm that builds on a heritage of more than 180 years. Looking after more than £9 billion of assets, Tilney Bestinvest prides itself on offering the very highest levels of professional client service with transparent, competitive pricing across its entire range of solutions.

In an industry where there is a tendency to ‘box’ people into categories, Tilney Bestinvest passionately believes that every client is different and recognises that, as the lives of its clients change, so too do their needs. To support its clients at each stage of their financial lives, a broad range of services is available.

Whether you and your family would like to have your investments managed, require the assistance of a highly qualified adviser, prefer to make your own investment decisions or want to take more than one approach, Tilney Bestinvest can help. If you need help with financial planning, including retirement and estate planning, a nationwide team of experts is available to offer personalised, professional support.

With offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Tilney Bestinvest employs almost 400 staff across its entire network.

Important Information The value of investments can go down as well as up and you can get back less than you originally invested. This is not advice to invest or use any of our services.

Paul Frame, Managing Director paul.frame@tilneybestinvest.co.uk 01412129311 tilneybestinvest.co.uk

ROMANIA AUDI T A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

UHY Audit CD was established in 2002 on the basis of 100% Romanian capital. Team spirit, customer orientation, professionalism, and confidentiality – these are our core values.

Our team consists of specialists with a rich experience in fiscal consultancy, audit, accounting and company law, whose goal is to transform all business opportunities into benefits by offering complete solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The top management of UHY Audit CD is represented by Camelia Dobre, Managing Partner. Before moving to the private area of fiscal consultancy and audit, Camelia worked as a tax specialist within the Fiscal Control Department of the Ministry of Public Finance.

The services offered by us are: • Fiscal consultancy – related to all the taxes provided in the Romanian Fiscal Code; • Internal audit – in accordance with the Romanian Standards and International Audit Standards; • External audit in accordance with the Romanian Standards and International Audit Standards; • Audit of EU funded projects in accordance with the ISRS 4400; • Financial statements review and certification; • Preventive Review; • Assistance During Fiscal Controls, inclusively for VAT reimbursment applications;

• Accountancy Services – in accordance with the Romanian Accounting Standards and International Accounting Standards; • Human Resources and Payroll services; • Training sessions on fiscal, audit and accountancy topics; • Drawing up of the Transfer Pricing File.

UHY Audit CD is a member of the Chamber of Financial Auditors of Romania CAFR (2004), of the Body of Expert and Licensed Accountants of Romania CECCAR (2002) and of the Chamber of Fiscal Consultants of Romania CCF (2007).

Starting with 2007, UHY Audit CD SRL is the exclusive partner for Romania of the global network for professional services of audit and fiscal consultancy, UHY International.

Established in 1986 and based in London, UHY is a network of independent accounting and consulting firms with offices in over 275 major business centres in 87 countries, having a total staff of 7,626 and income of USD 650m (as at January 2014). .

The UHY network is a full member of the Forum of Firms, an association of international networks of accounting firms.

UHY is currently ranked 25th among the largest international audit, accounting, tax and consultancy networks and associations by fee income (International Accounting Bulletin, January 2014).

Camelia Dobre Partner Email: camelia.dobre@uhyro.com UHY AUDIT CD SRL 142 Jiului Street Bucharest – 1st District, Romania Phone/fax: +4031 42 54 774 +4031 42 54 859

UK EN V IRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE FIRM OF THE YEAR A d d i n g va l u e t h r o u g h o ut t h e e nt i r e t r a n s a c t i o n c y c l e URS’ award-winning UK Transactions and Compliance team has over 20 years’ experience providing environmental, health and safety, sustainability, technical and operational due diligence support services for a wide range of transactions worldwide, from small-to-mid market deals to multibillion pound acquisitions and since 2010 URS has provided due diligence advice on at least £19.5 billion-worth of deals.

URS focuses on delivering a high quality, consistent due diligence product, achieving the same high standards and deliverables regardless of project location. We have expanded our due diligence offering to provide a more holistic client service by integrating operational and engineering due diligence such as plant and utilities integrity, plant capacity and the impacts these issues may have on our clients’ plans for the businesses.

Working predominantly for industrial and financial clients across the full range of industrial and commercial sectors, we are recognised for our breadth and depth of technical knowledge, our pragmatic, business-focused approach and for our rapid turnaround of individual assets and global portfolios during the due diligence programme.

Building on our extensive experience of providing due diligence services across Western Europe, North America and China, URS has seen a rapid increase in demand for due diligence support services from clients investing in the growth economies of Eastern Europe, South America and India. URS supports clients by assessing the impact of different or emerging legislation and regional variances in approaches to risk management, particularly in the context of integration into an existing global business. We also support the informed purchase, value-added and clean exit model of our financial clients.

Our M&A team consists of experienced consultants, former government regulators, and former industrial EHS professionals, allowing us to consider M&A issues from a range of stakeholder perspectives and to provide realistic advice and solutions. Supported by URS’ global network of scientists, engineers and experts across all major disciplines, we identify and resolve potential transactions issues, and advise on liabilities, associated costs, risk mitigation approaches and technologies during transactions and post deal completion. We also help clients manage residual liabilities associated with divested or acquired businesses and assets.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

N ic h o l a s H owa r d T r a n s act io n s P r act ic e L e a d e r D i r e ct : Cell: Ema il: Web:

+44 (0) 161 237 6050; +44 (0) 7900 933 927; n ic k . h owa r d @ u r s . c o m ; w w w . u r s g lo b a l . c o m

M A LT A FUND A DMINISTRATION SPECI ALIST FIRM OF THE YEAR

Valletta Fund Services ("VFS") was set in October 2006 as a fully owned subsidiary of Bank of Valletta plc, Malta's largest banking group. Over the years since its set-up, VFS has established itself as Malta's leading fund servicing specialist led by a highly experienced executive management team and dedicated workforce to provide asset managers with a comprehensive suite of fund services to various investment fund structures covering UCITS, Professional Investor Funds and Alternative Investment Funds. VFS is currently managing over $3.68 billion in assets and servicing 130 funds. As an indigenous player in this domicile and a pioneer in this industry, we have a deep knowledge of the fund administration business which is reflected in the significant investment that has been made in state-of-the-art technology.

standard fund accounting, transfer agency and corporate services. provides a Turnkey Fund Formation Service which is a fast and efficient fund set up and licensing service especially for first-time operators. This service is particularly suitable and cost-effective for promoters because of the all-encompassing nature of this service and includes other necessary formalities to license a fund, such as listing formalities should a fund wishes to be listed on a Stock Exchange.

Last year, VFS was successfully chosen as the winner of the 2014 Corporate International Magazine Global Award in the category - ‘Fund Administration Specialist Firm of the Year in Malta’. It is equally an honour to be conveyed with Malta's Fund Administrator of the Year by ACQ Magazine.

As a result of the company's strong investment in its IT infrastructure, VFS is well positioned to offer a myriad of specialised services to assist asset managers to respond to today's regulatory and operational challenges, coupled with deep consultative expertise and an unwavering commitment to the fund servicing business.

Confident that clients are supported by VFS as a trusted fund servicing partner, asset managers can focus on their fundamental business goals which revolve around acquiring assets, managing risk and maximising performance. Apart from the

Kenneth Farrugia

Chief Officer Fund Services

Va l l e t t a F u n d S e r v i c e s L i m i t e d TG Complex, Suite 2, Level 3, Tr i q i l - B i r r e r i j a , l - I m r i e h e l Birkirkara BKR 3000 - Malta.

T: ( 3 5 6 ) 2 2 7 5 5 7 1 1

JERSEY LI TIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAr - V IBERTS Viberts is a full ser vice law firm providing an effective and personal ser vice to a wide range of clients. We focus on building long-term relationships and tailoring our ser vices to meet the client’s needs. We put our clients at the heart of ever ything we do, providing excellent ser vice to private clients, financial institutions, corporations and governments. Viberts is the first law firm in the Channel Islands to be accredited with the Lexcel quality mark, demonstrating our high standards of client care and business management.

Specifically, our dispute resolution team has an eye for detail and a reputation for working closely with its client. Pragmatic and effective, we work across a wide range of commercial activities, and focus on Jersey businesses across a wide spectrum of market sectors: finance, retail, tourism and leisure, instruction, transport & distribution, to name but a few.

We have represented clients in some of the ground breaking and law making cases in Jersey and are proud of our reputation for being responsive and successful.

We are acknowledged for our expertise in fields including commercial litigation, commercial fraud, insolvency, professional indemnity and disputes between one organisation and the other, and internal disputes.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Christina Hall is the partner who heads the litigation team. Qualified since 2001, she originally started her legal career working as a corporate lawyer before changing her focus to litigation. In the last 6 years, she has been involved in some of Jersey’s most high profile cases and in doing so, has gained an impressive breadth and quality of experience.

Christina undertakes a wide range of civil and commercial litigation, including frequently acting for and against trustees.

She is a member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Our key dispute services are: • • • • • • • • • •

Trust litigation Insolvency and liquidation Shareholder and director disputes Professional negligence Asset tracing, disclosure orders and asset freezing Compliance, regulatory and fraud Obtaining injunctive relief Reciprocal enforcement of international judgements Contract law and disputes Employer and employee disputes

Christina Hall Litigation Partner

Viberts Viberts House, P O Box 737, D o n S t r e e t , S t . H e l i e r, Jersey JE4 8ZQ T: E : W:

+44 (0)1534 888666 j e r s e y. l a w y e r @ v i b e r t s . c o m w w w. v i b e r t s . c o m

FINLAND M&A ADVISORY OF THE YEAR Vision Hunters is a strategic and financial advisor focused on forest industr y and energy globally. We have about 100 experts in international network of wholly or partly owned companies. The founder of the company is Rainer Häggblom.

Our network companies have recently carried several M&A assignments in Europe including Russia and Latin America. The companies have divested their non-core assets, merged their businesses in order to materialize synergies and acquired assets at low values. Our strength is that we know the business of our clients so well that we know ver y well where value can be created.

The current challenge in the industr y is the rapidly changing paper market. For an example in Western Europe the graphic paper demand will decline by 3.8 % per annum.

The new businesses can be outside the traditional pulp and paper businesses for an example in energy, transport fuels and chemicals, specialty products and packaging. Some companies have already made such moves quite successfully.

The trends in packaging paper and paper boards are ver y different. In box board the consumption is forecast to grow by about 4 % per annum. Also in containerboard the global growth is healthy.

The growth in emerging economies is one of the megatrends in the global forest industry.

This rapid geographical change is challenging from advisory perspective. This is the reason why we have developed our skills in Brazil, Colombia, Singapore and China. In all locations by leaders with solid expertise in the forest industry business.

Markku Tynkkynen

When acquiring pulp and paper assets at very low prices one option is to convert the machine for new businesses. This, in general, is very difficult and requires solid business and technical expertise. Our advisory strategy is to have also technical experts on our payroll.

The industry is very dynamic and in the middle of transformation. We have had the pleasure of being advisors in transformational deals such as: • Merger of Munksjö and Ahlstrom Label and Processing division to form a world leading specialty paper producer • Divestiture of UPM’s non-core mechanical wood industry assets • Transformation of a shutdown paper mill site for a data center and other alternative businesses.

Rainer Häggblom

VISION HUNTERS OY Tekniikantie 12 02150 Espoo Tel. +358 40 726 7690 rainer.haggblom@visionhunters.com www.visionhunters.com

FRANCE LI TIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR M&A LAWYER OF THE YEAR, Er ic We il

“Historically, our business minded approach comes from the origins of our firm” From standard commercial litigation to complex strategic disputes with substantial amounts at stake, from national courts to international arbitration, Weil & Associés has successfully acquired a broad range of litigation skills.

Transparency is key and there is no room for surprises.

We therefore believe that it is important that you are confident you are in good hands by keeping you spontaneously updated from start to finish at every step of the trial.

We will start by reviewing any case in detail and provide advice on the most cost effective strategy to pursue, based on our experienced assessment of the solidity of the case. This will often include very specific information about the court that may have jurisdiction over the case and the way this impacts on our strategy. Our experience enables us to provide a fairly precise assessment of the pros and cons to litigate a matter.

experience. They have a long-standing and sound knowledge of the formal subtleties that sometimes allow defending a case without even addressing the merits before court. We know how a matter should be presented to the courts or an arbitration tribunal and our expertise as litigation lawyers is recognized by these authorities.

In some specific matters, we also know how to handle the media to use this important communication aspect as part of the overall strategy.

“For German companies, France remains an important but rather complicated market ” Last but not least, we always bear in mind at any stage of the proceedings that our clients are not in the business of doing litigation and that litigation is always a substantial source of distraction. We therefore always consider our settlement options along the way.

We i l & A s s o c i é s 2 6 , Av e n u e d e l a G r a n d e A r m é e 75017 Paris weil-paris.fr +33 (0)1.44.15.98.98 eweil@weil-paris.fr

Having represented clients in trials since 1974, our litigators have a strong litigation and arbitration

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UK REGIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (SOUTH WEST) LICENCING & GAMING LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Wo l l e n Mi c h e lm o r e w a s e s t ab l i shed i n 2 0 1 1 from two o f t h e l e a din g S o u t h De v o n L a w Fi r m s, H oop e r & Wo l l e n a n d Ha r o ld M ic h e lm ore . W i th ov e r 3 0 0 y ea rs o f c o m b i ned e x pe r ie n c e , Wo ll en Mi chel m ore i s l e a d i ng t he w a y i n pr o v idin g le g a l s e r v i ce s to i ts cl i ents i n the S o ut h D e vo n ar e a .

Wo l l e n Mi c h e lm o r e h a s o f f ice s i n Torq ua y, N ewton A b b o t , P aign t o n a n d Dar t mouth. We a re a l a rg e e xt r e m e l y w e ll r e s pe c t e d p r acti ce, wi th 1 5 p a rtners a n d o ve r 1 0 0 s t af f.

W he n c h o o s in g s o m e o n e t o re p rese nt y ou i t’s i m p ort a n t t ha t y o u c h o o s e t h e r ight l a wy e r for y our ne ed s, b u t t h e r i g h t la wy e r is s o m uch m ore tha n som e one w h o un d er s t an ds t h e c o m p l e x i ti es of the l a w. The r i g ht l a w y e r is s o m e o n e who a l so und e rsta nd s y ou a n d w ha t y o u wa n t t o a c h ie v e .

Wo l l e n Mic h e lm o r e n o t o n ly offers the m ost hi g hl y s k i l l e d a d v ic e ba s e d o n e x c e ll ent l oca l knowl e d g e, b ut c l e a r p r i c in g, q u ic k a p p o in tm ents a nd fa ce to fa ce c o nt a c t . We giv e e a s y t o u n dersta nd , stra i g htfor wa rd a n d ho n e s t ad v ic e t a k in g the stre ss out of toug h s i t u a t i o ns .

Wollen Michelmore T h e S o ut h D e v o n L a w F i r m C a r lt o n H o u s e 30 The Terrace T o r q u ay TQ 1 1 B S

Ou r c l i e nt c ar e an d s e r v ic e ha s b een re cog ni sed b y A C Q G l o b a l as R e gio n al L aw Fi r m of the y ea r 2 0 1 3 S o ut h We st , a n d t h e I NT L L ice nsi ng L a w fi r m of the ye a r 2013 – E n glan d.

T 01803 213251 F 01803 296871 www.wollen m ichelmore.co.u k /wollen m ichelmore @wmlegal

GREECE LI TIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR BANKING & FINANCE LAWYER OF THE YEAR, KATERINA CHRISTODOULOU Your Legal Partners’ banking and finance practice covers the full range of international and domestic finance activities, with particular emphasis on structured products, securitisations, syndicated loans, asset finance, project finance and LBOs as well as regulatory matters for banks and relevant dispute resolution.

Katerina Christodoulou, co-founding partner, head of the Finance Practice at Your Legal Partners, has a very strong record in international, high profile, finance legal work. She has acted for some of the world’s leading investment and commercial banks in structured finance deals. She has been leading the legal team in Covered Bond Programmes as well as most of the securitisation deals of the private sector in Greece dealing with all aspects of the Greek legal advisor’s scope of work. During her career she has acted on numerous domestic and international loans acting on behalf of both financiers and borrowers, as well as on OTC derivatives and collateral arrangements.

Further, Katerina Christodoulou has a wealth of experience in corporate and finance cases and projects; concessions and other forms of PPP projects; and privatisations, notably in the field of infrastructure and aviation. She regularly advises banks, car financing companies, infrastructure project companies, venture capital, and real estate development companies.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Your Legal Partners’ main areas of practice include: banking, finance and capital markets; real estate, construction, PPPs and PFIs; corporate; M&A; and energy. Your Legal partners act for major Greek and international clients with an emphasis on high-end corporate and finance transactions. The Firm consists of leading professionals in the field of law with an expertise in finance and corporate transactions. Your Legal Partners is the exclusive Greek law firm, member of International Alliance of Law Firms (www.ialawfirms.com), an international network of select business law oriented law firms operating in more than 50 jurisdictions.

Partner

Mrs Katerina Christodoulou

Te l : + 3 0 2 1 0 3 3 8 8 8 3 1 katerina.christodoulou@yourl egalpartners.gr 9 t h fl o o r, 25 Karneadou Street GR-10675, Kolonaki Athens, Greece Te l : + 3 0 2 1 0 3 3 8 8 8 3 1 Fax +30 2103388825 w w w. y o u r l e g a l p a r t n e r s . g r

S PA I N MID-MARKE T - PARTNERSHIP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

ZBM was founded in 2003 with the clear goal of changing the patent landscape in Spain. One decade later, ZBM is proud that it has achieved that goal and is widely considered to set the new standard for patent practice in Spain. Along the way, it has dramatically increased IP awareness in Spain.

The firm has grown considerably in a short time and now has 25 patent experts in its team, including European and Spanish patent attorneys, and an in-house US patent attorney.

Quality and integrity ZBM’s patent experts have an in-depth understanding of clients’ technologies and their business needs, and the firm is committed to providing services that create value for its clients.

ZBM distinguishes itself from other patent firms by a relentless commitment to quality. All work products are crosschecked to ensure that they are of consistent quality. At ZBM the attorneys believe that something is not worth doing if it is not done well.

ZBM’s outstanding quality work has been recognized both nationally and internationally from the beginning: • In 2013 and 2014, ZBM has won the award for “Partnership IP Law Firm of the Year” in Spain

from various organizations: Acquisition Internal, Global Law Experts and Corporate Intl Magazine.

• In all issues of the IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners, Intellectual Asset Management magazine has listed ZBM in the highly recommended category for patent prosecution.

• ZBM is the only Spanish firm that has been consistently listed in the top tier of Managing Intellectual Property magazine’s ranking every year since 2007 to 2014.

SMEs, multinationals, patent firms and lawyers from the United States, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East increasingly find their way to ZBM, particularly for European patent prosecution.

Areas of expertise ZBM’s patent attorneys are trained and experienced in a wide range of technical areas, such as pharmacy, chemistry, biotechnology, mechanics, electronics, and computer technology. Its patent services include patentability and freedom-tooperate studies, patent drafting in both English and Spanish, (European) patent prosecution, and European Oppositions and appeals.

In addition to patents, ZBM provides a full range of services for other IP titles, such as trademarks, design protection and domain names.

Executive

Mathieu de Rooij

Pl. Catalunya 1 08002 Barcelona Spain tel.: +34 933 426 472 fax: +34 933 427 970 mderooij@zbm-pa t ent s .eu

UK CF ADVISORY OF THE YEAR INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISORY OF THE YEAR Zeus Capital is an independent investment banking boutique, providing advisory and fundraising services across public, private and trade transactions.

Established in 2003, the firm’s clients include public and privately owned companies, along with key players in the private equity community.

Zeus Capital, which has offices in London, Manchester and Birmingham, has recently acted on a number of high profile IPOs as Nominated Adviser and Broker.

Transactions include:

• Conviviality Retail’s IPO on AIM, including a £64m institutional fund raise.

• The acquisition of Mi-Pay by AimShell Acquisitions to create Mi-Pay Group plc; • The disposal of NSA UK, the marketer and distributor of Juice Plus natural juice supplement; • The acquisition of Collagen Solutions by Healthcare Investment Opportunities;

• Advising on the £560m AIM listing of online fashion retailer Boohoo.com and £300m fundraise;

• The takeover of Vindon Healthcare plc by Source Bioscience; and

• The £200m float and institutional fundraise of logistics and parcel distribution company DX Group;

• The IPO of MySale Group where Zeus Capital was joint broker and book runner on a £115m fundraise, giving the company a market capitalisation of £340m.

• The £40m AIM IPO of Flowtech Fluidpower, the UK’s leading distributor of fluid power products.

• The IPO of pharmaceuticals company 4d pharma and £16.5m fund raise, valuing the company at £37.5m; • The AIM IPO and £70m institutional fundraise for UK retailer and manufacturer of PVC windows Safestyle;

In the last 12 months, Zeus Capital has raised over £700m for corporate clients, leading to the firm being ranked number one by funds raised on AIM in Q1 2014. In addition, the team was ranked 14th globally for IPO funds raised by Thomson Reuters.

London t: +44 (0)20 7533 7727 e: info@zeuscapital.co.uk Manchester t: +44 (0)161 831 1512 e: info@zeuscapital.co.uk Birmingham t: +44 (0)121 231 7210 e: info@zeuscapital.co.uk http://www.zeuscapital.co.uk

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

GREECE

marinos-katsas-liaskos

MOST TRUSTED - IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Our Firm focuses on serving its clients’ needs by providing high quality and efficient services, as well as practical solutions with commercial flair, thus adding value to the clients’ business, even in the most complicated transactions and agreements. Our services are characterized by a high degree of professionalism, efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Our team, under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Michael Theodoros Marinos, is comprised of lawyers specialized in the area of commercial, business and public law and possess of a multifaceted and long practical experience in all areas of commercial and public financial law. All partners and associates in our Firm have completed post-graduate studies in Greece and/or abroad, while several have practiced law outside the boundaries of Greece.

We place great emphasis on IP rights protection, including trademarks, patents, data bases, software and domain names, technology transfer, as well as intellectual property litigation. It is to be noted that our experience and expertise in these fields has contributed to our Firm’s recognition as one of the top IP Law Firms in Greece. The Firm has been declared IP Law Firm of the Year in Greece by the renowned Corporate INTL magazine (Global Awards 2014), managing to be distinguished among many other law firms.

Other main practice areas of the Firm include contract and corporate law, as well as banking and capital market law. We are apt to handle even the most complicated cases concerning insolvency law and financial restructuring. The Firm also provides a wide range of services in the fields of anti-unfair competition and antitrust law, energy and telecommunications law, as well as public law.

The Firm’s client list contains both domestic (Greek) and international corporations, including companies involved in energy, telecommunications, food industry, information technology and electronics, professional associations and public enterprises. Moreover, our Firm provides specialist legal advice to other Legal Firms or Groups of Lawyers both in Greece and abroad.

Our Firm is a member of an international association of law firms (LEXWORK) engaged in commercial and business law.

marinos-katsas-liaskos

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

& partners

Michael-Theodore Marinos Theodore Katsas Evaggelos Liaskos Iakovos Venieris Yanna Kouremada Michael Chatzipanagiotis

Professor in Law Lecturer in Law Ph.D. in Law (Paris II) Lecturer in Law LL.M Ph.D. in Law (Cologne)

&

MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

Middle East and North Africa

ECONOMIC SITUATION

With a population of 355 million and the vast majority of people living in middle-income countries, the MENA region came into the Arab Spring with multiple strengths, including a young and educated population, strong resource base, and economic resilience that helped it weather the 2008/9 global financial crisis. There has also been some progress on the political front in the Arab world. In Tunisia, genuine compromise produced a new, inclusive constitution that protects basic freedoms.

Morocco and Jordan modified their constitutions to allow for greater political participation and openness. Yemen’s National Dialogue, a two-year-long process, reached a historical agreement on the country’s future path. Egypt’s new constitution, although adopted in a period of polarization and unrest, offers some safeguards of women’s rights and freedom of religion. Reflecting a popular trend for the rejection of dictatorships, the Arab League in 2011 suspended Syria from its membership.

Absolute poverty was at approximately 2.4% of the population living under US$1.25 a day, but vulnerability was high and the benefits of growth were not shared equally. Economic opportunities were monopolized by the privileged few, leading to the overthrow of several governments between 2010 and 2012.

Compared with the previous three years, 2014 seems hopeful and 2015 could be a turning point for the countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Many countries in MENA will start to benefit from stronger external demand in the high-income economies, as the global economy is set for a rebound in 2014. In the MENA region, higher global demand is expected to boost exports of energy and manufactured products in those countries that have trade linkages with high- income countries. Most oil-importing countries in MENA are likely to see a slight boost in tourism, Foreign Direct Investment and remittances as a result of the recovery in the global economy.

Domestic security and social tension remain a constraint to the prospect of improvement for some countries. The global recovery, however, is still fragile and uncertainty or conflict in Ukraine could increase associated risks.

Growth in MENA is expected to reach 3.3% in 2014 and further accelerate to 4.6% in 2015.

The oil exporters in MENA are expected to lead the regional recovery with growth reaching 4.8% in 2015. Large stimulus packages in the GCC countries, together with flows of funds to the rest of the region, will continue to boost regional growth rates. The economies of oil importers, including all those in transition after the Arab Spring, remain fragile, but a modest recovery is expected over this period.

Nevertheless, the prospects for growth in MENA could be threatened if structural problems remain unresolved. The regional unemployment rate is about 11% and the rate is much higher for those under 24, exceeding 50% in Yemen

and Libya. While the region has historically created about 3.5 million jobs per year with an average GDP growth rate of 5%, the slowdown in growth since the Arab Spring has resulted in growth averaging about 2-3%. Under a continued slowdown, the average unemployment rate in the region will increase substantially with youth and women affected the most.

The lack of economic diversification has largely contributed to growth volatility. Oil exporters rely primarily on one export commodity (oil) and oil importer countries lack multiple trading partners. Fiscal spending in almost all of the countries in MENA is dominated by a large wage bill and ballooning general subsidies, both of which have been on the rise after the Arab Spring to prevent further social discontent.

This has reduced the fiscal space available for capital spending and investment in infrastructure, lowering the prospects of higher growth. General food and fuel subsidies benefit the rich more than the poor. A recent study by the World Bank shows that low-income households in Tunisia receive only 2% of the energy subsidy, while high-income households receive about 67% of the subsidy on petrol and 60% of the subsidy on diesel. In Egypt, where the economy is still suffering from subsidies that amount to 9% of GDP, spending on petroleum subsidies is set to increase by 10% in the fiscal year ending June 2014. In Iran, where universal subsidies were replaced by cash transfers in 2012, fiscal savings amounted to less than initially projected, forcing the government to increase borrowing from the Central Bank.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Africa The global economic expansion is set to accelerate, but downside risks persist.

Economic activity was robust in much of Sub-Saharan Africa in 2013, supported by strong investment demand and robust private consumption.

The region’s growth prospects remain favourable despite emerging challenges, such as weaker commodity prices and tighter global financial conditions. During the period from 1995 to 2013, the region performed strongly, with an average annual GDP growth rate of 4.5%. Growth was broad based, but the drivers of growth varied across countries. Different growth patterns will determine the resilience of growth prospects to changing global conditions.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) continued to flow to the region, not only in the oil, gas and mining sectors but also in non-extractive industries. Net FDI inflows were an estimated $43 billion in 2013, up from $37 billion in 2012. In many countries, governments launched ambitious investment programs to alleviate infrastructure bottlenecks and increase export capacity, and a number of them issued Eurobonds to finance these expenditures. Gross fixed investments grew an estimated 7.3 percent in 2013, reaching 23.5 percent GDP. Inflation decelerated in many countries, owing to lower food prices and prudent monetary policy; and the low inflation, coupled with an estimated 6.2 percent increase in remittances, supported private consumption. Nevertheless, poverty and unemployment remains high in many countries in the region.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Across the region, governments have stepped up investment spending. Public investment in most countries in the region—for example, Ethiopia, Ghana, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia—continues to be geared toward the provision of basic infrastructure, such as power generation, roads and port facilities, which remain critical to improving competitiveness in the region.

However within this impressive economic expansion, there are variations in economic performance across country groups. Within the “resource-rich” country group, the gap in growth between oil and nonoil countries has narrowed. At the same time, several countries within the “non-resource rich” county group have achieved sustained high growth rates for over a decade, such as Ethiopia, Mozambique and Rwanda. South Africa is one of a few countries where growth is lagging behind the levels achieved before the global crisis began.

Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa has also declined. An estimated 58 percent of people in the region were living on less than US$1.25-day around the turn of the millennium. By 2010, the poverty headcount ratio declined by almost 10 percentage points to an estimated 48.5 percent.

LEBANON OVERALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR, ABOU JAOUDE & ASSOCIATES LAW FIRM Abou Jaoude & Associates (AJA) has established itself as a leading legal practice mirroring the very best in the industry and maintains its position and market reputation as the single largest multi-practice law firm in Lebanon, with a talented team of 9-partners and 35 expert attorneys distinguished by an in-depth specialization and a sharp understanding of the commercial as well as the legal aspect of clients’ businesses.

The Firm’s added value is particularly sought after in high value corporate, M&A, banking, structured finance, telecoms, real estate, tax, and restructuring transactions.

The Firm works closely with a number of correspondents in various jurisdictions and is a member of the Geneva Group International’s (GGI) global multidisciplinary networks, allowing the firm to offer its clients reliable legal assistance on an international level.

The Firm has been recognized as a market leader by reputable global legal directories, including Legal 500, Chambers & Partners and IFLR, and has reaped many awards in recognition of its expertise and achievements in the fields of M&A and banking.

The Firm is renowned for advising on complex transactions of first impression in the region, which recently included the merger of two prominent commercial banks, various major acquisitions in the telecoms, real estate, retail and banking sector, the acquisition of a real estate company through the issuance of convertible bonds for the development of a first-of-its-kind wellness resort in the Middle East region, a ground-breaking multi-bank private placement initiative to finance the launch of a TV station, the largest ever asset backed issuance in Lebanon through the securitization of a large real estate portfolio, the acquisition of a listed bank in Europe, and the pioneer conversion of a financial company into an investment bank.

OMT Bldg 266 Sami El Solh Ave P.O.Box 116-5079 Beirut Museum 1106-2010 Beirut – Lebanon Telephone: + 961 1 395555 Fax: +961 1 384064

The Firm has acquired and maintains the biggest client base in the market with clients who contribute vitally to the country’s economic growth. A large number of the firm’s clients maintain a strong international presence throughout the MENA region, the UK, Europe and the US, and rely on the Firm’s wide resources for all their legal needs.

c.aboujaoude@ajalawfirm.com www.ajalawfirm.com

LEBANON CORPORATE FINANCE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Abou Jaoude & Associates (AJA) has established itself as a leading legal practice mirroring the very best in the industry and maintains its position and market reputation as the single largest multi-practice law firm in Lebanon, with a talented team of 9-partners and 35 expert attorneys distinguished by an in-depth specialization and a sharp understanding of the commercial as well as the legal aspect of clients’ businesses.

The Firm’s added value is particularly sought after in high value corporate, M&A, banking, structured finance, telecoms, real estate, tax, and restructuring transactions.

The Firm is renowned for advising on complex transactions of first impression in the region, which recently included the merger of two prominent commercial banks, various major acquisitions in the telecoms, real estate, retail and banking sector, the acquisition of a real estate company through the issuance of convertible bonds for the development of a first-of-its-kind wellness resort in the Middle East region, a ground-breaking multi-bank private placement initiative to finance the launch of a TV station, the largest ever asset backed issuance in Lebanon through the securitization of a large real estate portfolio, the acquisition of a listed bank in Europe, and the pioneer conversion of a financial company into an investment bank.

The Firm has acquired and maintains the biggest client base in the market with clients who contribute vitally to the country’s economic growth. A large number of the firm’s clients maintain a strong international presence throughout the MENA region, the UK, Europe and the US, and rely on the Firm’s wide resources for all their legal needs.

The Firm works closely with a number of correspondents in various jurisdictions and is a member of the Geneva Group International’s (GGI) global multidisciplinary networks, allowing the firm to offer its clients reliable legal assistance on an international level.

The Firm has been recognized as a market leader by reputable global legal directories, including Legal 500, Chambers & Partners and IFLR, and has reaped many awards in recognition of its expertise and achievements in the fields of M&A and banking.

OMT Bldg 266 Sami El Solh Ave P.O.Box 116-5079 Beirut Museum 1106-2010 Beirut – Lebanon Telephone: + 961 1 395555 Fax: +961 1 384064 c.aboujaoude@ajalawfirm.com www.ajalawfirm.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

GHANA COMPANY OF THE YEAR (INSURANCE) In a globalised world, international business managers are faced with the following challenges: • • • •

Legal Linguistic Monetary and Cultural

At Activa, through the Globus Network, we provide tailor-made insurance solutions to companies and individuals in close to 40 African countries bridging Legal, Linguistic, Monetary and Cultural boundaries.

Our Customer Value Proposition: • We provide expert and world class client service backed by the best international financial security such as Munich Re, Swiss Re, Lloyd’s, Africa Re and Ghana Re among others • We are a core member of the Globus Network which is present in close to forty (40) African countries and we offer our clients dedicated access to quality and reliable insurance services across these countries.

• We provide customized innovative client solutions based on benchmark insurance under-writing knowledge and specialised skills • Our service is delivered by modern, dynamic, knowledge-based and efficient management systems backed by the state of the art information technology (IT) systems.

• We cross geographical and linguistic boundaries: We have representation in close to 40 African countries spanning English, French, Arabic and Portuguese speaking Africa.

• We bring world class expertise and service delivery to the door-steps of local blue-chip and SME businesses in Ghana.

Our Strengths • Extended geographical presence across Africa with pooled competencies and expertise throughout Africa

• Excellent customer relations and prompt payment of legitimate claims • Preferred Insurer of most of the multinational and blue chip companies in Ghana.

• Sound Reinsurance backing with Munich Re, Swiss Re, Lloyds, Africa Re and Ghana Re among other Our Professional Code of Ethics The five core duties of each member of staff include: 1.Comply with the Code and all relevant laws and regulations 2.Act with the highest ethical standards and integrity 3.Act in the best interest of each client 4.Provide a high standard of service 5.Treat people fairly regardless of: age; disability; gender reassignmemt; pregnancy and maternity; marriage and civil partnership; race; religion and belief; sex; and sexual orientation.

Ghana Head Office ACTIVA International Insurance Company Ghana Limited 3rd Floor, Heritage Tower, 6th Avenue, West Ridge, PMB KA 85, Airport, Accra +233 (0) 302 686 352 +233 (0) 302 672 145 Fax: +233 (0) 302 685 176 Email: Website:

info@activa-ghana.com www.group-activa.com/www.activa-ghana.com

Airport Office 1st Floor, Liberation Road, Near Granada Hotel Airport-Accra Telephone: + 233 (0) 302 762 145 Telefax: +233 (0) 302 762 178

Steve Kyerematen, CEO

Founding partner

Tema Office 2nd Floor, Yaa Agyeiwaa Building Community 1, Tema Telephone:0303 219 910 Kumasi Office 2nd Floor, Agyaba House Prempeh II Street Adum P O Box KS 15684 Adum – Kumasi Tel:03220 40356 03220 40510

BAHRAIN CORPORATE SUPPORT SERV ICES FIRM OF THE YEAR

Alatheer Audit and Consulting was established and licensed in Bahrain to provide professional audit and business advisory services.

Alatheer is a member of Geneva Group International (“GGI”), a global network of independent, leading audit, management consulting, accounting, law and trust firms.

The GGI alliance gives members and their clients’ access to GGI member firms, which are recognized in their countries as leaders in their particular field. All member firms are locally based and indigenous to their areas and as a result, are able to provide the highest levels of expertise when it comes to knowledge of local business practices, laws and customs.

We can efficiently utilize the GGI network to set up a team of professional expertise to provide effective solutions for our clients and to assist in resolving business, legal, financial and tax issues that may arise.

The Alatheer management team serves the market with a suite of advanced audit services gleaned from local and international experience. We have gained prominence as a firm providing businesses with consulting services and corporate support services.

We have gained the trust of the business community, government entities and large commercial and non-profit organisations that have benefited from our extensive range of services. We have managed several important projects with governmental and reputable orgnisations in Bahrain.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Alatheer provided a wide range of professional and advisory services to international investors in Bahrian to assist them establish new business and or support their existing operations. These services includes: · ·

· · · · · ·

Audit, Assurance, and Other Statutory Services Business Advisory Services including Feasibility studies, Business plan, due diligence, Business performance improvement, and Human resource services Accounting and Bookkeeping Services Payroll and other HR related services Outsourcing Accounting and Payroll services Corporate Support Services Company formation and commercial registration services Advice relating to Bahrain business regulations Mirza AlMarzooq, Managing Partner T: +973-17382877 M: +973-39626280 F: +973-17382866 E: m.almarzooq@alatheer.com P.O. Box 18213 – Kingdom of Bahrain

SOUTH AFRICA

GAMECHANGER OF THE YEAR - EDWARD KIESWE T TER, Grou p chief execut i ve

Edward Chr Kieswetter, Group Chief Executive of Alexander Forbes Edward Kieswetter accepted the job at Alexander Forbes, he says, because he had clarity of purpose. The former Deputy Commissioner of the South African Revenue Services (SARS) had no idea what he wanted to do when he decided to exit civil service after ten years. He imagined that, at 50, he would go on to do the things he was born to do: teaching and writing.

His time in the public sector made him painfully aware that financial service instructions had earned the distrust of public policy makers, and so, when he was offered the position of Group Chief Executive, he saw an opportunity to demonstrate that is was possible to run a financial institution ethically.

Edward Kieswetter is a true Renaissance man. On the one hand he is highly learned: his string of qualifications includes a diploma in engineering education, a BA in teaching mathematics and science and a master’s in cognitive development.

On the other, he is vested in the things that provide spiritual meaning: he plays scrabble; his passions are writing, cooking, travelling, the collection – and drinking of – red wine.

He embraces all things that provide “a clear sense of being; the clarity of who I am.” For him, life is a learning experience on multiple levels. He writes music and he watches rugby (an ardent Stormers and Springboks fan). He likes construction, he builds stuff. He quotes Shakespeare. He tweets.

He is now in a position to make other people’s lives better, ” He grew up in a God-fearing home, where his father taught him the ethic of hard work and his mother taught him that he is here to be a blessing.

His many degrees were earned the hard way. After matric there was no money for a tertiary education. He wanted to do engineering, but finding no available internship, he took a labourer’s job at an engineering firm.

When his applications for something better finally landed him a meterreading job at Cape Town municipality, he started studying electrical engineering part-time at, and his learning never stopped.

While doing his master’s at the University of Cape Town he was awarded a scholarship in cognitive studies at Harvard University, and, on completion, was faced with a difficult choice. Stay in the States, and study for a PhD – which would have immediately added a gold star to his CV – or to come home for “one of the most defining periods of my life.” It was 1991 and the exciting changes at home meant that, as true South Africans, the Kieswetters could not live in America during this time.

Edward Chr Kieswetter, Group Chief Executive

He started walking the dual-track tightrope of relisting on the JSE (the company delisted in 2007 after being bought by a private consortium) while preparing for a possible trade sale. About a month after he presented the two options to the board, Alexander Forbes successfully listed on the JSE on Thursday, 24 July 2014. He believed that listing would provide continuity and provide the best value for shareholders.

“The work does not end,” he says. “The first five years were spent addressing the integrity of the organisation, building the business and working on the core. Now we have to achieve. For me, the foundation has just been laid.” He has taken the organisation to a place where doing the right thing is articulated through and inspired by a sense of higher purpose.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

SOUTH AFRICA

GAMECHANGER OF THE YEAR - EDWARD KIESWE T TER, Grou p chief execut i ve

ABOUT ALEXANDER FORBES

s 0REDICTABLE REVENUE BASE AND CASH GENERATIVE MODEL

Alexander Forbes offers an integrated value proposition, delivering market-leading employee and risk benefits consulting, retirement and investment solutions to clients, with a leading presence in sub-Saharan Africa. It relisted on the JSE on 24 July 2014. Our roots are firmly in Africa, but our reach is global. Our primary operations are based in Africa and the United Kingdom. A significant additional partner network ensures we provide an outstanding level of service to our global clients, particularly in Africa and Europe.

s #APITAL EFFICIENT BUSINESS MODEL

Its main services are retirement funds and asset consulting, actuarial consulting, investment and administration services, employee risk benefits and healthcare consulting, multimanager investment and platform solutions, individual financial advice, and personal lines insurance.

The group’s primary clients comprise both the private and public sector market segments, including employers, retirement funds, investment and other special purpose funds on the institutional side, and individual members and beneficiaries of these retirement funds, as well as the wider individual market, on the retail side. Alexander Forbes’ principal geographic focus is South Africa, where it has been in operation since 1935 and is a market leader in its core businesses.

The company is also present in Sub-Saharan Africa, the UK, and other selected jurisdictions which have employee benefits legislative frameworks similar to South Africa. Alexander Forbes, through Alexander Forbes Financial Services Proprietary Limited (“AFF�), is a leading employee benefits consulting, actuarial, investment and administration services provider and retirement fund administrator, with retail assets under advisement of R52.3 billion as at 30 September 2014.

Its flagship umbrella retirement fund, the Alexander Forbes Retirement Fund (AFRF), remains one of the largest of its kind in the market measured by assets, and total umbrella fund assets under management were R60.6 billion as at 30 September 2014. Alexander Forbes, through Investment Solutions, is the largest multi-manager investment company in Sub-Saharan Africa, with assets under administration and management of R300 billion as at 30 September 2014 compared to 30 September 2013, of which R269 billion were assets under management.

KEY STRENGTHS Alexander Forbes believes that the following competitive strengths contribute to its success and distinguish the company from its competitors: s -ARKET LEADER IN INSTITUTIONAL EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND MULTI MANAGER investments in its home market in South Africa and in other Sub-Saharan African countries; s )NSTITUTONAL INTEGRITY WITHIN A HIGH PERFORMANCE CULTURE s 7ELL POSITIONED TO RESPOND TO CHANGING INDUSTRY AND REGULATORY DYNAMICS s 3UCCESSFUL TRACK RECORD OF ORGANICALLY DEVELOPING NEW BUSINESSES AND creating shareholder value; s (OLISTIC OFFERING ACROSS THE VALUE CHAIN s $EEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE RETAIL INDIVIDUAL MEMBER BASE TO SUPPORT THE retail growth initiative; s ,EADING AND SCALABLE MULTI MANAGEMENT PLATFORM s 7ELL POSITIONED TO CAPTURE THE 3UB 3AHARAN !FRICAN GROWTH OPPORTUNITY s ,ONG STANDING INSTITUTIONAL CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH HIGH MARKET SHARES and high customer retention rates;

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

s #ONTINUOUS INVESTMENT IN SYSTEMS AND CORE INFRASTRUCTURE AND s 3TABLE AND EXPERIENCED MANAGEMENT TEAM Alexander Forbes intends to capitalise on its unique market position and improve the performance of its operations by continuing to grow its core institutional businesses and pursuing the retail, public sector, and Sub-Saharan Africa growth strategies. These growth strategies are group-wide initiatives focused on leveraging the core institutional client base and the group’s market positioning in its core businesses.

RETAIL GROWTH STRATEGY Historically, the group’s various retail businesses have functioned independently. In the last few years, as part of the group’s strategic intent, a conscious decision was taken to drive the retail growth strategy with greater focus, including the establishment of a dedicated retail cluster (Retail Cluster) under a single business leader.

The cornerstone of the retail growth strategy is to leverage off the group’s strong relationships with the institutional clients of the pension funds it administers, and build earlier and deeper relationships with the individual.

PUBLIC SECTOR GROWTH STRATEGY Alexander Forbes already has significant public sector business and, based on recent public sector market research, believes that there is further potential to grow its position by mapping its current integrated value offerings and providing innovative consulting and administration services and solutions in response to identified needs in both the institutional and retail segments.

Alexander Forbes established a dedicated team, the Public Sector Division, in order to focus resources on growing its public sector client base. This team’s focus is on setting the overarching public sector strategy and supporting the implementation thereof through effective engagement strategies in order to build lasting relationships with public sector clients and stakeholders and communicate Alexander Forbes’ holistic value proposition to both new and existing clients.

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA GROWTH STRATEGY -ANY COUNTRIES IN 3UB 3AHARAN !FRICA ARE EXPECTED TO EXPERIENCE MEDIUM to high economic growth rates over the medium term. Financial services markets in a number of these countries are still at an early stage of development, which represents an opportunity for Alexander Forbes to grow into these relatively underdeveloped and underpenetrated markets, building on AfriNet’s success in Namibia, Botswana, Kenya and experience in developing businesses in Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia. Pension and social security reforms are among the key criteria taken into account in connection with the group’s expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The group aims to take advantage of favourable legislative changes to expand its operations in the region in the short to medium term.

In expanding into new territories, AfriNet plans to continue to leverage off its institutional experience and expertise, replicating the successful South African business model, while adapting to the specific domestic commercial and regulatory environment in each country. https://www.facebook.com/alexanderforbesofficial https://twitter.com/alexforbes

SOUTH AFRICA

GAMECHANGER OF THE YEAR - EDWARD KIESWE T TER, Grou p chief execut i ve

Alexander Forbes Group Holdings Limited Head Office

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

www.alexanderforbes.co.za A licensed financial services provider

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

tbspFOUNTAINHEAD 34463

We create, grow and protect your wealth and assets.

UAE FULL SERVICE BUSINESS CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR, HOSSAM M. ABD EL-RAHMAN

Allied Compliance Consultants “ACC” is an international professional services firm with Global Headquarters in Britain, MENA Headquarters in Dubai, presence in 25 countries and worldwide operations.

ACC has a team of highly skilled professionals who have gained their experiences through working in BIG FOUR International Audit Firms and the financial sector for many years. This first-hand knowledge benefits both the clients and candidates while having in depth discussions about their needs. It also enables our consultants to familiarize themselves easily and quickly in new organizations and implement real solutions based on the international best market practice.]

Our team of professionals has extensive exposure diversified across the world and can provide all our valued clients with the best services, expert recommendation and quality trainings that help them stay compliant, protect their organizations from criminals, manage their risk and maintain proper corporate governance.

Allied Compliance Consultants “ACC” areas of specialty are as follows:

Outsourcing Incorporation Consultancy Training Investigations Conferences Hotlines

Hotlines Recruitment Audit Translation Due Diligence Solutions

Our solutions are in accordance with the international best market practices and offered to you by experts in the field with International Experience that is available locally.

Our company’s strength is demonstrated by the cost effective quality services that we offer to financial institutions around the globe including many of the leading names in the industry.

These organizations have been able through our services and solutions as a business partner, to effectively and efficiently ensure proper Compliance, maintain sound Corporate Governance, train their employees, manage their risk, implement Basel requirements, fight Money Laundering, fraud & financial crimes and preserve their reputation.

Allied Compliance Consultants is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company which demonstrates our quality and commitment to the best industry practices. We are proud to have 100% customer satisfaction rate.

Allied Compliance Consultants “ACC” provides all valued clients with the following world-class services:

Corporate Governance Regulatory Compliance Anti-Money Laundering & Counter Terrorism Financing Risk Management & Basel Compliance Sharia’h Compliance & Islamic Finance Fraud & Financial Crimes Audit Quality & ISO Certification Finance & Accounting

Operations Procurement Human Resources Management & Leadership Legal Data Security Projects Engineering Health & Safety

City Tower 2, Level 16, Suite: 1604 Sheikh Zayed Road, P.O. Box 53962, Dubai United Arab Emirates "UAE" Main : +971 4 313 6900 Fax : +971 4 313 6999 Hotlines: +1 971 Call ACC (2255 222) / +971 (50) 724-6244 E-mail: info@acc-co.com Website: www.acc-co.com

SOUTH AFRICA NICHE SULUTION PROVIDER OF THE YEAR (SHIPPING & MARITIME) Based in Durban, South Africa, Aqua-Tech Diving Services offers the Merchant Shipping and Civil Industries a variety of different services. Recently, the Aqua-Tech was named Best Offshore Shipping Solution.

Aqua-Tech Diving Services is a family team. Our main focus is to create a relationship with our clients whereby it is known that we care about their vessels as much as they care about them. Our services range from inspection work through to repairs including hull cleaning work.

Aqua-Tech Diving Services operates in 2 main sectors that we call Shipping Division and Civils Division. Our Civils Division although much smaller than our shipping division will assist with surveys and maintenance on pipelines, dams, reservoirs and harbours.

We have focused this past year on addressing everyone’s concern on where can we do hull cleaning where it is safe for the divers and safe for the vessel as well as not delaying the vessel or cargo in anyway. With the assistance of Transnet Port Authorities, we have made this a reality in the Port of Durban. For this I know our clients are happy.

Aqua-Tech Diving is a family business and so we treat all as part of our family. We are smaller enough that you get the one-on-one attention but bigger enough to get the work done.

Our shipping division can assist with shipping surveys through to maintenance including our specialised hull cleaning reclaim system. All of these works are completed within the Port of Durban and whilst the vessel completes cargo and bunkering operations.”

One of our specialities is the hull cleaning reclaim system.

This system is a South African development that we are very proud of. And our engineering and diving team have to remain on their toes improving and ensuring that we offer our clients the best technology available.”

Hull cleaning has been a restriction that we have been trying for years to overcome. At the end of last year, Transnet Port Authorities granted Aqua-Tech Diving Services a research and development licence to test this new technology on the basis of unbanning this service.

Tel: +27 (0) 31 301 3631 Cell: +27 (0) 82 769 4374 Fax: +27 (0) 31 468 5403 Email: operations@atds.co.za Website: www.aquatechdivingservices.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

K E N YA COMMERCI AL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Ashitiva & Company Advocates is a Corporate and Commercial Law firm. We invest in long term relationships with our clients, and we measure the value of our services in the same way our clients do. We have a lot to offer, and we provide it in a way that enhances value to the client. That's a small part of Ashitiva & Co. Advocates difference. We go beyond the transactions, we dwell on the relationships.

Ashitiva & Company Advocates represents clients in Commercial Law, Real Estate law, Litigation, Governmental Affairs and other matters. In responding to the needs and challenges of our clients, our lawyers draw upon the firm’s expertise and experience in a broad array of industries to provide solutions to difficult, complex, and novel problems and issues, whether in commercial transactions, real estate projects, litigation and arbitration, or regulatory proceedings.

Our lawyers are recognized nationally and internationally for their legal skills and the depth of their expertise. The diversity of our lawyers strengthens our ability to evaluate issues confronting our clients.

We have three broad Departments: Commercial Law department, Real Estate Department and Litigation Department.

As counsel to leading private developers and commercial banks in Kenya, our Real Estate lawyers have the combined experience and intellectual capital to successfully complete purchases, sales, financing, joint ventures, mortgage take-overs and private equity fund formations. We understand the issues presented by land use, environmental and tax issues and can take a project from development through leasing and

if necessary, through litigation and workout. With offices in Nairobi and Nakuru, Ashitiva & Company Advocates is prepared to promptly, effectively and efficiently negotiate large transactions involving numerous properties and multiple parties.

Our litigators handle civil commercial cases throughout the East Africa region. We handle arbitrations, agency proceedings, and matters before local and international tribunals. At the trial level, Ashitiva & Company litigators in recent years have prevailed in trials involving claims as diverse as international commercial disputes., constitutional rights and complex insurance disputes.

Our Commercial Department takes a multi-disciplinary approach, resulting in the ability to deliver innovative and creative solutions. Clients benefit from the collaboration of teams of lawyers having expertise in mergers and acquisitions, securities, finance, corporate governance, tax and bankruptcy.

Our regulatory lawyers are recognized as experts in their fields and regularly combine their talents on behalf of the world’s top financial institutions, pharmaceutical and life sciences companies, telecommunications and technology companies, oil and gas companies, energy companies, infrastructure companies, aviation entities, sports leagues and consumer goods companies, among others. We advise on domestic trade and investment as well as international trade matters, including trade policy, international trade controls, national security and international boundary and investment disputes.

Phone: +254 722 860 725 Email: ashitiva@ashitivaadvocates.com We b s i t e w w w. a s h i t i v a a d v o c a t e s . c o m

UA E ARBITRATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Azhari Legal Consultancy is a multi-disciplined and a multi-national law firm with lawyers and consultants specialized in commercial & corporate law, tax law and international law.

Distribution Laws, Banking Law, Property Law, Contracts Law and Labour Law. We have experience in the UAE, Syrian, German, Chinese and International Corporate Law.

Our main philosophy is based on the energetic representation of our clients’ interests.

We respond to your needs at any given time because we are aware of the significance of a close and trusted working relationship with our clients.

The objective of our consultation is to achieve the best results for our clients. Finding personal and up-to-date solutions for your problems is of the utmost importance for us.

Rather than getting lost in scientific work, we solve problems.

We provide advice in the core areas of Commercial and Corporate Law, ranging from Agency Law to

D r. G h a s s a n A z h a r i

Azhari Legal Consultancy E x e c u t i v e To w e r D ( A s p e c t To w e r ) , Office 901 Business Bay P. O . B o x 2 1 3 8 1 1 Dubai United Arab Emirates Phone: +971 (0)4 447 3557 Fax: +971 (0)4 447 3556 E m a i l l : i n f o @ a z h a r i - l a w. c o m

MENA BANK OF THE YEAR THE BURGAN WAY: DELIVERING ON PROMISES Burgan Bank is Kuwait’s third largest lender by assets, and is reputable for operations excellence. The bank benefits from a turnaround in profitability process, operational growth, and an increased number of recognitions.

These successes are part of the management’s prudent corporate strategy. Their knowledge and expertise along with a clear and resilient strategy led the bank to experience consistent streak of wins!

How it began In 2008, Burgan Bank set out to grow outside of Kuwait. The Bank solid platform, a strong franchise and operations, and growth opportunities.

2011: A year of turnaround profitability Burgan Bank Group reported significantly improved results, posting KD 50.6 million net profits, a 10 times increase compared to 2010. Revenue growth climbed to 11.4%, normalized operating profit stood at 11.5%, and operating profit margin came at 61.6%.

The Group ranked first in Kuwait in terms of ROE, 14.4%, and RoNAV which came at 23.9%.

Solid and consistent performance in 2012 The Group reported net profits of KD 55.6 million, a 10% increase from 2011. EPS grew 12% to reach 37.8 fils. Operating income

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

surged by 16% to reach KD 190 million, operating profit before provisions soared by 17% to reach KD 119 million. ROE was reported at 12.4% and Return on tangible equity was reported at 20.2% - the highest amongst domestic peers.

2013 – First quarter; a resilient performance Burgan Bank Group’s net profits reached KD 15.6 million, after taking KD 5 million in provisions. Operating Profit before provisions grew by 12% to reach KD 29.8 million. Net income, excluding provisions, equates to KD 20.4 million, a 16% yearon-year growth.

International operations contribution reached 58% of overall revenue structure. Capital adequacy ratio stood at 18.57% while liquidity ratios were at 32.5%, and NPLs (net of collateral) ratio to gross loans reached 2.1%.

Footprint expansion In 2012 Burgan Bank acquired a 99.26% stake of Eurobank Tekfen, now known as Burgan Bank –Turkey. In 2013, the bank completed a debt to asset swap transaction of 25% stake in FIM Bank after obtaining regulatory approvals.

Way Forward Burgan Bank Group is confident about opening another new chapter in its growth and progress. Its operations reflect group’s promise of becoming a leading international financial powerhouse.

Bashir Jaber Assistant General Manager – Corporate Communications T: +965 22988400 F: +965 22988419 Bash@burgan.com

MAURITIUS CORPORATE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR ERRIAH CHAMBERS was set up in response to the demand for Mauritiusbased lawyers with international exposure and specialized expertise in the fields of International tax law, International trusts law, International

of Trust and Estate Practitioners) respectively. He is also a member of the International Bar Association and forms part of Committees N (TAX) and E (Banking).

specialises in International Trust, International Finance, Banking Law, Shipping Law, Aircraft Finance and Leasing, Project Finance, Corporate & Commercial Law, Litigation and cross border insolvency, tracing and debts recovery, enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards, arrest of foreign vessels, drafting of transactional documents.

Areas of practice: · Corporate & Commercial: Mergers & Acquisition, International Business Law, capital markets practices, regulatory compliance, and

ERRIAH CHAMBERS acts as legal adviser and legal consultant to various banks, corporate clients and High Net Wealth Individuals in Mauritius and internationally.

More than 80% of the Chamber’s practice involves advising international clients, multinational enterprises, international law firms, the top ten international accountant firms, management companies, domestic and international banks. The Chambers is also involved in setting up of various investment funds with very complexed structures in India, various jurisdictions in Africa, and China etc. The Chambers provides litigation services, advice and legal opinions on any aspect of the laws of Mauritius, international tax planning, domestic taxation, import and export services, all cross-border transaction, hotel industry and construction law, international investments, international trusts law.

Erriah Chambers is headed by Dev Erriah and consists of a team of nine barristers and has associateship with many foreign law firms.

The firm has until now won 7 Awards: 1. Acquisition Legal Awards 2011- Erriah Chambers- Mauritian Corporate Law Firm of the Year; 2. World Finance Legal Awards 2012- Erriah Chambers- Best Tax Firm, Mauritius; 3. World Finance Awards 2012- Dev Erriah, Erriah- Chambers, Best Tax Consultant, Mauritius; and 4. Finance Monthly Global Awards 2012- Erriah Chambers- International Tax Law Firm of the Year, Mauritius.

5. Capital Finance International – Best Law Firm Africa 2012 – Erriah Chambers 6. ACQ Global Awards 2012 – Mauritius – Corporate Law Firm of the Year – Erriah Chambers 7. ACQ Global Awards 2013 – Mauritius – Corporate Law Firm of the Year – Erriah Chambers Individual Profile Dev Erriah graduated in the UK and holds LLM in international tax law, Company law, law of International Finance and International Trusts from the University of London. Dev Erriah worked for a number of years in England and did his pupilage with Philip Baker QC at Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers. Dev Erriah was the first Chairman of STEP Mauritius (Society

Collective Investment Scheme, advising on international banking and privatization, shipping law, hotel industry, international trust and trust structuring, implementation of international transactions, negotiation, drafting of transactional documents and review of all legal documentation inclusive of trusts deeds, corporate constitutive documents, legal opinions and advice, credit facility documents etc. · Finance:, International Finance and Banking, International Tax Planning, international and domestic taxation, international investments, Investment Fund including Private Equity and Venture Capital, Structured Finance, securities, Project Finance, Aircraft finance and leasing. · Litigation: International Arbitration & Cross-Border litigation, International litigation such as international bankruptcy, enforcement of international creditor’s claim, enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards, arrest of foreign vessels, money laundering and due diligence in Mauritius and at international level.

Key clients: The list of key clients hereunder is not exhaustive, but only recent ones are included: State Bank of India (Mauritius)Ltd & SBI India; Meghraj Group; Deutsche Bank; Alchemy Capital Management Pvt. Ltd.; Capvent & Overy; KPMG Corporate Finance; HSBC private Bank ( Suisse, Singapore and International); Standard Chartered Bank, Norton Rose International; Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale; AirAsia Ltd; Calyon; BNP Paribas; Freshfields; DVB Bank; Kingdom Hotel Investment (KHI including Four Season Hotel & Resorts, Movenpick); Vacances Plus Limited; European Investment Bank; Investec Bank Limited (Mauritius, UK & South Africa),; Barclays Bank Plc; Standard Bank Mauritius and South Africa, Société Générale, Prudential Fund Management; Compagnie Française d’Assurance pour la Commerce Exterieur (“COFACE”); Expert Credit Agency (“ECA”); Nedbank (South Africa); Avolon Aerospace AOE 29 Limited; Citibank; Eulher; Global Board of Trade (GBOT); White & Case LLP; SJ Berwin; Clyde & Co; Eversheds; Allen & Arthur Robinson; Hogan & Lovells; The Saggar Group which owns Le Meridien, Grand Mauritian and St Regis managed by Starwood; Yes Bank (India); Simmonds & Simmonds; Nordic Aviation Capital with Deutsche Bank and KfW Bankengruppe.

Dev Erriah Erriah Chambers 2nd Floor, Les Jamalacs Building, Vieux Conseil Street, Port Louis, Mauritius T (230) 208 2220 / (230) 208 3220 / (230) 212 6967 E deverriah@intnet.mu / eclaw@orange.mu

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

MAURITIUS LEA DING M&A A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR ERRIAH CHAMBERS was set up in response to the demand for Mauritiusbased lawyers with international exposure and specialized expertise in the fields of International tax law, International trusts law, International

of Trust and Estate Practitioners) respectively. He is also a member of the International Bar Association and forms part of Committees N (TAX) and E (Banking).

specialises in International Trust, International Finance, Banking Law, Shipping Law, Aircraft Finance and Leasing, Project Finance, Corporate & Commercial Law, Litigation and cross border insolvency, tracing and debts recovery, enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards, arrest of foreign vessels, drafting of transactional documents.

Areas of practice: · Corporate & Commercial: Mergers & Acquisition, International Business Law, capital markets practices, regulatory compliance, and

ERRIAH CHAMBERS acts as legal adviser and legal consultant to various banks, corporate clients and High Net Wealth Individuals in Mauritius and internationally.

More than 80% of the Chamber’s practice involves advising international clients, multinational enterprises, international law firms, the top ten international accountant firms, management companies, domestic and international banks. The Chambers is also involved in setting up of various investment funds with very complexed structures in India, various jurisdictions in Africa, and China etc. The Chambers provides litigation services, advice and legal opinions on any aspect of the laws of Mauritius, international tax planning, domestic taxation, import and export services, all cross-border transaction, hotel industry and construction law, international investments, international trusts law.

Erriah Chambers is headed by Dev Erriah and consists of a team of nine barristers and has associateship with many foreign law firms.

The firm has until now won 7 Awards: 1. Acquisition Legal Awards 2011- Erriah Chambers- Mauritian Corporate Law Firm of the Year; 2. World Finance Legal Awards 2012- Erriah Chambers- Best Tax Firm, Mauritius; 3. World Finance Awards 2012- Dev Erriah, Erriah- Chambers, Best Tax Consultant, Mauritius; and 4. Finance Monthly Global Awards 2012- Erriah Chambers- International Tax Law Firm of the Year, Mauritius.

5. Capital Finance International – Best Law Firm Africa 2012 – Erriah Chambers 6. ACQ Global Awards 2012 – Mauritius – Corporate Law Firm of the Year – Erriah Chambers 7. ACQ Global Awards 2013 – Mauritius – Corporate Law Firm of the Year – Erriah Chambers Individual Profile Dev Erriah graduated in the UK and holds LLM in international tax law, Company law, law of International Finance and International Trusts from the University of London. Dev Erriah worked for a number of years in England and did his pupilage with Philip Baker QC at Gray’s Inn Tax Chambers. Dev Erriah was the first Chairman of STEP Mauritius (Society

Collective Investment Scheme, advising on international banking and privatization, shipping law, hotel industry, international trust and trust structuring, implementation of international transactions, negotiation, drafting of transactional documents and review of all legal documentation inclusive of trusts deeds, corporate constitutive documents, legal opinions and advice, credit facility documents etc. · Finance:, International Finance and Banking, International Tax Planning, international and domestic taxation, international investments, Investment Fund including Private Equity and Venture Capital, Structured Finance, securities, Project Finance, Aircraft finance and leasing. · Litigation: International Arbitration & Cross-Border litigation, International litigation such as international bankruptcy, enforcement of international creditor’s claim, enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards, arrest of foreign vessels, money laundering and due diligence in Mauritius and at international level.

Key clients: The list of key clients hereunder is not exhaustive, but only recent ones are included: State Bank of India (Mauritius)Ltd & SBI India; Meghraj Group; Deutsche Bank; Alchemy Capital Management Pvt. Ltd.; Capvent & Overy; KPMG Corporate Finance; HSBC private Bank ( Suisse, Singapore and International); Standard Chartered Bank, Norton Rose International; Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale; AirAsia Ltd; Calyon; BNP Paribas; Freshfields; DVB Bank; Kingdom Hotel Investment (KHI including Four Season Hotel & Resorts, Movenpick); Vacances Plus Limited; European Investment Bank; Investec Bank Limited (Mauritius, UK & South Africa),; Barclays Bank Plc; Standard Bank Mauritius and South Africa, Société Générale, Prudential Fund Management; Compagnie Française d’Assurance pour la Commerce Exterieur (“COFACE”); Expert Credit Agency (“ECA”); Nedbank (South Africa); Avolon Aerospace AOE 29 Limited; Citibank; Eulher; Global Board of Trade (GBOT); White & Case LLP; SJ Berwin; Clyde & Co; Eversheds; Allen & Arthur Robinson; Hogan & Lovells; The Saggar Group which owns Le Meridien, Grand Mauritian and St Regis managed by Starwood; Yes Bank (India); Simmonds & Simmonds; Nordic Aviation Capital with Deutsche Bank and KfW Bankengruppe.

Dev Erriah Erriah Chambers 2nd Floor, Les Jamalacs Building, Vieux Conseil Street, Port Louis, Mauritius T (230) 208 2220 / (230) 208 3220 / (230) 212 6967 E deverriah@intnet.mu / eclaw@orange.mu

KUWAIT FULL SERVICE TAX ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR INVESTMENT FUNDS ADVISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR Alok is a partner with EY’s Middle East practice and is based in Kuwait. He has lived and worked in Kuwait for over 20 years and has detailed knowledge of business and taxes in Kuwait. He has considerable experience in advising entry-level strategies for foreign multinationals wishing to do business in Kuwait. Alok has been involved in a number of consulting assignments (including cross-border planning, application of double tax treaties and the efficient handling of tax and commercial affairs) for project due diligence, business paper preparation or review, and structuring operational activities). o Alok is a member of the Institute of the Chartered Accountants of India and is an active member and frequent lecturer at the American Business Council, French Business Council, British Business Forum and Canadian Business Council in Kuwait. He is also on the Board of the American Business Council in Kuwait. o Alok has been consulted by various government organizations in Kuwait on the practical implementation of various regulations in Kuwait, including the Ministry of Finance and National Offset Company. o Alok also works closely with the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA) and a number of other government institutions.

• Firm Profile EY in Kuwait has been operating since 1952 and is the largest accounting and consulting firm in the country. Our 340 professionals are available to serve clients anywhere in Kuwait working in both Arabic and English. EY professionals in Kuwait can provide expert advice on every business issue. We are fully integrated with Ernst & Young Middle East in terms of methodology, training and quality control. The Kuwait office is supported by resources of Ernst & Young Global which has over 152,000 professionals working out of 700 offices in over 140 countries.

Ernst & Young, Kuwait enjoys the premier position as tax advisers in Kuwait. With a specialist tax partner, 3 directors and a team of 35 tax specialist staff we service approximately 70% of registered tax payers in Kuwait. We have an extensive experience of assisting companies in managing their tax compliance in Kuwait in the most efficient manner, advising on tax treaty matters and providing for entry level strategies to foreign companies intending to carry on business in Kuwait.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

EY Kuwait offers invaluable “on the ground” service to companies doing business in Kuwait, and can provide a full range of tax services, including: • Tax Planning and Tax Advisory Services • Tax Compliance Services, including assistance with respect to tax audits carried out by the Kuwait Tax authorities • Tax Accounting and Risk Advisory Services • Cross-Border Corporate Income Tax Advisory • Transfer Pricing • Services related to the implementation of Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) • Human Capital Services • Advice related to the offset program in Kuwait • Advisory services related to setting up efficient structures in Kuwait (including assistance with the application process for setting up entities under the New Companies Law in Kuwait and the Foreign Direct Investment Laws in Kuwait) Our large market share and over 50 years’ presence in Kuwait has given us extensive experience in dealing with tax issues arising in Kuwait and assisting our clients in managing their tax affairs.

Alok Chugh | Partner | Tax Advisory Services EY Kuwait – Al-Aiban, Al-Osaimi & Partners • 18-21 Floor Baitak Tower, P. O. Box: 74, Safat 13001, Kuwait Mobile: + 965 9 7223 004 Direct: + 965 2 2955 104 | Fax: + 965 2 2456 419 Email: alok.chugh@kw.ey.com Website: http://www.ey.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

MOZAMBIQUE lAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

FL&A – Fernanda Lopes & Associados was incorporated in 1995 and since then increased from 2 to 4 partners.

Currently, 10 lawyers compose the team. The firm has associations and has best-friend ties with several law offices across the world.

The firm provides integrated legal services to its clients, tailored to meet their needs. Due to the quality and innovation of its services, FL&A currently ranks amongst the largest law firms in Mozambique, and is one of the most recognized local law firms.

Main Areas of Practice: Corporate & Commercial:

Employment: The firm provides legal services in the fields of employment contracts, restructuring and dismissal, transfer of staff, outsourcing, foreign employees and expatriates, collective relations, employment litigation and general employment advice.

Email:

The firm provides legal services in the fields of property finance, property acquisition, land law, hotel and leisure.

The firm provides legal services in the corporate field, on incorporation of companies and opening of branches, corporate M&A, insolvency and restructuring.

Also in the commercial field, on several types of contracts – sale and purchase, lease, etc. And conducting due diligences and issuing the related reports.

Email:

With extensive experience and a solid knowledge in commercial and corporate law matters, the lawyers of the corporate area of practice are well familiarized both with domestic and international companies.

Email:

Email:

fernanda.lopes@fla.co.mz

Banking & Finance: The firm provides legal services in the fields of securitizations, asset management, capital markets and project finance, collateral instruments, and .

Email: amalia.garrine@fla.co.mz

angelica.morais@fla.co.mz

Real Estate:

guilhermina.manjate@fla.co.mz

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Intellectual Property & IT: The firm provides legal services in the fields of industrial property, advertising, marketing, and consumer rights, distribution and franchising.

Carla.sousa@fla.co.mz

Litigation: The firm provides legal services in the fields of company, commercial and civil litigation as well as dispute resolution. The litigation practice area links with other related practice areas.

Email:

fernanda.lopes@fla.co.mz

Fernanda Lopes & Associados Rua da Frente de Libertação de Moçambique, nº 224, Maputo TEL.: + 258 21 49 69 74 FAX.: + 258 21 49 69 75

SOUTH AFRICA CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LAW FIRM TO DEAL OF THE YEAR - (VICTORIA & ALFRED (V&A) WATERFRONT) LAWYER OF THE YEAR - (FRANCOIS MARAIS, DIRECTOR, PRACTICE LEADER - GLYN MARAIS)

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UAE (DUBAI) TAKAFUL SOLUTIONS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR SUKUK STRUCTURE OF THE YEAR www.fwugroup.com

FWU Group

FWU Group is an international financial services group. Its core activities include life insurance and long term savings, education and pension plans for both individual consumers and corporates (group savings schemes). Distribution channels include banks, brokers, independent financial advisers and other financial intermediaries.

INNOVATIVE PRODUCT DESIGN FWU is recognised for its international leadership and expertise in Shariah compliant investments and life insurance (FamilyTakaful solutions).

FWU specialises in white label Family Takaful Investment Linked Plans and partners with the relevant local Takaful operator in the selected market to offer customized innovative customer solutions which includes savings, education, marriage and retirement plans.

UNIQUE PRODUCT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM The FWU Group is valued for its product innovation, as well as for its new systems development attuned to growth market needs, speed of deal execution and significant depth and experience of its executive management team. In order to facilitate the customer sales process and policy administration, the FWU Group has created a proprietary digital application that also provides its bancatakaful partners, with automated underwriting capability. This digital application provides bancatakaful partners with a point-of-sale and administration system designed to enhance product management, sales

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

fulfilment and sales management. It also levels the playing field for consumer investment products by making the sale of a family takaful investment-linked plan as convenient as the sale of a mutual fund or a credit card.

LEADING INDUSTRY PLAYER AND INDUSTRY RECOGNITION FWU is one of the leading global service providers for Family Takaful in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Pakistan and Malaysia. Recently, FWU extended its presence into Indonesia, securing an exciting cooperation agreement with Sinarmas MSIG Life, to facilitate distribution of family Takaful Investment Linked Plans through business relationships with major banks.

FWU has successfully pioneered new Sukuk structures, under the brand name SALAM, and raised financing for its fast growing business activities in several growth markets. FWU’s recent US$100-million SALAM III Sukuk, carrying investment grade rating (Fitch), was oversubscribed in its first US$20-million tranche. The second US$40-million tranche closed on 31st March 2014.

FWU has won many international Sukuk and Takaful awards in recognition of market accomplishments and global expertise in Takaful.

FWU is an observer member of the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) and an active member of their Takaful working group. FWU is also an affiliate member of the Gulf Bond and Sukuk Association in Dubai, DIFC.

Dr Manfred Dirrheimer Chairman and CEO FWU Global Takaful Solutions Al Fattan Currency House PO Box 482026,DIFC Dubai, UAE Tel: +9714 4175 500

Sohail Jaffer Deputy CEO FWU Global Takaful Solutions Al Fattan Currency House PO Box 482026,DIFC Dubai, UAE Tel: +9714 4175 500

www.fwugroup.com

MENA FUND PLACEMENT FIRM OF THE YEAR, GREENSTONE EQUI TY PARTNERS

Greenstone Equity Partners is a MENA-focused boutique advisory firm specializing in fund placement in multi-sector transactions. As the largest independent fund placement firm headquartered in the Middle East, Greenstone has deep relationships with GCC-based investors from sovereign wealth funds to high net worth individuals. Greenstone’s clients are located throughout the world and are served by its private equity, hedge fund and direct transaction divisions.

Greenstone was founded in 2011 by Alex Gemici, a former Deutsche Bank executive with extensive investment banking experience in the USA as well as the Middle East. “At Greenstone, we interface with some of the most prominent, recognized and sought after investors in world. Approximately, $32.6 billion in investment flows from the Middle East sovereign wealth funds to global fund managers every year. Providing unparalleled access to this investor base is a key feature of our offering to our clients and an aspect of our business we take very seriously,” said Gemici.

Headquartered at the iconic Emaar Boulevard Plaza Tower, next to Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world, Greenstone’s fund placement division is run by Omar Al Gharabally, its Managing Director and Partner. “We have addressed a material dislocation in Middle East, a

solution that global asset managers and fund managers have been seeking for decades; a locally based and staffed institutional fund placement firm which has the capabilities and resources to represent tier one global asset managers and follow an institutional process to raising capital.

We have a proprietary and systematic process which enables us to ensure a successful engagement with investors and minimize placement risk for our clients,” said Al Gharabally.

The fund placement business, more so in the Middle East than elsewhere, is based on reputation, ethics and professionalism.

Greenstone, staffed by bankers hailing from Middle Eastern heritage, is known throughout the industry for their tenaciousness, ethics and professionalism.

Alex Gemici

Chief Executive Officer Dubai, United Arab Emirates Te l : + 9 7 1 4 3 8 8 0 4 8 8 E - m a i l : a l e x . g e m i c i @ g s e q u i t y. c o m w w w. g s e q u i t y. c o m

A NETWORK OF 52 MEMBER COUNTRIES

ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE YEAR, ISLAMIC CORPORATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR (ICD)

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (“ICD”) is a multilateral development financial institution and is part of the Islamic Development Bank (“IDB”) Group.

ICD was established to support the economic development of its member countries through the provision of finance for private sector projects, promoting competition and entrepreneurship, providing advisory services to the governments and encouraging cross border investments.

ICD has an authorized capital of $2 billion of which $1.0 billion is available for subscription. Currently, the shareholders of ICD are the IDB (50%), 52 Islamic countries (30%) and five public financial institutions (20%).

ICD Products and Services 1-Long and Short-term Financing ICD finances private sector entities and Greenfield or expansion projects directly through equity participation, the purchase of assignable bonds and term financing. ICD also extends short-term finance to cover working capital and/or raw materials requirements of private sector entities through Murabaha or Purchase and Lease-Back for a tenor of up to 24 months. ICD can also play a role in mobilizing resources for financing a project through co-financing or syndication.

2-Developing Islamic Financial Institutions and Extending Lines of Finance.

potential. The range of services include assessing the business environment of member countries, plus project finance advisory, raising funds though the issue of Sukuk, development of Islamic capital markets and encouraging the development of the business environment for SMEs. Mandate and Objectives The mandate of ICD is to play a complementary role to the IBD activities and national financing institutions in member countries through the provision of financing and financial services to private sector projects in accordance with principles of the Shari’a. ICD also provides consultancy services to governments and private sector institutions in order to encourage the establishment, the expansion and the modernization of private sector enterprises, the development of capital markets, the adoption of best management practices and enhancement of the role of market economy.

ICD focuses in its financing on developmental projects which contribute to the creation of employment opportunities and the encouragement of exports. To achieve these objectives, ICD creates and develops relations of cooperation and partnership to arrange co-financing and syndicated financing services.

Many of the member countries are classified as greatly in need of development finance. The ICD was set up as the private sector arm of the IDB Group to focus primarily on private sector development with a view to poverty alleviation and raising the general standard of living in its member countries. The ICD finances projects that are specifically geared to creating employment opportunities and boosting exports.

ICD strives to nurture and empower identified channel partners, by setting up or aiding existing development banks in driving development and growth in the Islamic world. This vertically leverages two key instruments in order to extend financial aid: Institutional Equities and Lines of Finance.

3-Advisory Services and Asset Management ICD provides a wide variety of advisory services to governments, public entities and private entities of member countries with an aim to create the ideal environment to facilitate private sector investment and also to assist companies in achieving their

Tel: (966-12) 6361400 | Tel: (966-12) 6441644 | Fax: (966-12) 644 4427 | Email: icd@isdb.org | icd-bdpd@isdb.org | Website: www.icd-idb.org

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

A NETWORK OF 52 MEMBER COUNTRIES ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE YEAR, ISLAMIC CORPORATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR (ICD)

ICD’s Strategic Orientation Under its recently announced strategy, ICD will focus more on the development of what we call “Islamic Finance Channels” designed to reach out and spread Islamic financial products far more widely with the objective of having a greater developmental impact in its member countries. This will be achieved substantially through setting up Islamic Banks, Investment and Ijarah Companies, Takaful and Re Takaful companies in our member countries. ICD is pioneering many aspects of Islamic finance and sees its role as being a powerful driver for economic change.

Main Achievements To summarise some of the remarkable progress that ICD has made since its inception some 14 years ago.

• By the end of 2013, its operations reached 36 member countries, in addition to nine regional projects that incorporate several member countries • Despite the negative effect of the financial crisis and social unrest in the region, ICD managed to approve 18 new projects and 8 capital increases in existing equity projects, totalling $419 million in 2013. These projects added value to the economic and social development of member countries through new job creation, technology transfer and through cross-border investments.

• During the First half of 1435 H - 2014 G, 14 new projects for a total amount of US$ 138.77 million were approved. The new

approvals have increased ICD’s Gross Approvals since inception to 279 projects in addition to 46 approvals to increase ICD's participation in the equity of investee companies, thus increasing ICD’s total amount of Gross Approvals to US$ 3,301.61 million. By the end of the second quarter, 1435 H - 2014 G, ICD’s exposure spread over 9 different sectors, where the Finance sector has the largest share of the exposure with 60.6% followed by Industry and Mining Sector with 19%. ICD's exposure stretches over 33 countries and 5 Regional Projects. Saudi Arabia holds the highest portion of ICD’s exposure with 23.2% followed by Uzbekistan with 9% and Turkey 6.1%.

During the last couple of years the ICD has been able to establish a number of Islamic banks and Ijarah companies in its member countries and has an ambitious plan for the near future to create more Islamic finance channels in other ICD member countries such as Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Kazakhstan, Palestine, Albania, Azerbaijan, Djibouti, Ivory Coast and Senegal.

Tel: (966-12) 6361400 | Tel: (966-12) 6441644 | Fax: (966-12) 644 4427 | Email: icd@isdb.org | icd-bdpd@isdb.org | Website: www.icd-idb.org

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

UA E BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR / LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

KBH Kaanuun is a boutique law firm based in the Arabian Gulf with offices in Dubai, Kuwait and Bahrain, with the Dubai office having been founded in 2006.

As a full-service firm, our expertise spreads across a broad span of business disciplines and major industries, including real estate, M&A restructuring, joint ventures and corporate and commercial matters. We also specialise in commercial dispute resolution, covering litigation, mediation and arbitration. We are privileged to cater to an ever-growing list of esteemed clients, who value our commitment to exemplary service and reputation for clear, honest judgment. Our dedication has not only helped our clients achieve results, but has also earned us their confidence and trust. Founded on this principle of first-class

quality service, our professional team of experienced lawyers and support staff provide a customised approach to address the specific business requirements of each client. The close proximity of our offices allows us to draw from our highly diversified, multi-disciplinary teams according to the specialised skills and experience required by each project. The partners of the firm have rights of audience in the English, DIFC, Kuwaiti and Bahraini Courts. We also pride ourselves in our extensive global network that provides us with valuable resources as and when required and allows us to assist clients in other GCC countries and beyond, particularly UK and India.

Managing Partner and Director DK Singh Dubai International Financial Centre Gate Village 7, Level 2 PO Box 506546 Dubai United Arab Emirates T + 971 4 709 6700 F + 971 4 709 6711 E dubai@kbh.ae

MOROCCO M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Kettani Law Firm (“KLF”) is the leader among local law firms in mergers and acquisitions advisory. Some of the more notable transactions on which KLF has advised include: the acquisition by France Telecom of a large participation in Méditel, the sale by Vivendi of its participation in Maroc Telecom, St Gobain Joint Venture in Morocco, the acquisition by Coca-Cola of Moroccan companies; The participation by IFC and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in recent high profile project in Morocco.

More about the firm KLF is a major, Moroccan, business law firm founded in 1971 by Professor Azzedine Kettani who was admitted to practice in 1968 and is approved by the High Court of Justice of the Kingdom of Morocco. The firm regularly acts for banks and other financial institutions, international businesses, major public and private companies and departments of the government.

With the addition in 1992 of Nadia Kettani, who manages the International Consulting Department and supervises some areas of the Litigation Department; and in 1993 of Rita Kettani, who manages the Commercial Department, the Litigation Department and the Labour Law Department, the firm has grown significantly to offer a broad array of services tailored to support the financial and business activities of its clients. Moreover, the firm has become an acknowledged leader in the fields of corporate and project finance, banking, and corporate and commercial law. Areas of particular expertise include securities law, aviation law, telecommunications regulation, energy, hospitality, labour law, intellectual property, audits and IPOs. Additionally, the firm has significant experience in arbitration and litigation.

N a d i a K e t ta n i

C o nta c t d e ta i l s K e t ta n i L a w F i r m 8, rue Lahcen Al Basr i 20000 Cas abl a nca Morocco Tel: +212 522 43 89 00 Fax: +212 522 20 59 25

C o nta c t N a m e s H e a d P a rt n e r – P r o f e s s o r A z z e d i n e K e t ta n i M s N a d i a K e t ta n i , e s q . , s e n i o r p a rt n e r M s R i ta K e t ta n i , e s q . , s e n i o r p a rt n e r Email k @ k et t l aw . c o m n a d i a @ k et t l aw . c o m r i ta @ k e t t l a w . c o m

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

MOROCCO AVIATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Kettani Law Firm (“KLF”) is a leader in servicing the transportation industry and is a pre-eminent, local law firm in the aviation sector. The firm's experience covers aviation finance (borrower and creditor side), including purchase and finance leasing of airframes and jet engines, aviation insurance, and aviation dispute resolution. Previous clients have included companies such as GECAS and ILFC as well as operators.

corporate and commercial law. Areas of particular expertise include securities law, aviation law, telecommunications regulation, energy, hospitality, labour law, intellectual property, audits and IPOs. Additionally, the firm has significant experience in arbitration and litigation.

In 2013 and 2014, KLF advised Royal Air Maroc regarding the purchase and the leasing of various new aircrafts. In 2013 KLF advised an engine service provider on the leasing of a jet engine to an aircraft operator and several sub-lessees. In 2011 2012, 2013 and 2014 KLF advised Air Arabia regarding the financing of its Moroccan fleet.

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More about the firm KLF is a major, Moroccan, business law firm founded in 1971 by Professor Azzedine Kettani who was admitted to practice in 1968 and is approved by the High Court of Justice of the Kingdom of Morocco. The firm regularly acts for banks and other financial institutions, international businesses, major public and private companies and departments of the government.

C o nta c t d e ta i l s K e t ta n i L a w F i r m 8, rue Lahcen Al Basr i 20000 Cas abl a nca Morocco Tel: +212 522 43 89 00 Fax: +212 522 20 59 25

With the addition in 1992 of Nadia Kettani, who manages the International Consulting Department and supervises some areas of the Litigation Department; and in 1993 of Rita Kettani, who manages the Commercial Department, the Litigation Department and the Labour Law Department, the firm has grown significantly to offer a broad array of services tailored to support the financial and business activities of its clients. Moreover, the firm has become an acknowledged leader in the fields of corporate and project finance, banking, and

C o nta c t N a m e s H e a d P a rt n e r – P r o f e s s o r A z z e d i n e K e t ta n i M s N a d i a K e t ta n i , e s q . , s e n i o r p a rt n e r M s R i ta K e t ta n i , e s q . , s e n i o r p a rt n e r Email k @ k et t l aw . c o m n a d i a @ k et t l aw . c o m r i ta @ k e t t l a w . c o m

MOROCCO BUSINESS LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Kettani Law Firm (“KLF”) is a major and the leading independent, local, law firm in Morocco. KLF regularly advises foreign investors in regard to structuring investments in Morocco, incorporates commercial entities, drafts all types of commercial contracts needed and accompanies foreign companies during the entire investment process lifecycle, including telephone assistance whenever and as often as needed.

The firm advises on all operations relating to the financial strategy of both Moroccan and foreign companies, including restructuring and regrouping (mergers and similar operations, joint ventures), acquisitions, takeover bids, public offers of exchange, stock exchange listings and other equity transactions, bond issues whether assisting private companies or the Government in its recent international bond issues, energy through the assistance of sponsors in Tarfaya wind farm, of lenders in Jorf Lasfar Energy Company extension of power plant and of sponsors in the Safi power plant project.

More about the firm KLF is a major, Moroccan, business law firm founded in 1971 by Professor Azzedine Kettani who was admitted to practice in 1968 and is approved by the High Court of Justice of the Kingdom of Morocco. The firm regularly acts for banks and other financial institutions, international businesses, major public and private companies and departments of the government.

With the addition in 1992 of Nadia Kettani, who manages the International Consulting Department and supervises some areas of the Litigation Department; and in 1993 of Rita Kettani, who manages the Commercial Department, the Litigation Department and the Labour

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Law Department, the firm has grown significantly to offer a broad array of services tailored to support the financial and business activities of its clients. Moreover, the firm has become an acknowledged leader in the fields of corporate and project finance, banking, and corporate and commercial law. Areas of particular expertise include securities law, aviation law, telecommunications regulation, energy, hospitality, labour law, intellectual property, audits and IPOs. Additionally, the firm has significant experience in arbitration and litigation.

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C o nta c t d e ta i l s K e t ta n i L a w F i r m 8, rue Lahcen Al Basr i 20000 Cas abl a nca Morocco Tel: +212 522 43 89 00 Fax: +212 522 20 59 25

C o nta c t N a m e s H e a d P a rt n e r – P r o f e s s o r A z z e d i n e K e t ta n i M s N a d i a K e t ta n i , e s q . , s e n i o r p a rt n e r M s R i ta K e t ta n i , e s q . , s e n i o r p a rt n e r Email k @ k et t l aw . c o m n a d i a @ k et t l aw . c o m r i ta @ k e t t l a w . c o m

MOROCCO LITIGATION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Kettani Law Firm (“KLF”) has considerable experience in proceedings before national and international courts acting as both attorney and arbitrator. The firm advises and represents companies both before and during litigation. Professor Azzedine Kettani, the managing partner, is regularly appointed as arbitrator or president of arbitration tribunals under several arbitration institutions such as ICSID, ICC or DIAC. In addition, KLF has practitioners regularly litigating in almost every major city of Morocco, which has set it apart as the leader in local litigation representing multinational companies but also large banks and insurance companies.

intellectual property, audits and IPOs. Additionally, the firm has significant experience in arbitration and litigation.

More about the firm KLF is a major, Moroccan, business law firm founded in 1971 by Professor Azzedine Kettani who was admitted to practice in 1968 and is approved by the High Court of Justice of the Kingdom of Morocco. The firm regularly acts for banks and other financial institutions, international businesses, major public and private companies and departments of the government.

With the addition in 1992 of Nadia Kettani, who manages the International Consulting Department and supervises some areas of the Litigation Department; and in 1993 of Rita Kettani, who manages the Commercial Department, the Litigation Department and the Labour Law Department, the firm has grown significantly to offer a broad array of services tailored to support the financial and business activities of its clients. Moreover, the firm has become an acknowledged leader in the fields of corporate and project finance, banking, and corporate and commercial law. Areas of particular expertise include securities law, aviation law, telecommunications regulation, energy, hospitality, labour law,

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R i ta K e t ta n i

C o nta c t d e ta i l s K e t ta n i L a w F i r m 8, rue Lahcen Al Basr i 20000 Cas abl a nca Morocco Tel: +212 522 43 89 00 Fax: +212 522 20 59 25

C o nta c t N a m e s H e a d P a rt n e r – P r o f e s s o r A z z e d i n e K e t ta n i M s N a d i a K e t ta n i , e s q . , s e n i o r p a rt n e r M s R i ta K e t ta n i , e s q . , s e n i o r p a rt n e r Email k @ k et t l aw . c o m n a d i a @ k et t l aw . c o m r i ta @ k e t t l a w . c o m

SOUTH AFRICA FULL SERVICE FORENSIC ADVISORY OF THE YEAR ANTI-BRIBERY / CORRUPTION ADVISORY OF THE YEAR We as KPMG Forensic are the largest, most established and arguably the most innovative Forensic practice in South Africa – and have been the last two decades. We are therefore extremely honoured to be recognised with this award.

Our clients include multinationals, major corporations, state owned enterprise, and entities at all levels of government which are serious about the prevention, detection and investigation of fraud and acts of dishonesty.

Our mission is to help organisations in their efforts to achieve the highest levels of integrity and to manage the cost and risk of litigation, investigation, and regulatory enforcement actions by assisting with the prevention, detection and response to fraud, and other forms of misconduct; the avoidance and resolution of disputes, and the collection, discovery, and analysis of electronically stored information.

Our multi-disciplinary services are grouped into: Investigations and corporate intelligence Dispute advisory Fraud risk and ethics management Forensic technology and cyber Regulatory enforcement and compliance Three major trends currently have the greatest impact on forensic practitioners. These are: The globalisation of business and the flow of capital from mature to developing markets and the associated increased risk; Digitalisation and technology as manifest by the rise of social media, cybercrime, and the increasing vulnerability to technologically sophisticated criminals; and

The volume and pace of regulatory change, the aggressive and coordinated enforcement by regulators and the quantum of the sanctions and penalties imposed. One of the most active areas of heightened regulatory enforcement is anti-bribery and corruption. It is therefore extremely gratifying to be recognised as the anti-bribery/corruption advisory firm of the year.

We as KPMG Forensic South Africa have adapted to the trends described above by: Being globally networked and highly skilled in the management of all the complexities and risks in respect of cross border assignments; Investing heavily in cutting edge technologies, tools, resources and innovations; and Developing regulatory teams with great depth of experience and technical knowledge and equipping them with global methodologies.

The Forensic environment is consistently evolving and we as KPMG have adapted to remain the premier Forensic service provider in South Africa.

Petrus Marais CHAIRMAN, FORENSIC SOUTH AFRICA KPMG Services (Pty) Ltd Contact Details & Mailing address P.O. Box 4609 Cape Town South Africa Tel: (+27) 79 515 9469 www.kpmg.co.za

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ANGOLA

ANTI-FRAUD / ASSET RECOVERY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

The Legal Counsel Fir m hereinaf ter designated as LCF Group, was founded by Mrs. Lourdes Caposso Fer nandes, having been incorporated with the patriotic sense to provide our small contribution for the Enhancement of the Angolan Human Capital, the ethical - deontological values and still securing sustainable development of our countr y.

Through ever y stage of each process we always strive to protr ude an extra mile in order to achieve the best outcome.

Our commitment to client-centered ser vice is embodied by our motto, "Working Together Works," and we have centered our full range of practice areas on timely and effective attention to meeting our clients' needs and expectations.

Our Corporate Identity is based on five principles, namely: “ Our interest is to protect the interest of our clients” - Slogan “Investing in Human Capital believing in his value” - Mission “African Advocating Africa” -Vision and "Working Together Works” - Motto.

"Protecting Interest" - Work LCF Group is divided in to three categories and six units: Legal Ser vices: LCF Lourdes Caposso Fer nandes & Associados, Luanda. Angola; LCF Attor neys at Law, in Houston, TX. US; Continuing education: LCF Local Content Focus in Houston, TX. US; Center of Compliance CCCAL in Luanda; Social Responsibility: Association Law in Force; A A A A Acepting Africans Advocating Africans.

LCF LOURDES CAPOS SO FERNANADES (the trophy winner) Skilled, Efficient and Responsive Lawyers; Comprehensive Legal Solutions for Clients Worldwide With our Africa and United States operations centered in Luanda, Angola, and Houston, Texas, the LCF Group provides solutions-oriented legal representation to a worldwide client base. Our practice areas include business law, criminal and civil litigation, family law and gover nment relations. A primar y focus of our inter national practice is oil and gas law, where, together with the energy sector in general, we have become tr usted leaders in guiding, protecting and promoting profitability for corporate clients across multiple borders.

Whether representing a client in a simple local agreement or in a multiparty transnational oil and gas transaction we believe that attention to detail is essential. Responsiveness and client ser vice are core elements of our practice, our attor neys work closely with clients to ensure that our legal and business advice is aligned with their goals.

With lawyers hailing from Africa, the Far East, Europe and the United States, our law fir m has continued to build an inter nationally recognized team, composed of many whom were selected for inclusion in the Super Lawyers list.

Dra. Lourdes founded the fir m upon the fundamental belief that in order to be successful in any competitive market, today ’s attor neys must be relationship-centered and attentive. “ We believe that our greatest asset is the tr ust we have built with our clients. We take pride in the relationships we have built and that we continue to build with our clients as they retur n to us whenever they need to overcome any legal challenge.”

Practice Areas LCF Advogados is divided into the following five departments: E.N.R.O.G. Department (Energy, Natural Resources, Oil And Gas) • Diamonds, iron and natural resources • Environmental law • Renewable energy • Oil transactions in downstream, upstream and midstream • Tax law C.A .P. Department (Litigation and Public Administration) • Arbitration • Civil, labor, tax and customs litigation • Sports law • Migration law • Family law, intestate and testate law F.I.C. – M.D. Department (Finance, Investments And Corporations) • Private law • Banking • Stock exchange • Foreign exchange law • Insurance law N.C.L. – P.I. Department (Negotiations, Contracts And Litigation) • Inter national commercial contracts • Civil law, negotiation, contract management • Labor law • Privatization, mergers and acquisitions • Public-private partnership and corporate gover nance T.I.T. – A .E. Department (Telecommunications, Real Estate And Transpor-

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ANGOLA

ANTI-FRAUD / ASSET RECOVERY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

tation) • Maritime law • Real estate • Road and rail transport • Hotel and tourism • Agricultural law Energy Lawyers: At LCF Group, our energy lawyers are well-versed in the intricacies of the practice. We have built an inter national reputation for our ability to navigate the complexities of this unique industr y and address all relevant legal and business matters.

Both in Luanda, Angola, and Houston, Texas, our energy attor neys represent businesses involved in the exploration, development, production, storage and transportation of energy resources such as petroleum, natural gas and coltan. We have provided guidance and solutions for ever yone from multimillion-dollar corporations fir mly entrenched in the energy industr y to emerging companies just entering this competitive arena. In ever y case, we customize our ser vices to ensure that they are aligned with the business's vision of where it wants to be positioned within this lucrative industr y.

We recognize that this is not an industr y made up of only local businesses. While operations may be headquartered in Houston, an energy business may have dealings in many areas throughout the United States and overseas. The business may be simultaneously trimming the workforce in the U.S., solidif ying operations in South America and laying the groundwork for a new enterprise in Africa. Our law fir m was designed with that in mind. Our law offices are in Houston, Texas, and naturalresources-rich Angola, Africa. We have an inter national footprint, with lawyers working on energy law cases on most continents.

Inter national Oil And Gas Law Attor neys: The complexities of oil and gas law are magnified when crossing inter national borders. It can be critical to put together a team that is well-versed in inter national energy and business law to ensure that overseas operations are not only profitable, but compliant with the laws of the countries involved. At LCF Group, we have developed extensive skills in helping our clients navigate the differing challenges of various inter national markets.

From our law offices in Luanda, Angola, and Houston, Texas, we represent U.S. oil and gas companies operating in African countries like Angola and Nigeria, and South American countries like Brazil, as well as in other oil-producing countries around the globe. We also assist European, Asian and other worldwide interests in their inter national oil and gas endeavors.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Our lawyers provide representation in the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industr y. We have ser ved leading oil and gas corporations, oil rig manufacturers, telecommunications providers for oil and gas corporations, and a full array of other ser vices ancillar y to but dependent upon oil and gas. From resolving conflicts for multinational corporations that have found themselves in violation of inter national ethics and anti-corr uption laws to providing guidance to pipe-fitting businesses and other businesses interested in getting contracts for work in African or other inter national petroleum drilling operations, we have proven that our experience and knowledge are invaluable resources.

Inter national Law Attor neys: When doing business in other countries, it is important to understand that there are not only legal differences that need to be addressed, but also cultural differences that must be taken into consideration. Business is simply done differently ever ywhere.

At LCF Group, our attor neys understand how to effectively cross borders with business law matters of all kinds while providing efficient and timely attention to our clients' needs. We recognize that success requires that no minute be wasted. Our clients can be confident knowing that, regardless of where their endeavors take us, we will actively pursue a swif t resolution.

While our primar y headquarters are located in Luanda, Angola and Houston, Texas, our attor neys represent a broad variety of inter national interests throughout Africa, North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Our lawyers represent businesses in all industries worldwide, including oil and gas companies, mining operations, technology corporations and more. Our inter national law ser vices include: • • • • • •

Due diligence Regional requirements for non-national companies Expatriating funds Ethics and anti-corr uption Foreign Corr upt Practices Act Visa requirements and procedures

Contact us to lear n more about how our attor neys can ser ve your needs.

We are here to help.

LC F A d vo g a d o s Edifício da Bibl ioteca d o Arqu i vo H i st ó r i c o N a c i o n a l , 2 n d F l o o r Ru a Pedro Fél i x Mach a d o Nu mber 51, I n g o m b o ta s Lu an da, Angola Local: +244 222 408 080 Fax: +244 923 888 555

L C F G r o u p , A t t o r n e y s at L a w 1 0 2 6 0 W e st h e i m e r R o a d , S u i t e 3 6 0 H o u st o n , T X 7 7 0 4 2 To l l F r e e : 8 0 0 - 5 9 2 - 5 9 3 5 Phone: 281-501-9366 i n f o @ LC F G r o u p . c o m

UAE FOREIGN SMALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LEADING ANTI- MONEY LAUNDERING LAWYER OF THE YEAR, KARTEEKKA TYAGGI Leg u m A mi c us s i s a ful l s e rv i c e H R , c o m p lia n c e a n d leg al co n s ul ta nc y wi th two i n t e r n a t io n a l o f f ic e s in In d ia an d U A E a nd a te a m of a roun d 2 0 p lu s p r o f e s s io n a ls co m p risi n g L a wy e rs , C ha rte re d A c c o u n t a n t s , C o m p a n y Secretaries , M a na ge me nt C on s u lt a n t s a n d P a r a le g a ls .

Th e I n d i a offi c e of the fi rm o f f e r s s e a s o n e d p r o f e s s i o n al ad vi c e on ma tte rs re l a t in g t o f o r e ig n d ir e c t in vest m ent, c ompl i a nc e i s s ues , t a x a d v is o r y , c o r p o r a t e an d co m me rc i a l l e ga l ma tte rs a n d r e a l e s t a t e m a t t e r s .

Th e o f fice i s ma na ge d by M r. V is h a l A r o r a , a t r a in e d Co m p an y Se c re ta ry a nd M s . D e e v y y a a Go y a l, a t r a in e d Co m p an y Se c re ta ry a nd a qua lif ie d L a w y e r .

Th e U A E offi c e of the fi rm i s m a n a g e d a n d h e a d e d b y M s. Kar tee k k a T y a ggi , a qua lif ie d la w y e r , w h o h o ld s s u b stan t i a l e x pe ri e nc e i n the f ie ld o f c o r p o r a t e a n d co m m er ci a l a dv i s ory , i nv e s tm e n t b a n k in g , r e a l e s t a t e mat ters, m e rge rs a nd a c qui s it io n s , c o r p o r a t e r e s t r u c tu r i n g , su cc e s s i on a nd re gul a t o r y m a t t e r s . T h e s t r e n g t h of th e firm l i e s i n unde rs ta nd in g t h e f in a n c ia l, co m m er ci a l a nd l e ga l a rc hi te c t u r e o f t h e r e g io n a n d it s ap p li cat i o n to c l i e nt’s bus i nes s g o a ls . T h e f ir m a d v is e s vario u s b i g bus i ne s s e s i n the r e g io n a n d a s w e ll a s s o m e g lo b a l c l i e nts a nd ha s b e e n a p a r t o f s o m e m a jo r in vest m ent a nd de v e l opme nt d e a ls . T h e o f f ic e h a s a s m al l t eam of l a wy e rs , pa ra l e g a ls a n d t r a in e e s t o s u p p o rt t he fi rm's growi ng p r a c t ic e in Mid d le E a s t .

s e a s o n ed ad vi se co m b i n ed wi t h a p er so n al i zed ser vi ce, w h e r e we r esp ect t i m e an d d ead l i n es. We u n d er st an d t im e eq u al s m o n ey f o r m o st o f o u r cl i en t s an d a c c o r di n g l y, we al ways st r i ve t o d el i ver o u r ad vi se i n t h e s h o r t est p o ssi b l e t i m e, wi t h o u t co m p r o m i si n g , o f c o u r s e , o n t h e q u al i t y an d t h e su b st an ce o f t h e ad vi ce.

Ou r t e am f i r st u n d er st an d s t h e b asi c b u si n ess e n v ir o n m en t an d r eq u i r em en t s o f t h e cl i en t s b ef o r e o f f e r in g an y ad vi ce o n t h e m at t er s at h an d .

T h e s er vi ces t h at we o f f er f r o m t h e t wo o f f i ces i n cl u d e H R C o n su l t an cy, Leg al an d Co m p l i an ce, Co m p an y F o r m at i o n f o r j u r i sd i ct i o n s i n cl u d i n g I n d i a, UAE, B V I , S e y c h el l es an d US, B u si n ess R est r u ct u r i n g , I n vest m en t A d v is o r y, Ad vi so r y o n R eal Est at e an d Devel o p m en t Ma t t e r s, Su ccessi o n s an d Wi l l s f o r var i o u s j u r i sd i ct i o n s s u c h as I n d i a, UAE, B V I an d Seych el l es an d G en er al le g a l an d co r p o r at e ad vi so r y.

Ms. Karteekka Tyaggi,

Lead Partner, UAE Legum Amicuss PO Box 643973, Dubai United Arab Emirates Ph: Fax:

+ 971 4 312 4315 + 971 4 312 4316

Email:admin@legumamicuss.com legumamiucss@gmail.com www.legumamicuss.com

Leg u m A mi c us s offe rs i ts c l i e n t s t h e a d v a n t a g e o f

SOUTH AFRICA FULL SERV ICE BUSINESS A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR LUMENROCK is a specialized financial solutions group, offering a broad range of services internationally, inter alia fiduciary services, auditing and accounting, financial management advice, short and lang term insurance, alternative risk transfer, investment advice and structuring, forex handling and corporate cash management services (South Africa), payroll and human capital management, relational leadership consulting and sport management services (golf and rugby).

LUMENROCK's head office is in George, Southern Cape, South Africa, there are currently 8 offices in South Africa (Sandton, Cape Town and Durban included), one in Limassol, Cyprus and a satellite office in Bangui, Gambia, West Africa. Through strategic associations LUMENROCK have independent associated offices on all the continents, in more than 60 countries and in all the recognized financial and fiduciary centers of the world, including most major centers in Africa.

We distinguish ourselves inter alia by employing specialists in the different service areas we offer, eg we have a whole host of Chartered Accountants, attorneys, a doctor in relational leadership, investment and insurance specialists and a host of professionals in training. We offer solutions by not only keeping up to date, but being ahead of most of our competitors with new and innovative solutions, but also by being physically available anywhere in the world (we see you in your office, no matter where that may be) and by focusing on international traders, investors and sports people.

Our team specializes in taxation, fiduciary and investment services, planning and structuring internationally, with specific focus on business people. HNW families, and sportsmen and women.

We specifically service businesses that trade internationally and especially trading into and out of Africa. Our fiduciary and consulting team comprises of specialists that are known for being at the forefront of consulting on legal and taxation matters, our trust deeds and advice thereon and on wills are some of the most modern available, whether in South Africa, Africa or internationally in general.

One of LUMENROCK Group’s focuses for expansion is on international business. We are geared for new, larger and more international clients and we are also very open for talks in the merger and acquisitions area for prospective partners.

Pieter W Esterhuizen, CA(SA) TEP Managing Director:

Te l e p h o n e : + 2 7 ( 8 6 ) 1 8 7 3 2 5 5 E-mail: pwe@lumenrock.co.za We b s i t e : w w w. l u m e n r o c k . c o . z a Head office: Loerie Centre, 122 Meade street, G e o r g e , We s t e r n C a p e , S A C a p e To w n : 1 2 2 T h e Q u a y s , C e n t u r y C i t y, C a p e Tw o n , W E s t e r n C a p e , S A J o h a n n e s b u r g : 1 9 t h F l o o r, S a n d t o n C i t y O f f i c e To w e r, S a n d t o n , G a u t e n g , SA Durban: 19 Igwababa Road, Kloof, Durban, KwazuluNatal, SA

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND OVERALL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Attorney, Notary, Conveyancer and Trademarks Agent.

Musa Leon Dlamini the proprietor of M.L. Dlamini Attorneys and an executive Director of Sanlam Investment Management Swaziland Limited (SIM). He currently also leads the conveyancing and notarial departments of M.L. Dlamini Attorneys where he represents all the major banks in Conveyancing and Notarial matters and transactions linked herewith.

His experience in the property field in Swaziland is very broad, having conducted due diligence exercises for a number of big and sensitive land transactions and assisting in the first Swazi property transaction at the Swazi Stock Exchange. He has conducted a number of conveyancing transactions where the value of the transaction was in excess of E100 million such as the recent registration of Mortgage Bonds on security sharing agreements with the major banks for the Swazi Plaza financial transaction.

Recently he finished the mammoth task of transferring the land which involved almost 4% of the total surface area of Swaziland, the largest transaction by far in the country. He has prepared, notarised and registered many leases, trust, etc. where the Government, Chiefs, Corporations and Individuals are lessees. These have been commercial, social and residential in nature. He has extensive experience in negotiating mineral rights in Swaziland having negotiated and registered mineral rights for a number of mining companies.

As a former associate of Cloete Henwood Dlamini and former Managing Partner of Millin & Currie he has gained invaluable experience in the registration of townships in Swaziland having to date personally registered over 10(ten) townships in Swaziland. This means a total property registration of over 1500 properties and counting.

He has been the Chairman of SIPA (Swaziland Investment Promotion Authority), a parastatal of the Swaziland Government tasked with investment in and out of Swaziland, Company Secretary of the Royal Swaziland Technology Park and Royal Initiatives.

He is currently serving his third term as a Commissioner in the Judicial Service Commission and a second term as the Chairman of the Swaziland Development Finance Company (FINCORP), which is tasked with assisting SME’s with finance on existing and new projects. ML Dlamini Attorneys also has a Litigation division which focuses on the needs of our clients. Mr Sikelela Shabangu oversees this department and has successfully prosecuted some recoveries for our clients.

Company: M.L. Dlamini Attorneys Name: Musa Leon Dlamini Email: info@mldattorneys.com musa@mldattorneys.com Address: ML DLAMINI ATTORNEYS Office Mez 04, 2nd Floor North Block Corporate Place, Swazi Plaza Mbabane, H100 Swaziland.

Tel: +268 2404 3144/ 2405 0383 Website: www.mldattorneys.com

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

GHANA PPP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

We are a dynamic commercial legal and strategic advisory firm. Our areas of specialty include corporate, property and construction law, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and investment structuring. We approach all our work with an uncompromising devotion to excellence. We meticulously research and analyse all legal issues to ensure that our advice is technically sound as well as commercially pragmatic.

Our team of creative and dedicated professionals has excellent local and international experience in law and business. Combining this knowledge and experience with a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to all our assignments enables us to provide cogent, comprehensive, concise and commercial advice. We make it a priority to understand and anticipate our clients’ specific needs and to structure our services to meet them.

We take current business, political and economic developments into consideration in formulating our advice.

Our firm's environment embraces and encourages talented and dedicated professionals who seek to be challenged and acquire knowledge and skills in collegial atmosphere. We recruit only the best people and invest in the training and development. Whilst we appreciate the importance of academics and legal knowledge, those are not the only qualities and skills we look for. We are an equal opportunity employer and each employee is a valued member of our team who plays an important role in our success.

NanaAma Botchway-Dowuona

Senior Counsel

n. dowuona & company Suites 305 and 306, 3rd floor Movenpick Ambassador Hotel I n d e p e n d e n c e Av e n u e , R i d g e , A c c r a T: + 2 3 3 3 0 2 6 3 2 0 4 3 / 4 F: +233 302 632046 C:+233 244 319936 w w w. d o w u o n a l a w. c o m

K E N YA CORPORATE FINANCE A DV ISORY BOUTIQUE OF THE YEAR Pamoja Capital is an independent corporate finance advisory boutique established in 2006, with offices in Johannesburg and Nairobi. The firm has 4 partners and 14 professional staff. Our clients range from multinational corporations, central and regional governments/agencies, listed and family owned businesses, entrepreneurs and other institutions in which we focus on assisting them originate and execute corporate transactions across all sectors. In Johannesburg we have strong credentials in infrastructure financing, Fixed Income and Public Private Partnership (PPP) transactions while the Nairobi office focuses on M&A and capital raising.

Our overriding philosophy is to ensure that we offer value added services to clients and ensure they meet their business objectives by blending our local knowledge with international expertise and best practice. It is this philosophy that saw the success of the Dimension Data acquisition of Access Kenya Group Limited.

Being a cross border transaction, the transaction faced challenges including the different legal and regulatory environments in which (i) the companies operate and (ii) corporate transactions are executed. This was the first takeover of a listed company in Kenya by new shareholder to acquire 100% and delist the company. The regulatory framework around mergers and takeovers was

tested severely. We offered strategic and tactical advise as well as just plain old fashion execution to ensure the outcome was achieved.

We are greatly honoured by this award which is a reflection of the continuous growth of our firm.

Our success is based on the partnerships we have with our clients whom have entrusted us with very important assignments. In addition, we are blessed with an excellent team who put the interests of the client first in everything that they do. We pride ourselves in just doing the hard yards in order to achieve the desired outcome and spend lots of time working on solutions that meet client objectives and requirements. The business is owner managed and this ensures there is strong commitment from senior executives in transaction management and execution. Further, as fellow entrepreneurs, we feel we are better placed to relate with business owners on the corporate actions they need to take.

Geoffrey Gangla M a n agi ng Di r e cto r Pamoja Capital Limited M a y f a i r C e n t r e - 3 r d F l o o r, W i n g B Ralph Bunche Road, Upperhill P. O . B o x 5 1 7 1 8 - 0 0 2 0 0 Nairobi, Kenya Te l : + 2 5 4 2 0 2 7 2 1 7 1 2 o r +254 728 171760 gangla@pamojacapital.co.ke w w w. p a m o j a c a p i t a l . c o . k e

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

MAURITIUS COMPANY & TRUST FORMATION A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR

“At Premier, we constantly strive for success through our excellent client service. Thanks to this we are frequently short-listed or nominated for numerous awards in the industry. Winning this award testifies our hard work and high quality and personalised services to our clients” noted managing director Mr Vimal D Damry.

Premier Financial Services Limited is a licensed trust company providing company formation, trust, accounting, international taxation planning and fiduciary services to high net worth individuals and corporates, including listed entities and investment funds.

Premier is also a member of the INAA Group (www.inaa.org), a worldwide association of independent accounting firms consisting mainly of audit, tax and accounting firms. INAA’s influence is worldwide; in fact, the organisation is represented by more than 65 firms in more than 50 countries and the number is constantly increasing.

Mr Damry said: “In addition to Mauritius companies, popular jurisdictions such as Seychelles, the British Virgin Islands, Singapore and Hong Kong, among others. Moreover, Premier assists in the successful application of financial licence in Mauritius for financial licences.”

Today, Premier provides its client base with various fiduciary and corporate services. The firm’s capacity to provide bespoke solutions means that it is distinguished from its competitors. The firm is a one-stop-shop for all clients, and is able to assist them extremely well.”

Recently, Premier has also participated in various international conferences as exhibitor participants, hence reaching new clients and intermediaries.

2013 looks bright for the group. In brief, we have all the ingredients to move forward and face new challenges with confidence. We will be looking for opportunities to sensibly expand our services and footprint to other jurisdictions”

Mr Vimal D. Damry Managing Director Premier Financial Services Limited T +230 2456703 F +230 2456704 E vimal@premier.mu www.premier.mu

AFRICA AFRICA - INVESTMENT BANK OF THE YEAR SOUTH AFRICA - DEBT HOUSE OF THE YEAR SOUTH AFRICA - INVESTMENT BANK OF THE YEAR SOUTH AFRICA - M&A ADVISORY OF THE YEAR Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), a division of FirstRand Bank Limited, is a leading African corporate and investment bank and part of one of the largest financial services groups in Africa. funding, trading, corporate banking and principal investing solutions.

As the corporate and investment banking arm of the FirstRand Group, India, China, and the Middle East and access to a network of retail banks in 25 African countries.

Our vision and primary business objective is to create sustainable value and superior economic returns for our clients and shareholders in Africa and beyond.

owner-manager culture and operates through a portfolio of four separately branded franchises:

We have an extensive pool of investment banking talent and fixed income, currency and commodities experts who understand the African business landscape. We have over the past two decades concluded many highprofile deals across multiple sectors in over 30 countries in Africa.

• Retail, commercial and wholesale banking – First National Bank (FNB) – one of Africa’s largest retail, commercial and wholesale banks by assets

We structure the most appropriate financing solutions to meet the needs of our clients, whether for project finance, on-balance sheet lending or a combination thereof. We value mutually rewarding relationships and constantly question existing models and develop innovative and bespoke solutions to deliver on our business philosophy and brand promise:

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

FirstRand Bank Limited is the second largest listed banking group (by market capitalisation) on the Johannesburg

• Investment Banking – RMB – one of Africa’s leading corporate and investment banks by peer ranking and industry awards

• Instalment – WesBank – one of Africa’s top vehicle and asset finance providers by market share • Investment management – Ashburton Investments – The FirstRand Group’s vision is to be the African services group of choice by growing its franchise in the broader African continent, targeting countries which are well positioned to benefit from the trade and investment flows between Africa, China and India.

For more information please visit: www.rmb.co.za.

MAURITIUS GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE YEAR COMPANY OF THE YEAR (CORPORATE GOVERANCE) The New India Assurance Co. Ltd is a Government of India undertaking, operating across the globe through Branches, Agencies, Associates and Subsidiary Companies. It is the oldest General Insurance Company in Mauritius operating since 1935 which is progressing constantly and steadily in the Island as we are very sincere and transparent in our approach.

We are forerunner in keeping our social obligation. We have sponsored : MUR 2.5 Mln for Poverty Elevation Programme jointly with National Empowerment Foundation MUR 300,000/- for plantation of Ebony Tree

Our vision is to be the most respected, trusted and preferred General Insurer and our mission is to develop the business in the interest of the community to provide financial security to the individuals, trade, commerce and to provide high quality services at affordable costs.

Transparency and sincerity are our core values. Our honesty in servicing the customers is our strength.

We are highly professionals and innovative in designing new products depending upon the needs of the customers i.e how we are the leaders for the decades in many countries. We believe that the customer is our most important visitor on our premises – He is not dependent to us but we are dependent on him.

He is not an interruption in our work but he is the purpose of it.

He is not an outsider in our business but he is part of it.

We are not doing favour by servicing him but he is giving us an opportunity to do so.

MUR 1.2 Mln for unpriviledged children and many more programmes under Corporate Social Responsibility.

Our excellence is proved by following testimonials : A-“ Excellent by AM Best, USA consecutively for the last eight (8) years “Claims Initiative of the Year” by Africa Leadership Best Non-Life Insurance Company 2013, Mauritius by World Finance, London “Assurance Company of the Year” awarded by Acquisition International, M & A Awards, 2014 2014 Offshore Excellence Awards for Best in Corporate Governance in Mauritius awarded by AI Global Media Ltd, London.

Hence, we believe that each satisfied customer brings more customers to the company. This is the MANTRA of our success.

MR BARAHATE THE NEW INDIA ASSURANCE CO. LTD 15, Sir William Newton Street PORT LOUIS Tel. No.: 2081442 – 2107448 – 2117443 – 52939495 / 96 / 97 Fax: 2082160 Website : www.newindia.co.in

NIGERIA LAWYER OF THE YEAR, AJIBOLA OLUYEDE

Described by a National Newspaper as the “quintessential Lawyer” he has effectively traversed the entire gamut of legal Practice in Nigeria as a litigator. Admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1981, he began legal practice and quickly earned a reputation as a tough litigator and commercial lawyer with special interest in cross border financial transactions and compliance with money laundering as well as other regulations. Having been pioneer partner in TRLP Solicitors, a London based commercial law firm established in 2002, he has been consulted and acted in respect of high profile matters in the United Kingdom involving the assets of Nigerian political figures.

Highly respected in banking, finance and investment circles, he represented the interests of the Nigerian Creditors of the London Trust Bank in its administration by Price Waterhouse Coopers London and led the Creditors Committee in the eventual CVA of that entity. His advise and influence was pivotal in the record recovery of Nigerian funds tied up in the institution when the United Kingdom Financial Services Authority withdrew its license. He has also been involved in advising the major actors in the ongoing Banking reform in Nigeria and has written prolifically on the subject.

E m a i l : a j i b o l a @ t r l p l a w. c o m Mobile: +2347030914762 Lagos office (HQ) D 9 6 L a n d b r i d g e Av e n u e Oniru Estate Victoria Island Extension Lagos, Nigeria.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

SOUTH AFRICA NICHE A DV ISORY FIRM OF THE YEAR (TURNAROUND), V-Squared Business Rescue Services (Pty) Ltd was founded by Peter van den Steen in 2011 when Chapter 6 – Business Rescue Proceedings of the Companies Act in South Africa came into effect.

By that stage Peter had several years experience in turnarounds. Peter has a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pretoria (1990) and a MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (2007), and is a member of the Turnaround Managers Association in South Africa.

V-Squared Business Rescue Services (Pty) Ltd specializes in Business Rescue and Turnarounds through hands-on involvement in the corporation, using proven methods. The company draws on its relationships with credible and independent business partners to form a team or teams of experts with domain specific expertise in various areas that may be required to ‘get the job done’.

Past successes have all been the result of effective teamwork within and outside of the companies.

Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP) are clearly define in that the BRP steps in to the shoes and substitutes the board of directors and takes control of the corporation from that point in time onwards. The process is based somewhat on the US Chapter 11, Canadian CCAA and UK administration processes.

Projects involving cross-border and multijurisdictional work are often encountered and are gladly accepted.

USA Technology Firm 2012 - USD 8+

mil RSA, USA, Kenya

Turnaround assignments are accepted only when supported and mandated by shareholders and independent directors. The reason is that truly distressed companies require intervention as opposed to consultation – a process that often encounters pockets of resistance.

P et e r va n d e n St e e n peter@v2rescue.co.za +27 83 459 2411 LinkedIn. http://lnkd.in/dK-H2zB

Within Chapter 6 of the South African Companies act the powers, responsibilities and duties of a

K E N YA DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Waweru Gatonye & Co. Advocates Advocates , Notaries Public & Commissioners for Oaths

Established in May, 1985, Waweru Gatonye & Company Advocates has built a name for itself as one of Kenya’s finest commercial practice firm.

The team provides pragmatic, solution driven services that add value to clients’ businesses, while maintaining a very good team of litigators.

The firm has made an impression in important fields including corporate/commercial litigation, conveyance & property matters and arbitration.

Reputed as a leading law firm in the country, the 4 partners, associates and legal interns make a 14 lawyer team at the forefront of significant legal developments Charles Waweru Gatonye leads the litigation team with the assistance of Munyalo Nthuli. Mary Imende heads the Commercial Conveyance & Property department together with Tedd Moya who is also astute in Commercial Litigation.

Renowned for our commitment to excellence and for our ability to find innovative solutions to the most complex of legal problems, we provide pragmatic, solution driven services that add value to clients’ businesses. While maintaining a very good team of litigators, the firm has made an impression in important fields including corporate/commercial litigation, conveyance & property matters and arbitration. Reputed as a leading law firm in the country, the 4 partners, associates and legal assistants make a 14 lawyer team at the forefront of significant legal develop-

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ment. Our objective is to provide professional and excellent legal services and advice while remaining sensitive to clients’ needs and professional ethics.

We aim at being efficient, remaining faithful to the law while sustaining professional relationships with our clients.

Waweru Gatonye & Co. Advocates 4 t h F l r Ti m a u P l a z a , A r g w i n g s Kodhek Rd. P. O B o x 5 5 2 0 7 – 0 0 2 0 0 , N a i r o b i , K e n y a Te l : + 2 5 4 ( 2 0 ) 2 4 2 8 4 5 2 / 3 / 4 Fax: +254 (20) 2428450 Email: info@wawerugatonye.co.ke http://wawerugatonye.com/

international

Recovery Strengthens, Remains Uneven Global activity has broadly strengthened and is expected to improve further in 2014–15, with much of the impetus coming from advanced economies. Inflation in these economies, however, has undershot projections, reflecting still-large output gaps and recent commodity price declines.

Activity in many emerging market economies has disappointed in a less favourable external financial environment, although they continue to contribute more than two-thirds of global growth. Their output growth is expected to be lifted by stronger exports to advanced economies. In this setting, downside risks identified in previous World Economic Outlook reports have diminished somewhat.

There are three caveats: emerging market risks have increased, there are risks to activity from lower-than-expected inflation in advanced economies, and geopolitical risks have resurfaced. Overall, the balance of risks, while improved, remains on the downside.

The renewed increase in financial volatility in late January of this year highlights the challenges for emerging market economies posed by the changing external environment.

The proximate cause seems to have been renewed market concern about emerging market fundamentals. Although market pressures were relatively broadly based, countries with higher inflation and wider current account deficits were generally more affected.

Some of these weaknesses have been present for some time, but with prospects of improved returns in advanced economies, investor sentiment is now less favourable toward

emerging market risks. In view of possible capital flow reversals, risks related to sizable external funding needs and disorderly currency depreciations are a concern. Some emerging market economies have tightened macroeconomic policies to shore up confidence and strengthen their commitment to policy objectives. Overall, financial conditions have tightened further in some emerging market economies compared with the October 2013 World Economic Outlook. The cost of capital has increased as a result, and this is expected to dampen investment and weigh on growth.

Looking ahead, global growth is projected to strengthen from 3 percent in 2013 to 3.6 percent in 2014 and 3.9 percent in 2015, broadly unchanged from the October 2013 outlook. In advanced economies, growth is expected to increase to about 2¼ percent in 2014–15, an improvement of about 1 percentage point compared with 2013. Key drivers are a reduction in fiscal tightening, except in Japan, and still highly accommodative monetary conditions. Growth will be strongest in the United States at about 2¾ percent. Growth is projected to be positive but varied in the euro area: stronger in the core, but weaker in countries with high debt (both private and public) and financial fragmentation, which will both weigh on domestic demand. In emerging market and developing economies, growth is projected to pick up gradually from 4.7 percent in 2013 to about 5 percent in 2014 and 5¼ percent in 2015. Growth will be helped by stronger external demand from advanced economies, but tighter financial conditions will dampen domestic demand growth. In China, growth is projected to remain at about 7½

percent in 2014 as the authorities seek to rein in credit and advance reforms while ensuring a gradual transition to a more balanced and sustainable growth path.

The global recovery is still fragile despite improved prospects, and significant downside risks—both old and new—remain. Recently, some new geopolitical risks have emerged. On old risks, those related to emerging market economies have increased with the changing external environment. As highlighted in the April 2014 Global Financial Stability Report, unexpectedly rapid normalization of U.S. monetary policy or renewed bouts of high risk aversion on the part of investors could result in further financial turmoil. This would lead to difficult adjustments in some emerging market economies, with a risk of contagion and broad-based financial stress, and thus lower growth.

In advanced economies, risks to activity associated with very low inflation have come to the fore, especially in the euro area, where large output gaps have contributed to low inflation.

With inflation likely to remain below target for some time, longer-term inflation expectations might drift down, leading to even lower inflation than is currently expected, or possibly to deflation if other downside risks to activity materialize. The result would be higher real interest rates, an increase in private and public debt burdens, and weaker demand and output.

The strengthening of the recovery from the Great Recession in the advanced economies is a welcome development. But growth is not evenly robust across the globe, and more policy

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

efforts are needed to fully restore confidence, ensure robust growth, and lower downside risks.

Policymakers in advanced economies need to avoid a premature withdrawal of monetary accommodation. In an environment of continued fiscal consolidation, still-large output gaps, and very low inflation, monetary policy should remain accommodative. In the euro area, more monetary easing, including unconventional measures, is necessary to sustain activity and help achieve the European Central Bank’s price stability objective, thus lowering risks of even lower inflation or outright deflation. Sustained low inflation would not likely be conducive to a suitable recovery of economic growth. In Japan, implementation of the remaining two arrows of Abenomicsstructural reform and plans for fiscal consolidation beyond 2015—is essential to achieve the inflation target and higher sustained gr he urgency for action varies across economies.

Early steps are required if public debt is already elevated and the associated refinancing needs are a source of vulnerability. Fourth, many economies need a new round of structural reforms that include investment in public infrastructure, removal of barriers to entry in product and services markets, and in China, rebalancing growth away from investment toward consumption.

Low-income countries will need to avoid a build-up of external and public debt. Many of these countries have succeeded in maintaining strong growth, partly reflecting better macroeconomic policies, but their external environ-

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

ment has also been changing. Foreign direct investment has started to moderate with declining commodity prices, and commodityrelated budget revenues and foreign exchange earnings are at risk. Timely policy adjustments will be important to avoid a Build-up in external debt and public debt.

Source: International Monetary Fund

INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SERV ICES ALLI ANCE OF THE YEAR

Accountancy & Law Alliance of the Year in the Global Market

Alliott Group James Hickey CEO Tel: +44 (0) 203 330 0111 james@alliottgroup.net www.alliottgroup.net

Alliott Group, founded in 1979, is a worldwide alliance of independent accounting, law and consulting À UPV :LWK PRUH WKDQ PHP EHU À UPV LQ VRPH FRXQWULHV WKH JURXS PHHWV WKH ORFDO DQG FURVV ERUGHU QHHGV RI LWV PHPEHUV DQG WKHLU FOLHQWV The principles of its business are passion – to bring energy, drive and resolve in supporting business growth; integrity – consistently making fair, honest and reliable choices; and excellence – capability to provide UPQ RVBMJUZ TFSWJDFT JO BO FGm DJFOU and effective manner that exceeds expectations.

The group has accounting and law m SN NFNCFST MPDBUFE JO BMM SFHJPOT providing independent advice and services to businesses and individVBMT 5IF m SNT IBWF B TUSPOH MPDBM market presence which provides them with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of business and cultural matters, enabling them to UBJMPS TQFDJm D TPMVUJPOT 5IFZ BSF BCMF to co-operate with one another on a local, regional and worldwide level to access knowledge and best practices from like-minded professionals to give them a competitive advantage in servicing their clients.

"MMJPUU (SPVQ PGGFST JOEFQFOEFOU m SNT the opportunity to extend nationally, regionally and globally with their DMJFOUT UISPVHI BDDFTT UP PUIFS m SNT of like-minded professionals committed to providing a high standard of TFSWJDF 5IJT NFBOT UIBU m SNT GVMMZ comply with all professional standards in every jurisdiction. .FNCFSTIJQ BMMPXT m SNT UP SFUBJO and attract business through the ability to connect with likeminded professionals in other jurisdictions.

Members exchange, benchmark and share know-how and best practice information on both a technical and practice management level. &BDI NFNCFS m SN VOEFSHPFT B thorough screening process on appliDBUJPO JODMVEJOH SFWJFX PG UIF m SN T latest peer review or an on-site review where a peer review is not available.

5IF m SNT BSF BTTFTTFE UISPVHIPVU their membership to ensure that they continue to operate and meet all of UIF HSPVQ T DSJUFSJB 5IF HSPVQ T MPOH UFSN HPBM JT UP TVQQPSU JUT BDDPVOUJOH BOE MBX m SNT in becoming recognised within their respective markets as a primary source of accounting and / or legal information and services to facilitate cross-border business. It is also looking to continue to consolidate its presence in all geographies.

Members of the Alliott Group typically service SME and entrepreneurial-led CVTJOFTTFT TFFLJOH RVBMJm FE UBJMPSFE solutions from professionals with the correct technical and industrial knowledge, as well as a full understanding of the local business environment.

As SME businesses evaluate how they source external professional advice, and pressure is placed to reduce business costs, the independFOU m SNT XJUIJO "MMJPUU (SPVQ QSPWJEF a good alternative to the larger brand OBNFE m SNT 5IF JOEFQFOEFOU BD DPVOUJOH BOE MBX m SNT IBWF UIF TBNF technical capabilities as the larger m SNT CVU BSF BCMF UP QSPWJEF B NPSF UBJMPSFE TPMVUJPO BU B TJHOJm DBOUMZ reduced cost. There is an alternative UP UIF CJH m SN FYQFSJFODF BOE UIBU is for SME businesses to utilise the growing market presence of Alliott Group and its worldwide coverage of independent accounting and law m SNT

James Hickey, Alliott Group CEO, noted: “We are different to other associations and networks in that we do not just focus on one aspect of business.

Instead, through our alliance with national, regional and international acDPVOUJOH MFHBM BOE DPOTVMUJOH m SNT Alliott Group members can offer to their clients the resources one might FYQFDU POMZ GSPN B WFSZ MBSHF m SN w "T DIJFG FYFDVUJWF PGm DFS .S )JDL ey is responsible for the day-to-day management of Alliott Group. Working in conjunction with the Worldwide Executive, the Worldwide Board and the Regional Advisory Committees, he supports the development and implementation of membership services and the strategic development of the Group. Mr Hickey joined Alliott Group in July 2008 and has more than 10 ZFBST FYQFSJFODF PG XPSLJOH XJUIJO B membership / association business environment.

Alliott Group has a full time team XJUIJO UIF &YFDVUJWF 0Gm DF UIBU JT tasked with managing the day-today administration and meeting the strategic objectives of the group.

5IF &YFDVUJWF 0Gm DF JT MPDBUFE JO the United Kingdom and the team is there to assist members wherever possible.

Alliott Group is a member of EGIAN, the European Group of International Accounting Networks and Associations. EGIAN provides a forum for the members to develop common QPTJUJPOT PO TQFDJm D UFDIOJDBM BOE legislative issues and to debate these issues with key professional stakeholders and regulators, such as The European Union, CESR (The Committee of European Securities Regulators), FEE (The Federation of European Accountants) and IFAC (The International Federation of Accountants).

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

INTERNATIONAL

NICHE FINANCIAL ADVISORY OF THE YEAR (EMERGING MARKETS).

AppleTree Capital. Voted by its industry peers in the 2014 ACQ Global Awards as: International Niche Financial Advisory of the year – Emerging Markets International Niche Financial Advisory of the year – Absolute Return AppleTree Capital, is an alternative investments advisor specializing in Emerging Markets and Absolute Return strategies.

The founding members, Michael Nicoletos and Dimitris Apistoulas have a combined experience of more than 20 years in financial markets and they have been working together since 2005.

AppleTree Capital focuses on a niche part of the Emerging Markets world, which is often overlooked by the traditional Emerging Markets funds.

The investment team’s experience in the region (CEE, Southeastern Europe, Greece, Russia and Turkey) is a valued asset which allows it to timely identify and exploit investment opportunities via : • Long established relationships with local professionals who provide direct feed on political and financial developments • Out of the box investment idea generation • Frequent road shows and company visits • In-house research to identify valuation mis-pricings AppleTree Capital’s mission is to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns for investors while adopting best industry standards with regards to Transparency, Liquidity and Risk Management.

Dimitrios Apistoulas

Michael Nicoletos

!

Website: www.appletree-capital.com Email: info@appletree-capital.com Offices: In Georgetown and Athens Manager

Investment Advisor

3rd Floor DMS Place

15 D. Vassileiou Street

18 Fort Street

Ag. Sophia Square

Georgetown

Athens 15451

Grand Cayman

Greece

Tel + 345 7498 628

Tel: +30 211 311 8733

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

This is ensured by co-operating world renowned business partners as well as the liquid and transparent structure of AppleTree’s funds which offer monthly liquidity and excellent transparency to investors.

Within 2013, AppleTree Capital’s flagship fund, the Violet Emerging Markets Fund, yielded a net return of 29% in US$ terms, outperforming its benchmark by a wide 37% (MSCI EMEA). YTD in 2014, Violet is again outperforming its benchmark (clocking a +9% net return vs -3% drop of the MSCI EMEA Index.

In May 2014 AppleTree Capital will launch the Metron Absolute Return Fund, a Long / Short Absolute Return Strategy with low volatility aiming to protect capital and achieve returns across the market cycle.

INTERNATIONAL

NICHE FINANCIAL ADVISORY OF THE YEAR (ABSOLUTE RETURN)

Established in 2010 AppleTree Capital launched its first fund in May 2010, with the European financial crisis peaking. The first two years were pretty challenging not only in terms of equity markets but also in terms of perception.

Appetite for investments in Greece and SE Europe had plunged, as risk aversion hit highs on the back of rising systemic risk .

Weathered the Euro crisis During the Euro crisis and at a time when the term “Grexit” was still making headlines, the company managed to turn its physical presence in Greece from a source of perceived disadvantage to an advantage.

AppleTree became the local “eye” for a significant number of institutional investors who wanted a local, independent and accurate view on political, economic and social aspects during the recession.

Violet Emerging Markets Fund massively outperforms since June 2012 AppleTree Capital was amongst the first market participants to identify the appeal of Greek assets (equities and bonds) back in July 2012. The Violet Emerging Markets Fund started building positions in Greece and SE Europe early, while at the same time initiated short positions in Turkey on the back of rising political risk.

As a result, since July 2012 to date ,the Violet Emerging Markets fund yielded a 59% return in USD terms vs a 2% rise of its benchmark, the MSCI EMEA

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

INDIA TECHNOLOGY PROV IDER OF THE YEAR (BANKING & FINANCE) COMPANY OF THE YEAR Founded in 1995, Birlasoft is a Global IT Services provider and part of the 150 year old, multi-billion dollar CK Birla Group. Birlasoft’s serves it client-base with core services including Enterprise Application Services, ADM & Custom Application Services, and high-end consulting and specialized transformational services like Testing, Analytics and Mobility. Birlasoft’s robust delivery processes embrace digitized project management methodologies, embedded within proven practices of Six Sigma, SEI CMMI Level 5 and a secure services framework. The firm has presence across US, UK, Europe, and APAC including India.

Birlasoft, with its experience of working with large global companies (Fortune 2000) on their complex systems and delivering technology solution for 20 years, understands the needs of the large global organizations and provides tailor made solutions to enable clients in their transformation journey. The company operates at the fringe that separates the larger players from the small ones. Birlasoft deploys a host of innovative solutions and service architectures across the global Banking & Financial Services, Insurance, Manufacturing, Media & Healthcare industry industries. A Top Global Analyst firm has quoted Birlasoft as “…able to blend the nimbleness

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

and adaptability of a midsize vendor with the scale of a larger tier-1 player across their offerings.”

Birlasoft constantly focuses on providing business value to its clients by delivering best-in-class business solutions in specialized verticals. Recognitions by numerous industry awards association like IT Europa, Outsourcing Center, IAOP, GS100 and others, is an acknowledgement of its global delivery excellence and vertical expertise. Birlasoft engagement model facilitates speed and predictability in solution delivery enabled by executive commitment to achieve higher customer intimacy.

Birlasoft aligns itself with the emerging trends in digital economy ahead of the curve. It has invested in understanding and interpreting the future. Through its programmatic strategy of Acquire, Align and Build, the company will continue to enable clients with best-of-the-breed new generation technology solutions across business value chain helping customers grow faster than the industry!

PREETI DAS CEO Birlasoft (India) Ltd. H–9, Sector 63, NOIDA 201306 Te l : + 9 1 - 1 2 0 - 6 6 2 9 0 0 0 + 91-120-4079000 Fax : + 91-120-6629494 + 91-120-4079494 + 91-120-6629484 O f f i c e Ty p e : G l o b a l C o r p o r a t e Office Ta n u j K u m a r S i n g h | B i r l a s o f t | +91 8800503444 | tanuj.singh@birlasoft.com

INTERNATIONAL AML A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR

Globeleq is an experienced developer, owner and operator of independent power generation projects specialising in the emerging markets.

Since 2007, the company has targeted Africa and the Central American region.

In Africa, Globeleq is the leading private power company with assets in Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa and Kenya. In Central America, the company is the leading wind energy producer with assets in Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Globeleq focuses on developing economically sustainable projects that support the continued development of the power sectors in these regions, in turn driving economic development. The company actively participates in the communities located near its operations.

The company’s strength is the ability to develop, build and operate power generation assets in a variety of markets in Africa and Central America, selecting technology appropriate for long term sustainability, generating reliable and affordable energy.

Globeleq invests capital to enhance the performance of existing assets; to acquire assets and develop projects as well as to successfully construct and mental to the company's success.

Globeleq is uniquely positioned for further growth and investment in its target regions and is supported by its sole shareholder, Actis, the billion of funds under management.

Globeleq is proud to be voted by its industry peers in both the 2013 and 2014 ACQ Global Awards as the

International - Energy Business of the Year (Emerging Markets)

INTERNATIONAL AML A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR

Generating power for emerging markets Energy for a Changing World Since 2002, Globeleq has participated in nearly 14,000 MW of power assets in 26 countries, investing approximately US$1.3 billion of equity across 41 different power projects.

Globeleq is the leading African power company and the leading wind generation company in Central America. The company invests capital to enhance performance of existing assets, and acquires, develops and constructs new power projects. Since 2007, the company has focussed on the sub-Saharan African and Central American regions.

In the past two years, Globeleq has undertaken construction of 520 MW of new generation and a 139 MW expansion of an existing operation, with related total project costs of $1.5 billion and third party senior debt of over US$1.0 billion.

In addition to the 2013 and 2014 ACQ Global Awards as the International – Energy Business of the Year (Emerging Markets), Globeleq's excellent performance continues to be recognized after recently receiving the Project Finance International awards Latin America Wind Deal 2013 for the 50 MW Orosi project in Costa Rica and 2013 African Power Deal of the Year for the 139 MW Azito power plant expansion in Cote d'Ivoire; Azito also received the 2013 Power Deal of the Year from the Infrastructure Journal.

2 More London Riverside London, SE1 2JT, UK T +44 (0)20 7 234 5400 F +44 (0)20 7 234 5486 E info@globeleq.com

www.globeleq.com

INTERNATIONAL CLASS ACTIONS RECOVERY FIRM OF THE YEAR TAX RECLAMATION SERV ICES FIRM OF THE YEAR

Goal Group is a widely acknowledged world leader in the provision of outsourcing services for global securities class actions and tax reclamation services. With offices in London, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Melbourne and Hong Kong, Goal offers worldwide coverage for its clients, which include many of the world's largest global custodians, asset managers, private banks, pension funds, hedge funds, high net worth individuals, investment banks, prime brokers and fund managers. Our bespoke, leading edge technology has received ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 27001:2013 accreditations as well as certification from Apple and Microsoft.

Founded in 1989, Goal is recognised in the financial services sector for its innovative and creative approach to providing solutions to highly specialised niche process problems.

Withholding Tax Reclamation Services Goal has become one of the global industry leaders in the provision of withholding tax reclaim services. The Group is trusted by some of the largest fund managers and banks in the world to deliver an effective service.

Why is this?

First and foremost, it is a reflection of the considerable investment made in developing this key part of Goal’s global business. The investment in technology, people and processes has helped to retain a large client base as well as a demonstrably high quality of client service, cutting edge software, strong relationships with the tax authorities worldwide and strong relationships with global custodian banks. Since 2012, client numbers worldwide have risen by 360%, and the number of reclaims has risen by over 300%.

According to Stephen Everard, Goal Group’s CEO, “We try to be responsive to the evolving world of withholding tax recoveries. Quality and security are fundamentals – hence Goal are ISO 9001 accredited and now have achieved ISO 27001 (Information Security Management System), which really sets us apart from many of our peers and gives our rapidly growing client base peace of mind that they are dealing with a secure, high quality organisation.

In addition, we liaise closely with industry bodies including the Securities Industry Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) and the Bank Depository User Group (BDUG) in the

US. A recent example of our work with such organisations was the launch of the inaugural ‘Made Simple’ guide to tax reclamation with the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) in the UK”.

Looking ahead, Goal sees recent market trends continuing to provide positive impetus. The growth in the popularity and prevalence of companies paying dividends, the increases in market capitalisation and a rising proportion of portfolios devoted to cross-border investment will all lead to greater demand from investors, fund managers, and custodians to use the tax relief/reclaim services of expert providers like Goal Group.

“There’ll be new products and services,” says Stephen Everard, “Not only will we look to continue to develop our strategic alliances around the world to enhance our leading-edge services, but we will also be releasing new products on new platforms within the global withholding tax reclamation arena.”

Securities Class Action Services It is now more important than ever that investment advisors, trustees and fund managers are able to demonstrate the highest standards of ethical behaviour, financial transparency and strong corporate governance as an integral part of fulfilling their fiduciary duties to protect the assets in their schemes for the benefit of stakeholders.

Despite this, research by Goal shows that over 24% of claims that could be filed by entitled parties are left unprocessed and unrecovered. From 2000-2013, approximately $20 billion in US settlements alone were not claimed by rightful recipients.

Goal’s services in Securities Class Actions enable investors to recover monies which are rightfully theirs and which would otherwise remain unclaimed. Once a claim has been filed, Goal provides accurate, comprehensive and timely information on cases. Expertise in local market requirements is second to none, with notification and reporting available in 17 languages – a result of monitoring client assets with a total value in excess of £8 trillion. Goal has a proven track record in delivering global coverage for Local Government Authorities, pension funds, hedge funds, custodians, investment banks, fund managers, prime brokerage firms, private banks and high net worth individuals.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

INTERNATIONAL

Stephen Everard explains, “We support funds and corporate entities which have suffered a financial loss from owning shares in a company where there has been mismanagement and / or unlawful behaviour. We can help clients participate in all types of securities class action cases, with a worldwide network of law firms to provide a truly global securities litigation service. Our ability to complete and submit claim documentation and then keep clients informed of progress means we can offer what we believe is the leading end-to-end solution in this space.

One of Goal’s sources of competitive advantage is the multi-lingual, online reporting portal, which provides clients with access to:• Daily updated reporting and transparent monitoring of the progress of a class action.

• Alerts of new, updated and lead plaintiff opportunities.

Our alerts specify the ISIN/CUSIP codes of the company together with the class period, settlement fund and proof of claim deadline where applicable. All alerts issued since 1st January 2008 are available on-line.

• Robust reports on current and historic activity and claim status.

• Customised solutions for complete automation.

• Leading end to end solutions, from the client receiving the initial alert through to the payment.

• Configurable access and authority levels for users.

Stephen Everard believes Goal can continue to deliver "value-add" to clients, “Because of the knowledge we gain from our work in Securities Class Action services worldwide, we can keep clients informed about developments in corporate governance and fiduciary responsibilities to underlying clients.

We have a “can-do attitude” when it comes to client services and consider the retention and maintaining of client relationships very important. Therefore, we place great emphasis on developing the skills of the entire team, be it at head office or across the expanding global office network. We will continue to enhance the team with experienced specialists from backgrounds in global custody and investment banking.”

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Contact Us www.go a lgrou p.com

Go a l Grou p Offices:-

UNITED KINGDOM HEADQUARTERS David Gilbert 7th Floor, 69 Park Lane Croydon, Surrey CR9 1BG United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)20 8760 7130 Email: dgilbert@goalgroup.com

AUSTRALIA Andreas Costi Level 27 101 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia Telephone: +61 39221 6140 Email: acosti@goalgroup.com

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Noah Wortman Suite 3750 1735 Market Street Philadelphia PA 19103 United States of America Telephone: +1 267 507 6007 Email: nwortman@goalgroup.com

INTERNATIONAL VDR PROV IDER OF THE YEAR

New Insights into Pre-Announcement Due Diligence What effect does the due diligence process have on key M&A outcomes such as likelihood of deal success and takeover premiums?

What impact does deal size or public/private status of the target have on the due diligence process?

When do deal leaks occur and are they intentional?

W

e recently commissioned the M&A Research Centre at Cass Business School, City University London, to investigate the preannouncement due diligence process by examining a sample of 519 transactions that used an Intralinks virtual data room (VDR) between 2008 and 2012.

Metrics from the pre-announcement due diligence process such as length of due diligence, number of users and number of pages of due diligence information were compared with publicly available data about the transactions such as deal type, size, price and performance.

To complement this quantitative research, we also interviewed 30 M&A professionals, including lawyers, accountants and corporate executives, in order to gain first-hand insights into the way in which the due diligence process can shape the outcome of a deal. The following are the key findings from this research:

Longer due diligence results in a higher likelihood of deal success for acquirers.

The research found a strong positive relationship between the length of the due diligence process and the likelihood of a deal’s success, as measured by the acquirer’s long-term post-transaction total shareholder returns. Specifically, deals with longer due diligence periods resulted in significantly higher acquirer returns than those involving shorter due diligence periods. The reasons for this could be that an increased due diligence period allows a buyer time to fully understand the target’s business and uncover any issues that may affect either valuation or the performance of the target post-closing. Buyers who take the time to fully understand these types

of issues prior to closing may also be better prepared for the post-transaction planning and integration process.

Longer due diligence results in for targets.

Interestingly, this research also found that deals involving longer due diligence periods resulted in lower takeover premiums for the target, thereby conferring an advantage to the buyer and a disadvantage for the seller. Deals which had shorter due diligence periods delivered higher takeover premiums for the target. This result suggests that increased due diligence helps the buyer to discover any problems with the target and provides the buyer with additional negative information on the target, which the buyer can then use during negotiations to drive the sale price down. This finding suggests that, to counter the buyer’s advantage from conducting a long due diligence process, sellers should attempt to reduce the time allowed for due diligence by ensuring a competitive bidding process and by providing relevant and well-organized information to bidders in a VDR which is easy to use, thereby ensuring a reasonable but not overly lengthy period of due diligence.

Due diligence is done more quickly on public companies and larger targets.

The research found that due diligence periods for public companies and larger targets were significantly shorter than for private companies or smaller targets.

This can likely be attributed to the greater transparency of, and easier access to, information on public companies, as well as the better resources and

By Philip Whitchelo, Vice President, Strategy & Product Marketing intralinks.com

experience of larger targets in preparing themselves for the sale process. For smaller companies or those infrequently engaging in M&A, who may lack the experience or resources compared to larger or more M&A-active companies, the role of qualified advisers in this regard will obviously be very important.

Larger targets may also be more likely to have pre-existing relationships with acquirers, thus reducing the time necessary for due diligence.

When do M&A deals leak?

Finally, the research found compelling evidence that most M&A leaks are intentional. The study found that M&A leaks are very unlikely to take place before the opening of a VDR or for up to 40 days after the VDR opens for due diligence. Instead, leaks typically only take place on average 40 days after the VDR has been opened to external bidders. Further, leaks do not appear to be related to the VDR’s opening day per se – that is to say the VDR’s opening does not cause the leak - but rather the timing of when a particular deal leaks is closer to the day of the public announcement of the deal. This provides further evidence that, on aggregate, leaks are intentional and result from either the seller or buyer attempting to push negotiations in their favour.

Download the full report at www.morethanavdr.com/cass.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

INTERNATIONAL AML A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR

About KPMG KPMG is a global network of professional providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 156 countries and have more than around the world. The independent 156,000 people working in member of the KPMG network are with KPMG International member is a Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. Each KPMG legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. © 2014 KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”). KPMG International provides no client services and is a Swiss entity with which the independent member The KPMG name, logo and “cutting through complexity” are registered trademarks or trademarks of KPMG International.

of the KPMG network are

Our AML Team KPMG’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) practice are proud to receive the Global ACQ AML Advisory of the Year award. KPMG member have worked on many of the largest global AML transformation programs, Know Your Customer (KYC) remediations and Sanctions lookback investigations. We also clients’ AML and Sanctions advise on regulatory actions, conduct gap analyses of member controls and assist clients to draft risk-based and practical AML policies and procedures.

Our AML Heads: Brian Dilley

Teresa Pesce

Global Head of AML Services T: +44 (0) 20 7896 4843 E: brian.dilley@kpmg.co.uk

Head of AML Services for the Americas Region T: +1 212 872 6722 E: tpesce@kpmg.com

Formerly Global Head of AML at UBS Investment Bank and Head of Department in the FSA’s Enforcement Division

Formerly Head of AML for HSBC North America and Chief of the Major Crimes Unit/Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, US Attorney’s Southern District of New York.

Kyran McCarthy

Enric Olcina

Head of AML and Sanctions Services for the Asia Pacific Region T: +85221402286 E: kyran.mccarthy@kpmg.com

Head of AML Services for the Europe, Middle East and Africa Region T: +34 932 532 985 E: eolcina@kpmg.es

He has more than 18 years experience in advisory services specializing in AML and Sanctions services.

He has 15 years experience providing AML and fraud institutions. prevention services to leading European

KPMG’s AML practice at a glance: • KPMG member have centralized AML within the Forensic practice, under a Global Head of AML, in addition to Regional Heads in EMA, ASPAC and Americas.

• We have Centers of Excellence in London, New York and Hong Kong across the global network. supporting member • Member have over 350 full time AML professionals in 35 jurisdictions, more than half of whom have performed AML roles in industry.

• As part of KPMG’s Forensic practice, we are able to utilize 2,675 Forensic staff in 39 KPMG-accredited jurisdictions on AML assignments. Many of these staff have AML experience.

professionals have the opportunity to work outside their • Member home jurisdiction and KPMG’s network structure enables the AML practice to mobilize experienced teams in a timely and manner, almost anywhere in the world.

• At KPMG’s most recent Global AML Conference in Hong Kong, attended by over 70 of our AML staff, we released updated methodologies which are designed to ensure that member in a consistent manner.

work

• KPMG’s Global AML Gap Analysis tool contains leading practices from around the world, aligned to our component model which covers the AML program lifecycle.

Our Global AML Survey For the last 10 years, KPMG has produced a global survey which analyzes trends in the AML compliance arena. In January this year, we released our fourth global survey.

This edition was accompanied by regional analysis, looking at the and regulatory developments in individual regions.

A key question raised in the report is whether it is now possible to run a fully compliant global AML

program. With the increased pace of regulatory change, increasingly requirements across the globe, and greater expectations of managing risk on a global basis, Heads of AML are starting to question whether it is possible.

The survey also revealed that AML expenditure continues to increase, and shows no sign of slowing. Survey respondents revealed a 53 percent increase in AML expenditure since

our last survey in 2011, and we estimate that global spending on AML will exceed US$10bn within the next 2-3 years. Despite this, there are key areas of respondents’ AML programs that still keep them awake at night. Transaction monitoring tops the list of the most expensive and least effective, causing a huge dilemma for many institutions.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

INTERNATIONAL AML A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR

As well as looking at the regular areas of AML from our previous surveys, this year we looked at Trade Finance, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), the insurance sector and the asset management sector. Below is a summary of the key from the survey, which were based on 317 responses from 48 countries. The full survey can be accessed at www.kpmg.com/aml.

Senior management focus is on the Senior management interest in AML compliance has increased again since the decline during the crisis, with money laundering risks given regular and formal attention at Board meetings.

Regulators have certainly done their part in of AML with no shortage raising the of being issued for failures to maintain adequate AML controls and, placing pressure on senior management to prevent further failings.

• Eighty-eight percent of respondents stated that the Board of Directors takes an active interest in AML issues; this is an increase of 26 percent from our 2011 result.

•

98 percent of respondents that AML issues are discussed formally at the Board, with the majority stating that this was done on a quarterly or as required basis.

• In 2011, 8 percent of respondents predicted an over 50 percent increase in expenditure. In reality 22 percent of respondents increased expenditure by over 50 percent during the three year period from 2011.

• Seventy-eight percent of survey respondents reported increases in their total investment in AML activity, with 74 percent also predicting further increases in AML investment over the next three years.

Large sums of money continue to be spent on improving transaction monitoring but is this yielding the expected return? Why is there a continued need to fund large scale KYC remediation exercises? Is this purely the result of regulatory change or is the periodic review process not picking up key gaps in KYC? We believe that senior management will continue to underestimate AML expenditure unless lessons are learnt from past mistakes.

Training and recruitment initiatives need a globally consistent approach Effective training is vital for developing and retaining AML professionals as well as ensuring the successful implementation of an AML framework. There appears to be an inconsistent approach to training of non-AML staff, including the Boards of Directors, which is further exacerbated by regional discrepancies.

• Eighty-four percent respondents stated that money laundering is considered a high risk area within their business risk assessment.

• Only 62 percent of survey respondents indicated that the Board of Directors receives AML training.

•

• Eighty-six percent of survey respondents indicated that front staff received AML training.

of respondents stated that the same AML policies and procedures are applied to all branches and subsidiaries.

As management attention continues to be pulled in multiple directions there are many who feel that it is no longer possible to meet all regulatory expectations. Appointing a Board member with responsibility for AML is no longer a “nice to have”. Senior management need to concentrate on establishing strong AML assurance mechanisms and globally consistent procedures, to avoid censure, and possible prosecution.

Cost of compliance continues to be underestimated The cost of AML compliance has increased since our last survey and shows no signs of slowing down in the near future. Accurate cost forecasting is vital for members of senior management to make informed decisions, but it remains a key area of weakness.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Senior management are responsible for setting the risk appetite of the organization and regulators expect management to set the ‘tone from the top’ when it comes to AML compliance. In KPMG member experience training is key when it comes to making informed compliance decisions and embedding AML awareness into an organization’s risk culture, and we would therefore question the wisdom behind not providing AML training to all relevant staff members and in particular the Board members.

Outsourcing and off-shoring are growing trends, despite senior management concerns Outsourcing and off-shoring of AML functions are growing trends, but respondents still appear to have reservations about adopting such practices due to a perceived lack of control and

oversight. This suggests that in some cases, may outweigh the fears of regulatory of outsourcing and cost and resource off-shoring.

• Fifty percent of respondents do not expect outsourcing and off-shoring to rise in the future.

• Ten percent of respondents in 2011 stated that they outsourced and/or off-shored some of their AML functions. However, by 2014, 31 percent of respondents have outsourced some of their AML functions.

• Forty-six percent of respondents have offshored parts of their AML function.

In an environment of cost cutting and resource shortages it was intriguing to see that a number of respondents do not outsource and/or off-shore any AML functions.

We cannot help but wonder whether stringent regulations have made organizations good business practice for compliance concerns.

Senior management should not let the fear of a loss of control prevent its organization from that outsourcing reaping the potential and off-shoring can bring.

Transaction monitoring costs continue to soar as satisfaction declines Despite increased investment in transaction monitoring systems, satisfaction has declined.

Although transaction monitoring systems continue to represent the greatest area of AML spending, it appears that regulatory requirements are still outpacing system improvements.

• Sixty percent of respondents reported transaction monitoring as the largest investment in anti-money laundering controls.

• Satisfaction with transaction monitoring systems has declined with survey respondents ranking satisfaction an average of 3.42 out of 5, compared to 3.6 in 2011.

• Only 58 percent of respondents stated that their organization’s transaction monitoring system is able to monitor transactions across different businesses and 53 percent of respondents said they are able to monitor across multiple jurisdictions.

• Only 49 percent of respondents stated that they were able to share transaction information across different businesses and only 45 percent of respondents said that they are able to share across different jurisdictions.

INTERNATIONAL AML A DV ISORY OF THE YEAR

Moving to a position in which an organization can see the full picture by monitoring and sharing its customers’ transactions across businesses and jurisdictions will help facilitate of any unusual transactions the and behaviors. While many institutions continue to throw money at these systems in an effort to update and validate them, additional scrutiny should be applied towards what will be sustainable for the long term, instead of aiming to meet today’s set of minimum regulatory standards.

Know Your Customer continues to be the focus of regulators Regulatory visits continue to focus on KYC, which has directly impacted investment decisions as respondents ranked KYC the second largest AML investment. However, despite the increased regulatory attention and investment, key obstacles remain.

• Seventy percent of respondents stated that they had received a regulatory visit which focused on KYC. • Sixty-eight percent of respondents stated is obtained for that full intermediate owners and entities.

• Respondents stated that identifying complex ownership structures was the most challenging area in the implementation of a risk based approach to KYC collection.

• Sixty-six percent of respondents are leveraging their current KYC programs to meet FATCA requirements.

• Just over 49 percent of respondents think that electronic checks leave organizations further exposed to cybercrime.

Although the focus still remains on remediating to address and identify any KYC we strongly encourage global organizations to examine their data governance arrangements and determine whether they are likely to have future gaps in data. KPMG client work tells us that there is often an assumption that client data is owned by the AML team and not as different departments by the front increasingly seek to leverage this data, it is becoming increasingly critical for businesses to enhance clarity surrounding data responsibility, ownership, and accountability.

Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) Growing regulatory pressure on institutions and the aftermath of political instability in certain regions have raised the

of political risk for banks. Financial institutions are more focused than ever on the need to exercise more scrutiny over PEP transactions.

• Eighty percent of respondents stated that PEP customers are required to provide documents to evidence their source of wealth and/or income. Seventyseven percent stated that this is required for all high risk clients.

• Eighty-four percent of respondents stated that high risk relationships are signed off by senior management.

•

of respondents stated that their organization currently captures and distinguishes between domestic and foreign PEPs.

Despite increasing regulatory scrutiny in this institutions area it appears that many are struggling when it comes to enhanced due diligence on PEP relationships. The importance of obtaining robust source of wealth/income information should not be underestimated. Much of this information is often available in the public domain, but struggle to turn the information into a coherent story and hence identify gaps and red The approach to domestic PEP relationships will need to change with the implementation of 4MLD in some organizations.

Sanctions compliance shows signs of improvement, but still a sore spot While there has been a noticeable compliance push to meet the sanctions requirements, there is still room for improvement, particularly when it comes to validating screening systems and rejecting funds.

• As with our 2011 survey, sanctions compliance remains as respondents rank customer screening the most challenge.

• More than 70 percent of respondents sanction screening systems effective in their organizations; however, only 42 percent of respondents test their screening systems for effectiveness at the implementation stage.

obligations. The political and civil unrest in the Middle East and North Africa continue to pose institutions’ sanctions challenges for screening systems in terms of responding to rapid changes to sanctions lists and increased volumes. Foreign language screening remains challenging, particularly for banks operating in Asia. Multiple systems are often needed to cope with the different spelling and characters.

Regulatory approach is fragmented and inconsistent Although most respondents agreed that regulatory considerations were the largest driver behind AML investment decisions, opinions on regulatory approach are marked by vast regional differences. This further emphasizes the challenges that institutions face in establishing a globally consistent approach.

• Sixty-three percent of respondents said that regulators should provide additional guidance and 43 percent of respondents indicated that a stronger relationship with regulators would be a welcomed change in approach.

• Fifty-six percent of respondents in Middle East and Africa stated that they would like to see increasing international cooperation to facilitate consistency of approach.

•

of respondents stated that regulatory visits are AML personnel’s primary concern and 80 percent of respondents stated reaction to regulator demands is a primary reason for investment in a particular area of AML.

Financial institutions need to adopt a more proactive approach to avoid being subject to regulatory and sanctions. Senior management should be looking for future regulatory trends in order to anticipate future areas of regulatory scrutiny. Regulators have little sympathy when companies fall short in an area where they have warned the industry of the risks. Close scrutiny of regulatory and speeches, and benchmarking against those is a must for any responsible business.

• Almost 75 percent of respondents reported using the MT202COV SWIFT message for cross-border wire transfers.

World events and increased regulation continue to impact on the ability of institutions to meet their sanctions

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

Islam Core Banking System Provider of the Year – (Islamic Finance) Powering Islamic Financial Markets

Path Solutions is at the forefront of the Islamic financial software industry, providing a broad, deep spectrum of Sharia-compliant integrated solutions and services that cover Core Banking, Customer Service Management, Investment Banking, Risk Management, Treasury and Trading in GCC and Global Capital Markets.

the highest quality services to clients all over the world.

Besides, Path Solutions annually invests around 25% in R&D, significantly more than its peers with a dedicated team of over 300 software engineering professionals creating high value enterprise software solutions to the Islamic financial marketplace.

Designed to meet the needs of modern Islamic banking, Path Solutions’ best-of-breed solutions are based on an open, flexible architecture and an established deployment methodology. They are being designed from scratch specifically for the Islamic banking industry, to enable a powerful and service-oriented banking infrastructure without restrictions and with minimum disruption to banking operations and have been tested and implemented at some of the world’s most sophisticated Islamic banks, Islamic banking windows as well as conventional banks converting into Islamic banking operations.

Path Solutions differentiates itself through its strong implementation track record. Path is able to bring new customers live in record time; from three to six months while banks migrating their existing systems can be converted in a period of eight to nine months.

Our solutions help financial institutions implement a flexible, cost-efficient infrastructure with instant access to accurate, up-to-the minute financial updating in order to make informed operational and strategic decisions at a moment’s notice. This comprehensive approach produces a higher ROI to Islamic financial institutions. With a diverse client base and a global presence, Path Solutions’ team of qualified professionals and complimentary solution partners have an unparalleled ability to address regulatory and Sharia compliance requirements at both international and regional levels. Armed with deep industry expertise and field-tested best practices, the team strives to provide

With the increasing integration of Islamic financial services into global financial markets, and in line with best international practices ensuring Sharia compliance and the safety and soundness of the international banking system, Path Solutions works tirelessly to provide clients with best-in-class Sharia-compliant software solutions with a value proposition unmatched in the global Islamic finance industry.

Path Solutions has 20+ years of market experience using unrivalled software implementation expertise at forward-thinking Islamic banks and financial institutions. To date, the company serves more than 100 Islamic financial institutions in over 30 countries worldwide. This strong market share is testament to its ability to maintain technology advantage.

More info is available here: www.path-solutions.com

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GROUP CHAIRMAN & CEO Mohammed Kateeb Path Solutions P.O.Box 592, Safat 13006 Red Crescent Bldg, 3rd Floor Al Jahra St. Shuwaikh Kuwait Tel: +965 24824600 Fax: +965 24824500 Email: info@path-solutions.com www.path-solutions.com

INTERNATIONAL

Talbot-Garman Consultores Ltda

NICHE ARBITRATION CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR

Rupert Talbot-Garman LL.B. LL.M. MCIarb MCIL is an experienced and award-winning international commercial legal Consultant and bilingual (English / Spanish) independent CEDR Accredited Mediator.

Please see: www.talbot-garman.com and www.talbot-garman-mediator.com and www.linkedin.com/pub/rupert-talbot-garman Rupert has particular expertise in the resolution, by means of international commercial arbitration, litigation, mediation and negotiation, of international disputes principally relating to ships, shipping, London Market (including marine) insurance, international trade and commodities Rupert Talbot-Garman LL.B. (Hons) (Law & Spanish), LL.M. (Hons) (Maritime Law) (Soton.), Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England, MCIarb, MCIL

Email: rupert@talbotgarman.com U.K. Mobile / Blackberry: +44 (0) 7834 597 248 Skype: ruperttalbot-garman Celular chileno: 5354 3046

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

INTERNATIONAL TRAINING RESOURCE OF THE YEAR (BUSINESS CONTINUITY)

The Business Continuity Institute is proud to be winners of the International – Training Resource of the Year (Business Continuity) Award from ACQ Global Awards 2014. The BCI is the world’s leading institute for business continuity and this year we are celebrating our 20 year anniversary.

Established in 1994, the BCI has established itself as the leading membership and certifying organization for business continuity (BC) professionals worldwide. The BCI’s training and education program is managed from the UK’s Central Office with a busy team of staff who support a global network of licenced training partners. BCI training is based on the global good practice for business continuity as described in the body of knowledge for business continuity, the BCI’s Good Practice Guidelines (available in 10 languages with more under translation). There are a wide range of courses offered worldwide, and these are either classroom based, instructor-led or via eLearning. The BCI’s Approved Instructors are experienced practitioners in their own right, and provide a world class learning experience combining the theory of good practice with practical real-life examples with local and current case studies.

Training and Education Department The Business Continuity Institute 10-11 Southview Park, Marsack Street, Caversham, Berkshire, RG4 5AF, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 118-947 8215 Fax: +44 (0) 118-947 6237

Individuals and organizations are benefitting from working in partnership with the BCI to raise awareness and promote good practice in business continuity and related disciplines.

Good business continuity practice and BCI certified professionals are key to showing your staff and your customers that you are committed to building organizational resilience and protecting them from the impacts of any disruption.

Email: education@thebci.org http://www.thebci.org/index.php/tra ining-education

INTERNATIONAL NICHE TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER OF THE YEAR (INVESTMENT REPORTING) Founded in 2001, WealthTouch is the largest and fastest growing global provider of total wealth reporting services to ultra-high net worth individuals, family offices and private banks. The company remains singularly focused on its core mission of empowering ultra-high net worth families, and their advisors, with the information they need to make better, faster financial decisions in order to preserve and grow their wealth. Today WealthTouch supports the wealth reporting needs of several hundred of the most complex family offices across seven countries as well as serving as the exclusive partner to several of the top global private banks.

The company continues to differentiate itself by focusing on four foundational elements including; Comprehensiveness -aggregating all investment data including equity, fixed income, derivatives, private equity, hedge funds, real estate, direct investments and physical assets-, Accuracy – WealthTouch is the only company to provide a multi-tiered transaction level reconciliation process to ensure the highest level of data accuracy-, Security – the company must meet the exacting security protocols of the top global private banks on an on-going basis-, and Design – data visualization is critical to drive engagement across all user groups.

WealthTouch’s on demand reporting platform, ‘WealthCenter’, uniquely amplifies and elevates the communications between ultra-high net worth family members, family office staff and their advisors by providing a clear, comprehensive, timely, and accurate view of the family’s entire wealth - including performance, allocation, risk, expenses and other key financial indicators across all accounts, all asset classes, all custodians and managers, and generational ownership structures – without buying, installing, or maintaining costly and complex technology or hiring a large accounting team. WealthTouch also offers a fully-outsourced Financial Administration service that provides a complete custom general ledger, expense tracking and online bill payment solution. As with the consolidated investment reporting service, the financial administration service allows sophisticated individuals with complex wealth the ability to outsource the day-to-day operational burden of personal financial management to a proven, highly secure service company while maintaining full and absolute mobile control over the authorization of all bill payments.

To learn more about WealthTouch please visit www.wealthtouch.com or call 303 831 3839.

Craig L. Pearson, CFA

President WealthTouch, Inc. 1245 East Colfax Avenue Denver, CO 80218 US+1-303-831-3839

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014

INTERNATIONAL NICHE SOLUTIONS PROV IDER OF THE YEAR (RE TA IL BANKING)

Welcome Real-time is very proud to be rewarded as International niche solutions provider of the year in the retail banking category for the second consecutive year. By expanding its loyalty solutions (At Store and In Wallet) with a Cloud-based delivery model, Welcome Real-time demonstrates its understanding of the needs from retail banks (payment card issuers, merchant acquirers) to quickly answer the changes in requirements from both consumers and retailers. It also positions Welcome solutions as the ideal tools to find quick Return On Investment while benefiting from best practices when embarking on loyalty programs.

drive customers to their stores fail because they lack the ability to categorize and segment their customer base, while requiring a lot of work and significant investment from the merchants.

Welcome’s Loyalty services (At Store and In Wallet) are offered to retail banks and payment processors who wish to establish a stronger relationship with their merchants: by enhancing the products, services and overall value that they provide to their merchants, they can justify their pricing position (such services are typically delivered under a monthly fee subscription). For further information, please visit: www.welcome-rt.com

Welcome has witnessed a recent mindset evolution from merchants and acquirers, who tend to be overwhelmed by new payment offers such as NFC, QR codes, mobile solutions or Wallets. Those new technological components require Value Added Services (VAS) such as CRM or Loyalty in order to provide an innovative and frictionless customer experience. Data monetization has already been well used by pure players but merchants with physical stores have lost the ability to understand the customer behavior in-depth, although they are the ones with direct contact with the consumers.

Welcome solutions help merchants and banks get a clear view on customer behavior, coordinate the marketing actions for customer acquisition and retention, and get a summarized analysis on their business activity. Most initiatives by merchants to

CEO P h i l i p p e D AV I D Welcome Real-time E u r o p a r c d e P i c h a u r y, 5 5 0 r u e P i e r r e B e r t h i e r, 1 3 8 5 5 A i x - e n - P r o v e n c e C e d e x 3, France Direct: +33 4 42 97 58 97 Mail: Philippe.david@welcome-rt.com w w w. w e l c o m e - r t . c o m

International - THE YEAR INSURANCE TRUST BANK OF

We’ve made posting collateral easy The Wells Fargo Collateral Trust is an ideal alternative to collateral-related letters of credit (LOCs).

Wells Fargo Collateral Trust Services is internationally recognized for its outstanding products and services:

Establishing a collateral trust allows you to: • Eliminate LOCs and the associated fees • Retain ownership of the assets • Keep the investment income generated by the trust

• U.S. — Insurance Trust Team of the Year

Learn why we’ve been ranked the global best bank for insurance trust.

• Collateral Service Provider of the Year • Global Best Bank for Insurance Trusts

Visit wellsfargo.com/collateral-trust, or contact: Mike Ramsey

Captive • Deductible • Reinsurance • ILS • U.K. Captive U.K. Deductible • Surety • Vermont Regulatory Bank International (WFBI) is primarily regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and is registered as an EEA Authorised Firm with the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority and with the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). Wells Fargo Bank N.A., London Branch (WFBNA) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.

ACQ GLOBAL AWARDS 2014