UP-Diliman clinches back-to-back win at PwC M&A Challenge

Emerging as the grand prize winner for two consecutive years of the country’s pioneer Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Challenge was the University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman during the final round held on 11 December 2020. Other teams from UP-Diliman won in 2017 and 2019.

Team Mr. JP, composed of Anjeli Protacio Panis, Jose Luis B. Razon, Catrina Patricia Santiago Magsadia, and Gabriel Antonino Jaraula Juan, with Diogenes C. Dy as their coach, went home with a trophy, a cash prize of PHP100,000, plus PHP25,000 for UP-Diliman. The students also earned an internship opportunity with PwC Philippines’ Deals and Corporate Finance Department in 2021.

In recognizing the finalists after the grueling simulated M&A process experience, Atty. Alexander Cabrera, Chairman and Senior Partner of PwC Philippines, said: “The difficulty of studying in this pandemic situation is hard enough but that did not dull your spirit and enthusiasm in joining our M&A competition ‒ and it's all for a good reason. The cases were designed to tackle M&A in this pandemic environment.”

Jade Divinagracia, PwC Philippines Deals and Corporate Finance Managing Partner, notes: “Part of the challenge this year is to incorporate the uncertainties brought about by the pandemic. How are these businesses impacted? How long is the recovery period? What changes will happen in the market? These questions will be answered by the different teams in their presentations.”

The judges were Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE) President & Chief Executive Officer Ramon Monzon; Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) Director (IV) of the Economics Office, Benjamin Radoc, Jr.; Atty. Alexander Cabrera, Jade Divinagracia, and PwC Philippines Vice Chairman and Assurance Managing Partner Roderick Danao.

Named first runner-up was Team TRAI Co. from De La Salle University - Dasmariñas. The team was led by Mary May Eulogio (coach) with Trisha Ysabelle M. Navarro, Royette B. Miranda, Adrianne Dennise P. Estrella, and Maria Isabela R. Bernabe as members. They won PHP50,000, a trophy, and PHP15,000 for the university.

Second runner-up was Team Aegis from Ateneo de Manila University, winning PHP25,000, a trophy, and PHP10,000 for the university. Led by their coach Enrique Jaime S. Soriano, the team is composed of John Michel Chua Lee, Tiffany Diane Pek Golangco, Hazel Anne Louise Lee Si, and Beatriz Ysabel Castro Reyes.

The other three finalist teams were Team Equiteam from Miriam College, Team BAE from University of the East-Manila, and Team Clutch from University of the Philippines-Visayas Tacloban College.

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, PwC pushed through with the competition, which is now in its fifth year. It ran from October to December 2020, with 78 teams participating from 35 universities. It is the Philippines’ pioneer merger & acquisition focused case study competition involving the top colleges and universities nationwide. 

The competition offers an opportunity for undergraduate students taking business-related studies at the university/college level to test their analytical abilities and gain realistic and hands-on experience as a corporate finance advisor. 

Ends

Notes to editor

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