AdDU, ADMU and USC rise to the top of seventh PwC Philippines M&A Challenge

Team Athens from Ateneo de Davao University has emerged as the champion of this year’s PwC Philippines Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Challenge held at the Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines’ Makati City office on 12 December 2022. Team Men in Blue from Ateneo de Manila University followed in second place while Team Prime Quad from University of San Carlos emerged in third. As champions, they went home with a plaque and medals, PH₱100,000 cash prize and an internship opportunity in the firm’s Deals and Corporate Finance Department in 2023. 

Other finalists included Team XUNergos from Xavier University - Ateneo De Cagayan, Team Midternal from University of the East – Manila and Team Ledger-Dary from University of San Jose – Recoletos. 

This year’s M&A challenge included 80 teams from 43 colleges and universities across the country. Each team tackled real-world business challenges amid digitalization of business models across industries. Highlighting the role startups play in economy, the competition focused on potential investments in startup companies that use emerging technologies to create value for their customers.

Judges for the competition were: 

• Plug and Play Tech Center Co-Founder, Jojo Flores
  
• BlastAsia Founder, Arup Maity
  
• PwC Philippines Chairman Emeritus and ESG Leader Alex Cabrera
  
• PwC Philippines Deals and Corporate Finance Managing Partner Mary Jade Divinagracia
• PwC Philippines Technology and Risk Consulting Partner, Roberto Bassig

The PwC Philippines M&A Challenge is the country’s pioneer M&A-focused business case competition for university students in the Philippines. Since its launch in 2016, the M&A Challenge has provided a platform and opportunity for undergraduate students to exercise and expand their skills in solving real-world business challenges, and experience becoming corporate finance advisors.