Ateneans win first runner-up in PwC’s annual M&A challenge, continuing streak of most podium finishes

Four students from the John Gokongwei School of Management once again bagged First Runner up in the 8th edition of the PwC Philippines Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Challenge, the Final Round of which was held in person last 19 January 2024 at the offices of Isla Lipana & Co/PwC Philippines at the AIA Tower in Makati City.

The team was composed of Katherine Grace O Go (4 BS MGT), Nathanielle Trina B Hombre (4 BS MGT), Paolo Nicolo R Opeña (3 BS MGT-H), and Sofia Marianne S So (3 BS COMTECH). Natalia Milagros L Fandiño (BS MGT 2019) and Enrique Jaime S Soriano (BS MGT-H 2012) served as the team’s mentors and coaches. As first runner-up, the team received a trophy and a check worth PhP50,000.00.

The win continues extends Ateneo’s record of six podium finishes, the most of any university to date, including two championships, as well as seven finals appearances out of a possible eight. 

This year’s challenge was to advise a pre-assigned publicly-listed Philippine company (the “Client”) in enhancing their sustainable business practices and ESG initiatives, either through the acquisition of a company within Southeast Asia or the Asia-Pacific region that will enable the Client to reach their sustainability goals (e.g. net zero by 2050, circular economy by 2040), or divest a business within the group whose practices do not align with the Client’s sustainability initiatives. After identifying these target companies in the preliminary round, each finalist team was asked to prepare a financial model & valuation analysis, and to present these along with their recommendations to a panel of judges and experts.

The competition ran from September 2023 to January 2024, with 99 teams from 56 colleges and universities joining the undergraduate competition.

Held annually, 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.