Churchill Asset Management, an investment specialist of Nuveen, was named 2023 “Lender Firm of the Year” by The M&A Advisor. The firm was honored at the 22nd Annual M&A Advisor Awards Gala held in New York City on November 15, 2023.

“We are thrilled to have won this award for the third consecutive year. Our clients are at the center of everything we do, and we are honored to be recognized for the solutions-based, partnership approach we take,” said Ken Kencel, President & Chief Executive Officer of Churchill. “Thank you to our terrific team for their contributions in making Churchill the market-leading private debt platform it is today.”

The M&A Advisor Awards recognize excellence in dealmaking by honoring the firms and professionals whose activities set the standard for the M&A industry. An independent judging committee of top M&A industry experts determined the ultimate recipients of the awards which were revealed at the gala.

“This year’s award recipients represent the best in the mergers and acquisitions industry and earned these honors by standing out in a group of extremely impressive finalists,” said Roger Aguinaldo, Founder and CEO of The M&A Advisor. “Through this year’s uncertain economic environment, Churchill has continued to remain a trusted, reliable and active partner to private equity firms, as demonstrated by the firm’s league table leadership, and our panel of independent judges certainly took note of that.”

With $47 billion of committed capital, Churchill ranked as the #1 Most Active U.S. Direct Lender for Q3 2023 and the #2 Most Active U.S. Direct Lender in H1 2023 by KBRA Direct Lending Deals.* In addition to providing first lien, unitranche, second lien and mezzanine debt to U.S. middle market private equity firms and their portfolio companies, Churchill also makes equity co-investments, private equity fund commitments, and invests across the secondaries landscape.

*KBRA Direct Lending Deals League Tables – H1 2023 and Q3 2023.

Note: Churchill was selected as one of 10 finalists for “Lender Firm of the Year” in September 2023 by an independent panel of judges appointed by the M&A Advisor. A nominal fee was required to submit a nomination. Churchill was chosen as winner in November 2023.