London & Doha, 26 February – The nomination categories for the 2nd TMT Finance Middle East 2010 Awards celebrating the outstanding achievements of telecom and technology companies and their investment banking and legal advisers have been released today.  http://www.tmtfinance.com/me/awardsnominations/

The winners of the Awards, which recognise exceptional leadership, innovation, merger and acquisition activity and financing, will be announced at the official ceremony and Gala Dinner at the Sharq Resort, in Doha, Qatar on the evening of 26th April.  The ceremony is part of the two day TMT Finance and Investment 2010 conference (www.tmtfinance.com/me), the largest gathering of senior executives in telecoms, technology, investment bankers, investors and advisers in the region in 2010.

International telecom consultancy BroadGroup, in association with financial newsletter Telecom Deal Alert and an academy of telecom investors and advisers, is organizing and judging the awards. Dominic Lowndes, the editor of Telecom Deal Alert and Managing Director of BroadGroup TMT Ventures, who has over a decade of experience in the TMT financing sector globally, will lead the judging panel.

“Telecom operators from across the Middle Eastern region continue to demonstrate an extraordinary appetite for expanding internationally despite challenging market conditions,” said Lowndes. “Through intelligent M&A activity, inspirational leadership and adroit financing and strategy initiatives, the companies nominated for these awards are best positioned to lead the upturn in 2010 and beyond.”

The categories of the 2010 awards are: 1. Telecom Deal of the Year; 2. Mobile Operator of the Year; 3. Telecom M&A Adviser of the Year; 4.Telecom Law Firm of the Year; 5. Telecom Debt Bank of the Year; 6.Fixed Line Operator of the Year; 6. Technology Provider of the Year; 7. Software Solution of the Year; 8. Outstanding TMT Leader of the Year (CEO); 9. Outstanding Innovation in Telecoms Award; 10. Emerging Markets Growth Story of the Year.

The deadline for online nominations is 21st March. Details are available at http://www.tmtfinance.com/me/awardsnominations/

The TMT Finance and Investment Middle East 2010 Conference gathers leading telecom and technology executives, senior investment bankers, legal advisers, private and public equity investors to debate the latest opportunities for growth internationally. Programme details are available at www.tmtfinance.com/me

Qatar Telecommunications (Qtel) is Patron of the event, Clifford Chance LLP is the M&A Advisors Panel Sponsor, Booz&Co is Conference Partner and Qatar Airways is Official Airline Partner.

For more information on sponsorship or speaking opportunities, contact [email protected]