Benchmark International Once Again Named International Investment Banking Firm of the Year, and Wins Several Other Awards

The M&A Advisor announced the winners of the 16th Annual International M&A Awards, and Benchmark International was again recognized in several categories, including the impressive achievement of being named International Investment Banking Firm of the Year for the second consecutive year.

Benchmark International was also honored with the following awards:

M&A Deal of the Year ($10MM to $25MM): 

• The acquisition of Whistler Tech by Milexia 

Consumer Staples Deal of the Year:

• The acquisition of Copernus Ltd. by Suempol

Kayla Sullivan, Emerging Leader Award

More About the M&A Deal of the Year ($10MM to $25MM) 

The acquisition of Whistler Tech by Milexia

Established in 2001, Whistler Tech’s core business has been providing strategic electronic component sourcing services, leveraging its team’s experience and skillset, and benefiting from its growing global supply chain built on long-standing and trusted partnerships. The company focused on sectors such as oil & gas, defense, aerospace, and consumer goods.

Founded in 1971, Milexia is one of the world’s leading European suppliers of high-quality electronic components, systems, and scientific instrument technology. The company has offices and warehouses in France, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Germany, as well as technical centers in France and the UK, which offer customized installation, training, and maintenance solutions for the defense, space, transportation, SATCOM, scientific instrumentation, and other civil industries.

Global Excellence. Proven Results. Client Success Above All.

With this strategic acquisition, Milexia continues to expand its footprint and service offerings, reinforcing its commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable, and efficient supply chain solutions across various sectors.

More About The Consumer Staples Deal of the Year

The acquisition of Copernus Ltd. by Suempol

Located in Hull, UK, Copernus had been one of the largest independent, family-owned seafood processing specialists in the UK, with Lidl as one of its key clients. Copernus experienced significant growth over the years, becoming a producer of various kinds of fresh top-shelf refrigerated products for UK retailers. The company’s product range consisted of salmon, cod, haddock, and other fish species. Annually, the plant generated approximately 52 million portions of seafood.

With its main office and production facility located in Bielsk Podlaski, Poland, Suempol is the oldest and one of the largest producers of smoked salmon in Poland. The company was founded in 1989, and its current position is strengthened by its global presence. Suempol’s primary business is producing and selling cold- and hot-smoked salmon, as well as delicatessen products. It exclusively sources salmon that is certified to the standard of either the Aquaculture Stewardship Council or Best Aquaculture Practices programs.

With the acquisition of Copernus, Suempol aims to strengthen its market presence by introducing new species of fish, thereby expanding its product offerings to serve its customers better. Both Copernus and Suempol had established supply partnerships with Lidl, and this transaction provides Suempol with a significant opportunity to develop its presence within the UK market further.

More About the Emerging Leader Award

In more good news, Kayla Sullivan was named an Emerging Leader by The M&A Advisor’s M&A Awards. This award is presented to a distinguished group of rising stars who are shaping the future of mergers & acquisitions, restructuring, and corporate finance.

Kayla has been with Benchmark International for more than seven years, starting as an M&A Associate, quickly moving up to an Associate Director, and now serving as Director of Transaction Support in our Tampa, FL, headquarters, where she leads the Transaction Team in helping business owners to bolster their business valuations and ultimately exit their companies on the most favorable terms.

Recognition That Reflects Trust, Expertise, and Results

About The M&A Advisor

The M&A Advisor Awards are recognized as the Oscars of the M&A world, serving as the industry benchmark for dealmaking excellence and honoring the leading M&A transactions, restructurings, deal financings, products, services, firms, and professionals. 

An independent panel of global M&A, restructuring, and corporate finance practitioners evaluated nominations from around the world, representing companies with deals ranging from $10 million to more than $10 billion. The winners were honored on September 15-16, 2025, at a black-tie gala in New York City.

The M&A Advisor was founded in 1998 with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, and today it is the leading organization that recognizes excellence and achievement among the world’s leading dealmakers. 

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