Ateneo de Manila University secures second place in 2025 PwC M&A Challenge
The 9th Annual PwC M&A Challenge saw Ateneo’s John Gokongwei School of Management students securing the Silver medal. The final round took place in person on January 21, 2025, at the Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines offices in Makati City. The victorious team included Maxinne Louise Dominique Co, Rhalph Louise Atienza, Jasmine Abby Sotto, and Anne Tiffany del Rosario, with Louie Miranda, Trina Hombre, and James Soriano acting as mentors. Maxinne Co was also recognized with the Bronze Award for Best Speaker.
Ateneo has maintained a strong track record in the competition, boasting seven podium finishes and two championships, along with having competed in the finals eight times out of nine. Other winners in this year’s challenge were teams from Ateneo de Davao University and Polytechnic University of the Philippines, securing Gold and Bronze, respectively. The second-place Ateneo team received a trophy and a cash prize of PhP50,000.00.
This year’s challenge focused on advising a publicly-listed Philippine company on expanding their digital capabilities in fintech, agritech, or health tech. Teams went through three rounds, starting with identifying a suitable target company in the preliminary round. Fifteen teams advanced to the semi-finals, where they presented their findings online and engaged in a Q&A session with PwC professionals. Six teams then progressed to the final round, where they further expanded on their analyses with sentiment and valuation assessments before presenting to a panel of senior PwC professionals and industry leaders.
Over 100 teams from 52 universities participated in the competition, which ran from October 2024 to January 2025. The PwC M&A Challenge, launched in 2016, provides undergraduate students with a unique platform to tackle real-world business challenges and gain experience as corporate finance advisors.
Ateneo’s consistent success in the PwC M&A Challenge highlights the institution’s commitment to developing business acumen and cultivating future leaders in the field of mergers and acquisitions. The guidance of experienced mentors and the opportunity to engage with industry professionals have undoubtedly contributed to the students’ growth and achievement in this prestigious competition. Congratulations to the Ateneo team on their remarkable performance and continued dedication to excellence in the world of business and entrepreneurship.
