Deals of the week - 15.05.2003

Best merged deals: Fox Williams acted for fellow City firm Theodore Goddard on its merger with Addleshaw Booth & Co, which was advised in-house.

The new firm Addleshaw Goddard has announced its first corporate deal, advising Hoare Govett on its underwritten 75.5 million share placing and open offer for SVB Holdings, a specialty lines insurance group.

Clyde & Co's Guildford office acted for SVB.

Ritziest deal: City firm Richards Butler and Spain's Cuatrecasas acted for Orient-Express Hotels on its 125 million (90 million) acquisition of the Hotel Ritz in Madrid from the Meridien Group, advised by City firm CMS Cameron McKenna and Uria & Menndez in Spain.

Most sparkling deal: Herbert Smith is acting for cider maker Bulmers on the recommended offer from Scottish & Newcastle, advised by Linklaters, which values the company at 278 million.

Starriest deal: London firm Russells acted for Simon Cowell on the sale of his 50% stake in Ronagold to joint venture partner and music company BMG.

Ronagold is best known for records by 'Pop Idol' stars Will Young and Gareth Gates.

Mr Cowell and BMG - advised by the Oxford office of US firm Hale & Dorr - have set up a joint venture company to develop projects.

Most educational deal: City firm Berwin Leighton Paisner acted for examining and awards body Edexcel on its 20 million sale to Pearson, represented by the London office of US firm Dorsey & Whitney.

Most leathery deal: Birmingham firm Gateley Wareing acted for the vendors in the 38 million secondary buy-out of Frank Thomas Holdings, a leading motorcycle clothing and accessories distributor.

The group is now jointly owned by the management - advised by Bedford firm Park Woodfine - and funds managed by ABN AMRO Capital, represented by CMS Cameron McKenna.

DLA acted for the lender, Barclays Bank.