Deals Of The Week 18.04.2002

Juciest deal: City firm Field Fisher Waterhouse acted for contract magazine publisher the Citrus Group on its merger with John Brown Publishing, advised by Withers.

The deal - which makes John Brown Britain's second largest contract publisher with an annual turnover of 35 million - means Citrus shareholders now have a minority stake in the John Brown group.

Muddiest deal: Gateshead-based Hadaway & Hadaway represented Athena Health and Fitness Centre in its buyout of the north-east's only professional rugby league club, Gateshead Thunder.

The club went into administration earlier this month, and its administrator Robson Laidler was represented by Newcastle firm Watson Burton.

Most theatrical deal: The estate of actor Sir Ralph Richardson was advised by City firm Howard Kennedy in the sale of its archive to the British Library.

The estate will be housed alongside the archives of Sir Laurence Olivier and Sir John Gielgud at the British Library, advised in-house.

Steamiest deal: City firm Lovells is advising NM Rothschild & Sons and ABN AMRO, the joint lead managers in the securitisation of the Isle of Man Steam Packet ferry company.

The company, which runs ferries between the Isle of Man and the UK and Ireland, has launched a 65 million whole business securitisation backed by income from its businesses.

Steam Packet, the originator, is being advised by Cains for Manx law, and its parent company Sea Containers by Richards Butler for English law.

Sportiest deal: US firm Coudert Brothers advised Tottenham Hotspur Football Club on the corporate and property aspects of developing a football academy in Abridge, Essex.

The village was advised by Richard Pearlman & Co on the property elements of the deal and by Lewis Silkin on the corporate aspects.

l In [2002] Gazette, 5 April, 8, we should have said that Fladgate Fielder acted for the Orb Group in its 600 million acquisition of the Thistle Hotel Group.