Deals of the Week 21.02.2002

Gravest deal: Eversheds acted for the management in its 220 million buyout of Dignity Caring Funeral Services, the UK's single largest funeral services provider, from Service Corporation International, advised by Linklaters.

Backers HSBC Private Equity and CIBC World Markets were advised by DLA and Lovells respectively.Most infantile deal: Kent firm Cripps Harries Hall acted for Conservative MP Michael Fallon and north-east entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne on the 22 million sale of nursery company Just Learning to Alchemy Partners, advised by Macfarlanes.

Merritt & Co gave property advice to the sellers.

Ashurst Morris Crisp advised Barclays Bank, which provided the debt finance.Best engineered deal: North-west firm DWF acted for engineering and contracting firm Fabricom Contracting in its acquisition for an undisclosed amount of part of the business of Enron UK subsidiary Caxious.

Addleshaw Booth & Co acted for Enron's joint administrators, Ernst & Young and Price-waterhouseCoopers.Most private deal: Ashurst Morris Crisp advised the management in its buyout of Palmer & Harvey McLane, the UK's largest private company with a turnover of 3 billion.

Trowers & Hamlin acted for Palmer, while Clifford Chance represented Barclays, which led the syndicate, providing 160 million of funding using a sales ledger financing structure.Friendliest deal: DJ Freeman acted for Fulham Football Club on its ground share agreement with Queen's Park Rangers - advised by Harbottle & Lewis - for next season while Fulham's ground is being redeveloped.

DJ Freeman is also acting on the redevelopment.Mouthiest deal: Pinsent Curtis Biddle advised Integrated Dental Holdings - valued at 45 million - on the first flotation on the main market this year.

Sponsor Altium Capital was represented by Travers Smith Braithwaite.Smelliest deal: Rosenblatt acted for Julius A Mellor Holdings on its purchase of Dewhirst Toiletries, advised by Addleshaw Booth & Co, for an undisclosed amount.

Both companies are suppliers of toiletries to Marks & Spencer.Best retailed deal: Bircham Dyson Bell acted for Larrik Properties on its 15 million acquisition of a high-street retail portfolio from British Land, advised by Nabarro Nathanson.

Smallest deal: Lovells and Jersey firm Bedell Cristin acted for Tiny Computers in its sale to Time Group - advised by Tite & Lewis - in an attempt to save the company after it was put into administration.