Deals of the week - 31.10.2002

Best communicated deal: Slaughter and May is acting for Carlton on its 2.6 billion merger with Granada, advised by Lovells, subject to clearances from the competition authorities and Independent Television Commission.

Most social deal: Denton Wilde Sapte acted for the Royal Bank of Scotland and Nationwide Building Society on a 352 million funding package for social housing provider Anglia Housing Group, advised by Trowers & Hamlins and Eversheds on the financing and property aspects respectively.

It is believed to be the biggest funding project ever in social housing.

The other financiers involved - Abbey National and Britannia Building Society - were advised in-house.

Best managed deal: Norton Rose acted for international asset management firm Old Mutual on the 100 million sale of its derivatives broker branch GNI Holdings to alternative investment provider Man Group, represented by Clifford Chance.

Most powerful deal: Herbert Smith acted for TXU Europe Group in the 2 billion sale of its UK arm - which included its energy group and retail business - to Powergen, represented by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Lovells represented TXU Europe and US firm Hunton & Williams advised the TXU Corporation.

Travers Smith Braithwaite acted for NM Rothschild, financial adviser to TXU, while US firm Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft advised the bondholders.

Best located deal: Maxwell Batley in London advised Hermes Property Asset Management on the 5 million sale of its interest in Crawley's Satellite Business Village to a private client of Loughnane Valuation Services, represented by Bristol firm Stafford Eales.

Toothiest deal: North-west firm Brabners Chaffe Street acted for dental software provider Advanced Healthcare Computing on its 780,000 sale to New Zealand-based Software of Excellence International, advised by London firm Edwin Coe.

Best constructed deal: Pinsent Curtis Biddle and Manchester firm Cottrill Stone Lawless provided corporate and property advice respectively to the shareholders of house builder Egerton Estates on the company's 20 million sale to David McLean Homes, advised by DLA.