Deals of the Week

01.11.2001

Sportiest deal: SJ Berwin represented Internet-based betting operator ukbetting in its acquisition of PA Sporting Life, represented by Taylor Joynson Garrett, which owns the sportinglife.com Web site.

SJ Berwin also represented ukbetting in its offer for shares in Sportscard Group, which was advised by Nicholson Graham & Jones.Most historical deal: Ashurst Morris Crisp acted for Bovis Lend Lease and Stanhope on a project finance deal, which will extend the Cabinet War Rooms museum and create the accompanying Churchill museum.

CMS Cameron McKenna advised the trustees of the Imperial War Museum, of which the Cabinet War Rooms is a branch, while Berwin Leighton Paisner advised the Treasury, which is the War Rooms' landlord.Most prophetic deal: Reading firm Boyes Turner advised the management team of FutureLink Europe, a Newbury-based distributor of networking systems, on its buyout from US-based parent company FutureLink and KNS Holdings.

FutureLink and KNS were advised by Penningtons and US firm Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal.Grimiest deal: Leicestershire firm Fishers acted for Coalpower in its purchase of Hatfield colliery.

The colliery was forced into compulsory liquidation in August, but has now re-opened under Coalpower's management.

The liquidators, accountants KPMG, were represented by DLA in Birmingham.Most air-borne deal: London-based Maxwell Batley represented SITA, which provides IT to air transport, in its recent acquisition of the Equant Applications Services business unit from Dutch telecommunications provider Equant, which was represented by Rowe & Maw.Best brokered deal: Hammond Suddards Edge advised Liverpool-based corporate finance house Escalon on its sale to stockbroker and corporate finance adviser Teather & Greenwood.

On completion, Escalon's full client list is expected to transfer to Teather & Greenwood, which was advised by Wedlake Bell.Best dressed deal: Pinsent Curtis Biddle acted for Rubicon Retail in its acquisition of retail brands Warehouse, Principles, Racing Green and Hawkshead from Acardia Group, advised by Clifford Chance.

The 35 million deal will be completed next summer, allowing time for assignment of property leases.