DEALS OF THE WEEK

08.11.2001

Most futuristic deal: US firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton is acting for Euronext, whose 555 million offer for the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (LIFFE) was recommended to the LIFFE board after a fierce three-way contest with the London Stock Exchange and Deutsche Borse.

Clifford Chance is advising LIFFE.Busiest deal: Berwin Leighton Paisner acted for integrated business services group Numerica on its admission to the Alternative Investment Market, placing of shares raising 30 million, and simultaneous acquisition of the non-audit business of top 20 accountancy firm Levy Gee (advised by Hammond Suddards Edge), and the non-audit business of Jayson Newman (advised by Solomon Taylor & Shaw) and NMGW (advised by Nabarro Nathanson).Rattiest deal: Reynolds Porter Chamberlain advised Bob Geldof's events company Ten Alps Communications on its 2 million acquisition of events organiser Pacesetter Holdings, represented by Gentle Jayes.Best assembled deal: The London office of US firm Altheimer & Gray advised MFI Furniture Group on its joint venture to pilot Ethan Allen stores in the UK.

Ethan Allen, which was advised in-house, is a premium furniture brand in the US.

Tastiest deal: Gordon Dadds acted for the management team on the 129 million buyout and refinancing of WT Foods, which produces ethnic foods.

The five directors will own 15% of the company which made the offer, WT Tiger Three, advised by Ashurst Morris Crisp, which also acted for private equity house Bridgepoint Capital.

The offer was made by Rabobank International, advised by Allen & Overy, supported by Bridgepoint.

Hammond Suddards Edge acted for the independent directors and advised the target company on due diligence.Best supported deal: Pinsent Curtis Biddle acted for Newcastle United on the restructuring of its media and financial arrangements with PTV, owned by NTL, involving a new joint venture agreement, a new sponsorship agreement and other contracts.

Travers Smith Braithwaite represented PTV.