DEALS OF THE WEEK

25.07.2002

Best checked deal: Linklaters advised fashion emporium and luxury goods manufacturer the Burberry Group - famous for its distinctive check print - on its partial flotation on the London Stock Exchange.

The sponsors, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley, were both advised by Freshfields, while Norton Rose was engaged by Burberry to advise on the introduction of employee share schemes.

Most stylish deal: Niche London commercial firm Hughes Watton represented the Specialist Retail Group, which trades as Suits You clothes shops, in its acquisition for an undisclosed sum of high street clothing chain Racing Green from Rubicon, represented by Pinsent Curtis Biddle.

Smokiest deal: Simmons & Simmons acted for Gallaher on its joint venture with RJ Reynolds - tobacco manufacturer and wholesale companies - to create, market and sell a new portfolio of cigarette brands, initially in four markets: France, Spain, Canary Islands, and Italy.

RJ Reynolds was represented by US firm Jones Day Reavis & Pogue, and the joint venture company - known as RJ Reynolds-Gallaher International - will be based in Switzerland.

Booziest deal: Salisbury firm Wilsons acted for London-based gastro pub and restaurant business Massive on its 14 million acquisitions of pub chains Thomas & Carter - advised by Hampshire firm Moore & Blatch - and Forester Grant, advised by south-east firm Thomas Eggar.

Massive's funding came from the Royal Bank of Scotland, represented by Scottish firm Dundas & Wilson.

Most odds-on deal: London firm Edwin Coe represented bookmakers Sporting Index on the 8.7 million sale of its spread-betting business to Zetters Group's subsidiary IFX, advised by Simmons & Simmons.

Best connected deal: City firm Clifford Chance represented telecoms operator Energis on the first pre-packaged insolvency sale of a listed company.

A new company, Chelys, was set up to acquire Energis's UK branch.

Linklaters advised the lenders - including the Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays Bank - Macfarlanes advised the incoming management team, while Energis's bondholders were represented by US firm Bingham McCutchen.

Cleanest deal: London firm Bignalls acted for US corporation Masco, leading manufacturers and suppliers of home improvement products, on its purchase for an undisclosed sum of taps and showers company Bristan, advised by Birmingham firm Wragge & Co.

Most golden deal: Norton Rose's New York office advised HSBC in its role as co-ordinator for west African gold mining company Randgold Resources' first registered equity offering.

Randgold, whose shares will be available on the London Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, was represented by US firm Fulbright & Jaworski.