16.10.2003

Dead deal: London firm Olswang advised Sovereign Capital on its 21 million institutional buy-out of a group of funeral directors, Laurel Management Services.

The group deals with 5,500 funerals every year.

Pinsents acted for the management buy-in team, Wragge & Co advised vendors 3i, and Hammonds acted for vendors Aberdeen Murray Johnstone Private Equity.

All three of those firms completed the deal from their Birmingham offices.

Most rollin' deal: City-based Norton Rose advised HBOS on what it maintains is the first US lease-to-service contract transaction to be completed with UK rolling stock, after extensive discussions with the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA).

Trains were sold to a US lessor - whose identity remains confidential - and then leased back to HBOS.

Shearman & Sterling advised HBOS on the New York aspects.

Allen & Overy acted for the SRA and US firm Morris James Hitchens & Williams advised the US lessor.

Tallest deal: Newcastle firm Dickinson Dees acted on the 67 million funding of a 38-storey building in Birmingham, which will be one of the country's tallest residential towers.

Dickinsons acted for Bank of Scotland, while the developer, Beetham Birmingham, was represented by Cuff Roberts in Liverpool.

Most secure deal: City-based Allen & Overy advised Eurohypo, UBS and Capita IRG - the arranger, lead manager and trustee respectively - on an 80 million fixed and floating rate bond issue to extend the securitisation of 35 supermarkets.

Simmons & Simmons acted for The British Land Company, the parent company of the group that owns the buidings.

Healthiest deal: Halliwell Landau's London office acted for Topnotch Health Clubs on the purchase of eight health clubs from administrators RSM Robson Rhodes, advised by DLA's London office.

Best branded deal: Birmingham's Pinsents advised international engineering group IMI on its 47 million acquisition of brand design business Artform International.

IMI has bought 93% of the company, with 7% being retained by the management.

Addleshaw Goddards in Leeds acted for Artform.