30.10.2003

Most rhythmic deal: North-west London firm Blackman Van Emden acted for a major Ceroc dancing franchisee on its acquisition of Ceroc Enterprises, which owns the Ceroc trade mark and operates through 53 franchised outlets across the UK, giving more than half a million dance lessons a year.

The seller was advised by London media firm The Simkins Partnership.

Most golden deal: City firm Charles Russell advised intermediate gold producer Berna Gold Corporation on becoming the second-largest company to list on the Alternative Investment Market with a market capitalisation of 500 million.

Gowling Lafleur Henderson of Vancouver acted as Canadian counsel, while fellow Canadian firm Stikeman Elliott acted for Canaccord Capital (Europe), the nominated adviser and broker.

Best heated deal: Surrey firm Mundays acted for the vending shareholders of B&G (Heating & Plumbing) Ltd on their 23.5 million sale of the company to Travis Perkins, advised by Cambridge firm Hewitsons.

Oiliest deal: City firm Norton Rose acted for Greek-Cypriot company LMZ Transoil in its contract for two new panamax tankers, to be built in Romania by Daewoo-Mangalia Heavy Industries, advised by City firm Hill Taylor Dickinson.

Romanian firm Badea Radu & Associates also advised LMZ.

If an option for a third tanker is taken up, LMZ's investment will be worth almost $100 million (59 million).

Most mobile deal: City firm Travers Smith Braithwaite is advising the management team on the $1.5 billion management buy-out of top mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat Ventures.

Clifford Chance is acting for a private equity consortium made up of Apax and Permira, and the newco bidding vehicle, while Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer represents Inmarsat.

Most industrial deal: Norwich-based Steeles advised the London Borough of Lambeth on the 15.6 million sale of its portfolio of seven industrial estate properties to Workspace Group, advised by Norton Rose.

Best connected deal: US/UK firm Faegre Benson Hobson Audley acted for the shareholders of CIO Connect on the disposal of their shares for an undisclosed sum to The National Computing Centre, advised by Eversheds.

Soundest deal: Reading firm Pitmans acted for the management of Martin Audio - famous for supplying sound systems to Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and the Stereophonics - on its buy-out from Denmark's TC Group, advised by Blake Lapthorn Linnell.

The buy-out was supported by ISIS Equity Partners and the Royal Bank of Scotland, represented by Olswang and Osborne Clarke respectively.