06.11.2003

Most sequential deal: City firm Allen & Overy acted for Royal & SunAlliance on the sale of its estate agency business, Sequence, to Connells, advised by Addleshaw Goddard.

Most hot-off-the-press deal: Manchester firm Perkins acted for Greater Manchester Newspapers to relocate to new offices in the Spinningfields district.

The deal means relocation for the Manchester Evening News and Guardian.

Landlord Allied London Properties was advised by City firm Linklaters.

Most electric deal: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted for a subsidiary of Powergen on the 1.2 billion purchase of Midlands Electricity, subject to regulatory approvals, from US owners Aquila and FirstEnergy, advised by US/UK firm Jones Day Gouldens.

Most aromatic deal: City firm Lawrence Graham acted for Coffee Republic on placing an open offer through which it hopes to raise 2.5 million to aid the roll-out of its deli concept.

City firm Rosenblatt represented Teather & Greenwood, the nominated adviser and broker, and Seymour Pierce Ellis, which has committed to underwriting up to 500,000 of the offer.

Best travelled deal: City firm Middleton Potts acted for Altram (Manchester) and its shareholders in the 80 million sale back to Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, advised by Eversheds, of Altram's interest in the Manchester Metrolink system.

It also acted for Laing Investments, Ansaldo Transporti-Sistemi Ferroviari and 3I on the sale of their interest in Altram to Serco, advised by City firm Nabarro Nathanson.

Most odds-on deal: Pinsents acted for casino giant MGM Mirage on its joint venture with Earls Court and Olympia Group, advised by London firm Joelson Wilson, to develop a casino, restaurant and retail entertainment complex at London's Olympia once proposed changes to gambling legislation are introduced.

City firm Travers Smith Braithwaite acted for Candover Partners, the majority owner of Earls Court and Olympia Group.

Most creditworthy deal: City firm Speechly Bircham acted as lead counsel to GMAC Commercial Finance and its US sister company of the same name on the provision of a cross-border $30 million credit facility for the Purolite Company in the US and its European subsidiaries - one of the largest asset-based lending facilities written out of the UK.

London firm Farrer & Co and top New York practice Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom acted for Purolite.