Fastest deal: The London office of Baker & McKenzie advised the British Racing Drivers Club on revised arrangements relating to the occupation by the Interpublic Group (IPG) of Silverstone motor racing circuit. IPG will pay £27 million for a variation of the lease that will give IPG and the club the right to terminate the lease prior to December 2004. City firm Lovells advised IPG.


Cleanest deal: The London office of Salans advised Safety-Kleen management group on the sale of Safety-Kleen Europe to JP Morgan Partners, the private equity arm of JP Morgan Chase, for £273.5 million. Safety-Kleen provides washers, spraygun cleaners and brake cleaners for the automotive and general industrial market. City firm Ashurst advised the seller, Electra Partners, while Linklaters acted for JP Morgan.



Most fashionable deal: Stoke-on-Trent firm Heatons advised the Oasis Group, a company controlled by Icelandic retailer Baugur, on the £120 million acquisition of the Karen Millen and Whistles fashion chains. National firm Pinsents and City firm Slaughter and May advised debt providers Bank of Scotland and Icelandic bank Kaupthing respectively, while City firm Fox Williams acted for the vendors, Kevin Stanford and Karen Millen.



Most environmental deal: Newcastle firm Ward Hadaway acted for Biofuels on obtaining a £17 million loan from Barclays Bank to construct the UK's first major biodiesel plant. The Teesside-based plant will manufacture diesel from vegetable oils. Newcastle firm Dickinson Dees acted for Barclays.



Most beautiful deal: The London office of US/UK firm Dechert acted for Charles Worthington and his business partner Allan Peters on the sale of Charles Worthington Hair & Beauty, the company owning their range of haircare products, to PZ Cussons for £35 million. National firm Addleshaw Goddard advised PZ Cussons.