08.02.2007


Smoothest deal: London firm Davenport Lyons advised the Guardian Media Group (GMG) on its acquisition of Saga Radio from Saga Group for an undisclosed sum. GMG will re-brand the station as Smooth. City firm Lovells advised Saga.



Deepest deal: London firm Olswang acted for private equity firm Dunedin Capital Partners and the shareholders of Levetas on the sale of the document and records archiving business to Deepstore for an undisclosed sum. Levetas offers archiving facilities in former salt mines in Cheshire. UK/US firm DLA Piper advised Deepstore.



Best equipped deal: City firm Pritchard Englefield acted for International Medical Devices on its dual acquisition of medical equipment suppliers Pro Care and Minster Medical for £4.9 million. York firm Denison Till advised the majority of the selling shareholders.



Most energetic deal: The London office of US firm Jones Day advised state oil agency Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company on its $128 million (£65 million) acquisition of Mauritania Holdings from BG. City giant Linklaters acted for BG on the disposal, which includes all its offshore upstream assets in Mauritania.



Most scientific deal: City firm Slaughter and May advised United Utilities on the £218 million sale of its outsourcing business Vertex Data Science to a consortium of investors. Olswang advised the

purchasers.



Most tailor-made deal: Manchester firm Heatons acted for S8 UK on its acquisition of Travel 2 and Travel 4, the long-haul tour operator that sells tailor-made holidays, from Galileo International for an undisclosed sum. DLA Piper advised Galileo.



Sunniest deal: City firm Berwin Leighton Paisner advised CEPS on a £2.4 million fundraising and the acquisition of polywrapping supplier Sunline Direct Mail for up to £4.3 million from 3i, advised by national firm Addleshaw Goddard, and its management, advised by midlands firm Freeth Cartwright. City firm Stephenson Harwood acted for the debt provider, the Bank of Scotland, and London firm Fladgate Fielder advised the nominated adviser and broker, City Financial Associates.



Hairiest deal: Nottingham firm Browne Jacobson advised the management of Racoon International on a buyout of the hair extensions company for an undisclosed sum. Racoon's celebrity clients include Denise Van Outen, Jade Jagger and Sharon Osbourne. Birmingham firm Martineau Johnson advised backer HBOS, while national firm Hammonds acted for debt provider Barclays Bank. Leamington Spa firm Wright Hassall advised the vendors.



Most innovative deal: London and regional firm Osborne Clarke advised a consortium led by Imperial Innovations on a £6 million investment in Circassia which will enable it to develop an allergy vaccine. City firm Simmons & Simmons advised Lansdowne Partners, a member of the consortium. Circassia was advised by its general counsel.