22.03.2007


Sweetest deal: North-west firm DWF advised the management of Burton's Foods on an institutional buyout for an undisclosed sum. The company bakes top-selling brands such as Cadbury Fingers, Jammie Dodgers and Wagon Wheels. City firm SJ Berwin acted for Duke Street Capital, which backed the buyout.



Most energetic deal: Northamptonshire firm Vincent Sykes & Higham advised a syndicate of investors on a £1.6 million investment in ACAL Energy, a developer of fuel cell technologies. ACAL's technology should allow fuel cell systems, such as those used in laptops, to operate up to five times longer that is currently possible. Manchester firm Smithsons advised ACAL.



Most resourceful deal: City firm Herbert Smith advised Credit Suisse and Macquarie as joint sponsors on the Hong Kong listing of Samling Global, a Malaysia-based forest resource and wood products company, which raised $280 million (£144 million). Magic circle firm Allen & Overy advised Samling Global.



Most communicative deal: Preston firm Napthens advised the shareholders of Pearl Telecoms on its sale to Opal Telecom, a subsidiary of The Carphone Warehouse Group, for an undisclosed sum. Pearl Telecoms, a telecoms solutions provider, has more than 4,000 business clients in the UK. The Carphone Warehouse Group was advised by an in-house team.



Most natural deal: The Bristol office of Osborne Clarke advised hydrocarbon production and development company Nighthawk Energy on its £10 million admission to AIM. The money raised will be used to fund development and drilling costs and further land acquisition at the Cisco Springs natural gas project in Utah in the US. National firm Pinsent Masons advised the nominated adviser and broker, Hanson Westhouse.



Best performing deal: Midlands firm Browne Jacobson advised the shareholders of Salamander Engineering on the sale of the niche water-care products manufacturer to Sentinel Performance Solutions for an undisclosed sum. The London office of US firm Jones Day advised the purchaser.