19.04.2007
Cleanest deal: Truro firm Hancock Caffin advised EarthEnergy on an equity participation and funding commitment by Renewable Energy Systems (RES), a subsidiary of Sir Robert McAlpine. EarthEnergy designs geothermal heat pump systems for buildings. The Southampton office of Bond Pearce and an in-house legal team acted for RES.
Fastest deal: National firm Pinsent Masons advised AXA UK on its acquisition of online insurer Swiftcover from its management and Primary Group for an undisclosed sum. City firm Norton Rose advised Primary, while Baker & McKenzie's London office acted for the management.
Most exotic deal: City firm Taylor Wessing advised the management team at specialist emerging markets broker Exotix on its buyout from ICAP, which sold 58% of its shares in the business to Exotix's employees and private equity firm IPGL. City firms Ashurst and Macfarlanes advised ICAP and IPGL respectively.
Fruitiest deal: City firm Maxwell Winward advised Great Cheveney Farm on its merger with Clockhouse Farm, Gaskains and Worldwide Fruit. It will be the largest apple storage and packing business in Europe. Maidstone firm Whitehead Monckton acted for Gaskains, while Roythorne & Co, of Spalding in Lincolnshire, advised Worldwide Fruit.
Heavyweight deal: Nottingham firm Berryman advised the management of Heavyweight Air Express, the air freight group, on its multi-million buyout. Nottingham firm Actons advised funder Allied Irish Bank. Eversheds advised the vendors.
Most calculating deal: The Bristol office of Osborne Clarke advised the management of Triage Services, the provider of repair solutions to the IT industry, on a secondary management buyout for an undisclosed sum. National firm Hammonds advised the sellers, while US/UK firm Jones Day acted for investors Kaye Enterprises, Bridges Ventures and Calculus Capital. Regional firm Shoosmiths acted for debt provider the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Most independent deal: City firm Speechly Bircham advised Execution, the independent stock broking firm, on the acquisition for an undisclosed sum of a minority stake by Bank of Scotland, advised by DLA Piper.
Most powerful deal: City firm Ashurst advised support services company Babcock on its £39 million offer for International Nuclear Solutions (INS), the nuclear engineering and design services business. Hammonds acted for INS.
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