26.04.2007


Most commercial deal: US/UK firm Reed Smith Richards Butler advised Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank on a $1.5 billion (£750 million) syndicated loan, the largest ever signed by a Middle Eastern financial institution. City giant Linklaters advised the lenders.



Most caring deal: City firm Lawrence Graham advised Careforce Group, the domiciliary care service provider, on a £22 million recommended offer by Mears Group. Cheltenham firm BPE advised the buyer.



Most iconic deal: City firm Lovells and Irish firm A&L Goodbody are acting for ICON - a consortium made up of FCC Construction, Itinere Infraestructuras and PJ Hegarty - on the ¤300 million (£203 million) project financing of the N6 Galway to Ballinasloe public private partnership motorway project in Ireland. City firm Norton Rose and A&L Goodbody are advising Royal Bank of Scotland as financial adviser and lead mandated arranger on the project.



Most efficient deal: London firm Fladgate Fielder advised Tritax Securities on the formation of an offshore unit trust worth £330 million as a tax-efficient collective investment scheme for a pool of 1,500 investors. The scheme has invested in a 41-acre site at Eurocentral, a development located between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Semple Fraser advised Tritax on Scottish law, while UK firm Maclay Murray & Spens acted for the sellers and the debt provider, the Bank of Scotland.



Most ingenious deal: City firm Macfarlanes advised Ingenious Media Active Capital on a £1.5 million investment in The Outside Line, the digital marketing and creative agency. Media and entertainment firm Harbottle & Lewis advised The Outside Line.



Most liquid deal: Northamptonshire firm Vincent Sykes & Higham advised the sellers of Hydrosave UK, the water services and leak detection business, on its sale to South Staffordshire for £6.5 million. Birmingham firm Martineau Johnson advised the buyer.



Most resourceful deal: City firm Memery Crystal advised Gulf Keystone Petroleum, an independent oil and gas exploration company operating in Algeria, on its acquisition by RAK Petroleum for £208 million. International firm Baker & McKenzie advised RAK.