24.05.2007


Most military deal: City firm Clifford Chance advised Project Blue (Guernsey), a joint venture between Qatari Diar and CPC Group, on its acquisition of Chelsea Barracks for an undisclosed sum. The 13-acre site is located between Chelsea and Belgravia. Exeter and London firm Michelmores advised the vendor, the Ministry of Defence. City firm SJ Berwin acted for CPC Group.



Most informative deal: City firm CMS Cameron McKenna advised publishing and events group Informa on its recommended takeover of Datamonitor, the market research business, for £502 million. London and regional firm Osborne Clarke advised Datamonitor.



Most portable deal: City firm Taylor Wessing advised Blueheath on its acquisition of Booker, the cash-and-carry chain, in a deal that values the combined group at more than £400 million. City firms Allen & Overy and Simmons & Simmons advised Booker and Investec, Blueheath's nominated adviser, respectively.



Most testing deal: Leeds firm Fox Hayes advised the shareholders of Nemesis Scientific, the workplace drug and alcohol testing services company, on its £1.5 million sale to medical diagnostics company Cozart, represented by London firm Bristows.



Most spirited deal: City firm Linklaters acted for United Spirits on its £595 million acquisition of the Whyte & Mackay Group. City firm Berwin Leighton Paisner advised the sellers, family trusts associated with businessmen Vivian Imerman and Robert Tchenguiz. Allen & Overy's London and Hong Kong offices acted for ICICI and Citibank, which provided acquisition finance for the deal.



Most educational deal: City firm Ashurst advised a consortium comprising Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board and Victorian Funds Management Corporation on the acquisition of a £420 million stake in Birmingham International Airport. City firm Linklaters acted for the sellers, Macquarie Airports Group and Aer Rianta International.



Most fitting deal: Osborne Clarke advised YFM Private Equity on a £3.5 million management buyout of fitted-kitchen specialist Harvey Jones. Regional firm Shoosmiths acted for debt provider HSBC, while UK firm Dundas & Wilson advised management.



Sweetest deal: National firm Halliwells advised entrepreneurs Sudarghara and Ajmail Dusanj, the owners of Liverpool brewer Cains, on a reverse takeover of pub operator Honeycombe Leisure. Pinsent Masons advised Honeycombe, while UK/US firm DLA Piper advised the Bank of Scotland.



Most architectural deal: City firm Travers Smith advised 3i Growth Capital on an investment in Foster + Partners, the firm of architects founded by Lord Norman Foster. Addleshaw Goddard advised Lord Foster, while national firm Eversheds acted for management.