06.09.2007


Most environmental deal: Essex firm Birkett Long advised Hemcore, the UK's only commercial hemp-processing company, on a fundraising to allow the construction of a £3.6 million processing facility in Suffolk. Hemp products are used as an energy-efficient building material. City firm Norton Rose advised investor Low Carbon Accelerator, the AIM-listed environmental fund. The Bedford office of Woodfines acted for another investor, SCB Holdings.



Saltiest deal: City firm Herbert Smith advised Gaz de France on a project development agreement with INEOS Enterprises for the commercial development of a salt cavern gas storage facility at Stublach in north-west England. The total investment budget is estimated at £350 million. City firm Linklaters advised INEOS on the commercial agreement, with national firm Eversheds acting on real estate issues.



Sweetest deal: Manchester firm George Davies advised Supreme Foods on its merger with Glendale Frozen Foods and the acquisition of The Great British Pudding Company, advised by Daventry firm Temple & Co, for an undisclosed sum.



Most visual deal: National firm Hammonds advised the management of Primesight, which owns 13,500 outdoor advertising panels across the UK, on a £62 million buyout from Scottish Media Group (SMG). The London office of US firm Weil Gotshal & Manges advised backer GMT Communications Partners, while Herbert Smith acted for SMG.



Sportiest deal: City firm Field Fisher Waterhouse advised Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov and Red and White Holdings on the £75 million acquisition of a 14.5% stake in Arsenal, the Premier League football club. City firm Travers Smith advised the seller, David Dein, who becomes chairman of Red and White.



Most uplifting deal: Newcastle firm Dickinson Dees advised Barclays Bank on a £30 million investment in a local improvement finance trust (LIFT) scheme in Bury, Greater Manchester. The scheme will provide modernised facilities in partnership with the local NHS trust and Partnership for Health. Hammonds advised the special purpose vehicle, while national firm Addleshaw Goddard acted for the primary care trust.



Most underground deal: The London and Paris offices of Clifford Chance advised Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs on the £2.8 billion loan refinancing of Eurotunnel and the subsequent repackaging of the loan. City firms Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Linklaters advised Eurotunnel and monolines AMBAC, FSA and FGIC respectively.