27.09.2007


Fittest deal: City firm Wedlake Bell advised Longshot, the leisure operator run by entrepreneur Joel Cadbury, on a £22 million management buyout of the business. Longshot runs the Third Space, a health and fitness club in London whose facilities include a 'hypoxic' (reduced oxygen) chamber to help simulate altitude training and DJs to encourage members to work out. London firm Olswang advised Graphite Capital, which backed the MBO.



Most leisurely deal: City firm Macfarlanes advised PD Parks on its acquisition of Weststar Holidays, which operates four caravan parks in Dorset, Cornwall and Hampshire, for an undisclosed sum. City firm Travers Smith advised the vendors, Phoenix Private Equity and management. City firm Berwin Leighton Paisner advised debt provider Anglo Irish Bank.



Inkiest deal: Birmingham and London firm Wragge & Co advised Octopus Investments on a £12 million acquisition of restaurant group Smollenskys and the Pastiche Bistros and Le Frog Bistros brands. Leeds firm Walker Morris advised Smollenskys.



Safest deal: the London office of US firm Dechert acted for the Safeland active management unit trust fund on a £50 million capital investment by Babcock & Brown. Safeland is a Jersey property unit trust which invests in income producing UK property investments. City firm Ashurst advised Babcock & Brown, with offshore firm Ogier advising on Jersey law.



Most constructive deal: West London firm IBB advised HBG Properties, the UK arm of Dutch construction giant BAM, on the sale of an office portfolio valued at £157 million to German group IVG. The portfolio includes offices in Leeds, Swindon, Manchester and Edinburgh. London firm Nabarro acted for IVG.



Most adventurous deal: Reading and London firm Pitmans advised Zog Developments on a £110 million joint venture with Uberior Ventures, the Bank of Scotland's equity arm, to set up a property fund that will invest in brownfield opportunities. UK/US firm DLA Piper advised Uberior Ventures.



Most educational deal: Nabarro advised Waltham Forest Council on the £104 million financial close of the first phase of its Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. This will involve the construction of one private finance initiative school and two design-and-build schools. BSF is the government's secondary schools renewal programme. National firm Addleshaw Goddard advised the Bouygues Partnership for Education and the Community, which will develop the project. City firm Allen & Overy acted for funder Barclays Bank.