25.10.2007


Most entertaining deal: London firm Fladgate Fielder advised independent television production company Twenty Twenty on its acquisition by Shed Media for an undisclosed sum. Twenty Twenty has produced award-winning programmes such as 'The Choir' and 'Brat Camp'. The London office of US firm Dorsey & Whitney advised the purchaser.



Most vocational deal: Birmingham and London firm Wragge & Co advised Close Brothers Private Equity on a £47 million management buyout of Protocol Skills, the national vocational training provider. City firm Taylor Wessing advised the seller, while Lovells acted for funder Barclays Bank.



Most stylish deal: City firm Travers Smith advised Promethean Investments on the £75 million sale of DLG, the lifestyle data owner, to Kaupthing Bank. National firm Pinsent Masons advised the buyer, while City firm Linklaters acted for management on their equity arrangements going forward.



Wildest deal: US/UK firm DLA Piper advised CVS Group on its flotation on AIM and an associated £93 million placing. CVS is the UK's largest consolidator of veterinary practices. Travers Smith acted for the nominated adviser and broker, Panmure Gordon.



Strongest deal: Nottingham firm Browne Jacobson advised the vendors of Amber Composites and Technical Resin Bonders, Gavin Clarke and Stuart Crosskill, on the sale of the companies to a private equity consortium for an undisclosed sum. The businesses manufacture high-strength composite materials and structures for the transportation and building materials industries. The Nottingham office of Geldards advised the consortium, which was led by US entrepreneur Jonathan McQueen.



Most sovereign deal: City firm Denton Wilde Sapte and US firm Cravath Swaine & Moore advised the Republic of Ghana on its debut $750 million sovereign bond issue. The deal is the first sovereign bond issue by a sub-Sahara African country, other than South Africa. City firm Clifford Chance advised the lead managers, UBS and Citigroup.



Most mobile deal: City firm Macfarlanes advised Groupe Norbert Dentressangle, the French transport and logistics group, on its £254 million bid for Christian Salvesen. Lovells advised the target.