Novel deal: The London office of French firm Gide Loyrette Nouel has acted on the first monoline wrap securitisation since the credit crunch of August 2007, when banks lost confidence in monoline insurers. It acted for lead arranger Caylon and others on the ¤800 million (£609 million) whole business securitisation for truck leasing company Fraikin Group. The 12-month deal introduced novel contractual and tax structuring features to reduce the level of credit enhancement required by the monoline insurer.


Standard deal: North-west firm Halliwells advised Ask Property Developments on its development and sale agreements with Standard Life Investments' Long Lease Fund, relating to a £30 million Townside development in Bury. National firm Addleshaw Goddard acted for Standard Life.



Material deal: Leicester firm Harvey Ingram acted for knitwear firm Richard Roberts Kandy in Sri Lanka on its acquisition of two manufacturing arms of Edinburgh Woollen Mill. Scottish firm Maclay Murray & Spens acted for the manufacturers.



Fashionable deal: London firm Lawrence Stephens advised UHY Hacker Young on the administration and subsequent management buyout of half of women's fashion chain Select Retail's 250 stores. London firm Rochman Landau acted for the management buyout team.



Accommodating deal: City firm Norton Rose acted for Park Plaza Hotels on its £10 million acquisition of the 66% of Marlbray that it did not already own, making it a 100% owner of the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge apart-hotel project - set to be one of the largest hotels in London when completed in 2010. London firm Howard Kennedy acted for Marlbray. Magic circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advised the bank.



Bankable deal: Magic circle firm Linklaters acted for HSBC France on a ¤2.1 billion (£1.6 billion) offer from Banque Fédérale des Banques Populaires for its seven French regional banking subsidiaries. French firm Bredin Prat acted for Banque Fédérale.



Bargain deal: City firm Olswang acted for London & Associated Properties on its £8.7 million acquisition of a 54,000 square foot shop let to Primark in Chesterfield, from AXA Sun Life.