Slaughter and May led by Nilufer Von Bismarck advised Laporte on the £31m management buy-out of its hygiene division.

Travers Smith Braithwaite's Chris Hale acted for the purchasers. 3i, advised by Osborne Clarke's Alisdair Livingstone, provided the equity.

Royal Bank of Scotland, represented by Dickson Minto's Michael Barron, provided debt finance.

Laporte's in-house lawyer Nick Payne advised the management team.

SJ Berwin & Co, led by Steven Davis, advised Apax Partners Ventures and Chase Capital Partners on the £50m management buy-out of Vardon's attractions division, owners of London Dungeon.

Berwins worked closely with allied German firm Knopf Tulloch & Partner with regard to one of Vardon's German subsidiaries which was included in the price.

Detlef Ruskamp advised here. Taylor Joynson Garrett, led by Tim Stocks, acted for the management team.

Debt finance was provided by Bank of Scotland, which was advised by Lovell White Durrant's John Penson.