I spy...

"My first task was the flotation of Arlington Securities plc - another relationship that has endured over 25 years. Funds from a subsequent rights issue were used to acquire of one of the largest business parks in the UK, known as Aztec West, and a shopping centre in Gloucester. The acquisition was all the more exciting because it was for a public company and stock exchange sensitive, making it highly confidential.
Due to the sensitivity of the transaction, the whole thing was coded: Aztec West became 'Mexico', the vendors were 'Ecuador', the shopping centre was 'Guyana' and its part-owners 'Cuba'. Whole teams were sent to inspect and measure the buildings, and in a military-style operation we commandeered the boardroom in our Cheltenham office and set up a mobile unit in a local hotel.

At the time, the best we could get were brick-like mobile phones with breezeblock-sized chargers. The due diligence took place over the course of a week, and it was only as we were driving through Cheltenham that we realised we were talking quite openly on our 'advanced' mobile technology about the takeover of Ecuador and Cuba's interests in Mexico as we drove past Government Communications HQ! We'll never know what those listening in made of it all…"