The Deal's annual Deals of the Year issue does not simply cover the year's biggest deals. The special report highlights those deals that represent unusual complexity, innovation or long-term implications. From the hundreds of deals the magazine's editors covered over the past year, 11 were selected from every facet of the dealmaking spectrum: M&A, private equity, technology, regulation, bankruptcy and restructuring.

In the reports' stories about the selected transactions, The Deal's editors, senior writers and reporters indicate why the deal made 2003's Deals of the Year list:

M&A - Bank of America and Fleet: Sending a message, by Peter Moreira. The deal was selected for its impact in setting off a wave in banking consolidation.

M&A - Selling Freedom: An appeal to family values, by Richard Morgan. The transaction was chosen for the role that the Hoiles family's libertarian values played in the auction of the publishing company.

M&A - GE and Vivendi: Moving beyond the Messier era, by Peter Lauria. The entertainment deal made the cut for providing high drama with all the hallmarks of a Hollywood production.

Regulatory - First Data and Justice: A regulatory battle of wills, by Jaret Seiberg. First Data fought DOJ for the right to acquire Concord EFS and its Star debit system in what became a pivotal struggle between corporate America and the Department of Justice.

Private Equity - The Yell IPO: Setting the stage for revival, by John Morris. As one of the top- performing exits, the Yell Group plc initial public offering reopened London's IPO market.

Private Equity - Buyout firms reap returns from Tempur-Pedic, by Vyvyan Tenorio. The initial public offering of the mattress maker earned largest shareholders TA Associates and Friedman Fleischer & Lowe LLC a profit of 8 times their investment within 14 months.

Technology - With Overture, Yahoo! launches the search wars. The deal gave Yahoo! Inc. the ammunition to take on search leader Google.

Technology - Bidding for GlycoSciences: A biotech wake-up call, by Joshua Jaffe. The move by Cambridge Antibody Technology Group started a bidding frenzy for European biotech.

Bankruptcy - WorldCom: Against all odds, by Chris Nolter. Despite steep odds, the telecom company emerging from Chapter 11 with most of its $35 billion debt pared down and key assets intact.

Bankruptcy - Kmart: A beautifully engineered reorganization, Matt Miller. Since emerging from Chapter 11, Kmart's share price has doubled and it continues to hold down costs to ensure survival.

Bankruptcy - Global Crossing: A tortured exit, by Chris Nolter. The fiber network operator emerged from a complicated reorganization period fraught with a tough regulatory review and a hostile takeover attempt.

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