Lawyers in the Bristol office of international law firm Osborne Clarke have advised on three multi-million pound deals involving businesses in the artificial intelligence, advertising and renewable energy sectors.
The firm advised Abound, the consumer arm of Fintern, one of the UK’s fastest-growing fintechs using artificial intelligence (AI) and open banking to provide more accurate and affordable loans, on its latest £800m financing round. 
Osborne Clarke teams also helped Mirriad Advertising, the leading virtual in-content advertising and virtual product placement company, secure a £6.79m equity fundraising, and worked with Triple Point, the purpose-led investment manager and Ethical Power, the utility-scale solar and battery storage company, on a new of £7m debt facility,
London-based Abound’s fundraising – which brings its total raised to £1.3bn – is one of the largest in Europe so far this year.
The mixture of debt and equity includes a multi-year asset backed debt financing arrangement from existing financier Citi and a Series B equity round component led by Silicon Valley-based GSR Ventures.
Abound will use the new funding to expand into prime lending in the UK, and to roll-out Render, its proprietary AI credit technology platform, globally.
The cross-service line Osborne Clarke team assisting Fintern was led by Bristol-based partners Tom Busy and James Taylor with senior associates Joe Roberts and Adam Turner, and associates David Morgan and Olivier Jacquelin from the firm’s corporate and banking and finance teams.
The fundraising marks the latest chapter in Osborne Clarke’s and Abound’s long-term relationship, with the Osborne Clarke team having also advised on Abound’s £500m funding round last year.
London-based Mirriad will use its funding for ongoing operational expenditure and working capital, alongside investment in technology and sales support operations.
The Osborne Clarke team on the transaction was led by Bristol-based partner Louise Grzasko, assisted by senior associate Stuart Miller.
The debt facility secured for London-based investment manager Triple Point and Ethical Power, which is headquartered in Exeter and has an office in Bristol, marks the start of a new partnership to support expansion of the UK’s green energy infrastructure – ultimately contributing to keeping energy costs down and balancing the electrical grid.
Osborne Clarke’s energy and infrastructure finance team, which advised Triple Point, was led by partner Caroline Saul, supported by associate director Cameron Houston, associate Sophia Luton Rich and trainee Joe Sandon, while energy partner Matt Lewy led on the corporate elements of the matter, assisted by senior associate Ben Parker and associate Courtney Cox.
Osborne Clarke, which employs 800 people in its Bristol office, has an established position as one of the leading legal practices advising on energy projects and transactions.
