Global law firm White & Case LLP has advised SoftBank Vision Fund on its investment in British unicorn OakNorth, in what will be the largest ever European fintech fundraising.
The investment values OakNorth at around USD2.8 billion. Closing of the investment will take place subject to regulatory approvals.
OakNorth is a challenger bank that specialises in lending to small and medium-sized businesses. It has lent over USD3.7 billion to British businesses, and has licensed its automated lending system to other banks and lenders around the world.
White & Case also advised SoftBank Vision Fund on another significant mandate in January.
“We are proud to be working with SoftBank Vision Fund as we focus more and more on investing in and working with fast-growth and tech-enabled businesses,” says White & Case partner Ian Bagshaw, who co-led the Firm’s deal team. “This is our second Vision Fund deal in a month. We are truly committed to tech and it is fantastic to have now advised on the largest ever fintech investment in Europe after advising Avast last year on the largest ever software IPO in Europe.”
The White & Case team in London which advised on both the OakNorth deal and the other investments was led by partners Ian Bagshaw, Emmie Jones and Daniel Turgel, with support from associates Joseph Bradley, Elena Ruggiu and Disha Chandrachud. The team also included London partners Lindsey Canning, Nicholas Greenacre, Hyder Jumabhoy, Helen Levendi, Prabhu Narasimhan, Patrick Sarch, Michael Weir and Stuart Willey, Washington, DC partner Farhad Jalinous and London counsel Paul Harrington.
