Aussie fund cements investment in clean tech with Simpson Grierson's help

Simpson Grierson has assisted Australian impact fund Inspire Impact as the lead investor in a $60m Series C capital raise for e-waste miner and clean tech company Mint Innovation.

“The high tech, low carbon nature of Mint Innovation is a good fit for Inspire Impact because they’re impact-driven in their investment decision making, and we’re finding that investors are looking more and more for these kinds of responsible corporate partners”, co-lead partner Anastasiya Gutorova said. “It was very rewarding to be involved in a complex deal like this, creating and negotiating the investment instrument to the satisfaction of all investors”.

Through the investment, Mint Innovation will be able to implement its proprietary bio-refinery technology in key global locations. The technology was developed for the recovery of precious metals from urban waste, and has been proven at scale, Simpson Grierson said.

“Over 50 million tonnes of e-waste was dumped last year alone, and that figure is set to double in less than a decade”, the firm added, highlighting the value of Mint Innovation’s tech.

Gutorova headed up the firm’s team in working on the deal alongside partner Michael Pollard and senior associate Louw Wessels.  

Inspire Impact is part of the Liverpool Partners group of funds.

Employment and corporate teams thrive with new senior associates

Simpson Grierson also recently welcomed two new senior associates in Ashleigh Inder and Greg Mitchell.

Previously, Inder worked in London at Macfarlanes LLP. She returns to New Zealand after five years to an employment practice she describes as “ahead of the curve when it comes to the quality of work and team culture”. She will be operating from Christchurch.

“The key attraction was joining a team that is genuinely committed to flexible working, allowing me to live in the South Island, while I work as part of a national practice with my Auckland and Wellington colleagues on some of the country’s most important employment cases”, Inder explained.

Meanwhile, Mitchell makes his return to Simpson Grierson as a seasoned corporate and commercial specialist. He has gleaned considerable experience in M&A, joint ventures, corporate governance, commercial contracts and overseas investment.

“We have a long history of welcoming home first-class lawyers from leading international firms, and of welcoming back alumni, and these appointments are testament to our firm’s excellent credentials, and our flexible workplace culture”, chair Anne Callinan explained. “Ashleigh and Greg bring strong experience, energy and fresh thinking as we focus on continuing to deliver excellent work for our clients across Aotearoa and around the world”.

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