International legal practice Osborne Clarke has advised the Deutsche Bahn Digital Ventures GmbH on its investment in London-based start-up what3words. Deutsche Bahn Digital Ventures GmbH plans to use the what3words tracking system to increase the quality and efficiency of their worldwide trade in goods.

A location based solution that specializes in tracking systems, what3words has developed a process to localize people and or objects with a surface accuracy of 3 by 3 metres. It then provides the geo-coordinates for each address that consists of three words so users can accurately find and share locations quickly.

Deutsche Bahn Digital Ventures GmbH manages the start-up fund of Deutsche Bahn AG. The company is the organisational umbrella for Deutsche Bahn’s investments in start-ups. The company’s goal is to intensify start-up partnerships and simplify investments.

An Osborne Clarke team led by Partners Nicolas Gabrysch (Cologne) and Robert Wood (UK) advised Deutsche Bahn Digital Ventures GmbH on this transaction. The team also included Tom McGinn (all Corporate / M&A), Ian McKenzie (IT / Commercial) and Anna Rawlings (IP).

The transaction was supervised in-house by Dr Rolf Kinner (Legal department of Deutsche Bahn AG).

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