Evolution Grp reduces Holding

IP2IPO Group PLC 19 May 2004 For Immediate Release 19 May 2004 IP2IPO Group plc The Evolution Group Plc reduces its holding in IP2IPO Group Plc IP2IPO Group plc ('IP2IPO' or 'the Company') (AIM: IPO), the intellectual property company that specialises in commercialising university technology, announces that The Evolution Group Plc has reduced its shareholding in IP2IPO from 40.61% to 18.46% by selling 9,000,000 shares at 450p per share (the 'Sale Shares') primarily to institutional investors. In order to facilitate the transaction in respect of the Sale Shares, IP2IPO and KBC Peel Hunt Ltd, its nominated adviser and broker, released The Evolution Group plc from the lock-in arrangements that were entered into at the time of IP2IPO's flotation in October 2003. The terms of these lock-in arrangements will continue to apply to those shares being retained by The Evolution Group Plc. The Company also announces that Dave Norwood, Chief Executive Officer of IP2IPO, has purchased 165,000 Sale Shares (representing 0.41% of the issued share capital of the Company) at 450p per share. This increases his stake in the Company from 0.89% to 1.30%. The transaction took place on 18th May 2004. Commenting on this announcement, Dave Norwood, Chief Executive Officer of IP2IPO, said: 'This is a positive development for IP2IPO. Evolution's reduction in its shareholding in IP2IPO marks another milestone for IP2IPO's growing maturity and has enabled the Company to broaden its shareholder base significantly. The Company's shareholder register is strengthened as a result. I would like to both welcome our new shareholders to IP2IPO and to record my thanks for Evolution's historic and continued support for the Company.' -Ends- For more information please contact: IP2IPO David Norwood, Chief Executive Officer 020 7071 4348 Buchanan Communications Tim Anderson, Mark Court, Mary-Jane Johnson 020 7466 5000 Notes to editors IP2IPO IP2IPO is an intellectual property (IP) company that specialises in commercialising university technology. The Company has already formed four long-term partnerships with UK universities and listed on AIM in October 2003. IP2IPO's first such collaboration was with the University of Oxford. In return for an investment of £20 million, IP2IPO has acquired 50 per cent of the University of Oxford's equity in spin-out companies and technology licences based on intellectual property created at the Chemistry Department until 2015. In March 2002, IP2IPO Limited entered into a second long-term partnership with the University of Southampton. Under the terms of this partnership, IP2IPO is committed to working with the University of Southampton in the identification and facilitation of spin-out companies from across the University of Southampton and to investing £5 million in early-stage University of Southampton spin-out companies over a four year period in return for equity stakes in those companies. In addition, IP2IPO Limited also received a 20 per cent stake in Southampton Asset Management Limited, a company that has been formed to hold the University's equity stakes in its future spin-out companies. The partnership has a term of at least 25 years. IP2IPO Limited entered into its third long-term partnership in May 2003 with King's College London. IP2IPO Limited will work with King's College London to help identify and progress commercialisation opportunities as well as invest £5 million in King's College London's spin-out companies over a five year period in return for equity stakes in those companies. In addition, IP2IPO Limited will receive 20 per cent. of King's College London's equity in spin-out companies and technology licenses. The partnership has an initial term of 25 years. In October 2003, IP2IPO announced a fourth partnership with the Centre for Novel Agricultural Products ('CNAP'), based at the University of York. CNAP is a flagship research centre that specialises in plant and microbial gene discovery. Under the terms of the partnership a new company, Amaethon Limited, has been created which has the right to commercialise CNAP's IP for 25 years. IP2IPO Limited has committed to invest £1.15m in Amaethon Limited in return for a one third equity stake in Amaethon Limited (the remaining equity being owned by the University of York) and will also invest in the spin out companies based on CNAP's IP which Amaethon Limited creates. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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