Investment in Perpetuum
IP2IPO Group PLC
14 February 2006
For immediate release 14th February 2006
IP2IPO GROUP PLC
Perpetuum secures £2.2 million in second round finance
IP2IPO Group plc (AIM: IPO), the intellectual property company that
commercialises university technology, is pleased to announce that Perpetuum
Limited, a spin-out company from the University of Southampton in which IP2IPO
holds an equity stake, has succeeded in raising £2.2m in second round finance.
The round includes £1,425,000 from Quester, which led the financing, £650,000
from Top Technology Ventures and £125,000 from SULIS.
Perpetuum develops microgenerators that harvest energy, usually from vibrations.
This kinetic energy is converted by Perpetuum's electro mechanical devices into
usable electrical power to drive sensors, microprocessors and transmitters.
Perpetuum has trials ongoing with a number of substantial industrial groups and
a strong pipeline of opportunities.
The financing round capitalises the company at £5.2 million. Post the completion
of the financing, IP2IPO holds a 14.6% interest in Perpetuum.
For more information please contact:
IP2IPO 020 7489 5200
Alan Aubrey, Chief Executive Officer
Buchanan Communications 020 7466 5000
Tim Anderson, Mark Court, Mary-Jane Johnson
Notes for editors
IP2IPO is an intellectual property (IP) company that specialises in
commercialising university technology. The Company was founded in 2001 and
listed on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange plc in October 2003.
IP2IPO's first partnership 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 licenses based on
intellectual property created at the Chemistry Department until 2015. In
November 2003, IP2IPO created a £5 million seed capital fund for investing in
spin-out companies across the University of Oxford, not just those originating
within the Chemistry Department.
In March 2002, IP2IPO 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 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 spin-out companies. The partnership has a term
of at least 25 years.
IP2IPO entered into its third long-term partnership in May 2003 with King's
College London. IP2IPO works with King's College London to help identify and
progress commercialisation opportunities as well as invest £5 million in seed
capital in spin-out companies from King's College London over a five year period
in return for equity stakes in those companies. In addition, IP2IPO receives 20
per cent of King's College London's equity in spin-out companies and technology
licenses. The partnership has a 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 has
invested £1.15m in Amaethon Limited in return for a 40% 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.
In June 2004, IP2IPO acquired Top Technology Ventures Limited, an investment
adviser to early stage technology funds. This combines IP2IPO's expertise in the
creation of new ventures based on world leading university IP with Top
Technology's focus on making early stage venture capital investments.
In January 2005, IP2IPO acquired Techtran, a company set up in 2002 to
commercialise university intellectual property under a long-term technology
commercialisation contract with the University of Leeds. Under the terms of the
contract Techtran receives a significant (30%) interest in spin-out companies
created and technology licences negotiated, in return for the provision of
technology transfer services to the University.
In May 2005, IP2IPO announced the launch of LifeUK, a new subsidiary company.
LifeUK, which has since been renamed Modern Biosciences, will in-license life
science intellectual property created by medical researchers at universities
with which IP2IPO already has partnerships, other universities in the UK and
similar academic and charitable research institutions. Modern Biosciences'
objective is to further develop the intellectual property which it in-licenses
with a view to creating substantial value either by subsequently licensing these
development programmes to the pharmaceutical industry or via the creation of new
ventures.
In December 2005, IP2IPO entered into its sixth long-term partnership with the
University of Bristol. IP2IPO will work with the University of Bristol to help
identify and progress commercialisation opportunities as well as invest an
initial £5 million in seed capital in spin-out companies from the University of
Bristol over a five year period in return for equity stakes in those companies.
In addition, IP2IPO will receive 13.3% per cent of in spin-out companies at the
time that the company is established prior to investment. The partnership has a
term of 25 years.
On 9th February 2006, IP2IPO entered into its seventh long-term partnership with
the University of Surrey. IP2IPO will work with the University of Surrey to help
identify and progress commercialisation opportunities as well as invest an
initial fund of up to £5 million in seed capital in spin-out companies from the
University of Surrey in return for equity stakes in those companies. In
addition, IP2IPO will receive 13.3% per cent of in spin-out companies at the
time that the company is established prior to investment. The partnership has a
term of 25 years.
To date, 5 spin-out companies from the IP2IPO portfolio have listed on the AIM
Market of London Stock Exchange plc: Offshore Hydrocarbon Mapping plc, Synairgen
plc, VASTox plc, Proximagen Neuroscience plc and GETECH Group plc. There has
been one trade sale: Toumaz Technology Limited was sold to Nanoscience Inc.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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