Fortress Investment Group Acquires Patent Licensing Specialist IPValue Management Group
The acquisition strengthens Fortress’ position in technology intellectual property commercialisation as IPValue expands licensing programmes across semiconductors, memory, networking and advanced electronics markets.
Fortress Investment Group announced the acquisition of IPValue Management Group (“IPValue”), one of the world’s leading intellectual property (“IP”) licensing companies. Funds managed by Fortress Investment Group affiliates (“Fortress”) led a group of investors that acquired the company.
“Coming off our strongest year to date, we view Fortress as uniquely suited to support the next era of IPValue, as we continue to successfully execute our pipeline of new opportunities and expand the scope of our commercialisation programs,” said John Lindgren, Chief Executive Officer of IPValue. “With a 25-year track record of delivering great outcomes through professional, fact-based business negotiations, IPValue is a sought-after IP commercialisation partner. We’re excited by the enhanced growth opportunities that this new investment enables us to pursue.”
Since its founding in 2001, IPValue has been a leader in the management and licensing of intellectual property from the world’s leading technology enterprises. The company has been entrusted with the strategic licensing of over 20,000 patents, addressing innovations in a broad range of technology areas, including displays, semiconductors, memory, IT devices and services, and networking.
IPValue champions innovation and innovators with a strategic view to maximising the long-term value of IP while ensuring a level playing field for industry participants and a fair return for its partners’ research and development investments. The company’s global franchise has generated more than $2 billion for its partners and has delivered freedom to operate and other strategic benefits through its licensing.
“IPValue has established itself as one of the world’s leading patent commercialisation businesses, with a team comprising some of the industry’s foremost experts and with active patent programs from some of the world’s most innovative companies,” said Eran Zur, Global Head of Intellectual Property at Fortress Investment Group. “We have great respect for what John and the IPValue team have built – and through the major investment by the new ownership group, we believe the company will be able to strengthen its current operating model and add further value for current and prospective partners.”
IPValue will continue to operate independently under its existing senior leadership team. With the support of the new ownership group, the company will have enhanced access to capital, allowing IPValue to pursue a broader range of opportunities as well as to offer more options to its partners as they seek to strategically maximise the value of their IP portfolios.
