Metis joins forces with Ocean Tomo

By SCOTT REID
Published on 01/07/2012 00:00

GLASGOW-BASED intellectual property practice Metis Partners promises to bring a “new generation” of corporate recovery and restructuring services to the European market after joining forces with a major US player.

Metis was founded in 2003 by chief executive Stephen Robertson, the former Scottish manager of the London Stock Exchange. The firm helps businesses exploit the value of their IP assets and has worked with a string of FTSE-quoted companies, global banks and public sector organisations.

Its tie-up with Chicago-based IP merchant banking specialist Ocean Tomo is being touted as a “ground-breaking strategic relationship”.

European clients will gain access to the US firm’s full line-up of IP services, including a proprietary patent ratings system. Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Robertson said: “Our partnership will bring a new generation of corporate recovery and restructuring services to the European market as we demonstrate to companies, their bankers and investors, the real but hidden value in IP assets and how they can attract new funding using IP assets as security.”

Metis, which also has an office in California, was set up by Robertson following the demise of the short-lived ScotX regional share trading exchange, which was pitched at smaller companies. He had championed the cause of ScotX while at Glasgow-based Direct Sharedeal.

James Malackowski, chief executive of Ocean Tomo, said: “Collaboration with Metis Partners expands our restructuring skill set and facilitates Ocean Tomo’s access to the European market. This new European corporate recovery and restructuring service uniquely begins with a fundamental understanding of clients’ largest asset bases – their intangibles.”