IP firm Metis seeks partners in US and Asia

Stephen Robertson, the former Scottish manager of the London Stock Exchange who founded Metis Partners in 2003, will jet off tomorrow to progress discussions in Hong Kong as part of a wider “fact-finding” mission in the potentially lucrative area.

He is also due to showcase the company’s expertise when he addresses delegates at the Business of Intellectual Property Asia forum – a major industry gathering.

Metis Partners, which helps businesses exploit the value of their IP assets, has worked with a string of FTSE-quoted companies, global banks and public sector organisations. The firm 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.

Robertson says many small and medium-sized businesses undervalue their IP and have an opportunity to significantly boost their balance sheet. At the same time, many big corporates have come under pressure to cut back on research and development and product design and have instead struck IP licensing agreements.

Metis has also invested in an online model to help commercialise the IP coming out of universities. Having launched that model via a partnering arrangement in the Baltics, the firm is eyeing a push across Europe and beyond.

“International expansion is the big thing for us,” said Robertson, who spent four years in the LSE as regional manager for Scotland.

“We have spent a long time creating a model that we can use as a springboard to build the business internationally. We have developed a really robust model and methodology that allows us to quickly deliver those services anywhere around the world.”

At present, international trade accounts for just 10 per cent of the business, but the global push will see that rise to some 30 to 40 per cent within the next 12 months. Fee income is projected to rise from about £500,000 to £1 million within two years.

Robertson said: “We have had discussions in Hong Kong. They are interested in the work we are doing with SMEs and see a gap in the market to help them recognise IP assets and exploit them.

“The Chinese are certainly cleaning up their act when it comes to IP protection. We already have a presence and a number of clients in the US but I will be going out there in January with a view to establishing a permanent office there, probably on the west coast.

“We are also in talks with a law firm that is predominantly east coast about partnering with them.”

Robertson said a frequently ignored asset class was capable of “transforming” the funding options available to businesses, often providing additional security for borrowing.