Marks Baughan & Co. announced today that it served as the exclusive financial advisor to inovia Holdings Pty Limited (inovia) in its transaction with RWS Holdings plc (RWS). Under the terms of the transaction, RWS is acquiring an initial one-third interest in inovia and has an agreement in place to acquire the remaining two-thirds for a maximum aggregate price of $31.2 million.
Headquartered in New York, inovia is a leading provider of web-based international patent filing solutions and the largest non-law firm provider of international patent filing solutions globally. inovia’s patented, web-based technology provides over 1,000 law firm and corporate clients with cost effective processing of international patent applications, typically producing cost savings in excess of 30%. From its locations in the US, Australia, Europe and Japan, its patent filing service covers 84 countries.
RWS is Europe’s leading provider of intellectual property support services (patent translations and technical searches). RWS’s acquisition of inovia is in line with its stated strategy to complement organic growth by deploying its cash resources for selective acquisitions which have demonstrable growth prospects and the capacity to enhance shareholder value.
“The Marks Baughan team has vast experience in the legal technology sector and did a marvelous job for us throughout the entire deal process. Marks Baughan understood our company and the IP support services market place, and was instrumental in helping inovia reach a mutually beneficial transaction with RWS. We are very excited about the future and want to thank Marks Baughan for their advice and support,” said David Nelson, Chief Executive Officer, inovia.
For more information on this transaction, please contact:
Paul Vander Vort
Managing Director
612.284.4777
pvandervort@marbau.com
Christopher Rose
Vice President
610.616.3298
crose@marbau.com
About inovia
inovia was founded in 2002 in Sydney, where its research and development is still based, and is headquartered in New York, has an office in Munich and representation in London, Edinburgh and Tokyo. It has 29 employees and a network of 46 global agents, comprising patent attorneys and intellectual property experts, covering 84 countries. inovia’s patented technology streamlines the PCT national filing stage and European validation processes by delivering instant, accurate quotes, reducing administrative time and automating document generation. inovia is ranked #1 in the USA, #2 in Europe and #3 in the world in terms of PCT’s taken to the national stage in 2011.
For additional information please visit www.inovia.com
About RWS
RWS is Europe’s leading provider of intellectual property support services (patent translations and technical searches) to the medical, pharmaceutical, chemical, aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics and telecoms industries. RWS also provides specialist technical, legal and financial translation services for areas of industry outside the patent arena. RWS is based in the UK, with offices in Europe, New York, Tokyo and Beijing, and is listed on AIM, the London Stock Exchange regulated market (RWS.L).
For additional information please visit www.rws.com
About Marks Baughan & Co.
Marks Baughan & Co. provides investment banking services to growth companies in the Financial Technology and Information Management sectors. Our focus and deep expertise and relationships in these two verticals provide our clients with top-quality results driven by an efficient process. Marks Baughan clients range from public companies with multi-billion dollar market caps to private companies with $10 million in revenues. We deliver results for clients: advising on sales of entire companies and divisions, acquisitions, private placements of equity and debt securities, or strategic advisory services for CEOs and CFOs on public offerings, M&A plans, or investor positioning.