Intellectual Property – Portfolio Management

Portfolio managers constantly seek ways to maximize the growth of their portfolio companies and are vigilant in seeking exit opportunities that will minimize their risks and maximize their profits. Next Steps Research enables portfolio managers to identify and evaluate the options before them, making complex business decisions a little more straightforward.

The IP Assessment identifies competitors; provides a broad view of acquisition targets, both within and outside the company's current vertical market; identifies new vertical markets for existing products; and identifies the risks and opportunities inherent in new product development.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Portfolio Company D has achieved moderate success marketing its patented technology in plant genetics aimed at improving frost resistance in sensitive fruit. The investors wonder whether Company D should merge with a competitor, apply its technology elsewhere, or identify strategic acquisition opportunities for future growth.

Not only did the Next Steps Research IP Assessment identify merger candidates, based on finding companies with patents for related technologies, but it also identified new vertical market opportunities for Company D. The IP Assessment found major consumer products companies (Breyers and General Foods) were using similar technology to prevent ice crystals from forming in ice cream, and pharmaceutical companies (Hoffmann LaRoche, Baxter, Green Cross and American Red Cross) were looking at employing similar technology in blood processing. Only a patent analysis that looked into completely unrelated markets could locate these opportunities.