Dutch patent attorney firm V.O. banks on private equity

Rumours of a private equity investor taking a stake in the Netherlands’ largest patent attorney firm, Vereenigde Octrooibureaux (V.O.), had intensified by the end of last week. The firm has now confirmed to JUVE Patent that Swedish investor Consolid has taken a stake.

A spokesperson for the firm stated that the transaction is expected to be finalised in the course of this week. However, he declined to comment on the details. With over 50 patent attorneys across its offices in The Hague, Amsterdam, Arnhem, Eindhoven, Groningen, and Utrecht, V.O. is the largest patent attorney firm in the Netherlands. It is regarded as a leading patent filing practice in the Dutch market and specialises in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, chemistry, digital communication and IT, electronics and mechanics. Its best-known clients include Danone, Dow Global Technologies, DSM, Heineken, Jacobs Douwe Egberts, and Nissan Chemical.

Its pharma and biotech patent attorneys also have a proven track record in providing technical support for Dutch infringement proceedings. Moderna, Novartis, and Bristol-Myers Squibb are among its clients in this space.

In addition to its Dutch offices, the firm has further locations in Leuven and Munich. A total of 57 qualified patent and trademark attorneys, as well as eleven trainees, work at the firm. It was founded in The Hague in 1916 and remains headquartered there to this day.

A new chapter from Sweden

Consolid’s investment is likely to operate under the Petra Group brand in future. Consolid’s website states, “Petra Group is the premier independent expert house for intellectual property advisory in Europe.” No further information is currently available. However, the branding suggests further expansion, so the acquisition of V.O. may well be just the beginning.

Consolid is based in Stockholm and specialises in investments in niche sectors. The investment company partners with B2B services companies in the Nordics and northern Europe. The company had previously invested in the tax sector under the Svalner Atlas Advisors brand.

Further transactions on the horizon

V.O. is thus the latest Dutch law firm to secure external financing. In April last year, NLO and Ipsilon joined forces with the support of a private equity investor. Just five months later, the Dutch firm Arnold & Siedsma joined the private equity-backed IP group Rouse.

Under the brand House of IP, Belgian developer of floor coverings i4F has been offering IP services to other companies since May. To this end, the private equity-backed technology company aims to bring together several patent attorney firms under the new brand. The Dutch law firm Patentwerk is the first acquisition, with House of IP taking a majority stake.

This means that, of the major Dutch patent attorney firms, only AOMB, DeVries & Mettmann and EP&C remain independent partnerships without external financing. However, there are rumours that further private equity investors are on the verge of concluding deals with patent attorneys from the Benelux region.