IP Group logo

IP Group: Accelerating the Innovations of Tomorrow

A publicly listed, early-stage investor across the Life Sciences, Cleantech and Deeptech sectors

LON:IPO
GBX48.09+1.55%
Updated: Jun 17, 2025
HealthcareTechnology
smalluk

Bull & Bear Case

An overview of the main reasons to invest and the key risks involved.

Bull Case

Near-Term Inflections

Key portfolio companies are approaching critical milestones, such as exits or IPOs, which could drive significant value growth.

Public Access to Private Growth

As a publicly listed company, IP Group offers investors access to high-growth private companies in themes (such as Nuclear Fusion) which are often hard to get exposure to.

Real-World Impact & Returns

IP Group’s portfolio focuses on innovative technologies in Life Sciences, Clean Tech and Deep Tech which address global challenges, with the potential to deliver both financial returns and societal benefits.

Bear Case

Market and Economic Conditions

Macroeconomic factors like inflation, interest rates, or economic slowdowns could negatively impact valuations and delay exits.

Execution Risks

Delays in portfolio company exits or additional funding rounds could affect IP Group’s NAV and hinder timely capital returns to shareholders.

Technological and Market Adoption Risks

Some portfolio companies may face slow adoption or technological obsolescence given the long-cycle nature of the sectors they operate in.

Executive Summary

Accelerating the impact of science

IP Group is a publicly listed, early-stage investor across the life sciences, cleantech and deeptech sectors. Each highly innovative company within its portfolio aims to have a meaningful societal impact as well as generating substantial financial returns.

The company has a strong track record of delivering value to shareholders through a combination of equity investments, strategic exits, and returns via share buybacks. It has backed 3 companies which have achieved billion-dollar status and currently has a portfolio valued at around £1 billion. With several key milestones on the horizon, IP Group is positioned to continue driving growth and shareholder returns in the coming years.

Investment Thesis

Overview of buy and sell case of the business.

Why Invest?

Key pieces of information about the business that you need to know about.

Near-Term Inflections for Several Portfolio Companies

IP Group's portfolio is poised for significant near-term milestones, with multiple high-potential companies on the cusp of substantial value creation through potential exits, IPOs, or further funding rounds. As IP Group continues to focus its capital on maturing portfolio companies, investors can expect accelerated progress in both financial returns and value realization within the next 12 to 18 months. Watch video

Investor Access To Highly Innovative, Early-Stage Private Growth Opportunities

Investing in IP Group offers exposure to the rapidly growing field of Life Science and Technology commercialization, with a focus on university spinouts and high-impact innovations. As a publicly listed company, IP Group provides a transparent, accessible vehicle for investors to access early-stage, high-risk, high-reward growth opportunities that would otherwise be restricted to venture capitalists and institutional investors. Its proven track record in identifying, funding, and nurturing breakthrough technologies makes it an attractive option for those looking to tap into the next generation of market leaders. Watch video

Making a Real-World Impact Alongside Financial Returns

IP Group’s portfolio is deeply aligned with industries that have the potential to drive transformative real-world change. The company invests in cutting-edge sectors such as Life Sciences, Clean Tech and Deep Tech. From reducing carbon emissions through Hysata’s clean hydrogen technology to revolutionizing genomics with Nanopore's sequencing innovations, IP Group’s holdings are not only positioned for financial returns but also for driving positive societal impact. By supporting innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, IP Group offers investors the opportunity to contribute to progress while realizing attractive financial outcomes. Watch video

Catalysts

The key events that could drive investment opportunities and shift markets.

Near term

Value Creation

IP Group's portfolio is poised for significant near-term commercial and technical milestones including funding rounds, product launches, technical milestones and, in life sciences, several clinical trial results. The Group also has a deep pipeline of future winners across the three sectors it covers.

Medium term

An Acceleration of Revenue Growth

IP Group has several companies in its portfolio that are targeting double-digit revenue growth in the medium term. Companies like Hysata in clean hydrogen production are positioned for significant scaling and additionally, Istesso and other therapeutics companies in the portfolio could see major commercial traction, driving revenue growth and increasing their attractiveness to potential buyers. Watch video

Long term

Policy Reforms

UK Science Superpower Scale-up Agenda is starting to attract more institutional capital from pension and insurance funds. Other policy reforms which show the UK government’s ongoing commitment to fostering innovation could unlock a significant influx of capital into the private companies which would create more growth opportunities for IP Group’s portfolio through funding availability whilst likely enhancing IP Group's exit strategies. An example is the Mansion House Reforms which called for Pension funds to allocate 5% of their default funds to unlisted equities by 2030. Watch video

Key Risks

Key pieces of information about the business risks that you need to know about.

Execution and Portfolio Management Risks

  • Delays in Exits or Realizations: IP Group’s strategy relies heavily on successful exits from its portfolio companies. If these exits are delayed or lower than expected, it could negatively affect both the company’s NAV and ability to return capital to shareholders in a timely manner.

  • Funding and Cash Flow Management: While IP Group has maintained a strong cash position, several portfolio companies may require additional funding to reach profitability. If the company cannot effectively manage these funding needs or if future funding rounds are delayed, the company may face liquidity challenges or may have to dilute existing shareholders further.

Technological and Market Adoption Risks

  • Risk of Slow Market Adoption of Technologies: While IP Group invests in cutting-edge technologies with significant potential, there’s always the risk that some of these innovations may face slower-than-expected adoption in the market. This can delay growth and returns from investments, especially in sectors like clean tech and biotech, where commercialization timelines can be long.

  • Competitive Landscape and Technological Obsolescence: The rapid pace of innovation in the technology space means that some of IP Group’s portfolio companies may face intense competition or even obsolescence. If competitors develop superior technologies or if market conditions shift, this could undermine the growth prospects of portfolio companies.

Market and Economic Conditions

  • Impact of Broader Market Trends: The technology sector is sensitive to macroeconomic conditions, including interest rate changes, inflation, and economic slowdowns. If these trends worsen, there could be a prolonged downturn in valuations, negatively affecting the value of IP Group’s holdings and their ability to exit at favorable terms.

  • Global Market Fluctuations: As a significant portion of IP Group's investments are in global markets, changes in international markets (e.g., economic slowdown in the U.S. or Europe) could impact growth prospects for its portfolio companies. Additionally, trade tensions and geopolitical instability could hinder business growth and international partnerships.

Follow the Experts

Quickly navigate key insights from industry experts and leverage their knowledge and market intelligence.

Stem & You profile

Stem & You

Information Services

31.6k audience

Expert Insights

x
"Preventing economic crimes is a complex challenge, made even more complicated by today's volatile risk landscape: 46% of organizations report experiencing fraud or other financial crimes in the past 24 months."
Mckinsey & co profile

Mckinsey & co

Global advisory & consultancy

6m audience

Expert Insights

article
"By 2035, autonomous driving could create $300 billion to $400 billion in revenue"
article
"Safety might also increase, with one study showing that the growing adoption of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) in Europe could reduce the number of accidents by about 15 percent by 2030"
Andrew Gao profile

Andrew Gao

Science & Venture commentator

35.8k audience

Expert Insights

x
"It cost $3billion to sequence the first human genome… Oxford Nanopore is developing a tiny DNA sequencer that plugs into your iPhone, and might cost ~$1,000"
Jeremy Hunt profile

Jeremy Hunt

MP

258.5k audience

Expert Insights

article
"Innovation is the key to our future success as a nation and its vital that we do all we can to help companies start, scale and grow in the UK"
Investor's Chronicles profile

Investor's Chronicles

Investor information

27.3k audience

Expert Insights

article
"The UK is also very good at producing disruptive innovators"
Reports and Data profile

Reports and Data

Market Research and Consulting Firm

8k audience

Expert Insights

article
"The global rheumatoid arthritis drugs market size was USD 24.89 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 38.61 billion in 2032"
Bill Gates profile

Bill Gates

Former CEO of Microsoft

63.5k audience

Expert Insights

x
"Nuclear energy, if we do it right, will help us solve our climate goals."

Investor Materials

Access the most recent investor updates published by the company.

Key Documents

IP Group announces £20mn share buyback programme

Article

Share buybacks the preferred option with the discount to NAV above the 20 per cent mark

Impact

Our impact

Article

With climate change a critical issue for society, we are supporting new technologies to accelerate the move to a decarbonised planet. Our investments in carbon capture, nuclear fusion and hydrogen technology are aimed at helping society move away from fossil fuels and achieve net zero goals and targets sooner.

External Insights

A curated collection of third-party content relevant to the company and sector to help inform your investment decision.

Clean Tech

First Light Fusion have been awarded a £250,000 contract by the UK Atomic Energy Authority!

Article

We are delighted to have been awarded a £250,000 contract by the UK Atomic Energy Authority!   This significant contract will help fund the development of…

Life Sciences

Oxford Nanopore receives £70m investment from bioMérieux SA and announces Mayo Clinic collaboration

Article

Oxford Nanopore Technologies has strengthened its relationship with diagnostics giant bioMérieux SA, with the latter making an immediate £70 million investment via a share subscription into the Oxford...

Deep Tech

Featurespace launches GenAI model for dealing with financial crime

Article

Featurespace, a leader in enterprise-grade technology, has proudly introduced its innovative product, TallierLTM™.

Research

21: Can Britain Build the Next Billion Dollar Tech Unicorn? With Greg Smith, CEO of IP Group

Money Maze Curated Podcasts · Episode

Team

Meet the experienced professionals leading our organization

Angela Leach - undefined

Angela Leach

What the Pro's Are Asking

Here are the questions that professional investors are asking before making an investment decision.

What's the next 'big thing' within the portfolio?

Two companies that stand out are Hysata and Istesso. Hysata is the world's most efficient hydrogen electrolyser company and has made significant technological process this year. It has received an incredibly high level of commercial interest for such a young company. Istesso discovers and develops drugs for severe chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Its current lead compound is in clinical trials and has shown promising signs that it may act as a cure to the underlying condition as well as just treating symptoms. Watch video

What are the key challenges IP Group face and how might they be mitigated?

The two main challenges IP Group faces in the current market conditions are capital allocation and performance. In the difficult market conditions, there are fewer exits and it's hard to raise capital. This means IP Group must be prudent in managing its cash in terms of investments and returns to shareholders. IP Group is in a strong position, holding lots of cash and liquid assets. Despite difficult markets, IP Group portfolio companies need to continue to perform. In the near term, this means successful clinical trials for some of the therapeutics companies and continued growth in their deeptech holdings. Watch video

What is IP Group's valuation approach for the underlying portfolio companies?

IP Group uses a conservative approach to valuations. Transparency and rigour around its approach is paramount. A substantial proportion of the portfolio is valued at a public share price, or the price of the last funding round. For a significant value of the portfolio, IP Group also gets an independent valuation produced. The Group’s external auditors typically sample more than 90% of the portfolio

How can IP Group close the discount to NAV?

IP group expects significant inflection points from the underlying portfolio in the next 12-18 months to drive net asset value [NAV] per share. The capital allocation policy is to reinvest the majority of cash proceeds, with a smaller portion returned to shareholders. Since the adoption of this policy in 2021, IP Group has returned over £80m to shareholders. IP Group is also making significant strides to boost its investor relations efforts and tell the equity story worldwide. Watch video

Are there any policy initiatives that might benefit IP Group?

In the UK there's an increasing discussion around long term capital supporting growth. This includes pension funds directing more capital into private assets and growth assets to stimulate the economy. IP Group is positioned well to benefit from this. Watch video