Ipsilon and NLO Join Forces, Becoming #1 EU IP Firm
Deal News (Announced) | Mar 28, 2025 | Waterland Private Equity Investments BV
Ipsilon has entered a strategic partnership with the European IP firm NLO, a move facilitated by Waterland Private Equity. The merger positions the combined group as the leading IP firm in the EU, enabling them to offer an extensive range of services across various sectors including life sciences, IT, and legal. This merger is expected to consolidate their leadership in the European IP consulting market. With a combined workforce of over 400 professionals operating in seven countries, the collaboration aims to accelerate the digitization of IP services using advanced technologies such as AI and data security. The founders of Ipsilon and NLO express their commitment to becoming the one-stop-shop IP service provider in Europe and continuing to meet the diverse needs of their clientele. Waterland sees this union as a platform for future growth and sector dominance in the IP space.
Sectors
- Intellectual Property
- Private Equity
- Technology
Geography
- Europe – The merger signifies the formation of the largest intellectual property firm in the European Union.
- Netherlands – NLO, headquartered in The Hague, plays a pivotal role as one of the merging entities.
- France – Ipsilon, headquartered in Paris, is another key stakeholder in the merger.
Industry
- Intellectual Property – The merger aims to establish leadership in intellectual property consulting and services across Europe.
- Private Equity – Waterland Private Equity played a crucial role in facilitating the merger, highlighting the involvement of the private equity sector in strategic industry consolidations.
- Technology – The merger will leverage AI and data-driven technologies to transform and digitize IP services, affecting the technology sector.
Financials
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ipsilon | Target Company | Company | An international intellectual property consulting firm headquartered in Paris. |
| NLO (Nederlandsch Octrooibureau) | Selling Company | Company | A leading European firm of patent and trademark attorneys headquartered in The Hague. |
| Waterland Private Equity | Facilitating Private Equity Firm | Company | A private equity firm that facilitated the merger between Ipsilon and NLO. |
| Valrie Feray | Founder of Ipsilon | Person | The founder of Ipsilon. |
| Ren van Duijvenbode | Managing Partner at NLO | Person | Managing Partner involved in the merger from NLO. |
| Jeroen Cornelis | Managing Partner at NLO | Person | Managing Partner involved in the merger from NLO. |
| Louis Huetz | Partner at Waterland Private Equity | Person | Partner at Waterland involved in the merger facilitation. |
| Pierre Naftalski | Director at Waterland Private Equity | Person | Director at Waterland involved in the merger facilitation. |