The Client

The Company was the UK’s oldest management institute and was incorporated in 1918, and focused on developing professional administrators, administrative managers and business leaders via its membership services and qualification programs.

The Assignment

We were appointed by Begbies Traynor to sell the IP assets when the Company entered financial distress. We were asked to identify, value, market and sell the IP assets to an accelerated timetable in order to minimize the disruption to both members and the 7,000 students that were in progress of achieving qualifications, and to ensure continued approval status by third-party regulatory bodies.

Our Approach

Our unique Metisology ® approach enabled us to identify a range of IP assets in this unique business model and working to accelerated timescales we identified valuable assets including IP rights in qualifications, such as qualification specifications, study guides, handbooks and exam scripts; the corporate brand; content-rich website and domain and member databases.

With this unusual business model, we had to build a bespoke marketing database before launching a full sales and marketing exercise to generate interest.

The Outcome

We successfully completed the IP asset sale to a regulated, awarding organization, which ensured 7,000 students who were in the process of studying, were able to complete their qualification.

We constructed a solution which met the requirements of the insolvency rules and managed the transfer of highly confidential data which was a crucial part of completing a successful deal.

IP Assets Sold – Brand & Trade Marks, Website & Domains, Databases, Key Organizational Knowledge