IP : Commits A$200m in landmark deal with 9 leading universities in Australia and New Zealand

IP Group plc (LSE:IPO), a leader in the commercialisation of scientific innovation developed in research universities in the UK and the US, today launches a landmark agreement with Australasia's leading universities, which will see at least A$200 million invested in finding and developing companies involved in disruptive innovation.

The commercialisation agreements - the first of their type in Australasia - have been signed between IP Group Australia and nine universities which include the University of Adelaide, Australian National University, the University of Melbourne, Monash University, UNSW Sydney, the University of Queensland, the University of Sydney and the University of Western Australia in Australia, and the University of Auckland in New Zealand.

IP Group has committed to invest at least A$200 million over a 10-year period to fund investments in spin-out companies based on the intellectual property (IP) developed by academics at the nine universities, generated from research in areas such as digital medicine, new medical therapies and quantum computing.

The investment is being supported through a capital raising, which has seen the participation of new shareholders, Telstra Super Pty Ltd, Temasek and M&G as well as existing shareholders Invesco, Woodford and Lansdowne.

IP Group believes that the nine universities represent a significant source of world-class and potentially disruptive research. The agreements with each university are for an initial 20-year term, and seek to support the best and brightest researchers to translate their findings into new and innovative ways to improve the economic and social wellbeing of Australasians.

Alan Aubrey, Chief Executive of IP Group plc, said: 'We are delighted to have signed this agreement with nine leading universities in Australia and New Zealand - and to be committing new funding to support world-class research and innovation to reach a global market. I would like to thank the teams at all nine universities for their positive engagement throughout our detailed development to reach this point.

'The business model we are using is similar to the model IP Group has used successfully in the UK and the US; providing business-building expertise, capital, networks, recruitment and business support. We believe the model is ideally suited to the Australian and New Zealand markets and represents a significant commercial opportunity for all those involved.'

Go8 Chair, Professor Peter Høj who is Vice Chancellor of The University of Queensland added: 'This investment is a massive vote of confidence from global capital markets in the quality and impact of research and innovation by the Go8 and the University of Auckland.

'We know IP Group is constantly approached to fund university research. It could have placed this A$200 million anywhere in what has become a highly competitive arena. That it sought out the Go8 and was also able to attract Australian co-investors cannot be downplayed. It is a significant recognition of Australia's leading research-intensive universities and the $6 billion a year of research which they undertake.'

'This is an exciting investment chapter for TelstraSuper,' said TelstraSuper Chief Investment Officer Graeme Miller. 'We'll be supporting promising opportunities in the fields of healthcare, technology, cleantech and biotech based on scientific research.'

'Unlike traditional Private Market investments which draw down capital over time, this investment has been immediately deployed into a well-diversified and seasoned portfolio of innovative companies through the purchase of listed shares via an institutional placement,' Mr Miller said.

Ends

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Cannings Corporate Communications

Elizabeth Skerritt

+61 (0)423 537 837

eskerritt@cannings.net.au

About IP Group plc

IP Group is a leading intellectual property commercialisation company which focuses on evolving great ideas, mainly from itspartner universities, into world-changing businesses. The Group has pioneered a unique approach to developing these ideas and the resulting businesses by providing access to business building expertise, capital (through its 100%-owned FCA-authorised subsidiary IP Capital), networks, recruitment and business support. IP Group has a strong track record of success and its portfolio comprises holdings in approximately 100 early-stage to mature businesses across four main sectors -- Biotech, Cleantech, Healthcare and Technology. The Company is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange under the code (LSE:IPO). For more information, please visit our website athttp://www.ipgroupplc.com/.

About TelstraSuper

TelstraSuper is Australia's largest corporate super fund with over 98,000 members and over $19 billion in funds under management as at 31 March 2017. We are committed to providing competitive and cost-effective superannuation services to our membership of current and former Telstra Group employees and their families. The Fund has been a leader in bringing investment management in-house, with more than a decade of practical experience in the management of a variety of assets including Australian equities, fixed income and property.

About the Universities

The Group of Eight comprises Australia's eight world leading research intensive universities. Each year the Go8 spends some A$ 6 billion on research - including A$2billion of which is spent on Medical and Health Services research. In prominent world rankings Go8 Universities are consistently the highest ranked of all Australian and six of its members are ranked in the world's top 100.

The largest university in New Zealand, The University of Auckland, together with its commercialisation companyUniServices, has been ranked as the most innovative university in New Zealand and Australia in the inaugural Reuters Top 75: 'Asia's Most Innovative Universities rankings.'