IP Group plc - pre-closed-period update

Highlights

·    FY21 profit anticipated to be above £425m (FY20: profit £185.4m)

·    FY21 Hard NAV per share* anticipated to be above 165p (FY20: 125.3p), a return of at least 31%

·    Net cash and deposits of £276m at 31 Dec 2021 (FY20: £203m)

·    Portfolio companies well-funded having raised over £2bn in 2021 (FY20: £1.1bn)

IP Group plc (LSE: IPO) ("IP Group", "the Company" or "the Group"), the developer of intellectual property-based businesses, issues an unaudited pre-close update ahead of its results for the 12 months to 31 December 2021.

In financial terms, 2021 was another highly successful year with a large number of significant transactions including the flotation of Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc on the London Stock Exchange and the sales of Inivata Ltd and WaveOptics Ltd.

Consequently, the Directors currently expect the Group's profit for 2021 to be above £425m (FY20: profit £185.4m). Hard NAV per share is anticipated to be above 165 pence, a return of at least 31%.

The Group is in a strong financial position with net cash and deposits of £276m at year-end. The Group's portfolio is well funded with portfolio companies having raised over £2bn in 2021 (FY20: £1.1bn). This, combined with the exciting prospects and investment opportunities within the portfolio, gives us confidence for 2022.

IP Group expects to announce its 2021 results in mid-March.

Notes

*'Hard NAV per share' reflects net assets/total equity less goodwill and intangibles divided by outstanding shares.

The share price of Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc was 697 pence at 31 December 2021.

This update is based on unaudited information and is subject to change following the completion of the Group's usual full year-end reporting process and annual audit.

This announcement may contain forward looking statements. These statements reflect the Board's current view, are subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties and could change in the future. Factors which could cause or contribute to such changes include, but are not limited to, the general economic climate and market conditions, as well as specific factors relating to the financial or commercial prospects or performance of individual companies within the Group's portfolio.

For more information, please contact:

Notes for editors

About IP Group

IP Group is a leading intellectual property commercialisation company which focuses on evolving great ideas, mainly from its partner 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 subsidiaries IP Capital and Parkwalk Advisors), networks, recruitment and business support. IP Group has a strong track record of success and its portfolio comprises holdings in early-stage to mature businesses across life sciences and technology. IP Group is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange under the code IPO.

Group holdings in portfolio companies reflect the undiluted beneficial equity interest excluding debt, unless otherwise explicitly stated.

For more information, please visit our website at www.ipgroupplc.com.

ENDS