Vincent Pluvinage, head of Strategic Acquisitions & Private Equity at Intellectual Ventures, is to leave the firm at the end of next week. While at IV, Pluvinage has been involved in a number of high-profile deals, among the most recent of which was the sale of a large portfolio of patents relating to satellite communications systems to French company Thales Alenia Space.

Having heard the news of his departure on the grapevine I gave Pluvinage a call last night and he confirmed it to me. The move has been in the offing for quite a while, but can only take place now when his IV in-tray has finally been cleared. It is entirely amicable and is inspired by a desire to explore what he describes as the “new opportunities” being created in the IP marketplace.

”The world of IP is becoming increasingly interesting,” Pluvinage told me. “There is more capital available, and more companies are looking at IP in strategic and financial ways. That is creating opportunities.” Some of these opportunities can be met by existing business models such as those used by organisations including IV, RPX and Article One, he explained, but others will require new ways of operating. And that is what he wants to explore. “I have a track record of large, strategic transactions, so that bodes well for me,” he said; adding that there is enough business out there for various players to do things their way. As yet, though, he is not ready to go into detail about what he might be doing next. “I have plans,” he stated, “but it is not yet time to talk about them”.

Pluvinage has been an active player in the IP transactions market for close to 20 years. Before joining IV he was CEO of IP Value Management Inc. Previously, he was CEO of Preview Systems, which he took public in 1999. And before co-founding Preview he had spun out core technology from AT&T Bell Laboratories to ReSound, a newly created start-up, where he became president of international operations and took part in its IPO in 1993. Basically, his track record is such that he will not have much of a problem in finding the backing for whatever he does move into over the coming months. People will be keeping a close watch on his plans, that is for sure.

Sectors

Patents, IP business, IP finance, IP valuation