Eden Research Plc

("Eden" or "Company")

Collaboration and Licence Agreement Signed with Intellectual Ventures

·    Alliance with leader in IP-asset based investment and commercialisation

·    Eden to leverage Intellectual Ventures' Invention Development Fund IP generation platform to further build its own IP portfolio

·    Eden's global reach to be extended in key markets such as the Americas and Asia Pacific 

Eden Research plc (AIM: EDEN), the AIM-listed company that provides breakthrough natural microencapsulation technologies to the global agrochemicals, animal health and consumer products industries, announces it has signed a Collaboration and Licence Agreement ("Agreement") with Intellectual Ventures' ("IV") Invention Development Fund ("IDF"), to strengthen and expand Eden's Intellectual Property ("IP") portfolio while providing Eden with access to IV's world-leading IP-related services and global network of licensing and business development professionals.

Under the Agreement, IDF's expertise and global position will help enhance and add value to Eden's IP portfolio and presence in key regions around the world with a particular emphasis on Asian, North American, and South American markets.  Eden and IDF will collaborate on the sourcing and development of next-generation technologies for the agricultural, animal health, food ingredients, human health and personal care markets.  Eden and IDF will also pursue licensing opportunities from IDF's substantial patent portfolio to support Eden's current and future business.

Sean Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Eden, said: "By partnering with IDF we are helping to ensure that our partners receive the full benefits of access to Eden's technologies which are supported by a comprehensive and secure global patent portfolio.  Eden will utilise IDF's unique "invention engine" to enhance and extend our core intellectual property portfolio and expand our technology base in areas outside of our current focus.  IDF's global presence will also help us to increase our market presence outside Europe more efficiently and rapidly.  IV is one of the world's largest patent owners and is considered the global leader in monetising intellectual property assets.  As a technology development and licensing company, the benefits of such a partnership are clear."

Chris Alliegro, Executive Vice President of IV and Head of IDF, said: "Intellectual Ventures helps create a world where invention can thrive through a commitment to research, collaboration, investment and inventors' rights. We are pleased to work with Eden to help strengthen both its IP and future technologies." 

Notes:

About Intellectual Ventures ("IV")

Founded in 2000, IV is the global leader in the business of invention. IV collaborates with leading inventors, partners with pioneering companies and invests both expertise and capital in the process of invention.

With more than $6 billion of committed capital and more than 40,000 IP assets in active monetization programs, IV owns one of the world's largest and fastest-growing intellectual property portfolios which is licensed to the world's most innovative companies.

To date, IV have secured more than $3 billion of cumulative licensing revenue.  IV's mission is to energize and streamline an invention economy that will drive innovation around the world.

For more information about IV, please visit www.intellectualventures.com 

About Eden Research ("Eden")

Eden is an early stage revenue company with intellectual property and expertise in encapsulation, terpenes and environmentally friendly technologies to provide naturally occurring solutions to the global agrochemicals industry, the animal health industry, and consumer products.

Eden's encapsulation technology harnesses the biocidal efficacy of naturally occurring chemicals produced by plants (terpenes) and can also be used with both natural and synthetic hydrophobic compounds. The technology uses yeast cells that are a by-product of numerous commercial production processes to deliver a slow release of natural compounds for agricultural and non-agricultural uses. Terpenes are already widely used in the food flavouring, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

Historically, terpenes have had limited commercial use in the agrochemical sector due to their volatility, phytotoxicity and poor solubility. Eden's platform encapsulation technology provides a unique, environmentally friendly solution to these problems and enables terpenes to be used as effective, low-risk agrochemicals.

With leading consultants in their respective fields, the Company is developing these technologies through innovative research and a series of commercial production, marketing and distribution partnerships.

The Company has a number of patents and a pipeline of products at differing stages of development targeting specific areas of the global agrochemicals industry. To date, the Company has invested in the region of £12m in developing and protecting its intellectual property and seeking regulatory approval for products that rely upon the Company's technologies. Revenues earned by the Company have been modest whilst the Company has concentrated on securing patent protection for its intellectual property, gaining regulatory approvals, identifying suitable industrial partners, and entering into licence agreements. 

In May of 2013, the three actives that comprise Eden's first commercial product, 3AEY, were approved as new ingredients for use in plant protection products.  This represents a major milestone in the commercialisation of Eden's technology and is a significant accomplishment for any company.  To illustrate this point, one should note that in all of 2013, Eden's approvals represented 3 of only 10 new active ingredients approved by the EC.

Eden was admitted to trading on AIM on 11 May 2012 and trades under the symbol EDEN.

For more information about Eden, please visit www.edenresearch.com