Shareholders of Legal Process Outsourcing major, Computer Patent Annuities (CPA) are planning to sell a 25 percent stake in the company to a mid-sized private equity firm. CPA, whose core focus is on IP Services, is currently valued at around £ 400 Million (Rs. 3,200 Crores) and has profits of about £ 40 Million (Rs. 320 Crores), which it believes will double in the next two years.

CPA Global is owned by 230 shareholders who each stand to make about £ 1.7 Million (Rs. 13.6 Crores) if the transaction is successful. The CEO, Peter Sewell told media, "An outright sale of the business is unlikely, but a sale of at least 25 percent to a new investor would enable CPA to expand into new markets". The deal is likely to be completed before Christmas this year.

CPA has been constantly ranked in the top 3 players in the Black Book of Outsourcing. Founded by patent attorneys from different UK firms in 1969, CPA has offices in the US, Europe, Asia and the Pacific region and employs about 1,200 people. They have successfully acquired a dozen companies and are looking to expand through both organic and non-organic routes. Last year, it acquired the renowned patent research division of Germany's SVPG, which specializes in the pharmaceutical, chemical, biotech and life sciences sectors.

In June this year, CPA announced it had entered into an agreement with mining giant Rio Tinto in order to save Rio up to 20 percent in annual legal costs. Under the agreement, CPA Global will provide a team of lawyers in India to support Rio Tinto's in-house legal function on a global basis. The India support team for CPA operates from Noida.