Investec advised Rouse on its merger with Arnold & Siedsma
About the deal
Investec advised Rouse, a portfolio company of MML, on its merger with Arnold & Siedsma – a combination that creates an Asia-Pacific, European Intellectual Property (‘IP’) powerhouse – as the Group takes another step forward on its global expansion plans.
The Arnold & Siedsma transaction marks Rouse’s second M&A deal in 2025, following the announcement that Australian IP firm, The Wrays Group joined Rouse in September.
Arnold & Siedsma is a century-old European IP firm with specialisms in patents, trade marks and litigation, with 12 offices across the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
The merger, which was completed in September 2025, creates broader geographic coverage for existing clients and aligns with Rouse’s objective of integrating and aligning IP services globally. Through the deal, Rouse will bolster its ability to represent its clients at the Dutch, Belgian and European Patent Offices (EPO) and Unified Patent Court (UPC) and deliver enhanced patent and litigation capabilities. Prior to the merger, Rouse had offices in 16 jurisdictions, including Wrays’ Australian presence.
Arnold & Siedsma clients will meanwhile benefit from access to Rouse’s expansive and growing network of services and expertise in, trade marks, enforcement, patents and disputes across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. As well as collaborating to offer enhanced client services in new markets, this merger will enable both organizations to bolster investment in technology, leverage data more effectively, and utilize shared technology platforms, which was a major rationale for Rouse and Arnold & Siedsma to come together.
The ultimate objective is to create a fully integrated and seamless organisation; however, for now, Arnold & Siedsma—which currently employs nearly 170 people across Europe—will maintain its status as an independent brand within the Rouse Group.
About Rouse
Founded in the UK in 1990, Rouse is a global leader in intellectual property services. It began by delivering high-quality, transparent IP support in Asia’s complex emerging markets and has since expanded globally, now covering every stage of the IP value chain. The closely integrated Rouse Group is made up of more than 1000 people, working from 40 offices in 18 jurisdictions, offering global services in six key areas (Trademarks, Patents, Enforcement, Disputes, Digital & Commercial and Consultancy), providing integrated solutions that help world leading clients to protect and grow their business.
Our role
Last year, our team advised Rouse on its combination with Swedish management consultancy, Konsert Strategy & IP and European IP specialist aera. Investec’s partner firm in Australia advised Rouse on The Wrays Group transaction.
The deal marks our 27th transaction in the Professional Services sector across our global network over the past 24 months, and further demonstrates our extensive expertise in the IP space, having supported Rouse on its investment from MML in 2022 and HGF on its investment from CBPE in 2024.
It reflects both our commitment to long-term client partnerships and our reputation for excellence in Professional Services and cross-border execution.
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“The Investec team has been instrumental in supporting Rouse’s growth story, having first guided us through our initial investment from MML in 2022 before supporting our recent M&A. Their deep understanding of our business and the wider IP market is second to none. The merger with Arnold & Siedsma marks a transformative moment not just for Rouse, but for the wider IP industry, as we establish ourselves as a leading voice in European patents and consolidation across jurisdictions continues. We’re excited to continue our journey with Investec’s support.”
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“We are delighted to have supported Rouse once again on this landmark transaction. The merger with Arnold & Siedsma represents an important step in strengthening Rouse’s European presence and patent capabilities, further aligning with their vision of building a global IP leader. At Investec, we pride ourselves on our track record of advising leading businesses in the sector, and this deal underscores our ability to deliver insight and expertise in complex professional services and cross-border transactions.”
– Edward Thomas, Head of Services, Investec
