CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ocean Tomo, LLC, the Chicago based Intellectual Capital Merchant Banc® firm, announced on Tuesday a working protocol with Caisse des Depots, the French development bank, to further build the market for intellectual property based transactions. The agreement anticipates the 4th Quarter 2009 launch of a ratings platform for all European patents linked to the existing Ocean Tomo PatentRatings® system in the United States.

“We anticipate that this alliance linking US and EU technology value will quickly expand to further partnerships throughout Asia, completing our vision of a global network. Our partnership with Caisse des Depots benefits not only Ocean Tomo, but each of our multinational clients and the business generally,” stated James E. Malackowski, Ocean Tomo’s President and Chief Executive.

The Ocean Tomo PatentRatings® system currently provides the foundation for the firms well known Ocean Tomo 300 equity indexes (NYSE Euronext: OTPAT) as well as planned traded patent index futures currently published on the Intellectual Property Exchange International, Inc. (www.IPXI.com).

The protocol between the parties calls for a new joint venture. Caisse des Depots also agreed to become the Presenting Sponsor for the planned ICAP Ocean Tomo Fall 2009 Live Intellectual Property Auction to be held on November 3-4, 2009 in Paris France.

Caisse des Dépôts is a state-owned holding company that makes long-term investments on behalf of the public interest and in order to foster economic development. Providing sustainable solutions with a view to developing all French regions, Caisse des Dépôts constantly invents new ways to further national and local policy objectives. As part of its Elan 2020 strategic plan, it identified four investment priorities including a EU leading commitment to the knowledge economy. These confirmed priorities are backed by concrete results. www.caissedesdepots.fr.

About Ocean Tomo, LLC

Established in 2003, Ocean Tomo, LLC (www.OceanTomo.com) is the leading Intellectual Capital Merchant Banc® firm. The company provides financial products and services related to Intellectual Property financial expert testimony, valuations, investments, risk management and transactions. Headquartered in Chicago, Ocean Tomo has offices in Greenwich, Orange County and San Francisco. Subsidiaries of Ocean Tomo include: Ocean Tomo Asset Management, LLC; and Ocean Tomo Capital, LLC – publisher of the Ocean Tomo 300® Patent Index (NYSE Euronext: OTPAT), the Ocean Tomo 300® Patent Growth Index (NYSE Euronext: OTPATG) and the Ocean Tomo 300® Patent Value Index (NYSE Euronext: OTPATV).

About Ocean Tomo Patent Ratings

Established in 2001, PatentRatings, (www.PatentRatings.com) , a division of Ocean Tomo is the first proven, market-validated software platform for objectively assessing patent quality, relative valuation, and competitive trends for patents, patent portfolios, companies and technology sectors. Our customized data solutions deliver actionable data to companies, investors, bankers, attorneys and other intellectual property professionals and decision makers.

About The Intellectual Property Exchange International

Founded by Ocean Tomo, LLC, The International Property Exchange International, Inc. (“IPX International”) is planned as the world’s first financial exchange with an international property focus. IPX International seeks to meet the transactions and data needs of the growing IP marketplace including issuers, investors, traders, market makers, and brokers. IPX International is targeted to begin trading the first quarter of 2010 and will enable investor and company participation in a broad spectrum of innovative IP-related financial products. More information is available at www.IPXI.com.