IP Group's unaudited accounts for 2015 show a $285m increase in the fair value of its portfolio, making 2015 the firm's most financially successful year to date.

IP Group, a UK-based intellectual property investor, has announced that it expects 2015 to be its most successful year to date.

IP Group invests mainly in university spinouts and businesses that are commercialising intellectual property developed at universities. It focuses on companies operating in the biotechnology, cleantech, healthcare and technology sectors.

The firm expects the fair value of its portfolio will be in excess of £550m ($784m) at the end of 2015. This is up from £350m at the end of 2014.

IP Group links this success to transactions announced by some of its portfolio companies in the second half of last year, inlcuding Sheffield University pharmaceutical spinout Diurnal Group listing on London’s alternative stock market, Aim.

Other successes include Leeds University spinout Xeros Technology, Queen Mary, University of London spinout Hvivo and Durham University spinout Applied Graphene Materials, which raised more than £70m in total.

The audited accounts from 2015 will be released on March 1 2016.