Acacia Research
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology, Energy, Industrial/Manufacturing |
| Founded | January 1993 in California, United States |
| Founder | Bruce Stewart |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Key people | Paul Ryan, Chip Harris |
| Products | Patent licensing and enforcement, Energy operations, Industrial operations |
Acacia Research Corporation is a New York City–based publicly listed American enterprise. It specializes in acquiring and managing companies within the technology, energy, and industrial/manufacturing industries. The firm maintains a strategic partnership with its majority shareholder, Starboard Value, LP. Due to its approach to patent enforcement, Acacia has been characterized as a patent troll.
History
Founded in California in January 1993 by Bruce Stewart, Acacia was later reestablished as a Delaware corporation in December 1999. Stewart's original vision was to channel investment capital into fostering innovation. In 2000, leadership under Paul Ryan and Chip Harris redirected the company’s emphasis toward technology grounded in robust patent portfolios. Presently, Acacia operates across three main segments: Intellectual Property Operations (which includes patent licensing and enforcement), Energy Operations, and Industrial Operations.
By June 30, 2025, the company reported a book value of $577.5 million with 96.4 million shares outstanding, resulting in a book value per share of $5.99. During the second quarter of 2025, total revenue amounted to $51.2 million, representing a 98% increase compared to $25.8 million in Q2 2024. This revenue comprised $0.3 million from Intellectual Property activities, $6.6 million from Printronix, $15.3 million from Benchmark Energy, and $29.0 million from Deflecto.
Acacia’s main corporate headquarters are located in New York City.
On August 6, 2025, the company expanded its financial services offerings by collaborating with Unchained and Build Asset Management to acquire whole loans secured by Bitcoin.
Legal issues
In 2017, shortly after Apple initiated an antitrust lawsuit alleging that Acacia conspired with Nokia to impose excessive royalty demands on handset manufacturers, Acacia filed counterclaims against Apple and several cellular carriers concerning four patents owned by Nokia.
An internal probe conducted in 2022 uncovered potential misappropriation of corporate funds by former CEO Clifford Press. In response, Press filed a lawsuit against Acacia seeking reinstatement to the board while threatening public criticism aimed at obtaining a substantial severance package. The investigation confirmed these findings in early 2023.
External links
- Acacia Technologies, a subsidiary