DSM acquires food enzymes business and key technology from Verenium

Royal DSM N.V. and Verenium yesterday announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which DSM acquires certain assets, licenses and other agreements in the area of food enzymes and oilseed processing from Verenium.

The acquisition amounts to US$ 37 million and includes Verenium’s oilseed processing business and IP portfolio, licenses for certain food enzymes and access to biodiversity libraries that Verenium will create using proprietary technology.The 2012 sales of these businesses are estimated at about US$ 15 million, growing rapidly in the coming years.

The purchase by DSM, a global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, of these assets fully supports DSM’s strategy for its Nutrition cluster, “continued value growth”, and strengthens and broadens DSM’s enzymes business and capabilities.

With the acquisition of these assets and licenses DSM will further strengthen its industrial biotech activities (e.g. in oilseed processing) and reinforce its food enzymes innovation pipeline.

Verenium is headquartered in San Diego (California, USA). It has developed a number of high-performance enzyme products and product candidates for use in industrial processes.

Verenium’s enzyme products minimize pollution by reducing or replacing harsh chemicals used in industrial processes while also enhancing yields in their customers’ processes.