Bayer CropScience Acquires Crop Trait Developer Athenix for $400 Million
PRNewswire -- BOSTON, November 4, 2009 -- Boston Millennia Partners (BMP II) is pleased to announce that its portfolio company, Athenix Corporation, has been acquired by Bayer CropScience for $400 million. This is the second BMP II portfolio company sold for a 10X return.PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Athenix discovers and develops proprietary productivity-enhancing crop traits for corn, soybean and other commercial crops. The management team spun out of DuPont Pioneer in 2001 and leveraged decades of experience in trait discovery to build a platform technology that created one of the largest libraries of agronomic traits in the industry. By making the strategic decision to establish partnerships with other industry participants, including DuPont, Syngenta, Monsanto, and others, Athenix was able to accelerate development, access distribution, build its balance sheet and achieve visibility with potential purchasers such as Bayer.
"Mike and his management team combined strong science and sound strategy to achieve this great result," said Rob Jevon, Boston Millennia Partner and Director of Athenix from inception of Millennia's Series A investment in Athenix. "BMP is proud to have been part of the Athenix story, whose products will provide significant benefits to farmers and consumers. We wish Mike and his team continued success with Bayer."
About Athenix
Athenix, founded in 2001, is a leading biotechnology company that develops novel products and technologies for agricultural and industrial applications. Athenix has established an outstanding intellectual property portfolio and market access ability around enhanced plants, microbes, genes, enzymes, and processes with emphasis on two major markets: 1) novel agricultural traits for growers such as insect resistance, nematode resistance, herbicide tolerance, and their use for the crop production industry; and 2) the discovery of genes and proteins for use in the sustainable chemical industry. For more information visit www.athenixcorp.com.
About Boston Millennia Partners
Boston Millennia Partners provides private equity financing to high growth companies in the healthcare, life sciences and business sciences sectors industry. Our team brings over one hundred years of combined private equity experience to the investment process. Our broad experience, combined with expertise in finance; operations; engineering; life sciences research and development; partnering with pharmaceutical companies; business development; executive recruiting; and law provides significant value to the companies in which we invest. Since the early 1980's, members of our team have managed seven venture capital partnerships with very successful results for our investors and our entrepreneurs. The growth and success of our portfolio companies have, in turn, allowed us to grow and expand our capital base to over $700 million under management.
www.bmpvc.com
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091104/NE05276LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Boston Millennia Partners
CONTACT: Amy Merk of Boston Millennia Partners, +1-617-428 5150
Web Site: http://www.bmpvc.com/
Editor's Picks from Recent eNews
New Wet Ethanol Production Process Yields More Ethanol and More Co-Products
Silk's Move Away From Organic Soybeans Creates a Stir Among Retailers
Berkshire Hathaway to Acquire BNSF as 'All in Wager on U.S. Economic Future,' Says CEO Warren Buffet
Ag Production, Transportation Conferences Highlight Industry Growth Trends, Paths to Sustainability
March 10-11. 2010
Anaheim, California
Sponsored Links
Copyright © 2000-2009 Soyatech, LLC. • P.O. Box 1307 • Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 • USA