Novonesis has completed its acquisition of Australian biotechnology company MicroBioGen, bringing advanced yeast-breeding capabilities into its portfolio as the Danish biosolutions company looks to deepen its position in industrial biotechnology.
All regulatory approvals for the transaction have been secured and the acquisition has closed. The deal builds on a relationship that dates back more than a decade: Novonesis invested in MicroBioGen in 2013 and already held a 23 per cent stake in the company.
The strategic logic goes beyond adding another technology platform. MicroBioGen has developed expertise in breeding yeast strains for industrial applications, with a proven track record in bioethanol. Novonesis said the combination with its capabilities in microbiology and industrial fermentation could create opportunities to develop biosolutions for customers across a wider range of industries.
“With this acquisition, we strengthen our yeast and R&D expertise and take another step toward delivering on our 2030 strategy,” said Ester Baiget, CEO, Novonesis. “We are pleased to welcome our new colleagues to Novonesis and bring these capabilities into our company, where we can unlock its broader potential.”
For Novonesis, the transaction also represents an expansion of a partnership that has already produced a decade of collaboration. Rather than entering the yeast-breeding space through a new relationship, the company is bringing an established partner and its scientific capabilities fully into the organisation.
MicroBioGen’s yeast-breeding technology complements Novonesis’ existing expertise in microbiology and industrial fermentation, potentially allowing the combined business to develop and commercialise strains for applications beyond the company’s existing markets.
“MicroBioGen has been a highly valued partner for more than a decade, and today marks the next step in that journey,” said Claus Crone Fuglsang, Chief Scientific Officer, Novonesis. “By bringing together our complementary expertise and technologies, we can further strengthen our yeast capabilities and continue developing the biosolutions our customers need.”
Bioethanol remains an established application for MicroBioGen’s technology, but Novonesis sees a broader opportunity. The company said the acquired capabilities could support applications across other industries it serves, reflecting the wider potential of biological technologies developed for one industrial process to be adapted to other markets.
Novonesis said it will continue supporting MicroBioGen’s existing partners and maintain continuity across ongoing collaborations following the completion of the acquisition.
