DSM Venturing, the corporate venturing unit of Royal DSM N.V., today
announced that it has participated in a financing round in Ganeden
Biotech, Inc., a US probiotics company which markets dietary
supplements focused on digestive health. Ganeden's products are based
on its unique position in a spore forming and lactic acid producing
bacterium, Bacillus coagulans. This investment will contribute to
DSM's innovation ambitions in the Nutrition cluster, where the
company holds leading positions in the markets for ingredients for
human and animal nutrition and health and personal care. In this USD
12 million round DSM was joined by Capital Resource Partners, a
Boston, Massachusetts-based private equity firm.
Ganeden's proprietary Bacillus coagulans strains, particularly
GanedenBC30(TM), distinguish themselves from other probiotics
particularly with respect to longer shelf life, better gastric acid
survivability and resistance against temperature and pressure during
processing. Currently the company sells its digestive health products
in over 40,000 stores all over the US. Ganeden also runs a licensing
business to exploit the potential of its BC strains in other
applications such as animal feed, functional foods, feminine hygiene
products and environmental solutions.
Krijn Rietveld, Senior Vice President New Business Development at DSM
Nutritional Products comments: 'The area of probiotics is exciting
and quickly developing with applications in both human and animal
health and nutrition. We think that Ganeden Biotech's BC30 strains
have unique properties which could enable many new probiotic
applications in both food and feed that we want to follow closely as
an area of potential future business for DSM. Besides our venturing
investment we are currently evaluating possible further partnering
with Ganeden for the development of specific applications.'
DSM Venturing
DSM Venturing is an active investor in companies and venture capital
funds in DSM's strategic growth fields Nutrition, Pharma and
Performance Materials. DSM Venturing's mission is to explore emerging
markets and technologies in these strategic growth fields in order to
enhance DSM's product portfolio and create value. DSM Venturing also
plays an active role in the development of several new DSM business
opportunities in the so-called emerging business areas Biomedical,
Industrial (White) Biotechnology, Specialty Packaging and
Personalized Nutrition. For more information about DSM Venturing see
www.dsm-venturing.com.
About Ganeden
Founded in 1997, Ganeden Biotech is a consumer healthcare company
that features a popular line of over-the-counter, once-daily products
under the Digestive Advantage brand, including its extremely popular
treatments for IBS and lactose intolerance. All of Ganeden's oral
products contain a powerful, patented strain of healthy bacteria,
known as GanedenBC30(TM), which work within the intestinal ecosystem
to normalize digestive function and combat a variety of disorders and
diseases. Ganeden Biotech is dedicated to improving peoples' quality
of life through continued consumer and physician education and
researching and developing new products. More than 40,000 retail
stores nationwide as well as major internet retailers carry Ganeden's
products. For more information on Ganeden's consumer brands, visit
http://www.ganedenbiotech.com or on Ganeden's licensing business,
visit http;//www.ganedenlabs.com.
About DSM
DSM creates innovative products and services in Life Sciences and
Materials Sciences, contributing to the quality of life. DSM's
products and services are used globally in a wide range of markets
and applications, supporting a healthier, more sustainable and
enjoyable way of living. End markets include human and animal
nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive,
coatings and paint, electrics & electronics, life protection and
housing. The company strategy, Vision 2010 - Building on Strengths,
focuses on accelerating profitable and innovative growth of the
company's specialties portfolio. The key drivers of this strategy are
market-driven growth and innovation, an increased presence in
emerging economies and operational excellence. DSM has annual sales
of almost EUR 9 billion and employs some 22,000 people worldwide. The
company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations in
Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and Australia.
For more information:
DSM Corporate Communications DSM Investor Relations
Nelleke Barning
tel. +31 (0) 45 tel. +31 (0) 45 5782864
5782421 fax +31 (0) 45 5782595
fax +31 (0) 45 e-mail
5740680 investor.relations@dsm.com
e-mail media.relations@dsm.com