US-based crop trader Cargill has agreed to invest SFr5m ($5.25m) in a private investment in public equities (Pipe) in Switzerland stock exchange-listed Evolva.
Evolva said in total it would raise up to SFr31.3m through the rights issue priced at SFr0.60 per share. Founded in 2004, Evolva floated in 2009.
Neil Goldsmith, chief executive of Evolva, said: “Cargill’s intention to become a shareholder in Evolva is a clear sign of their confidence and commitment.”
As part of its financing, Cargill is collaborating with Evolva on creating Steviol Glycosides, a sweetener, through fermentation rather than needing to be grown in Stevia plants. Evolva can gain up to $7.5m in milestone payments and has the right to a 45% participation in the final business connected to Steviol Glycosides.
If Evolva decides not to exercise this option it will receive royalty payments from global sales of the co-developed Steviol Glycoside products; these royalties will scale from mid-single digit to low double-digit percentages as a function of sales volume and other parameters.