Enzymotec was an Israeli speciality chemicals company. It was acquired by Frutarom in Jan 2018.

Enzymotec Ltd.
Company typePublic
NASDAQ: ENZY
IndustryFood industry
Founded1999; 25 years ago (1999)
FounderDr. Sobhi Basheer
DefunctJanuary 11, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-01-11)
FateAcquired by Frutarom
Headquarters,
Key people
Sobhi Basheer and Tali Sivan
ProductsFood ingredients
Dietary supplements
Medical food
Revenue$50.39 million (2015)
$6.17 million (2015)
$6.68 million (2015)
Number of employees
124 (2015)
Websitewww.enzymotec.com

History

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The company was founded in 1999 by Dr. Sobhi Basheer at the Naiot Venture Accelerator that markets products created from lipids from raw sources like fish and plants as food ingredients, dietary supplements, and medical food products for adults, children, and infants.[1][2][3][4] As of 2013 it was the second biggest company in the global krill oil market with a 30% market share, and was emphasizing its potential for growth in the Chinese market for infant nutrition with its lipid-based InFat food ingredient.[3]

It began selling medical food products in the US through its subsidiary, Vaya Pharma, in 2011.[1][5]

As of 2013 Enzymotec had raised $17 million and was selling products globally, and in the summer of 2013 it filed a prospectus for its initial public offering on NASDAQ, seeking to raise around $75M;[6] the IPO was held in October and raised $63M.[2]

In 2014 Enzymotec settled litigation with Canada-based Neptune Technologies & Bioressources over patents held by Neptune related to phospholipids like omega-3 oil extracted from krill oil.[7]

In 2015 shareholders filed a class action securities fraud case against Enzymotec over the IPO prospectus, claiming that the company's management had misrepresented its future profitability and the regulatory status of its products in China; most claims in the suit survived a motion to dismiss in December 2015.[8][9]

Frutarom, which had built a minority position in the firm, announced on 29 Oct 2017 that it would acquire Enzymotec's remaining equity for approximately $168 million.[10] After the transaction completed on 11 Jan 2018, Enzymotec delisted from the NASDAQ.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Form F-1 Registration Statement Under The Securities Act of 1933". Enzymotec via SEC Edgar. July 10, 2013. Index to whole prospectus is here
  2. ^ a b "Enzymotec raises $63.5m in Nasdaq IPO". Israel High-Tech & Investment Report. October 2013.
  3. ^ a b Dionisio, Rommel; Frederick, Kurt (October 22, 2013). "Enzymotec's Formula to Success". Barron's.
  4. ^ "ENZY:NASDAQ GS Stock Quote - Enzymotec Ltd". Bloomberg. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  5. ^ "VAYA Pharma Inc.: Private Company Information". Bloomberg. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  6. ^ Weinreb, Gali (August 25, 2013). "Enzymotec publishes Nasdaq IPO prospectus". Jewish Business News.
  7. ^ Daniells, Stephan (April 28, 2014). "Neptune and Enzymotec finalize patent settlement and license agreement". Nutra Ingredients.
  8. ^ Posses, Shayna (December 15, 2015). "Enzymotec Can't Shake Shareholder Suit Over $70M IPO -". Law360.
  9. ^ "Case Page: Enzymotec Ltd. Securities Litigation". Securities Class Action Clearinghouse. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  10. ^ "Israeli flavor firm Frutarom to buy remaining 81 pct of Enzymotec". October 29, 2017.
  11. ^ "Frutarom takes full ownership of Enzymotec, sells krill oil business to Aker BioMarine". January 19, 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-01-21.
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