Tnuva Group will invest $7.5 million in NewCo, according to a pre-money valuation of $40 million, with the option to invest up to an additional $7.5 million over a period of 12 months following the closing. NewCo will use its own funding and resources to promote its mission with a dedicated management team and staff, and Pluristem will support the establishment, research and development activities of NewCo pursuant to a services agreement. Tnuva will provide the R&D platform to develop consumer products and will receive preferred marketing rights of any developed NewCo's products in Israel.
Pluristem has the industry-leading capacity to design, develop, and manufacture cells for commercial use. Over the last two decades, the Company developed a proprietary three-dimensional (3D) expansion platform that can produce high-quality cells in a cost-effective manner with batch-to-batch consistency. According to both Parties' estimates and plans, NewCo intends to present its technology Proof of Concept in 2022, with the goal of launching its first raw cultured meat product in 2023.
As part of the collaboration, the Parties may expand the collaboration to include cultured dairy and cultured fish products by establishing separate, new ventures.
Haim Gavrieli, Chairman of Tnuva Group: "Our collaboration with Pluristem is part of the execution of Tnuva Group's strategy and vision. Tnuva strives to lead the alternative protein industry in Israel and to continue to expand in the industry on a global scale. We chose to collaborate with Pluristem because we believe it owns one of the most advanced cell production technologies in the world. We expect the collaboration between the companies to revolutionize the cultured food industry and develop the next generation of alternative proteins."
Zami Aberman, Chairman of Pluristem: "Both Parties are leading companies in their fields, each with proven experience and tremendous capabilities, and the collaboration between us holds vast potential to lead towards a better future for the food industry. The collaboration with Tnuva supports Pluristem's strategy to establish partnerships that leverage its cell-based technology platform. As we embark on this collaboration with Tnuva, Pluristem is still dedicated to its core business of developing cell therapy products."
Yaky Yanay, CEO and President of Pluristem: "Over the years, Pluristem has developed one of the most advanced cell manufacturing platforms. During the last year, we made our strategy more precise, with the goal of leveraging our technology and expertise through partnerships and collaborations. Today, we are proud to join forces with a market leader, Tnuva Group, as they bring 96 years of experience in consumer food brands and innovation to the table. We believe that Tnuva's and Pluristem's vast experience will support fast and effective development of large-scale cultured meat products, relying on our existing infrastructures and talented teams. This collaboration is the first showcase of Pluristem's intention to expand its business to verticals that need superior cell expansion proprietary technologies."
Eyal Malis, CEO of the Tnuva Group: "Tnuva Group has decades of experience developing and marketing innovative products for the Israeli market. Tnuva leads the alternative protein market in Israel and has recently taken its expertise globally. Just as Tnuva made the field of alternative proteins accessible to every Israeli home, we intend to make cultured food products available to all. The collaboration between two proven pioneers in their fields, each of which with proven experience and tremendous abilities, can create a better future for the food industry."
Alternative meat is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and is estimated to be a $140 billion market by 2030[1]. Affordable cultured food will require mass-produced, high-quality cells at competitive costs.
About Tnuva Group
Tnuva Group is the largest food producer in Israel, as well as the Israeli leader in the field of alternative dairy and protein products. Tnuva Group has annual revenues of over $2 billion, 6,000 employees in 32 sites country wide. The Tnuva brand can be found in almost every home and every meal in Israel, with the country's largest distribution network for chilled and frozen products, including a wide range of dairy products, meat, eggs, fish, frozen vegetables, pastries and frozen and chilled food. Tnuva holds Israel's leading and most loved food brands in Israel, with approximately 4 million of Tnuva Group's products sold daily.
Tnuva takes part in the establishment of advanced food tech platforms in Israel, including "FRESH START," an innovative food tech incubator in Northern Israel with the goal of future development of the Israeli food industry. The incubator, established in collaboration with the Israel Innovation Authority, Tempo Beverages Ltd, the investment platform Our Crowd, and the American investment fund Finistere, specializes in locating and accompanying groundbreaking Israeli food technologies. Tnuva also supports innovative startups food companies, and academic researchers in Israel. Tnuva has recently signed a know-how licensing agreement with Swiss retail giant "Migros," under which Tnuva will help the Swiss company produce dairy alternatives.
About Pluristem
Pluristem is pushing the boundaries of science and engineering to create cell-based products for commercial use. The Company's cell therapies advance the field of regenerative medicine, with potentially groundbreaking applications for treating ischemia, damaged muscle, hematology deficiencies, and inflammation. Pluristem sources its therapeutic cells from the placenta, an ethically accepted and potent source. The Company's manufacturing platform is a patented and validated state-of-the-art 3D cell expansion system. Pluristem's method is uniquely accurate, cost-effective, and consistent from batch to batch. The collaboration with Tnuva supports Pluristem's strategy to establish partnerships leveraging Pluristem's cell-based technology platform.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other U.S. Federal securities laws, regarding Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. For additional details with regards to the forward-looking statements, please refer to Pluristem's reported announcement, as published through Edgar.
1. "The future of food," 4 May 2021, Barclays news.
Contact:
Dana Rubin,
Director of Investor Relations, Pluristem
+972-74-7107194
danar@pluristem.com
Noy Kedem Madmon
Chief Communications Officer, Tnuva Group
+972-50-5200509
noyke@tnuva.co.il
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