Agronomics Limited Announces Liberation Labs Closes US$ 50.5 million Fundraise

Rhea-AI Summary

Liberation Labs has successfully closed a US$ 50.5 million convertible note round, combining US$ 31.5 million in new capital with US$ 19 million of insider bridge notes from 2024. The funding, supported by NEOM Investment Fund, Siddhi Capital, and Meach Cove Capital, will facilitate the completion of their first biomanufacturing plant in Richmond, Indiana.

Agronomics has committed US$ 7.4 million to the round and maintains a 37.7% undiluted equity stake. The Richmond facility, which broke ground in June 2023, will feature 600,000 litres of fermentation capacity and is expected to be completed by year-end. The facility has secured non-binding Letters of Intent representing over 200% of its available capacity for the first 5 years of operations.

The total capital raised, including public sector awards and loan guarantees, amounts to US$ 125.5 million. Liberation Labs anticipates breaking even in its first year of operation, addressing the critical bottleneck in fermentation capacity for the industrial biotechnology sector.

Positive

• Secured US$ 50.5 million in convertible note funding
• Non-binding LOIs represent over 200% of facility capacity for first 5 years
• Received US$ 25 million USDA loan guarantee
• Expected to break even in first year of operation
• Facility construction on track for completion by year-end

Negative

• Currently generating no revenue
• Operating costs of US$ 0.4 million per month
• LOIs are non-binding, presenting execution risk

DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN / ACCESS Newswire / January 30, 2025 / Agronomics (LSE:ANIC), a leading listed company in the field of clean food, is delighted to announce that its portfolio company, Liberation Labs Holdings Inc ("Liberation Labs") has closed a convertible note with US$ 31.5 million in new capital which, combined with $19 million of insider bridge notes raised during 2024, brings the total raised under its US$ 75 million convertible note round to US$ 50.5 million. The round included additional participation from NEOM Investment Fund alongside Siddhi Capital and Meach Cove Capital. Agronomics has committed US$ 7.4 million to the round from its own funds. Together with other secured funds, the new capital will enable the completion of construction of the company's first biomanufacturing plant in Richmond, Indiana.

Combined with other public sector awards and loan guarantees, Liberation Labs has raised a total of US$ 125.5 million in deployable capital.

Liberation Labs aims to establish itself as the global fabrication partner for the industrial biotechnology sector through the design, construction and operation of Bio³, its purpose-built biomanufacturing platform. This platform will seek to address the critical bottleneck in capacity which fermentation companies are currently facing. Liberation Labs broke ground on its first facility in June 2023 which, when complete, will have 600,000 litres of fermentation capacity. The project continues to make significant progress with its build programme and expects to have the facility complete by the end of this calendar year.

This site, located in Richmond, Indiana, was selected having considered a number of key metrics such as access to sugar inputs, utility rates, cost and availability of labour, regulatory environment, and availability of government incentives. Additionally, the site has the potential to be expanded by an additional 4 million litres of capacity in the future. Since the last update, several large companies have signed Letters of Intent ("LOI") for the capacity which at this stage, are non-binding. In total, Liberation Labs has LOIs representing over 200% of the available capacity for the first 5 years of the Richmond facility's operations.

Last year, Liberation Labs was also awarded a US$ 25 million "Business and Industry" loan guarantee by the US Department of Agriculture to help with the completion of the biomanufacturing facility.

Agronomics continues to have high conviction in the management team, business model and investment opportunity. Given the shortage of fit-for-purpose biomanufacturing capacity, along with the clear demand for diversified and secure supply chains from governments and large corporations committing long-term contracts, Liberation Labs expects to breakeven in the first year of operation.

The total investment made by Agronomics in Liberation Labs is US$ 25.03 million (c. £20.05 million), with a carrying value of £31.2 million, subject to audit. The position represents approximately 19.6% of Agronomics' last published Net Asset Value as at 30 September 2024. The current round took place in the form of a Convertible Loan Note, which will convert into equity upon the close of the next equity financing. Agronomics continues to own 37.7% of the undiluted equity in Liberation Labs. Agronomics participated alongside related parties Galloway Limited, a company wholly owned by Executive Chair Jim Mellon, which invested US$ 5.0 million; and New Agrarian Company Limited, which invested US$ 2.1 million.

Since the US$ 7.4 million subscription from Agronomics is considered a Substantial Transaction under AIM Rule 12, this announcement requires certain disclosures under Schedule Four. Liberation Labs is an early-stage company with no revenues and operating costs of approximately US$ 0.4 million per month, and total assets as at 30 June 2024 of approximately US$ 49.5 million and liabilities of US$ 43.8 million.

Jim Mellon, Executive Chair of Agronomics, said:

"Liberation Labs is developing state-of-the-art fermentation infrastructure to transform the world's existing fermentation capacity. This will help build a future where precision fermentation proteins reach the industrial scale needed to meet growing demand in the US and across the world. This novel approach has never previously been attempted. The completion of this significant funding raise showcases the consistent and growing demand from startups, large multinational corporations, and governments alike and is testament to the strength of the team led by Mark Warner and their successful execution of the strategy."

About Liberation Labs

Liberation Labs is commercializing precision fermentation, intending to develop a global network of purpose-built manufacturing facilities that enable the next wave of biotechnology advancements to produce bio-based consumer products at scale. They combine modern technology with fit-for-purpose design to bring reliable and cost-effective solutions that meet customer demand across the world. More information is available at www.liberationlabs.com.

About Agronomics

Agronomics is a leading London-listed company focussing on investment opportunities within the field of clean food. The Company has established a portfolio of over 20 companies in this rapidly advancing sector. It seeks to invest in companies owning technologies with defensible intellectual property that offer new ways of producing food and materials with a focus on products historically derived from animals. These technologies are driving a major disruption in agriculture, offering solutions to improve sustainability, as well as addressing human health, animal welfare and environmental damage. This disruption will decouple supply chains from the environment and animals and improve food security for the world's expanding population. A full list of Agronomics' portfolio companies is available at https://agronomics.im/.

Agronomics Limited	Beaumont Cornish Limited	Canaccord Genuity Limited	Cavendish Capital Markets Limited	Peterhouse Capital Limited	SEC Newgate
The Company	Nomad	Joint Broker	Joint Broker	Joint Broker	Public Relations
Jim Mellon Denham Eke	Roland Cornish James Biddle	Andrew Potts Harry Pardoe Alex Aylen (Head of Equities)	Giles Balleny Michael Johnson	Lucy Williams Charles Goodfellow	Bob Huxford Anthony Hughes
+44 (0) 1624 639396 info@agronomics.im	+44 (0) 207 628 3396	+44 (0) 207 523 8000	+44 (0) 207 397 8900	+44 (0) 207 469 0936	agronomics@secnewgate.co.uk

Nominated Adviser

Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter referred to in it.

END

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SOURCE: Agronomics Limited

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

How much funding did Liberation Labs raise in their latest round?

Liberation Labs raised US$ 50.5 million in their latest convertible note round, consisting of US$ 31.5 million in new capital and US$ 19 million from insider bridge notes raised during 2024.

What is the fermentation capacity of Liberation Labs' Richmond facility?

The Richmond, Indiana facility will have 600,000 litres of fermentation capacity, with potential for expansion by an additional 4 million litres in the future.

What is Agronomics' (AGNMF) current equity stake in Liberation Labs?

Agronomics maintains a 37.7% undiluted equity stake in Liberation Labs, with a total investment of US$ 25.03 million.

When is Liberation Labs' Richmond facility expected to be completed?

The Richmond facility is expected to be completed by the end of the calendar year 2025.

How much demand exists for Liberation Labs' Richmond facility?

Liberation Labs has secured Letters of Intent representing over 200% of the available capacity for the first 5 years of the facility's operations, though these are non-binding.