Sylvan Receives Investment from Novo Holdings to Drive Further Growth
Novo Holdings has announced a significant investment in Sylvan, a leading fungal biotechnology solutions manufacturer, while KKR maintains its position as majority shareholder. This marks Novo Holdings' largest planetary health investment in Asia and first in the fungal biotechnology sector.
Founded in 1932, Sylvan is the world's largest mushroom spawn and fungal biotechnology company, headquartered in China. The company operates globally across 65 countries, focusing on sustainable solutions in food, health, agriculture, and materials sectors.
The new capital will support Sylvan's expansion through:
- Increased production capacity
- Upgraded R&D infrastructure
- Deeper penetration into high-growth Asian markets
The company's mushroom sector offers sustainability benefits, requiring minimal land and water compared to traditional agriculture, while utilizing agricultural waste to produce high-quality proteins. China represents a key growth market for Sylvan, driven by strong industrialization transition in the mushroom cultivation sector.
Novo Holdings ha annunciato un investimento significativo in Sylvan, un produttore leader di soluzioni biotecnologiche fungine, mentre KKR mantiene la sua posizione di azionista di maggioranza. Questo rappresenta il più grande investimento di Novo Holdings nella salute planetaria in Asia e il primo nel settore della biotecnologia fungina.
Fondata nel 1932, Sylvan è la più grande azienda al mondo di semi di fungo e biotecnologia fungina, con sede in Cina. L'azienda opera a livello globale in 65 paesi, concentrandosi su soluzioni sostenibili nei settori alimentare, sanitario, agricolo e dei materiali.
Il nuovo capitale sosterrà l'espansione di Sylvan attraverso:
- Aumento della capacità produttiva
- Aggiornamento delle infrastrutture di ricerca e sviluppo
- Maggiore penetrazione nei mercati asiatici ad alta crescita
Il settore dei funghi dell'azienda offre vantaggi in termini di sostenibilità, richiedendo un uso minimo di terra e acqua rispetto all'agricoltura tradizionale, utilizzando nel contempo rifiuti agricoli per produrre proteine di alta qualità. La Cina rappresenta un mercato chiave per la crescita di Sylvan, spinta da una forte transizione industriale nel settore della coltivazione dei funghi.
Novo Holdings ha anunciado una inversión significativa en Sylvan, un fabricante líder de soluciones biotecnológicas fúngicas, mientras que KKR mantiene su posición como accionista mayoritario. Esto marca la mayor inversión de Novo Holdings en salud planetaria en Asia y la primera en el sector de biotecnología fúngica.
Fundada en 1932, Sylvan es la empresa más grande del mundo en producción de micelio y biotecnología fúngica, con sede en China. La empresa opera a nivel global en 65 países, enfocándose en soluciones sostenibles en los sectores de alimentos, salud, agricultura y materiales.
El nuevo capital apoyará la expansión de Sylvan a través de:
- Aumento de la capacidad de producción
- Mejora de la infraestructura de I+D
- Mayor penetración en mercados asiáticos de alto crecimiento
El sector de champiñones de la empresa ofrece beneficios de sostenibilidad, requiriendo un uso mínimo de tierra y agua en comparación con la agricultura tradicional, mientras utiliza desechos agrícolas para producir proteínas de alta calidad. China representa un mercado clave para el crecimiento de Sylvan, impulsado por una fuerte transición industrial en el sector de cultivo de champiñones.
노보 홀딩스는 주요 균류 생명공학 솔루션 제조업체인 실반에 대한 상당한 투자를 발표했으며, KKR는 여전히 대주주로 남아 있습니다. 이는 노보 홀딩스의 아시아에서의 가장 큰 지구 건강 투자이자 균류 생명공학 분야에서의 첫 투자입니다.
1932년에 설립된 실반은 세계 최대의 버섯 종묘 및 균류 생명공학 회사로 중국에 본사를 두고 있습니다. 이 회사는 65개국에서 전 세계적으로 운영되며, 식품, 건강, 농업 및 재료 분야에서 지속 가능한 솔루션에 집중하고 있습니다.
새로운 자본은 실반의 확장을 지원할 것입니다:
- 생산 능력 증가
- 연구 및 개발 인프라 업그레이드
- 고성장 아시아 시장으로의 더 깊은 침투
회사의 버섯 부문은 지속 가능성 혜택을 제공하며, 전통적인 농업에 비해 최소한의 토지와 물을 필요로 하고, 농업 폐기물을 활용하여 고품질 단백질을 생산합니다. 중국은 실반의 주요 성장 시장으로, 버섯 재배 부문의 강력한 산업화 전환에 의해 추진되고 있습니다.
Novo Holdings a annoncé un investissement significatif dans Sylvan, un fabricant leader de solutions biotechnologiques fongiques, tandis que KKR maintient sa position d'actionnaire majoritaire. Cela marque le plus grand investissement de Novo Holdings dans la santé planétaire en Asie et le premier dans le secteur de la biotechnologie fongique.
Fondée en 1932, Sylvan est la plus grande entreprise au monde de mycélium et de biotechnologie fongique, avec son siège en Chine. L'entreprise opère à l'échelle mondiale dans 65 pays, en se concentrant sur des solutions durables dans les secteurs de l'alimentation, de la santé, de l'agriculture et des matériaux.
Le nouveau capital soutiendra l'expansion de Sylvan grâce à:
- Augmentation de la capacité de production
- Mise à niveau de l'infrastructure de R&D
- Une pénétration plus profonde sur les marchés asiatiques à forte croissance
Le secteur des champignons de l'entreprise offre des avantages en matière de durabilité, nécessitant peu de terres et d'eau par rapport à l'agriculture traditionnelle, tout en utilisant des déchets agricoles pour produire des protéines de haute qualité. La Chine représente un marché clé pour la croissance de Sylvan, soutenue par une forte transition industrielle dans le secteur de la culture des champignons.
Novo Holdings hat eine bedeutende Investition in Sylvan, einen führenden Hersteller von biotechnologischen Lösungen auf Pilzbasis, angekündigt, während KKR seine Position als Mehrheitsaktionär beibehält. Dies markiert die größte Investition von Novo Holdings in die planetare Gesundheit in Asien und die erste im Bereich der Pilzbiotechnologie.
Gegründet im Jahr 1932, ist Sylvan das größte Unternehmen der Welt für Pilzmyzel und Pilzbiotechnologie mit Hauptsitz in China. Das Unternehmen ist global in 65 Ländern tätig und konzentriert sich auf nachhaltige Lösungen in den Bereichen Lebensmittel, Gesundheit, Landwirtschaft und Materialien.
Das neue Kapital wird die Expansion von Sylvan unterstützen durch:
- Erhöhung der Produktionskapazität
- Modernisierung der F&E-Infrastruktur
- Tiefere Durchdringung der wachstumsstarken asiatischen Märkte
Der Pilzsektor des Unternehmens bietet Nachhaltigkeitsvorteile, da er im Vergleich zur traditionellen Landwirtschaft nur minimalen Land- und Wasserverbrauch erfordert und landwirtschaftliche Abfälle nutzt, um hochwertige Proteine zu produzieren. China stellt einen Schlüsselmarkt für das Wachstum von Sylvan dar, angetrieben durch einen starken industriellen Übergang im Sektor des Pilzanbaus.
- Strategic investment from Novo Holdings brings expertise in life sciences and planetary health
- KKR maintains majority ownership while gaining valuable partnership
- Planned expansion of production capacity and R&D infrastructure
- Strong market position in China's growing mushroom cultivation sector
- Global presence across 65 countries
- None.
Insights
Novo Holdings' investment in Sylvan represents a positive development for KKR, validating its original investment thesis while bringing in strategic capital and expertise. As Sylvan's majority shareholder, KKR stands to benefit from this partnership in multiple ways.
This transaction follows the classic private equity value creation playbook - KKR maintains control while bringing in a specialized partner to accelerate growth and potentially increase exit valuation. Novo Holdings brings specific expertise in life sciences and planetary health that complements KKR's broader investment capabilities, potentially accelerating Sylvan's expansion into high-growth markets, particularly in Asia.
The fungal biotechnology sector represents an attractive growth opportunity, with applications spanning food, health, agriculture, and materials. Sylvan's position as the world's largest mushroom spawn company gives it significant scale advantages in a sector aligned with sustainability trends. The investment will support increased production capacity and R&D infrastructure, potentially increasing the enterprise value of KKR's portfolio company.
While financial terms weren't disclosed, this transaction highlights KKR's ability to attract specialized strategic partners to its portfolio companies, potentially enhancing returns. For a
Transaction marks Novo Holdings’ largest investment in the planetary health space in
Novo Holdings’ investment in Sylvan marks its largest planetary health investment in
The new capital will support Sylvan’s expansion by enabling increased production capacity, upgraded R&D infrastructure, and deeper penetration into high-growth markets, particularly in
Founded in 1932, Sylvan is the world’s largest mushroom spawn and fungal biotechnology company and headquartered in
From spawning to cultivation, the modern mushroom sector offers significant sustainability benefits and circular economy value to planetary health. It requires minimal land and water compared to traditional agriculture and utilizes agricultural waste as raw materials to produce high-quality proteins. Sylvan views
Jackie Qi, CEO of Sylvan, said, “Sylvan is delighted to welcome Novo Holdings as our latest investor and to have the continued support of KKR, who have been a terrific strategic partner in our value creation journey. With this latest milestone, we are in an excellent position to pursue our ambition to become a global leader in fungal biotechnology solutions across four unique markets: Food, Health, Agriculture, and Materials, and will look to leverage their global networks and expertise to take Sylvan to the next level of transformation.”
Amit Kakar, Managing Partner and Head of
Chris Sun, Partner and Head of China Private Equity, KKR, said, “We are pleased to welcome Novo Holdings given their significant expertise in life sciences and planetary health. KKR is aligned with Novo Holdings in our commitment to drive the creation of sustainable global solutions. We are proud of the tremendous progress Sylvan has achieved and believe this new strategic partnership will enable it to unlock even greater growth.”
Novo Holdings’ Planetary Health Investments team spans three continents (
About Sylvan
Sylvan is a fungal biotechnology company, unlocking the incredible potential of the Earth’s ancient fungi. We believe these resilient fungi, having evolved over millions of years, hold the key to overcoming many of the problems our planet faces today and into the future. Our goal is simple: harness the power of fungi and create sustainable solutions to address global challenges in food, health, agriculture, and materials.
About Novo Holdings
Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and the wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk A/S and Novonesis A/S and manages an investment portfolio with a long-term return perspective. In addition to managing a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate, infrastructure and private equity assets, Novo Holdings is a world-leading life sciences investor. Through its Seed, Venture, Growth,
About KKR
KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com. For additional information about Global Atlantic Financial Group, please visit Global Atlantic Financial Group’s website at www.globalatlantic.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250402251805/en/
Media Contact
For Sylvan
Melinda Kong
melinda.kong@sylvaninc.com
For Novo Holdings
Paul Ewing-Chow
pec@novo.dk
For KKR Asia Pacific
Wei Jun Ong
WeiJun.Ong@kkr.com
Source: KKR
FAQ
What is the significance of Novo Holdings' investment in Sylvan for KKR shareholders?
How will Sylvan use the new investment from Novo Holdings?
What is Sylvan's current market presence and operational scope?
Why is China considered a key growth market for Sylvan's business?
What sustainable benefits does Sylvan's mushroom technology offer?
