Natura-Tec Announces The Strategic Partnership For The Development, Manufacture and Marketing of Microalgae Ingredients Between the APG Group and Microphyt

　　The international oleo-chemical group of Companies APG, with headquarters in Milan, Italy, leader in sustainable oleo-chemistry and active since 2008 in marine-technology and biomass manufacturing and research, and MICROPHYT SA, a French innovative company focusing on the development and production of microalgae-based natural active ingredients for nutraceuticals and cosmetics industries, today announce the signing of a strategic alliance to jointly develop and market unique ingredients for food, feed, pharma and cosmetics applications.

　　The APG Group has recently completed a major investment plan, building the biggest plant for microalgae production in Northern Italy, on the Mediterranean coast, and one of the largest worldwide, with more than 10.000 m2 of photobioreactors and open pond installations under greenhouse cover for the manufacture of dry biomass.

　　MICROPHYT SA, in addition to its current established business, has been selected by the European Commission programme to benefit from its ‘Horizon 2020 SME Instrument’ that funds market-creating innovation in dynamic businesses that have significant growth potential and global ambitions. Microphyt’s SMILE project for the development of natural marine-derived nutraceutical active ingredients was the only winner in the ‘Blue Growth’ category among the applications filed by February 2016.

　　This agreement, signed in Paris on July 19th by the President of APG Group, Augusto Parodi and the main Shareholders of MICROPHYT, foresees the acquisition of an initial share capital by APG with the option of raising its share up to 26% within first-half of 2018. As the major industrial partner in the venture, APG will immediately appoint a director to the MICROPHYT board in order to reinforce the strategic cooperation between the two Companies in R&D, production and marketing activities.

　　Gianluca Fenaroli, CEO of APG Group, and Vincent Usache, CEO of Microphyt, underlined that the agreement is built on a common vision and ambition to establish a long term partnership. It will contribute to the growth of a group of companies that has significant potential to become a technical and commercial leader in Europe in the field of microalgae-based products. Furthermore the two parties have identified possibilities to exploit synergies particularly in R&D, marketing and production with mutual benefits in the shorter term.

　　Gianluca Fenaroli, who will represent APG on the MICROPHYT Board of Directors, said on the subject: "This strategic partnership is a pillar of the APG strategy to grow its presence in the promising microalgae business which is perfectly coherent with the mission of our Group of Companies: to strengthen our presence in the sustainable chemistry segment, continuing to offer to the market a wide range of high quality products for industrial application in diversified segments, from cosmetics and pharmaceuticals to food, feed and lubricants”

　　Vincent Usache added that “we are delighted to receive the support of APG Group at such a stage in the development of Microphyt. We have already identified promising opportunities in our respective product portolio. This deal will leverage the synergies between APG and Microphyt on the technical, regulatory and commercial side. In this collaboration, we also share a common vision of delivering effective, safe and sustainably-produced unique active ingredients. I am totally convinced that this collaboration will help better serve our customers”.