By Blue Horizon
Zurich, 14 October 2020 – Blue Horizon Corporation, the pure play thematic-impact asset manager in the alternative protein sector, announced today that The LIVEKINDLY Collective has successfully completed a USD 135 million capital raise through convertible securities with a selected group of strategic, institutional and mission-driven investors. The transaction was strongly supported by Blue Horizon Corporation as the anchor investor. New investors include a syndicate from Asia, led by Trustbridge Partners, global investment organisation EQT and Griffith Foods.
Blue Horizon Corporation is the controlling shareholder of The LIVEKINDLY Collective, which was created in 2019 (formerly known as Foods United). The LIVEKINDLY Collective has grown into one of the world’s largest and fastest growing plant-based food companies within a very short period of time.
Björn Witte, CEO and Managing Partner of Blue Horizon Corporation, said: “We congratulate Kees Kruythoff and his management team for their tremendous operational success in ramping up the company at scale and at speed over the course of this year. We are thrilled that our innovative business model keeps on attracting high quality and mission driven investor interest on a continuous basis.”
Media contact Blue Horizon Corporation
Martin Meier-Pfister, IRF
Phone +41 43 244 81 40
bluehorizon@irf-reputation.ch
Please refer to the official LIVEKINDLY Collective Press Release as below.
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LIVEKINDLY Collective Announces an Additional $135 Million Capital Raise
Following a Successful Founders Round of $200 Million Earlier this Year
Seeks to Make Plant-Based Food the New Normal with Protein-Packed Meat Alternatives
NEW YORK | October 14, 2020 —The LIVEKINDLY Collective, a leading global multi-brand plant-based food company, today announced a successful capital raise of $135 Million led by Blue Horizon Corporation. Investors included a syndicate from Asia led by Trustbridge Partners, and global investment organization EQT, along with Griffith Foods, and other existing shareholders.
Proceeds from this capital raise will be used to accelerate LIVEKINDLY Collective’s mission to transform the current unsustainable meat-centric food system by making healthier, delicious and more sustainable plant-based alternatives accessible to consumers worldwide. The majority of proceeds will be used to increase capacity and accelerate the 2021 nationwide U.S. launch of portfolio brands Fry Family Food Co., LikeMeat, and Oumph! whose products are currently available in select markets across Europe, Africa and Australia, and develop new products, including plant-based chicken and eggs.
“We see significant investor interest increasing around our movement,” said Kees Kruythoff, CEO and Chairman of LIVEKINDLY Collective. “Through our plant-based food platform we’re committed to ethically and environmentally-friendly practices in everything we do. We are also uniquely positioned to scale rapidly and transform the current global food system.” “Global consumer demand for plant-based meat alternatives is growing rapidly, creating a meaningful opportunity for investors, and our focus on chicken alternatives addresses a massive global need,” said David Knopf, Chief Financial Officer of LIVEKINDLY Collective. “Our plans to accelerate business growth not only meets the demand of consumers for healthier and more environmentally friendly products, but also creates an attractive investment opportunity behind a purpose-driven business model.”
With this additional round, the total funds raised by the company in 2020 amount to $335 Million, resulting in LIVEKINDLY Collective becoming one of the highest funded plant-based food companies globally.
ABOUT LIVEKINDLY COLLECTIVE
The Livekindly Company, Inc. (d/b/a LIVEKINDLY Collective) was founded by Blue Horizon Corporation to accelerate the transformation of the global food industry into a healthier, sustainable, kinder food system, accessible to all. Through strategic partnerships with seed growers, producers, and distributors, LIVEKINDLY Collective is the only company in the plant-based food sector to own and operate the entire value chain. As a collective of founders, entrepreneurs and global leaders, the company is uniquely positioned to create impact at speed, at scale. Through its brands The Fry Family Food Co., LikeMeat, and Oumph!, LIVEKINDLY Collective is making plant-based eating the new normal and providing consumers with healthy, sustainable, delicious food. Its mission-driven lifestyle and media platform LIVEKINDLY inspires its community to make positive and sustainable changes through entertaining, and informative content.
Media contact LIVEKINDLY Collective:
Alicia Diotte | media@livekindly.com
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About Blue Horizon
Blue Horizon Corporation has shaped the growth of the market for alternative proteins since the beginning and accelerates it through targeted investments as a pure play industry pioneer. The company aims to sustainably transform the global food industry through investments into companies who are replacing animal proteins with healthy, alternative protein sources across the global supply chain. Blue Horizon was founded in 2016 and is based in Zurich and Los Angeles. The company launched its first venture fund in 2018. Since then, it has completed over 50 seed and venture capital investments in the alternative protein food tech sector and raised more than CHF 350 million. Its business model offers a unique market access from Seed to Consolidation via funds and direct investment platforms throughout all stages of asset lifecycles. More on www.bluehorizon.com