SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. & WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Solazyme, Inc. (NASDAQ:SZYM) (“Solazyme”), a renewable oil and bioproducts company, and Bunge Global Innovation LLC (“Bunge”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG), a global agribusiness and food company, announced today they have broken ground on a 100,000 metric ton renewable oil production facility adjacent to Bunge’s Moema sugarcane mill in Brazil. Construction started on schedule and the plant is targeted to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2013. Additionally, Hildo Henz, an experienced engineer who has led major refinery projects during his career, has been appointed General Manager of the joint venture, which was formed in April 2012 and will operate under the name Solazyme Bunge Produtos Renováveis Ltda.
Mr. Henz brings over 20 years of experience in operations and management to his new role. Previously, he was the engineering director at Brenco, a Brazilian renewable energy company, where he led greenfield projects in excess of US$ 500 million. Prior to Brenco, Mr. Henz was CEO of Alberto Pasqualini - REFAP S/A, a Petrobras/Repsol joint-venture refinery in Brazil, where he led its US$ 1.3 billion expansion. He had previously served as a strategic planning manager at Petrobras in Rio de Janeiro, where he implemented new refining technologies.
“Our joint venture with Solazyme is off to a strong start and we continue to build excitement about the renewable oil product opportunities that will emerge from the partnership. Breaking ground at Moema and adding Hildo as General Manager are great indications of our joint commitment to the sugar-to-oils platform and we look forward to continued progress,” said Ben Pearcy, Managing Director of Sugar & Bioenergy and Chief Development Officer, Bunge Limited.
“We are very happy to have broken ground on our Solazyme-Bunge joint venture facility on schedule and are also greatly pleased to have brought Hildo on board to run the JV. Hildo brings an unparalleled level of expertise that will enable successful plant commissioning and operations,” said Jonathan Wolfson, CEO, Solazyme. “He is a top-tier seasoned executive who has built, overseen and launched large manufacturing businesses and we are fortunate to have him as the General Manager.”
About Solazyme, Inc.
Solazyme, Inc. (NASDAQ:SZYM) is a renewable oil and bioproducts company that transforms a range of low-cost plant-based sugars into high-value oils. Headquartered in South San Francisco, Solazyme’s renewable products can replace or enhance oils derived from the world’s three existing sources – petroleum, plants and animal fats. Initially, Solazyme is focused on commercializing its products into three target markets: (1) fuels and chemicals, (2) nutrition and (3) skin and personal care.
Solazyme®, the Solazyme logo and other trademarks or service names are trademarks of Solazyme, Inc.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements (Solazyme)
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about Solazyme, including statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning: the timetable for the construction and initial operation of the Moema manufacturing facility; the ability to develop and commercialize tailored oils and the future commercialization plans of Solazyme. When used in this press release, the words “will”, “expects”, “intends” and other similar expressions and any other statements that are not historical facts are intended to identify those assertions as forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any such statement may be influenced by a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of Solazyme, that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected, described, expressed or implied in this press release due to a number of risks and uncertainties. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others: Solazyme’s limited experience with large capital projects; risks associated with the scale-up of new technologies; its ability to enter into and maintain strategic collaborations; its ability to obtain requisite regulatory approvals; and its access, on favorable terms, to any required financing. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what impact they will have on the results of operations or financial condition of Solazyme.
In addition, please refer to the documents that Solazyme files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its QuarterlyReports on Form 10-Q, for a discussion of these and other risks. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Solazyme is not under any duty to update any of the information in this press release.
About Bunge Global Innovation LLC
Bunge Global Innovation is an interdisciplinary team applying the latest thinking and technologies to drive innovation across all Bunge business segments. Its mission is to scout, develop, buy, sell or license technologies that will improve Bunge’s sustainability, profitability and competitive advantage.
About Bunge Limited
Bunge Limited (www.bunge.com, NYSE:BG) is a leading global agribusiness and food company with approximately 35,000 employees in more than 30 countries. Bunge buys, sells, stores and transports oilseeds and grains to serve customers worldwide; processes oilseeds to make protein meal for animal feed and edible oil products for commercial customers and consumers; produces sugar and ethanol from sugarcane; mills wheat and corn to make ingredients used by food companies; and sells fertilizer in North and South America. Founded in 1818, the company is headquartered in White Plains, New York.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements (Bunge)
This press release contains both historical and forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather reflect our current expectations and projections about our future results, performance, prospects and opportunities, including statements with respect to the completion, timing and anticipated use of proceeds of the offering. We have tried to identify these forward looking statements by using words including “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “continue” and similar expressions. These forward looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward looking statements, including those risk factors described in or incorporated by reference in the prospectus supplement for the offering. The following important factors, among others, could affect our business and financial performance: industry conditions, including fluctuations in supply, demand and prices for agricultural commodities and other raw materials and products used in our business; fluctuations in energy and freight costs and competitive developments in our industries; the effects of weather conditions and the outbreak of crop and animal disease on our business; global and regional agricultural, economic, financial and commodities market, political, social and health conditions; the outcome of pending regulatory and legal proceedings; our ability to complete, integrate and benefit from acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and strategic alliances; our ability to achieve the efficiencies, savings and other benefits anticipated from our cost reduction, margin improvement and other business optimization initiatives; changes in government policies, laws and regulations affecting our business, including agricultural and trade policies, tax regulations and biofuels legislation; and other factors affecting our business generally. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date of this release, and except as otherwise required by federal securities law, we do not have any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50322989&lang=en