DIC Invests in U.S. Sustainable Biotech Innovator Debut

Tokyo, Japan—DIC Corporation announced today that it has completed investment in Debut Biotechnology Inc., a vertically integrated synthetic biology company at the forefront of advanced biomanufacturing technology. DIC’s investment in Debut's Series B round*, which is led by BOLD, L’Oréal Groupe's venture capital fund, strengthens the existing strategic partnership between DIC and Debut. The investment also accelerates the creation of new businesses in healthcare and color science, two priority business areas outlined in the DIC Vision 2030 long-term management plan.

California-based Debut possesses outstanding enzyme discovery and design technologies, as well as an advanced biomanufacturing platform (comprising precision fermentation and cell-free manufacturing) that uses these enzymes. Debut’s proprietary technologies enable the selective, stable and sustainable production of many rare, naturally-derived organic compounds.

DIC and Debut began jointly developing natural pigments in July 2021, including polyphenols for cosmetics- and nutrition-related applications in March 2023. During these initiatives, the two companies discovered that they are wholly aligned in terms of sustainability and health. DIC made the decision to invest in Debut to further strengthen this partnership, as well as to accelerate the launch of bio-based materials produced using Debut’s platform.

The DIC Group delivers safe, high-quality products to consumers. By strengthening its bio-based materials business in the areas of healthcare and color science, DIC continues to enhance its contributions to quality of life (QOL), as set forth in DIC Vision 2030.

* Series B round is one of the investment rounds in a startup company, which is a funding stage (the stage when the business has started to get on track) following the series A.

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Related press releases:
DIC and Debut Commence Joint Business Development of Polyphenols for the Cosmetics and Nutrition Industries Using Innovative Biotechnology (March 22, 2023)

DIC and Debut Biotech Advance and Scale Biomanufacturing of Sustainable Red Colorants for Food, Nutrition, and Cosmetics (July 29, 2022)

DIC, Debut Biotech Team Up to Develop and Biomanufacture Natural Pigments for More Sustainable Food Colorants and Cosmetics (July 28, 2021)

About DIC Corporation
DIC Corporation is one of the world’s leading fine chemicals companies and the core of the DIC Group, a multinational organization comprising over 190 companies, including Sun Chemical Corporation, in more than 60 countries and territories. The DIC Group is recognized as a global leader in the markets for a variety of products essential to modern lifestyles, including packaging materials, display materials such as those used in television and computer displays, and high-performance materials for smartphones and other digital devices, as well as for automobiles. Through such products, the Group endeavors to deliver safety and peace of mind, and color and comfort, to people everywhere. The DIC Group also seeks to contribute to a sustainable society by developing innovative products that respond to social change and which help address social imperatives. With annual consolidated net sales exceeding ¥1 trillion and 22,000-plus employees worldwide, we pledge to continue working in close cooperation with our customers wherever they are.

About Debut
Debut is the unconventional innovation lab spearheading the next generation of big business. Only Debut has a scalable, integrated, climate-positive creation model powered by biotechnology that puts human wellbeing at its center and setting a new standard for profitable business to face an ever-changing world. The company’s hybrid fermentation and cell-free approaches unlock latent markets, providing access to sustainably produced, natural ingredients with health benefits that cannot be obtained through other methods. Through its nimble discovery and biomanufacturing platform, the company invents sustainable ingredients and products for consumer markets.