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2023/6/8

DIC Invests in U.S. Sustainable Biotech Innovator Debut

Tokyo, Japan, Jun. 2, 2023 —DIC Corporation announced 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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