AEA Acquires Verdesian Life Sciences

New York – February 26, 2021– AEA Investors’ (“AEA” or the “Firm”) Middle Market Private Equity team announced today that its fund has closed the acquisition of Verdesian Life Sciences (“Verdesian” or the “Company”). Verdesian is a leading platform that develops patented biological, nutritional, fertilizer enhancers, seed treatment and inoculant technologies for high-value specialty crops, row crops, and turf and ornamental markets. Since its establishment in 2012, Verdesian has grown into a market leader in Nutrient Use Efficiency by executing on a multi-pronged go-to-market strategy, completing six add-on acquisitions, and developing best-in-class products. The Company has expanded geographically into new markets, including South America, and has filed more than 290 patents since 2014. AEA has made a number of successful investments in the specialty chemicals sector over the last two decades. The investment in Verdesian represents an opportunity to partner with a best-in-class management team in an industry benefiting from long term secular growth, underpinned by an increasing focus on productivity, coupled with more sustainable agricultural practices that improve soil fertility and plant health.

About AEA
AEA Investors LP was founded in 1968 by the Rockefeller, Mellon and Harriman family interests and S.G. Warburg & Co. as a private investment vehicle for a select group of industrial family offices with substantial assets. AEA has an extraordinary global network built over many years which includes leading industrial families, business executives and leaders; many of whom invest with AEA as active individual investors (“Participants”) and/or join its portfolio company boards or act in other advisory roles. Today, AEA’s approximately 90 investment professionals operate globally with offices in New York, Connecticut, London, Munich and Shanghai. The firm manages funds that have over $15 billion of invested and committed capital including the leveraged buyouts of middle market companies and small business companies and mezzanine and senior debt investments. AEA Private Equity invests across three sectors: value added industrials, consumer and services.

About Verdesian Life Sciences
Founded in 2012, Verdesian offers patented biological, nutritional, fertilizer enhancers, seed treatment and inoculant technologies for high-value specialty crops, row crops, and turf and ornamental markets. Verdesian’s plant-health products, nutritional catalysts and seed treatments/inoculants help growers farm more efficiently to maximize yields. Verdesian’s technologies answer the needs facing agriculture including increasing pressures on food demand, supply and food safety. Verdesian remains committed to the research and development of environmentally sustainable products. Further information about Verdesian is available at www.vlsci.com.

Investor Contact
AEA Investors
Investor Relations
+1 (212) 644-5900
AEAIR@aeainvestors.com

Media Contact
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Jon Keehner, Kate Thompson and Julia Sottosanti
+1 (212) 355-4449
AEA-JF@joelefrank.com