Business Wire

MICROBA-LIFE-SCIENCES

29.11.2022 05:28:41 CET | Business Wire | Press release

Share
Sonic Healthcare Acquires Strategic Stake in Microba Life Sciences, Establishes Significant Commercial Partnership

Microba Life Sciences Limited (ASX: MAP) (“Microba” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that leading medical diagnostics provider Sonic Healthcare Limited (ASX: SHL) (“Sonic”) has agreed to invest $17.8m to acquire a 19.99% shareholding in Microba. In addition, Sonic is seeking to acquire options for an additional 5% equity position, subject to shareholder approval. Exercise of the options by Sonic would result in a further investment of $7.5m in Microba.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221128005863/en/

To view this piece of content from mms.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.

(Photo: Business Wire)

Microba and Sonic have also agreed initial binding terms for a strategic alliance to deliver Microba's microbiome testing technology into Australia, New Zealand, Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium, Switzerland and the United States.

Microba’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Luke Reid said, “We are excited to have Sonic Healthcare, a global leader in healthcare, become a major strategic shareholder and partner. Sonic is globally respected for its leadership in delivering trusted medical diagnostic services, and our partnership deeply aligns the interests of both companies to bring microbiome testing and therapeutics into the hands of clinicians and patients globally to improve standard of care.

“This strategic partnership with Sonic is set to accelerate international distribution of Microba’s microbiome testing into primary and specialist healthcare, and move our testing deeper into routine patient management.”

Sonic Healthcare’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Colin Goldschmidt said, “Sonic Healthcare prides itself on delivering accurate, reliable medical diagnostics services using leading laboratory and informatics technologies. Our partnership with Microba exemplifies our commitment to invest in cutting edge developments in laboratory medicine. We see microbiome testing becoming a key part of pathology over coming years and are excited about the potential of this partnership and the opportunities that Microba's technology will provide for Sonic’s global operations, our referring clinicians, and our patients.”

Sonic acquires strategic stake in Microba

Sonic has entered into an equity subscription agreement to acquire a 19.99% stake in Microba, through the issue of new fully paid ordinary shares (Shares), at an issue price of $0.26 per share and representing a 25% premium to the 5-day VWAP of Microba shares ending on the date prior to this announcement, raising $17.8m in new capital for the Company.

The Shares will be issued within Microba's existing placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and 7.1A. Following the issue of these Shares, Sonic will be a substantial shareholder, holding a relevant interest in 19.99% of the issued share capital of Microba.

Furthermore, Sonic seeks to acquire unlisted options exercisable at 33c per share with an expiry of 18 months after the date the Shares are issued. The option exercise price represents a 58% premium to the 5-day VWAP of Microba shares ending on the date prior to this announcement. If exercised, the options would represent a further 5% of the issued share capital in Microba following completion of the share issue and will only be issued subject to receiving shareholder approval for the purpose of ASX Listing Rule 7.1 at a General Meeting, which is expected to be in held in February 2023, the approval of which will be recommended by the Board of Microba. The exercise of the options will be subject to compliance by Sonic with the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

Strategic relationship

Microba and Sonic have entered into initial terms of an agreement which enables Sonic Healthcare Limited and its subsidiaries to exclusively distribute Microba’s microbiome testing products to its customers, including general practitioners and specialists, across Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom for a period of 1 year commencing on 31 January 2023 with the intention to extend subject to finalisation of full license and distribution agreements. The initial agreed terms also provide Sonic Healthcare Limited and its subsidiaries with non-exclusive distribution rights for Switzerland, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

All license and distribution agreements will accommodate existing Microba service delivery and distribution arrangements. The full license and distribution arrangements are expected to be finalised over the coming months.

Sonic Chief Medical Officer to join Microba’s Medical Advisory Board

With the two companies’ united strategic objectives to bring cutting-edge microbiome testing into routine healthcare, Sonic Healthcare’s Group Chief Medical Officer, Dr Stephen Fairy, will join Microba’s Medical Advisory Board, responsible for governing the medical and scientific direction of Microba’s commercial activities. Dr Fairy will join a high-profile group of medical professionals on Microba’s Medical Advisory Board comprising Prof. Ian Frazer (AC), Prof. Paul Griffin, Prof. Jake Begun and Dr Chris Hogan (OAM). Sonic will not currently seek a position on Microba’s Board of Directors.

About Sonic Healthcare

Sonic Healthcare is one of the world’s leading healthcare providers, with a reputation for excellence in laboratory medicine/pathology, radiology and primary care medical services, across operations in Australasia, Europe and North America. Employing over 41,000 people globally, Sonic is the largest private pathology operator in Australia, Germany, Switzerland and the UK, the second-largest in Belgium and New Zealand and the third-largest in the USA.

About Microba Life Sciences Limited

Microba Life Sciences is a precision microbiome company driven to improve human health. With world-leading technology for measuring the human gut microbiome, Microba is driving the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for major chronic diseases and delivering gut microbiome testing services globally to researchers, clinicians, and consumers. Through partnerships with leading organisations, Microba is powering the discovery of new relationships between the microbiome, health and disease for the development of new health solutions.

www.microba.com

To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221128005863/en/

About Business Wire

Business Wire
Business Wire
101 California Street, 20th Floor
CA 94111 San Francisco

http://businesswire.com
DK

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

FDA Authorizes ZYN ULTRA Nicotine Pouches Following Scientific Review21.8.2026 21:11:00 CEST | Press release

Authorizations add selection of ZYN ULTRA products to PMI U.S.’s growing portfolio of better alternatives for legal-age adults who smoke or use traditional oral tobacco products Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM) today announces that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Marketing Granted Orders to PMI’s U.S. affiliate, Swedish Match USA, Inc., authorizing the marketing of 11 ZYN ULTRA moist oral nicotine pouch products, including all 9mg variants and one 11mg variant. Additional 11mg variants remain under scientific review. Today’s action further enhances PMI’s leadership role in the smoke-free category. “We are delighted with the FDA’s decision to authorize a range of ZYN ULTRA products, which will build on ZYN’s position as America’s leading smoke-free product brand,” said Stacey Kennedy, PMI U.S. CEO. “We look forward to expanding our portfolio of better choices for the 45 million Americans who consume nicotine products.” ZYN ULTRA positions the brand to furth

58% of Consumers Say They Don't Care Whether a Product is a National Brand or Private Label. They Just Buy What They Need21.8.2026 12:00:00 CEST | Press release

New NIQ & World Data Lab report reveals how consumer polarization is redefining value, accelerating private label adoption, and reshaping competition on the shelf As fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) prices rose 26% globally between 2021 and 2025, consumers have become more deliberate about where they save and where they spend. NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ) has released new findings showing that private label is no longer viewed simply as a lower-cost substitute, but as a credible competitor across value, mainstream, and premium segments. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260819950224/en/ Private label is no longer just a value play. The findings, published in NIQ’s latest report, A Tale of Two Consumers: The Polarized Mindsets Reshaping Global Consumption, created in collaboration with World Data Lab, show how consumer polarization is redefining value and reshaping competition on the shelf. The report also draws on ins

Tanium Reappoints Co-Founder Orion Hindawi as CEO to Drive Next Chapter of Growth20.8.2026 21:10:00 CEST | Press release

Company to focus on deepening its Autonomous IT capabilities, further expanding AI offerings across its portfolio, and strengthening customer and partner engagement Tanium, a leader in Autonomous IT, today announced that Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Orion Hindawi has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Dan Streetman is stepping down as CEO and as a member of the Board after leading Tanium for the last three years, during which time Tanium scaled its go-to-market operations and secured strong industry analyst recognition for innovation within the Tanium platform. Streetman will continue to advise Tanium as part of the transition and co-founder David Hindawi will return to the role of Chairman of the Board. With this foundation in place, this transition positions Tanium to deepen its Autonomous IT capabilities and further expand AI offerings across its portfolio and strengthen customer and partner engagement. The Hindawis co-founded Tanium in 2007 to build

PCI Energy Solutions to Join Mitsubishi Electric, Reinforcing Long-Term Commitment to Customers, Employees, and the Energy Industry20.8.2026 19:46:00 CEST | Press release

Mitsubishi Electric to retain PCI’s core management team and support continuity of operations, customer service, and product innovation PCI Energy Solutions ("PCI"), a leading U.S.-based provider of enterprise software for energy management and optimization, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. The agreement was executed on August 20, 2026 (Japan Standard Time). The Transaction represents a strong endorsement of PCI's business, technology, employees, customer relationships and position in the energy industry. Mitsubishi Electric intends to retain PCI's core management team following completion of the Transaction, enabling PCI to preserve leadership continuity, industry expertise and its customer-focused operating model while benefiting from Mitsubishi Electric's global scale, complementary capabilities and long-term investment capacity. The agreement has been signed, but the Transaction has not yet closed. PC

Perma-Pipe Secures More Than $67 Million in New Orders in the Second Quarter of 202620.8.2026 19:02:00 CEST | Press release

Awards include significant Oil & Gas projects in MENA and Canada, as well as the Company's largest single leak detection project to date and continued growth at its new Ohio facility. Perma-Pipe International Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPIH), a global leader in engineered piping and corrosion protection solutions, today announced that the Company secured more than $67 million in new orders during the second quarter of fiscal 2026, representing strong demand across its strategically important end-markets and geographies. The orders further strengthen Perma-Pipe's backlog and provide increased visibility into future revenue growth. The Company's backlog remains well diversified across geographies, customers and end-markets. The Company continued to see strong demand across its core Oil & Gas and infrastructure markets, while also securing important new business in emerging applications, including advanced leak detection and monitoring solutions. During the quarter, Perma-Pipe secured sizabl

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye