Zymergen is a synthetic biology company that designs, develops, and commercializes synthetic alternatives to petrochemicals. It also offers reconfigurable automation carts that allow for assembly of work cells for labs, and automation control software used to control integrated automation systems. After going public in 2021, Zymergen faced issues with a number of its development projects and was targeted with shareholder litigation which led to a go-private transaction with Ginkgo Bioworks. Continued shareholder litigation necessitated a bankruptcy filing in October 2023.
Intrepid Investment Bankers was retained as the exclusive investment banker to Zymergen. Intrepid managed a complex sale process that resulted in the sale of a majority of the Zymergen assets back to Ginkgo Bioworks with certain nitrogen fixation assets carved out and sold to Pivot Bio.