Dive Brief:
Ginkgo Bioworks, a specialist in engineering cells for biotechnology, industrial and agricultural uses, will go public by merging with a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, in a deal that values the company at a lofty $15 billion.
The merger with Soaring Eagle Acquisition Corp. will give Ginkgo Bioworks a place on the Nasdaq stock exchange as well as approximately $2.5 billion in proceeds, $775 million of which will come through private investments in public equity by an array of high-profile backers.
Eagle Equity Partners is co-sponsoring the deal with Bellco Capital, an investment firm led by Arie Belldegrun, the founder of cancer cell therapy companies Kite Pharma and Allogene Therapeutics. Both Eagle and Bellco are investing in Ginkgo stock at $10 per share.