Thai Union's Corporate Venture Fund Broadens Scope to Biotechnology, Funding an RNA-based Platform for Aquaculture Wellness.

Thai Union Group PCL has made a strategic investment in ViAqua Therapeutics, a pioneering biotechnology firm headquartered in Haifa, Israel, through its corporate venture fund. This investment aligns Thai Union with a group of leading strategic and financial partners supporting the innovative start-up. ViAqua Therapeutics specializes in developing biotechnological solutions aimed at enhancing the health of aquatic animals within the aquaculture industry. The company's flagship product is a novel feed supplement designed to improve health management in shrimp, targeting widespread and severe diseases that significantly impact the industry. Thiraphong Chansiri, President and CEO of Thai Union, emphasized the importance of disease prevention in aquaculture and expressed confidence in ViAqua's technology platform to effectively manage health in shrimp and potentially other species. Shai Ufaz, CEO of ViAqua, expressed gratitude for the partnership with Thai Union, highlighting the seafood giant's robust foundation, entrepreneurial culture, and comprehensive understanding of the food sector as key elements that align with ViAqua's objectives and principles. Patrick Bertalanffy, Group Strategy Director at Thai Union, noted that the investment in ViAqua represents an expansion of the company's venture activities into the biotechnology sector, with plans to explore further opportunities in this area. Thai Union's venture fund is strategically focused on investments in alternative protein, functional nutrition, biotechnology, and innovative technologies throughout the food value chain. The company seeks to invest in and actively support the development of early-stage companies operating within these domains. About Thai Union Group: Thai Union Group PCL is recognized as a global leader in the seafood industry, committed to delivering high-quality, healthy, and innovative seafood products worldwide for over four decades. With a diverse portfolio of leading international and Thai brands, Thai Union generates annual sales exceeding THB 132.4 billion (US$ 4.2 billion) and employs a global workforce of over 44,000. The company is dedicated to sustainability, innovation, and responsible business practices, as evidenced by its membership in the United Nations Global Compact, the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation, and its SeaChange® sustainability strategy. About ViAqua Therapeutics: Founded to meet the critical need for effective and affordable disease management solutions in aquaculture, ViAqua Therapeutics is at the forefront of developing a biotechnological oral delivery platform for nucleic acid-based treatments to promote health in marine species. The company is addressing one of the key challenges in transitioning to sustainable aquaculture practices: disease prevention and treatment. For media inquiries, please contact: Thai Union Group PCL. Wiriyaporn Posayanonda, Head of External Communications, at Wiriyaporn.Posayanonda@thaiunion.com Jirawat Montreevong, External Communications Manager, at Jirawat.Montreevong@thaiunion.com