Verenium Announces Debt Repurchase

SAN DIEGO, March 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verenium Corporation (Nasdaq: VRNM), a leading industrial biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of high-performance enzymes, today announced that it repurchased $28.4 million in principal amount of its outstanding convertible notes in a series of privately-negotiated transactions.

As part of these transactions, the Company repurchased $19.9 million in principal amount of its 5.5% Notes and $8.5 million in principal amount of its 9% Notes, leaving an aggregate of $46.3 million in principal amount of 5.5% and 9% Notes outstanding. To effect this repurchase, the Company paid a total of $27.6 million in cash to a group of institutional investors, excluding accrued interest as of the closing date.  The Company has repurchased $49.4 million in convertible notes since September 2010.

"We are very pleased to have completed these repurchases, and believe this is another important step in creating a capital structure that supports the continued growth and success of Verenium as we focus on building the next leading industrial enzymes company," said Jeffrey Black, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Designate at Verenium. "We believe that we have now reduced our debt to a more appropriate level for the Company given our size and stage of development."  

About Verenium

Verenium, an industrial biotechnology company, is a global leader in developing high-performance enzymes.  Verenium's tailored enzymes are environmentally friendly, making products and processes greener and more cost-effective for industries, including the global food and fuel markets.  Read more at www.verenium.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are "forward-looking" and involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty.  These include, but are not limited to, statements related to Verenium's lines of business, operations, capabilities, commercialization activities, corporate partnerships, target markets and future financial performance, results and objectives, all of which are prospective.  Such statements are only predictions, and actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause or contribute to the differences include, but are not limited to, risks associated with Verenium's strategic focus, risks associated with Verenium's technologies, risks associated with Verenium's ability to obtain additional capital to support its planned operations and financial obligations, risks associated with Verenium's dependence on patents and proprietary rights, risks associated with Verenium's protection and enforcement of its patents and proprietary rights, the commercial prospects of the industries in which Verenium operates and sells products, Verenium's dependence on manufacturing and/or license agreements, and its ability to achieve milestones under existing and future collaboration agreements, the ability of Verenium and its partners to commercialize its technologies and products (including by obtaining any required regulatory approvals) using Verenium's technologies and timing for launching any commercial products and projects, the ability of Verenium and its collaborators to market and sell any products that it or they commercialize, the development or availability of competitive products or technologies, the future ability of Verenium to enter into and/or maintain collaboration and joint venture agreements and licenses, and risks and other uncertainties more fully described in Verenium's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Verenium's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and any updates contained in its subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.  These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and Verenium expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Verenium Corporation

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