Oslo, Norway-based Antarctic krill harvesting company Aker BioMarine ASA has appointed Carl Christian Bachke as its senior vice president for investor relations, effective from 1 October, 2021.
Bachke will report to Aker Biomarine CFO Katrine Klaveness.
“I am looking forward to [joining] the strong team at Aker BioMarine and contribute to its mission of improving human and planetary health,” Bachke said. “The company has embarked on an exciting growth journey as the world’s leading supplier of krill nutrients, and capital markets play an important part of fulfilling the ambitions. In an open dialogue with the finance community, Aker BioMarine’s investor relations shall provide the relevant information at the right time.”
Bachke brings broad experience from the Norwegian capital market. For the last eight years, he has been a partner and senior adviser in the Norwegian capital market and IR firm Crux Advisers, where he has served as adviser for large- and medium-sized companies, both as listed entities and in initial public offering processes. Prior to that, he held senior equity analyst positions at Nordea Markets, RS Platou Markets and Fondsfinans, focusing on the oil, energy, and industrial segments. He started his professional career at Norsk Hydro after obtaining sivøk and CFA degrees from the NHH Norwegian School of Economics.
“We are excited to welcome Carl Christian to Aker BioMarine. It is important to get our story and ambitions effectively across to all stakeholders, and to build a strong relationship with existing and potential shareholders. Carl Christian has extensive experience in investor- and market communication and will be central in this work” Klaveness said.
Last month, Aker Biomarine, which is also a producer of marine ingredients, inked a deal with GEA to supply process systems for its new krill-based protein plant in Norway. The pilot plant is expected to be operational in late 2022. The company also expanded its ingredient portfolio with the addition of Superba SC40, a halal-certified krill oil product.
The company completed a USD 225 million (EUR 200 million) private placement in June 2020 and listed publicly on the Euronext Growth market in July 2020. It moved up to the main board of the Oslo Børs in April 2021.
With the listing, the company has “an even better foundation to make it possible to reach our goals when it comes to growing and developing the company in the years to come,” Aker BioMarine CEO Matts Johansen said at the time.
“We are going to consolidate our position as a biotech innovator while increasing activity significantly. At the same time, we shall deliver on our mission to improve human and planetary health,” he said.
On 25 August, Aker BioMarine got an additional boost when Norway’s Tax Appeals Board ruled in favor of the company in a tax dispute dating back to 2008. The case concerns deductions for losses on receivables realized in 2008 between Aker BioMarine and underlying subsidiaries and will result in the company being able to carry forward its tax losses of NOK 293.3 million (USD 33.9 million, EUR 29.6 million) to Q3 2021, according to a company statement issued through the Oslo Børs.
Photo courtesy of Aker BioMarine
