CMS advises food start-up Infarm on its rise to unicorn status

CMS had advised Infarm, a Berlin-based food start-up, on their series D funding round, which raised USD 200 million. Existing and new investors are involved in the current investment. Among the new investors is the Qatar Investment Authority, which will drive an expansion of the company into the Middle East. Partners in Equity, Hanaco, Atomico and Lightrock are also involved in the financing round. The start-up is now valued at well over one billion US dollars.

The additional capital will be used by the fast-growing urban farming company to support its global growth strategy to build a global network of climate-resilient vertical farms. A new group structure with a holding company in the Netherlands underlines the internationalisation of the business, the expansion in existing markets in the US, Europe and Japan and the entry into new markets in Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

CMS in the Netherlands, headed by Martijn van der Bie and Pieter van Duijvenvoorde, has advised Infarm on all legal aspects with respect to this new investment round. The investment round followed on an internal crossborder restructuring of Infarm. CMS in the Netherlands advised together with CMS in Germany on this cross-border restructuring.