Billionaire George Soros reportedly set to invest in Belgian biotech firm Univercells

Steph Deschamps / November 17, 2020

After Bill Gates, the American billionaire George Soros would be on the verge of investing in the Walloon biotechnology company Univercells, which is also involved in the development of a vaccine against Covid-19, L'Echo informed Tuesday.

After Bill Gates, the American billionaire George Soros would be on the verge of investing in the Walloon biotechnology company Univercells, which is also involved in the development of a vaccine against Covid-19, L'Echo informed Tuesday.

George Soros (90), famous financier and philanthropist, would invest through the Soros Economic Development Fund, which focuses on "impact investing", that is, investments in companies with the aim not only of obtaining financial return, but also to have a clear impact on the environment and society. At Univercells, we refused to comment on this information.

Two months ago, this company located in Gosselies raised 50 million euros in funds, the second largest in the Belgian biotech and medtech sector this year. It had already been announced at the time that it would be "only" the first installment of a two-stage rocket, recalls the daily.

According to L'Echo sources, the closing of the second part of the operation is in sight, although everything has not yet been signed. Between 20 and 25 million euros more should be added within a few weeks, coming from various Belgian and foreign investors, including Mr. Soros.