Insider Trading February 18, 2026

Guardians of New Zealand Acquires $4.3M Stake in LanzaTech; Company Reports Pilot Progress and Fundraising

Pension fund boosts direct holding as LanzaTech advances ethanol projects and completes additional capital raise

By Avery Klein LNZA
Guardians of New Zealand Acquires $4.3M Stake in LanzaTech; Company Reports Pilot Progress and Fundraising
LNZA

Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation purchased 969,858 shares of LanzaTech Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: LNZA) on January 21, 2026, increasing its direct stake to 1,302,492 shares. The transaction totaled approximately $4.3 million, including 109,858 bonus shares issued at no cost. Separately, LanzaTech reported operational progress at a municipal solid waste to ethanol pilot in Kuji City, Japan, secured an ethanol facility contract in Uttar Pradesh, India, completed a $20 million private placement and previously raised $40 million in May 2025. An independent director, Jill Frizzley, resigned effective January 31, citing no disagreements with company operations or policies.

Key Points

  • Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation bought 969,858 shares of LanzaTech on January 21, 2026, for a total of $4.3 million, with 860,000 shares purchased at $5.00 and 109,858 bonus shares issued at $0.00.
  • LanzaTech reported continued ethanol production at its municipal solid waste to ethanol pilot plant in Kuji City, Japan, operated by SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD., and won a contract to build a 300-tons-per-day sugarcane bagasse ethanol facility in Uttar Pradesh, India, under the PM JI-VAN Yojana program.
  • The company raised $20 million in a private placement, adding to a previous $40 million investment from May 2025, for a combined $60 million intended to pursue carbon recycling opportunities; independent board member Jill Frizzley resigned effective January 31.

Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation, which holds a 10 percent ownership stake in LanzaTech Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: LNZA), purchased 969,858 common shares on January 21, 2026, according to a Form 4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The filing breaks down the transaction values: 860,000 shares were purchased at a per-share price of $5.00, while 109,858 bonus shares were issued with a reported price of $0.00. The aggregate value of the purchase activity is stated as $4.3 million. After the transaction, Guardians of New Zealand directly holds 1,302,492 LanzaTech shares.


Operational milestones and projects

LanzaTech disclosed an operational milestone involving its municipal solid waste to ethanol pilot plant in Kuji City, Japan. Operated by SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD., the facility has been producing ethanol since April 2022, which the company cites as a demonstration of its gas fermentation technology.

In addition, LanzaTech secured a contract to build an ethanol production facility in Uttar Pradesh, India. The planned plant is designed to process up to 300 tons of sugarcane bagasse daily and is being developed under India’s PM JI-VAN Yojana program, which supports bioethanol production from agricultural waste.


Capital raises and board change

The company recently completed a $20 million private placement of common stock. This raise supplements a prior $40 million investment recorded in May 2025, bringing the total capital raised in these rounds to $60 million. LanzaTech has indicated that these funds will be used to pursue its highest-value carbon recycling opportunities.

Separately, the company announced that Jill Frizzley, an independent member of the board of directors, resigned effective January 31. The company noted her departure was voluntary and not the result of any disagreement with LanzaTech’s operations or policies.


Context and current ownership

The recent purchase by Guardians of New Zealand increases its direct ownership in LanzaTech to 1,302,492 shares. The Form 4 filing documents the mechanics of the transaction and the mix of paid and bonus shares included in the purchase.

Beyond the transaction and corporate developments above, the company’s disclosures in the filing and related announcements highlight ongoing pilot operations, a contracted build in India, recent capital raises totaling $60 million, and a voluntary board resignation effective at the end of January.

Risks

  • Execution risk on projects and facilities mentioned, including the Uttar Pradesh ethanol plant and broader commercial deployment of gas fermentation technology, as the filings describe pilot and project activity but do not guarantee outcomes.
  • Reliance on recent capital raises to fund priorities, with the company stating the $60 million raised will be applied to its most valuable carbon recycling opportunities, implying continued funding and execution will be important.
  • Board composition change with the voluntary resignation of an independent director, which may create a temporary governance transition though the company specified the departure was not due to disagreements over operations or policies.

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