Coreo AG — M&A Activity 2008

Feb 13, 2008

News Details

Corporate | 13 February 2008 08:45

Nanostart’s Holmenkol Establishes Subsidiary in Japanstart AG:

Nanostart AG / Miscellaneous

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• Sales subsidiary jointly owned with Blizzard Marketing Japan
• New drive in global growth strategy
• Competitive advantage through innovation

Frankfurt / Heimerdingen, Germany – February 13, 2008 – Holmenkol, a
supplier of nanotechnology-based sports products partially owned by
Nanostart AG, will establish its own sales subsidiary in Japan, Holmenkol
Japan Ltd., as of April 1, 2008. This initiative is a first major step in
the company’s international growth strategy and is an important part of the
drive by Holmenkol to transform itself into an Aktiengesellschaft (stock
corporation) with a new business structure.

Holmenkol has been a leading brand of ski wax in Japan for more than 25
years and has a well-established customer network in this key market.

Holmenkol will hold an 85% share in its Japanese sales subsidiary. The
remaining 15% will be held by Blizzard Marketing Japan, whose owner and
managing director Yuichi Kusakari will also assume operational management
responsibility for Holmenkol Japan Ltd. Yuichi Kusakari has already been
the top sales representative for Holmenkol in Japan for the past five
years.

'Particularly in a market environment such as Japan, it is essential to
show continuity and market commitment, and to maximize the rich market
opportunities with one’s own sales organization,' said Christian Römlein,
Managing Director of Holmenkol, speaking at a press conference at the
Japanese winter sports show in Tokyo. The two existing distribution
partners, SWANS for snowboarding and SKI-KRAFT for Nordic sports, will
remain Holmenkol marketing partners in Japan. Römlein added, 'Our intense
focus on high-performance sports coatings is enabling leaps in innovation
which provide us with significant competitive advantage.'

In welcoming the intensified growth strategy, Marco Beckmann, CEO of
Nanostart AG, remarked, 'The innovative sports coatings from Holmenkol are
the basis of an international success story whose next chapter is now being
written in Japan.'

As the technological leader in its industry, Holmenkol anticipates
significant gains in market share. In addition to ski waxes, Holmenkol will
distribute innovative sports coatings in Japan for outdoor activities, golf
and cycling.

About Holmenkol:
Holmenkol, the oldest manufacturer of ski wax with a legacy going back 86
years, is a sports technology leader which supplies virtually all national
teams worldwide. Countless athletes, Olympic medalists, world champions and
sports enthusiasts rely on the company’s technologies and products. Since
Nanogate’s equity investment, Holmenkol has been pursuing an international
growth strategy beyond the winter sports sector, providing product
applications for numerous other sports, particularly aquatic sports,
outdoor activities, cycling and golf. The company’s target market includes
professionals and performance athletes as well as leisure sports
enthusiasts. For further information about the company, please visit
www.holmenkol.com.

About Nanostart:
Nanostart AG is the world’s leading nanotechnology investment company. The
Frankfurt-based company provides venture capital financing for
nanotechnology companies in various growth phases. It also provides the
benefits of its experience and expertise to developers of financial
instruments and to investors in the nanotechnology sector. For further
information about the company, please visit www.nanostart.de

Disclaimer:
This notice constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of
offers to purchase or subscribe to securities. There will be no public
offering of securities of Nanostart AG in conjunction with the existing
listing of its shares in the 'Entry Standard' segment of the regulated
unofficial market (Freiverkehr) on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. This
notice does not constitute a securities prospectus. Neither this notice nor
the information contained within is intended for direct or indirect
distribution within the United States of America, Canada, Australia or
Japan.

Media contact:
Nanostart AG
Public Relations
Dr. Hans Joachim Dürr
Goethestrasse 26-28
D-60313 Frankfurt
Germany
phone: +49 (0)69-21 93 96 111
fax: +49 (0)69-21 93 96 122
e-mail: presse@nanostart.de

13.02.2008 Financial News transmitted by DGAP