Coreo AG — Regulatory Filings 2009

Dec 18, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 18 December 2009 07:30

Nanostart invests in Singapore medical technology company BioMers

Nanostart AG / Miscellaneous

18.12.2009

Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by
DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

---

• Nanotechnology-based solutions for biomedical applications
• Revolutionary product for USD 2.4-billion orthodontic device market
• Regulatory approval already obtained for U.S., EU and Japan

Frankfurt / Singapore - December 18, 2009 - Nanostart AG has taken a
significant ownership position in BioMers Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based
medical technology company with a branch office in the U.S. The company is
developing innovative new solutions for various biomedical applications
with its technology.

BioMers has developed the world's only completely translucent braces system
for orthodontic treatment. The product is set to fundamentally transform
the multi-billion-dollar global market for orthodontic devices. The company
also has an exciting pipeline of future products for other medical and
dental applications.

BioMers is a spin-off from the renowned National University of Singapore
(NUS), where the technology was invented. The technology makes use of
advanced nanomaterials and fibre-reinforced polymer composite techniques to
create translucent arch wires that are just as competent as metal wires.

An initial and extraordinarily promising application for this innovative
product is the rapidly growing market for orthodontic braces. BioMers is
the world's only provider of orthodontic solutions that can produce
aesthetic-looking arch wires.

Aesthetic brackets have been available for more than 10 years. However,
until now, only metal has had the mechanical properties needed for the arch
wires which run along the middle of the brackets. Using nanotechnology,
BioMers is able for the first time to produce translucent and thus
cosmetically acceptable braces and retainers (worn by patients following
treatment with braces), a competitive advantage which offers BioMers the
potential to be the number-one choice in the orthodontics market.

The global market for orthodontic braces (arch wires and brackets) and
retainers is currently estimated at some USD 2.4 billion annually. Over the
past nine years, the U.S. market for orthodontics has grown at an annual
rate of approx. 7.5 percent per year, while various regions in Asia have
seen orthodontics grow at double-digit rates.

The company has already received regulatory approval for its orthodontic
products in the United States, the European Union and Japan. The capital
invested by Nanostart will be primarily used to strengthen sales and
marketing resources and to further expand the already existing network of
some 40 international distribution partners.

Andreas Kröll, managing director of Nanostart Asia, remarked that 'BioMers
has developed, with the help of its leading-edge nanotechnology, a superb
product with uniquely innovative characteristics. With the growth in demand
for more aesthetically pleasing solutions, the company stands to
revolutionize the global market for orthodontic devices, a market which has
seen relatively little innovation in recent decades. This promises to
deliver high returns.'

Dr. Mervyn Fathianathan, Managing Director of BioMers, added: 'We are
extremely pleased about bringing on board an investor like Nanostart with
its uniquely successful track record in nanotechnology investments. Its
international network and business experience will be of enormous help in
the further development and growth of our company.'
Nanostart has taken the position of Lead Investor in this new addition to
its investment portfolio by way of its Nanostart Singapore Early Stage
Venture Fund I. The fund now owns about 16 percent of Biomers.

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

18.12.2009 Ad hoc announcement, Financial News and Media Release distributed by DGAP.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de

---