Frankfurt/Dresden – February 25, 2008 – Nanostart AG is initially acquiring 15.2 percent of Dresden-based Namos GmbH, a leading bionanotechnology research company, with plans to increase its shareholding to 19.7 percent. Namos has developed an innovative process which reduces the amount of precious metal required for producing automotive catalytic converters – and thus the cost – by about one half compared to current production methods.

The new process from Namos involves the bionanotechnology-based coating of the ceramic substrate materials used in catalytic converters. These are subsequently mixed with a solution of precious metal salts in order to produce the catalytically active metallic coating. In conventional production processes, without this coating, a portion of the precious metal penetrates into the ceramic substrate and is thus useless for the purpose of catalyzing exhaust gases. The bionanotechnological coating developed by Namos enables a network of protein just a few nanometers thick to form on the surface of the ceramic, ensuring that none of the precious metal penetrates inside. This can lead to major cost savings in the production of catalytic converters.

Precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium are used in catalytic converters to transform harmful exhaust gases into water and carbon dioxide. 230 metric tons of precious metals are currently “consumed” each year for catalytic converters, as this metal cannot be practically recycled. This corresponds to a value of approx. USD 8.3 billion. About one half of this, or USD 4 billion, could be saved by using the new technology from Namos.

The company’s additive can be biotechnologically produced at a minimal cost. Since it is no longer present in the finished catalytic converters, it cannot have any long-term adverse effects. It contains no hazardous substances and has a shelf life of several years.

Nanotechnology and Biomimetrics on Surfaces,” has built its product offering through eight years of research and development efforts in bionanotechnology, of which five years have included applications for catalytic converters.

“The investment by Nanostart confirms the innovative power of our technology and opens the gate for us to successful commercialization,” remarked Dr. Jürgen Hofinger, Managing Director of Namos GmbH.

Marco Beckmann, CEO of Nanostart AG, added, “We are delighted to have brought yet another highly innovative nanotech company from Germany into our investment portfolio. Namos is a terrific example of the revolutionary changes with significant business potential which are now being made possible by nanotechnology.”

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.

About Namos:

Namos GmbH develops highly innovative coatings based on aqueous solutions, with a focus on nanostructured surfaces which offer uniquely advantageous characteristics. Rather than producing these with a large number of complex process steps, these are produced using biomolecules which use their inherent “intelligence” to organize themselves in certain ways into the desired structures. The company has long maintained intensive contacts with leading-edge research centers, particularly within the area of Dresden. The customers and cooperation partners of Namos include renowned major corporations as well as smaller and specialized companies. For further information, please visit www.namos.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
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