Frankfurt / Heimerdingen / Göttelborn – November 12, 2008 – Nanogate AG, based in the German state of Saarland, has acquired majority ownership of Holmenkol AG, a Nanostart portfolio company. The aim of the acquisition is to drive forward with the strategic development of the sports and leisure markets within Nanogate AG.

Nanostart AG welcomed this step by Nanogate, which was already arranged in an earlier investment agreement at a predefined price. CEO Marco Beckmann commented, “Our portfolio company Holmenkol has been developing superbly. We expect that this strategic measure by Nanogate will have further positive effects on the growth of Holmenkol, leading to a significant additional increase in the value of the company.”

Until now, Nanostart und Nanogate each owned one half of the shares of Holmenkol. Through its exercise of this majority ownership option, Nanogate has acquired one additional share from Nanostart, which now owns just under 50 percent.

Holmenkol AG, a sports technology company based in Heimerdingen near Stuttgart, concentrates on high-margin, high-performance applications. In addition to its existing range of products, it intends over the medium term to introduce industrial solutions within the area of sports products.

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 Holmenkol:

Holmenkol AG, 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 initial 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 Nanogate:

Nanogate AG is a leading international enabler in the nanotechnology growth market, opening the gate to this technology for its customers. The firm, which is based in Göttelborn in the German state of Saarland, enables the programming and integration of additional properties such as non-stick, anti-bacterial, anti-corrosive and ultra-low friction. Nanogate thereby gains a competitive edge for its customers by product refinement using chemical nanotechnology. Nanogate covers a wide range of industries, functions and substrates already on the basis of its technology platforms. As a partner in innovation, Nanogate provides many services along the value chain – from development and production of innovative nanocomposites and nanostructured materials to powerful support for innovation and product integration. For more information about the company, please visit www.nanogate.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
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