Ad-hoc | 15 April 2003 07:45

DEWB AG english

DEWB takes a 26 percent stake in Sloning BioTechnology GmbH Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– DEWB takes a 26 percent stake in Sloning BioTechnology GmbH Companies in the pharmaceutical, chemicals and biotechnology sectors can synthesise any DNA and genetic sequences quickly, cheaply and on an automated basis with the help of SloningTM technology. DEWB AG (Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel-Beteiligungsgesellschaft AG) has taken a 25.8 percent stake in the firm of Sloning BioTechnology GmbH (SBT). The start- up financing for the company based in Puchheim near Munich is the first new investment by DEWB in 2003. This takes the DEWB portfolio to a total of 38 investment holdings. In addition to DEWB, investments have also been made by HBM BioVentures Ltd. as lead investor as well as 3i Group Investments LP which had already provided the first round of financing. Sloning BioTechnology GmbH has developed a new technology for the automated chemical synthesis of DNA sequences. This means that companies in the pharmaceutical, chemicals and biotechnology sectors that previously carried out the manufacture process (cloning) on a manual basis, a basic technology in the process of the development of drugs, will now be able to speed up their manufacture process by around ten times through SloningTM and, as a result, achieve savings in costs. Depending upon the client’s wishes, SBT can artificially duplicate any sequences. The basis for this is formed by an extensive library of materials. This consists of numerous short DNA building blocks from which the individual sequences are created in synthesis processes which take place in parallel. In a second step these sequences are then combined to create any target sequence desired. In this context, all individual steps can be automated and carried out by robots, as used for example in materials research. Sloning BioTechnology was founded in 2000 and today employs twelve personnel. The company sees itself as a service provider to the pharmaceuticals, chemicals and biotechnology industry and has safeguarded the technology it developed itself through a number of international patents. Contact: Steffen Schneider, DEWB AG, Investor Relations Telephone / Telefax: ++49 3641 65 22 90 / 65 2157 E-Mail: steffen.schneider@dewb-vc.com, Internet: http://www.dewb-vc.com end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 15.04.2003 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 804100; ISIN: DE0008041005; Index: Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Berlin-Bremen und Frankfurt (Prime Standard) 150745 Apr 03