(December 14, 2010 – BUSINESS WIRE) — Nanostart AG (OTCQX: NASRY) is investing in Microlight Sensors Pte Ltd. Founded in 2006, Microlight Sensors develops, manufactures, and sells optical systems, instruments, and components for sensor technologies. Its roadmap includes exploitation of nanomaterials for ultrasensitive sensors.
Microlight Sensors’ current products make it possible to capture extremely low-intensity light and radiation near the wavelength range of infrared and visible light. They are deployed in civil security and monitoring purposes, across all illumination conditions of the 24hrs cycle without sensor damage. The instruments deliver equivalent daylight performance during night operations at conditions of extreme low light.
The company, which is headquartered in Singapore, possesses comprehensive expertise in optical engineering and design. In addition to current product lines, the company is also developing an entirely new generation of scanning optical equipment for imagery and spatial regeneration. The roadmap includes ultrasensitive sensor products based on nanomaterial technology.
Microlight Sensors targets the domestic security market in the Asia-Pacific region, which in 2007 was estimated to represent nearly 21% of the global market. By 2014, the market is anticipated to increase by 8.5% to 40 billion US dollars. The rapid growth forecast can in part be explained by growing civil security requirements and the prevalence of antiquated systems to be replaced.
The Nanostart investment will be directed toward new product developments as well as financing expansion of the company’s business, in particular sales and marketing in Asia.
Andreas Kröll, managing director of Nanostart Asia, describes the new investment: "Microlight Sensors currently possesses cutting-edge technology in an expanding market that is still being developed. We see above-average growth opportunities, which is why we decided to make this investment."
And Victor Teo, founder and CEO of Microlight adds: "We are convinced that we have found the right partner with Nanostart. The company possesses enormous commercialization expertise as well as the ability to facilitate further growth of Microlight through its international network."
Microlight is the third investment financed by the Nanostart Singapore Early Stage Venture Fund. Venture capital funds will be made available in tranches. The Nanostart fund takes an initial stake of 19%. Following distribution of the final tranche, the Nanostart fund will own shareholdings of 31% in Microlight Sensors.
Nanostart AG (OTCQX: NASRY) is a leading nanotechnology investment company, with portfolio companies spanning the globe from Silicon Valley to Singapore. The company provides venture capital financing for nanotechnology companies in various growth phases with a focus on innovation-driven industries of the future such as cleantech, life sciences and IT/electronics. For further information please visit www.nanostart.de and www.nanostart-asia.com.
Microlight Sensors designs, develops and assembles fully-integrated optical sensor and scanning systems for specialty applications in the homeland security and commercial spectral instrumentation systems market.
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 Canada, Australia or Japan.
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