NANOGATE AG reduces equity holding in Holmenkol AG

NANOGATE AG  / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

09.12.2011 16:02

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Deconsolidation to take place following reduction in equity holding to
minority stake - No agreement as yet with fellow shareholder Nanostart on
further strategic and operating development - Forecast for sales and EBITDA
upheld

Göttelborn, Germany, 9 December 2011. Nanogate AG (ISIN DE000A0JKHC9), a
leading international systems provider for nanotechnology, has reduced its
shareholding in Holmenkol AG from 50% plus one share to just below 50 %.
The reason for the decision is that so far no agreement has been reached
with the other shareholder, Nanostart AG, on the further strategic and
operational development of the company. This move means that Holmenkol AG
will no longer be included in Nanogate's consolidated financial statements.

At the Holmenkol AG shareholders' meeting held today Nanogate announced
that it had reduced its equity holding to just below 50 %. The decision was
taken because talks with Nanostart on drawing up a forward-looking business
strategy for the company have not yet been brought to a successful
conclusion. 'In recent months Nanogate has contributed considerable
manpower and financial resources to the company - more so than our fellow
shareholder has,' said Ralf Zastrau, CEO of Nanogate AG. 'Nanostart has
equal rights and it is therefore essential that the two sides reach an
agreement.'

Nanostart AG will acquire the shares previously held by Nanogate and become
the majority shareholder in Holmenkol. The Holmenkol shareholders' meeting
approved the sale today concordantly. 'Holmenkol has put in a
positive operating performance in recent months and has good prospects for
the future. However, as talks with Nanostart had come to a standstill, we
had to reduce the risk for Nanogate by removing Holmenkol from the group of
companies included in the consolidated financial statements as of December
2011,' explained Ralf Zastrau.

Nanogate is still very interested in the sustainable further development of
Holmenkol. Ralf Zastrau commented: 'We have shown a high level of
commitment in the past and are prepared to make appropriate contributions
in the future as well. We are assuming that our fellow shareholder, with a
majority holding, will also show a corresponding level of commitment.'

Despite the new investment situation with Holmenkohl AG, Nanogate AG
confirms its forecast for the 2011 financial year, believing that sales
well in excess of EUR 30 million and an EBITDA margin of at least 10 % can
be achieved.


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Information and Explaination of the Issuer to this News:

Nanogate AG:
Nanogate is the leading international integrated systems provider for
nanosurfaces, concentrating primarily on enhancing high-performance
surfaces. The firm, which is based in Göttelborn (Saarland), enables the
programming and integration of additional properties - such as non-stick,
antibacterial, anti-corrosive and ultra-low friction - into materials and
surfaces. As an enabler, Nanogate gains a competitive edge for its
customers by means of product refinement using chemical nanotechnology.
Nanogate covers a wide range of industries, functions and substrates. The
company thus provides a decisive interface for the commercial use of
chemical nanotechnology and bridges the gap between the suppliers of raw
materials and industrial conversion into products. In doing so, Nanogate
concentrates as an enabler on one of the most attractive segments in the
industry. Nanogate has a unique combination of extensive materials
expertise paired with comprehensive, first-class process and production
know-how. As a systems provider, Nanogate covers the entire value chain,
from the purchase of raw materials, to the synthesis and formulation of the
material systems, right through to the enhancement and production of the
finished surfaces. Nanogate focuses primarily on plastic and metal coatings
for all surface types (two and three-dimensional components).

The Nanogate Group currently has approximately 250 employees in all and
since commencing operations in 1999 has been a trailblazer in
nanotechnology. The company has first-class customer references (e.g. Audi,
BMW, Bosch-Siemens Haushaltsgeräte, Junkers, Kärcher, Hörmann Group, Opel
and REWE International AG) and many years' experience of different
industries and applications. Several hundred projects have already gone
into mass production. Nanogate has also entered into strategic cooperations
with international companies such as the GEA Group and Dow Corning.
Nanogate consists of Nanogate Industrial Solutions GmbH, Eurogard B.V., FNP
GmbH for products in the sport/leisure sector, a majority stake in GfO
Gesellschaft für Oberflächentechnik AG, and equity holdings in sarastro
GmbH and Holmenkol AG.


Disclaimer:
Diese Veröffentlichung ist weder ein Angebot zum Verkauf noch eine
Aufforderung zum Kauf von Wertpapieren. The shares in Nanogate AG (the
'Shares') may not be offered or sold in the United States or to or for the
account or benefit of 'U.S. persons' (as such term is defined in Regulation
S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 'Securities
Act')). No offer or sale of transferable securities is being made to the
public outside Germany.

This publication constitutes neither an offer to sell nor an invitation to
buy securities. The shares in Nanogate AG (the 'Shares') may not be offered
or sold in the United States or to or for the account or benefit of 'U.S.
persons' (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the 'Securities Act')). No offer or sale of
transferable securities is being made to the public outside Germany.

09.12.2011 DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,
Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de

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Language:     English
Company:      NANOGATE AG
              Zum Schacht 3
              66287 Göttelborn
              Germany
Phone:        +49 (0)6825/95 91 0
Fax:          +49 (0)6825/95 91 852
E-mail:       nanogate@cortent.de
Internet:     www.nanogate.de
ISIN:         DE000A0JKHC9
WKN:          A0JKHC
Listed:       Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart; Entry
              Standard in Frankfurt
 
End of Announcement                             DGAP News-Service
 
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