Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel-Beteiligungsges. AG
EANS-News: DEWB investment holding Nanda Technologies raises 4m USD in a financing round led by Capital-E and KfW
Germany/Belgium, April 09, 2010 (euro adhoc) -
Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Company Information
Capital-E, a Belgium based Venture Capital company focussing on semiconductor investments, and KfW with his ERP Start-up-Fund, one of the largest German VC funds, are investing alongside with the existing shareholders about 4m USD in Nanda Technologies GmbH. Capital-E will take an active part in the board to support the further growth of Nanda. Other investors include the existing shareholders Brains-to-Ventures, Ventegis Capital AG, Bayern Kapital and DEWB.
Nanda was founded in 2006 and has successfully developed a new system for highthroughput full wafer inspection used in semiconductor manufacturing. Based on a proprietary optical design combined with innovative image processing software Nanda can drastically increase the speed of inspection while maintaining high sensitivity. The result is a significant decrease in inspection cost per wafer compared to existing tools and the inspection of every wafer in the process flow instead of sampling only a few. The compact design of Nanda´s inspection system makes it attractive to integrate defect inspection directly into the production flow. Fast error-feedback permits accelerated process adjustments and thus increases process ramp-up and overall productivity. After having successfully installed a first system at a leading industry backed research institute Nanda is working with global semiconductor manufacturers to evaluate the tools for production.
"Despite a difficult year in 2009, Nanda has achieved a first tool installation and very promising engagements on the customer side. We were convinced by the market opportunity and the unique technology, which gives Nanda a sustainable competitive edge", comments Pascal Vanluchene, Partner at Capital-E. Due to his close links to IMEC and prior investments in micro-electronics ventures, Pascal will take an active role in helping Nanda to grow its business.
"Coming out of a deep recession in 2009, the timing is good for Nanda to execute on a broad market entry in 2010 and 2011. We are happy to have Capital-E and KfW on board to ensure enough liquidity during this critical phase for every start-up company", says Dr. Christian Reitberger, chairman of the board.
"With the two new investors on board we have a strong shareholder base that could provide, if needed, additional financing throughout break-even of the company. This helps us to focus on market entry and customer interactions", adds Johannes von Borries, CFO/COO. Nanda will use the proceeds to support pre-production evaluations at leading semiconductor manufacturers.
About Nanda Technologies Nanda Technologies offers its customers in the semiconductor industry a high throughput, high sensitivity defect inspection system. Based on a unique optical technology it is possible to inspect the full surface of the wafer and every wafer in the process flow instead of conducting statistical sampling. The feedback cycle for process faults is reduced significantly and process equipment malfunctions are caught and identified at an early stage. Nanda Technologies was founded in Munich by seasoned executives of the capital metrology equipment industry and supplies the inspection tools to leading semiconductor manufacturers worldwide.
Contact Johannes von Borries Lise-Meitner-Str. 3 85716 Unterschleissheim Tel: +49 89 4523558-21
About Capital-E Capital-E is an early stage venture fund focused exclusively on micro- and nano-electronics related start-ups in Europe. Through its entrenched relationship with IMEC, the largest independent research centre in micro- and nanoelectronics in Europe, the fund and its ventures can directly rely on the support of over 1500 specialised scientists and engineers, as well as leverage on IMEC s 500+ worldwide industrial partners such as NXP, Infineon, STMicroelectronics, Intel, Micron, Matsushita/Panasonic, Texas Instruments, Samsung and TSMC to speed-up the process of market entry. The fund is managed by an independent team with a balanced mix of entrepreneurial, industrial and VC experience. www.capital-e.com
About KfW KfW finances and supports, among other things, business start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) as well as investments in economic growth and employment projects in Germany. The ERP Start-up-Fund, administered and co-financed by KfW, offers equity financing for innovative, technology-based enterprises with excellent growth prospects. The fund finances research and product development as well as the launching of new products, procedures and services. KfW always cooperates with a lead investor and exclusively adopts market conditions. Since 2004; the 470 million Euro ERP Start-up-Fund has so far allocated 300 million Euro to emerging technology-based companies. www.kfw-mittelstandsbank.de
About DEWB Deutsche Effecten- und Wechsel-Beteiligungsgesellschaft AG (DEWB AG, General Standard, Securities No.: 804100 / ISIN: DE0008041005) is an investment company that specialises in young and established medium-sized companies. The focus of our investments is on strong growth companies from the areas of photonics and sensor systems for which we provide support through shareholders' equity, expertise in corporate development and our sector network. Our regional focus lies in the German speaking countries (D, A, CH). Since 1997 we have invested more than 300 million Euros in 55 companies and realized more than 400 million Euros through 36 exits, eight of which were in the form of IPOs. The company is located in Jena, one of the most successful technology and science regions in Germany, with a long tradition in the field of optical technologies and one of the most important European centres for photonics. www.dewb-vc.de
About b-to-v BrainsToVentures AG (b-to-v) is headquartered in St. Gallen, Switzerland. The company serves entrepreneurial private investors who invest their capital, network and expertise in fast-growing companies. By making this pool of capital, contacts and expertise available to portfolio companies, b-to-v has established a new business model in the venture capital and private equity industry. With over 50 members, the b-to-v Investors Circle is the most active club of entrepreneurial private investors in German-speaking Europe. Based on the members´ expertise, b-to-v´s scope of investment comprises more than 30 different industries. It is the goal of the Investors Circle to create value for its portfolio companies and generate significant profits from its investments. b-tov´s Investors Circle invests about EUR 20m per year in early and expansion stage companies as well as buyout cases. At present, b-to-v is invested in about forty companies. Investments vary between EUR 500k and 3m per deal. www.b-to-v.com
About Ventegis Capital AG Ventegis Capital AG is a listed venture capital company which invests nationally in high-growth companies from the early to the expansion stage. The focus of its investments lies in the areas of information and communication technology (ICT), industrial technologies and life science. Ventegis also provides advisory services in corporate finance. The main shareholder of the company with ca. 94.3 % is the Berliner Effektengesellschaft AG, which is listed on the official market (ISIN DE0005221303). www.ventegis-capital.de
About Seedfonds Bayern und Technofonds Bayern III managed by Bayern Kapital The Seedfonds Bayern an the Technofonds Bayern III are managed by Bayern Kapital which was founded in 1995 by the Bavarian Government as part of the campaign "Initiative Bavarian Future" and to provide young and innovated Bavarian companies with venture capital. Up to date Bayern Kapital has invested in over 180 innovative high-tech companies with a total investment volume of about 150m EUR. More information under: www.bayernkapital.de
About High-Tech Gruenderfonds The High-Tech Gruenderfonds invests venture capital in young technology companies with high prospects that are transferring promising scientific research to business enterprises. The seed financing shall result in a technical prototype, a proof of concept or a market launch. High-Tech Gründerfonds has access to a fund volume of around 272,0 million Euro. Investors in this publicprivate partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economy and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six industry companies BASF, Robert Bosch, Carl Zeiss, Daimler, Deutsche Telekom and Siemens. www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de
end of announcement euro adhoc
Further inquiry note:
Marco Scheidler
Tel.: +49 (0) 3641 573-3600
E-Mail: marco.scheidler@dewb-vc.com
Branche: Financial & Business Services
ISIN: DE0008041005
WKN: 804100
Index: CDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
Börsen: Berlin / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
München / free trade
Frankfurt / regulated dealing/general standard