Deutsche Börse Hosts NanoEquity Europe 2006 - Europe's Most Important Investment Forum For Nano And Microtechnology - Second Forum Being Held In Frankfurt 10 And 11 July

Deutsche Börse is hosting NanoEquity Europe 2006 on 10 and 11 July. The Hessen Minister of Economics, Transport, Urban And Regional Development, Dr. Alois Rhiel, opened the nano and microtechnology investment forum– the most important of its kind in Europe – as the keynote speaker in Frankfurt on Monday. NanoEquity Europe is a forum for German and foreign companies and investors from the high-tech engineering sector, in particular nano and microtechnologies.

"NanoEquity Europe brings together national and international research and capital market players, further strengthening Hesse as an economic center and Frankfurt as a key financial hub", said Rhiel. Nearly half of the 40 participating companies are based outside of Germany, for example in Sweden, the US or Switzerland. "The range of participants reflects the considerable international interest in NanoEquity Europe and the importance of this forum for the sector", added Rhiel.

On the heals of last year's successful NanoEquity Europe forum, listed and non-listed companies will meet again this year to discuss the latest developments in science and research, as well as capital market issues. Companies will also use the investment forum as an opportunity to present their innovative business models to institutional investors, and to obtain information on public equity financing.

"Following the positive response to the first NanoEquity Europe, we want to continue promoting the transfer of expertise to analysts and investors and provide a central capital market platform for nanotech issues", said Rainer Riess, Managing Director Stock Market Business Development at Deutsche Börse. Four companies from the nanotechnology sector have already joined Deutsche Börse's Entry Standard since last year's forum.

NanoEquity Europe is part of Deutsche Börse's "Spotlights", a series of events aimed at issuers, IPO candidates, investors and analysts. Deutsche Börse will also be offering a sector forum for nanotechnology companies and investors when it hosts the German Equity Forum in November.

NanoEquity Europe 2006 is supported by the following sponsors: 3i Deutschland GmbH, Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, Dechema e.V., Degussa AG, DVFA GmbH, equinet AG, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transportation and Science of the Federal State of Hesse/Aktionslinie hessen-nanotech, Nanostart AG and VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH.