DJ DGAP-Adhoc: New Value develops its portfolio with further investments

NEW VALUE AG / Miscellaneous 30.01.2009 Release of a Adhoc News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. =-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Announcement regarding Q3 2008/09 (as of December 31, 2008) New Value develops its portfolio with further investments In the third quarter of the 2008/09 financial year (as of December 31, 2008), New Value (www.newvalue.ch) supported new additions to its portfolio companies through multiple additional financing initiatives, all for the purpose of tapping new sales markets. The net asset value (NAV) of the investment portfolio, which focuses on young Swiss growth companies, slid from CHF 28.19 to CHF 22.81 per share, driven by the reduced valuation of its two publicly traded companies. Despite this 19% drop, New Value performed significantly better than the LPX (Listed Private Equity) benchmark index, which fell by 41%. New Value conducted three financing rounds for portfolio companies between October and December of 2008. Solar Industries AG (www.solarindustries.ch) raised CHF 5 million in capital. New Value invested CHF 2 million, increasing its share in the company's equity from 31.3% to 33.1%. Solar Industries plans to build production facilities for silicon (Italsilicon), solar cells (Solarcell) and solar modules for the Italian market as well as the entire European market. Bogar AG (www.bogar.com), which specializes in animal health and nutrition, raised CHF 7 million in capital in December. Funds were paid in cash or through setoff of existing loans. With CHF 1.2 million in new cash resources, existing sales structures will be expanded and new products will be developed. New Value invested CHF 2.2 million, increasing its share in Bogar AG's equity from 16.6% to 29.8%. New Value also took part in financing the growth of Silentsoft SA (www.silentsoft.com), a seller of technologies and services for the operation of M2M (machine-to-machine) networks. The CHF 2 million financing round was funded by the existing shareholders. New Value AG increased its stake by CHF 1 million and now holds 23.3% of Silentsoft's equity. Finally, New Value contributed to the further development of FotoDesk (www.fotodesk.com) with a convertible loan of CHF 300,000. The online photo company recently launched several innovative products, such as high-quality photographic posters for home use. In mid-2008, New Value merged newly-acquired Colorplaza SA into FotoDesk. Market success for 3S Industries, Swiss Medical Solution and Natoil Other portfolio companies also showed progress, even without new financing. 3S Industries (www.3-s.ch), a worldwide provider of production lines for solar module production, delivered a semi-automatic production line to the Spanish firm Eurener Energia Solar. The next line will be delivered to India. 3S announced on January 22, 2009, that its wholly-owned subsidiary Somont GmbH has received an order from Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) worth EUR 14.5 million. Swiss Medical Solution AG (www.swissmedicalsolution.com), developer and seller of urine tests for the early detection of urinary tract infections, has signed a distribution agreement with Zambon Schweiz AG as well as Dolorgiet GmbH & Co. KG. Swiss Medical Solution products will now be marketed exclusively in Switzerland by Zambon and by Dolorgiet in Germany. In addition, Andreas Küng was named the new CEO, bringing a wealth of market experience to the company. Increased marketing activities also resulted in a significant rise in sales for Natoil AG (www.natoil.ch) toward the end of the year. At the same time, Natoil has expanded its activities to new segments. An engineering release was obtained from Laufer Pressen. In one Laufer press, up to 20 tons of lubricant will be used, many times more than the amount used in injection molding machines or pumps, the company's first market segments. For this purpose, Natoil has signed collaboration agreements with multiple vendors in Germany. Corrections in the stock market New Value's two publicly traded companies, 3S Industries and Meyer Burger (www.meyerburger.ch), experienced sharp drops in value during the reporting period of 41% and 47%, respectively, correcting more significantly than the overall Swiss Performance Index (SPI), which fell by 18%. Solar stocks thus performed somewhat slugglishly, reflecting overall market developments. This was not without effect on New Value's share price, which fell from CHF 20.45 to CHF 16.30 or by 20%. The net asset value (NAV) slid by 19% from CHF 28.19 to CHF 22.81 per share. The LPX (benchmark index for listed private equity) lost 41% of its value during the last quarter. New Value proved to be more crisis-resistant during the 2008 calendar year, both in share price as well as NAV, with drops of 26% and 25%, respectively, than the LPX (-56%) and SPI (-34%) benchmark indices. New Value is completely equity-financed and is not involved in leveraged buyouts, which have been more strongly affected by the financial crisis. Instead, it is focused on long-term growth financing. In this difficult market environment, this has proven to be a successful strategy. Information about New Value AG New Value, officially listed at the SIX Swiss Exchange, invests directly in promising private companies in Switzerland and neighbouring German-speaking countries with above-average market and growth potential. As an investment company, New Value promotes innovative business models with venture capital and accompanies those to market success. The portfolio covers companies of different stages of development, starting with the market introduction phase up to medium-sized enterprises with stable profits. A broad investment approach is deliberately followed regarding industry sectors. The portfolio contains companies active in renewable energy, medical technology, health, information technology and new materials. New Value assigns great value to ethical business concepts and good corporate governance while selecting their portfolio companies. Criteria such as meaningfulness, social responsibility and ecological sustainability are considered by New Value as decisive competitive advantages, which affect and enhance the quality of products and services offered and thus, facilitate an above average increase of value potential. Since the formation of New Value, EPS Value Plus AG, Zurich, has served as investment manager. 30.01.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP =-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Issuer: NEW VALUE AG Bodmerstrasse 9 8027 Zürich Schweiz Phone: +41-43-344 38 38 Fax: +41-43-344 38 39 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.newvalue.ch ISIN: CH0010819867 WKN: 552932 Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Düsseldorf; Open Market in Frankfurt; Foreign Exchange(s) SWX End of News DGAP News-Service =--------------------------------------------------------------------------

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 30, 2009 00:30 ET (05:30 GMT)