Seroba Kernel Life Sciences Co-Lead £9M Equity Investment in Quanta Fluid Solutions

Dublin, Ireland - 1 October 2009 Seroba Kernel Life Sciences today announced a £9m ‘Series A’ equity investment in the UK-based developer of home haemodialysis systems, Quanta Fluid Solutions (“Quanta”). Quanta is developing SelfCare+, an innovative home haemodialysis system based on a revolutionary machine and cartridge design that provides simplicity, reliability, portability and high treatment quality to patients with chronic renal disease. This targets the needs of an emerging and under-served home-care market that has been starved of innovation.

The financing was led by Seroba Kernel Life Sciences, NBGI Ventures, a venture capital firm specialized in medical technology investments, and Wellington Partners, a pan- European venture capital group based in Munich. Also participating in the financing was BrainsToVentures (“b-to-v”), a network of entrepreneurial private investors based in Europe.

Quanta has appointed Johan de Ruiter as Chairman. Johan has 30 years of global medical device and healthcare experience and more recently held the position of Executive Vice President Dialysis International of Fresenius AG, the leading manufacturer and service provider in the dialysis market.

Graham Fagg, Partner at Seroba Kernel, said: “Quanta has the potential to change the face of haemodialysis. The company is built upon the strengths and experience of a highly successful engineering and fluidics team that has the drive and dedication to deliver. We are delighted to support such an innovative group of people targeting a clear need in the marketplace.”

Martin Johnson, Quanta’s CEO, commented: “This investment brings together experienced partners with proven track records to support the Quanta team through an exciting period of corporate development. There has been little innovation in this segment for decades and the growing demand for home haemodialysis by patients, clinicians and healthcare payors remains a high unmet need. Quanta intends to deliver the first truly patient-oriented haemodialysis solution that will bring lasting benefits to kidney disease sufferers across the globe.”

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Notes to Editors:

About End Stage Renal Disease and Haemodialysis

End Stage Renal Disease affects millions of patients worldwide. Lifestyle choices, modern diet, high blood pressure, diabetes, increased life expectancy and other factors are affecting renal health in an unprecedented way. Haemodialysis is a more than £25 billion global market and is a life saving treatment for millions of patients suffering from acute renal failure and chronic renal disease. This patient population is growing, driving demand for increased dialysis capacity in an increasingly budget-constrained healthcare environment. A number of studies have shown that 30-40% of patients would be capable of performing self-dialysis at home (compared with current practice in western countries, where less than 5% of haemodialysis patients are treated at home). A major factor limiting the growth of home haemodialysis is the lack of convenient, portable and easy-to-use dialysis systems. Quanta’s SelfCare+ is addressing this market need.

About Quanta Fluid Solutions

Headquartered in Alcester, United Kingdom, Quanta was spun out of IMI plc, a major international engineering group, where the core concept and early prototypes for the SelfCare+ system were developed. Quanta is a pioneer in the field of advanced medical fluidics, and is developing SelfCare+, an innovative home haemodialysis system. SelfCare+ is based on a revolutionary machine and cartridge design that provides simplicity, reliability, portability and high treatment quality to patients with chronic renal disease.
www.quantafs.com

About Seroba Kernel Life Sciences

Seroba Kernel is a dedicated life science venture capital firm with offices in Ireland and the UK. In 2009, the firm made a first close of its pan-European Seroba Kernel Life Sciences Fund II with over €75m in committed capital, bringing total funds under management to more than €100m. Seroba Kernel invests in therapeutic, diagnostic and medical device companies that have the potential to fundamentally change medical care.
www.seroba-kernel.com

About NBGI Ventures

NBGI Ventures, manages funds with over €100 million in total commitments and focuses on leading investments in innovative medical technology companies. NBGI Ventures is based in London and considers investments across Europe and the US. NBGI Ventures is a division of NBGI Private Equity Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
www.nbgiventures.com

About Wellington Partners

Wellington Partners is one of the most successful pan-European venture capital firms. With some €800 million under management and offices in Munich, London, Palo Alto and Zurich, the firm invests into companies throughout Europe that have the potential to become global leaders, in the areas of Digital Media, Technology and Life Sciences.
www.wellington-partners.com

About BrainsToVentures

BrainsToVentures AG (b-to-v) serves entrepreneurial private investors who invest their capital, network and expertise in fast-growing companies. With over 50 members, the bto- v Investors Circle is the most active club of entrepreneurial private investors in German-speaking Europe.
www.b-to-v.com

For media queries please contact:
Dr. Daniel O' Mahony
Seroba Kernel Life Sciences
Phone: +353 1 6336828
Fax: +353 1 6779388