LEUVEN MINDGATE

Capricorn Venture Partners expands its senior team and launches Capricorn Health-tech Fund


Leuven, Belgium: 21 October 2009 - Capricorn Venture Partners is pleased to announce the launch of its Capricorn Health-tech Fund (CHF).

The objective is to raise Eur 100 to Eur 120 million venture capital for a new fund focusing on early to mid stage human health-technology investments in Europe. Capricorn Venture Partners defines health-technology investments as investments in companies whose business and products relate to the prevention, the diagnosis or the treatment of diseases. The human
health-technology sector comprises a diverse range of products and services including biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical drugs, vaccines, medical devices, medical imaging, diagnostics,
nutraceuticals and functional foods.
Mr Edwin Moses, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Ablynx accepted to become the chairman of the new fund.
'Over the past five years Edwin has played an important role at Board level in over 15 European life science companies. During this time he has been involved in financing rounds totalling over Eur 200 million, in a series of M&A transactions and in three IPOs. Edwin clearly brings the experience, credibility and leadership of a successful entrepreneur to the chair of the Capricorn Health-tech Fund.

At Capricorn we are delighted that he has accepted to play this key role' comments Dr Jos B Peeters, Managing Partner of Capricorn Venture Partners.

In preparation of raising and managing the new Fund Capricorn Venture Partners has expanded its senior team with:

=> Dr Frank Bulens
Engineer in Chemistry/Biochemistry and PhD in Medical Sciences; R&D at Diadal (Nutricia),academic research at the Faculty of Medicine of KU Leuven, senior scientific advisor at IWT and
executive investment manager at Gimv. Frank has extensive academic medical research experience as well as health-tech venture capital experience. He served as a board
member/observer in 16 health-tech investments of Gimv.
=> Ir Els Hubloux
Chemical Engineering Degree and MBA. Clinical development at Abbott and Merck, financial analyst at KBC Securities and investment manager at KBC Private Equity and Quest Management.
Els has pharma clinical development experience, equity research experience and health-tech venture capital experience. She served as an observer/ board member of 5 health-tech
investments of KBC Private Equity and Quest Management.
=> Dr Els Vanheusden
Degree as a Medical Doctor, Master in Hospital Management and Master in Aeronautical and Space Medicine. (Marketing) management career at P&G Pharmaceuticals, Guidant and J&J Medical. CEO/ Managing Director at PharmaDM and FlandersBio. Els has hands-on health-tech industry management experience both in big companies and SME's. She is a serial entrepreneur and she
was on the board of 4 organizations.

Jos B. Peeters added 'Over the past decade these individuals have built an outstanding record of
delivering excellent results through strong leadership, innovative thinking and sound investment
judgment. The Capricorn Health-tech Fund will benefit from their many years of health-tech and venture capital experience which gave them a rich network for deal sourcing and a track record and
experience to capture the significant opportunities we see in the market.'

Investment activity will start following the first closing of the Capricorn Health-tech fund which is
planned to take place at Eur 30 million.
Edwin Moses believes the Capricorn Health-tech Fund will be very well received as a timely initiative, addressing an underfunded sector, particularly in Belgium and commented 'The bulk of innovation will continue to originate from small and private companies. M&A activity in the health-technology sector
is strong and expected to increase as major pharma companies are deploying open innovation approaches to fill their dwindling pipelines. Venture capital funds are crucial to create and grow
innovative young companies, and in doing so translate research and innovation into economically viable projects'

About Capricorn Venture Partners
Capricorn Venture Partners is a pan-European manager of venture capital funds seeking to invest in technology based growth companies. The Capricorn Health-tech Fund will be Capricorn's fourth consecutive venture capital fund.
Capricorn is currently investing out of its Eur 112 million Capricorn Cleantech Fund. This fund invests in
European growth companies developing innovative breakthrough technologies in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency, water purification and re-use, bio based material conversion and biorefinery platforms, clean air, climate change, green chemistry and advanced materials,
materials recovery and recycling.
The investment team of Capricorn is composed of experienced investment managers with deep
technology expertise and a broad industrial experience.
www.capricorn.be

For more information
Dr Jos B. Peeters, Managing Partner - jos@capricorn.be - tel. +32 (0)16 28.41.00.

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