SJ Berwin

Berlin, 03.02.2010 - SJ Berwin advised DIREVO Industrial Biotechnology GmbH (“DIREVO”) on its second round of financing, which raised € 6 million and will finance the company into the year 2012. The current financing round was led by TVM Capital and NRW.BANK. In addition, the shareholders agreed to a potential further capital increase of up to € 4 million to enable the company to accelerate its development.

DIREVO provides customized solutions for various industries via the development and optimization of biocatalysts with its proprietary ultra-high-throughput screening platform. Serving the Feed & Food industries and chemical / biorefinery businesses, DIREVO products are developed either independently or in conjunction with global leaders such as Genencor (a division of Danisco A/S), AB Enzymes, Roal Ltd. and Nestlé. The company was formerly a business unit of DIREVO Biotech AG. In the course of the sale of DIREVO Biotech AG to Bayer Healthcare AG in 2008 DIREVO became an independent company. SJ Berwin had already been advising DIREVO Biotech AG on various financing rounds since 2003.

The SJ Berwin team consisted of corporate partner Andreas Wüsthoff and associate Katja Thümmler.

Contact:

Dr. Andreas Wüsthoff , Partner

+49 (0)30 88 71 71 50

Email: andreas.wuesthoff@sjberwin.com

Dr. Rachelle Römermann, Press & Communications

Tel: +49(0) 69 50 50 32-829

Email: rachelle.roemermann@sjberwin.com

Notes to Editors:

SJ Berwin is an international law firm with 600 lawyers, including 175 partners based in 12 offices in Europe, East Asia and the Middle East.

Our clients are sophisticated buyers of legal services, principally multi-national and entrepreneurial companies and financial institutions, which we advise on a comprehensive range of matters including corporate finance, private equity, commercial, real estate, finance, reconstruction and insolvency, financial services and regulation, intellectual property, investment funds, litigation and dispute resolution, employment and pensions, EU and competition and tax. SJ Berwin deliver worldwide commercial legal advice to businesses determined to succeed in today's competitive environment.

Sj Berwin has won numerous awards for the quality of our work, our attention to developing our people and our social responsibility. Recent recognition includes:

Private Equity Law Firm of the Year - M& A Awards – Financial Times & Mergermarket 2009

Fund Formation Law Firm of the Year - Private Equity News Dow Jones Awards for Excellence in Private Equity Advisory Services 2009

Real Estate Team of the Year - "Legal Business Awards" 2009

Best Legal Adviser – Legal Week. Client Satisfaction Report 2009

HR Team of the Year and Most Effective Internal Communication - "The Lawyer HR Awards" 2009

European Law Firm of the Year (Fund Formation) - "Private Equity International Awards" 2008

LBO Team of the Year and Best Overall Law Firm in France bei den "ACQ Finance Awards" 2008

Responsible Business - FT Innovative Lawyers Awards 2008

Pro Bono Team of the Year - The Lawyer Awards 2008

More information on SJ Berwin, including its history, people, services and activities, can be found at

www.sjberwin.com

Dr. Rachelle Römermann

Marketing Manager

SJ Berwin LLP

Poseidon-Haus

Hamburger Allee 1

60486 Frankfurt am Main

Germany

Tel: +49 (69) 50 50 32 - 323

Fax: +49 (69) 50 50 32 - 499

Email: rachelle.roemermann@sjberwin.com

Web Site: www.sjberwin.com

SJ Berwin

Best Legal Adviser

Legal Week Client Satisfaction Report 2009

Private Equity Law Firm of the Year

Financial Times/mergermarket European M&A Awards 2009

Real Estate Team of the Year

British Legal Awards 2009