September 10, 2007

NATURNORTH TECHNOLOGIES, LLC ANNOUNCED AS FINALIST FOR EIGHTH ANNUAL TEKNE AWARDS

MHTA will recognize Minnesota’s top technology companies and individuals at the Nov.1 awards ceremony

Duluth, MN, - NaturNorth Technologies, LLC, was named as a small and growing company finalist in the Biotechnology category for the 2007 Tekne Awards, which will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Nov. 1. The Tekne Awards recognize Minnesota’s outstanding technology achievements and leaders.

NaturNorth Technologies, LLC (NaturNorth) is the first company in the US to develop and patent the technology for transforming waste birch bark into high-value bioactive compounds on an industrial scale. NaturNorth has developed a library of proprietary chemical compounds derived from birch bark, a natural, renewable resource. The company has an ongoing program of biological testing of its compounds coupled with a focused, bioactivity driven, molecular design and enhancement effort for creating new compounds based on structure activity relationships. Some of the compounds exhibit bioactivity greater than currently available products and generally have lower toxicity. This naturally-based class of compounds represents a largely unexplored sector of biological chemistry.

“NaturNorth is honored to be recognized as a Minnesota biotechnology leader,” said David F. Peterson, President and CEO, NaturNorth Technologies, LLC. “Our team’s effort to produce high-value bioactive compounds from birch bark is producing very exciting test results in the pharmaceutical, agricultural and biocide arenas.”

Presented by the Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) in partnership with LifeScience Alley and Minnesota Technology, Inc., the Tekne Awards annually recognize Minnesota’s best and brightest technology users and developers in innovation, development, education, commercialization and management of technology in Minnesota. A list of finalists is available online at www.tekneawards.org

“The Tekne Awards have celebrated the growth of Minnesota’s technology-based companies for nearly a decade and continue to recognize those who make groundbreaking contributions as technology continues to change and expand,” said Kate Rubin, president of MHTA. “With the quantity and quality of award entries increasing significantly again in 2007, this year’s award finalists prove that Minnesota is a hotbed for outstanding achievement and innovation in technology.”

On Nov. 1, one recipient from a pool of three finalists will be named in 16 categories at the Awards ceremony. Award categories recognize leaders and technology businesses that are small and growing (with annual revenues under $50 million) and established (with annual revenues of $50 million or more).

This year’s Tekne Awards ceremony will be emceed by Paul Douglas of WCCO-TV.

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