PRESS RELEASES

Contacts: Anthony G. Viscogliosi, Viscogliosi Bros., LLC (212) 583-9700 ext. 101
Chris Storer, Creative Partners (203) 705-9219

SMALL BONE INNOVATIONS, LLC EXPANDS PRODUCT PORTFOLIO WITH VB’S ACQUISITION OF FIXANO, S.A.

New York, NY: May 4, 2005 - Small Bone Innovations, LLC (SBI), a Viscogliosi Bros., LLC (VB) portfolio company, expanded its product line of orthopedic devices with VB’s acquisition of Fixano S.A., Bourg-en-Bresse, France, a leading international developer and manufacturer of orthopedic devices. Terms were not disclosed.

SBI was formed in May 2004 and launched at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Meeting in February 2005 by Anthony, John and Marc Viscogliosi, Principals of VB, to develop and acquire technologies in the small bone & joint sector. In 2004, VB acquired Avanta Orthopaedics, Inc. and Envision Manufacturing, Inc., as well as worldwide licensing rights to market Biorthex, Inc.’s Actipore™ and Artimplant, AB’s Artelon® CMC-1 Spacer, two promising tissue technologies. In 2005, in addition to Fixano, SBI also acquired Xtremi-T, LLC.

Fixano, established in 1987, manufactures and distributes worldwide a range of innovative devices and instrumentation for surgical repair of disease or traumatic injury to the bones and joints. This includes: spine arthroplasty and spine fusion systems; internal and external fixation systems for the fingers, hand, wrist, elbow; shoulder systems; foot, small bone and long bone trauma products. Devices and systems that target bones from the fingers to the shoulder and from the toe to the mid-calf will become products marketed by SBI.

Fixano’s offices and manufacturing facility in Bourg-en-Bresse will serve as the international operating headquarters of SBI.

Fixano’s President, Jean Jacques Martin joins SBI as VP, International, responsible for outside U.S. sales, marketing, manufacturing and product development. Mr. Martin said: “SBI’s spectrum of arthroplasty, fixation, trauma, biologic solutions and tissue technologies is rapidly achieving industry leadership. The company is also expanding its new product pipeline with more than 10 new implant and instrument systems planned for introduction within the next 12 months to further augment these offerings. Our goal is to give surgeons and their patients the widest choice of proven treatment options.”

President & COO of SBI, Michael Simpson, said: “We are delighted to have secured the excellent range of Fixano products for small bone and joint repair. Furthermore, Mr. Martin provides us with outstanding leadership in the rapidly growing European market.”

Anthony G. Viscogliosi, Chairman & CEO of SBI and Principal of VB, said: “Completing the acquisition of Fixano is a major landmark in our strategy to accumulate a superior portfolio of truly life-changing technologies designed to provide patients with permanent solutions to osteo and rheumatoid arthritis and for traumatic injury to the small bone & joint anatomy. Also, as an established presence in the rapidly growing European market, Fixano offers access to many highly regarded orthopedic surgeons who are committed to developing the kind of products needed to seize opportunities in the small bone and joint sector that are not being developed by the major orthopedic companies.”

About SBI
Small Bone Innovations, LLC (SBI) was founded in 2004 by Viscogliosi Bros. LLC., (VB), the New York-based merchant banking firm that specializes in the musculoskeletal /orthopedic sector. VB created SBI as the first company to focus purely on small bone & joint science. By integrating established companies and professionals in the field, SBI today offers a broad , clinically proven portfolio of products and technology to treat trauma and diseases in small bones & joints.

VB’s acquisitions and technology licenses include: Avanta Orthopaedics (hand/wrist/elbow arthroplasty and trauma products – USA); Envision (implant manufacturing – USA); Actipore™ (porous metal technology – Canada); Artelon ®(biologically active & biodegradable technology – Sweden); Xtremi-T (resorbable trauma technology – USA).

For more information on SBI visit: www.totalsmallbone.com

About Viscogliosi Bros., LLC
Established by Marc R. Viscogliosi, John J. Viscogliosi and Anthony G. Viscogliosi in New York City in 1999, VB was the first venture capital/private equity and merchant banking firm dedicated to the musculoskeletal/orthopedics sector of the health care industry. Today, VB is a leading independent firm with a mission to create, build and finance companies founded on innovations developed by surgeons and uniquely focused on "life changing" musculoskeletal/orthopedic technologies. VB has worldwide surgeon, industry and trade relationships and significant financial expertise in the musculoskeletal/orthopedic sector.

As principals of VB, the Viscogliosi brothers have a combined total of more than 35 years experience analyzing and investing in the musculoskeletal/orthopedics sector. They have pioneered innovative financial, strategic and management initiatives for companies in the sector, from start-up, seed and development stage all the way to exit, while helping thousands of people lead better lives through the orthopedic and spinal products marketed and sold by the companies they have assisted in developing and financing.
 
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