Bratislava, March 13th 2008 – The biological Xe-Derma® shin shield by BIO-SKIN (a joint project by the Arca Capital group and GEL-MED International) has met strict criteria and passed the international certification process. Xe-Derma® has a wide range of uses in dermatology, traumatology, diabetology and plastic surgery. It is especially a source of hope for patients suffering from second and third degree burns. It is already helping people now on a limited scale, but wider use of Xe-Derma® is expected after its classification in the tariffs of health insurance providers in the second half of this year.

The BIO-SKIN company was founded in 2007 as a joint project between the Arca Capital group and GEL-MED International. Through its subsidiary, Arca Capital Bohemia, Arca Capital owns a 49% share in the company, and thanks to its investment of one million Euros, the project can be successfully completed.
“Now, after obtaining certification, we plan to increase our own manufacture of the product, to widen our range, and if the introduction on the local market is successful, to expand to other EU markets, Japan or the USA, and extend our field of work to the sector of tissue engineering,” said Petra Kursová, investment manager of Arca Capital Bohemia, outlining future plans.

Xe-Derma®, a biological shield supplied by BIO-SKIN can be used, for example, in the treatment of surface burns and medium-deep burns, bedsores or venous ulcers.

Thanks to Arca Capital’s investments, Xe-Derma® brings patients new hope. Compared to synthetic materials used to date, it uses “biological” factors which encourage the healing of wounds. Compared to other biological shields, treatment is quicker thanks to the natural structure of the material, and its price is also more advantageous

About the Arca Capital Group
Arca Capital is a private equity and real estate group of a holding type, with presence in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Great Britain. In the future, it plans to carry out new and capital-intensive projects in the area of private equity and real estate both in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, but especially in Ukraine, where its presence has expanded. The group invests in companies in the sectors of the food industry, power engineering, civil engineering, telecommunications, information technologies and biotechnologies. In early 2008, it successfully completed a 5-year restructuring of the engineering company Czech Precision Forge, a.s. The current activities of the group in Slovakia are focused on development projects such as the construction of a designer furniture department store “LIGHTPARK” and the residential project “HUBICE DVORY”. At the beginning of 2008, with the acquisition of GEODÉZIA Bratislava, a.s., the group entered a new sector of geodesy and cartography. In January this year, Arca Capital obtained, along with its investment partners, a majority share in the Ukrainian company CheZaRa, which focuses mainly on the production of communications and security systems for the space and civilian sectors. In Ukraine, it is also preparing an extensive residential project “Sedem prameňov” (Seven Springs) and the construction of two logistics centres. The Arca Capital Group also cooperates with the company Sollaris Developers in development and real estate projects in Slovakia and Ukraine. Arca Capital presently manages assets to a toal value of approx. EUR 125 million. In December last year, the group issued corporate bonds worth SKK 500 million, thus allowing potential individual investors to participate in financing its projects.

About the BIO-SKIN company
BIO-SKIN, a.s. was founded in 2007 by associating specialists from the world of science, key figures from GEL-MED International (know-how) and the private equity group Arca Capital (capital). The main aim of the newly-founded company is to complete the implementation of the production technology of Xe-Derma® products, obtain the necessary certificates and develop marketing and sales activities linked to this product. The society intends to continue focusing on the area of biotechnology and health aids in the sector of dermatology and the healing of wounds. It believes that the future lies both in the use of stem cells for certain special applications, as well as in the development of new types of biopolymers.
More information about the company and the Xe-Derma® product on www.bio-skin.eu.

Further information:
Monika Dobrovodská
Marketing & PR manager
Arca Capital
tel.: (+421) 2 5825 3514,
GSM: (+421) 903 771 656
e-mail: dobrovodska@arcainvestments.sk
www.arcacapital.sk