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GenuOne Makes Million Dollar Investment in PhotoSecure


Posted on 07 August 2001

Brand Security Solutions Provider Takes Stake In Advanced Photochemical Development Company
Boston, MA - August 07, 2001

GenuOne Inc., a leading provider of brand security solutions for counterfeiting, product diversion and licensing fraud, today announced its investment in PhotoSecure, Inc. a company offering a new group of high-performance photochemical systems which were developed and patented by faculty members of the Boston University Photonics Center.

GenuOne has provided PhotoSecure with one million dollars through its investment division, GenuOne Technology Capital (GTC). This business development support is enabling PhotoSecure to dedicate its attention to developing security-focused applications for the commercial market.

"PhotoSecure is a strategic investment for us," said Jeffrey Unger, CEO of GenuOne. "It enables us to integrate the most advanced thinking in photochemical technology into GenuOne's portfolio of BrandsecureTM solutions that include measures for authentication, tracking and control. Our partnership with PhotoSecure will provide advanced, results-driven solutions for the brand erosion, counterfeiting and diversion issues facing major global brands in today's commercial marketplace."

PhotoSecure supplies proprietary inks and dye platforms that include covert "unique spectral signatures" applied to product manufacturers' labels, packaging materials, products and security documents. The company also supplies hand-held detectors that can recognize these unique signatures. The detectors have data communication, analysis, storage and retrieval capability allowing key executives to monitor inventories and brand protection programs on an ongoing basis.

"Incubation in the Photonics Center has allowed us to navigate the valley of death that claims the life of most new companies," said David J. Phillips CEO of PhotoSecure, Inc. "With the Photonic Center's support we have achieved proof of concept and developed commercial products during this incubation period. Partnering with GenuOne enables us to move to the next level. GenuOne has exactly the right strategy and people to achieve great success in brand protection. We look forward to an exciting and most beneficial journey with GenuOne."

GenuOne is targeting a number of markets with the kind of technology solutions that PhotoSecure provides. These markets include sporting goods and equipment, brand name apparel, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, business consumables and luxury brands.

GenuOne's GTC Division

GenuOne's GTC division is the source for GenuOne's current and future technology needs. It offers technology development companies access to GenuOne's applications, integration, capital and business development capabilities. GTC seeks out companies that posses a mission to build advanced machine-readable solutions for authentication, tracking and control, in both the physical world and online.

About GenuOne
GenuOne is an innovative provider of comprehensive brand security solutions, offering a fully integrated approach to intellectual property protection. Its technology and integration services maximize brand dominance and minimize counterfeiting, product diversion, licensing/royalty fraud and intellectual property theft in the physical world and on the Internet. GenuOne's authentication, tracking and control technologies combined with its integration services allow companies to monitor products throughout the supply chain cycle, from the initial manufacturing process to the retailers' shelves, as well as on the Internet. GenuOne has developed strategic, Brandsecure™ solutions for companies including New Balance Athletic Shoe, Titleist and Footjoy Worldwide and Xerox Corporation. Its solutions have empowered these companies to protect the integrity of their brands. Visit the GenuOne website at www.genuone.com.

About the Boston University Photonics Center
Boston University launched the Photonics Center in 1994 as a new model for university-industry collaboration, bridging the gap between basic research and practical application. Its mission is to forge business partnerships with investors and industrial partners, turning emerging concepts in photonics technology into commercial products, and creating a growing stream of new companies. Dr. Donald C. Fraser is director of the Photonics Center; Dr. Shawn Burke is deputy director. The Photonics Center has already graduated Mosaic Technologies and PhotoDetection Systems from the Photonics Business Incubator. Further information about the Photonics Center and its partners is available at http://www.bu.edu/photonics

About PhotoSecure, Inc.
PhotoSecure, Inc. was formed in 1998 to commercialize a new class of high performance photochemicals developed and patented by faculty at the Photonics Center. The company's products center on a range of new compounds with unique photoluminescent properties that are characterized by their wavelength dependent excitation response, user choice of visible emission spectra and selectable emission decay times. Professor Guilford Jones, PhotoSecure's Chief Technical Officer is a member of the photonics faculty and professor of chemistry at Boston University. Further information about PhotoSecure, Inc. is available at http://www.photosec.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release.