Anthrax-killing "MailDefender" looks to crack European market
By
Andrew Johnson
The Express
BRITAIN — The company that defended the former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan from biological terror attacks plans to float on Aim.
BioDefense Corporation has developed a dishwasher-sized device that decontaminates mail by killing potentially fatal bugs such as anthrax, e coli, smallpox and bubonic plague.
Customers include the United Nations, the US Department of Defense and the Royal Saudi Government.
The firm is now hoping to crack the UK and European markets and wants to raise GBP 58million through a float, valuing the company at about GBP 120million.
An adviser has yet to be appointed, but is expected to be Numis Securities.
BioDefense's core product is the patent-protected MailDefender. Its combination of technologies includes ultraviolet light and microwaves to zap dangerous bacteria and viruses. Each MailDefender can treat 150 letters a time in a process lasting 55 minutes. "For bigger organisations we use a modular approach, " says executive director Jonathan Morrone.
"Some, such as a defence department, may need 10."
He says decontamination is more effective than mere detection. "MailDefender treats all the mail coming into an organisation, but the problem with detection is you have to deal with the agents."
The money raised from the float will be used to help develop a manufacturing and marketing operation in the UK. The company is close to signing a deal with a major defence contractor to construct its products under licence. The UK will provide a base from which BioDefense can tap into markets in Europe and the Middle East.
Morrone is confident MailDefender will win orders from government departments, corporations and even wealthy individuals all over the world.
"The threat from bioterrorism is increasing, " says Morrone. "In the US there were 150,000 incidents last year of unidentified substances being posted."
The first version of MailDefender will cost customers GBP 60,000 while a second version, just launched, costs a little more.
BioDefense has been able to attract high-profile names to its board, including the exhead of the British Army, General Lord Guthrie, and former CIA chief James Woolsey.
Copyright 2008 EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS
|
The Express
BRITAIN — The company that defended the former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan from biological terror attacks plans to float on Aim.
BioDefense Corporation has developed a dishwasher-sized device that decontaminates mail by killing potentially fatal bugs such as anthrax, e coli, smallpox and bubonic plague.
Customers include the United Nations, the US Department of Defense and the Royal Saudi Government.
The firm is now hoping to crack the UK and European markets and wants to raise GBP 58million through a float, valuing the company at about GBP 120million.
An adviser has yet to be appointed, but is expected to be Numis Securities.
BioDefense's core product is the patent-protected MailDefender. Its combination of technologies includes ultraviolet light and microwaves to zap dangerous bacteria and viruses. Each MailDefender can treat 150 letters a time in a process lasting 55 minutes. "For bigger organisations we use a modular approach, " says executive director Jonathan Morrone.
"Some, such as a defence department, may need 10."
He says decontamination is more effective than mere detection. "MailDefender treats all the mail coming into an organisation, but the problem with detection is you have to deal with the agents."
The money raised from the float will be used to help develop a manufacturing and marketing operation in the UK. The company is close to signing a deal with a major defence contractor to construct its products under licence. The UK will provide a base from which BioDefense can tap into markets in Europe and the Middle East.
Morrone is confident MailDefender will win orders from government departments, corporations and even wealthy individuals all over the world.
"The threat from bioterrorism is increasing, " says Morrone. "In the US there were 150,000 incidents last year of unidentified substances being posted."
The first version of MailDefender will cost customers GBP 60,000 while a second version, just launched, costs a little more.
BioDefense has been able to attract high-profile names to its board, including the exhead of the British Army, General Lord Guthrie, and former CIA chief James Woolsey.
Copyright 2008 EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS
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