NattoPharma ASA has today signed a 10 year distribution agreement with Sumitomo Corp, with possibilities for further extensions. This contract is an extension of the contract signed between the parties in December 2004. However, the territory is extended to cover all countries excluding the East Asia region.

 

Furthermore, a collaboration agreement has also been sign today between NattoPharma ASA, Sumitomo Corp and J-OIL Mills (the Parties), were the Parties has stated that they

 

        wish to study synergetic sales and marketing activities of Vitamin K2, Menaquinone 7, the natural vitamin K2 product produced by J-OIL Mills, and sold and distributed by NattoPharma under the trade name of "MenaQ7" ;

and

 

        J-OIL Mills wishes to contribute to the synergetic sale and marketing of the Product by engaging in a research and development program of the Product,

 

and

 

        the Parties also wish to study effective and efficient sales and marketing structures in Asia (the excluded area)

 

 

"This represents a major break-through for NattoPharma ASA in securing long term distribution rights for the natural vitamin K2, MenaQ7, in an expanded area and market" states the NattoPharma's CEO, Mr. Stein Westbye, who adds "This will further secure our R&D program, and strengthen our long term competitiveness".

 

 

For more information, contact Morten Sundstø at +47 950 61 860 or email morten@sundsto.com

 

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About MenaQ7

MenaQ7 provides Natural Vitamin K2 as an extract of natto, a fermented soy food from Japan. Natto is particularly rich in the highly bio-available form of vitamin K2 called menaquinone-7 (MK-7). MenaQ7 is the only commercially viable Natural Vitamin K2 with guaranteed actives and stability, clinical substantiation and international patents awarded and pending.

 

For more information on the health benefits of MenaQ7, please visit www.menaq7.com  

 

 

About NattoPharma

NattoPharma, Norway is the exclusive international supplier of MenaQ7 natural Vitamin K2. NattoPharma has entered into a multi-year research and development program to substantiate and discover the health benefits of natural vitamin K2 for applications in the exciting marketplace for functional food and health food supplements.

 

For more information about NattoPharma, please visit www.nattopharma.com

 

Sumitomo Corporation (SC) is one of Japan's major integrated trading and investment business enterprises (Soga Shosha). The company is based in Tokyo and is one of the top three Sogo Shosha companies in the world.  

Through its worldwide network, the Sumitomo Corporation Group engages in diverse business activities. These include various domestic and overseas transactions and import and export of a wide range of goods and commodities, and also providing a wide range of services and investing, in the fields of, such as metals, transportation and construction systems, machinery and electricity, media, electronics and network, chemicals, mineral resources and energy, consumer goods and services, materials and real estate, and finance and logistics.

 

For more information about Sumitomo, please visit www.sumitomocorp.co.jp/english/

 

 

J-Oil Mills Co., Ltd was born on July 1st 2004 as a result of merger between Ajinomoto Oil Mill CO., Ltd., Honen Corporation and Yoshihara Oil Mills Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Sumitomo. The new mega oilseed crusher handles over 2.5 million MT of oilseeds and grains annually, and became the leading entity in the Japanese Oils & Fats Industry.

 

The Group's principal activity is to manufacture oil. It is also involved in the manufacture, processing and sale of fat and fatty oils, fertilizers, forages and starch products.

 

J-oil Mills commercialized vitamin K2 in 1991, and are the only manufacturer in the world refining vitamin K2 from Bacillus Natto.  

 

For more information about J-Oil Mills, please visit www.j-oil.com