The Novo Group

The Novo Group is a family of independent companies with a common history and shared values. All Novo Group companies share and benefit from the governance principles stated in the Novo Group Charter.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation is a Danish self-governing foundation. The foundation has two main objectives: To provide a stable basis for the commercial activities and research activities conducted by the companies in the Novo Group, and to support scientific purposes as well as humanitarian and social causes with the aim of improving the health and welfare of people. The board of The Novo Nordisk Foundation specifies the grant areas, grant types and financial terms for funding. Within this framework, the Foundation ensures that each project is assessed by experts who evaluate the project on the basis of its quality, potential and feasibility as well as the applicant's qualifications before a grant decision is made. For this purpose, the Foundation has a number of committees consisting of experts at a high international level just as the Foundation makes use of external, international experts. Within the last 3 years, The Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded a number of large thematic grants:

• DKK 350 million to support a section for basic research at the Danish Stem Cell Center (DanStem), University of Copenhagen in 2010
• DKK 885 million for establishing "The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research" at the University of Copenhagen in 2010
• DKK 118 million for establishing "The Danish National Biobank" at SSI (Statens Serum Institut) in 2008-2010
• DKK 600 million for establishing "The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research" at the University of Copenhagen in 2007

Novo A/S, the holding company in the Novo Group, was established prior to the demerger of Novo Nordisk in 2000. Novo A/S is a private limited liability company wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and the company's purpose is to manage the Foundation's funds. Besides being the majority shareholder in Novozymes A/S and Novo Nordisk A/S, Novo A/S provides seed, venture and growth equity capital to development stage companies with pioneering scientific ideas within life science.

Novo Nordisk A/S is a global healthcare company with 88 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within haemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs more than 31,400 employees in 74 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk’s B shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen (Novo-B). Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NVO).

Novozymes A/S is the world leader in bioinnovation and across a broad array of industries creates tomorrow's industrial biosolutions. With over 700 products used in 130 countries, Novozymes' bioinnovations improve industrial performance and safeguard the world's resources by offering superior and sustainable solutions for tomorrow's ever-changing marketplace. With more than 5,200 employees working in research, production and sales around the world, Novozymes is committed to shaping business today and our world tomorrow. Novozymes is quoted on the OMX Nordic exchange Copenhagen A/S (NZYM B).