New York, NY (March 13, 2007) – Columbus Nova, LLC today announced that it has completed the sale of one of its portfolio companies, Fremont, California-based Oryx Instruments, to Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Oryx is a leading designer and manufacturer of electrostatic discharge (ESD) test and simulation equipment, servicing the semiconductor chip production market worldwide.

Oryx was purchased by Columbus Nova in 2002 and grew to become a leading provider of ESD test and simulation equipment.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, already considered the world leader in providing scientific solutions, and a market leader in ESD/EMC technology, will be consolidating Oryx into its existing business line. The consolidation will allow Thermo Fisher to expand its product, service and support offering while accelerating future product development, and maintaining its ability to provide the highest quality test systems to meet all industry standards.

“We have been fortunate to have watched Oryx Instruments grow and establish itself amongst the leaders in this field,” said Michael Sloan, chief operating officer at Columbus Nova. “As financial investors, we could not provide the level of attention required to further develop the business to improve on its dramatic organic growth of the past few years. As a large and successful operating company, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s leadership and management resources can be directed much better to grow the combined companies, and have the Oryx business line potential fully realized. We are very excited about the future of this business.”

The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

About Columbus Nova
Founded in 2000, Columbus Nova is an investment management firm with over $1.75 billion of assets under management. The company has a broad investment mandate which allows Columbus Nova to invest across all levels of the capital structure, from senior secured debt to common equity. The company takes a value-oriented, long-term view to investing and seeks consistent returns with an emphasis on capital preservation. The company’s investment activities are conducted through three investment vehicles: Columbus Nova Credit Investment Managers, Columbus Nova Special Opportunities Fund, and Columbus Nova Real Estate Acquisitions Group.

Columbus Nova has offices in New York, Los Angeles and Charlotte, NC.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO) is the world leader in serving science, enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. With an annual revenue rate of more than $9 billion, we employ 30,000 people and serve over 350,000 customers within pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions and government agencies, as well as environmental and industrial process control settings. Serving customers through two premier brands, Thermo Scientific and Fisher Scientific, we help solve analytical challenges from routine testing to complex research and discovery. Thermo Scientific offers customers a complete range of high-end analytical instruments as well as laboratory equipment, software, services, consumables and reagents to enable integrated laboratory workflow solutions. Fisher Scientific provides a complete portfolio of laboratory equipment, chemicals, supplies and services used in healthcare, scientific research, safety and education. Together, we offer the most convenient purchasing options to customers and continuously advance our technologies to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, enhance value for customers and fuel growth for shareholders and employees alike. Visit www.thermofisher.com.