Foster City, Calif. - January 5, 2006 -- BA Venture Partners (BAVP), a venture capital partnership that provides development capital to accelerate market traction for information technology and life sciences companies, today announced it invested $140 million in 28 companies during 2005. Of the nearly 30 deals, 10 were new BAVP investments. The remaining deals were follow-on investments. During 2005, BAVP realized five liquidity events in its portfolio, including three acquisitions, one initial public offering, and one IPO filing.

"In 2005, we continued to see improvement in the overall economy and particularly in the sectors we have been watching and investing in during the last few years," said Kate Mitchell, Managing Director with BAVP. "We invested in companies focused on Internet advertising, software-as-a-service, consumer electronics and healthcare. We also expanded our team, bringing 20-year AMD veteran Rob Herb on board as a Managing Director. In terms of exits, we were encouraged by an IPO and an S-1 filing by two of our therapeutic development companies.

For the first time in recent years, we saw an increase in M&A in the life sciences sector, and participated in this trend through the acquisition of Cellective Therapeutics by MedImmune. We also worked with Microsoft again on an acquisition this year - FrontBridge Technologies."

"As we look to 2006, we'll be investing in internet services companies that can build traction in the marketplace using less capital, consumer electronics component companies that will leverage the adoption of new technologies, and healthcare companies addressing large unmet medical needs," said Lou Bock, Managing Director with BAVP. "We were very pleased with the number of portfolio companies that matured during 2005. We expect to see a similar rate of exits or better during 2006."

LOOKING BACK ON 2005

New Investments During 2005

Software:

• Omniture: Web analytics software as a service
• Arena Solutions: Product lifecycle management software as a service
• Hubspan: B2B integration software as a service
• Reply!: Consumer online services and performance-based e-marketing solutions
• MerchantCircle: Internet service for local merchants

Hardware:

• IMT: MEMS manufacturing services and products
• Siimpel: Camera components for cellphones

Healthcare:

• Horizon Therapeutics: Fixed-dose drug combinations to treat significant unmet medical needs
• Orexigen: Therapeutics for the treatment of obesity
• National Healing: Healthcare services for wound care

Liquidity Events During 2005

• FrontBridge Technologies was acquired by Microsoft in July 2005
• Cellective Therapeutics was acquired by MedImmune in September 2005
• SGX Pharmaceuticals filed for IPO in September 2005
• Teros was acquired by Citrix in November 2005
• Somaxon completed its IPO (NASDAQ:SOMX) in December 2005

New Fund, New People and Promotions
In 2005, BAVP announced BAVP Fund VII, a $400 million fund, which the firm is investing over the next three years. Areas of investment include semiconductors, networking and consumer electronics; internet and wireless services, and software-as-service applications; therapeutics for oncology, inflammation, neurology and dermatology; and medical devices addressing orthopedic, cardiovascular and neurological markets. In personnel news, BAVP announced the promotions of Jim Jones and Sharon Wienbar to Managing Directors, the promotion of Eric Sigler to Director, and Tracy Pappas was named CFO.

About BA Venture Partners
BA Venture Partners (BAVP) provides capital and expertise to accelerate market traction for technology and healthcare companies. Based in Foster City, California, the BAVP team collectively offers decades of technology and venture industry experience to development- stage companies in hardware, software, biotechnology and medical devices. Representative portfolio companies include Alimera, Biz360, Frontbridge Technologies, Glu Mobile, Good Technology, Monolithic Power Systems, Placeware, Seattle Genetics, and Wayport. Bank of America is BAVP's sole limited partner. For more information, visit www.baventurepartners.com.