Ascenta Continues to Grow With $4 Million Investment From Avrio Ventures

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, Mar 24 (MARKET WIRE) --
Ascenta Health Ltd. ('Ascenta'), a developer of award-winning natural
health products and industry leader in omega-3 fish oil supplements
announced today that it signed a $4 million investment agreement with
Avrio Ventures.

Ascenta is committed to developing dietary health products that improve
lives through optimal wellness and disease prevention. Its omega-3
product line supports cardiovascular health, joint health, and mental
health. The company's team of scientists and industry experts has the
necessary experience and understanding of consumer health issues to
develop pharmaceutical quality, research-based solutions.

"We are very pleased to have Avrio Ventures as an investor," stated
Ascenta Founder and President, Marc St. Onge. "Their commitment and
leadership in supporting the growth of Canadian-based consumer health and
wellness companies will help us with the continued development of our
product lines and will accelerate our international market expansion."

"Ascenta has an established market leading brand, synonymous with
quality, purity, and health benefits that are backed by strong scientific
evidence," said Aki Georgacacos of Avrio Ventures. "Avrio's investment
will help drive Ascenta's momentum, expanding its capability to diversify
the product line, and fully take advantage of the opportunity to leverage
the growing market trend of fish oil as an essential nutrient and a
staple supplement. In particular, we expect the upcoming launch of
OmegaSmooth, a superior formulation with an outstanding taste profile, to
revolutionize consumer perceptions of fish derived omega-3 supplements."

In Canada, Ascenta's NutraSea brand is the category leader amongst
branded supplements distributed through more than 2,000 points of sale in
the health food, grocery, sports nutrition, and professional channels. In
the US its products are sold through some of the country's largest health
food retail chains, and in other international markets, the Company is
focused on rapidly growing its customer base. Proceeds from the financing
agreement with Avrio Ventures will be used to further develop the
existing product line as well as support its continued market roll-out
across North America and internationally.

About Ascenta

Headquartered in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Ascenta develops omega-3
supplements for human health under the NutraSea and OmegaSmooth brands.
The company also recently launched a line of omega-3 supplements for
animal health. The Ascenta brands are sold throughout North America, the
UK, India and Taiwan. www.ascentahealth.com.

About Avrio Ventures

Avrio Ventures is a venture capital firm that supports the development of
Canadian commercialization and growth-stage industrial bioproducts,
nutraceutical ingredients and food technology companies into world-class
organizations. www.avrioventures.com.

Contacts:
Ascenta
Media contact:
Alexandra Orozco, Director of Marketing
(902) 401-5221
Email: aorozco@ascentahealth.com
Website: ascentahealth.com

Avrio Ventures
Aki Georgacacos
Managing Director
(403) 215-5489
Email: ageorgacacos@avrioventures.com
Website: www.avrioventures.com

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