Small Bone Innovations Inc. (SBi), a privately-held orthopedic company focused on technologies and treatments for the small bones & joints, announced that Olympus Corp. (Tokyo) has made a strategic investment of $12 million in SBi Series E Preferred Stock. The parties agreed that the investment grants no special privileges and will not influence SBi’s operating independence.

In related but separate transactions, SBi Asia Pacific Sdn. Bhd. (SBi APAC) has signed distribution agreements with Olympus Terumo Biomaterials Corp. (66.6% owned by Olympus and 33.4% owned by Terumo) whereby they will exclusively distribute SBi products in Japan and China.

In addition, SBi APAC, a joint venture with Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Malaysian Technology Development Corp. Sdn. Bhd., signed agreements with Olympus Terumo Biomaterials Corp. for the exclusive distribution of SBi products in Japan and China. Olympus Terumo Biomaterials Corporation conducts research and development, manufactures, and sells in the biomaterials and regenerative medicine fields. The company manufactures bone void fillers and tissue engineered products for deep wound healing.

SBi was ranked #24 on the list of the Top 50 U.S. VC-backed companies in the Wall Street Journal article “Sizing Up Promising Young Firms” on March 9, 2010.

In mid 200, the company closed on $144 million in Series D and Series C funding from a host of investors including, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Khazanah Nasional Berhad, (the investment firm of the Government of Malaysia), Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC), an integrated Malaysian-based venture capital company, The Family Office of Bahrain, Viscogliosi Brothers, LLC, Trevi Health Ventures, NGN Capital, 3i Group, and TGap Ventures, among others.