HAMILTON THORNE APPOINTS MICHAEL BRUNS AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER TO LEAD
COMPANY'S FINANCIAL GROWTH

Company also Hires Lisa Rivero as Director of Corporate Communications to Strengthen Investor Communications and Public Relations Programs

TSX VENTURE: HTL

BEVERLY, MA and TORONTO, Dec. 13 /CNW/ - Hamilton Thorne Ltd. (TSX-V: HTL), a leading provider of advanced laser systems for the regenerative medicine, developmental biology and stem cell research markets, today announced the appointment of Michael Bruns as the Company's new Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), subject to TSX approval. Mr. Bruns brings over 25 years of financial management experience in mid-sized organizations, most recently serving as CFO of Dover Saddlery Inc. (NASDAQ: DOVR) where he played a key role in Dover's successful $27 million IPO in 2005. In his role as CFO of Hamilton Thorne, Mr. Bruns will be responsible for the Company's financial management and control functions, as well as providing strategic support in the business planning, corporate development and investor relations efforts of the company during this period of rapid growth and expansion.

Mr. Bruns held senior level management positions as the CFO and Corporate Controller at Dover Saddlery for more than 11 years where he managed the company's accelerated financial growth from $16 million to $76 million in revenue and significant channel expansion. Prior to joining Dover, Mr. Bruns served as Vice President of Finance for CPS Direct, a communications marketing company and was the Controller for Northeast Mobile Communications, a specialty retailer. Prior to that, he served as Director of Financial Reporting for St. Johnsbury Trucking Company and as Corporate Controller for R&S Corporation, as well as an Auditor for McGladrey Pullen & Co. Mr. Bruns holds a BA from Simpson College, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Also joining Hamilton Thorne as the Company's new Director of Corporate Communications is Lisa Rivero. Ms. Rivero will manage Hamilton Thorne's investor communications and public relations programs with a focus on increasing visibility of the company and improving shareholder value. Ms. Rivero has more than 10 years of experience working at well-known public relations and investor relations firms. Prior to Hamilton Thorne, Ms. Rivero was the Director of Media Relations at LaVoie Group, where she developed communications programs for some of the world's leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies such as Pfizer, Sanofi-aventis and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Prior to LaVoie Group, Ms. Rivero was an Account Manager at PAN Communications and also held positions at Schwartz Communications and Sharon Merrill Associates, where she played a strategic role in their public relations and investor relations programs respectively. Ms. Rivero holds an MA from the University of Connecticut and earned a double BA from Boston University.

"We are very pleased to welcome Michael and Lisa to Hamilton Thorne and we are fortunate to have both a seasoned financial executive and a veteran communications professional join us to strengthen our financial reporting and operations, as well as manage the investor relations and corporate communications functions," said Meg Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of Hamilton Thorne Ltd. "As we continue to launch new products and expand into exciting research markets such as developmental biology, the Company is well positioned for sustained growth and success, and we feel that Michael and Lisa will continue to drive these efforts and increase shareholder value for our investor base."

The Company also announced that it has granted Mr. Bruns 244,152 stock options pursuant to the Company's incentive stock option plan. The options are exercisable at Cdn$0.25 per share, vest over four years, and expire ten years from the date of grant.

About Hamilton Thorne Ltd. (www.hamiltonthorne.com)

Hamilton Thorne is a leading provider of advanced laser systems for the regenerative medicine, and stem cell research markets. Hamilton Thorne's lead products, the ZILOS-tk™ and XYClone® laser systems, attach to standard inverted microscopes and operate as robotic micro-surgeons, significantly reducing time and increasing efficiency in key in-vitro fertilization, stem cell, and regenerative medical research applications. The new Staccato™ and Stiletto™ laser systems are designed to broaden the Company's markets and offer significant advantages to developmental biology, cancer research and advanced cell biology researchers.

Hamilton Thorne's growing customer base includes pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, fertility clinics, university research centers, and other commercial and academic research establishments worldwide. Current customers include world-leading research labs such as Harvard University, MIT, Yale, McGill University, DuPont, Monsanto, Charles River Labs, Jackson Labs, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Oxford University, and Cambridge.

Neither the Toronto Venture Exchange, nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the exchange), accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Company. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings by the Company with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

For further information:

David Wolf, President
Hamilton Thorne Ltd.
978-921-2050
[email protected]

Lisa Rivero, Director of Corporate Communications
Hamilton Thorne Ltd.
978-921-2050
[email protected]

Ross Marshall
The Equicom Group
416.815.0700 x238
[email protected]