REG - Directa Plus PLC - Partnership Extension and US Patent Award

Directa PlusAnnouncement

04/08/2022 07:00

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RNS Number : 8358U  Directa Plus PLC  04 August 2022

4th August 2022

 

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Directa Plus plc

("Directa Plus" or the "Company")

 

Directa Plus extends partnership with Alfredo Grassi S.p.A.

G+® golf ball US patent award

 

Directa Plus (AIM: DCTA), a leading producer and supplier of graphene
nanoplatelets based products for use in consumer and industrial markets, is
pleased to announce that the Company has signed an extension to its commercial
 supply agreement (the "Supply Agreement") with Alfredo Grassi S.p.A.
("Grassi") to broaden its existing collaboration to include Graphene Plus
Thermal Planar Circuit® (PTC®) for the workwear market in Italy and France.

 

Grassi is a leading Italian workwear and outerwear manufacturer, which has
been operating since 1925. Grassi focuses on producing technical clothing for
industry and in sports and fashion retail, with a strong focus on innovation
and sustainability. Directa Plus has been working in partnership with Grassi
for over five years.

 

The Supply Agreement grants Grassi  use of Directa Plus' proprietary PTC®
Graphene Plus print textile technology for the workwear market in France and
Italy for a period of two years.

 

Both Directa Plus and Grassi see significant advantages to the Supply
Agreement, with Directa Plus gaining a recurring revenue stream on its
Graphene Plus PTC® technology, with Grassi benefitting from  the use of
sustainable Graphene Plus textile technology for the workwear industry, which
has no biological / environmental impact, in key markets. The agreement will
also enable the Company to further develop its understanding of market trends
and drivers affecting demand for such products.

 

The Supply Agreement is expected to be a significant boost to the Company's
estimated workwear income in 2022, which is already forecast to be up 100%
year on year, with €450,000 orders planned for the second half of 2022.

 

Giulio Cesareo, Chief Executive of Directa Plus, commented: "Grassi has been
an important partner of ours for a number of years, and it is clear that both
sides see the benefits of continuing to build on our close commercial
relationship with each other.

"The workwear sector continues to be of strategic importance to Directa, and
the Supply Agreement with Grassi is another important step forward in building
market share and increasing revenues from this segment."

 

Roberto Grassi, President of Alfredo Grassi, commented: "This strategic
partnership with Directa Plus enables Alfredo Grassi to offer innovative
solutions in the workwear industry, providing superior performance, comfort,
and better wearability in all our garments. I strongly believe that the
involvement of all the stakeholders in the production chain from suppliers to
consumers is crucial for the development of innovative and sustainable
products. We are very pleased to extend our partnership with Directa Plus and
we believe the collaboration will further strengthen the growth of both
companies, while keeping a focus on environmental and social sustainability."

 

US Patent award

Additionally, the Company has received the grant of the US patent titled "Golf
ball comprising graphene". The patent will enable Directa Plus to license its
technology in the critical US market.

 

The patent priority date is the 23(rd) December 2016, and covers a variety of
formulations containing G+® graphene nanoplatelets for application within the
golf ball.

 

The use of G+® compounds in golf balls at different loadings has the promise
of developing a whole new range of golf balls for professionals and amateurs.
Different G+® graphene compounds within the golf ball will enable
professionals to increase distance without losing lateral control or increase
overall control of the golf ball for amateurs.

 

The global golf ball market was valued at $1.11 billion in 2017, with a
forecast CAGR of 2.7% from 2018 onwards.

 

The Company is now looking for partners to bring this leading technology to
market.

 

For further information please visit http://www.directa-plus.com/
(http://www.directa-plus.com/) or contact:

 

 Directa Plus plc                                            +39 02 36714458
 Giulio Cesareo, CEO
 Giorgio Bonfanti, CFO

 Cenkos Securities plc (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker)  +44 131 220 6939
 Neil McDonald
 Adam Rae

 Singer Capital Markets Securities Limited (Joint Broker)    +44 20 7496 3069
 Rick Thompson
 Phil Davies

 Tavistock (Financial PR and IR)                             +44 20 7920 3150
 Simon Hudson
 Heather Armstrong

 

 

Notes to Editors

 

Directa Plus (www.directa-plus.com) is one of the largest producers and
suppliers of graphene-based products for use in consumer and industrial
markets. The Company's graphene manufacturing capability uses proprietary
patented technology based on a plasma super expansion process. Starting from
natural graphite, each step of Directa Plus' production process - expansion,
exfoliation and drying - creates graphene-based materials and hybrid graphene
materials ready for a variety of uses and available in various forms such as
powder, liquid and paste.

 

This proprietary production process uses a physical process, rather than a
chemical process, to process graphite into pristine graphene nanoplatelets,
which enables Directa Plus to offer a sustainable, non-toxic product, without
unwanted by-products.

 

Directa Plus' products are made of hybrid graphene materials and graphene
nano-platelets. The products (marketed as G+(R)) have multiple applications
due to its properties. These G+(R) products can be categorised into various
families, with different products being suitable for specific practical
applications.

 

Directa Plus was established in 2005 and is based in Lomazzo (Como, Italy) and
has been listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange since May 2016.
Directa Plus holds the Green Economy Mark from London Stock Exchange which
recognises companies that contribute to the global green economy.

 

ends

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