REG - Directa Plus PLC - Full year trading and operational update

Directa PlusAnnouncement

Wed 07:00

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RNS Number : 8982N  Directa Plus PLC  07 January 2026

7 January 2026

Directa Plus plc

("Directa Plus", the "Group" or the "Company")

 

Full year trading and operational update

 Board change

 

Directa Plus (AIM: DCTA), a leading producer and supplier of graphene
nanoplatelets based products for use in consumer and industrial markets,
announces an update on trading for the year ended 31 December 2025 ("FY25").

 

The Group expects to report, subject to audit, revenues of €7.0m (FY24:
€6.66m) and adjusted LBITDA for the year broadly in line with market
expectations of approximately €2.5m (FY24: €3.64m), reflecting c.30%
improvement year on year, underpinned by disciplined cost control and
operational efficiencies.

 

Production optimisation

The Group made advances in technology, production and product capabilities,
strengthening its ability to manufacture advanced graphene-based materials at
low cost, at scale and with highest levels of consistency. Production
enhancements to develop interlocked and blended graphene materials have
broadened the portfolio, further enabling the Group to address high-growth
applications including PFAS-related fields, defence and highly regulated
industrial sectors. These important development come at the time when interest
in the graphene market is growing exponentially as market participants look to
incorporate graphene into existing products and products road maps.

 

Setcar review and contract win

Management continues to focus on restructuring initiatives across Setcar,
which has generated significant headcount reductions, operational efficiencies
and margin improvements for at least €0.7m of annualised cost savings in
FY25. Setcar is now better positioned to pursue opportunities within the
strategically important Environmental Remediation market, underpinned by its
technical expertise and extensive regulatory approvals.

 

In December 2025, Setcar won a competitive tender for a €1.5m Total Waste
Management contract with Ford for a further 15 months. The company is now in
the process of finalising the formal contract.

 

Work to deliver further efficiencies at Setcar is progressing and the Board
will continue to evaluate the best options, improving overall capital
allocation and how best to maximise shareholder value.

 

Separately, a process has commenced to realise the potential sale of
non-strategic land held by Setcar, with an estimated value of at least
€0.5m.

 

2026 Outlook

The Board is laser focused on capturing high-growth graphene-based
opportunities, monetising Directa's core IP, which remains protected by a
substantial patent portfolio.

 

The Board continues to evaluate its options to realise value from this
portfolio, including partnerships, joint ventures and licensing, and to assess
its optimum options to secure the requisite funding which will be needed in
FY26 to support future growth.

 

The Group closed FY25 with gross cash balances of €1.5m (FY24: €4.98m),
providing a solid financial base going forward. Entering FY26, Directa has a
growing pipeline of opportunities across its targeted end markets, supported
by advanced customer discussions, established product performance and
increasing recognition of the value to customers from adopting Directa's
technology and products.

 

Board changes

Richard Hickinbotham, Non-Executive Chairman, who would have shortly completed
his nine-year tenure with the Group, has informed the Board of his intention
to take up a full-time executive role and will step down from the Board on 31
January 2026. Giulio Cesareo will assume the role of Interim plc Chairman with
effect from that date.

 

The CEO succession process, as previously announced, is being progressed and a
further update will be provided in due course.

 

Giulio Cesareo, Chief Executive Officer at Directa Plus, said: "FY25 has been
a year of transition for Directa. Alongside revenue growth and a significant
improvement in EBITDA performance, we have strengthened our technology
platform, sharpened our operational focus and taken decisive steps to improve
efficiency across the Group. These actions have positioned us to better
address high-growth, highly regulated markets where our graphene-based
solutions have demonstrated clear added value. With a stronger balance sheet
and a growing opportunity pipeline, we enter FY26 focused on execution, value
creation and the disciplined monetisation of our core intellectual property
and securing requisite founding that will be needed in FY26 to support our
future growth.

 

"I would like to thank Richard Hickinbotham for his leadership over the past
nine years and for the wise counsel and steadfast support he has provided
throughout his tenure, particularly as we navigated a number of challenges.
His contribution as Chairman has been invaluable, and we wish him every
success in his new role."

 

For further information, please contact:

 

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

 Singer Capital Markets (Nominated Adviser and Broker)  +44 20 7496 3069
 Rick Thompson / Phil Davies

 Alma Strategic Communications (Financial PR Adviser)   +44 20 3405 0205
 Justine James / Hannah Campbell / Rose Docherty        directaplus@almastrategic.com

 

About Directa Plus

Directa Plus (www.directa-plus.com (http://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's 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 past

 

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's products are made of hybrid
graphene materials and graphene nano-platelets. The products (marketed as
G+®) have multiple applications due to its properties. These G+® 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. The Company holds the Green Economy Mark
from London Stock Exchange which recognises companies that contribute to the
global green economy.

 

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