ACTA.L Regulatory News (ACTA)

5 Mar 2008 08:32

Acta S.p.A.05 March 2008 5 March 2008 Acta S.p.A. Acta and CMR Fuel Cells announce Joint Collaboration Agreement Acta SpA ("Acta"), the AIM-listed catalyst developer, today announces that ithas entered into a Joint Collaboration Agreement (the "Agreement") with CMR FuelCells plc ("CMR") to accelerate the launch of Acta's fuel cell catalysts inportable electronics applications. Acta manufactures low cost catalysts for a wide range of markets, includingportable power, hydrogen generation for renewable energy, and waste treatment.In the portable power market, Acta manufactures a unique range of platinum freecatalysts for fuel cells, with trials underway with a number of portableelectronics OEMs. Acta believes that the removal of platinum from fuel cells isessential to make them commercially affordable for future mass use. CMR is a leading developer of low cost fuel cell stacks for portableapplications and also has trials underway with a number of OEMs. Alongside CMR'salkaline membrane fuel cell program, the Company is developing acid membranebased, first generation products which will enable CMR to build early markettraction in less price sensitive applications and to follow-up with lower cost,alkaline membrane based products for mass market applications. The Agreement will initially coordinate the activity of the two companies withleading technology just as market interest in alkaline membrane fuel cells isincreasing. Acta brings high performance low cost catalysts as well as extensiveexpertise in the specific technology of alkaline membrane fuel cells. CMR bringsoutstanding stack and system engineering expertise. The Agreement is expected tolead to further joint development activities in which Acta catalysts would beengineered into CMR stacks to offer enhanced value and market ready products.Both companies have complementary commercial contacts and trials ongoing whichwould allow for a rapid commercialisation of jointly developed technology. This agreement is one of a number of agreements being negotiated by Acta inorder to accelerate the commercial development of alkaline membrane fuel cellsand to secure Acta's position as the catalyst supplier of choice. It meets oneof the commercial milestones which Acta have set for the first half of 2008.Good progress continues with commercial activity across the full range of Acta'scatalyst technologies. Acta and CMR concluded the agreement at Fuel Cell EXPO in Japan. The twocompanies were the only AIM listed companies to have stands at the largest tradeshow for fuel cells in the world, with over 450 exhibitors and 20,000 visitorsover three days. Both companies demonstrated their latest catalyst and stacktechnologies, generating encouraging customer interest. Paolo Bert, Chief Executive of Acta, commented: "Acta and CMR both have outstanding and complementary commercial and technicalcapabilities. We are confident that this agreement will allow both companies todevelop and promote the high performance fuel cells that the market wants, at aprice that the consumer will be happy to pay." John Halfpenny, Chief Executive of CMR Fuel Cells, commented: "As leaders in our respective fields, this is a major opportunity for us both toaccelerate the development and deployment of the high performance, costeffective portable fuel cell products that OEMs around the world need." For further information, please contact: Acta S.p.A:Toby Woolrych, Chief Operating Officer Tel: +44 (0) 20 7360 4900 Smithfield Consultants:George Hudson / Katie Hunt / Will Henderson Tel: +44 (0) 20 7360 4900 Numis:David Poutney / Jag Mundi / Alex Ham Tel: +44 (0) 20 7260 1000 - Ends - Acta S.p.A. Acta develops and manufactures unique patented catalysts which have beenlaunched initially to the renewable energy, automotive and portableelectronics/battery markets. Acta's catalyst range for alkaline membrane fuel cells allows fuel celldevelopers to stop using expensive platinum so that fuel cells can be madecommercially viable for mass adoption, particularly in automotive and portableelectronics applications. Adoption of HYPERMEC catalysts greatly reduces thecost of fuel cells and additionally allows for the first time the use of a widerange of safe liquid bio-fuels such as ethanol and glycerol. Acta's catalysts for ammonia decomposition into hydrogen offer the automotiveindustry access to a practical hydrogen carrier for the first time. Thecatalysts extract hydrogen from ammonia at room temperature, allowing ammonia,one of the most widely used chemicals in the world, to become a fuel forautomotive use, solving the problem of hydrogen storage and transportation. Simple passive alkaline membrane fuel cells can act as a high performance andenvironmentally friendly alternative to lead acid and alkaline batteries at acommercially acceptable price. Acta is also developing other commercial opportunities using its catalysts forwaste treatment in the bio-fuel, polymer and other industries. CMR Fuel Cells plc CMR Fuel Cells plc is a UK based developer of high-performance compact fuel cellstacks for the portable consumer electronics industry. The Company is currentlyengaged with a number of consumer electronics OEMs and leading fuel cell systemdevelopers and plans to become a leading supplier of small, low-cost stacks forDirect Methanol Fuel Cell ('DMFC') power supply systems. DMFC power systems can deliver longer electrical equipment run-times thanconventional battery solutions as well as delivering other superior performancefeatures such as instant recharge, which are ideally suited for modern featurerich, 'always on, always connected' wireless devices. In 2006, an estimated 1 billion Li-Ion battery packs were sold world-wide topower portable consumer electronic devices. This number is expected to rise toan estimated 1.9 billion in the year 2008. The 2006 Frost and Sullivan reportpredicted that sales of consumer portable fuel cells could reach over 38 millionunits by 2009. CMR has a broad and growing intellectual property portfolio and experienced andcapable technical, commercial and management teams which, when combined with itsworld-class, purpose built facilities, strongly positions it at the forefront ofits high-growth target markets. Further information Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cells Acta has developed a range of platinum free catalysts to be used in a type offuel cell called Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cell (AMFC). The extensive use of scarceand expensive platinum severely restricts the commercial potential for fuelcells to be used in mass market applications. Acta has been a market leader indeveloping not just the catalysts but also systems expertise with AMFC. Acta isseeing increasing evidence that many leading companies and technical institutesin the field are now also seeing the commercial potential for AMFC, as evidencedby recent demonstrations by Daihatsu of AMFC technology. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange