Directa Plus Regulatory News (DCTA)

22 June 2017

Directa Plus plc

("Directa Plus" or the "Company")

Directa Plus and Alfredo Grassi collaborate to develop graphene-enhanced workwear

New range of highly performant technical textiles and workwear product lines to be created leveraging the unique properties of Graphene Plus

Directa Plus plc (AIM: DCTA), a producer and supplier of graphene-based products for use in consumer and industrial markets, is pleased to announce that it has entered into Joint Development Agreement ("JDA") with Alfredo Grassi S.p.A., a leading manufacturer of customised protective clothing, workwear and uniforms for private and public organisations globally. The signing of the JDA follows detailed testing of Directa Plus' graphene by Alfredo Grassi to assess the potential benefits that could be delivered by incorporating Directa Plus' graphene into their products. Under the terms of the JDA, the companies will seek to market a range of technical textiles and garments containing the Company's graphene-based products to the customers of Alfredo Grassi.

"We are proud to be collaborating with Alfredo Grassi who have a successful track record of producing clothing that leverages their established heritage combined with the technological advances of their partners," said Giulio Cesareo, Chief Executive Officer of Directa Plus. "This agreement represents a further expansion of our textile offering as our Graphene Plus (G+) will be utilised to enhance the performance of workwear and protective wear for law enforcement and military forces, which we believe represents a significant market opportunity. We look forward to working together to develop and market new product lines, based on our shared commitment to quality, innovation and environmental-sustainability, and to bringing them to the market."

The initial focus under the JDA will be on garments with linings printed with Graphene Plus combined with waterproof, breathable textiles. The presence of G+ graphene, which has been independently certified as non-toxic and non-cytotoxic, produces a technically-advanced fabric with unique properties. In particular, it is highly thermally conductive, allowing a homogeneous distribution of the heat produced by the human body in cold temperatures and a heat dispersion effect in hot temperatures. Similarly, it is able to rapidly dissipate antistatic charges. It also has a bacteriostatic effect whereby bacteria do not proliferate on the fabric. As a result, the garments will be ideally suited for activities where the dissipation of antistatic charges and heat management are required or for clinical environments.

"As a company that is continually looking for innovative materials, while paying attention to environmental sustainability, we have found an ideal partner in Directa Plus," added Roberto Grassi, CEO of Alfredo Grassi. "Together, we will seek to improve the level of comfort and protection offered by our products through the use of innovative fabrics made using graphene, and I am sure that we will continue to work on more projects together both in the workwear and the public administration sectors. I am convinced that the collaboration is a strategic milestone for us in terms of product innovation and also because we share the same corporate values, ​​such as employee appreciation and recognition, attention to environmental issues and a common long-term vision on future markets."

Alfredo Grassi manufactures and supplies customised technical fabric and garments for military, law enforcement, fire & safety and workwear applications, such as protective, waterproof and high visibility garments and uniforms. Founded in 1925, the company is headquartered in Italy with production and commercial facilities in Europe and North Africa.

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About Directa Plus

Directa Plus is one of the largest producers and suppliers of graphene-based products for use in consumer and industrial markets worldwide. By incorporating Directa Plus' unique graphene blends, identified by the G+ brand, its customers can enhance the performance of their end products without significantly increasing their cost. Directa Plus graphene-based products are natural, chemical-free, sustainably produced and tailored to specific customer requirements for commercial applications such as smart textiles, tyres, composite materials and environmental solutions.

Established in 2005, the Company has a patented technology process and a scalable and exportable manufacturing model. It produces graphene-based products at its own factory in Lomazzo, Italy, and can set up additional production at customer locations to reduce transport costs, waste and time-to-utilisation. Directa Plus partners with customers to enable them to offer the high-performance benefits of graphene in their own products.

About Alfredo Grassi

Founded in 1925, Alfredo Grassi S.p.A. has more than 90 years of experience in the manufacture of PPE, protective clothing and uniforms. A leader in Italian and international markets, it encompasses five business units - workwear, military, law enforcement, fire and safety and ballistic protection - offering a range of products from standard workwear to customised technical and protective clothing for private companies as well as for law enforcement and other public organisations.

The company has wholly-owned manufacturing facilities, located in Romania, Tunisia and Albania, with more than 1,200 employees, guaranteeing maximum production capacity and flexibility. It is this flexibility that distinguishes Alfredo Grassi from its competitors. It has a vertical production process whereby there is complete control of all the production phases, from weaving through cutting to manufacturing the finished product, in accordance with UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 standards. The close interaction between the production sites enables monitoring of each stage of the production process.

Alfredo Grassi takes pride in the continuous increase of company know-how as well as evolution and innovation of its products in pursuit of customer satisfaction. This is achieved thanks to the expertise and experience of its employees, the use of the latest high-tech equipment, production tools and computerised systems that allow the R&D department to engage in modeling, styling and technical design activities.

Particular attention has always been paid to the ethical and environmental impact of different production activities, which are managed in accordance to the ISO 14001 environmental certification, SA8000 social certification and integrated STeP by OEKO TEX certification standards.