Directa Plus Regulatory News (DCTA)

17 May 2021

Directa Plus plc

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

Final Results for the Year to 31 December 2020

Directa Plus (AIM: DCTA), a producer and supplier of graphene-based products for use in consumer and industrial markets, is pleased to announce its final results for the 12 months ended 31 December 2020. The Group has maintained its focus on developing and delivering products and services in the Environmental Remediation and Textile verticals, whilst continuing to deliver graphene enhancements to products in other areas where Directa Plus has identified significant commercial opportunities such as Lithium-Sulphur batteries and composites.

The Board is confident about future prospects and expects continuous growth. This is confirmed by the strong performances registered over the start of the current year: in the first four months of 2021 revenues have been around €2.8m, +49% compared to the previous year.

Financial & Operational Summary

Financial highlights

· Product sales and service revenue increased by 144% to €6.43m (2019: €2.63m)

· Total income (including grants) increased by 141% to €6.78m (2019: €2.81m)

· LBITDA €2.62m (2019: €2.71m), in line with market expectations*

· Reported (basic) Loss per share €0.07 (2019: €0.07)

· Cash and cash equivalents at year end of €7.08m (2019: €10.91m)

· Total patents granted at year end 38 (2019: 23)

· 2,018 metric tonnes of recovered hydrocarbons **

· 82k metres of textile printed, padded and laminated in 2020 (2019: 74k mt)

* LBITDA represents results from operating activities before tax, interest, depreciation and amortization.

** Only with reference to the two main projects with OMV Petrom and Lukoil

Business Model

Directa Plus has a unique and proven process for the production of pristine, chemical free graphene nanoplatelets, tailored to our partners' and customers' requirements, which is both flexible and scalable. Production is located at our factory near Milan, Italy, but can also be set up at customer locations to reduce transport costs, waste and lead times. We are strongly committed to environmental sustainability and abide by a strong Code of Ethics in all aspects of our business practice.

We create value through partnering with leading European industrial entities with large international footprints that provide significant growth opportunities, but also important reference customers to support the roll out of graphene enhanced products and services globally. The success of this strategy can be seen in our progress in the environmental remediation and textiles markets, and other areas where we see great potential.

Target market progress

Environmental Remediation (68% of revenue (2019: 33%))

· Frost and Sullivan Technology Innovation Award granted to Directa Plus in May 2020 for remarkable Grafysorber® performances in sustainable environmental remediation

· In February 2020, Setcar won a c. €5.0m contract to supply environmental services to GSP Offshore, part of the Romanian oil services group GSP, with a value of c. €0.7 p.a. over seven years

· New contract to supply total waste management services to Cummins Generator Technologies Romania S.A., with Setcar worth c. US$3m over a period of three years, commencing 1 October 2020

· Extension of the collaboration between Setcar and OMV Petrom S.A., the largest energy company in Southern and Eastern Europe, for the treatment of waters and the recovery of crude oil

· Agreement with Petrotel Lukoil S.A. for the draining, cleaning and washing of a first oil storage unit, completed in March 2021 for a total amount of c. €0.4m of services

· Established pipeline of active contract tenders across Europe, including a number of high value opportunities

Textiles (30% of revenue (2019: 63%))

· In a rapid response to the global crisis, Directa Plus launched in June 2020 a G+® graphene enhanced facemask, branded Co-mask™, which significantly reduces the measured incidence of SARS-Cov-2, as confirmed by a team at the Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of Rome, operating in conjunction with the Gemelli Hospital in Roma.

· €0.1m grant received from European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme to explore the potential of Co-mask™ in a clinical setting

· In August 2020, signed a collaboration agreement with Poltrona Frau S.p.A, for an initial two years, to develop a sustainable and high-tech leather enhanced by the properties of Directa Plus's proprietary graphene technology

· OEKO-TEX® independent non-toxic certification (an Eco Passport) received in February 2020 for our G+® printing paste technology

· Our technology is chemical free and has been fully demonstrated to have significant anti-viral properties without any issue or potential damage on the human body. We foresee a wide range of potential additional applications of our technology in the future

Composites

· Asphalt additive Gipave®, developed by Directa Plus and Iterchimica and containing the Company's G+ graphene, was installed at Rome's airport in January 2020

· Signed a 3-year agreement with Iterchimica for the exclusive supply of G+ graphene product in the asphalt and bitumen sector worldwide

· New San Giorgio Bridge in Genoa which opened in August 2020, was constructed using Gipave® asphalt supermodifier

· The asphalt applications of our G+ graphene technology is proving exceptional results, and the interest on the market of our product is also growing internationally. We have an enriched pipeline and we expect further projects and success in the near future

Other verticals

· In November 2020 Nextech Batteries and Directa announced that a prototype Lithium-Sulphur battery had exceeded 400Wh/kg which compares to Lithium-Ion of typically between 100-265 Wh/kg

· Post-period end, signed a partnership, 3-year supply agreement and a joint R&D collaboration with NexTech for the supply and development of new grades of G+ graphene nanoplatelets for the production of Lithium Sulphur batteries

· Technical and commercial agreement signed in July 2020 with Italdesign S.p.A to jointly develop a wide range of automotive components enhanced by Directa Plus's graphene technology

· In December 2020 Directa signed a development agreement with the Soft Goods Division of a major international developer and manufacturer of consumer electronics, personal computers and related services for the potential application of G+® graphene on covering materials

Key Performance Indicators

The Board measures the performance of the Group through a number of important financial and non-financial KPIs to help shareholders understand the Group's progress. Our financial KPIs show significant improvement compared to 2019.

The table below summarises the KPIs with further details contained later in this report:

* Total Income comprises revenue from product and service sales (€6.43m), and other income including government grants (€ 0.16m) and RDEC - Research and Development Expenditure Credit (€0.10m)

** LBITDA represents results from operating activities before depreciation and amortisation of €1.69m (2019: €0.84m). Management believes that LBITDA provides a better reflection of operational performance by removing interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation. LBITDA is a non-GAAP measure

*** The loss for the year of €4.53m is split between a €4.19m loss owned by the Company and a €0.34m loss in respect of non-controlling interests

**** Excluding amortisation and depreciation relating to revaluation of acquired assets €0.66m (2019 €0.04m) and cost of exchange rate changes of €0.27m (2019 gain of €0.16m)

***** Number of grants in portfolio at the end of the period

Giulio Cesareo, Founder & CEO, said: "Despite the impact of Covid-19, 2020 saw great progress for Directa Plus not only in our key verticals of environmental remediation and textiles, but also in the other industrial sectors such as composites, batteries and consumer electronics. We have an excellent pipeline of opportunities and our proprietary scalable, modular manufacturing process allows us to produce high quality engineered graphene materials at an attractive price point. We consider health and safety of all stakeholders and environmental protection as top priorities and we expect another year of good progress in 2021. We are particularly excited by our partnership with NexTech for high performance Lithium-Sulphur batteries where we believe we are making excellent progress".

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

Strategic Report

Chairman's Review

2020 has been a year of undoubted challenges with the Covid-19 pandemic, but despite this Directa Plus has shown a remarkable growth and delivered a significant increase in sales (+144% compared to 2019), also thanks to the full year contribution of Setcar trading.

We are pleased at how the business has coped and responded to such difficulties and how the Group has organised itself. Directa Plus's graphene manufacturing operations and headquarters are located in Lomazzo, in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy, which was one of the earliest areas affected by Covid-19. I would like to thank the executives and staff for their efforts and hard work over the last year and for their continuing commitment to the Group's development.

Against this background the Group has explored ways that its technology could be applied to alleviate the effects of the pandemic. The work the Group undertook to design, test, produce and market Co-masksTM within months of the initial concept, and to prove their efficacy in fighting Covid-19, is an outstanding example of how a nimble, innovative company can bring products to market and, in turn, provide a deeper understanding about graphene and its numerous applications.

In our environmental remediation vertical Directa is also achieving great success. Revenues from Setcar are growing consistently as more and more clean-up work is undertaken. It is really pleasing to see the Graysorber® technology developed while I have been with Directa employed in real world settings. Directa is, making a meaningful difference to a cleaner marine environment, improving customers' processes, and generating meaningful revenues for the Group. With significant near-term growth opportunities there is every reason to expect even better results in future years.

We rely on an increasingly valuable intellectual property portfolio that continues to build and the benefits of our chemical-free production process that sets Directa Plus apart from its competitors in different areas, such as textiles and batteries, that are normally compromised by impurities.

We have a clear, well-defined strategy and we are well positioned for further growth and increased traction in all areas. We are confident about our prospects and our future growth, as customer references are increasing and our product capability is proven and well recognized on the market. We have plenty of opportunities in front of us: we remain disciplined in the selection of our commercial partners and focused on continually enhancing our capacity and capability.

Following the end of the period, in January 2021, Marco Ferrari, our Chief Financial Officer since October 2014, chose to resign to pursue another role. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Marco for his work during his time with Directa Plus and wish him well for the future.

Looking forward, we are very pleased to announce that Giorgio Bonfanti will be joining the Group as our new CFO. He will take up his role on 31 May 2021 and is a very talented young man, bringing a welcome range of experience to Directa.

Despite the disruptions of Covid-19, 2020 was a hugely positive year in Directa Plus's development and the Group's future prospects have never looked stronger. The Board of Directors is confident about the future and excited for the challenges and growth opportunities to come.

Sir Peter MiddletonChairman

14 May 2021 

Chief Executive Officer's Review

Introduction

Despite the economic implications of the Covid-19 pandemic on the markets, 2020 saw great progress for Directa Plus. Over the last 12 months we have significantly increased our revenues by circa +144%, thanks not only to the full year contribution of Setcar trading, which clearly played a key role in driving the revenue increase, but also to our key verticals of environmental remediation solutions and textiles, and to the other industrial sectors where we have developed graphene enhanced products and services where we see material opportunities. We are particularly excited about the possibilities for Lithium-Sulphur batteries and our partnership with NexTech is progressing rapidly.

Strategy and Business Model

Working with established industrial businesses to collaborate on development and manufacturing to bring graphene enhanced products to market, with sustainability always in mind, remains the heart of our model. Directa Plus has developed a proprietary scalable, modular manufacturing process to produce and supply high quality engineered modular graphene materials at low production costs and 100% chemical free.

We build on the expertise of our partners for product development and enhancement, and we leverage on their existing customer relationships to gain market penetration. This allows us to explore a greater number of industries, applications, and products both more quickly and in greater depth.

Indeed, when we have proof of the effectiveness of graphene in enhancing jointly developed products our partners are always keen to open more doors alongside Directa, helping spread the word about the Group further.

We consider the health and safety of all stakeholders and environmental protection as top priorities. Since our company was established, we implement a proactive approach to health, safety and environmental protection by monitoring our production process and products. In 7 years, we have collected 28 certificates proving the absence of negative impacts of G+ graphene on biological systems.

Our key verticals remain environmental remediation and textile production and we can point to great success in those areas in 2020. This has not been to the detriment of our work with other materials and sectors however as our advances with Lithium-Sulphur batteries, polymers and elastomers, and in growing out intellectual property portfolio show.

Environmental remediation

Now deployed at a range of real world sites by the Company's subsidiary Setcar S.A. ("Setcar"), Directa's Grafysorber® technology is rapidly gaining acceptance in the Oil & Gas industry as a step change improvement from existing water treatment products and services. Reusable and sustainably produced Grafysorber® is five times more effective at hydrocarbon clean-up than competitors and allows recovery of financially valuable oils and sludges. With this range of product advantages Directa was able to deliver increasing commercial success in this vertical in 2020.

The post-acquisition integration of Setcar continues to progress well. 2020 was the first year of control of the company and we have performed and almost completed an important exercise of coordination and realignment to the Group. The Group continues to invest to reshape the Setcar business to ensure it is better positioned to capture growth opportunities. In 2020 Setcar signed 208 new contracts; participated in 115 tenders, of which it won 62; and generated €4.3m in sales (€4.0m in 2019, including the pre-acquisition period).

Setcar has a healthy and encouraging pipeline of contract tenders across Europe, including a number of high value tenders, with two in the private oil and gas sector and another in a state infrastructure network.

On 3 February 2020, Directa Plus announced that Setcar had been awarded a significant contract win to supply environmental services to GSP Offshore, part of the Romanian oil services group, GSP. This marked the second major contract win for Setcar since the completion of the acquisition by Directa Plus and the contract has a value to Setcar of approximately €0.7m per annum over a period of seven years for a total value of approximately €5 million, commencing in February 2020.

Directa Plus's success in developing Grafysorber® was recognised in May 2020 when the Company received a Technology Innovation Award 2020 from global consultants Frost & Sullivan for innovative product and processing technology for treating waters and sludges contaminated by hydrocarbons. In the report, titled 'Graphene for the Environmental Remediation Industry', the authors point out that "the technology is a remarkable step toward attaining sustainable and cost-effective environmental remediation."

Setcar signed another significant contract, announced on 13 July 2020, to supply total waste management services to Cummins Generator Technologies Romania S.A., part of the Fortune 500 group Cummins, Inc. The value of the contract to Setcar is estimated to be approximately US$3 million over a period of three years, commencing 1 October 2020.

In 2020 working with OMV Petrom S.A., one of the largest energy company in Southern and Eastern Europe, Setcar treated c.2,500 cubic metres of emulsion generated by the up-stream extraction process. This led to the recovery of c.550 metric tonnes of crude oil, with impurities below 1%, which were returned to the refinery for processing. We have been requested to raise to 2,000 metres per month the production capacity in 2021.

In January 2021 the contract with OMV Petrom was extended to June 2021, with the total value rising to up to €0.4 million.

Working with Petrotel Lukoil S.A., part of LUKOIL Company, Setcar is completing the draining, cleaning and washing of an oil storage tank, beginning in November 2020. Using Grafysorber® technology, Setcar is recovering hydrocarbons by treating the sludge settled on the tank's bottom. This process will also restore the tank to factory nameplate capacity, optimising ongoing operational use by the customer. The project has been completed by the end of March 2021 and Setcar expects to treat c.3,200 cubic metres of sludge recovering more than 2,000 metric tonnes of hydrocarbons including oil and paraffins that can be sent back to the refinery.

Environmental remediation solutions are amongst Directa Plus's most commercially advanced activities. The projects the Group is working on are demonstrating the immense potential that our proprietary Grafysorber® technology embeds. The Group is successfully gaining and fulfilling contracts that clearly demonstrates the high effectiveness of this product. Those recent outcomes are demonstrating that we will expand our market reach, making great progress with an improved product and gaining reputation, which is reflected in an enriched opportunity pipeline for the upcoming months.

Textiles

Our understanding of the possibilities offered by our textiles vertical is always improving. We are looking at a number of ways to apply G+ graphene to a wide range of materials, the performance benefits we can derive, and further potential applications.

In 2020, we operated in a year affected by Covid, thus we have explored all possible ways that the Group's technology could be used to alleviate the effects of the pandemic. Directa Plus has had to adapt working patterns, including changes to the use of office and laboratory space, to help prevent the further spread of Covid-19. The Group's graphene manufacturing operations and headquarters are located in Lomazzo in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy, which was one of the earliest affected areas for Covid-19. Much of our focus in 2020 was on the development of the Co-maskTM and we believe that work can now have broader applications. In the meanwhile, we are proud to have developed a number of key further applications to other materials, such as garments and furniture manufacture.

We have launched an own brand line of performance sportswear for sale online to demonstrate consumer demand and provide focus for our product development. Our partnerships continue to offer promising outcomes for 2021 and beyond.

As part of a partnership called GREEN.TEX, Directa Plus received a grant from the EU in January 2020, to develop an environmentally sustainable technology to digitally print its G+® graphene product on fabrics. The project partners are EFI Reggiani, the Italian subsidiary of global digital printing group Electronics For Imaging, Inc. ("EFI"), and IBS Consulting Group. Due to last for an initial 24 months, the project's aim of developing digital printing will offer improved fabric performance, much greater flexibility in production and will focus on environmental sustainability of processes and materials.

On 12 February 2020, the Company announced that had secured OEKO-TEX® certification for Directa Plus's proprietary G+ graphene printing paste technology. Eco Passport by OEKO-TEX® is an independent certification system for chemicals, colourants and auxiliaries used in the textile and leather industry. Operating since 1992 OEKO-TEX® offers testing and certification to companies worldwide.

By 19 June 2020, the Company was able to announce that the work it had undertaken in response to Covid-19 had led to the development of G+® graphene enhanced facemasks, branded Co-mask™, and their availability for retail sale at a new, dedicated website: https://graphene-plus.com/. This product has proven very popular, with many orders received by the publication of this report, including 25,000 units by a leading Italian luxury sports car manufacturer.

The Group is proud to have been able to respond to a global crisis by quickly developing a product that can help a large number of people. Therefore it was very pleasing that the anti-viral properties of the Co-mask™ were confirmed in August 2020 by a team at the Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of Rome, operating in conjunction with the Gemelli Hospital in Rome. Tests showed that G+® graphene can improve textile properties and significantly reduce the measured incidence of SARS-CoV-2 when the virus is deposited or filtered through functionalised cotton or a non-woven fabric (polyurethane). A scientific paper containing the full details of the trial and the results is underway and is expected to be published shortly.

Sales of the Company's G+® enhanced face masks continued to grow in the second half of the year, contributing meaningfully to top line revenue, totaling c. €0.6 million in 2020.

The Company is exploring the potential of Directa's facemask to be used in clinical settings with a €0.1m grant from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, as part of the Inno4Cov-19 Project. The research will also include work to develop biodegradable G+® enhanced filters and sanitisation process for the face-mask using household items such as an iron or a hairdryer.

On 10 August 2020 the Company announced the signing of a new collaboration agreement with Poltrona Frau S.p.A, a global leader in high-end furniture manufacture for residential, bespoke and commercial use. The agreement is for an initial two years with the aim of developing a new sustainable and high-tech leather enhanced by the properties of Directa Plus's proprietary graphene technology. It is anticipated that G+® enhanced leather will provide antimicrobial and antiviral properties, improved thermal regulation, electrical conductivity, and mechanical properties such as abrasion resistance and UV resilience.

In March 2021, Directa Plus was able to announce another test result relating to the absence of absorption of its pristine graphene nanoplatelets powder (Pure G+®) through human skin. A total of eight in vitro test results now show that Pure G+® has no potential negative impact on human health.

We are extremely proud of our great developments in our textiles products. Our technology has been fully demonstrated to have significant anti-viral properties without any issue or potential damage on the human body. Our chemical free production process allows it to be effective and totally safe for the customers. Our G+® graphene enhanced facemasks represented our initial response to the Covid pandemic and application launched on the market, and we foresee a wide range of potential additional applications of our technology in the future.

Composites

The Group has made significant strides elsewhere in our deployment of our graphene technology in certain composite materials, with great achievements in asphalt applications.

A six-month trial was announced on 8 January 2020 that has seen graphene enhanced asphalt used for the first time at an airport. The asphalt additive Gipave®, developed by Directa Plus and Iterchimica and containing the Company's G+ graphene, was installed at taxiway Alpha at Rome's Fiumicino airport. The project is in collaboration with G.ECO S.r.l., part of Italy's largest multi-utility company Gruppo A2A, and the University of Milan-Bicocca.

January also saw the signing of an agreement between Directa Plus and Comerio Ercole S.p.A. to pursue joint research and development projects using the Company's G+ technology to develop products in the rubber and tyres, plastic and non-woven materials industries.

April 2020 saw the announcement of an agreement with established industrial partner, Iterchimica, for the supply of a special grade of the Company's G+ graphene product, known as ITC1, the graphene modifier component of the jointly developed Gipave® road surface. The Agreement provides for the exclusive supply of the G+ graphene product to Iterchimica in the asphalt and bitumen sector worldwide and is for an initial duration of three years, with growing interest from potential customers in Italy, the UK, and the United States.

Another road trial of Gipave® was announced on 25 June 2020, in this instance in Kent, United Kingdom. The results of the trial will give further confidence to potential purchasers.

On 4 August 2020, the new San Giorgio Bridge in Genoa was opened by the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella. The new bridge, replacing the old Morandi Bridge structure that collapsed on 14 August 2018, was completed just 22 months after the disaster to designs by Genoa born Renzo Piano. The road surface on the bridge was constructed using the Gipave® asphalt supermodifier, jointly developed by Iterchimica and Directa Plus.

The asphalt applications of our G+ graphene technology is providing exceptional results, and the interest in the market for our product is growing internationally. In the meanwhile, we are continuing to explore further potential applications in the composites vertical.

Additional industrial verticals

Lithium-Sulphur Batteries

Lithium Sulphur batteries are considered to be a superior battery technology to Lithium-Ion battery technology due to possessing a superior energy density, a significant cost advantage, a superior safety profile, and a less complex manufacturing process. With applications throughout the global supply chain, not least in electric vehicles, the scale of demand for these next generation batteries is likely to be enormous.

Directa's G+ pristine graphene nanoplatelets can be used as a raw material for manufacturing the cathode of Lithium Sulphur batteries, and so there is the potential for Lithium-Sulphur batteries to become another key vertical for the Group.

In October 2020, Directa Plus signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NexTech Batteries ("NexTech"), a leading company in the field of Lithium Sulphur batteries based in Nevada, USA, to collaborate on activities aimed at securing the supply to NexTech of Directa's G+ nanoplatelets. This followed significant test work which validated the suitability of the Company's G+ materials for Lithium Sulphur battery production.

By November 2020, Directa Plus and NexTech were able to announce that a prototype Lithium-Sulphur battery using the Directa's G+® pristine graphene nanoplatelets, had achieved above 400 Wh/kg (watt-hours per kilogram, the usual measure of energy density) in a practical system. For comparison, standard Lithium-Ion batteries have an energy density of 100-265 Wh/kg.

In February 2021, Directa Plus and NexTech agreed to form a deeper partnership, with a three-year supply agreement for the provision of a specific grade of G+® pristine graphene nanoplatelets and a joint R&D collaboration to develop new specific grades of nanoplatelets. Both parties will dedicate selected scientists from their R&D teams and a joint laboratory has been established in Lomazzo.

Consumer Electronics

In December 2020 Directa Plus signed a development agreement with the Soft Goods Division of a major international developer and manufacturer of consumer electronics, personal computers and related services. The agreement covers the potential application of G+® graphene on covering materials of consumer devices, exploiting the antiviral-antibacterial properties of G+® graphene as well as its thermal and electrical conductivity.

Automotive

Directa Plus made its first move into automotive design, in July 2020, signing a technical and commercial agreement with Italdesign S.p.A, a global leader in automotive design and engineering. Part of Volkswagen AG, Italdesign also specialises in styling, engineering, prototyping and testing services, and the manufacture of ULSP (ultra-low series production) vehicles. The agreement will allow Directa Plus and Italdesign to jointly develop a wide range of automotive components enhanced by Directa Plus's graphene expertise.

Other areas

The Company is continuing to work on additional opportunities in new high potential verticals including energy storage, golf balls, and paints. We are also exploring the developments within the rubber and tyres, plastic and non-woven materials industries.

Moreover, in February 2021, research undertaken by scientists at the Polytechnic of Turin was published in an article in the journal Polymers showing that the use of water-based G+ graphene ink to coat polymeric foam confers significant flame-retardant properties versus untreated polymeric foam. A simple application of G+ ink to the external faces of the foam provided good flame-retardant properties, tested in both horizontal and vertical conditions. Polymeric foams are used in many applications from roof insulation to furniture and are extremely flammable meaning that the potential market for G+ fire retardant technology is sizeable.

We are examining ways to realise the value of patents in the market, exploring potential license opportunities or royalty models that could be the most effective models for us at this stage.

Intellectual Property

The Group continues to protect its intellectual property portfolio, which at the date of this report comprises 48 patents granted and 21 patents pending. The whole portfolio represents a significant value for the Group.

On 27 April 2020 Directa Plus was granted an EU-wide patent covering the use of its graphene based Grafysorber® technology for treating waters and sludges contaminated by hydrocarbons.

On 26 May 2020 the Company was granted an Italian patent for its Planar Thermal Circuit® invention. The patent covers the use of the G+® graphene circuit applied onto fabrics of any type and which is able to absorb body heat and move it from the hottest to the coldest point of the circuit, providing a significantly increased sense of comfort to the wearer or user.

On 22 June 2020 Directa Plus announced that the Company had been granted its sixth Chinese patent, covering the use of the Company's G+® graphene technology for bicycle, motorcycle and passenger car tyres as well as truck and bus radial tyres, specifically the tyre treads.

On 30 July 2020, Directa Plus was granted a patent by the Italian Patent Office for the Company's G+® graphene to improve the performance of rubber-based shoe outsoles. The patent covers both the formula containing G+® and the outsole made with the formula.

Directa Plus published a Scientific paper on Applied Polymer Science in September 2020, certifying the G+® nanoplatelets morphology in compliance with ISO/TS80004-13:2017. One more paper covering the antiviral properties of G+® treated fabrics was also submitted.

In December 2020 Directa Plus was granted a second patent on the equipment used for the super-expansion of intercalated natural graphite in the Group's core plasma technology. The new machinery has a production capacity at least five times higher, and is much more durable, than the Group's existing technology, resulting in an increase in manufacturing capability and lower maintenance costs. The grant of the new patent protects the Group's core production process for an additional 20 years.

Post-period in January 2021, Directa Plus received Notices of Allowance in respect of four patents, ahead of the formal grant: a US patent for the Group's Graysorber® environmental remediation technology; an EU patent for the Group's sustainable, chemical-free G+ production process; a US patent for the use of G+® graphene supermodifier to improve the performance of elastomers, specifically tyres; and an EU patent covering the same use of G+® supermodifier in tyres.

Environmental, Social and Governance policies

Environmental sustainability is at the heart of Directa Plus's business, our research, manufacturing, commercialisation, and purpose.

From the earliest stages of our research into graphene applications we were determined to design manufacturing processes for our pristine nanoplatelets that would avoid the need for chemical processes and so avoid wasteful by-products. We continue this approach now - always seeking to design the most efficient manufacturing and proving the safety and sustainability of our products working with recognised environmental organisations.

When deciding our commercialisation strategy, we made it a priority to work only with environmentally responsible industrial partners, and to seek to improve on products in existing markets. This means that we can help produce and sell better quality products than are currently available, with better performance and longer life for end-users.

Our commitment on this matter emerges also with our Grafysorber® based technology and products, which are environmentally friendly solutions aimed at solving both historical pollution problems and oil spills.

Outlook

We are very proud at Directa Plus of the development that we have undertaken into real world graphene applications for consumers, and this is reflected in the strength of our intellectual property portfolio.

That said, I did not found Directa Plus purely to undertake research and testing. The Group is a commercial enterprise and we are focused on delivering increased value for our shareholders through selling the products and services we develop across all of the markets we work in. Today we are providing valuable services and products to a growing list of customers within our verticals and we believe we have an ever increasing opportunity to create value for the Group and to grow both operationally and financially.

Looking at another significant year on year growth in revenues we can now unequivocally state that the strategy is working. The R&D work we undertook in environmental remediation has directly led to the successes Setcar is enjoying today. With significant tender decisions concerning multi-million euro contracts due in the summer of 2021 the potential for continued rapid growth is clear.

Our ability to repeat that success across our other verticals is also looking extremely promising. In Textiles our performance sports and outwear is gaining significant traction with consumers; and we have seen very promising developments in mask tech and expanding the use case through clinical certification.

We are advancing the uptake of graphene composite enhanced asphalt with the results of year-long real world trials soon to complete. Our work with top quality partners in the automotive market is very exciting as we look at a number of different elements of cars we can work on. Lithium-Sulphur batteries also present a huge opportunity to improve upon nascent battery technology with a huge range of applications. The strategic R&D agreement with NexTech Batteries Inc. will allow us to initiate an exciting and promising collaboration in an industry with such a massive growth potential.

Delivering significant growth in a difficult year for the global economy is testament to the hard work of Directa Plus's employees. We believe that over the last 12 months we increased our reputation in the market, and existing and potential customers are gradually understanding and perceiving well the value of our products. We look forward to further growth and we are extremely positive on future success.

Financial review

At the end of March 2021 our Chief Financial Officer Marco Ferrari, working with us in Directa Plus since October 2014, has left the Group for pursuing another role. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Marco for his work during his time with Directa Plus and wish him well for the future.

I am very pleased to announce that Giorgio Bonfanti will be joining the Group as our new CFO.

Giorgio is a highly competent young man with the right skills to tackle the significant opportunities that Directa will face in the future.

Key Performance Indicators

The Board measures the performance of the Group through a number of important financial and non-financial KPIs to help shareholders understand the Group's progress. Our financial KPIs show significant improvement compared to 2019.

The table below summarises the KPIs with further details contained later in this report:

* Total Income comprises revenue from product and service sales (€6.43m), and other income including government grants (€ 0.16m) and RDEC - Research and Development Expenditure Credit (€0.10m)

** LBITDA represents results from operating activities before depreciation and amortisation of €1.69m (2019: €0.84m). Management believes that LBITDA provides a better reflection of operational performance by removing interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation. LBITDA is a non-GAAP measure

*** The loss for the year of €4.53m is split between a €4.19m loss owned by the Company and a €0.34m loss in respect of non-controlling interests

**** Excluding amortisation and depreciation relating to revaluation of acquired assets €0.66m (2019 €0.04m) and cost of exchange rate changes of €0.27m (2019 gain of €0.16m)

***** Number of grants in portfolio at the end of the period

Financial overview

2020 results reflect for the first time a full year contribution from Setcar SA that had a significant positive impact on our revenue from product sales and service, which grew to €6.43 million (€2.63 million in 2019).

Revenue was also positively impacted also by the sales of our Co-maskTM product, which contributed with c. €0.57 million of sales.

We continue to spend on research and development across our key industrial verticals as one would expect in a technology led, growth orientated business and we are seeing positive outcomes as a result, with meaningful revenue growth in several categories.

LBITDA for the period was €2.62 million, showing a slight improvement compared to previous year (€2.71 million in 2019). Despite being still negative, EBITDA loss from Directa Plus SpA improved by 17%, while Setcar showed a positive EBITDA of €0.12 million, compared to the €0.41 million last year contribution.

The Group loss after tax was in line with management expectations at €4.53 million. Adjusted loss after tax, which excludes depreciation and amortisation from the revaluation of acquired assets of Setcar and the cost of exchange rate changes, was €3.60 million and in line with previous year (€3.52m in 2019).

The table below details the adjustments to loss after tax:

As of 31 December 2020, inventories increased up to €1.38 million (2019: €1.10m), in line with the growth of the business and at a level that ensures that the Group can meet growing demand from key clients in a timely manner.

Total assets of the Group totaled €17.71 million (2019: €21.99m) and the decrease compared to the previous year was mainly driven by the drop in cash and cash equivalents €7.08 million, vs €10.91m as of 31 December 2019). The decrease was mainly driven by still negative cash-flows from operating activities, also affected by the partial repayment of the deferred consideration in connection with the Setcar acquisition (€0.21m).

In 2020 the Group raised additional debt funds guaranteed by the Italian government for €0.33m and Setcar increased its loan facility up to €0.69m (2019 €0.35m). Moreover, Setcar obtained an additional loan from its other main shareholder (GVC Investment Company) reaching a total amount of €0.98m. Post period, such shareholder's loan was entirely converted into equity.

The Group has an ambitious long-term growth strategy and may in the future consider raising additional capital through an equity issue to capture additional opportunities and to accelerate its growth. In addition, it looks increasingly likely that the Group will have access to a €1.5-2 million loan backed by the Italian government, as part of the Covid-19 recovery programme, offered at competitive costs.

It is expected that the receipt of Italian government funding will help sustain the Group until it reaches anticipated cash flow break-even, and to assist the Group as it seeks to the exploit several significant commercial opportunities across an enriched pipeline, including Lithium-Sulphur batteries, further improvement in graphene production, the development of higher performing products and the maintenance of competitive advantage.

In the short term the Group's priorities continue to be focused on a reduction in cash consumption and an improvement in profitability.

A description of the main risks and uncertainties facing the Group are described within the Directors' Report in the Annual Report.

Giulio CesareoChief Executive Officer14 May 2021

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

CONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

The Company has taken advantage of the exemption allowed under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not presented its own statement of comprehensive income in these financial statements. The Company loss after tax for the year was € 956,408 (2019: € 558,846).

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board and were signed on its behalf by:

Giulio CesareoChief Executive OfficerDate: 14 May 2021

The notes below form part of these financial statement

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

CONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

1. Basis of preparation

a) Statement of compliance

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and International Accounting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and Interpretations (collectively IFRS).

The principal accounting policies are summarised below. They have all been applied consistently throughout the year and the preceding year, unless otherwise stated.

All notes, except as otherwise indicated, are presented in Euros ("€").

I. Going Concern

As of 31 December 2020, the Group (including the Company) had net assets of €10.66m (2019: €15.17m) and cash and cash equivalent of €7.08m (2019: €10.91m).

The Directors are aware that there is an ongoing need to monitor the cash flow requirements of the Company and Group for the upcoming months, particularly in light of the recent developments in the markets due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has had a significant, immediate impact on global economies. In this regard, the Group prepares annual budgets and forecasts in order to ensure that they have sufficient liquidity to meet liabilities and commitments as they fall due. The Directors regularly review updates to the scenario planning such that the Board can put in place the appropriate mitigating actions within their control.

Based on the most recent projections, the Directors believe that the Group will have sufficient funds in place, up until at least the end of 2022, to meet liabilities as and when they fall due. Despite this, given the current global economic status, the Directors have carried out a downward sensitivity analysis stressing the base financial projections by applying a further material reduction in forecast revenues, and modelling mitigation or deferral of capital and operational expenditure within the control of Management and the Board. Based on these downward scenarios, the Directors believe that the Company will still have the funds to support the Group as a going concern until the end of 2022 and at least the next 16 months from the date this report is authorised. The Directors note however that the markets in which the company is engaged have significant growth potential and that thus far in 2021 the Company is performing well.

The Directors will continue to closely monitor performance and continue to review the funding necessary to exploit the growth opportunities in its markets and the Group is progressively improving its working capital funding need. Notwithstanding this, it is likely that in the future further funds will be needed to support and accelerate its ambitious growth. Based on current forecast, further funding is not required to support the going concern basis of preparation over the next 12 months from approving this report, however, as part of the continued improvement of the Group's funding position Management are currently seeking to raise supplementary subsidized financing for a total amount of €1.5-2m in 2021 that would further strengthen the cash funds available to the Group.

The Directors therefore consider it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

b) Basis of consolidation

I. Business combination

The Group accounts for business combination using the acquisition method of accounting. The cost of the business combination is measured as the aggregate of the fair value of the assets acquired, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity instruments issued. Costs attributable to the business combination are expensed as incurred.

The acquiree's identifiable assets and liabilities which meet the recognition conditions are recognised at the fair values at the acquisition date.

Contingent liabilities are only included in the identifiable assets and liabilities of the acquiree where there is a present obligation at acquisition date that arises from past events and its fair value can be measured reliably.

Any difference arising between the fair value and the tax base of the acquiree's assets and liabilities that give rise to a taxable or deductible difference result in the recognition of a deferred tax liability or asset.

Non-controlling interest arising from a business combination is measured either at their share of the fair value of the assets and liabilities of the acquiree.

Goodwill is not amortised, but it is tested on an annual basis for impairment.

II. Subsidiaries

Where the Company has control over an investee, it is classified as a subsidiary. The Company controls an investee if all three of the following elements are present: power over the investee, exposure to variable returns from the investee, and the ability of the investor to use its power to affect those variable returns. Control is reassessed whenever facts and circumstances indicate that there may be a change in any of these elements of control.

The total comprehensive income of non-wholly owned subsidiaries is attributed to owners of the parent and to the non-controlling interests in proportion to their relative ownership interests.

III. Transaction eliminated on consolidation

The consolidated financial statements present the results of the Company and its subsidiaries ("the Group") as if they formed a single entity. Intercompany transactions and balances between group companies are therefore eliminated in full.

IV. Non-controlling interest

Non-controlling interest in the net assets of the consolidated subsidiaries are identified separately from the Group's equity. Non-controlling interests consist of the amount of those interests at the date of the original business combination and the non-controlling shareholder's share changes in equity since the date of the combination. The non-controlling interest's share of losses, where applicable, are attributed to the non-controlling interests irrespective of whether the non-controlling shareholders have a binding obligation and are able to make an additional investment to cover the losses.

c) Functional and presentation currency

These financial statements are presented in Euro ("€") and is considered by the Directors to be the most appropriate presentation currency to assist the users of the financial statements. The functional currency of the Company and of the Italian operating subsidiary is Euro ("€"). The functional currency of the Romanian subsidiary is RON.

d) Use of estimates and judgements

The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances and the results of which form the basis of making judgements about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimates are revised if the revision affects only that period.

Critical estimates and judgements that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements and/or have a significant risk of resulting in a material adjustment within the next financial year are as follows:

I. Valuation of share based payments

The estimation related to share based payment expenses includes the selection of an appropriate valuation option pricing model, consideration as to the inputs necessary for the valuation model chosen, and the estimation of the number of awards that will ultimately vest. Inputs subject to estimation relate to the future volatility of the share price which has been estimated based on the historical observed volatility from trading in the Company's shares, over a historical period of time between the date of the grant and the date of exercise. Management has used a Monte-Carlo model to calculate the fair value of the awards which include market based performance conditions. Further disclosure of inputs relevant to the calculations is set out in note [24] to the financial statements.

II. Carrying value of goodwill

The carrying value of goodwill, and the cash generating units (CGUs) to which it relates, is assessed annually for impairment through comparing the recoverable amount to the CGU's carrying value. The value in use calculations require estimates in relation to uncertain items, including management's expectations of future revenue growth, operating costs, profit margins, operating cashflows and the discount rate applied. Future cash flows used in the value in use calculations are based on our latest three-year financial plans. Expectations about future growth reflect expectations of growth in the markets applicable to the group. The future cashflows are discounted using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money. The discount rate used is adjusted for the specific risk to the group, including the countries to which cash flows will be generated. Further disclosure of evaluations is set out in note [11] to the financial statements.

III. Valuation and recoverability of inventory

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realisable value. The cost of inventories comprises of net prices paid for materials purchased, production labour cost and factory overhead. Net realisable value represents the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution. Inventory provisions are recognised for slow-moving, obsolete or unsalable inventory and are reviewed on a six-monthly basis. The valuation of Inventory includes key estimates and judgments made by Management including normal production capacity, market demand and selling opportunities. If actual demand or usage were to be lower than estimated, inventory provisions for excess or obsolete inventory may be required.

IV. Defined benefit scheme

Provision for benefits upon termination of employment related to amounts accrued by Italian companies for employment retirement. In determining this provision Management employs actuarial techniques, including the involvement of an external experts. All key estimates applied have been included in note 20.

V. Revenue recognition

Following the acquisition of Setcar in 2019, Management has reviewed the key contracts pertaining to the environmental services provided and determined that revenue is recognised over time rather than at a point in time as this is the best representation of when the performance obligations under the contracts is provided. This is considered a key judgement for this financial period as these revenue streams differ from those earned by the Group in the past.

VI. Business combination

Control assessments are performed by the management, per the requirements of IFRS 10, to establish control in the business combination. Accordingly, the concept of control is fundamental to consolidation and it exists when the investor concurrently:

· has power over the investee;

· is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee;

· has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee.

Management believe that Directa Plus SpA has control of Setcar SA under IFRS 10 provisions based on the followings:

· Directa Plus SpA owns directly 51% of the share capital issued by Setcar SA.

· Based on the Articles of Association (AoA) in place, Directa Plus SpA can control the General Meeting of Setcar SA. From the control of the general meeting derives the control of the BoD.

· The operations of the Company are supervised and managed by Razvan Popescu, appointed as Director by Directa Plus.

Based on the control provided in the measures above:

· Directa Plus is exposed to variable returns from its involvement with the investee

· Directa Plus has the ability to use its power over the investee to affect the amount of the investor's returns.

2. Significant accounting policies

a) Functional and foreign currency

The financial statements of each Group company are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which that company operates (the functional currency). The consolidated financial statements record the results and financial position of each Group company in Euro, which is the functional currency of the Company and the presentational currency for the consolidated financial statements.

I. Transaction and balances

Transactions in foreign currencies are converted into the respective functional currencies at initial recognition, using the exchange rates at the transaction date. Monetary assets and liabilities at the end of the reporting period are translated at the rates ruling at the reporting date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are not retranslated. All exchange differences are recognised in profit or loss. On consolidation, the results of overseas operations not in Euro are translated at the rates approximating to those ruling when the transactions took place. All assets and liabilities of overseas operations are translated at the rate ruling at the reporting date. Exchange differences arising on translating the opening net assets at closing rate and the results of overseas operations at actual rate are recognised in other comprehensive income.

b) Financial instruments

There are no other categories of financial assets other than those listed below:

I. Trade and other receivables and amounts due from subsidiaries

Trade and other receivables and amounts due from subsidiaries are recognised and carried at the original invoice amount less any provision for impairment.

The Group recognises a loss allowance for expected credit losses ("ECL") on financial assets that are measured at amortised cost which comprise mainly trade receivables. The amount of expected credit losses is updated at each reporting date to reflect changes in credit risk since initial recognition of the respective financial instrument.

The Group always recognises lifetime ECL on trade receivables. The expected credit losses on these financial assets are estimated using a provision matrix based on the Group's historical credit loss experience, adjusted for factors that are specific to the debtors, general economic conditions and an assessment of both the current as well as the forecast direction of conditions at the reporting date, including time value of money where appropriate.

II. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise demand deposits with an original maturity up to 3 months are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

There are no other categories of financial liabilities other than those listed below:

III. Trade and other payables

Trade payables are stated at their amortised cost.

IV. Financial liabilities and equity

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. At initial recognition, financial liabilities are measured at their fair value, minus transaction costs that are directly attributable, and are subsequently measured at amortised cost.

An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the asset of the Group after deducting all of its liabilities. Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the proceeds received net of direct issue costs.

V. Leases

On commencement of a contract which gives the Group the right to use assets for a period of time in exchange for consideration, the Group recognises a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. The right-of-use asset is measured at cost, which is made up of the initial measurement of the lease liability, any initial direct costs incurred by the Group, an estimate of any costs to dismantle and remove the asset at the end of the lease, and any lease payment made in advance of the lease commencement date (net of any incentives received). The Group depreciates the right-of-use assets on a straight line basis from the lease commencement date to the earlier of the end of the useful life of the right-of-use asset or the end of the lease term. The Group also assesses the right-of-use asset for impairment when such indicators exist. At the commencement date, the Group measures the lease liability at the present value of the lease payment unpaid at that date, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease if that rate is readily available or the Group's incremental borrowing rate. Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability are made up of fixed payments, variable payments based on an index or rate, amounts expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee and payments arising from options reasonably certain to be exercised. Subsequent to initial measurement, the liability will be reducing for payment made and increased for interest. It is remeasured to reflect any reassessment or modification, or if there are changes in in-substance fixed payments. When the lease liability is remeasured, the corresponding adjustment is reflected in the right-of-use asset, or profit and loss if the right-of-use asset is already reduced to zero.

c) Share capital

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are netted off against share premium.

d) Property, plant and equipment

I. Recognition and measurement

Property, plant and equipment are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation, Government grants received (where applicable) and accumulated impairment losses.

Costs capitalised include expenditure that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset.

When parts of an item of property, plant and equipment have different useful lives, they are accounted for as separate items (major components) of property, plant and equipment.

Any gain or loss on disposal of an item of property, plant and equipment (calculated as the difference between the net proceeds from disposal and the carrying amount of the item) are recognised in profit or loss.

II. Subsequent costs

Subsequent expenditure is capitalised only when it is probable that the future economic benefits associated with the expenditure will flow to the Group. Ongoing repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

III. Depreciation

Items of property, plant and equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis in the statement of comprehensive income over the estimated useful lives of each component.

Items of property, plant and equipment are depreciated from the date that they are installed and are ready for use, or in respect of internally constructed assets, from the date that the asset is completed and ready for use.

The estimated useful lives of significant items of property, plant and equipment are as follows:

· IT equipment from 3 to 5 years

· Industrial equipment, office equipment and plant and machinery from 5 to 10 years

Depreciation methods, useful lives and residual values are reviewed at each reporting date and adjusted where appropriate.

e) Intangible assets

Intangible assets are measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and Government grants received (where applicable). The carrying value of intangible assets is reviewed annually for impairment.

Patent rights acquired and development expenditure are recognised at cost.

Expenditure on internally developed products is capitalised if it can be demonstrated that:

- it is technically feasible to develop the product

- adequate resources are available to complete the development

- there is an intention to complete and sell the product

- the Group is able to sell the product

- sale of the product will generate future economic benefits, and

- expenditure on the project can be measured reliably.

Capitalised development costs are amortised over the period the Group expects to benefit from selling the products developed (Useful Economic Life). The amortisation expense is included within the cost of sales in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

Development expenditure not satisfying the above criteria and expenditure on the research phase of internal projects are recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as incurred.

Capitalised development expenditure is measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses.

Other intangible assets that are acquired by the Group and have finite useful lives are measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.

I. Amortisation

Intangible assets are amortised on a straight-line basis in profit or loss over their estimated useful lives, from the date that they are available for use. The estimated useful lives of significant intangible assets are as follows:

· Patents and research and development costs concerning G+ technology generate significant value to the Group over a period of 20 years, in line with the legal duration of the patent and their useful lives. However, on a conservative basis, such costs are amortised over a period of 10 years.

· Brand: 25 years

· Orderbook: 1 year

· Others: 1 year

f) Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realisable value. The cost of inventories comprises of net prices paid for materials purchased, production labour cost and factory overhead. Net realisable value represents the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution. Inventory provisions are recognised for slow-moving, obsolete or unsalable inventory and are reviewed on a six months basis.

g) Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of a business combination over the Group's interest in the fair value of identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired.

Cost comprises the fair value of assets given, liabilities assumed and equity instruments issued, plus the amount of any non-controlling interests in the acquiree plus, if the business combination is achieved in stages, the fair value of the existing equity interest in the acquiree. Contingent consideration is included in cost at its acquisition date fair value and, in the case of contingent consideration classified as a financial liability, remeasured subsequently through profit or loss.

Goodwill is capitalised as an intangible asset with any impairment in carrying value being charged to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. Where the fair value of identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities exceed the fair value of consideration paid, the excess is credited in full to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income on the acquisition date.

h) Impairment

Impairment tests on goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite useful economic lives are undertaken annually at the financial year end. Other non-financial assets are subject to impairment tests whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. For the purpose of impairment testing, assets are grouped together into the smallest group of assets that generates cash inflows from continuing use that are largely independent of the cash inflows of other assets or groups of assets (CGUs). The Group's CGUs generally align with each subsidiary. The recoverable amount is then estimated. The recoverable amount of an asset or a CGU is the greater of its net present value and its fair value less costs to sell.

Net present value is generally computed as the present value of the future cash flows, discounted to present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset.

An impairment loss is recognised if the carrying amount of an asset or a CGU exceeds its estimated recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognised in profit or loss. Impairment losses recognised in respect of CGUs are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the unit and then to reduce the carrying amounts of the other assets in the unit on a pro rata basis.

An impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed. In respect of other assets, impairment losses recognised in prior years are assessed at each reporting date for any indications that the loss has decreased or no longer exists. An impairment loss is reversed if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset's carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation and amortisation, if no impairment loss had been recognised.

i) Employee benefits

Defined benefit scheme surpluses and deficits are measured at:

- The fair value of plan assets at the reporting date; less

- Plan liabilities calculated using the projected unit credit method discounted to its present value using yields available on high quality corporate bonds that have maturity dates approximating to the terms of the liabilities; plus

- Unrecognised past service costs; less

- The effect of minimum funding requirements agreed with scheme trustees.

Remeasurements of the net defined obligation are recognised directly within equity. The remeasurements include:

- Actuarial gains and losses

- Return on plan assets (interest exclusive)

- Any asset ceiling effects (interest exclusive).

Service costs are recognised in profit or loss and include current and past service costs as well as gains and losses on curtailments.

Net interest expense (income) is recognised in profit or loss and is calculated by applying the discount rate used to measure the defined benefit obligation (asset) at the beginning of the annual period to the balance of the net defined benefit obligation (asset), considering the effects of contributions and benefit payments during the period.

Gains or losses arising from changes to scheme benefits or scheme curtailment are recognised immediately in profit or loss.

Settlements of defined benefit schemes are recognised in the period in which the settlement occurs.

For more information please see note 20.

j) Revenues

The Group operates diverse businesses and accordingly applies different methods for revenue recognition, based on the principles set out in IFRS 15.

The revenue and profits recognised in any reporting period are based on the delivery of performance obligations and an assessment of when control is transferred to the customer. In determining the amount of revenue and profits to record, and associated balance sheet items, management is required to review performance obligations within individual contracts. This may involve some judgemental areas.

Revenue is recognised either when the performance obligation in the contract has been performed (so 'point in time' recognition) or 'over time' as control of the performance obligation is transferred to the customer.

For each performance obligation to be recognised over time, the Group applies a revenue recognition method that faithfully depicts the Group's performance in transferring control of the goods or services to the customer. This decision requires assessment of the real nature of the goods or services that the Group has promised to transfer to the customer.

· Revenues from sale of graphene based products are typically recognised at a point in time when goods are delivered to the customer as with this, the customer gains the right of control over the goods. However, for export sales, control might also be transferred when delivered either to the port of departure or port of arrival, depending on the specific terms of the contract with a customer. 

· Revenues from sale of equipment (such as Mobile Production Units) are typically recognised at point in time when goods are delivered to the customers and site acceptance test is successfully performed.

· Revenues from services relates mainly to environmental services provided by Setcar which are recognised:

o on an over time basis when contracts include an obligation to process waste once the process occurred according with the contract in place.

o at the point in time when the waste is delivered to our platform with no further performance obligations.

Where cost has been incurred to undertake a performance obligation but this has not been realised at the year end the attributable costs are carried forward as work in progress.

k) Government grants

Government grants are recognised when there is reasonable assurance that the entity will comply with the relevant conditions and the grant will be received. Grants are recognised in profit or loss on a systematic basis where the Group has recognised the initial expenses that the grants are intended to compensate. Where a grant has been received as a contribution for property, plant and equipment, or capitalised development costs, the income received has been credited against the asset in the statement of financial position.

l) Finance income and finance costs

Finance income comprises interest income on funds invested. Interest income is recognised in the profit or loss, using the effective interest method. Finance costs comprise interest expense on borrowings.

Borrowing costs that are not directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of a qualifying asset are recognised in profit or loss using the effective interest method.

m) Investments in subsidiaries (Company only)

Investments are stated at their cost less any provision for impairment (for details refer to note h).

n) Taxation

Tax expense comprises current and deferred tax. Current and deferred tax is recognised in the profit or loss except to the extent that it relates to a business combination, or items recognised directly in equity or in other comprehensive income.

Current tax is the expected tax payable or receivable on the taxable income or loss for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.

Deferred tax is recognised in respect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes.

Deferred tax is not recognised for:

· temporary differences on the initial recognition of assets or liabilities in a transaction that is not a business combination and that affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss;

· temporary differences related to investments in subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities to the extent that it is probable that they will not reverse in the foreseeable future; and

· taxable temporary differences arising on the initial recognition of goodwill.

·

Deferred tax is measured at the tax rates that are expected to be applied to temporary differences when they reverse, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date.

A deferred tax asset is recognised for deductible temporary differences to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which they can be utilised. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realised.

Adoption of new and revised standards

New standards, interpretations and amendments effective from 1 January 2020

The disclosed policies have been applied consistently by the Group for both the current and previous financial year with the exception of the new standards adopted.

The IFRS financial information has been drawn up on the basis of accounting policies consistent with those applied in the financial statements for the year to 31 December 2019, except for the following:

a. Definition of Material - Amendments to IAS 1 and IAS 8;

b. Definition of a Business - Amendment to IFRS 3;

c. Interest Rate Benchmark Reform - Amendment to IFRS 7, IFRS 9 and IAS 39;

d. Revised Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting;

e. COVID-19-Related Rent Concession - Amendments to IFRS 16.

The application of the above standards has had no impact on the disclosures or the amounts recognised in the Group's consolidated financial statements.

New standards, interpretations and amendments not yet effective

Below is a list of new and revised IFRSs that are not yet mandatorily effective (but allow early application) for the year ending 31 December 2020 and have not been early adopted by the Group. These standards are not expected to have a material impact on the Group in the future reporting periods and on foreseeable future transactions.

3. Operating segments

IFRS 8 requires operating segments to be identified on the basis of internal reports about components of the Group that are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision makers (CEO, CFO, COO and CTO), as defined in IFRS 8, in order to allocate resources to the segments and to assess its performance.

For management purposes, also considering the materiality the Group is organized into the following segments:

- Textile

- Environmental

- Others

In 2019 the Environmental segment was introduced to reflect the nature of the underlying business of Setcar. Textile and Environmental were considered by Management the strategic segments able to sustain the growth. Management's strategic needs are constantly monitored and an update of the segments will be provided if required. Any further update of the segment analysis will be reflected in this section.

Segment profit/(loss) represents the profit/(loss) earned by each segment, including all the direct costs that are directly correlated with the segment. Overhead, assets and liabilities not directly attributable to a specific segment have been allocated as Head Office.

As the business evolves this is an area that will be assessed on a regular basis and additional segmental reporting will be provided at the appropriate time.

2020

2019

*Includes Changes in inventories of finished goods.

Geographical breakdown of revenues is:

The group has transacted with one main customer in 2020, which account for more than 10% of Group revenues for sales of products and services. This largest customer's revenues amount to €1,323,623 (20%), whilst the next highest revenue earning customer provided €608,259 (9%).

Other Income of €345,826 includes Government Grants for €159,815, R&D Expenditure Credit (RDEC) for €102,988 and other income for € 83,022. The RDEC is an Italian incentive scheme (art.3 DL 145/2013) designed to encourage companies to invest in research and development. The credit can be used to reduce corporation tax or to offset outstanding payables related to social security.

4. Government Grants

Information regarding government grants:

The Group benefited from COVID-19 related government grants for a total amount of €103,536, of which €80,407 referred to unemployment grants in Romania and €23,129 referred to grants from the Italian Government. In this regard, the Group benefited by two assistance programs launched by the Italian Government to support local companies in the context of the Covid-19 crisis. Those programmes envisaged a 60% of tax credit on rental costs in case of decrease in monthly revenues higher than 50% (€14,935 of tax credit granted) and non-repayable grants as the 10% of the decrease in April 2020 revenues compared to the previous year (€8,194 granted).

The key terms of government grants are:

There are no capital commitments built into the ongoing grants. Government grants have been recognised in other income. Ecopave government grant has been extended to 2021, however no grants have been received in 2020.

5. Inventory

As of 31 December 2020, total inventory value is higher than 2019, the movement is mainly driven by the new line of face mask and filters included within finished products. Spare parts inventory was required to enhance maintenance efficiency and is composed of a small number of critical items with a material cost per unit.

6. Raw materials and consumables

The increase in raw materials mainly refers to Setcar; the Company was acquired in November 2019 and in the previous year the profit and loss included only one month.

7. Employee benefits expenses

The average number of employees (excluding non-executive directors) during the period was as follows:

The total number of employees, employed by the Group on 31 December 2020 was 193 (2019: 169), 167 were Setcar's employees.

The Directors' emoluments (including non-executive directors) are as follows:

The aggregate emoluments of the highest paid Director totalled €501k (2019: €434k)

A detailed analysis of the remuneration of the directors is detailed within the Directors' Remuneration Report in the Annual Report.

8. Results from operating activities:

Results from operating activities includes:

Tool manufacturing expenses increase to €508,363 (2019: €280,083) and are mainly referred to Setcar's third parties services and Directa Plus Spa's fabrics printing service.

Technical consultancies decreased to € 223,732 (2019: €406,105) thanks to the reorganization of services.

The increase of shipping and logistics expenses to €365,317 (2019: €105,211) and in Insurance costs is mainly referred to Setcar, included full year in 2020.

Marketing expenses is approximately in line with previous year expenditure, meanwhile travel expenses decreased to €73,822 (2019: €221,397) due to the travel restrictions imposed after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

9. Net Finance expenses

Finance expenses include:

Foreign exchange losses of €270,268 (2019: €160,548) are mainly related to Sterling to Euro movement in the Group's Sterling bank account.

10. Taxation

Reconciliation of tax rate

Tax losses carried forward have been recognised as a deferred tax asset up to the point that they are recoverable against taxable temporary differences. All other tax losses are carried forward and not recognised as a deferred tax asset due to the uncertainty regarding generating future taxable profits. Tax losses carried forward are €27,762,446(€ 24,040,737 in 2019).

11. Intangible assets

As disclosed in note 1(d) development costs capitalised in the year are mainly based on time spent by employees who are directly engaged in the development of the G+ technology.

Management, throughout the support of external experts, carried out an impairment test on goodwill accounted following the acquisition of Setcar S.A. in 2019.

The CGU is represented by Setcar itself, whose carrying amount as of 31 December 2020 was estimated equal to €4,205k.

The recoverable amount was determined based on the Discounted Cash Flow ("DCF") method. Such method is based on the general concept that the value of a company is equivalent to the discounted amount of the cash flows it will generate in the future within the forecast horizon and the terminal value beyond.

It has been adopted a discount rate of 10.9% and an annual growth rate in perpetuity of 1.7%.

Based on such assumptions, the recoverable amount was estimated equal to €17,500k. In addition, it was performed a sensitivity analysis, assuming a +/- 0.5% variation in the discount rate and a +/- 0.5% variation in the perpetuity growth rate. This led to a recoverable amount estimated in the range of €16,500k and €18,700k.

As a conclusion, the verifications have shown that the book values can be fully recovered and no goodwill impairment is required as of 31 December 2020.

12. Property, plant and equipment