Haydale Graphene Industries plc
("Haydale" or the "Company")
Agreement with Swansea University and Swansea Innovations Limited
Haydale Graphene Industries plc (AIM:HAYD), the Company focused on enabling
technology for the commercialisation of graphene, whose functionalisation
process has been verified by the National Physical Laboratory, is pleased to
announce it has entered into a 5 year exclusive pipeline agreement with Swansea
University and Swansea Innovations Limited (together "Swansea") (the
"Agreement"). Under the terms of the Agreement, Swansea will carry out a series
of internally funded research projects to produce prototype applications using
a range of Haydale materials. These materials can be the functionalised Haydale
Graphene Nano Platelets ("GNPs"), and the Haydale conductive and insulating
inks formulated by its collaboration partner the Welsh Centre for Printing and
Coating ("WCPC").
Highlights
* 5 year exclusive pipeline agreement with Swansea.
* Haydale has rights over any intellectual property ("IP") arising out of or
generated in the course of the performance of projects in exchange for an
issue of share warrants in Haydale.
* The projects will conduct research into the use of Haydale GNPs or other
nano materials supplied by Haydale, for the development and manufacture of
finished products, ink formulations and other dispersion, for use in
printing and coating applications.
* Swansea will be entitled to a royalty income of 2% from any direct sales
made by Haydale of the product. If the product is licensed Haydale will
keep 90% of the monies and Swansea 10%.
* First product is a prototype pressure sensor for which the patent
application has been filed and assigned to Haydale.
The first such product is an intelligent Piezoresistive Device, more commonly
known as a pressure sensor. The patent application for this novel sensor has
been filed and assigned to Haydale. Using a specially adapted version of the
Haydale conductive ink, WCPC staff have developed a novel thin film flexible
pressure sensor. The range of applications for this invention are believed by
the directors of Haydale to be significant especially as it can be shaped and
is thinner than a normal credit card. The novel multiple sensor points can be
large area thereby adding substantial additional functionality for a diverse
range of market opportunities from security flooring, leak detection in
industrial gas and water pipes, to assessment of gait in injured sports people.
Pursuant to the Agreement, all new discoveries with IP rights arising out of or
generated in the course of the performance of projects will be offered to
Haydale in exchange for an issue of warrants in Haydale. Accordingly, in
respect of the Piezoresistive Device, Haydale will grant 30,000 initial
warrants on 25 February 2015 to Swansea Innovations Limited and the inventors
of said IP, split 35:65 respectively. Future warrants will be determined on a
case by case basis depending on assessed economic values at that time. The
objective of Haydale will then be to commercialise the product. The exercise
price of the initial warrants will be the closing Haydale share price on 25
February 2015 plus £1, whilst any subsequent warrants granted will be
exercisable at the prevailing closing Haydale share price, plus £1. The
warrants have a life of 5 years and can be exercised from the fourth
anniversary of grant.
In addition, Swansea will be entitled to a royalty of 2% from any direct sales
made by Haydale of the product. If the product is licensed, such income will be
split 90:10 between Haydale and Swansea respectively.
The projects will conduct research into the use of Haydale HDPlas® GNPs and
other carbon materials supplied by Haydale, for the development and manufacture
of finished products ink formulations and other dispersion, for use in printing
and coating applications.
Ray Gibbs, CEO at Haydale, commented:
"Whilst we have a collaboration agreement with the WCPC and any IP derived from
that belongs to Haydale, there are many other opportunities that derive from
ideas and experiments by Swansea University staff. These are generally funded
internally by Swansea initially and we now have agreement to consider those
that arise from use of specific materials. We are extremely pleased to have
reached this long term exclusive agreement. Adding this to our existing
collaboration with the WCPC ensures that we are at the forefront of research
and production of graphene enhanced inks with a multitude of applications for
the printing and coating markets. This, coupled with the options for Haydale to
acquire all new IP rights places us in a strong position in the marketplace."
Dr Gerry Ronan, Head of IP Commercialisation for Swansea University stated:
"We are delighted to enter into this pipeline agreement with Haydale. It is a
particularly innovative deal structure where the University and the staff
inventors receive both a royalty on sales but also equity in Haydale. This
aligns everyone's interests and ensures a best outcome for all."
Prof Tim Claypole of the Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating said:
"Haydale came to Swansea University as it recognised our position as a world
leader in research in printing science. Our `challenge led' approach to world
class research delivered this solution and has led to what we all hope to be a
long term strategic relationship. It is exciting to see this now being used to
drive the Welsh economy and raise our position as a region of excellence for
printable electronics and the practical application of graphene in commercial
products."
For further information please contact:
Haydale Graphene Industries plc 01269 842 946
John Knowles, Chairman
Ray Gibbs, Chief Executive Officer
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nomad) 0207 148 7900
Tony Rawlinson
Cantor Fitzgerald Europe (Broker) 020 7894 7000
David Foreman
David Banks
Hermes Financial PR
Trevor Phillips 07889 153 628
Chris Steele 07979 604 687
About Haydale
Haydale has developed a patent-pending proprietary scalable plasma process to
functionalise graphene and other nanomaterials. This enabling technology can
provide Haydale with a rapid and highly cost-efficient method of supplying
tailored solutions to enhance applications for both raw material suppliers and
product manufacturers.
Functionalisation is carried out through a low-pressure plasma process that
treats both mined, organic fine powder and other synthetically produced
nanomaterial powders, producing high-quality few layered graphenes and graphene
nanoplatelets. The process can functionalise with a range of chemical groups,
with the level of functionalisation tailored to the customer's needs. Good
dispersion improves the properties and performance of the host material and
ensures the final product performs as specified.
The Haydale plasma process does not use wet chemistry, nor does it damage the
material being processed; rather, it can clean up any impurities inherent in
the raw material. The technology is a low energy user and most importantly
environmentally friendly. The Haydale method is an enabling technology,
allowing the Company to work with a raw material producer who seeks to add
value to the base product and tailor the outputs to meet the target
applications of the end user.
Haydale, based in South Wales and housed in a purpose-built facility for
processing and handling nanomaterials, is facilitating the application of
graphenes and other nanomaterials in fields such as inks, sensors, energy
storage, photovoltaics, composites, paints and coatings.
www.haydale.com
About The Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating:
The WCPC, founded in 1995, is a world leader in research and development of
printing and coating processes, with extensive expertise in screen,
flexographic, lithographic, rotogravure, digital and pad printing. The WCPC
facility is based in Swansea Wales and operates out of Swansea University. The
specialist laboratories are fully equipped for sample analysis and material
characterisation. In addition there are printing services provided by a four
station roll to roll flexographic press and a two station sheet fed
lithographic press, enabling WCPC to produce and manufacture both packaging
products and research prototypes on site.
The multi-disciplinary staff is made up of PhD and post-doctoral candidates in
industrial and academic fields, working alongside support staff. WCPC prides
itself on its willingness to invest in new technology and its commitment to
remaining at the forefront of the printing and coating industry. Working out of
Swansea University it offers research projects which utilise the expertise of
academic and industrial knowledge to develop industrial solutions and test
prototypes for end user products.
www.wcpcswansea.com