Agreement with Swansea University

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
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