Bio-on and GIMA TT create a new company for the development and production of innovative materials for the tobacco world

• The new company AMT Labs S.p.A. (Advanced Materials Tobacco Labs) has been created by Bio-on S.p.A. and is 20% owned by Gima TT;
• The objective of Bio-on and GimaTT is to study and develop new materials for the tobacco world which, thanks to Bio-on technology, will be eco-sustainable and 100% biodegradable. 
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Bologna, 31 May 2018 - Bio-on S.p.A., listed on the AIM segment of the Italian Stock Market - Borsa Italiana and active in the sector of bioplastic of high quality, organic and biodegradable at 100%, announces the creation of AMT Labs S.p.A., NEWCO dedicated to the study, development and production of innovative materials for the tobacco world. AMT Labs company founded by Bio-on S.p.A. and capitalised with 10 million euros today sees the entry of GimaTT, with a 20% share for an investment of 2.2 million euros. GimaTT is a leader in the design and assembly of automatic machines on eletronic basis for the the packaging of products derived from tobacco and, in particular, those of new generation at reduced risk. Gima TT is controlled by IMA S.p.A. and is listed on the Star segment of the Italian Stock Exchange since October 2017.
"I am extremely satisfied to share this important challenge with Gima TT - explains Marco Astorri, CEO of Bio-on S.p.A. - Being able to study and develop new materials for the world of packaging and tobacco through the technology set up by Bio-on allows us to imagine a future full of interesting innovations". 
Professor Mauro Comes Franchini, Bio-on's Chief Scientific Advisor, adds: "The tobacco market is rapidly changing and the low risk cigarette sector is the protagonist of a strong innovation that will lead in the next few years to the development of a wide range of innovative materials that have never been used until now. Sustainability is confirmed to a be priority issue in every sector".
All the PHA bioplastics (polyhydroxyalkanoates) developed by Bio-on, are made from renewable plant sources with no competition with food supply chains; they can substitute many traditional polymers today obtained by petrolchemical processes using hydrocarbons as raw materials; moreover, they guarantee the same thermo-mechanical properties of the traditional plastics with the advantage of being completely eco sustainable and 100% biodegradable naturally.
AMT Labs will expand the presence of Bio-on and GimaTT also in the field of cutting-edge materials allowing the company to enter into new strategic sectors.

WEB LINK AMT LABS: www.amt-labs.it/index.php?lin=inglese

Bio-on S.p.A.

Bio-On S.p.A., an Italian Intellectual Property Company (IPC), operates in the bioplastic sector conducting applied research and development of modern bio-fermentation technologies in the field of eco-sustainable and completely naturally biodegradable materials. In particular, Bio-On develops industrial applications through the creation of product characterisations, components and plastic items. Since February 2015, Bio-On S.p.A. has also been operating in the development of natural and sustainable chemicals for the future. Bio-On has developed an exclusive process for the production of a family of polymers called PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates) from agricultural waste (including molasses and sugar cane and sugar beet syrups). The bioplastic produced in this way is able to replace the main families of traditional plastics in terms of performance, thermo-mechanical properties and versatility. Bio-On PHAs is a bioplastic that can be classified as 100% natural and completely biodegradable: this has been certified by Vincotte and by USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). The Issuer's strategy envisages the marketing of licenses for PHAs production and related ancillary services, the development of R&D (also through new collaborations with universities, research centres and industrial partners), as well as the realisation of industrial plants designed by Bio-On.

www.bio-on.it

Press information: Simona Vecchies +393351245190 - press@bio-on.it - Twitter @BioOnBioplastic

For further information:

Founded in 2012, Gima TT is a leader in the design and assembly of automatic machines on an electronic basis for the packaging of products derived from tobacco and in particular those of new generation with reduced risk (reduced-risk-products). GIMA TT is controlled by IMA S.p.A. for 60.084%.
The company, based in Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna), closed 2017 with preliminary revenues of € 151.8 million and a workforce of 138 employees. GIMA TT made its debut on 2 October 2017 on the STAR segment of the Italian Stock Market of Borsa Italiana.

For further information:

Marco Savini - CFO e Investor Relator - tel. +390516525111 - e-mail: savinim@gimatt.it
Maria Antonia Mantovani - Ufficio Stampa - tel. +39051783283 - e-mail: mantovanim@ima.it
www.gimatt.it (section: Investor Relations)