Celgard, LLC (“Celgard”), a subsidiary of Polypore International, LP, filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Targray International of Canada (“Targray”), seller of various battery separators for lithium batteries. Specifically, Celgard is pursuing claims against Targray for selling infringing ceramic coated separators made by Shenzhen Senior Technology Material Co., Ltd. (“Senior”) in Shenzhen, China.

The complaint alleges that Targray has infringed Celgard’s United States Patent No. 6,432,586 issued for an invention entitled “Separator for a High Energy Rechargeable Lithium Battery.” The patent in the lawsuit covers ceramic composite layer lithium-ion battery separators first developed by Celgard for high-energy rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The lawsuit seeks an injunction preventing Targray from selling ceramic coated battery separators manufactured by Senior or others that infringe Celgard’s patent and it also seeks compensation for damages.

In December 2018, Celgard filed two separate suits against MTI Corporation of California (“MTI”). The first is a patent suit in California under the same U.S. 6,432,586 Patent seeking relief from MTI for selling infringing ceramic coated battery separators manufactured by Foshan Jinhui Hi-Tech Optoelectronic Material Co., Ltd. in China. The second is a trademark suit in North Carolina seeking relief from MTI for selling unauthorized and counterfeit ceramic coated battery separators with the Celgard® registered brand name and Celgard® labeling. Both suits are seeking an injunction and compensation for damages.

Celgard will continue to take appropriate steps to prevent the unfair exploitation of its intellectual property in a continuous effort to safeguard its assets and customers.

About Celgard and Polypore

Celgard specializes in coated and uncoated dry-process microporous membranes used as separators that are a major component of lithium-ion batteries. Celgard’s battery separator technology is important to the performance of lithium-ion batteries for electric drive vehicles, energy storage systems and other applications.

Celgard, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Polypore International, LP, an Asahi Kasei Company.

Polypore is a global company with facilities in nine countries specializing in microporous membranes used in electric and nonelectric vehicles, energy storage systems and specialty applications. Visit www.celgard.com and www.polypore.com.

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