Mr. Dean Hanisch reports

FOCUS GRAPHITE ADVANCED MATERIALS JOINS THE MILITARY POWER SOURCES CONSORTIUM AND THE AMERICAN CARBON SOCIETY

Focus Graphite Inc. has become a member of the Military Power Sources Consortium and the American Carbon Society, reinforcing its commitment to strengthening North America's critical mineral supply chain. As a long-standing member of the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC), Focus continues to invest in strategic initiatives that support the onshoring of high-quality natural flake graphite for defence, energy storage and advanced technology applications. With the U.S. government prioritizing domestic graphite supply and committing substantial funding to North American projects, Focus Graphite's 100-per-cent-owned high-purity Lac Knife and Lac Tetepisca projects, located in Quebec, Canada, are well positioned to play a pivotal role in securing this essential material for military and industrial use.

The Military Power Sources Consortium (MPSC) is a non-profit dedicated to representing the needs of the entire life cycle of the domestic military power production base. The mission of the MPSC is to provide a forum for members to share information and develop a collective voice on issues related to preserving and enhancing the domestic design, development and manufacture of energy generation and storage systems, both renewable and non-renewable, and their components for the Department of Defence (DoD). The MSPC provides a unified voice for the issues and challenges of the domestic military production base to the DoD, the Department of Energy (DoE), and other industry groups, recommends solution to the issues and challenges, ensures industry representation from traditional and non-traditional defence contractors, and brings together academia, industry and the DoD.

Critical metals, including natural flake graphite, are considered essential for the U.S. defence industrial base, and the U.S. government is engaged in strategic planning, initiatives and funding to ensure it can access and onshore domestic capabilities and supply. Benchmark Minerals analysis shows that the United States will fall short of meeting most of its critical mineral needs even if all announced projects come on line as planned. One of the largest areas for concern is flake graphite, for which there is no domestic source forecast for 2030.

Over the past two years, the DoD has awarded a combined total of $45.85-million (U.S.) to advance North American natural flake graphite projects. The company has engaged with the DoD in connection with advancing its two 100-per-cent-owned high-purity graphite projects in Quebec, Canada, and exploring potential non-dilutive financing awards. Graphite is classified as a critical mineral by the U.S. government, owing to its use in military, batteries, EVs (electric vehicles) and long-duration energy storage. Graphite is also used in semiconductors and nuclear applications. Focus is prioritizing the qualification of high-value advanced materials where high-quality natural flake graphite is required due to its unique and superior graphite quality.

The American Carbon Society, formerly the American Carbon Committee, was established in 1957 with the express purpose of organizing U.S. conference on carbon. Today, the aims and scope of the American Carbon Society are considerably more diverse than those envisioned by its founders. The society promotes interdisciplinary research on the fundamentals and applications of carbon materials. Moreover, the society organizes and/or sponsors the triennial International Conference on Carbon, the world's most important meeting of researchers in all areas of carbon science and technology.

"Joining the Military Power Sources Consortium and the American Carbon Society underscores our commitment to securing North America's critical mineral supply chain," said Dean Hanisch, chief executive officer of Focus Graphite. "As a long-standing member of the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium, we recognize the urgency of onshoring high-quality natural flake graphite to support national security and advanced technologies. With our high-purity Lac Knife project already through the feasibility process and the significant scale potential of Tetepisca project, we are strategically positioned to contribute to this effort. We look forward to collaborating with industry leaders and government agencies to drive innovation and strengthen domestic supply resilience."

Appointment of vice-president, corporate development

The company is also pleased to report the appointment of Jason Latkowcer, MBA, as vice-president of corporate development. Born in Montreal, Que., Mr. Latkowcer is an accomplished executive with over 14 years of experience in corporate and business development, capital markets and strategic partnerships. He has played a key role in facilitating multiple transactions and strategic expansions, from private to public markets, and has been directly involved in raising tens of millions in financing. Additionally, he has successfully secured multimillion-dollar government grants to support corporate growth and innovation.

Mr. Latkowcer has extensive experience in capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance, with a strong network that includes institutional investors, private equity firms and high-net-worth individuals. His expertise spans across corporate strategy, sales and marketing, where he has successfully implemented tactical approaches at local, regional and international levels. With significant experience in chemical distribution, he has developed expertise in adhering to strict product specifications and managing unique applications, skills that are directly aligned with Focus Graphite's strategic focus on the commercialization of specialized material for innovative uses.

Mr. Latkowcer is an alumnus of the University of Ottawa (2010) and holds an executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology (2023). He has also earned graduate certificates from the Yale School of Management in sustainable finance and investment and from Harvard Business School in finance.

Mr. Latkowcer commented: "I'm excited to join Focus at such a transformative time for the company and the North American critical minerals sector. The urgency to secure domestic supply chains has never been greater. I look forward to immediately applying my expertise to accelerate our momentum and drive key partnerships forward. The industry's trajectory is undeniable, and Focus is leading the charge in this critical transformation."

About Focus Graphite Inc.

Focus Graphite is redefining the future of critical minerals with two 100-per-cent-owned world-class graphite projects and cutting-edge battery technology. The company's flagship Lac Knife project stands as one of the most advanced high-purity graphite deposits in North America, with a fully completed feasibility study. Lac Knife is set to become a key supplier for the battery, defence and advanced materials industries.

The company's Lac Tetepisca project further strengthens its portfolio, with the potential to be one of the largest and highest-purity graphite deposits in North America.

At Focus, the company goes beyond mining -- the company is pioneering environmentally sustainable processing solutions and cutting-edge battery technologies, including its patent-pending proprietary silicone-enhanced spheroidized graphite technology, designed to enhance battery performance and efficiency. Focus Graphite's commitment to innovation ensures a chemical-free, ecofriendly supply chain from mine to market.

Collaboration is at the core of the company's vision. Focus actively partners with industry leaders, research institutions and government agencies to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation graphite materials. As a North American company, Focus is dedicated to securing a resilient, locally sourced supply of critical minerals -- reducing dependence on foreign-controlled markets and driving the transition to a sustainable future.

We seek Safe Harbor.