Focus Graphite Initiates Joint Development with Forge Nano to Evaluate Advanced Coating Technology for Lac Knife Graphite

OTTAWA, ON–(ACN Newswire – April 9, 2026) – Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV: FMS) (OTCQB: FCSMF) (FSE: FKC0) (“Focus” or the “Company“a Canadian designer of state-of-the-art flake graphite deposits and advanced graphite products for battery, defence, and commercial applications, is happy to reveal that it has actually participated in a Joint Product Development Agreement (“JPDA“with Forge Nano Inc. (“Forge Nano“a leading U.S. based semiconductor devices and sophisticated products business pioneering Atomic Layer Deposition (“ALD“innovation for AI-era chip production and defense battery applications, to examine ALD covering innovation on natural graphite sourced from the Company’s Lac Knife task (“Lac Knife” or the “Project“in Quebec.

This focused advancement program is developed to produce near-term efficiency information on ALD-coated natural graphite, with outcomes anticipated to notify future scale-up, consumer engagement, industrial off-takes, and financing paths. The work targets enhanced cycle life, quick charging efficiency, and resilience under requiring operating conditions, locations that are ending up being progressively essential throughout battery, commercial, and defence applications.

Secret Highlights

• Joint item advancement program with Forge Nano to assess ALD-coated natural graphite
• Roughly 2 kgs of Lac Knife graphite to be processed and assessed throughout several covering conditions
• Program created to create efficiency information for battery applications, consisting of enhancing cycle life, quick charging ability, and product stability
• Outcomes to support future pilot programs, moneying applications, scale-up choices, and downstream engagement

Program Overview and Strategic Rationale

The JPDA develops a structured proof-of-concept program to assess ALD finish on Focus Graphite’s top-quality natural graphite.

Under the contract, Focus will provide uncoated graphite from Lac Knife, and Forge Nano will carry out finish, analytical screening, and electrochemical examination.

The goal is to figure out whether ALD can function as a feasible option to traditional pitch finishing, which stays the market requirement however is energy extensive and depending on nonrenewable fuel source inputs.

In addition to prospective expense and ecological factors to consider, the program is developed to assess efficiency under real-world conditions. Modern battery systems are progressively needed to run under quick charging, duplicated biking, and variable temperature level environments, all of which can speed up product destruction. Surface-level engineering, where a lot of these failure systems stem, is becoming an essential lever to enhance efficiency.

“Performance gains in next-generation batteries are increasingly unlocked at the surface level,” stated Jason Latkowcer, VP Corporate Development at Focus Graphite. “By combining Lac Knife’s high-grade graphite with Forge Nano’s atomic layer deposition platform, we are evaluating how atomic-scale coatings can improve battery life, charging performance, and durability. This collaboration is a step toward positioning this material for higher-performance roles within North American energy and defence supply chains.”

Why Forge Nano

Forge Nano brings a distinguished platform based upon Atomic Armor ™ ALD, an accuracy finish procedure that customizes products at the atomic scale to boost efficiency at the surface area level.

This technique makes it possible for extremely consistent finishings that can enhance cycle life, improve rate ability, and boost product stability under requiring conditions. These characteristics are progressively crucial throughout battery, commercial, and defence applications where dependability, efficiency consistency, and energy effectiveness are crucial.

Forge Nano’s more comprehensive platform likewise includes its subsidiary, Forge Battery, which is advancing a 3 GWh annually U.S.-based lithium-ion production center supported by over United States $100 million in Department of Energy financing. The center is concentrated on producing high-performance, locally made battery cells for defence and specific niche movement markets, even more strengthening the importance of innovative product innovations within North American supply chains.

By dealing with Forge Nano at this phase, Focus Graphite is examining whether these efficiency improvements can be accomplished utilizing natural graphite from Lac Knife, supporting the advancement of higher-value graphite items lined up with progressing market requirements.

Anticipated Outcomes and Next Steps

The main deliverable from this stage is a thorough information plan that will support:

• Follow-on pilot-scale advancement programs
• Engagement with battery makers and downstream partners
• Applications for non-dilutive financing and tactical assistance

This preliminary stage is planned to develop a technical and financial basis for improvement towards kilogram-scale production and future pilot programs, based on effective outcomes.

If verified, future advancement might consist of scaling the procedure utilizing Forge Nano’s production systems, increased graphite supply, and broadened battery recognition, consisting of application-specific screening.

As formerly revealed on December 8, 2025, the Company formalized a financing arrangement of as much as $14,062,500 in non-repayable contributions under NRCan’s Global Partnerships Initiative (“GPI“. The GPI financing is particularly meant to support the advancement and presentation of electro-thermal filtration innovation in Canada. Insights created from this program are anticipated to notify downstream processing chances, consisting of covering and product improvement procedures, which might be examined for combination into future advancement phases, based on effective outcomes.

Certified Person

The technical material divulged in this press release was evaluated and authorized by Richard Pearce, PE, President of Brasil Insight Capital LLC., an expert to the Company, and a certified individual as specified under National Instrument NI-43-101.

About Forge Nano Inc.

Forge Nano is a leading U.S. based semiconductor devices and innovative products business pioneering Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) innovation for AI-era chip production and defense battery applications through its platform innovation, Atomic Armor. Atomic Armor is a scalable, versatile nano-scale covering system that reinforces America’s most important systems – at the atomic level. The exceptional surface area coverings produced by our Atomic Armor ™ procedure enable our partners to open peak efficiency. Find out more at https://www.forgenano.com.

About Focus Graphite Advanced Materials Inc.

Focus Graphite Advanced Materials is redefining the future of crucial minerals with 2 100% owned first-rate graphite tasks and advanced battery innovation. Our flagship Lac Knife job stands as one of the most sophisticated high-purity graphite deposits in North America, with a totally finished expediency research study. Lac Knife is set to end up being a crucial provider for the battery, defense, and advanced products markets.

Our Lac Tetepisca job even more enhances our portfolio, with the prospective to be among the biggest and highest-purity and grade graphite deposits in North America. At Focus, we surpass mining– we are pioneering ecologically sustainable processing options and ingenious battery innovations, including our patent-pending silicon-enhanced spheroidized graphite, created to boost battery efficiency and effectiveness.

Our dedication to development guarantees an environmentally friendly supply chain from mine to market. Cooperation is at the core of our vision. We actively partner with market leaders, research study organizations, and federal government firms to speed up the commercialization of next-generation graphite products. As a North American business, we are committed to protecting a resistant, in your area sourced supply of vital minerals– minimizing reliance on foreign-controlled markets and driving the shift to a sustainable future.

For more details on Focus Graphite Inc., please go to http://www.focusgraphite.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-graphite/
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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Specific declarations included in this news release make up positive info. These declarations associate with future occasions or future efficiency. Using any of the words “could,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “will,” “projected,” “estimated,” and comparable expressions, along with declarations associating with matters that are not historic truths, are planned to recognize positive info and are based upon the Company’s present beliefs or presumptions regarding the result and timing of such future occasions.

In specific, this news release consists of positive info relating to, to name a few things, the expected scope, timing and conclusion of the Joint Product Development Agreement with Forge Nano; the anticipated processing and assessment of Lac Knife graphite utilizing Atomic Layer Deposition (“ALD”covering innovation; the generation and timing of efficiency information connected to cycle life, quick charging ability, and product toughness; the capacity for ALD finish to work as a practical option to traditional covering techniques; making use of program results to support future pilot-scale advancement, scale-up choices, moneying applications, and engagement with downstream partners; and the Company’s strategies and goals for advancing value-added graphite items and downstream processing chances.

Positive declarations go through recognized and unidentified dangers, unpredictabilities, and other aspects that might trigger real outcomes, efficiency, or accomplishments to vary materially from those revealed or suggested by such declarations. These dangers and unpredictabilities consist of, however are not restricted to, dangers associated with market conditions, regulative approvals, modifications in financial conditions, the capability to raise adequate funds on appropriate terms or at all, functional dangers connected with mineral expedition and advancement, and other dangers detailed from time to time in the Company’s public disclosure files readily available under its profile on SEDAR+.

The positive info consisted of in this release is made since the date hereof, and the Company is not bound to upgrade or modify any positive info, whether as an outcome of brand-new info, future occasions, or otherwise, other than as needed by suitable securities laws. Since of the threats, unpredictabilities, and presumptions included herein, financiers must not position unnecessary reliance on positive info.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services accepts duty for the adequacy or precision of this release.

To see the source variation of this news release, please check out https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291705

Subject: Press release summary