Graphite One Welcomes Strategic Investment from Bering Straits Native Corporation ("BSNC"); Creates Regional & Community Development Program

Rhea-AI Summary

Graphite One Inc. has secured a strategic investment of up to US$10.4 million from the Bering Straits Native Corporation (BSNC). The initial investment is US$2.0 million with an option to invest an additional US$8.4 million. This investment will support the development of Graphite Creek Deposit and strengthen the domestic U.S. supply chain for advanced graphite materials. Graphite One and BSNC will also collaborate on regional and community development. The investment builds on a $37.5 million Department of Defense award to Graphite One under the U.S. Defense Production Act.

Positive

• BSNC's strategic investment of up to US$10.4 million will provide significant financial support to Graphite One's development of Graphite Creek Deposit.
• The investment strengthens the domestic U.S. supply chain for advanced graphite materials.
• Graphite One and BSNC will partner on regional and community development, fostering economic growth in the region.

Negative

• None.

BSNC will make an initial investment of US$2.0 million in Graphite One, with an option to invest an additional US$8.4 million, including the exercise of warrants, fully supporting the development of Graphite Creek Deposit.

Investment builds on $37.5 million Department of Defense award to Graphite One under the U.S. Defense Production Act.

Graphite One and BSNC will partner on continued regional and community development.

VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Graphite One Inc. (TSXV: GPH) (OTCQX: GPHOF) ("Graphite One", "G1" or the "Company"), planning a complete domestic U.S. supply chain for advanced graphite materials, is pleased to announce that it has arranged a strategic investment from the Bering Straits Native Corporation ("BSNC") for up to US$10.4 million.

This is not just an investment in Graphite One, it is a long-term investment in our region. We at BSNC have watched for years as Graphite One has worked to advance the Graphite Creek project and become a friendly neighbor in the region," said Dan Graham, BSNC Interim President and CEO. "Graphite One has told us of its intent to develop an environmentally responsible project and provide an exciting economic opportunity for the region that hopefully will play a crucial role in the nation's transition to a clean energy future. This is at the heart of our Board's unanimous support of the project."

"After careful review and many long discussions, we believe Graphite One shares our values of land stewardship and providing benefits to the region. Our investment in Graphite One is about providing opportunities for BSNC shareholders and being proactive about the future of our region," said BSNC Chair Cindy Massie.

Formed in 1972, BSNC is the regional Alaska Native Corporation (ANC) for the Bering Strait region, which includes the Seward Peninsula in Western Alaska and the coastal lands surrounding Norton Sound. The Graphite Creek Project is located on State and private land in the BSNC region. 

"We are grateful for and humbled by BSNC's support. Working collaboratively, we can make Graphite Creek a project to be modeled after in Alaska and nationwide," said Anthony Huston, President and CEO of Graphite One. "BSNC is a dynamic development force in Alaska, with an unwavering commitment to community and heritage." Huston continued. "All of us at G1 look forward to partnering with BSNC on ways to make our project a model not just for Alaska -- but for a nation that is navigating the transition to a new energy future." 

The Graphite One-BSNC agreement follows multiple community meetings with local residents and Graphite One officials during 2023. To coordinate regional and community development, G1 and BSNC will establish an advisory board to ensure direct communications of the Company's activities and development details as well as utilize the local expertise of BSNC. 

The BSNC investment and community development program follows the July 17, 2023 award to G1's wholly owned subsidiary, Graphite One (Alaska), Inc., of a Department of Defense ("DoD") Technology Investment Agreement grant of $37.5 million under Title III of the Defense Production Act ("DPA").

Private Placement

The Initial Investment of US$2.0 million is by way of a non-brokered private placement for 2,802,690 units at a price of CA$0.97 per unit. Each unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant ("Warrants") exercisable at CA$1.21 per share expiring twelve (12) months from the closing of the private placement. The Company has received conditional approval for this private placement from the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued in connection with this private placement will have a restricted period that expires four months and one day following the date of issuance.

The Company granted BSNC an option to invest a further US$6.0 million in common shares of the Company at any time within twelve (12) months closing of the private placement (the "Option"). If and when the Option and Warrants are exercised, BSNC would have invested a total of US$10.4 million in Graphite One, based on the current exchange rate¹.

Net proceeds from the investment will be used to support the feasibility study, community investment and general corporate purposes.

DPA Title III $37.5 million grant to Graphite One

The funding objective of the DoD-Graphite One (Alaska) Technology Investment Agreement is to perform an accelerated Feasibility Study to modernize and expand domestic production capacity and supply for graphite battery anodes necessary for electronic vehicles and alternative energy batteries, as an essential national defense technology item.

The DPA funding allows G1 to accelerate its Feasibility Study covering its Graphite Creek Project 60 km (35 miles) north of Nome, Alaska. Graphite Creek was recently confirmed by the U.S. Geological Survey to be the country's largest known graphite resource, and "among the largest in the world²."

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1 1 USD = 1.36 CAD

2 Insights into the metamorphic history and origin of flake graphite mineralization at the Graphite Creek graphite deposit, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, USA

Graphite One's Supply Chain Strategy

With the United States currently 100 per cent import dependent for natural graphite, Graphite One is planning to develop a complete U.S.-based, advanced graphite supply chain solution anchored by the Graphite Creek resource. The Graphite One Project plan includes an advanced graphite material and battery anode manufacturing plant expected to be sited in Washington State integrated with the development of the Graphite Creek Property. The plan includes a recycling facility to reclaim graphite and the other battery materials, to be co-located at the Washington State site, the third link in Graphite One's circular economy strategy.

About Graphite One Inc.

GRAPHITE ONE INC. (TSX‐V: GPH; OTCQX: GPHOF) continues to develop its Graphite One Project (the "Project") to become an American producer of high-grade anode materials that is integrated with a domestic graphite resource. The Project is proposed as a vertically integrated enterprise to mine, process and manufacture anode materials primarily for the lithium‐ion electric vehicle battery market. As set forth in the Company's 2022 Pre-Feasibility Study, graphite mineralization mined from the Company's Graphite Creek Property, situated on the Seward Peninsula about 60 kilometers north of Nome, Alaska, would be processed into concentrate at an adjacent processing plant. Natural and artificial graphite anode materials and other value‐added graphite products would be manufactured from the concentrate and other materials at the Company's proposed advanced graphite materials manufacturing facility expected to be located in Washington State. The Company intends to make a production decision on the Project upon the completion of a Feasibility Study.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"Anthony Huston" (signed)

For more information on Graphite One Inc., please visit the Company's website, www.GraphiteOneInc.com.

On Twitter @GraphiteOne

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, including those related to the timing and completion of the anticipated Feasibility Study, future production, establishment of a processing plant and a graphite manufacturing plant, establishment of a battery materials recycling facility, and events or developments that the Company intends, expects, plans, or proposes are forward-looking statements Generally, forward‐looking information can be identified by the use of forward‐looking terminology such as "proposes", "expects", "is expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "projects", "plans", "is planning", "intends", "assumes", "believes", "indicates", "to be" or variations of such words and phrases that state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The Company cautions that there is no certainty that tests of the Company's material will be successful or that such tests will result in the development of successful products. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and title and delays due to third party opposition, changes in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws. For more information on the Company, investors should review the Company's continuous disclosure filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

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SOURCE Graphite One Inc.

FAQ

What is the amount of the initial investment from BSNC?

The initial investment from BSNC is US$2.0 million.

What is the total amount of investment BSNC can make?

BSNC can invest up to US$10.4 million, including the exercise of warrants.

What is the purpose of the investment?

The investment will support the development of Graphite Creek Deposit and strengthen the domestic U.S. supply chain for advanced graphite materials.

What is the significance of the Department of Defense award to Graphite One?

The Department of Defense awarded Graphite One $37.5 million under the U.S. Defense Production Act, further enhancing the company's financial position.

What will Graphite One and BSNC collaborate on?

Graphite One and BSNC will collaborate on regional and community development.