Focus signs offtake agreement with Chinese Conglomerate for 10 years of Graphite production

press release

Dec. 19, 2013, 3:53 p.m. EST

Focus Graphite Signs Offtake Agreement for Lac Knife's Future Graphite Production

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Dec 19, 2013 (Marketwired via COMTEX) -- Focus Graphite Inc. CA:FMS -1.85% (otcqx:FCSMF)(frankfurt:FKC) (the "Company") announced today it has entered into an offtake agreement for the future production from Lac Knife's graphite resource located 27 km southwest of Fermont, Quebec.

The strategic agreement for up to 40,000 tonnes per year of graphite concentrate and value added products was signed on December 19, 2013 by the Company with an industrial conglomerate, comprised of heavy industry, manufacturing and technology companies located Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China.

The 10-year agreement calls for the supply of up to 40,000 tpy of large, medium and fine flake graphite concentrate and value added graphite products from Focus Graphite's proposed Lac Knife, Quebec mining and processing facility.

The specific terms of the agreement, including pricing and renewal rights, are confidential for competitive reasons.

"On behalf of Focus Graphite we are extremely pleased to have completed our first offtake agreement. This agreement holds the potential for Lac Knife's future development," said Don Baxter, Focus Graphite's President and Chief Operating Officer.

"Not only is this offtake agreement the first of its kind in the graphite industry, it is significant in the fact that it encompasses the wide spectrum of Lac Knife's offerings in pioneering the sale of small flake to extra large flake and value added technology products," Mr. Baxter said.

"This agreement underscores our long-held commercial objective of competing in the China market," he added.

This agreement was completed in the absence of a Feasibility Study (currently underway) and there is no certainty the above objectives will be met.

About Focus Graphite

Focus Graphite Inc. is an emerging mid-tier junior mining development company, a technology solutions supplier and a business innovator. Focus is the owner of the Lac Knife graphite deposit located in the Cote-Nord region of northeastern Quebec. The Lac Knife project hosts a NI 43-101 compliant Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate(i) of 4.9 million tons grading 15.8% graphitic carbon (Cgr) as crystalline graphite with an additional Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate(i) of 3.0 million tons grading 15.6% Cgr of crystalline graphite. Focus' goal is to assume an industry leadership position by becoming a low-cost producer of technology-grade graphite. On October 29th, 2012 the Company released the results of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") of the Lac Knife Project which indicated that the project has a very good potential to become a graphite producer. As a technology-oriented enterprise with a view to building long-term, sustainable shareholder value, Focus also invests in the development of graphene applications and patents through Grafoid Inc.

The technical information presented in this news release has been reviewed by Don Baxter Baxter, P.Eng, President and Chief Operating Officer of Focus Graphite Inc., and a Qualified Person under National Instrument (NI) 43-101 guidelines.

Forward-Looking Statement

This presentation contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved".

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: (i) volatile stock price; (ii) the general global markets and economic conditions; (iii) the possibility of write-downs and impairments; (iv) the risk associated with exploration, development and operations of mineral deposits; (v) the risk associated with establishing title to mineral properties and assets; (vi)the risks associated with entering into joint ventures; (vii) fluctuations in commodity prices; (viii) the risks associated with uninsurable risks arising during the course of exploration, development and production; (ix) competition faced by the resulting issuer in securing experienced personnel and financing; (x) access to adequate infrastructure to support mining, processing, development and exploration activities; (xi) the risks associated with changes in the mining regulatory regime governing the resulting issuer; (xii) the risks associated with the various environmental regulations the resulting issuer is subject to; (xiii) risks related to regulatory and permitting delays; (xiv) risks related to potential conflicts of interest; (xv) the reliance on key personnel; (xvi) liquidity risks; (xvii) the risk of potential dilution through the issue of common shares; (xviii) the Company does not anticipate declaring dividends in the near term; (xix) the risk of litigation; and (xx) risk management.

Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to, continued exploration activities, no material adverse change in metal prices, exploration and development plans proceeding in accordance with plans and such plans achieving their stated expected outcomes, receipt of required regulatory approvals, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's business, operations and exploration plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release, and the Company does not undertake to update such forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

        
        Contacts:
        Focus Graphite Inc.
        Mr. Don Baxter, P.Eng
        President and Chief Operating Officer
        705-789-9706
        dbaxter@focusgraphite.com
        www.focusgraphite.com