Graphite One Receives Further Indication of Support for up to US$570 Million Funding from U.S. Export-Import Bank and Engages European Marketing Firm
Latest EXIM LOI supports development of Alaska's Graphite Creek mine, complementing October 2024's US$325 million LOI for G1's Ohio-Based Advanced Graphite Materials Plant.
EXIM Letter of Interest is non-binding and indicates potential financing could provide 10-year repayment tenor under EXIM's Make More In America initiative and may be eligible for special consideration under the China and Transformational Exports Program.
EXIM's funding commitment is conditional upon completing the application, due diligence and underwriting process, and receiving all required approvals.
VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 2, 2025 /CNW/ - Graphite One Inc. (TSXV: GPH) (OTCQX: GPHOF) ("Graphite One", "G1" or the "Company") announces today that the Export‑Import Bank of the United States ("EXIM") has extended a non‑binding Letter of Interest ("LOI") to the Company for up to US$570 million in financing to advance the development of G1's Graphite Creek mine development in Alaska. Combined with EXIM's US$325 million LOI announced in October 2024 for the Company's planned advanced graphite materials facility in Ohio, total EXIM indications of support for Graphite One's U.S. supply chain strategy now stand at US$895 million.
The LOI states: "Based on the preliminary information submitted, EXIM would be able to consider financing up to $570,000,000 of the U.S. export contract. Please note that based on the OECD Arrangement for Export Credits and EXIM Bank guidelines, this transaction is eligible for a maximum repayment term of 10 years. We trust that this Letter of Interest, coupled with the quality of U.S. products and services, will make a compelling case for U.S. procurement."
"EXIM's extension of its LOI to our Company validates Graphite One's strategy to develop a 100% U.S.-based advanced graphite materials supply chain," said Anthony Huston, President and CEO of Graphite One. "The announcement follows the recent acceptance of our Graphite Creek project as a 'covered project' onto the Federal FAST-41 Permitting Dashboard and, along with G1's two Department of Defense grants under the Defense Production Act and from the Defense Logistics Agency, underscores the U.S. Government's keen understanding of the urgency to end the United States 100% dependence of foreign sources of graphite supply."
Against the backdrop of China's ongoing dominance over global graphite production, the EXIM LOI further indicates that this "transaction may be eligible for special consideration under Section 402 of EXIM's 2019 reauthorization (P.L. 116-94), which directs EXIM to take steps to mitigate the competitive impact of export support provided by the People's Republic of China and other covered countries for opportunities such as this one and/or to advance the comparative leadership of the United States in the Transformational Export Areas." More information about EXIM's China and Transformational Exports Program (CTEP) is available here.
G1 expects to submit a formal application to EXIM under both LOIs in 2026. Upon receipt, EXIM will conduct due diligence and underwriting. Any final commitment is subject to EXIM's eligibility, credit, and approval requirements and satisfaction of terms and conditions. All final commitments must comply with EXIM policies as well as program, legal and eligibility requirements.
Engages European Marketing Firm
As part of its ongoing strategy to raise the profile of Graphite One and its Graphite One Project to European investors, Graphite One has entered into an agreement effective immediately (the "Agreement"), with MCS Market Communication Service GmbH ("MCS"), an online marketing and investor relations firm based in Westfalen, Germany to provide marketing and investor relations services to enhance visibility with the European institutional and retail investment community.
Anthony Huston, President and CEO of Graphite One quotes "We are excited to partner with MCS to heighten market and brand awareness for Graphite One and to broaden the Company's reach within the European investment community."
Under the terms of the Agreement, MCS will provide content creation, distribution, and advertising services (the "Marketing Services") focused on the European market for an aggregate marketing budget of 800,000 EUR for a 6-month period (the "Service Period"), subject to early cancellation notice after 60 days from the effective date of the Agreement. Prior to the end of the Service Period, the Company may elect to continue on a month-to-month basis until terminated by either party. MCS has agreed to comply with all applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") in providing its services.
There are no performance factors impacting compensation in the Agreement and MCS will not receive common shares or options of the Company as compensation.
MCS is arm's length to the Company and currently does not own, directly or indirectly, any common shares of the Company, nor does it have any right or intent to acquire such an interest. The engagement of MCS remains subject to TSXV approval and these disclosures are made in accordance with the requirements of TSXV Policy 3.4 – Investor Relations, Promotional and Market-Making Activities.
Graphite One's Supply Chain Strategy
The Project is planned as an integrated business operation to produce lithium-ion battery anode materials and other graphite products for the U.S domestic market on a commercial scale using primarily natural graphite from Alaska. The Project combines the operation of an advanced graphite manufacturing facility to be located in Warren Ohio, subject to financing, with the supply of natural flake graphite from the Company's proposed Graphite Creek Mine in Alaska. The resources associated with the Company's Alaska State mining claims were cited by the U.S. Geological Survey in January 2022 as America's largest natural graphite deposit1, and in 2023, "as among the largest in the world." This precedes the FS-verified deposit amount increase. The Company entered into a non-binding letter of interest with the EXIM Bank in September 2024 for a potential $325 million loan to fund the Ohio manufacturing facility.
About Graphite One Inc.
GRAPHITE ONE INC. continues to develop its Graphite One Project (the "Project"), with the goal of becoming 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 and process natural graphite and to manufacture artificial and natural graphite anode active materials primarily for the lithium‐ion electric vehicle battery and energy storage markets.
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 X @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.
Investors should be aware that the LOI is non-binding and conditional, and does not represent a financing commitment. A funding commitment is conditional upon completing the application, due diligence and underwriting process and receiving all required Project approvals
This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "intends" "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, next steps and courses of action including the Company's plans to submit a financing application to EXIM; the prospects of successfully securing financing from EXIM on acceptable terms, or at all, the performance and outcome of MCS Market Communication Service GmbH and receipt of the approval of the TSXV. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are no 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 the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, market prices, 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.sedarplus.ca.
SOURCE Graphite One Inc.
Anthony Huston, CEO, President & Director, Tel: (604) 889-4251, Email: [email protected]; Investor Relations Contact: Tel: (604) 684-6730, [email protected]
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