May 2 2014
Mason Graphite Inc. ("Mason Graphite" or the "Company") has completed the second tranche of its investment in Group NanoXplore Inc. ("NanoXplore") by investing $350,000 for an additional 20% interest in NanoXplore.
As announced on January 13, 2014, Mason Graphite and NanoXplore entered into an agreement whereby Mason Graphite has acquired 40% of the issued and outstanding shares of NanoXplore for $700,000 in two tranches. The closing of the first tranche, an investment of $350,000 for a 20% interest, was announced on February 18, 2014.
NanoXplore is a privately held research and development company focused on developing low cost, large-scale production of graphene from natural flake graphite, and integrating it into several industries, including energy and textiles. Graphene can be produced using a variety of processes, including Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and liquid exfoliation, however many of these processes are not scalable and are associated with higher processing costs. NanoXplore's proprietary technique is a low cost, low energy, safe and scalable electrochemical conversion method which turns natural flake graphite into graphene. For more information about NanoXplore, visit www.nanoxplore.ca.
As part of the agreement, Mason Graphite was appointed NanoXplore's sales, marketing and distribution agent. Furthermore, Benoit Gascon, President and CEO of Mason Graphite, was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of NanoXplore, and Luc Veilleux, Mason Graphite's Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, was appointed as a Director and Chief Financial Officer of NanoXplore.
About Mason Graphite
Mason Graphite is a Canadian mining company focused on the exploration and development of its 100% owned Lac Guéret graphite property, located in northeastern Québec. The property hosts a National Instrument 43-101 compliant Mineral Resource featuring 50,024,000 tonnes grading 15.6% Cg, including 6,672,000 tonnes at 32.4% Cg, in the Measured and Indicated categories and 11,861,000 tonnes grading 17.1% Cg, including 2,637,000 tonnes at 30.5% Cg, in the Inferred category. Excellent potential exists for further mineral resource growth. A Preliminary Economic Assessment study was completed on an earlier 7,600,000 tonne mineral resource estimate from July 2012 which features 22 years of production at 27.4% Cg and a pre-tax internal rate of return of 33.7% (see technical report entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Mineral Resources Estimation Update 2013 Lac Guéret Graphite Project, Québec-Canada", dated January 17, 2014). The Company's senior management team possesses significant graphite expertise from their experience at Timcal/Imerys, including Benoit Gascon, CPA, CA, who held executive positions for 20 years, including over 6 years as President and CEO; Jean L'Heureux, Eng., Executive Vice-President, Process Development, with over 20 years of experience; and Luc Veilleux, CPA, CA, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice-President, with 8 years of experience. Timcal, now owned by Imerys, is one of the largest graphite producers in the world.
Qualified Person
Jean L'Heureux, Eng., Mason Graphite's Executive Vice-President of Process Development and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content of this press release.
On behalf of Mason Graphite Inc.:
Benoît Gascon, President & CEO