Graphano Energy Announces Strategic Earn-In into Graphite-Enabled Metal Additive Manufacturing Technology
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Graphano Energy Announces Strategic Earn-In into Graphite-Enabled
Metal Additive Manufacturing Technology
Vancouver, BC, June 26, 2026 – Graphano Energy Ltd. (“Graphano” or the “Company”) (TSXV:
GEL, FSE: 97G0) is pleased to announce a binding memorandum of understanding (the “MOU”) with 3D
Genesis Technologies (“3D Genesis”) to fund and earn an equity interest in a breakthrough metal additive
manufacturing system known as APIC (the “Technology”), in which graphite plays a central enabling role.
The arrangement extends Graphano's graphite strategy beyond resource development into vertical
integration with high-value downstream application, positioning the Company at the intersection of critical
minerals and advanced manufacturing.
“This arrangement reflects Graphano’s strategy of building value around graphite, not only as a critical
battery material, but also as an enabling material for advanced manufacturing,” said Luisa Moreno, Chief
Executive Officer of Graphano. “APIC has already advanced to the prototype stage, and the planned
program is designed to move the technology toward an integrated, independently validated system. By
combining staged funding with technical milestones, we can support a potentially transform ative
manufacturing platform while maintaining financial discipline and protecting shareholder value. We see
this as a logical extension of Graphano’s graphite strategy by vertically integrating into high -value
advanced manufacturing applications.”
The Transaction
The MOU contemplates that Graphano will invest up to $800,000 in cash and issue up to an aggregate of
2,000,000 common shares in its capital (“Shares” and, each, a “Share”) as consideration in order to earn
up to a 39% interest in a newly formed company ( “JVCo”) holding the Technology and the related
international patent application (the “Transaction”). The cash and Share payments are to be released in
four earn -in stages, pursuant to independently verified milestones in order to align the Company's
investment with demonstrated progress.
The initial cash payment of $125,000 to be released during the first stage of the joint venture is to fund
preliminary intellectual property protection and begin procurement of priority items and long lead
equipment. The subsequent three stages call for the balance of the cash payment to be made as well as the
issuance of the Shares as milestones are satisfied. The Shares are to be split between the current owners of
the Technology and cash is to be applied solely to development of the Technology.
Stage Focus Cash
Commitment
Shares
Commitment
Cumulative
Earn-In
1 Signing, IP protection , procurement of priority
items and long lead equipment $125,000 Nil 5%
2 Independent material characterization $200,000 400,000 15%
3 Integrated system, single-material demonstration $275,000 700,000 27%
4 Multi-material demonstration $200,000 900,000 39%
Totals
$800,000 2,000,000 39%
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Graphano is not obligated to provide further funding if a milestone is not met, and retains the equity earned
from completed stages. The Company will also hold a right of first refusal over future JVCo equity and a
right to provide additional development funding at a fixed rate.
Completion of the transaction is subject to the execution of a definitive agreement and the receipt of all
requisite corporate and regulatory approvals, including the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.
Graphite at the Core
APIC (Advanced Particle Induction Casting) is a metal additive manufacturing (3D printing) process that
fuses metal nanoparticle inks into fully dense parts. Graphite is integral to the process as it acts as the active
thermal medium that couples energy into the printed material and remov able support structure during the
build. This places graphite, Graphano's core material focus, at the heart of an advanced manufacturing
technology, complementing the Company's established role in the lithium -ion battery and energy -storage
supply chains.
Stage of Development
The Technology is at an early, segmented prototype stage. Work to date has produced proof -of-concept
results, including printed metal samples demonstrating the core principles of the process. The funded
program is designed to advance it systematically toward a validated, integrated prototype: early stages focus
on independent characterization of the nanoparticle inks and printed material; later stages integrate the
synthesis, printing, and fusion steps into a single system and demonstrate single -material and then multi-
material parts. Each milestone will be independently verified before the corresponding funding is advanced.
The Technology has not yet been commercially proven and the planned milestones may not be achieved;
the staged structure is intended to align the Company's investment with verified progress.
Why Metal Additive Manufacturing
Metal additive manufacturing is transforming how high -value components are made. Compared with
conventional machining and casting, it offers material efficiency by building parts up rather than cutting
them away, design freedom for complex geometries and l ightweight structures, rapid production without
dedicated tooling, more resilient and localized supply chains, and the potential to combine multiple metals
and critical materials within a single part. APIC aims to deliver fully dense, high -resolution metal parts
with minimal post-processing.
The broader additive manufacturing market was approximately US$24 billion in 2025 (Wohlers Report
2026), with the metal segment estimated at about US$6 billion. Independent research firms project the metal
segment could reach approximately US$13 billion to US$23 billion by the early -to-mid 2030s, driven by
aerospace and defense, healthcare, automotive, and industrial applications.
About 3D Genesis Technologies
3D Genesis Technologies is a privately held advanced manufacturing technology company and the
developer of the APIC (Advanced Particle Induction Casting) metal additive manufacturing technology,
the subject of international patent application PCT/IB2025/058612.
About Graphano Energy
Graphano Energy Ltd. is an exploration and development company focused on evaluating, acquiring, and
developing energy metals resources from exploration to production. Graphite is one of the most in-demand
technology minerals that is required for a green and sustainable world. The Company’s Lac Aux Bouleaux
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property, situated adjacent to Canada’s only producing graphite mine, in Québec, Canada, has historically
been an active area for natural graphite. With the demand for graphite growing in some of the most
prominent and cutting-edge industries, such as lithium batteries in electric cars and other energy storage
technologies, the Company is developing its project to meet the demands of the future.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Luisa Moreno
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Neither 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.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains certain “forward-looking information" and “forward-looking statements ”
(collectively, “forward-looking statements ”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions
and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results,
performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements.
Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the
execution of a definitive agreement in respect of the proposed transaction; the receipt of TSX Venture
Exchange and other required approvals; the for mation of the proposed joint venture company; the
Company's ability to complete the earn -in contemplated by the MOU; the achievement and independent
verification of the contemplated technical milestones; the continued development, validation and potential
commercialization of the APIC technology; the anticipated role of graphite in the technology; the potential
applications, performance and market opportunities for the technology; and the expected strategic benefits
of the transaction to the Company.
Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions, including, without limitation, that the
parties will successfully negotiate and execute a definitive agreement, that all required approvals will be
obtained on acceptable terms and in a timel y manner, that development of the technology will progress
substantially as anticipated, that the contemplated technical milestones will be achieved and independently
verified, that funding will be available as required, and that market conditions will sup port the continued
development and commercialization of the technology.
Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the
risk that the definitive agreement may not be executed or may differ materially from the terms contemplated
by the MOU; the risk that required regula tory or corporate approvals may not be obtained; the risk that
technical milestones may not be achieved within expected timeframes or at all; risks associated with the
development and commercialization of early-stage technologies; intellectual property risks; the possibility
that the anticipated performance or commercial viability of the technology may not be realized; financing
risks; market and economic conditions; and other risks described in the Company's public disclosure
documents filed on SEDAR+.
Although the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward -looking
statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Readers
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable
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securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements
to reflect new events or circumstances.