Northern Graphite Signs Extension on Option to Acquire Stake in NeoGraf Solutions
Northern Graphite Signs Extension on Option
to Acquire Stake in NeoGraf Solutions
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 29, 2023) - Northern Graphite Corporation
(TSXV: NGC)
(OTCQB: NGPHF) (FSE: 0NG) (XSTU: 0NG)
(the "
Company
" or "
Northern)
is pleased to announce
that it has entered into an agreement with Edgewater Capital Partners ("
Edgewater
") to extend the
Company's option to acquire a stake in NeoGraf Solutions, LLC ("
NeoGraf
").
With this six-month extension, Northern has the option to acquire an effective 50.1% voting interest and a
33.3% equity interest in NeoGraf. Northern also has an option to increase its interest up to 100%, at a
later date, subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement. Northern has engaged Sprott Capital
Partners LP to act as its financial advisor with respect to financing the investment.
NeoGraf is one of Northern's largest customers and, including its time as a part of Union Carbide, has a
history of over 100 years serving clients in North America and abroad. It is a leading provider of
specialty, value-added products manufactured from natural graphite and has a strong intellectual
property portfolio and a blue-chip customer base.
"Due to the potential of the proposed partnership between Northern and Edgewater to contribute to
NeoGraf's future success, Edgewater has agreed to extend the term of the option from six- to 12 months,
in order to give us more time to effectively close the deal in a challenging market environment," said
Northern Chief Executive Officer Hugues Jacquemin. "The acquisition of this stake in NeoGraf will be a
critical driver of our downstream strategy to be an integrated and sustainable mine-to-market company."
"We are very pleased at the prospect of partnering with Hugues and the Northern team to accelerate
NeoGraf's growth and in support of Northern's 'mine-to-market' strategy. This partnership provides
NeoGraf an additional 'tool' in enabling our customers' success and enhances our ability to address
supply needs in this quickly growing marketspace," said Edgewater Capital Partner and current
Chairman of the Board, Robert Girton.
"Together, NeoGraf and Northern promise a powerful combination in the development of high-
performance technical solutions that address our customers' specific needs," Natesh Krishnan, CEO of
NeoGraf, commented. "Northern provides NeoGraf with greater security of supply and expands the
geographic regions from which we source our graphite."
Closing of Northern's investment is subject to the execution of definitive agreements, the receipt of all
required third party and regulatory approvals including, if applicable, approval of the TSX Venture
Exchange and to Northern completing satisfactory financing arrangements.
About Northern Graphite
Northern is a Canadian, TSX Venture Exchange listed company that is focused on becoming a world
leader in producing natural graphite and upgrading it into high value products critical to the green
economy including anode material for lithium-ion batteries/EVs, fuel cells and graphene, as well as
advanced industrial technologies.
Northern is the only significant graphite producing company in North America and will become the third
largest producer outside of China when its Namibian operations come back online. The Company also
has two large scale development projects, Bissett Creek in Ontario and Okanjande in Namibia, that will
be a source of continued production growth in the future.
All projects have "battery quality" graphite and
are located close to infrastructure in politically stable jurisdictions.
About NeoGraf
NeoGraf Solutions LLC is based in Lakewood, Ohio where it operates a 395,000 s/f manufacturing
facility on a 22 acre, company owned site. It has just over 100 employees and a strong R&D, materials
science and application development capability with 10 R&D scientists and over 150 patents. NeoGraf
is a global technology leader in the sale of highly-engineered specialty products, materials and additives
which are largely based on natural graphite and proprietary technologies. It has a 100+ year history and
a strong brand name with over 250 customers in 22 countries.
Edgewater Capital Partners
Edgewater Capital Partners is a Cleveland based, sector-focused private equity firm that invests in
lower middle-market performance materials and service businesses. The firm has extensive experience
and expertise investing in the people, technology, and facilities to accelerate the growth trajectory of
niche manufacturers of specialty chemicals, life sciences, advanced materials, and engineered
components. Over twenty years of industry specific investing has allowed the firm to develop a deep
understanding of the complexities and nuances common to these businesses.
For media inquiries contact
Pav Jordan, VP of Communications
Email:
For further information contact
Guillaume Jacq, CFO
Telephone: (613) 271-2124
Email:
For additional information
Please visit the Company's website at
http://www.northerngraphite.com/investors/presentation/
, the
Company's profile on
www.sedar.com,
our
Social Channels
listed below or
contact the Company at
(613) 271-2124.
YouTube
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable
Canadian securities laws. Forward- looking statements and information are frequently characterized
by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential",
"possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will",
"could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding,
among others, the Company's intentions with respect to completing the investment in NeoGraf,
completing the financing arrangements relating thereto, advancing its developments projects to
production and developing the capacity to manufacture value-added products. All such forward-
looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by management based on their
experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments,
as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. However, these statements
are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or
results to differ materially from those projected including, but not limited to unexpected changes in
laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of other parties to
perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or
inadequacy of infrastructure and the failure of ongoing and contemplated studies to deliver
anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued studies, development or
operations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or
statements.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what
management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that
actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date
of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject
to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the
forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the
date of this news release.
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.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/178836