Focus Graphite Initiates Joint Development with Forge Nano to Evaluate Advanced Coating Technology for Lac Knife Graphite

Program to generate performance data targeting improved battery life, fast charging capability, and durability in demanding dual-use applications Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2026) - Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV: FMS) (OTCQB: FCSMF) (FSE: FKC0) ("Focus" or the "Company"), a Canadian developer of high-grade flake graphite deposits and advanced graphite materials for battery, defence, and industrial applications, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Joint Product Development Agreement ("JPDA") with Forge Nano Inc. ("Forge Nano"), a leading U.S. based semiconductor equipment and advanced materials company pioneering Atomic Layer Deposition ("ALD") technology for AI-era chip manufacturing and defense battery applications, to evaluate ALD coating technology on natural graphite sourced from the Company's Lac Knife project ("Lac Knife" or the "Project") in Quebec. This focused development program is designed to generate near-term performance data on ALD-coated natural graphite, with results expected to inform future scale-up, customer engagement, commercial off-takes, and funding pathways.