OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(April 17, 2013) – Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)(OTCQX:FCSMF)(FRANKFURT:FKC) (“Focus” or the “Company”) is pleased to report the commissioning of its pilot plant and the start-up of circuit testing for the production of high-grade graphite concentrates from the Company’s wholly-owned Lac Knife, Québec graphite project.

The principal objectives of the pilot plant testwork are to confirm the results from Phase II bench scale Locked Cycle Tests (LCT)*; to assess the technical viability and operational performance of the processing plant design; to generate tailings for environmental testing, and; to produce a range of graphite raw materials for customer assessments and for further upgrading.

The Lac Knife project pilot plant was designed and built and is being operated by SGS Canada Inc. (“SGS”) in Lakefield, Ontario. The testing is expected to last 4-6 weeks.

Dr. Joseph Doninger, Focus Graphite’s Director of Manufacturing and Technology said the pilot plant tests are a critical component of the Lac Knife project development program.

“The testwork will provide us with the information we need to refine and optimize the design our mineral processing flow sheet and adjust individual circuits. They’ll also generate data needed for scale up of relevant processing equipment and to identify those critical controls required to maintain consistency of graphite concentrate recovery and purity.

“At the end of the day,” Dr. Doninger said, “the pilot plant campaign will provide us with the knowledge and the ability to adjust our processes to produce high purity graphite concentrates to fit individual customers’ needs and technical requirements.”

On March 4, 2013, the Company published its preliminary Phase II LCT* results which confirmed the high purity of the concentrates generated from four composite core samples comprised of low-grade and semi-massive graphite with a head grade ranging between 6.0% C and 20.7% C.

The highlights of those tests conducted by SGS confirmed:

• The average amount of graphite flake recovered from the core samples in the Phase II LCT increased to 92.2% compared with a recovery of 84.7% graphite flake in the Phase I LCT;
• The proportion of large flakes (+80 mesh) in the graphite concentrates ranged between 35% and 58%;
• The carbon content of graphite concentrates produced from the four (4) composites averaged 96.6 %C, including the fine flake fraction (-200 mesh), a 4.6% increase over Phase I LCT completed in mid-2012.

Final results for Phase II LCT including for the two composite drill core samples of massive graphite mineralisation are pending.

* A locked cycle test is a repetitive batch flotation test conducted to assess flow sheet design. It is the preferred method for arriving at a metallurgical projection from laboratory testing. The final cycles of the test are designed to simulate a continuous, stable flotation circuit.

Lac Knife Pilot Plant Testing Program

The pilot plant was designed, built and is being operated by SGS Canada Inc. (“SGS”) in Lakefield, Ontario. The flow-sheet design for the pilot plant is based on the results of Phase II bench top LCT at SGS and on the findings of experimental test work conducted at Metchib Metallurgical Laboratories of Chibougamau, Québec. The pilot plant is designed to operate in continuous mode at a feed rate of 200 kg per hour and it includes grinding mills, mechanical flotation cells, magnetic separator, flotation columns, classification devices, dewatering and other ancillary equipment such as power generation, electrical components, internal piping, a water distribution system and flotation reagent distribution. The grinding and floatation components of the circuit have been configured specifically to minimize flake wear and breakage and ensure maximize flake size preservation.

Two bulk graphite composites were provided to SGS by the Company to use as feed material for the pilot plant. The first is a bulk 21.6t sample of weathered semi-massive grade graphite mineralisation collected from surface that will be used for mechanical and metallurgical commissioning of the pilot plant circuit. The second bulk composite sample was assembled from drill core and consists of a 23.3t blend of core samples from the massive, semi-massive and low-grade mineralisation zones from the deposit. Both composites were crushed and homogenized by SGS prior to the pilot plant campaign to ensure consistent feed. Once the pilot plant circuit is dialed-in using the surface bulk sample, the composite core sample will be introduced into the circuit. The results from the processing of the bulk drill core sample will be used to establish the processing plant flow-sheet design. Graphite flake samples produced from the pilot plant will be submitted to potential customers for quality evaluations and purification trials designed to generate final saleable products.

Testing at SGS is expected to last 4-6 weeks.

About Focus Graphite

Focus Graphite Inc. is an emerging mid-tier junior mining development company, a technology solutions supplier and a business innovator. Focus is the owner of the Lac Knife graphite deposit located in the Côte-Nord region of northeastern Québec. The Lac Knife project hosts a NI 43-101 compliant Measured and Indicated mineral resource of 4.972 Mt grading 15.7% carbon as crystalline graphite with an additional Inferred mineral resource of 3.000 Mt grading 15.6% crystalline graphite. Focus’ goal is to assume an industry leadership position by becoming a low-cost producer of technology-grade graphite. On October 29^th, 2012 the Company released the results of a Preliminary Economic Analysis (“PEA”) of the Lac Knife project which demonstrates the project has excellent potential to become a producer of graphite. As a technology-oriented enterprise with a view to building long-term, sustainable shareholder value, Focus invests in the development of graphene applications and patents through Grafoid Inc.

About SGS Canada’s Metallurgical Services (Lakefield)

SGS Canada Inc. (“SGS”) is recognized as a world leader in the development of flow sheets and pilot plant programs. SGS’ Metallurgical Services division was founded over half a century ago. Its metallurgists, hydrometallurgists and chemical engineers are experienced in all the major physical and chemical separation processes utilized in the recovery of metals and minerals contained in resource properties around the world.

The technical information presented in this press release has been reviewed by Marc-André Bernier, M.Sc., P.Geo. (Québec and Ontario), Focus Director and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.

Forward Looking Statements – Disclaimer

This news release may contain forward looking statements, being statements which are not historical facts, and discussions of future plans and objectives. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove accurate. Such statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations are in our documents filed from time to time with the TSX Venture Exchange and provincial securities regulators, most of which are available at www.sedar.com Focus Graphite disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(April 16, 2013) – Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)(OTCQX:FCSMF)(FRANKFURT:FKC) on behalf of Grafoid Inc. (“Grafoid”) is pleased to announce the signing of a two-year R&D agreement between Grafoid Inc. and the University of Waterloo to investigate and develop a graphene-based composite for electrochemical energy storage for the automotive and/or portable electronics sectors.

Gary Economo, President and CEO of Focus Graphite Inc. and Grafoid Inc., said the objective of the agreement is to research and develop patentable applications using Grafoid’s unique investment which derives graphene from raw, graphite ore to target specialty high value graphene derivatives ranging from sulfur graphene to nanoporous graphene foam.

Some of the new graphene materials will contribute positively as a powerful next generation composite for fuel cell/electrochemical supercapacitor applications, he said.

Those applications include but are not limited to: electrodes, nanocatalyst support, electrolyte membranes and bipolar plates, transparent electrodes and other potential applications which create high-efficiency solutions in electrochemical energy systems and portable electronics.

“Today’s announcement marks Grafoid’s fifth publicly declared graphene development project with a major academic or corporate institution, and the third related directly to a next generation green technology or renewable energy development project,” Mr. Economo said.

It follows R&D partnering projects announced with Rutgers University’s AMIPP, CVD Equipment Corporation, with Hydro-Quebec’s research institute, IREQ, and with British Columbia-based CapTherm Systems, an advanced thermal management technologies developer and producer.

Mr. Economo said Grafoid’s investment in highly conductive graphene, combined with the University’s advanced catalyst technologies could advance the science “by opening the door to a realistic, cost-competitive option to other energy solutions.”

“Given our growth agenda for 2013, we expect to be in a position to announce a number of additional application development projects throughout the course of 2013,” Mr. Economo added.

Dr. Aiping Yu, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo will be the lead investigator of the project. Dr. Gordon Chiu, Research Scientist, Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo will be working on the project.

Dr. Chiu said that research and discovery on graphene sulfur and nanoporous graphene is well documented and is a cornerstone for a wide range of applications

“The technology for tailoring graphene for energy storage systems must be developed. This will lead to unique intellectual property assets.

“Our group’s approach for targeting graphene derivatives that powerfully impact next generation energy storage systems adds significant value to commercial applications while providing invaluable knowledge and insight about the engineering of graphene and certain graphene metamaterials,” Dr. Chiu said.

Dr. Yu said that graphene without proper porosity and polarity remain “a constant roadblock for entry into next generation energy storage applications.

“My group will focus on solving the specific tailoring and design of graphene to enable entry into these energy storage areas” she said. ”

“Grafoid’s decision to invest in reducing or removing such a roadblock is a brilliant approach of enhancing graphene for impacting fuel cells, electrochemical supercapacitors and/or other portable energy storage systems,” Dr. Yu added.

Background

Alternative Energy & Graphene:

The quest for alternative energy sources is one of the most important and exciting challenges facing science and technology in the 21st century. Environmentally-friendly, efficient and sustainable energy generation and usage have become large efforts for advancing human societal needs. Graphene is a pure form of carbon with powerful characteristics which can bring about success in portable, stationary and transportation applications in high energy demanding areas in which electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices such as batteries, fuel cells and electrochemical supercapacitors are the necessary devices.

Electrochemical Supercapacitors:

Supercapacitors, a zero-emission energy storage system, have a number of high-impact characteristics, such as fast charging, long charge-discharge cycles and broad operating temperature ranges, currently used or heavily researched in hybrid or electrical vehicles, electronics, aircrafts, and smart grids for energy storage. The US Department of Energy has assigned the same importance to supercapacitors and batteries. There is much research looking at combining electrochemical supercapacitors with battery systems or fuel cells.

Fuel Cells:

A fuel cell is a zero-emission source of power, and the only byproduct of a fuel cell is water. Some fuel cells use natural gas or hydrocarbons as fuel, but even those produce far less emissions than conventional sources. As a result, fuel cells eliminate or at least vastly reduce the pollution and greenhouse gas emissions caused by burning fossil fuels, and since they are also quiet in operation, they also reduce noise pollution. Fuel cells are more efficient than combustion engines as they generate electricity electrochemically. Since they can produce electricity onsite, the waste heat produced can also be used for heating purposes. Small fuel cells are already replacing batteries in portable products.

Toyota is planning to launch fuel cell cars in 2015, and has licensed its fuel cell vehicle technology to Germany’s BMW AG. BMW will use the technology to build a prototype vehicle by 2015, with plans for a market release around 2020.

By 2020, market penetration could rise as high as 1.2 million fuel cell vehicles, which would represent 7.6% of the total U.S. automotive market. Other fuel cell end users are fork lift and mining industries which continuously add profits to this growing industry.

Proton or polymer exchange membranes (PEM) have become the dominant fuel cell technology in the automotive market.

The U.S. Department of Energy has set fuel cell performance standards for 2015. As of today, no technologies under development have been able to meet the DOE’s targets for performance and cost.

About Focus Graphite Inc.

Focus Graphite Inc. is an emerging mid-tier junior mining development company, a technology solutions supplier and a business innovator. Focus is the owner of the Lac Knife graphite deposit located in the Côte-Nord region of northeastern Québec. Focus’ goal is to assume an industry leadership position by becoming a low-cost producer of technology-grade graphite. As a technology-oriented enterprise with a view to building long-term, sustainable shareholder value, Focus Graphite is also investing in the development of graphene applications and patents through Grafoid Inc.

About Grafoid Inc.

Grafoid, Inc. is a privately held Canadian corporation investing in graphene applications and economically scalable production processes for pristine bilayer and trilayer graphene and its graphene derivatives from raw, unprocessed, graphite ore.

Focus Graphite, Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)(OTCQX:FCSMF)(FRANKFURT:FKC) holds a principal interest in Grafoid on behalf of its shareholders.

About the University of Waterloo

In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada’s technology hub, has become one of Canada’s leading comprehensive universities with 35,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Waterloo, as home to the world’s largest post-secondary co-operative education program, embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery. In the next decade, the university is committed to building a better future for Canada and the world by championing innovation and collaboration to create solutions relevant to the needs of today and tomorrow. For more information about Waterloo, please visit www.uwaterloo.ca.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(April 9, 2013) – Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)(OTCQX:FCSMF)(FRANKFURT:FKC) on behalf of Grafoid Inc., announced today Grafoid’s joint venture development agreement with Coquitlam, British Columbia-based CapTherm Systems Inc. to develop and commercialize next generation, multiphase thermal management systems for electric vehicle (EV) battery and light emitting diode (LED) technologies.

CapTherm Systems Inc – Progressive Thermal Management is a thermal management/cooling company specializing in personal computer, server, LED, and electric vehicle cooling systems. It develops and commercializes proprietary, next-generation high-power electronics cooling technologies.

Its multiphase cooling technologies represent the core of its products that harness the power of latent heat from vaporization.

Under the terms of the agreement, Grafoid Inc., a company invested in the production of high-energy graphene and the development of graphene industrial applications will supply both materials and its science for adapting graphene to CapTherm’s existing EV and LED cooling systems.

“This alliance represents a milestone for both companies in their pursuit of cutting edge, energy-saving, green technology graphene applications,” said George Economo, Grafoid’s business development manager.

“Integrating graphene’s superior thermal conductivity to CapTherm’s existing EV and LED cooling applications goes to the core of Grafoid’s IP development strengths,” he said.

CapTherm Systems CEO & Technical Director Timo Minx said next generation cooling technologies require next generation materials.

“Graphene and its properties as a superconductor will enable CapTherm to position itself well for future thermal challenges,” Mr. Minx said.

“Making our products even more competitive by taking advantage of graphene’s lateral and vertical heat spreading capabilities is a logical step in advancing our science to meet those future challenges,” Mr. Minx added.

He said graphene is a novel 21^st century material that has the potential to revolutionize a multitude of markets.

About Grafoid Inc.

Grafoid, Inc., is a privately owned graphene investment and graphene business development company establishing international standards for the production of economically scalable graphene.

Focus Graphite Inc. holds a major interest in Grafoid on behalf of its shareholders.

About CapTherm Systems Inc.

CapTherm specializes in the development and commercialization of proprietary next-generation high-power electronics cooling technologies. Solid state multiphase technology represents the core of CapTherm’s products and harnesses the raw power of latent heat of vaporization. The CT Fusion line of products is the only commercially available electronics cooling product in the market that takes advantage of a phase change (from liquid to vapor) in combination with a thermal pump to create a pumped cooling loop with no moving parts requiring no additional electric power offering increased reliability and performance over contemporary cooling systems. Our technology enables the creation of a broad range of industry applications that require smaller but higher performance, higher reliability and more energy efficient products – all at a lower cost.

About Focus Graphite Inc.

Focus Graphite Inc. is an emerging mid-tier junior mining development company, a technology solutions supplier and a business innovator. Focus is the owner of the Lac Knife graphite deposit located in the Côte-Nord region of northeastern Québec. Focus’ goal is to assume an industry leadership position by becoming a low-cost producer of technology-grade graphite. As a technology-oriented enterprise with a view to building long-term, sustainable shareholder value, Focus Graphite is also investing in the development of graphene applications and patents through Grafoid Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements – Disclaimer

This news release may contain forward-looking statements, being statements which are not historical facts, and discussions of future plans and objectives. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove accurate. Such statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations are in our documents filed from time to time with the TSX Venture Exchange and provincial securities regulators, most of which are available at www.sedar.com Focus Graphite disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(April 9, 2013) – Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)(OTCQX:FCSMF)(FRANKFURT:FKC) (“Focus” or the “Company”) is pleased to report the results of the summer 2012 infill and deposit margin drilling program on the Company’s 100%-owned Lac Knife graphite Property (the “Property”), located in the Grenville Geological Province of northeastern Québec. Fifty-six (56) large diameter (PQ-sized) core holes (total: 5,638 m) were drilled with the aim to upgrade the current Inferred mineral resources in the southeastern part of the Lac Knife deposit to the Indicated category; to map the limits of the deposit; and to provide sufficient mineralised feed material for phase II lock cycle metallurgical testing and for the pilot plant testing program currently scheduled to commence this month.

Hole LK-12-128 drilled on Line 500 S targeted the western zone of the deposit and returned one of the best graphitic carbon (Cgr) intersections of the program (Table 1):

Most of the drill holes intercepted significant graphite intersections* along the strike length of West, Central and East zones of the deposit as evidenced by the following Holes:

All 40 significant intercepts are summarized in Table 1. Sectional views of the drilling on lines 375 S, 500 S and 675 S are available on the Company’s website at www.focusgraphite.com).

Focus Graphite President and CEO Gary Economo states: “We are extremely pleased with the results of our infill resource drilling program at Lac Knife which continue to deliver high graphite grades over significant thicknesses in both the West and Central zones of the deposit. The 2012 drilling was primary designed to improve our current understanding of the limits, geometry, and continuity in thickness and grade of the graphite mineralisation, key elements required to upgrade our current mineral resource estimate and map additional resources. Our summer 2013 exploration program at Lac Knife will include additional resource drilling to consolidate the size and limits of the deposit”.

Table 1: Summary of significant graphitic carbon drill core intersections (Cgr > 5% and minimum intersection of 6 m) from the 2012 infill and deposit margin drilling program at the Lac Knife property.

The mineralization at Lac Knife is hosted in biotite-quartz-feldspar paragneiss and schist of the Nault Formation, in association with iron formations of the Wabush Formation. These are equivalent to the lower Proterozoic Labrador Trough rocks affected by the late Proterozoic Grenvillian orogeny. Metamorphism associated with the Grenvillian orogeny has resulted in the formation of economic grade concentrations of graphite dominated by value-enhanced large flakes.

The Lac Knife property comprises 57 map-designated claims covering 2,986.31 ha located in Esmanville Township (NTS map sheet 23B/11), 27 km south-southwest of the iron-mining town of Fermont, in the Côte-Nord administrative district of Québec. Focus acquired a 100% interest in the property in October 2010. Maps showing the location of the Lac Knife property as well as drill holes locations are available on the company’s website at www.focusgraphite.com.

2012 Infill and Deposit Margin Drill Program, Methodology and QA/QC

The summer 2012 infill and deposit margin drilling program at Lac Knife comprised 56 large diameter (PQ-sized, 4-inch) core holes for a total of 5,628 m. The drilling program was designed to map the limits of the Lac Knife graphite deposit and provide sufficient additional data and control on mineralisation to be useful for in a new resource estimate. The drilling was also designed to provide enough mineralised material for phase II metallurgical testing (see Focus’ press release dated March 4^th) and for subsequent pilot plant trials.

The 2012 drilling campaign was managed by IOS Services Geoscientifiques (“IOS”) of Chicoutimi, Québec. The infill and deposit margin drilling program started on July 1^st and ended on September 17^th 2012. The drilling was performed by G4 Drilling of Val-d’Or, Québec under the supervision of IOS.

The 56 holes were spread over the western, central and eastern zones of the deposit (see drill holes location map available on the Company’s website at www.focusgraphite.com).

Two slabs of about 1/4 of the 4 inch diameter PQ core were sawed parallel on each side of the central axis of the core. One of the slabs was earmarked for geochemical analysis while the other slab was kept as a witness sample. Center parts of the core were used as graphite-bearing material for the phase II metallurgical testing and for the subsequent pilot plant testing program.

A total of 2,076 sub-sample slabs of the PQ drill core were collected from all 56 holes and shipped to IOS for sample preparation (crushing and grinding). Once prepared, the samples were sent to the Consortium de Recherche Appliquée en Traitement et Transformation des Substances Minérales (“COREM”), an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 certified facility in Québec-City, for graphitic carbon (Cgr) analysis using LECO high frequency combustion method with infrared measurement (internal analytical code LSA-M-B10 for graphitic carbon; ISO 9686:2004). For the measurement of graphitic carbon, the sample is pre-treated with nitric acid, placed in a LECO capsule and introduced in the furnace (1,380ºC) in an oxygen atmosphere. Carbon is oxidized to CO₂. After the removal of moisture, gas (CO₂) is measured by an infrared detector and a computerized system calculates the concentration of graphitic carbon (Cgr). Total sulphur was also analyzed by LECO (code LSA-M-B41) (Table 1). For sulphur determinations, the sample is placed in a LECO capsule and introduced in the furnace (1,380ºC) until sulphur is oxidized to SO₂. After the removal of moisture, gas (SO₂) is measured by an infrared detector and a computerized system calculates the concentration of total sulphur (%).

Under the QA/QC program, about 10% of the samples were analyzed by COREM for total (code LSA-M-B45), organic (code LSA-M-B58), inorganic (code LSA-M-B11) and graphitic (code LSA-M-B10) carbon as well as for total sulphur (a total of 191 core samples). Duplicates of the same 191 samples were also sent to ACTLABS Laboratories of Ancaster, Ontario (ISO/IEC 17025:2005 with CAN-P-1579) for graphitic carbon (code 5D – C Graphitic) and total sulphur (code 4F – S Combustion infrared detection) determinations and for 35 multi-element analysis using ICP methods (code 1E2 – Aqua Regia). IOS introduced 181 standards, 173 duplicates and 159 blank samples into the batch of core sample as part of the QA/QC program.

Summer 2013 Drilling Program

Focus is currently working on the design of a two-phase follow-up drilling program on the Lac Knife property for the summer of 2013. Phase I of this program will include additional infill drilling within the limits of the deposit defined by the NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate (see Lac Knife PEA Technical Report available on Focus’ website or at www.sedar.com). Phase II will consist of an exploration drilling program in order to test geophysical anomalies identified during last fall’s ground magnetic and horizontal loop electromagnetic (HLEM) survey done by G.L. Géoservice Inc. and interpreted by Geophysique Camille St-Hilaire Inc., both located in Rouyn-Noranda.

About Focus Graphite

Focus Graphite Inc. is an emerging mid-tier junior mining development company, a technology solutions supplier and a business innovator. Focus is the owner of the Lac Knife graphite deposit located in the Côte-Nord region of northeastern Québec. The Lac Knife project hosts a NI 43-101 compliant Measured and Indicated mineral resource of 4.972 Mt grading 15.7% carbon as crystalline graphite with an additional Inferred mineral resource of 3.000 Mt grading 15.6% crystalline graphite. Focus’ goal is to assume an industry leadership position by becoming a low-cost producer of technology-grade graphite. On October 29^th, 2012 the Company released the results of a Preliminary Economic Analysis (“PEA”) of the Lac Knife project which demonstrates that the project has an excellent potential to become a producer of graphite. As a technology-oriented enterprise with a view to building long-term, sustainable shareholder value, Focus invests in the development of graphene applications and patents through Grafoid Inc.

The technical information presented in this press release has been reviewed by Benoit Lafrance, Ph.D., géo (Québec), Focus Vice-President of Exploration and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101.

Forward Looking Statements – Disclaimer

This news release may contain forward looking statements, being statements which are not historical facts, and discussions of future plans and objectives. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove accurate. Such statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations are in our documents filed from time to time with the TSX Venture Exchange and provincial securities regulators, most of which are available at www.sedar.com Focus Graphite disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements.

Contact Information

• Mr. Gary Economo
  President and Chief Executive Officer
  613-691-1091, ext. 101
  [email protected]
  www.focusgraphite.com