NMG and Traxys Finalize Offtake and Marketing Agreement for Natural Flake Graphite for Refractory Markets in North America and Europe

Executive Summary

• Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc. (“NMG”) and Traxys North America LLC have signed a binding amended and restated joint marketing and offtake agreement covering 20,000 tpa of graphite concentrate from NMG’s Phase‑2 Matawinie Mine, including a firm take‑or‑pay commitment of 10,000 tpa.
• The agreement has an initial seven‑year term, with sales pricing tied to market indices for the firm volume, and is intended to serve the global refractory market (≈US$45 bn).
• The deal effectively allocates close to 100 % of Phase‑2 Matawinie Mine production among multiple commercial partners, further de‑risking the project and supporting NMG’s financing efforts toward a final investment decision (FID).

Key Details

• Offtake Volume: 20,000 tonnes per annum of graphite concentrate; 10,000 tpa is firm take‑or‑pay.
• Project Source: Phase‑2 Matawinie Mine (Quebec, Canada).
• Term: Initial seven‑year period commencing upon start of full‑scale production.
• Pricing Mechanism: Sales price to be based on market indices for the 10,000 tpa firm volume; remaining volume priced per market conditions.
• Market Focus: Refractory applications (bricks, electric arc furnaces, crucibles, carbon raisers) in North America and Europe – a US$45‑bn global market projected to grow at 9.1 % CAGR through 2033.
• Strategic Benefits for NMG: Access to Traxys’ extensive customer network, logistics infrastructure, and market intelligence; accelerated market entry and sales strategy optimization.
• Commercial Context: Agreement signed concurrently with other commercial contracts (Government of Canada, Panasonic Energy, anode manufacturer) that together allocate nearly all future Phase‑2 production.
• Financing Implication: The near‑full allocation of production is intended to support NMG’s ongoing financing process and move the project toward FID.
• Board Approval: Execution subject only to approval by Traxys’ board of directors.

Notable Quotes

• Dennis Gates, Head of Industrial Metals at Traxys: “Traxys has supported NMG’s vision for many years… we look forward to working with NMG for many years in the future.”
• Eric Desaulniers, Founder, President & CEO of NMG: “Industries are seeking reliable, high‑purity, and responsibly produced graphite… Traxys’ global presence and insight help us accelerate market access, optimize our sales strategy, and deliver long‑term value to our customers and shareholders.”