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FOCUS METALS Think Graphite Today Think Graphene Tomorrow
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Disclaimer This presentation 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 Metals disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements. 1
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Introduction Gary Economo President and CEO of Focus Metals. What we are doing and why we are committing our resources and energy to developing the company Why stakeholders are investing in us... and what that means in the future for investors, partners and customers We are involved in the development of two world-changing elements from a single source… 2
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Graphite Introduction Key Points Rapidly improving pricing environment for Graphite, due to China supply constraints and increasing demand 100% owner of the Lac Knife Graphite Deposit, Quebec –Highest known grade, large flake, graphite deposit known globally Excellent infrastructure in great jurisdiction Potential for accelerated development and low cost production Upcoming NI 43-101 resource and updated scoping study (End 2011) Ongoing off-take agreement discussions Graphene joint venture – patents, new discoveries and I/P, develop and commercialize graphene applications. 3
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Two World Changing Elements Graphite In today’s world graphite is a critical strategic material Importance will grow with green technologies 10-20x more graphite in a li-ion battery than lithium Demand will outstrip supply Just for one market – EV cars – demand by 2020 will require more than is produced globally today. Then you’ve got the electronics market, nuclear energy.... and Graphene.... Graphene Has been called “the new silicon” - it will change the way we work and live The Noble Prize in Physics for 2010 was awarded to two Russian scientists for their work in developing graphene It is an allotrope of graphite (where the carbon atoms are similar but bonded differently). Structure is one-atom-thick planar sheet Its properties are revolutionary Breaking strength 200x greater than steel and tensile strength of 19,000,000 psi Its applications are profound 4
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The Company Focus Metals was formed in early 2010 and market listed in July 2010 Trades on the TSX:V as FMS and in the US through the OTCQX as FCSMF Began trading at $0.06, reached a high of $1.78 in March 2011, In April 2011 raised $20m in a bought deal offering Focus has three properties in its portfolio: our crown jewel - Lac Knife graphite property, Kwyjibo (REE-neodymium + Copper) and our Labrador Trough properties (IOGC) Lac Knife – currently evaluating an expanded drilling program An updated NI 43-101 will be completed Q4 and scoping study Q1 2012 Kwyjibo – we are embarking on a drilling program after confirming historical REE results which were published in February (2.4% TREO over 30, 20% Nd) 5
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Lac Knife property has a proven history Project was discovered nearly 25 years ago in a JV between Mazarin Inc. and the town of Fermont, Que Drilling program in 1990 confirmed 8.1m/t grading 16.7% graphite. Two feasibility studies were conducted for mine development Commodity prices went into recession and the project lay dormant for 10 years In 2001, Graftech and Ballard Power Systems were looking for graphite for fuel cell batteries in a JV they had established Strathcona Mineral Services did a worldwide search on their behalf and selected Lac Knife as having the best source of graphite for fuel cell technology Again the project sat dormant for a number of years: both Ballard and Graftech suffered corporate set-backs and Mazarin was purchased by IAMGOLD In 2010, Focus Metals acquired Lac Knife from IAMGOLD and began development 6
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Graphite Production 1.1 MM tonnes global graphite consumption (2009) ~50% natural (mined) graphite ~50% synthetic (manufactured) graphite Synthetic graphite 4 – 5x more expensive than natural graphite Only substitutable in certain applications China is the largest producer of graphite globally Majority of production is small flake, low grade (2% - 6%) and high cost Sources: - Graphite Market Review; Merchant Research & Consulting, Ltd.; 2010 - AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group - USGS 2009 7\ 7
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Graphite Consumption Graphite is largely used in steel refining, foundries, and lubricants Other uses of graphite include: –Batteries 20x more graphite than lithium in a lithium battery ~37,000 tonnes consumed in 2010 ~170,000 tonnes forecast in 2015 –Electronics Used for heat dissipation in electronics One IPAD consumes 4 sheets of graphite –Latest generation nuclear reactors Graphite coolant replacing water based designs Sources: - Graphite Market Review; Merchant Research & Consulting, Ltd.; 2010 - AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group - USGS 2009 8
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Graphite Prices Sources: - Graphite Market Review; Merchant Research & Consulting, Ltd.; 2010 - Industrial Minerals (indmin.com) - Independent research estimates Types of Natural GraphiteAverage Price ($/tonne March 2011) Small Flake (94 – 97%)$1,800 Medium Flake (94 – 97%)$1,800 - $2,300 Large Flake (94 – 97%)$2,000 - $2,500 Large Flake (99.9%)$20,000 - $40,000 9
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What Makes a Good Graphite Deposit? There are three key factors for graphite deposits: 1)Flake size 2)Grade 3) Purity Flake graphite is a naturally occurring form of graphite that is typically found as discrete flakes ranging in size small, medium and large mesh –Large flake size is needed for high purity graphite The Lac Knife deposit has a good distribution of large flake graphite at an average grade of 16.7% (non NI 43-101 compliant) –Highest known graphite deposit grade in the world –Other known global deposits are below 10% and are typically in the 2 - 6% range 10
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Lac Knife Graphite Deposit 8.1 million tonnes grading 16.7% graphite, historical resource (non NI 43- 101 compliant) –Highest known graphite deposit grade in the world High value, large flake deposit –Flake size distribution is 41% 35 -100 mesh, 35% 150 -200 mesh and 24% is 200+ mesh 7,600 metres exploration drilling completed historically –Deposit extends over 600 metres in length, strikes north-south and dips steeply to the west Averages 20 metres width but may reach up to 100 metres in the nose of folds –The deposit remains open to the south and at depth Excellent infrastructure –Quebec grid power - ~$0.05 per kWh –Near rail, port, and over 12,000 people in neighbouring towns Wealth of mining talent and infrastructure located in the region –Fermont, Wabush, and Labrador City serve as a base of operation for three iron-ore miners (Quebec Cartier Mining, the Iron Ore Co. of Canada and Wabush Mines) 11
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Focus Metal Property Overview 12
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Lac Knife Property Map 13
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Lac Knife Site 14
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Lac Knife Preliminary Development Plan Feasibility studies previously completed (pre NI 43-101) –Mazarin (1990) and Cambior updated in (2000) Targeting ~20,000 tonnes annual production (95% - 97%) –Cash costs expected to be ~$350/t Versus $800 to $1,500/t for most competitors Potential to add ~3,000 tpa high purity (99.99%) graphite –99.9% and 99.99% purity graphite needed for battery use –Sells for an average of $20,000 up to $40,000 per tonne depending on customer specific requirements Simple graphite ore processing –Crushing, flotation, screening, drying, and bagging Pit limits extend to 125 metres depth –6 metres average overburden thickness Resource (Historical):8 MM t @ 16.7% Production Start: 2014 (potential to accelerate) Mining Method:Open pit Strip Ratio:<2 : 1 Mine Life:40+ years Grade (Historical):16.7% Production: ~20,000 t (95% – 97% purity) ~3,000 t (99.9% purity) Total Cash Cost: ~$350/t (95% – 97%) ~$1,300/t (99.9%) Selling Price: $2,000 – $2,500/t (95% – 97%) $20,000 – $40,000/t (99.9%) Revenue Potential: $40+ MM (95% - 97%) plus, $60+ MM (99.9%) EBITDA Potential: $30+ MM (95% - 97%) plus, $55+ MM (99.9%) Initial Capex: ~$65 MM (95% - 97%) plus, ~$10 MM (99.9%) Source: Independent research estimates Note: non NI 43-101 compliant Conceptual Mine Plan 15
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Lac Knife Development Timeline Fast track permitting potential –Biodegradable commodity and relatively benign milling process; –Located in a mining friendly jurisdiction Potential to skip feasibility study –Two feasibility studies historically completed –Simple mining and processing requirements 16
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Capitalization Ticker:TSXV:FMS Basic Shares Outstanding:87 MM Options Outstanding:3 MM Warrants Outstanding:12 MM ($0.35/share, 2012 expiry) Market Capitalization (F/D):~C$87 MM Cash & Equivalents:~C$22 MM Debt:$0 Enterprise Value (F/D)):~C$100 MM Insider Ownership~25% 17
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Key Management & Board Jeffrey York, Chairman of the Board Former President and COO of Giant Tiger stores Gary Economo, President, CEO, Director Over 30 years high tech experience, including as President and CEO of SPI technologies selling graphite products Marco Gagnon, VP Exploration, Director Former President of Quebec Mining Association President of Adventure Gold Francis Pomerleau, Director Senior VP of Pomerleau Inc. a Quebec based construction company that builds many of the infrastructure projects in Northern Quebec Judith Mazvihwa-MacLean, CFO CMA and geologist with eight years accounting experience in the mining sector Tony Brisson Senior Geologist 25 years geology experience, heavily focused in Quebec and extensive work with graphite deposits TBA – VP Exploration and Engineering 18
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Potential Upside Graphene Occurs naturally in graphite, has unique physical properties and might be one of the strongest substances known –200x stronger than steel and so thin that it is transparent The process of separating it from graphite will require some technological development before it is economically feasible to use it in industrial processes –Focus is a 50% shareholder in a new Joint Venture to develop and acquire patent applications, secure intellectual property and develop graphene applications Kwyjibo Project Rare Earth Elements and Iron Oxide, Copper, Gold (IOCG) Deposits 19
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Graphene 20
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Graphene Applications Avionics applications Bio Devices Anti-Bacterial Applications Ultra Capacitors Transistors Solar Cells Semiconductors Flexible and Foldable Displays Military Applications Infrastructure Entertainment Dr. Gordon Chiu - Chief Scientist Focus Metals is 50% shareholder in a new Joint Venture which is headed up by Dr. Chiu The JV will develop and acquire patent applications, secure Intellectual property and develop applications for Graphene used in the mentioned areas Dr. Gordon Chiu has 15 years combined experience in biomedical, chemical, cosmetic, medical and technology industries, he started his career as a research scientist with Pfizer Inc. and Merck & co. B.S. Degree summa cum laude in chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a M.S. degree in chemistry from Seton Hall University 21
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Summary To take advantage of the situation: We hold a world class graphite property We hold another property with significant copper potential and one of the two needed REEs We’ve no debt, money in the bank, and financing options for mine development We’re in a mine friendly jurisdiction and the Government is our partner Technological innovation is moving our way Strategic global forces favor our advancement And the economics couldn’t be more attractive Rising demand and prices Low production costs because of “Factor 17” 22
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Conclusion I indicated at the start that Focus was not a normal mining company because we were involved in the development of two world changing elements Graphite and graphene.... and we are also bring neodymium and copper to the table Our key focus at the moment is our Lac Knife property development, but we are looking at ways to unlock the potential of Kwyjibo and moving that project forward as well We look forward to the challenge before us and hope you will join us in our journey. Thank you. Gary Economo gary@focumetals.ca Tel: 613-691-1091 Ext. 101gary@focumetals.ca 23
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