Mason Graphite has announced the launch of Black Swan Graphene Inc., and the execution of a Definitive Agreement pursuant to which Mason Graphite has agreed, through Black Swan Graphene, to purchase strategic assets related to a patented graphene processing technology from Thomas Swan, a leading UK-based specialty chemical company.
On closing of the joint-venture Transaction, Mason Graphite and Thomas Swan will own respectively 66.67% and 33.33% of Black Swan Graphene, which is expected to proceed to a going-public transaction in the coming months.
The graphene produced by Thomas Swan has reportedly reached significant commercial achievements, having undergone thorough customer testing and qualification processes by globally recognized companies in different manufacturing sectors and electronics, notably for mobile handsets, and is expected to be widely used in off-the-shelf products in a near future.
The potential for battery applications was also recently highlighted with the announcement of a collaboration agreement with Johnson Matthey, to use the graphene developed by Thomas Swan to enhance the overall performance of traditional lithium-ion and next generation batteries.
In addition to the assets related to the graphene processing technology and associated know-how to be sold to Black Swan Graphene, Thomas Swan will also contribute its exclusive production and commercialization expertise while providing access to subject matter expertise, such as access to personnel and technical support, and deliverables from its operation in Northern England.
Black Swan Graphene aims to establish a large-scale commercial production facility in Québec, Canada, in order to leverage the province’s competitive and green hydroelectricity, as well as the proximity of Mason Graphite’s planned production sites. These factors are key and will accelerate the production and commercialization of the graphene developed by Thomas Swan by integrating the supply chain and lowering production costs.
Mr. Harry Swan, Chief Executive Officer and owner of Thomas Swan, commented: After a thorough review of the carbon industry and a long discussion process with several market participants, we are very excited to start this new venture with Mason Graphite, which is advancing a unique graphite project, developing a broad range of carbon related products, and working with several high-profile technical partners. This partnership creates a more efficient supply chain, which will solidify and accelerate the deployment of our graphene processing technology within a burgeoning industry.
Mr. Fahad Al-Tamimi, Chairman of Mason Graphite, commented: We couldn’t be more excited to embark on this new venture with Thomas Swan, a highly respected and dynamic company, in the promising world of graphene. Graphene is no longer theoretical, but undergoing a transformative progress in applications, production, and commercialization. Yet very few companies are able to produce high performance graphene at a cost sufficiently low to penetrate industrial markets; I believe Black Swan Graphene will be one of them. Not only this new venture is expected to create meaningful graphite demand and is therefore a natural extension of the Lac Guéret graphite project, but it truly transforms the company’s potential as it elevates Mason to a preeminent position within the fastest growing segment of the carbon industry.