Investing in public graphene stocks

Sparc Technologies has announced it has received firm commitments to raise A$2.25M (around USD$1.49 million) through a share placement. 

Proceeds from the Placement will be used for supporting Sparc’s investment in Sparc Hydrogen, field trials and R&D programs to support product development and commercialization efforts for ecosparc®, R&D for sodium-ion batteries and other projects and General working capital.

NanoXplore has announced the closing of a new credit facility with the Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”). Under the agreement, RBC will provide NanoXplore’s subsidiaries with up to CAD$60 million (about USD$43,567,000) .  

The credit facility, inclusive of an existing equipment lease and other financial products, will provide a CAD$10 million (around USD$7,261,000) revolving credit line, up to CAD$45 million (USD$32,677,000) in equipment leasing and CAD$5 million (about USD$3,630,000) in term loans and will carry interest rates similar to those the Corporation currently pays. The new credit facility will allow for the reimbursement of existing loans of approximately CAD$4.7 million (USD$3,412,000) with other lenders.

Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG) has reported that due to higher demand, its previously announced marketed offering has been increased from AUD$2 million (around USD$1,295,000) to AUD$3.024 million (about USD$1,960,000).

The proceeds of the offering will be used to strengthen GMG’s financial position and provide liquidity to its ongoing operations, including expenses related to its research and development objectives.

Advanced Graphene Development (AMD) has announced two significant contract extensions with its US Government customers. 

Its Radar mitigation project with the US Army continues under a new funding award whilst its novel laser blocking technology work, under contract with the Irregular Warfare Technology Support Directorate (IWTSD) is also extended. Both projects will continue throughout 2024.

HydroGraph Clean Power has announced that it has completed the final tranche of its non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of CAD$1,182,500 (over USD$871,000). In total, HydroGraph reported gross proceeds of approximately CAD$3.17 million (over USD$2,334,000) pursuant to the entire Offering.    

HydroGraph intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for application development, business development and general working capital purposes.

Graphene Trace, a UK-based startup that aims to use sensors to eradicate the problem of pressure ulcers, has been awarded a £300,000 grant by Innovate UK.

The startup believes its proprietary sensor technology for wheelchair users and hospital inpatients could reduce pressure ulcer onset by up to 95%. CEO Scott Dean said the grant will fund the creation of a prototype for its pressure ulcer prevention technology and bring it a step closer to going to market.

Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG) has secured Queensland government backing for a proposed automated battery pilot plant for the manufacture of GMG’s Graphene Aluminum Ion Battery. The Company signed a Queensland Critical Minerals and Battery Technology Fund Agreement with the state for a grant of AUD$2 million (almost USD$1,300,000).

GMG is using graphene to produce aluminium-ion batteries utilizing a patent-pending surface perforation technology developed by the University of Queensland. GMG said the grant was for the payment of 50 percent of the capital cost of GMG’s proposed pilot plant, up to a maximum of $2 million.

Directa Plus has entered a €1 million loan agreement with Nant Capital LLC. The funding will be used to complete the final payment for the acquisition of Setcar SA. Directa Plus previously agreed to buy a stake in Setcar, the group's environmental services subsidiary, for €1.5 million, which took Directa Plus' holding to just under 100%.

Nant is owned by Patrick Soon-Shiong, and together with Soon-Shiong it holds 28.73% of the share capital of Directa Plus.

Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG) has been awarded a AU$2 million (over USD$1,300,000) grant by the Queensland Government to support the development of an automated battery pilot plant for the Company's graphene aluminium ion battery. 

The funding aims to bolster the local critical minerals and battery technology industries, contribute to economic growth, and is expected to create 12 new jobs. The grant represents half of the capital costs for the plant, which will be housed within GMG’s existing facility, contingent upon GMG’s final investment decision.

Versarien has announced that it has, in line with its stated strategy to monetize intellectual property through licensing, entered into a manufacturing license agreement and a know-how license and technical assistance agreement with Montana Química ("Montana"). Montana is a Brazilian headquartered multinational business focused on the production and sale of paints, wood preservatives and other wood finishing products including stains and varnishes. The agreements cover the use of the Company's proprietary graphene and related material dispersions and formulations (Graphinks™) in products to be manufactured and sold by Montana in South America, together with Versarien providing further additional know-how, technical assistance and training to Montana.

Under the terms of these agreements, Versarien has granted a license to Montana, for an initial period of five years, to use certain intellectual property and know-how owned by the Company in their business in South America. Montana will pay Versarien initial fees of £50,000 in March 2024 in consideration of the know-how and technical assistance, including training, to be provided. Once Montana commences manufacturing under the agreement, a further payment of £25,000 will be due to the Company, together with an amount equal to 5% of the total sales revenue earned from products manufactured using Versarien's intellectual property and know-how, subject to minimum royalty payments of £25,000 per annum.