On May 15, 2026, Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc., a Montréal-based integrated natural graphite and advanced battery materials company, closed a US$309.5 million equity financing package, confirming the final investment decision for its Phase-2 Matawinie Mine in Québec. The package comprised a strategic private placement of US$213.16 million in common shares at US$1.84 per share (C$2.55 per share at the Bank of Canada exchange rate as of April 8, 2026), together with the release of US$96.49 million of escrowed proceeds from a previously completed bought-deal offering of 52,440,000 subscription receipts originally issued on April 16, 2026, which automatically converted into common shares upon satisfaction of escrow release conditions. Cornerstone subscribers in the private placement were Canada Growth Fund Inc., which subscribed for 44,452,460 common shares; the Government of Québec, through Investissement Québec, which subscribed for 33,351,853 common shares for approximately US$61 million; and Eni S.p.A., which subscribed for 38,043,478 common shares for approximately US$70 million. Following closing, Canada Growth Fund holds approximately 19.54 percent of Nouveau Monde Graphite on a non-diluted basis, Investissement Québec holds approximately 17.92 percent, and Eni holds approximately 11.56 percent and has the right to appoint a director to the board of Nouveau Monde Graphite under an investor rights agreement. Shareholder approval was obtained on May 13, 2026 under Toronto Stock Exchange rules and Regulation 61-101. Combined with previously committed senior project debt facilities of US$335 million, the equity package supports the design, engineering and construction of the Phase-2 Matawinie Mine.