07:52 AM EDT, 03/26/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Nouveau Monde Graphite ( NMG ) was at last look down 0.9% in US premarket on Thursday as it filed its financial reports for the 2025 period, "a year marked by material progress toward the development and financing of the company's Phase 2 operations", alongside "disciplined" capital deployment, while the company and Government of Canada executed an updated binding offtake and marketing framework for Matawinie graphite.

With the recent US$335-million commitment package from lenders toward financing of the Matawinie Mine, NMG said it is "well positioned and focused" on completing the remaining steps to reach a final investment decision, advancing a sequenced FID for the First-Stage Becancour Battery Material Plant, and preparing for construction and commercial execution.

Among highlights, NMG cited Phase 2 Matawinie Mine advancement toward FID on the basis of the 2025 Matawinie Mine Feasibility Study, commercial agreements, as well as lenders and investors respective processes, with a first half of 2026 target date.

Eric Desaulniers, Founder, President, and CEO, said: "Team Nouveau Monde delivered tangible progress across all pillars of our development roadmap; we are reducing execution risk for our fully integrated graphite platform, from mine to advanced materials, that aligns with the strategic priorities of Western economies and supports decades of responsible production. 2026 promises exciting milestones in converting our assets and plans into future commercial success."

Separately, the company said it has executed an updated binding long-form term sheet with the Government of Canada, setting out the principal commercial terms for the supply, storage and resale of graphite concentrate from the company's Phase 2 Matawinie Mine in Quebec, Canada.

On this Desaulniers said: "This updated framework with the Government of Canada is another key step in reinforcing the bankability of our Phase 2 Matawinie Mine and our positioning among the G7 and allied countries as a local, dependable, and responsible graphite source. The contemplated supply, storage and marketing structure is designed to support Canada's strategic ambitions while preserving commercial agility for NMG as we advance toward definitive agreements and a final investment decision."

Among highlights, NMG said the framework covers a 30,000 tpa purchase commitment over a seven-year term, subject to customary conditions precedent including governmental appropriations and NMG's positive FID.

Shares in NMG were up 4.4% in Canada yesterday.