Grafoid Appoints Thomas H. Cruikshank, Former Chairman and CEO of Haliburton, as Strategic Advisor

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 8, 2014) - Mr. Gary Economo, Chief Executive Officer and Founding Partner of Grafoid Inc. ("Grafoid" or the "Company") announced today the appointment of Mr. Thomas H. Cruikshank as a strategic advisor to the Company.

Grafoid, with R&D and production facilities in Singapore, Canada and the United States, is an advanced, complete solutions graphene technologies company. Grafoid deems MesoGraf™ the global standard for high-energy density graphene from a globally patented process. That process uniquely transforms raw, unprocessed graphite ore to affordable and scalable, high-purity few layer graphene.

"We are extremely pleased to welcome Mr. Cruikshank, his participation and his guidance in Grafoid's future development," said Mr. Economo. "As a graphene technologies company with a growing global presence, Mr. Cruikshank's participation will assist us with our business development and expansion into critically important United States' markets.

"Mr. Cruikshank's business acumen, coupled with his extensive global corporate experience as Chairman and CEO of a Fortune 200 corporation, affords Grafoid a competitive edge, as we advance our near-market-ready MesoGraf™ applications. We are very fortunate to have Mr. Cruikshank on our team," Mr. Economo said.

Mr. Cruikshank served as Chief Executive Officer of the Haliburton Company from 1983 to 1995, where he also served as Haliburton's President from 1983 to 1989 and Chairman from 1989 to 1995. Mr. Cruikshank joined Haliburton in 1969 and served as a Director from 1977 to 1996.

Founded in 1919, Texas-based Haliburton is one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the energy industry, with more than 75,000 employees, representing 140 nationalities in more than 80 countries. The Honorable Richard (Dick) B. Cheney - who later served as the 46th Vice President of the United States of America - succeeded Mr. Cruikshank as Chief Executive Officer and subsequently, Chairman of Haliburton in October 1995.

Mr. Cruikshank's distinguished business career spans over 50 years. Prior to joining Haliburton, Mr. Cruikshank was a manager with the accounting firm Arthur Andersen & Co and, after serving his country as an officer in the United States Navy at the end of the Korean War, joined the international law firm Vinson & Elkins where he became a Partner.

Mr. Cruikshank has served on the Board of Directors for a number of high-profile public companies, including The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, The Williams Companies, Inc., Seagull Energy Corporation, Central and South West Corporation, and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. Mr. Cruikshank's Directorships also included the American Petroleum Institute and the Petroleum Equipment Suppliers Association, as well as several nonprofit organizations, such as Junior Achievement, Up with People, Rice University and the California Institute of Technology. He holds a degree in Business and Economics from Rice University and attended the University of Texas and the University of Houston law schools.

"Graphene is a fascinating yet complex material with incredible developments underway, especially in the areas of energy storage, graphene polymers and in particular, non-invasive cancer eradication therapies," said Mr. Cruikshank.

"I feel that Grafoid has considerable advantages with its MesoGraf™ functional graphene materials and is certainly significantly ahead of everyone else in the broad spectrum of next-generation applications currently being developed. Under the strategic leadership of Mr. Economo and Dr. Gordon Chiu, I believe Grafoid's future is exceptionally promising. I am honored by this unique opportunity to participate in, and be a part of such an accomplished, progressive company advancing towards the commercialization of a cutting-edge disruptive technology.

"Manufacturing and industry are under the misguided notion that high-purity graphene cannot be produced on a large commercial scale and, as importantly, at a commercial cost that is acceptable for widespread graphene adoption. MesoGraf™ successfully addresses and overcomes those challenges right now - not decades down the road, like many believe. Grafoid brings world-leading expertise in graphene, resolves scalability issues, tailors graphene for specific applications, and provides solutions for commercial success," added Mr. Cruikshank.

About Grafoid Inc.

Grafoid Inc. is a privately held Canadian corporation investing in MesoGraf™ high-energy density graphene applications and economically scalable production processes for pristine bilayer and trilayer graphene and MesoGraf™ derivatives from raw, unprocessed, graphite ore. The company is engaged in the development of graphene patent joint ventures globally, in the areas of renewable energy, advanced polymer materials, biomedicine, thermal dispersion technologies, coatings and a number of classified material development projects. Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)(OTCQX:FCSMF)(FRANKFURT:FKC) holds a substantial equity interest in Grafoid Inc. on behalf of its shareholders representing 19%.