Nemaska Lithium Receives New Patents or Allowances in Canada, Australia and United States

QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - May 18, 2017) - Nemaska Lithium Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, "Nemaska Lithium" or the "Corporation") (TSX:NMX)(OTCQX:NMKEF) are pleased to announce that the Company has obtained four (4) additional issued patents as well as two (2) additional allowed patent applications.

Canadian Patent Nos. 2,871,092 and 2,928,227 related to processes for preparing lithium hydroxide were granted on May 9, 2017 and May 16, 2017, respectively. US 14/396,109, the equivalent in the United States of CA 2,871,092, was allowed by United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on April 25, 2017. This latter patent should thus issue within few weeks. AU 2014339706, the equivalent in Australia of CA 2,928,227, was accepted on May 18, 2017.

The Corporation is also pleased to announce that Canadian Patent No. 2,940,027 issued on May 16, 2017. This patent relates to methods for treating lithium-containing materials.

Finally, Australian Patent No. 2013270412 related to a process for preparing lithium carbonate was granted on March 30, 2017. The Canadian and US corresponding patents were previously granted last summer.

Jean-Francois Magnan, Technical Manager of Nemaska Lithium commented, "These granted patents clearly confirm the uniqueness of our processes that allow us to produce low cost, high purity lithium salts in an environmentally friendly manner. We have considerably strengthened our patent position with respect to protecting our lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate manufacturing processes in Canada, USA and Australia, which are the major centres for hard rock lithium production."

Based on issuance of these patents and in view of accelerated examination via the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH), the Company can thus expect to obtain more efficiently, more rapidly and at lower costs, the allowance of other patent applications belonging to same patent families in foreign countries.

About Nemaska Lithium

Nemaska Lithium intends to become a lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate supplier to the emerging lithium battery market that is largely driven by electric vehicles, cell phones, tablets and other consumer products. The Corporation is developing in Quebec one of the most important spodumene lithium hard rock deposit in the world, both in volume and grade. The spodumene concentrate produced at Nemaska Lithium's Whabouchi mine will be shipped to the Corporation's lithium compounds processing plant to be built in Shawinigan, Quebec. This plant will transform spodumene concentrate into high purity lithium hydroxide and carbonate using the proprietary methods developed by the Corporation, and for which the Corporation holds four granted patents and several patent applications that are pending in different countries, covering different aspects and improvements of its proprietary technology for preparing high purity lithium hydroxide and carbonate.

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release including, but not limited to, (i) the delivery to JMBM by the Corporation of a second shipment of lithium hydroxide monohydrate that meets JMBM's criteria and the resulting final payment of CDN$1,000,000, (ii) the Corporation sending final samples once the lithium hydroxide solution is processed through the crystallizer, in respect of which the Corporation expects no issues, (iii) the Corporation being a key supplier within JMBM's supply of lithium salts strategy, (iv) the continuous qualifying of the Corporation's products with customers, (v) the Corporation's expected long and mutually beneficial relationship with JMBM, (vi) the Corporation's entry in the lithium supply chain as a credible and reliable supplier of lithium salts, and (vii) generally, the above "About Nemaska Lithium" paragraph which essentially describe the Corporation's outlook constitute ''forward-looking information'' or ''forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of certain securities laws, and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect.

Many of these uncertainties and contingencies, including the fact that there is no certainty that Nemaska Lithium will develop a long-term relationship with JMBM and will become a credible and reliable supplier of lithium salts, can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. Further information regarding Nemaska Lithium, including on risks that may affect forward-looking statements, is available in the SEDAR database (www.sedar.com) and on the Corporation's website at: www.nemaskalithium.com

Contact

Mr. Victor Cantore
Investor Relations
514 831-3809
victor.cantore@nemaskalithium.com

Ms. Wanda Cutler
Investor Relations
416 303-6460
wanda.cutler@nemaskalithium.com
www.nemaskalithium.com