Halifax, Nova Scotia -
Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2026 -
Ucore Rare Metals Inc. (TSXV: UCU) (OTCQX: UURAF) ("
Ucore" or the "
Company") is pleased to announce a strategic cooperation framework with
Sumitomo Corporation of Americas ("
SCOA") to support the development of a diversified rare earth supply chain across North America and allied markets.
Under the Agreement, signed on June 10, 2026, the companies will
collaborate on sourcing rare earth feedstock for Ucore's Louisiana
Strategic Metals Complex (
SMC) and downstream offtake development
for separated rare earth products. The focus is on selected middle and
heavy rare earth elements critical to high-performance magnets and
advanced materials applications primarily in Japan while preserving
feedstock for additional processing for North American and allied
markets.
The collaboration is intended to combine Ucore's developing RapidSX™ technology platform at its Louisiana ("
SMC")
rare earth refinery with SCOA's global sourcing, logistics, and market
access capabilities, including in Japan, as the parties work to support
more diversified rare earth supply chains. Furthermore, the companies
intend to formally cooperate as project partners in Ucore's previously
announced
Global Partnership Initiative with the Government of Canada.
Ucore is advancing its rare earth processing platform in North America,
including the development of its planned SMC in Louisiana and continued
commercial demonstration with the Government of Canada. SCOA has
longstanding experience in the global rare earth industry, including
sourcing, trading, and supply chain development.
As part of the framework, SCOA will serve as Ucore's distribution
partner for designated separated rare earth products sold to selected
customer segments in Japan and other mutually agreed industrial
applications.
The companies will work together to explore opportunities for
cooperation across the rare earth value chain, subject to mutually
agreed commercial terms and existing business arrangements.
About Ucore Rare Metals Inc.
Ucore is focused on rare- and critical-metal resources, extraction,
beneficiation, and separation technologies with the potential for
production, growth, and scalability. Ucore's vision and plan is to
become a leading advanced technology company, providing best-in-class
metal separation products and services to the mining and mineral
extraction industry.
Through strategic partnerships, Ucore aims to support the development of
a more diversified and resilient North American REE supply chain
through the near-term development of a heavy and light rare-earth
processing facility in the US State of Louisiana, subsequent SMCs in
Canada and Alaska and the longer-term development of Ucore's 100%
controlled Bokan-Dotson Ridge Rare Heavy REE Project on Prince of Wales
Island in Southeast Alaska, USA ("
Bokan").
Ucore is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "
UCU" and in the United States on the OTC Markets' OTCQX® Best Market under the ticker symbol "
UURAF."
For further information, please visit www.ucore.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking information" and
"forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All
statements in this release (other than statements of historical facts)
that address future business development, technological development
and/or acquisition activities (including any related required
financings), timelines, events, or developments that the Company is
pursuing are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes
the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based
on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future
performance or results, and actual results or developments may differ
materially from those in forward-looking statements.
For additional risks and uncertainties regarding the Company, its
business activities, its ability to qualify for and receive any
additional funding from any U.S. or Canadian government, the CDF and the
aforementioned projects (generally), see the risk disclosure in the
Company's MD&A for Q1-2026 (filed on SEDAR+ on May 29, 2026) (www.sedarplus.ca) as well as the risks described below.
Regarding the disclosure above in the "About Ucore Rare Metals Inc."
section, the Company has assumed that it will be able to procure or
retain additional partners and/or suppliers, in addition to Innovation
Metals Corp. ("IMC"), as suppliers for Ucore's expected future
SMCs. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external funding will be
found to continue and complete the ongoing research and development work
required at the CDF and also later prepare a new National Instrument
43-101 technical report that demonstrates that Bokan is feasible and
economically viable for the production of both REE and co-product metals
and the then prevailing market prices based upon assumed customer
offtake agreements. Ucore has also assumed that sufficient external
funding will be secured to continue the development of the specific
engineering plans for the SMCs and their construction and eventual
commissioning and operations.
Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material
assumptions, including, without limitation: the successful completion
and accuracy of baseline, front-end-engineering design and detailed
engineering studies; the ability to complete further engineering,
procurement, and construction activities as currently contemplated; the
availability, cost, and timely delivery of equipment, materials,
utilities, labour and construction services; the Company's ability to
secure sufficient financing on acceptable terms; the receipt and timing
of all required permits and approvals; the successful scale-up and
commercial deployment of RapidSX™ technology from demonstration to
commercial operation; the availability of qualified feedstock from
third-party suppliers; successful customer qualification and offtake
discussions; continued support from governmental partners; and general
economic, market, and industry conditions, including assumptions
regarding rare earth oxide prices, which are subject to significant
volatility.
Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the
forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance
that such assumptions will prove to be accurate or that the anticipated
results, performance, or achievements will be realized. Actual results
may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the
forward-looking information.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include,
without limitation: risks associated with the development, scale-up,
and commercialization of new or unproven technologies; the risk that
RapidSX™ may not perform at commercial scale as expected; engineering
design changes; inaccuracies in capital or operating cost estimates;
cost escalation due to inflation, supply chain disruption, or market
conditions; delays or failures in procurement, construction, or
commissioning; the inability to obtain or maintain required permits,
approvals, or regulatory authorizations; challenges in securing adequate
financing; adverse capital market conditions; variability in feedstock
supply, quality, or pricing; failure to secure or maintain commercial
relationships, customer qualification, or offtake arrangements;
fluctuations and uncertainty in rare earth oxide prices and demand; the
risk that indicative or quoted market prices, including for ex-China
markets, may not be realized; operational risks once in production,
including equipment failures or lower-than-expected recoveries;
geopolitical risk; changes in applicable laws or regulations;
environmental or permitting challenges; loss of key personnel; and
general economic, business, or competitive conditions.
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term
is defined by the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
CONTACTS
Mr. Peter Manuel, Ucore Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for the content of this news release and may be contacted at 1.902.482.5214.
For additional information, please contact:
Mark MacDonald
Vice President, Investor Relations
Ucore Rare Metals Inc.
1.902.482.5214
mark@ucore.com