CoTec Holdings Corp. Upgrades to OTCQX(R) Best Market

• CoTec Holdings Corp. has successfully upgraded its U.S. trading tier from the OTCQB® Venture Market to the OTCQX® Best Market, effective May 5, 2026.
• The upgrade requires meeting high financial standards, best practice corporate governance, and compliance with applicable securities laws.
• This milestone coincides with progress in advancing HyProMag USA toward commercial production of recycled rare earth magnets.
• U.S. investors can now access current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes via www.otcmarkets.com.
• CEO Julian Treger stated the upgrade reflects significant progress as they advance HyProMag USA and build their broader portfolio of critical mineral technologies.

• The OTCQX upgrade is a regulatory compliance milestone rather than an operational or financial breakthrough.
• It validates that CoTec met the higher disclosure standards likely necessitated by recent financing activities (warrant exercises and private placements).
• While positive for visibility and liquidity, it does not alter the fundamental cash burn rate or production timeline of flagship projects.
• The upgrade is consistent with previous announcements regarding financial strengthening in Q4 2025 and Q1 2026.
• No new capital raises, M&A activity, or production breakthroughs are announced in this specific release to justify a "Material - Positive" rating.

• CoTec Holdings Corp. operates as a technology-enabled mineral recovery company with three primary pillars: HyProMag USA (Rare Earth Recycling), MagIron (Iron Ore/Pellet Plant), and Lac Jeannine (Tailings Project).
• HyProMag USA: A 50/50 Joint Venture (effective 60.3% interest for CoTec) focused on recycling rare earth magnets from e-waste using patented HPMS technology. The Texas Hub is the flagship project, targeting commercial production by mid-2027.
• MagIron: CoTec holds a ~16.5% stake in MagIron LLC, which acquired the Reynolds Pellet Plant and secured iron ore mining leases in Minnesota to restart DR-grade pellet production for the U.S. steel market.
• Lac Jeannine: A 100% owned tailings retreatment project in Quebec targeting high-grade iron concentrate recovery using multi-gravity separation technology.