ValOre Signs MoU with German Federal Geoscience Agency BGR to Advance Processing of Weathered PGE Mineralization at Pedra Branca

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ValOre Metals Corp. (“ValOre”; TSX-V: VO, OTCQB: KVLQF, Frankfurt: KEQ0; “the Company”) today announced that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) with the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe – “BGR”) and its subdivision German Mineral Resources Agency (Deutsche Rohstoffagentur – “DERA”) for geoscientific collaboration within the "BioPlat" research project. The parties will work together to investigate and advance innovative metallurgical and mineral processing technologies for platinum group element ("PGE") mineralization at ValOre's 100%-owned Pedra Branca PGE Project ("Pedra Branca") in Ceará State, Brazil. The collaboration will take place within BioPlat, a German research project focused on innovative, low-emission processing of unconventional PGE ores using biological leaching methods. BioPlat is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space ("BMFTR") under the EGARoh research funding program. G.E.O.S. Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH (“G.E.O.S”). serves as BioPlat project coordinator. The other participants include TU Bergakademie Freiberg ("TUBAF"), and the Natural History Museum Bern. Key Elements of the Collaboration Purpose and scope: To advance the investigation and development of innovative, sustainable processing routes for ValOre’s Pedra Branca PGE mineralization, with an initial focus on weathered material and the application of bioleaching, hydrometallurgical processing and associated technologies. BioPlat expertise: G.E.O.S. will coordinate the collaboration with participating institutions, bringing together expertise in geoscience, mineral processing and the sustainable extraction and processing of critical raw materials. Subjects of cooperation: The collaboration will focus on potential areas including economic geology and ore deposit research; geochemistry and geophysics applied in mineral exploration and extraction; and the development and testing of mineral processing techniques. Funding: The collaboration is intended to be undertaken in connection with BioPlat and its associated German government research funding. ValOre's contribution is expected to include samples, technical data, and associated logistical support, with each party covering its own costs. Term: The MoU covers an initial term of five years. The detailed technical work program, including responsibilities, deliverables, and timelines, will be jointly developed by the parties. ValOre CEO Nick Smart commented: “Being selected as an industry partner in the German government-funded BioPlat initiative is a great validation of the work our team has been doing at Pedra Branca, and an important next step for us. This collaboration brings highly relevant technical and research expertise to one of the key opportunities we are pursuing: developing effective and sustainable processing routes for our PGE mineralization, particularly the near-surface weathered material. Our recent metallurgical work has demonstrated encouraging platinum and palladium extraction from weathered material using bioleaching and hydrometallurgical processing. Working with BGR/DERA, G.E.O.S. and the BioPlat participants gives us an exciting opportunity to build on those results and accelerate the development of innovative, low-emission processing technologies for Pedra Branca.” Tim Vietor, President of BGR, commented: “ValOre’s Pedra Branca PGM project is a highly promising venture and one of the few PGM projects globally that has reached a very advanced stage. In the medium term, Pedra Branca could help bridge PGM supply gaps – particularly for palladium – for Europe, and specifically for Germany, given its status as a major industrial hub and automotive producer. Furthermore, collaboration between the the BioPlat research consortium and ValOre Metals would also strengthen the traditionally strong and significant partnership between Germany and Brazil.” Building on Pedra Branca Metallurgical Results The BioPlat collaboration is expected to complement ValOre's ongoing metallurgical program at Pedra Branca. As previously reported, bioleaching pretreatment followed by cyanidation achieved extractions of up to 73% platinum and 74% palladium from weathered material from the Esbarro deposit (CLICK HERE for the news release dated March 26, 2026). Near-surface weathered PGE mineralization is generally less amenable to conventional flotation, which makes alternative processing routes such as bioleaching a priority area of study for Pedra Branca. The collaboration provides an opportunity to build on this work through BioPlat's specialized expertise in biological leaching and the processing of unconventional PGE ores, with the objective of advancing potential processing pathways for Pedra Branca. About BioPlat, BGR and Participating Institutions BioPlat is a German government-funded research project focused on the innovative and low-emission processing of unconventional PGE ores using biological leaching methods. The project is funded by BMFTR under the EGARoh research funding program. The Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (“BGR”) is Germany's federal geoscientific authority, providing scientific and technical expertise on geosciences and mineral resources. Its German Mineral Resources Agency (“DERA”) focuses on mineral raw materials and related supply-chain issues. G.E.O.S. Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH acts as project coordinator for BioPlat. Other participants include BGR/DERA, TUBAF and the Natural History Museum Bern. Qualified Person (“QP”) The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Thiago Diniz, P.Geo., ValOre’s QP and Vice President of Exploration. About ValOre Metals Corp. ValOre Metals Corp. (TSX-V: VO, OTCQB: KVLQF, Frankfurt: KEQ0) is a Canadian company with a team aiming to deploy capital and knowledge on projects which benefit from substantial prior investment by previous owners, existence of high-value mineralization on a large scale, and the possibility of adding tangible value through exploration and innovation. ValOre’s Pedra Branca Platinum Group Elements Project comprises 45 exploration licenses covering a total area of 51,096 hectares (126,260 acres) in northeastern Brazil. At Pedra Branca, 7 distinct PGE+Au deposit areas host, in aggregate, a 2022 NI 43-101 inferred resource of 2.198 Moz 2PGE+Au contained in 63.6 Mt grading 1.08 g/t 2PGE+Au. ValOre’s team believes the Pedra Branca project has significant exploration discovery and resource expansion potential. (CLICK HERE to download 2022 technical report* and CLICK HERE for news release dated March 24, 2022). *The 2022 Technical Report is entitled “Independent Technical Report – Mineral Resource Update on the Pedra Branca PGE Project, Ceará State, Brazil” and was prepared as a National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on behalf of ValOre Metals Corp. with an effective date of March 08, 2022. The 2022 Technical Report by Independent qualified persons, Fábio Valério (P.Geo.) and Porfirio Cabaleiro (P.Eng.), of GE21, commissioned to complete the mineral resource estimate while Chris Kaye of Mine and Quarry Engineering Services Inc. (MQes), was commissioned to review the metallurgical information. The Mineral Resource estimates were prepared in accordance with the CIM Standards, and the CIM Guidelines, using geostatistical, plus economic and mining parameters appropriate to the deposit. Mineral Resources, which are not mineral reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability, and may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, marketing, and other relevant issues. Mineral Resources are based upon a cut-off grade of 0.4 g/t PGE+Au, correlated to Pd_eq grade of 0.35 g/t, and were limited by an economic pit built in Geovia Whittle 4.3 software and following the geometric and economic parameters as disclosed in the 2022 NI 43-101 Technical Report. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Nick Smart Chief Executive Officer ValOre Metals Corp. For further information about ValOre Metals Corp., or this news release, please visit our website at www.valoremetals.com or contact Investor Relations at 778-819-4484, or by email at [email protected]. ValOre Metals Corp. is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: http://www.discoverygroup.ca/ Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Although ValOre believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events that may prove to be inaccurate. These factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information to ValOre. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. A number of important factors including those set forth in other public filings could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the future operations of ValOre and economic factors. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release and, except as required by applicable law, ValOre does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. ValOre undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of ValOre, or its financial or operating results or (as applicable), their securities.