First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt Added to NASDAQ Sprott Nickel Miners(TM) Index, Tracked by the Sprott Nickel Miners ETF (NASDAQ: NIKL)

First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt Corp. was added to the NASDAQ Sprott Nickel Miners™ Index (NSNIKL), effective June 22, 2026, following the index's semi-annual rebalancing. The index is tracked by the Sprott Nickel Miners ETF (NASDAQ: NIKL), providing potential passive capital inflows and increased institutional visibility.

The release reiterates key technical milestones on the Pipestone XL project, specifically the ONSHORE MAX™ process yielding a high-grade alloy concentrate averaging 67.4% nickel (up to 71.9%) and 1.76% cobalt. Highlights include the smelter-free, sulfur-free nature of awaruite mineralization, which bypasses conventional pyrometallurgy and reduces acid mine drainage risks.

The company confirms strategic positioning within established infrastructure corridors, acceptance into the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC), and a 50/50 joint venture letter of intent with Vema Hydrogen for engineered mineral hydrogen development.

First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt Corp. (FAN) has seen its inclusion in the index recognized as a positive but expected development, following a sustained period of metallurgical validation, strategic advisory appointments, and DIBC membership. While the move does not represent a new financing, offtake agreement, or resource estimate, it materially improves the company's profile within the critical minerals ETF space. The metallurgical data presented aligns perfectly with prior announcements from May and June 2026, confirming the consistency of the ONSHORE MAX™ process. The news serves as a validation of the company's strategic narrative rather than a catalyst for immediate price appreciation.

First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt Corp. (FAN) is a junior explorer focused on the Pipestone XL Nickel-Cobalt Alloy Project in central Newfoundland. The project spans a 30-kilometre ultramafic belt hosting awaruite (Ni₃Fe), a naturally occurring, sulfur-free nickel-iron-cobalt alloy.

The RPM Zone is the most advanced target, with drilling outlining magnetically recoverable awaruite over more than 1.2 km of strike and more than 800 m of width. The Alloy Max Zone represents a second large-scale discovery spanning approximately 4 km of strike, with ongoing drilling testing its eastern extent.

The company's smelter-free processing pathway via magnetic separation and flotation positions it to supply low-carbon nickel for EV batteries, stainless steel, and defense applications.