First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt Attends the Defense Industrial Base Accelerator (DIBX) 2026, Showcasing Awaruite (Ni-Fe-Co Alloy) Samples Processed with ONSHORE MAX(TM) Into an Alloy Concentrate Up to 71.9% Nickel and 1.76% Cobalt from the Pipestone XL Pro

First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt Corp. (FAN) is attending the Defense Industrial Base Accelerator (DIBX) 2026 in Philadelphia to showcase its Pipestone XL project. The company, which has been a member of the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) since March 2026, is highlighting preliminary metallurgical test results from SGS Canada. These results demonstrate that the ONSHORE MAX™ process can produce a high-grade alloy concentrate averaging 67.4% nickel (up to 71.9%) and 1.76% cobalt.

The process utilizes low-intensity magnetic separation and flotation, bypassing conventional smelting. First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt emphasizes its strategic alignment with U.S. defense critical minerals policies, including the White House proclamation and the DOMINANCE Act. Additional initiatives include evaluating secondary chromium mineralization and advancing an Engineered Mineral Hydrogen (EMH) initiative with VEMA Hydrogen.

First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt Corp. (FAN) issued a routine follow-up to its June 24, 2026, metallurgical announcement, which previously detailed concentrate results of 71.9% nickel and 1.76% cobalt. The company also confirmed its attendance at DIBX 2026, a standard industry conference appearance that does not constitute a new contract, financing, or regulatory milestone.

Strategic alignment with U.S. defense policies has been repeatedly highlighted in prior releases, including DIBC membership in March 2026 and commentary on the DOMINANCE Act in June 2026. The information is expected and incremental, serving primarily as marketing and investor relations outreach rather than a material operational or financial update. No new capital was raised, no new offtake agreements were announced, and there is no change in project timeline or permitting status disclosed.

First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt Corp. (FAN) is a junior exploration and development company focused on the Pipestone XL Nickel-Cobalt Alloy Project in Newfoundland, Canada. The flagship project spans a 30-kilometer ultramafic belt known as the Pipestone Ophiolite Complex and hosts awaruite (Ni3Fe), a naturally occurring magnetic nickel-iron-cobalt alloy. Key zones within the project include the RPM Zone, which measures 1.2 km in strike and 800 m in width, and the Alloy Max Zone, which extends approximately 4 km in strike and 1.5 km in width.

The company’s core value proposition centers on a smelter-free processing pathway that utilizes magnetic separation and flotation to produce a high-grade nickel concentrate containing approximately 60-70% Ni. This approach bypasses the limited smelting capacity currently available in North America. In addition to nickel, the project explores secondary commodities including chromium, cobalt, and geologic hydrogen.