{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"167258","rtpr_id":"nGNX2TLrJD-20261013","ticker":"ELBM","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["ELBM"],"title":"Electra Signs Term Sheet for Strategic Partnership with Global Commodities Trader WMC ","author":"Globe Newswire","published_at":"2026-10-13T11:00:02.114Z","article_body":"TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Electra Battery Materials\nCorporation (NASDAQ: ELBM; TSX-V: ELBM) (“Electra” or the “Company”)\nhas signed a term sheet with WMC Group AG (“WMC”) for a five-year\nworking-capital and commercial partnership supporting its Canadian critical\nminerals refinery. The arrangement will finance cobalt feedstock purchases and\ncorresponding battery grade cobalt sales, strengthening the efficiency of the\nrefinery’s operating cash cycle.\n\nThe partnership provides logistics management, cobalt market expertise,\nmarketing support and access to WMC’s global commercial network as Electra\ntransitions from construction and commissioning into operations. In connection\nwith the partnership, WMC has also committed to making an investment in\nElectra upon execution of definitive agreements.\n\n“As Electra gets closer to production, the relationship provides the\ninventory working capital and provides our commercial team with broader access\nto cobalt buyers around the world,” said Trent Mell, Chief Executive Officer\nof Electra. “This agreement addresses our priorities around working capital,\nlogistics and product qualification. WMC markets physical commodities\nworldwide, combining market intelligence and long-standing customer\nrelationships. Those capabilities complement our existing commercial\nrelationships and can help us optimize the refinery as we ramp toward full\nproduction.”\n\n\"WMC is expanding its activity across battery materials, and this partnership\nshows the value we can add for a producer at Electra's stage,\" said Joe\nMicotto, Head of Battery Materials for WMC. \"Electra is developing an\nimportant new source of refined cobalt for the North American market.\nCombining its refining capability with our financial and logistical resources\nand global customer relationships gives Electra a strong route to market as it\nmoves into production.\"\n\nWMC is a leading global physical commodity trader focused on battery materials\nand nuclear fuel, providing long-term supply, offtake, marketing, logistics\nand financing solutions. Its Battery Materials trading team brings deep cobalt\nmarket expertise and established relationships across the global supply chain.\n\nThe parties intend to negotiate definitive agreements based on the term sheet.\nCompletion of the proposed arrangements remains subject to due diligence,\nnegotiation and execution of definitive documentation, receipt of required\nregulatory and creditor approvals and satisfaction of other customary\nconditions.\n\nIn addition to providing finance and logistics services for volumes up to the\nrefinery’s nameplate capacity, WMC will act as buyer and exclusive marketing\nagent for corresponding cobalt sulfate production. The partnership is intended\nto complement Electra’s existing customer relationships, including its\nsupply arrangement with LG Energy Solution.\n\nThe term sheet is non-binding, other than with respect to certain provisions\nincluding confidentiality, exclusivity, costs, assignment, governing law and\njurisdiction.\n\nAbout Electra Battery Materials\n\nElectra is a leader in advancing North America’s critical minerals supply\nchain for lithium-ion batteries. The Company’s primary focus is constructing\nNorth America’s only cobalt sulfate refinery, as part of a phased strategy\nto onshore critical minerals refining and reduce reliance on foreign supply\nchains. In addition to the Refinery, Electra holds a significant land package\nin Idaho’s Cobalt Belt, including its Iron Creek project and surrounding\nproperties, positioning the Company as a potential cornerstone for North\nAmerican cobalt and copper production.\n\nElectra is also advancing black mass recycling opportunities to recover\ncritical materials from end-of-life batteries, while continuing to evaluate\ngrowth opportunities in nickel refining and other downstream battery\nmaterials. For more information, please visit www.ElectraBMC.com.\n\nAbout WMC\n\nWMC is an independent and innovative physical commodity merchant focused on\nthe low-carbon energy sector, with businesses spanning nuclear fuel and\nbattery materials. The company provides long-term supply, offtake, marketing,\nlogistics and financing solutions services across global physical commodity\nmarkets.\n\nWMC leverages its network, market knowledge and financial engineering\ncapability to connect energy production capacity with downstream demand.\nFounded in 2016, WMC is a privately-owned company headquartered in Amsterdam,\nwith offices in Zug, Denver and Hong Kong.\n\nWMC also serves as technical advisor to the Sprott Physical Copper Trust and\nSprott Physical Uranium Trust.\n\nContact\n\nHeather Smiles\nVice President, External Affairs & Corporate Development \nElectra Battery Materials\ninfo@ElectraBMC.com \n1.416.900.3891\n\nJoe Micotto\nHead of Battery Materials\nWMC Group AG\njoseph.micotto@wmcgroup.com  \n\nNeither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that\nterm is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts\nresponsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.\n\nCautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements\n\nThis news release may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking\ninformation (together, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of\napplicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation\nReform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts,\nare forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be\nidentified by the use of terminology such as “plans”, “expects”,\n“estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes” or\nvariations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or\nresults “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “occur” or “be\nachieved”. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, and\ninvolve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual\nresults, performance, and opportunities to differ materially from those\nimplied by such forward-looking statements. Among the basis for assumptions\nmade in this news release are that definitive documentation will be negotiated\nwith WMC, that equity financing will be available on terms acceptable to\nElectra, and that mechanical completion of the refinery will be achieved.\nFactors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these\nforward-looking statements are set forth in the management discussion and\nanalysis and other disclosures of risk factors for Electra Battery Materials\nCorporation, filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and with EDGAR at\nwww.sec.gov. Other factors that could lead actual results to differ materially\ninclude changes with respect to government or investor expectations or actions\nas compared to communicated intentions, and general macroeconomic and other\ntrends that can affect levels of government or private investment. Although\nthe Company believes that the information and assumptions used in preparing\nthe forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be\nplaced on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news\nrelease, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the\ndisclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, the\nCompany disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any\nforward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future\nevents or otherwise.\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/24573503-40e6-4d1d-90bf-5e830d4db995)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nGNX2TLrJD-20261013","title":"Electra Signs Term Sheet for Strategic Partnership with Global Commodities Trader WMC ","author":"Globe Newswire","ticker":"ELBM","created":"2026-10-13T11:00:02.114Z","tickers":["ELBM"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"TORONTO, Oct. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Electra Battery Materials\nCorporation (NASDAQ: ELBM; TSX-V: ELBM) (“Electra” or the “Company”)\nhas signed a term sheet with WMC Group AG (“WMC”) for a five-year\nworking-capital and commercial partnership supporting its Canadian critical\nminerals refinery. The arrangement will finance cobalt feedstock purchases and\ncorresponding battery grade cobalt sales, strengthening the efficiency of the\nrefinery’s operating cash cycle.\n\nThe partnership provides logistics management, cobalt market expertise,\nmarketing support and access to WMC’s global commercial network as Electra\ntransitions from construction and commissioning into operations. In connection\nwith the partnership, WMC has also committed to making an investment in\nElectra upon execution of definitive agreements.\n\n“As Electra gets closer to production, the relationship provides the\ninventory working capital and provides our commercial team with broader access\nto cobalt buyers around the world,” said Trent Mell, Chief Executive Officer\nof Electra. “This agreement addresses our priorities around working capital,\nlogistics and product qualification. WMC markets physical commodities\nworldwide, combining market intelligence and long-standing customer\nrelationships. Those capabilities complement our existing commercial\nrelationships and can help us optimize the refinery as we ramp toward full\nproduction.”\n\n\"WMC is expanding its activity across battery materials, and this partnership\nshows the value we can add for a producer at Electra's stage,\" said Joe\nMicotto, Head of Battery Materials for WMC. \"Electra is developing an\nimportant new source of refined cobalt for the North American market.\nCombining its refining capability with our financial and logistical resources\nand global customer relationships gives Electra a strong route to market as it\nmoves into production.\"\n\nWMC is a leading global physical commodity trader focused on battery materials\nand nuclear fuel, providing long-term supply, offtake, marketing, logistics\nand financing solutions. Its Battery Materials trading team brings deep cobalt\nmarket expertise and established relationships across the global supply chain.\n\nThe parties intend to negotiate definitive agreements based on the term sheet.\nCompletion of the proposed arrangements remains subject to due diligence,\nnegotiation and execution of definitive documentation, receipt of required\nregulatory and creditor approvals and satisfaction of other customary\nconditions.\n\nIn addition to providing finance and logistics services for volumes up to the\nrefinery’s nameplate capacity, WMC will act as buyer and exclusive marketing\nagent for corresponding cobalt sulfate production. The partnership is intended\nto complement Electra’s existing customer relationships, including its\nsupply arrangement with LG Energy Solution.\n\nThe term sheet is non-binding, other than with respect to certain provisions\nincluding confidentiality, exclusivity, costs, assignment, governing law and\njurisdiction.\n\nAbout Electra Battery Materials\n\nElectra is a leader in advancing North America’s critical minerals supply\nchain for lithium-ion batteries. The Company’s primary focus is constructing\nNorth America’s only cobalt sulfate refinery, as part of a phased strategy\nto onshore critical minerals refining and reduce reliance on foreign supply\nchains. In addition to the Refinery, Electra holds a significant land package\nin Idaho’s Cobalt Belt, including its Iron Creek project and surrounding\nproperties, positioning the Company as a potential cornerstone for North\nAmerican cobalt and copper production.\n\nElectra is also advancing black mass recycling opportunities to recover\ncritical materials from end-of-life batteries, while continuing to evaluate\ngrowth opportunities in nickel refining and other downstream battery\nmaterials. For more information, please visit www.ElectraBMC.com.\n\nAbout WMC\n\nWMC is an independent and innovative physical commodity merchant focused on\nthe low-carbon energy sector, with businesses spanning nuclear fuel and\nbattery materials. The company provides long-term supply, offtake, marketing,\nlogistics and financing solutions services across global physical commodity\nmarkets.\n\nWMC leverages its network, market knowledge and financial engineering\ncapability to connect energy production capacity with downstream demand.\nFounded in 2016, WMC is a privately-owned company headquartered in Amsterdam,\nwith offices in Zug, Denver and Hong Kong.\n\nWMC also serves as technical advisor to the Sprott Physical Copper Trust and\nSprott Physical Uranium Trust.\n\nContact\n\nHeather Smiles\nVice President, External Affairs & Corporate Development \nElectra Battery Materials\ninfo@ElectraBMC.com \n1.416.900.3891\n\nJoe Micotto\nHead of Battery Materials\nWMC Group AG\njoseph.micotto@wmcgroup.com  \n\nNeither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that\nterm is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts\nresponsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.\n\nCautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements\n\nThis news release may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking\ninformation (together, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of\napplicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation\nReform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts,\nare forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be\nidentified by the use of terminology such as “plans”, “expects”,\n“estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes” or\nvariations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or\nresults “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “occur” or “be\nachieved”. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, and\ninvolve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual\nresults, performance, and opportunities to differ materially from those\nimplied by such forward-looking statements. Among the basis for assumptions\nmade in this news release are that definitive documentation will be negotiated\nwith WMC, that equity financing will be available on terms acceptable to\nElectra, and that mechanical completion of the refinery will be achieved.\nFactors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these\nforward-looking statements are set forth in the management discussion and\nanalysis and other disclosures of risk factors for Electra Battery Materials\nCorporation, filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and with EDGAR at\nwww.sec.gov. Other factors that could lead actual results to differ materially\ninclude changes with respect to government or investor expectations or actions\nas compared to communicated intentions, and general macroeconomic and other\ntrends that can affect levels of government or private investment. Although\nthe Company believes that the information and assumptions used in preparing\nthe forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be\nplaced on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news\nrelease, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the\ndisclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, the\nCompany disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any\nforward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future\nevents or otherwise.\n\n(https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/24573503-40e6-4d1d-90bf-5e830d4db995)\n\n\n\nGlobeNewswire, Inc. 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-10-13T11:00:02.389319968Z","server_sent_at_ms":1791889202389},"received_at":"2026-10-13T11:00:02.440Z","source_url":null},"analysis":null,"durationMs":null,"modelName":null}}