{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"167523","rtpr_id":"nACSMFhG1a-20261013","ticker":"NB","exchange":"NASDAQ","all_tickers":["NB"],"title":"NioCorp Places 100% of Its Planned Critical Minerals Production Under Commercial Sales Agreements","author":"ACCESSWIRE","published_at":"2026-10-13T12:10:00.276Z","article_body":"CENTENNIAL, CO / ACCESS Newswire (https://www.accessnewswire.com/) / October\n13, 2026 / NioCorp Developments Ltd. (\"NioCorp,\" \"our,\" or the \"Company\")\n(NASDAQ:NB), a leading U.S. developer of critical minerals, has reached a\ndefinitive agreement (the \"Agreement\") with Traxys North America LLC\n(\"Traxys\"), a leading global trader and merchant in the metals and natural\nresources sectors, resulting in 100% of the Company's planned production from\nits Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project (the \"Elk Creek Project\") now being\nsupported by commercial agreements during the first 15 years of operations.\n\nUnder the binding Agreement, Traxys will purchase, on a take-or-pay basis, 50%\nof NioCorp's planned ferroniobium production from its Elk Creek Project over\nthe first 15 years of production. The Agreement supersedes and replaces the\nprior ferroniobium and scandium offtake arrangements between NioCorp and\nTraxys. NioCorp's existing offtake agreement with ThyssenKrupp Metallurgical\nProducts GmbH (\"ThyssenKrupp\") covering the other 50% of NioCorp's planned\nferroniobium production from its Elk Creek Project over the first 10 years of\nproduction remains unchanged.\n\nTraxys will also have the exclusive right, but not the obligation, to purchase\nall of NioCorp's planned products beyond ferroniobium, including scandium,\ntitanium and rare earth products, and to serve as NioCorp's exclusive global\nmarketing and sales partner, leveraging its established global customer\nnetwork and the central role it now plays in the Trump Administration's\nProject Vault initiative, which is designed to facilitate sales of critical\nminerals to large manufacturers.\n\n\"We've always believed the right commercial partner is just as important as\nthe products themselves,\" said Mark A. Smith, CEO and Executive Chairman of\nNioCorp. \"Members of our management team have worked with the Traxys team for\nseveral decades, and they've built an outstanding reputation in these markets.\nThey understand these products, they understand the customers, and we've\ndeveloped a high level of confidence in their team over many years. Expanding\nthat relationship was a logical next step for us.\"\n\n\"Together with our existing ferroniobium offtake agreement, every product we\nplan to produce at Elk Creek is now supported by long-term commercial\nagreements for 15 years of operations with highly reputable commercial\npartners,\" Mr. Smith said. \"That puts us in an even stronger position as we\nadvance our remaining financing efforts, including addressing one of the key\ndue diligence items in EXIM's review of our proposed financing package. Just\nas importantly, it shows there are experienced market participants willing to\ncommit to the products we expect to bring to market.\"\n\nMark Kristoff, CEO of Traxys, said: \"If recent and ongoing geopolitical events\nhave shown us anything, it's that manufacturers can no longer assume critical\nmineral supply will always be available when and where it's needed. Customers\ntoday are looking for reliable, long-term supply from trusted jurisdictions,\nand that trend is only accelerating. We've worked with Mark and his team for\nmany years, and we believe the Elk Creek Project is exceptionally well\npositioned to help meet that demand.\"\n\nMr. Kristoff continued, \"As a key participant in President Trump's Project\nVault initiative, Traxys is focused on helping build stronger domestic\ncritical mineral supply chains by connecting emerging producers with\nmanufacturers seeking dependable long-term supply. That's exactly why we're\nexpanding our relationship with NioCorp through this agreement, and we look\nforward to bringing Elk Creek's products to customers across North America and\nallied markets in the future.\"\n\nThe Agreement is binding on the parties. Deliveries under the Agreement remain\nsubject to completion of project financing, construction of the Elk Creek\nProject, commencement of commercial production, and the finalization of\ncustomary ancillary commercial terms between the parties.\n\nSeparately from the Agreement, NioCorp and Traxys continue to discuss a\npotential strategic equity investment by Traxys of up to $30 million in\nNioCorp. Any such investment is not part of the Agreement and would remain\nsubject to further negotiation, due diligence, and the execution of definitive\ndocumentation. There can be no assurance that an investment will be agreed to\nor completed.\n\n# # #\n\nFOR MORE INFORMATION:\n\nFor NioCorp\n\nJim Sims, Chief Communications Officer, NioCorp Developments Ltd., (720)\n334-7066, jim.sims@niocorp.com\n\nAlex Guthrie, Director, Investor Relations, NioCorp Developments Ltd., (647)\n999-0527, aguthrie@niocorp.com\n\n@NioCorp $NB #Niobium #Scandium #rareearth #neodymium #dysprosium #terbium\n#ElkCreek\n\nFor Traxys\n\nFGS Global, Traxysmedia@fgsglobal.com\n\nABOUT NIOCORP\n\nNioCorp is developing the Elk Creek Project that is expected to produce\nniobium, scandium, titanium and several rare earth products, including\nneodymium-praseodymium oxide, dysprosium oxide, terbium oxide,\nsamarium-europium-gadolinium (\"SEG\") carbonate, and heavy rare earth\ncarbonate. Niobium is used to produce specialty alloys as well as High\nStrength, Low Alloy steel, which is a lighter, stronger steel used in\nautomotive, structural, and pipeline applications. Scandium is a specialty\nmetal that can be combined with Aluminum to make alloys with increased\nstrength and improved corrosion resistance. Scandium is also a critical\ncomponent of advanced solid oxide fuel cells. Titanium is used in various\nlightweight alloys and is a key component of pigments used in paper, paint and\nplastics and is also used for aerospace applications, armor, and medical\nimplants. Magnetic rare earths, such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and\ndysprosium are critical to the making of neodymium-iron-boron magnets, which\nare used across a wide variety of defense and civilian applications.\n\nABOUT TRAXYS GROUP\n\nTraxys is a physical commodity trader and merchant in the metals and natural\nresources sectors. Its logistics, marketing, distribution, supply chain\nmanagement, and trading activities are conducted by over 450 employees in over\n20 offices worldwide, and its annual turnover reaches USD 10 billion. Traxys\nis engaged in sourcing, trading, marketing, and distributing non-ferrous\nmetals, ferro-alloys, minerals, industrial raw materials, and energy.\n\nThe Group serves a broad base of industrial customers and offers a full range\nof commercial and financial services. Traxys is committed to the highest\ninternationally recognized principles for responsible business conduct, and to\nensuring that its operations are equitable, sustainable, and transparent.\n\nFORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS\n\nThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of\nthe United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and\nforward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian\nsecurities laws (collectively \"forward-looking statements\"). Forward-looking\nstatements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the\nCompany's debt financing application process with EXIM, including NioCorp's\nexpectation that the Agreement is expected to support the advancement of the\ndebt financing process with EXIM; statements that NioCorp is evaluating for\nproduction oxides of the rare earths samarium, europium, gadolinium, and\nyttrium, in addition to the metal forms of all of the elements it plans to\nproduce; statements regarding a potential strategic equity investment by\nTraxys of up to $30 million in NioCorp; NioCorp's expectation of producing\nniobium, scandium, titanium and several rare earth products, including\nneodymium-praseodymium oxide, dysprosium oxide, terbium oxide, SEG carbonate,\nand heavy rare earth carbonate at the Elk Creek Project; and NioCorp's\nconfidence in and ability to secure sufficient project financing to complete\nconstruction of the Elk Creek Project and move it to commercial operation, as\nwell as efforts and expenditures relating to the same. Forward-looking\nstatements are typically identified by words such as \"plan,\" \"believe,\"\n\"expect,\" \"anticipate,\" \"intend,\" \"outlook,\" \"estimate,\" \"forecast,\"\n\"project,\" \"continue,\" \"could,\" \"may,\" \"might,\" \"possible,\" \"potential,\"\n\"predict,\" \"should,\" \"would\" and other similar words and expressions, but the\nabsence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.\n\nThe forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the\nmanagement of NioCorp and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes\nin circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of\nsuch statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be\nthose that have been anticipated. Forward-looking statements reflect material\nexpectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, expectations and\nassumptions relating to: NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project\nfinancing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms,\nor at all; the future price of and demand for metals, including Al-Sc alloy;\nthe impact that Chinese restrictions have on pricing and demand including the\nexistence of a bifurcated market between China and the rest of the world; and\nthe stability of the financial and capital markets. Such expectations and\nassumptions are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies\nregarding future events and, as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking\nstatements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors that may\ncause actual results or performance to be materially different from those\nexpressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and\nuncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified\nin public filings made by NioCorp with the Securities and Exchange Commission\nand with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the\nfollowing: NioCorp's requirement of significant additional capital; NioCorp's\nability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the\nElk Creek Project on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to achieve\nthe required milestones and receive the full $10.0 million in reimbursement\nunder the Project Sub-Agreement with Advanced Technology International, an\nentity acting on behalf of the Defense Industrial Base Consortium under the\nauthority of the U.S. Department of War; NioCorp's ability to receive a final\ncommitment of financing from EXIM or other debt financing or financial support\non acceptable timelines, on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to\ncontinue to meet the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; risks\nrelating to NioCorp's common shares, including price volatility, lack of\ndividend payments and dilution or the perception of the likelihood of any of\nthe foregoing; the extent to which NioCorp's level of indebtedness and/or the\nterms contained in agreements governing NioCorp's indebtedness, if any, or\nother agreements may impair NioCorp's ability to obtain additional financing,\non acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's limited operating history; NioCorp's\nhistory of losses; the material weakness in NioCorp's internal control over\nfinancial reporting, NioCorp's efforts to remediate such material weakness and\nthe timing of remediation; the possibility that NioCorp may qualify as a\npassive foreign investment company under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of\n1986, as amended (the \"Code\"); the potential that the business combination\nwith GX Acquisition Corp. II and other related transactions could result in\nNioCorp becoming subject to materially adverse U.S. federal income tax\nconsequences as a result of the application of Section 7874 and related\nsections of the Code; changes in tax laws and regulations; cost increases for\nNioCorp's exploration and, if warranted, development projects; a disruption\nin, or failure of, NioCorp's information technology systems, including those\nrelated to cybersecurity; equipment and supply shortages; variations in the\nmarket demand for, and prices of, niobium, scandium, titanium and rare earth\nproducts, including, without limitation, a reduction of demand for scandium\nfrom a downturn in capital spending for AI; impacts on the markets and pricing\nfor scandium and rare earth products from the Chinese-based markets, including\nany future changes to export restrictions; current and future offtake\nagreements, joint ventures, and partnerships, including NioCorp's ability to\nnegotiate extensions to existing agreements or to enter into new agreements,\non favorable terms or at all; NioCorp's ability to negotiate definitive\nagreements for existing non-binding memoranda of understanding and non-binding\nterm sheets; NioCorp's ability to attract qualified management; estimates of\nmineral resources and reserves; mineral exploration and production activities;\ntechnical and economic study results; the results of metallurgical testing;\nthe results of technological research; unexpected variations in the quantity\nof ore, grade or recovery rates, or the presence of deleterious elements that\nwould affect the process plant or waste removal; unexpected geotechnical and\nhydrogeological conditions from what was assumed in the mine designs; changes\nin demand for and price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and\ncurrencies; competition in the mining industry; changes or disruptions in the\nsecurities markets; legislative, political or economic developments, including\nchanges in federal and/or state laws that may significantly affect the mining\nand scandium alloy industries; trade policies and tensions, including tariffs\nand other export controls; inflationary pressures; the impacts of climate\nchange, as well as actions taken or required by governments related to\nstrengthening resilience in the face of potential impacts from climate change;\nchanges in other environmental and social factors; the need to obtain permits\nand comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the\ntiming and reliability of sampling and assay data; the possibility that actual\nresults of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize\nthe perceived potential of NioCorp's projects; risks of accidents, equipment\nbreakdowns, and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or\ninterruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in\ndevelopment programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with\nexploration, mining, development or scandium alloy production activities;\nmanagement of the water balance at the Elk Creek Project site; land\nreclamation requirements related to the Elk Creek Project; the speculative\nnature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of\ndiminishing quantities or grades of reserves and resources; claims on the\ntitle to NioCorp's properties; the infringement or loss of NioCorp's\nintellectual property rights; potential future litigation; NioCorp's lack of\ninsurance covering all of NioCorp's operations; and changes in operating and\ncapital costs, exchange rates, metallurgical performance, labor availability\nand other risks associated with the mining industry.\n\nShould one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any\nof the assumptions made by the management of NioCorp prove incorrect, actual\nresults may vary in material respects from those projected in these\nforward-looking statements.\n\nAll subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the\nmatters addressed herein and attributable to NioCorp or any person acting on\nits behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary\nstatements contained or referred to herein. Except to the extent required by\napplicable law or regulation, NioCorp undertakes no obligation to update these\nforward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date\nhereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.\n\nSOURCE: NioCorp Developments Ltd.\nView the original press release\n(https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/niocorp-places-100-of-its-planned-critical-minerals-production-under-commercial-s-1234408)\non ACCESS Newswire\n\n\nCopyright 2026 ACCESS Newswire. All Rights Reserved.","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nACSMFhG1a-20261013","title":"NioCorp Places 100% of Its Planned Critical Minerals Production Under Commercial Sales Agreements","author":"ACCESSWIRE","ticker":"NB","created":"2026-10-13T12:10:00.276Z","tickers":["NB"],"exchange":"NASDAQ","article_body":"CENTENNIAL, CO / ACCESS Newswire (https://www.accessnewswire.com/) / October\n13, 2026 / NioCorp Developments Ltd. (\"NioCorp,\" \"our,\" or the \"Company\")\n(NASDAQ:NB), a leading U.S. developer of critical minerals, has reached a\ndefinitive agreement (the \"Agreement\") with Traxys North America LLC\n(\"Traxys\"), a leading global trader and merchant in the metals and natural\nresources sectors, resulting in 100% of the Company's planned production from\nits Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project (the \"Elk Creek Project\") now being\nsupported by commercial agreements during the first 15 years of operations.\n\nUnder the binding Agreement, Traxys will purchase, on a take-or-pay basis, 50%\nof NioCorp's planned ferroniobium production from its Elk Creek Project over\nthe first 15 years of production. The Agreement supersedes and replaces the\nprior ferroniobium and scandium offtake arrangements between NioCorp and\nTraxys. NioCorp's existing offtake agreement with ThyssenKrupp Metallurgical\nProducts GmbH (\"ThyssenKrupp\") covering the other 50% of NioCorp's planned\nferroniobium production from its Elk Creek Project over the first 10 years of\nproduction remains unchanged.\n\nTraxys will also have the exclusive right, but not the obligation, to purchase\nall of NioCorp's planned products beyond ferroniobium, including scandium,\ntitanium and rare earth products, and to serve as NioCorp's exclusive global\nmarketing and sales partner, leveraging its established global customer\nnetwork and the central role it now plays in the Trump Administration's\nProject Vault initiative, which is designed to facilitate sales of critical\nminerals to large manufacturers.\n\n\"We've always believed the right commercial partner is just as important as\nthe products themselves,\" said Mark A. Smith, CEO and Executive Chairman of\nNioCorp. \"Members of our management team have worked with the Traxys team for\nseveral decades, and they've built an outstanding reputation in these markets.\nThey understand these products, they understand the customers, and we've\ndeveloped a high level of confidence in their team over many years. Expanding\nthat relationship was a logical next step for us.\"\n\n\"Together with our existing ferroniobium offtake agreement, every product we\nplan to produce at Elk Creek is now supported by long-term commercial\nagreements for 15 years of operations with highly reputable commercial\npartners,\" Mr. Smith said. \"That puts us in an even stronger position as we\nadvance our remaining financing efforts, including addressing one of the key\ndue diligence items in EXIM's review of our proposed financing package. Just\nas importantly, it shows there are experienced market participants willing to\ncommit to the products we expect to bring to market.\"\n\nMark Kristoff, CEO of Traxys, said: \"If recent and ongoing geopolitical events\nhave shown us anything, it's that manufacturers can no longer assume critical\nmineral supply will always be available when and where it's needed. Customers\ntoday are looking for reliable, long-term supply from trusted jurisdictions,\nand that trend is only accelerating. We've worked with Mark and his team for\nmany years, and we believe the Elk Creek Project is exceptionally well\npositioned to help meet that demand.\"\n\nMr. Kristoff continued, \"As a key participant in President Trump's Project\nVault initiative, Traxys is focused on helping build stronger domestic\ncritical mineral supply chains by connecting emerging producers with\nmanufacturers seeking dependable long-term supply. That's exactly why we're\nexpanding our relationship with NioCorp through this agreement, and we look\nforward to bringing Elk Creek's products to customers across North America and\nallied markets in the future.\"\n\nThe Agreement is binding on the parties. Deliveries under the Agreement remain\nsubject to completion of project financing, construction of the Elk Creek\nProject, commencement of commercial production, and the finalization of\ncustomary ancillary commercial terms between the parties.\n\nSeparately from the Agreement, NioCorp and Traxys continue to discuss a\npotential strategic equity investment by Traxys of up to $30 million in\nNioCorp. Any such investment is not part of the Agreement and would remain\nsubject to further negotiation, due diligence, and the execution of definitive\ndocumentation. There can be no assurance that an investment will be agreed to\nor completed.\n\n# # #\n\nFOR MORE INFORMATION:\n\nFor NioCorp\n\nJim Sims, Chief Communications Officer, NioCorp Developments Ltd., (720)\n334-7066, jim.sims@niocorp.com\n\nAlex Guthrie, Director, Investor Relations, NioCorp Developments Ltd., (647)\n999-0527, aguthrie@niocorp.com\n\n@NioCorp $NB #Niobium #Scandium #rareearth #neodymium #dysprosium #terbium\n#ElkCreek\n\nFor Traxys\n\nFGS Global, Traxysmedia@fgsglobal.com\n\nABOUT NIOCORP\n\nNioCorp is developing the Elk Creek Project that is expected to produce\nniobium, scandium, titanium and several rare earth products, including\nneodymium-praseodymium oxide, dysprosium oxide, terbium oxide,\nsamarium-europium-gadolinium (\"SEG\") carbonate, and heavy rare earth\ncarbonate. Niobium is used to produce specialty alloys as well as High\nStrength, Low Alloy steel, which is a lighter, stronger steel used in\nautomotive, structural, and pipeline applications. Scandium is a specialty\nmetal that can be combined with Aluminum to make alloys with increased\nstrength and improved corrosion resistance. Scandium is also a critical\ncomponent of advanced solid oxide fuel cells. Titanium is used in various\nlightweight alloys and is a key component of pigments used in paper, paint and\nplastics and is also used for aerospace applications, armor, and medical\nimplants. Magnetic rare earths, such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, and\ndysprosium are critical to the making of neodymium-iron-boron magnets, which\nare used across a wide variety of defense and civilian applications.\n\nABOUT TRAXYS GROUP\n\nTraxys is a physical commodity trader and merchant in the metals and natural\nresources sectors. Its logistics, marketing, distribution, supply chain\nmanagement, and trading activities are conducted by over 450 employees in over\n20 offices worldwide, and its annual turnover reaches USD 10 billion. Traxys\nis engaged in sourcing, trading, marketing, and distributing non-ferrous\nmetals, ferro-alloys, minerals, industrial raw materials, and energy.\n\nThe Group serves a broad base of industrial customers and offers a full range\nof commercial and financial services. Traxys is committed to the highest\ninternationally recognized principles for responsible business conduct, and to\nensuring that its operations are equitable, sustainable, and transparent.\n\nFORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS\n\nThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of\nthe United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and\nforward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian\nsecurities laws (collectively \"forward-looking statements\"). Forward-looking\nstatements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the\nCompany's debt financing application process with EXIM, including NioCorp's\nexpectation that the Agreement is expected to support the advancement of the\ndebt financing process with EXIM; statements that NioCorp is evaluating for\nproduction oxides of the rare earths samarium, europium, gadolinium, and\nyttrium, in addition to the metal forms of all of the elements it plans to\nproduce; statements regarding a potential strategic equity investment by\nTraxys of up to $30 million in NioCorp; NioCorp's expectation of producing\nniobium, scandium, titanium and several rare earth products, including\nneodymium-praseodymium oxide, dysprosium oxide, terbium oxide, SEG carbonate,\nand heavy rare earth carbonate at the Elk Creek Project; and NioCorp's\nconfidence in and ability to secure sufficient project financing to complete\nconstruction of the Elk Creek Project and move it to commercial operation, as\nwell as efforts and expenditures relating to the same. Forward-looking\nstatements are typically identified by words such as \"plan,\" \"believe,\"\n\"expect,\" \"anticipate,\" \"intend,\" \"outlook,\" \"estimate,\" \"forecast,\"\n\"project,\" \"continue,\" \"could,\" \"may,\" \"might,\" \"possible,\" \"potential,\"\n\"predict,\" \"should,\" \"would\" and other similar words and expressions, but the\nabsence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.\n\nThe forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the\nmanagement of NioCorp and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes\nin circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of\nsuch statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be\nthose that have been anticipated. Forward-looking statements reflect material\nexpectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, expectations and\nassumptions relating to: NioCorp's ability to receive sufficient project\nfinancing for the construction of the Elk Creek Project on acceptable terms,\nor at all; the future price of and demand for metals, including Al-Sc alloy;\nthe impact that Chinese restrictions have on pricing and demand including the\nexistence of a bifurcated market between China and the rest of the world; and\nthe stability of the financial and capital markets. Such expectations and\nassumptions are inherently subject to uncertainties and contingencies\nregarding future events and, as such, are subject to change. Forward-looking\nstatements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors that may\ncause actual results or performance to be materially different from those\nexpressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and\nuncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed and identified\nin public filings made by NioCorp with the Securities and Exchange Commission\nand with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the\nfollowing: NioCorp's requirement of significant additional capital; NioCorp's\nability to receive sufficient project financing for the construction of the\nElk Creek Project on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to achieve\nthe required milestones and receive the full $10.0 million in reimbursement\nunder the Project Sub-Agreement with Advanced Technology International, an\nentity acting on behalf of the Defense Industrial Base Consortium under the\nauthority of the U.S. Department of War; NioCorp's ability to receive a final\ncommitment of financing from EXIM or other debt financing or financial support\non acceptable timelines, on acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's ability to\ncontinue to meet the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC; risks\nrelating to NioCorp's common shares, including price volatility, lack of\ndividend payments and dilution or the perception of the likelihood of any of\nthe foregoing; the extent to which NioCorp's level of indebtedness and/or the\nterms contained in agreements governing NioCorp's indebtedness, if any, or\nother agreements may impair NioCorp's ability to obtain additional financing,\non acceptable terms, or at all; NioCorp's limited operating history; NioCorp's\nhistory of losses; the material weakness in NioCorp's internal control over\nfinancial reporting, NioCorp's efforts to remediate such material weakness and\nthe timing of remediation; the possibility that NioCorp may qualify as a\npassive foreign investment company under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of\n1986, as amended (the \"Code\"); the potential that the business combination\nwith GX Acquisition Corp. II and other related transactions could result in\nNioCorp becoming subject to materially adverse U.S. federal income tax\nconsequences as a result of the application of Section 7874 and related\nsections of the Code; changes in tax laws and regulations; cost increases for\nNioCorp's exploration and, if warranted, development projects; a disruption\nin, or failure of, NioCorp's information technology systems, including those\nrelated to cybersecurity; equipment and supply shortages; variations in the\nmarket demand for, and prices of, niobium, scandium, titanium and rare earth\nproducts, including, without limitation, a reduction of demand for scandium\nfrom a downturn in capital spending for AI; impacts on the markets and pricing\nfor scandium and rare earth products from the Chinese-based markets, including\nany future changes to export restrictions; current and future offtake\nagreements, joint ventures, and partnerships, including NioCorp's ability to\nnegotiate extensions to existing agreements or to enter into new agreements,\non favorable terms or at all; NioCorp's ability to negotiate definitive\nagreements for existing non-binding memoranda of understanding and non-binding\nterm sheets; NioCorp's ability to attract qualified management; estimates of\nmineral resources and reserves; mineral exploration and production activities;\ntechnical and economic study results; the results of metallurgical testing;\nthe results of technological research; unexpected variations in the quantity\nof ore, grade or recovery rates, or the presence of deleterious elements that\nwould affect the process plant or waste removal; unexpected geotechnical and\nhydrogeological conditions from what was assumed in the mine designs; changes\nin demand for and price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and\ncurrencies; competition in the mining industry; changes or disruptions in the\nsecurities markets; legislative, political or economic developments, including\nchanges in federal and/or state laws that may significantly affect the mining\nand scandium alloy industries; trade policies and tensions, including tariffs\nand other export controls; inflationary pressures; the impacts of climate\nchange, as well as actions taken or required by governments related to\nstrengthening resilience in the face of potential impacts from climate change;\nchanges in other environmental and social factors; the need to obtain permits\nand comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the\ntiming and reliability of sampling and assay data; the possibility that actual\nresults of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize\nthe perceived potential of NioCorp's projects; risks of accidents, equipment\nbreakdowns, and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or\ninterruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in\ndevelopment programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with\nexploration, mining, development or scandium alloy production activities;\nmanagement of the water balance at the Elk Creek Project site; land\nreclamation requirements related to the Elk Creek Project; the speculative\nnature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of\ndiminishing quantities or grades of reserves and resources; claims on the\ntitle to NioCorp's properties; the infringement or loss of NioCorp's\nintellectual property rights; potential future litigation; NioCorp's lack of\ninsurance covering all of NioCorp's operations; and changes in operating and\ncapital costs, exchange rates, metallurgical performance, labor availability\nand other risks associated with the mining industry.\n\nShould one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any\nof the assumptions made by the management of NioCorp prove incorrect, actual\nresults may vary in material respects from those projected in these\nforward-looking statements.\n\nAll subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the\nmatters addressed herein and attributable to NioCorp or any person acting on\nits behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary\nstatements contained or referred to herein. Except to the extent required by\napplicable law or regulation, NioCorp undertakes no obligation to update these\nforward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date\nhereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.\n\nSOURCE: NioCorp Developments Ltd.\nView the original press release\n(https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/niocorp-places-100-of-its-planned-critical-minerals-production-under-commercial-s-1234408)\non ACCESS Newswire\n\n\nCopyright 2026 ACCESS Newswire. All Rights Reserved."},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-10-13T12:10:00.318434015Z","server_sent_at_ms":1791893400318},"received_at":"2026-10-13T12:10:00.492Z","source_url":"https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/niocorp-places-100-of-its-planned-critical-minerals-production-under-commercial-s-1234408"},"analysis":{"id":"155818","press_release_id":"167523","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Metals & Mining","sector":"Materials"},"redFlags":["deliveries contingent on project financing, construction, and commencement of commercial production","project financing from EXIM not yet committed","potential $30M Traxys equity investment is non-binding with no assurance of completion","disclosed material weakness in internal control over financial reporting","pre-production developer with history of losses requiring significant additional capital"],"eventType":"operations_update","narrative":"NioCorp has signed a binding agreement with Traxys under which Traxys will purchase 50% of planned ferroniobium output from the Elk Creek Project on a take-or-pay basis over the first 15 years of production.\n\nCombined with the existing ThyssenKrupp offtake covering the other 50%, 100% of planned production is now supported by commercial agreements for 15 years, and Traxys holds exclusive rights to all non-ferroniobium products plus a global marketing role tied to the Trump Administration's Project Vault initiative.\n\nThe deal addresses a key due-diligence item in EXIM's review of NioCorp's proposed project financing, though deliveries remain subject to financing, construction, and commercial production milestones.\n\nSeparately, NioCorp and Traxys continue discussing a potential Traxys equity investment of up to $30 million, which is not guaranteed and remains subject to negotiation and definitive documentation.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":true,"suggestedAngle":"Fully offtake-covered critical minerals project strengthens path to EXIM financing -- de-risking milestone for a pre-production rare earth/niobium developer."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"offtake_coverage":"100% of planned production for first 15 years","thyssenkrupp_offtake":"other 50% of ferroniobium over first 10 years","traxys_take_or_pay_share":"50% of planned ferroniobium production over first 15 years","potential_traxys_equity_investment":"$30 million","exim_project_sub_agreement_reimbursement":"$10.0 million"}},"quotedText":"every product we plan to produce at Elk Creek is now supported by long-term commercial agreements for 15 years of operations with highly reputable commercial partners","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Mark A. Smith","role":"CEO and Executive Chairman of NioCorp"},{"name":"Mark Kristoff","role":"CEO of Traxys"},{"name":"Jim Sims","role":"Chief Communications Officer, NioCorp"},{"name":"Alex Guthrie","role":"Director, Investor Relations, NioCorp"}],"products":["ferroniobium","scandium","titanium","rare earth products","neodymium-praseodymium oxide","dysprosium oxide","terbium oxide","SEG carbonate","heavy rare earth carbonate","Elk Creek Critical Minerals Project"],"companies":[{"name":"NioCorp Developments Ltd.","ticker":"NB","relationship":"filer"},{"name":"Traxys North America LLC","relationship":"offtake partner / exclusive marketing partner"},{"name":"ThyssenKrupp Metallurgical Products GmbH","relationship":"offtake partner"},{"name":"Advanced Technology International","relationship":"Defense Industrial Base consortium entity"},{"name":"EXIM","relationship":"prospective debt financier"},{"name":"GX Acquisition Corp. II","relationship":"prior SPAC merger partner"},{"name":"FGS Global","relationship":"PR agency for Traxys"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$30 million","context":"potential strategic equity investment by Traxys in NioCorp"},{"amount":"$10.0 million","context":"maximum reimbursement under Project Sub-Agreement with Advanced Technology International"},{"amount":"USD 10 billion","context":"Traxys annual turnover"}]},"materialImpact":{"score":3,"reasoning":"100% of planned Elk Creek production now covered by binding commercial agreements for 15 years, addressing a key EXIM financing due-diligence item. Material derisking, but deliveries remain contingent on financing and construction, and no dollar value for the offtake is disclosed."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"NB"},"globalImportance":30,"audienceRelevance":35,"eventTypeSecondary":["partnership"],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"full-production offtake coverage / financing de-risking","sectorWeight":"critical minerals / rare earths policy tailwind","retailFavoriteBoost":"modest retail interest in rare earth names"}},"event_type":"operations_update","event_type_secondary":["partnership"],"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":3,"narrative":"NioCorp has signed a binding agreement with Traxys under which Traxys will purchase 50% of planned ferroniobium output from the Elk Creek Project on a take-or-pay basis over the first 15 years of production.\n\nCombined with the existing ThyssenKrupp offtake covering the other 50%, 100% of planned production is now supported by commercial agreements for 15 years, and Traxys holds exclusive rights to all non-ferroniobium products plus a global marketing role tied to the Trump Administration's Project Vault initiative.\n\nThe deal addresses a key due-diligence item in EXIM's review of NioCorp's proposed project financing, though deliveries remain subject to financing, construction, and commercial production milestones.\n\nSeparately, NioCorp and Traxys continue discussing a potential Traxys equity investment of up to $30 million, which is not guaranteed and remains subject to negotiation and definitive documentation.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"offtake_coverage":"100% of planned production for first 15 years","thyssenkrupp_offtake":"other 50% of ferroniobium over first 10 years","traxys_take_or_pay_share":"50% of planned ferroniobium production over first 15 years","potential_traxys_equity_investment":"$30 million","exim_project_sub_agreement_reimbursement":"$10.0 million"}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Mark A. 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II","relationship":"prior SPAC merger partner"},{"name":"FGS Global","relationship":"PR agency for Traxys"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$30 million","context":"potential strategic equity investment by Traxys in NioCorp"},{"amount":"$10.0 million","context":"maximum reimbursement under Project Sub-Agreement with Advanced Technology International"},{"amount":"USD 10 billion","context":"Traxys annual turnover"}]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flashx","prompt_hash":"sha256:5c812bd9e28b810d","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-10-13T12:10:08.652Z","global_importance":30,"audience_relevance":35,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"full-production offtake coverage / financing de-risking","sectorWeight":"critical minerals / rare earths policy tailwind","retailFavoriteBoost":"modest retail interest in rare earth names"}},"durationMs":8123,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flashx"}}