Highland Copper Receives Letter of Interest from Export-Import Bank of the United States for Up to US$250 Million Debt Financing to Advance Copperwood Project

Core Viewpoint - Highland Copper Company has received a non-binding Letter of Interest from the Export-Import Bank of the United States for potential debt financing of up to US$250 million to support the development of its Copperwood Project in Michigan [1][3]. Group 1: Project Details - The Copperwood Project is one of the few U.S. copper projects with all major permits in place and a completed feasibility study, with an estimated initial capital requirement of US$400 million [2]. - The project is positioned for a near-term construction decision as Highland advances detailed engineering [2]. Group 2: Financial Aspects - The potential debt financing from EXIM could cover a significant portion of the project's costs, with a repayment term potentially extending to 11 years [7]. - The financing is contingent upon the submission of a formal application and meeting EXIM's underwriting criteria [7]. Group 3: Strategic Importance - The Copperwood Project is strategically important for strengthening the U.S. supply chain for critical minerals and is expected to provide a reliable domestic source of copper [3]. - The project is aligned with Michigan's stringent environmental standards, supporting the local economy [3]. Group 4: Company Overview - Highland Copper Company is focused on exploring and developing copper projects in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and owns the Copperwood deposit through long-term mineral leases [4]. - The company has 736,363,619 common shares issued and outstanding, listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "HI" and trading on the OTCQB under "HDRSF" [4].