Core Points - Oroco Resource Corp. has successfully closed a bought deal public offering of 60,526,340 units at a price of C$0.38 per unit, raising approximately C$23 million in gross proceeds [1] - Each unit consists of one common share and one-half of a common share purchase warrant, with the warrants allowing the purchase of additional common shares at C$0.53 until January 15, 2029 [2] - The offering was led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. as the lead underwriter and included a cash commission of 6.0% on the gross proceeds, reduced to 3.0% for certain purchasers [3] Offering Details - The offering was completed via a prospectus supplement dated January 9, 2026, and was available in all Canadian provinces except Québec, as well as to qualified institutional buyers in the U.S. [4] - The net proceeds from the offering will be used to fund the commencement of a Pre-Feasibility Study drilling at the Santo Tomás copper project, advance environmental and permitting work, and for general corporate working capital [5] Company Overview - Oroco holds an 87.0% interest in the Core Concessions of the Santo Tomás Project, covering 1,173 hectares, and an 80% interest in an additional 7,861 hectares of surrounding mineral concessions [8] - The Santo Tomás Project is located in northwestern Mexico and has significant copper porphyry mineralization, with prior exploration conducted from 1968 to 1994 [9] - The project is well-serviced, located within 170 km of a deep-water port and accessible via highway and rail [10]

Core Insights - Cobalt production is experiencing significant growth due to rising demand and substantial investments, with global output expected to reach 330 kilotonnes in 2025, marking an 8.0% increase [1] - The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is projected to maintain its dominance in the cobalt market, accounting for approximately 72% of global output in 2025 [1] - Indonesia is emerging as a key player, expected to produce 59.8 kilotonnes of cobalt in 2026, reflecting a 21.2% increase from the previous year [4] Group 1: Global Cobalt Production - Global cobalt output is anticipated to grow by 6.9% to reach 352.8 kilotonnes in 2026, driven by supply increases from the DRC and Indonesia [2] - The DRC's cobalt mine output is projected to grow by 4.4% to reach 247.7 kilotonnes in 2026, supported by high-grade feed from Glencore's Mutanda and the Musonoi underground project [3] Group 2: DRC's Cobalt Supply - The DRC's leading position in cobalt supply is bolstered by vast resources and strategic partnerships with Chinese mining companies, facilitating large-scale mine development [2] - Key contributors to DRC's production include China Molybdenum's Kisanfu and Tenke Fungurume Mining operations, which are expected to sustain positive production momentum [3] Group 3: Indonesia's Cobalt Growth - Indonesia's rise in cobalt production is largely attributed to investments in high-pressure acid leach (HPAL) facilities, with new projects like Pomalaa and Morowali set to commence in 2026 [4] - The ongoing ramp-up of Zhejiang Huayou's Huafei Cobalt-Nickel Project and expansions at Ningbo Lygend Mining's PT Halmahera Persada Lygend Project will further support Indonesia's growth trajectory [4]

Core Insights - Oroco Resource Corp. has increased its bought deal public offering to approximately C$20.0 million due to strong investor demand [1] - The offering will consist of 52,631,600 units priced at C$0.38 per unit, each unit comprising one common share and one-half of a common share purchase warrant [1][2] - An over-allotment option allows underwriters to purchase an additional 7,894,740 units, potentially raising total gross proceeds to approximately C$23.0 million if fully exercised [3] Offering Details - The offering will be completed via a prospectus supplement to the Company's short form base shelf prospectus filed in all provinces of Canada, excluding Québec [4] - The units may also be offered in the United States to qualified institutional buyers and accredited investors under specific regulations [4] Use of Proceeds - The net proceeds from the offering will be used to fund the commencement of Pre-Feasibility Study drilling at the Santo Tomás copper project, advance environmental and permitting work, and for general corporate working capital [5] Closing Information - The closing of the offering is expected around January 14, 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals [6] Company Overview - Oroco holds an 85.5% interest in the Core Concessions of the Santo Tomás Project, covering 1,173 hectares, and an 80% interest in an additional 7,861 hectares, totaling 9,034 hectares [7] - The project is located in northwestern Mexico and has significant copper porphyry mineralization, with prior exploration conducted from 1968 to 1994 [7] - A drill program initiated in 2021 resulted in 48,481 meters drilled across 76 diamond drill holes [7][8]

Group 1: Mineral Production in Africa - Africa is a significant global hub for mineral production, holding 79.3% of total PGM reserves, 61.7% of chromium reserves, and substantial shares of cobalt (54.5%), manganese (36.5%), diamonds (32.4%), bauxite (25.5%), copper (8.2%), gold (7.8%), and lithium (1.6%) [1] - The region accounted for nearly 80.3% of global platinum production in 2024, with a forecasted decline of 6.4% in 2025 due to heavy rains and operational challenges [2] - South Africa produced 71.5% of global platinum and 42.7% of chromium in 2024, facing structural issues like high electricity costs and labor inefficiencies [3] Group 2: Cobalt and Copper Production - The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accounted for 97.2% of Africa's cobalt production in 2024, with a projected growth of 2.5% in 2025 [4] - DRC's copper production is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.3% through 2030, supported by expansions at various projects [4] - Africa's second-largest copper producer is forecast to see a 19.2% increase in copper production in 2025, reaching 937.5 kilotonnes, driven by higher output from ZCCM Investment Holdings' Mopani mine [4]

Core Viewpoint - China, the largest copper smelter globally, is considering regulatory measures to control the expansion of smelting capacity due to record low processing fees impacting profits [1][3]. Industry Challenges - The processing fees paid by miners to smelters have been adversely affected by "involution-style" competition, leading to self-destructive market conditions [2]. - The rapid expansion of smelting capacity has outstripped mined supply, resulting in tighter availability of copper concentrate [2]. Proposed Measures - The China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association has suggested specific measures to strictly regulate the expansion of copper smelting capacity to mitigate the negative impacts of intense competition [3]. Market Response - Despite a decrease in copper output by 2.5% in July compared to June, copper prices remained relatively stable, indicating a lack of significant market response [4]. - Some Chinese smelters have agreed to process copper from Antofagasta without charge due to the low processing fees, which have reached an all-time low [4]. Supply Concerns - The risk of reduced supplies for Chinese smelters has increased following Freeport-McMoRan Inc's cut in output forecast for Indonesia, which has led to a rise in copper prices [5]. - Benchmark copper prices on the London Metal Exchange rose by 1.02% to $10,442 per metric ton, reflecting market reactions to supply concerns [5].

Core Insights - Oroco Resource Corp. congratulates Hudbay Minerals Inc. for its agreement with Mitsubishi Corporation, where Mitsubishi will acquire a 30% interest in Hudbay's Copper World project for US$600 million [1][2][3] - The transaction highlights the strategic importance and market demand for high-quality North American copper projects, supported by robust technical studies [2][3] - The Copper World project is valued at US$1.4 billion, indicating strong market interest in well-defined copper projects [3] Company Developments - Oroco is advancing its Santo Tomás copper project towards the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) stage, which shares characteristics with the Copper World project, such as being a large-tonnage, open-pit copper porphyry deposit [3][4] - The Santo Tomás project covers a total area of 6,121 hectares and is located in northwestern Mexico, with significant copper porphyry mineralization identified through extensive prior exploration [4][6] - Oroco has conducted a drill program at Santo Tomás, totaling 48,481 meters drilled in 76 diamond drill holes, leading to updated resource estimates and engineering studies [5][6] Market Context - The acquisition by Mitsubishi underscores the value of advancing open-pit copper deposits through critical stages of technical and economic definition, reflecting strong demand for critical minerals [2][3] - The Santo Tomás project is strategically located within 170 km of a deep-water port and is well-serviced by infrastructure, enhancing its development potential [6]

VANCOUVER, Canada, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oroco Resource Corp. (TSX-V: OCO; OTC: ORRCF) ("Oroco" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the terms of the Company's engagement of Whittle Consulting Ltd. ("Whittle") have received the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. As announced on July 2, 2025, Whittle will undertake to provide a Strategic Option Study (the "Study") for the Company that is intended to optimize the mine plan and guide the pre-feasibility work for the Company's Santo Toma ...

Core Insights - Oroco Resource Corp. has entered into an agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the Vainilla Mineral Concession in northern Sinaloa, Mexico, through its subsidiary Minera Xochipala [1][3] - The Vainilla Concession covers approximately 2,974 hectares and is located within a porphyry copper belt, offering immediate exploration opportunities for copper and associated metals [2][4] - The acquisition is seen as a strategic move to enhance Oroco's control over the Santo Tomás porphyry copper district, aligning with the company's operational objectives and supported by government initiatives [3][4] Geological Overview - The Vainilla Concession is strategically positioned along the southern extension of the Santo Tomás porphyry copper trend, which includes various mineralized zones indicative of a concealed porphyry system [4] - The geological setting features intense surface alteration, suggesting potential for significant mineralization related to porphyry systems [4] Exploration Plans - Oroco plans to initiate a staged exploration program that includes 2D IP survey lines, geological mapping, and short hole scout drilling targeting breccia, skarn, and porphyry targets [6] Financial Terms of the Agreement - The option agreement includes an initial payment of US$75,000 and 100,000 common shares, with semi-annual payments of US$25,000 and 100,000 shares [7] - The option will be exercised upon a payment of US$500,000 and the issuance of 2,000,000 shares, with a 1.5% Net Smelter Returns royalty granted to third parties [7] Company Background - Oroco holds an 85.5% interest in the Core Concessions of the Santo Tomás Project, which spans a total area of 6,121 hectares [8] - The project has significant copper porphyry mineralization, with extensive prior exploration and a recent drill program conducted by the company [8][9]

Core Insights - Oroco Resource Corp. has engaged Whittle Consulting Ltd. to conduct a Strategic Option Study for its Santo Tomás porphyry copper project in northwestern Mexico [1][2] Strategic Option Study Overview - The study aims to evaluate innovative operating strategies and technologies to enhance the project's value, utilizing Whittle's "Integrated Strategic Planning" methodology [2] - Key focus areas include refining pit size, stripping ratios, and cut-off grades to provide guidance for the upcoming Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) [3] Data and Expertise - The study will utilize the existing Mineral Resource Estimate from Oroco's Q3 2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) without requiring additional data collection [4] - Whittle's expertise includes over 120 Enterprise Optimization studies, leveraging its proprietary "Prober-F" software for project economics improvement [4][5] Payment Structure - Whittle will receive 60% of its consulting fee in Oroco common shares, to be issued during the company's next equity financing expected in 2025, subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval [6] About Oroco - Oroco holds an 85.5% interest in the Core Concessions of the Santo Tomás Project, covering 1,173 hectares, and an 80% interest in an additional 7,861 hectares, totaling 9,034 hectares [7] - The project is located within 170 km of the Pacific deep-water port at Topolobampo, with access via highway and rail [9][10]