Copper Road Resources Inc. (TSX-V: CRD) is pleased to announce the signing of a milestone Exploration Agreement with the Matachewan First Nation, a member of the Wabun Tribal Council. The early exploration agreement covers the Company’s Operational Area of Interest on the Ben Nevis Volcanic Complex Property within the First Nation’s traditional lands, located in northeastern Ontario’s Abitibi Greenstone Belt.

The BNVC project package presently consists of 226 mining claim cells covering 11,264 hectares (“ha”), including 13 contiguous mining rights only patents for an additional 210 ha to the operational project area. The project area includes parts of Ben Nevis, Clifford, Elliott, Arnold, Katrine and Pontiac townships, within the prolific mineral endowed Blake River Group, Abitibi Greenstone Belt. For further details regarding the property acquisition, please refer to the Company’s December 8, 2025, press release announcing the execution of four separate option agreements.

^{Figure 1: Regional location Map of the Copper Road Ben Nevis Volcanic Complex Project showing the Blake River Group bounded to the south by the Larder Lake-Cadillac fault zone (LLCfz) and to the north by the Porcupine Destor fault zone (PDfz) – Source: Modified after Monecke et al., 2017; Expert Geophysics, February 2026.}

The early exploration agreement outlines the terms on how consultation and impact mitigation on exploration activities will be conducted. Importantly, it also delivers financial benefits, including Copper Road shares and options, plus contracts, jobs, and training opportunities during the exploration phase current and future work programs across the project portfolio covered by the agreement. The exploration agreement will remain in effect until such time an Impact Benefit Agreement (“IBA”) has been concluded.

This milestone agreement represents the culmination of an extensive period of relationship-building and dialogue between the Company and the MFN and WTC. The agreement establishes a long-term, mutually beneficial, cooperative and respectful relationship, setting the stage for a strong foundation for on-going cooperation among all parties on this Exploration Agreement moving forward on the BNVC project.

The MFN will provide a Support Letter to the Ontario Ministry of Mines endorsing the currently planned maiden drill program on the BNVC project, prior to the permit application process.

Copper Road remains steadfast in its commitment to responsible exploration activities and to delivering shared economic opportunities to all local First Nation communities.

Copper Road is well funded for its 2026 exploration program with $2.1 million raised following the closing of three separate non-brokered private placements on December 31, 2025, March 16, 2026 and May 4, 2026. In addition, the Company currently holds 1.86 million shares of Sterling Metals Corp. with a market valuation of $1.8 million as of the date of this press release.