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Canada Nickel Signs Definitive Agreements For Creation of ExploreCo and Consolidation of Crawford Surface Rights

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TORONTO, Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Canada Nickel Company Inc. ("Canada Nickel" or the "Company") (TSXV: CNC) (OTCQB: CNIKF) is pleased to announce the signing of two definitive agreements on January 6, 2025 – the previously announced transaction with Noble Mineral Exploration ("Noble")  (see July 8, 2024 news release) and a definitive agreement with the primary surface rights holder ("Surface Rights Holder") in Crawford and surrounding townships to secure access to 32,000 acres of surface rights required to build the Crawford Nickel Sulphide project ("Crawford").

Canada Nickel Company Inc. logo (CNW Group/Canada Nickel Company Inc.)
Canada Nickel Company Inc. logo (CNW Group/Canada Nickel Company Inc.)

Mark Selby, CEO said, "Today's announcements secure access to 32,000 acres of surface rights and is another critical step for the Company as we complete our permitting and move toward a construction decision on Crawford in 2025. As part of the surface rights agreement, the Company will transfer 47,750 acres of mining rights in Kingsmill and Mabee townships—where no known exploration targets exist—to the Surface Rights Holder. This transfer aims to create future certainty over a substantial area of land, facilitating the effective development of sustainable forestry and wildlife habitat preservation. We are proud of our progress in unlocking the potential of the Crawford project and the Timmins Nickel District, building a future that benefits the environment and supports future generations."

ExploreCo Subsidiary Formation and Consolidation Transaction

Per the prior news release on July 8, 2024, Canada Nickel and Noble have now entered into a definitive agreement whereby Canada Nickel and Noble will contribute certain mining properties, including the existing Mann joint venture, into a new private company ("ExploreCo") to consolidate their respective interests in the portfolio of nickel projects northeast of Timmins, Ontario. As part of the transaction, Canada Nickel will consolidate ownership of the mining rights and access to the surface rights for certain key patents in Aubin, Crawford, Carnegie, Dargavel, Kidd, Lennox, Lucas, Nesbitt, Prosser, and Wark townships currently held by Noble, which facilitates and simplifies future development of Crawford and other nearby regional properties held by Canada Nickel.

The transaction and formal formation of ExploreCo is expected to close by January 31, 2025 and is subject to any required approvals of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV").

Surface Rights Transaction

Canada Nickel has entered into a definitive agreement with the Surface Rights Holder (the "Surface Rights Transaction") for an option to acquire 32,000 acres of surface rights in Crawford and surrounding townships.   As part of the transaction, Canada Nickel has agreed to issue 5.5 million shares and will transfer mining rights (not required for any exploration target) to approximately 47,750 acres in Kingsmill and Mabee townships.  The Surface Rights Transaction is subject to the approval of the TSXV.   Additional consideration will be paid to exercise the option on a construction decision.  The Company has the right to exercise the option by December 31, 2026 and can extend the option annually up to a further five years for an additional payment for each extension.  The Surface Rights Holder has asked that all other terms remain confidential. The additional consideration to acquire the surface rights is not material in the context of the overall Crawford project capital cost and the extension payment is also not material.