MIAMI, Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) (together with NCL Corporation Ltd. (“NCLC”), “Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings”, “Norwegian”, “NCLH” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026 and provided guidance for the fourth quarter and full year 2026.

Highlights

  • Third quarter total revenue was $2.9 billion. GAAP net income was $491 million with EPS of $1.07.
  • Delivered third quarter results above guidance, with Adjusted EBITDA1 of $937 million, Adjusted Net Income of $514 million and Adjusted EPS of $1.12.
  • Raised full year 2026 guidance, with 2026 Adjusted EBITDA now expected to be approximately $2.55 billion and Adjusted EPS of approximately $1.70.
  • Opened Great Tides Waterpark in early September at the Company’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay. Spanning nearly six acres, the waterpark expands the island’s offerings with attractions for guests of all ages.
  • Announced additional run-rate savings of ~$100 million related to guest and crew air optimization and other tactical changes in promotional offerings that will phase in through 2028.
  • Completed the issuance of $950 million of senior notes due 2031 on October 15, which together with the upsizing of the Revolving Loan Facility, enhanced the Company’s liquidity position.
  • Completed the sale of Oceania Sirena and entered into a charter agreement to continue operating the vessel through spring 2028.
  • Entered into a memorandum of agreement to sell Oceania Insignia with an expected delivery to the buyer in September 2027.

“We delivered third quarter results that came in above guidance, all while continuing to strengthen our commercial capabilities, improve operating efficiency and enhance the guest experience,” said John W. Chidsey, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “As we implement the next phase of our turnaround, we are focused on sharpening Norwegian Cruise Line’s brand positioning, improving marketing effectiveness and taking a more disciplined approach to revenue management as well as a prudent base-loading strategy. We are seeing the early signs of progress and expect Net Yield growth of 1% to 2% in 2027, with a meaningful acceleration in the back half of the year.”

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1 See “Terminology”, “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Outlook and Guidance” below for additional information about Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, Net Leverage and other non-GAAP financial measures.

Third Quarter 2026 Highlights

The Company delivered third quarter results above guidance, driven primarily by stronger-than-expected close-in demand and onboard spend. Continued cost discipline also contributed to lower-than-expected unit costs, further supporting the quarter’s profitability.

  • Generated total revenue of $2.9 billion. GAAP net income was $491 million compared to $419 million in the prior year, with EPS of $1.07.
  • Gross margin per Capacity Day decreased 16.7% versus 2025 on an as reported basis and decreased 17.1% on a Constant Currency basis. Net Yield decreased 6.5% on an as reported basis and 6.7% on a Constant Currency basis, ~220 basis points better than guidance of an 8.9% decline.
  • Gross Cruise Cost per Capacity Day was approximately $301, compared to $302 in the prior year. Adjusted Net Cruise Cost excluding Fuel per Capacity Day was approximately $152 on an as reported basis and on a Constant Currency basis. Compared to 2025, this metric was down 2.2% on an as reported basis and decreased 2.3% on a Constant Currency basis, ~140 basis points better than guidance of down 0.9%.
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $937 million, exceeding guidance of $874 million by $63 million. Adjusted EPS was $1.12, exceeding guidance of $0.90 by $0.22.

2026 Full Year Outlook

Reflecting its stronger-than-expected third quarter performance, the Company is raising its full year 2026 guidance. A summary of the updated full year guidance is provided below:

  • 2026 full year Net Yield on a Constant Currency basis is expected to be down approximately 4.4% versus 2025.
  • 2026 Adjusted Net Cruise Cost excluding Fuel per Capacity Day is expected to be down approximately 0.4% on a Constant Currency basis versus 2025, reflecting better-than-previously-guided performance driven by ongoing savings.
  • 2026 full year Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be approximately $2.55 billion.
  • Adjusted Operational EBITDA Margin for the full year 2026 is expected to be 33.7%.
  • Full year Adjusted Net Income is expected to be approximately $789 million. Adjusted EPS is expected to be approximately $1.70.

Q4 2026 Outlook

  • Q4 2026 Net Yield on a Constant Currency basis remains unchanged from prior guidance, declining ~6.5%. The outlook reflects a modestly improved underlying Net Yield performance, offset by an unfavorable mix impact due to the delayed delivery of Seven Seas Prestige to late December and the cancellation of select voyages on Seven Seas Voyager transiting the Suez Canal.
  • Q4 2026 Adjusted Net Cruise Cost excluding fuel per Capacity Day is expected to be up 1.7% on a Constant Currency basis versus 2025.
  • Q4 2026 Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be $414 million and Adjusted Operational EBITDA margin for the quarter is expected to be 25.0%.

Booking Environment Update

The Company’s booked position for the next 12 months has improved modestly since the last earnings release but remains below its optimal range. The expanded offering at Great Stirrup Cay, including the recently opened Great Tides Waterpark, together with the upcoming rollout of a new marketing platform and improvements to revenue management capabilities, including the implementation of the base-loading strategy across 2027 and 2028 sailings, is expected to support stronger demand and a healthier booking curve over time.

Looking ahead to 2027, the Company’s pricing for the first half is ahead of levels at the same time last year, while its booked position remains below the comparable prior-year position. For the second half, pricing is ahead with the booked position in line with the same time last year. These trends, together with the expected benefits of the Company’s commercial initiatives, support the Company’s expectation for full year Net Yield growth of 1% to 2%, with a meaningful acceleration in the second half.

Liquidity and Financial Position

The Company is committed to optimizing its balance sheet and reducing Net Leverage. As of September 30, 2026, the Company had total debt of $15.1 billion and Net Debt of $14.8 billion. Net Leverage ended the quarter at 5.5x.

On a pro forma basis, considering the recent debt issuance and upsizing of the Revolving Loan Facility, liquidity as of September 30, 2026 would have been $2.1 billion, including approximately $257 million of cash and cash equivalents and $1.8 billion of availability under the Revolving Loan Facility.

“Subsequent to quarter-end, we completed the issuance of $950 million of 8.750% senior notes due 2031 and upsized our Revolving Loan Facility, strengthening our liquidity position. With no significant debt maturities until 2029, we believe our existing financial resources and ongoing cash generation provide a clear path to fund our turnaround strategy and strengthen our balance sheet over time,” said Mark A. Kempa, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “Reducing Net Leverage remains a top priority. We continue to center our focus on cost discipline and cash generation as we work to restore Net Yield growth, with stronger earnings and cash flow expected to drive further deleveraging.”

Outlook and Guidance

In addition to announcing the results for the third quarter of 2026, the Company also provided guidance for the fourth quarter and full year 2026, along with accompanying sensitivities, subject to changes in the broad macroeconomic environment. The Company does not provide certain estimated future results on a GAAP basis because the Company is unable to predict, with reasonable certainty, the future movement of foreign exchange rates or the future impact of certain gains and charges. These items are uncertain and will depend on several factors, including industry conditions, and could be material to the Company’s results computed in accordance with GAAP. The Company has not provided reconciliations between the Company’s 2026 guidance and the most directly comparable GAAP measures because it would be too difficult to prepare a reliable U.S. GAAP quantitative reconciliation without unreasonable effort.

         
  2026 Guidance
  Fourth Quarter 2026 Full Year 2026
  As Reported Constant
Currency
As Reported Constant
Currency
Net Yield ~(6.5%) ~(6.5%) ~(4.0%) ~(4.4%)
Adjusted Net Cruise Cost
Excluding Fuel per Capacity Day
~1.5% ~1.7% ~(0.1%) ~(0.4%)
Capacity Days ~6.43 million ~26.18 million
Occupancy ~100.0% ~103.2%
Adjusted EBITDA ~$414 million ~$2.55 billion
Adjusted Net Income ~($55) million ~$789 million
Adjusted EPS1 ~($0.12) ~$1.70
Diluted Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding2 ~459 million ~463 million
Depreciation and Amortization3 ~$280 million ~$1,083 million
Interest Expense, net4 ~$188 million ~$695 million
Effect of a 1% change in Net Yield on Adjusted EBITDA / Adjusted EPS ~$17 million
~$0.04
~$76 million
~$0.16
Effect of a 1% change in Adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel per Capacity Day on Adjusted EBITDA / Adjusted EPS ~$10 million
~$0.02
~$42 million
~$0.09
Effect of a 1% change in Foreign Exchange rates on Adjusted Net Income / Adjusted EPS5 ~$1.5 million
~$0.00
~$1.5 million
~$0.00

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(1) Based on guidance and using diluted weighted-average shares outstanding of approximately 459 million for the fourth quarter of 2026 and 463 million for full year 2026.
(2) As of September 30, 2026, the price of NCLH’s ordinary shares did not exceed the conversion price related to the Company’s 2030 Exchangeable Notes, and therefore, there was no impact to diluted weighted-average shares outstanding considered for the fourth quarter and full year 2026 guidance.
(3) Excludes a loss on disposal related to the sale of Oceania Sirena.
(4) Interest expense excluding debt extinguishment and modification costs. Based on the Company’s outstanding variable rate debt balance, pro forma for the Company’s issuance of $950 million senior notes subsequent to quarter-end, a one percentage point increase in annual secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) interest rates would increase the Company’s annual interest expense by approximately $14 million excluding the effects of the capitalization of interest.
(5) Impact from changes in foreign exchange rates only considers the impact that foreign exchange rate movements could have on revenues and operating costs.
   

The following reflects the foreign currency exchange rates as of September 30, 2026 that the Company used in its fourth quarter and full year 2026 guidance.

       
    Current Guidance
Euro   $ 1.13
British pound   $ 1.33
Australian Dollar   $ 0.69
Canadian Dollar   $ 0.70
       

Fuel

The Company reported fuel expense of $196 million in the quarter. Fuel price per metric ton, net of hedges increased to $819 from $744 in 2025. Fuel consumption of 239,000 metric tons was slightly below projections. The following reflects the Company’s expectations regarding fuel consumption and pricing, along with accompanying sensitivities:

               
    Fourth Quarter 2026   Full Year 2026  
Fuel consumption in metric tons1     255,000     1,001,000  
Fuel price per metric ton, net of hedges2   $ 803   $ 788  
Effect on Adjusted EPS of a 10% change in fuel prices, net of hedges   $ 0.03   $ 0.03  

____________________

(1) Total fuel consumption for the full year 2026 is expected to consist mainly of heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil, as well as other fuel types.
(2) Fuel prices are based on spot rates as of October 26th, 2026.
   

As of October 15, 2026, the Company had hedged approximately 48% and 42% of its total projected metric tons of fuel consumption for 2026 and 2027, respectively. We primarily hedge heavy fuel oil (“HFO”) and marine gas oil (“MGO”). Most other fuel types are unhedged. The following table provides amounts hedged and prices per metric ton:

               
    2026   2027  
Blended HFO and MGO Hedge Price / Metric Ton   $ 506   $ 559  
Total % of Consumption Hedged     48 %     42 %

____________________
Hedged derivatives include accounting hedges as well as economic hedges.

Capital Expenditures

The following table presents newbuild-and-growth capital expenditures, which mainly consist of capital expenditures related to the construction of new ships, private island developments and enhancements and other strategic growth initiatives:

                     
    Third
Quarter 2026

(millions)
  Fourth
Quarter 2026

(millions)
  Full Year
2026

(billions)
  Full Year
2027

(billions)
  Full Year
2028

(billions)
Newbuild-and-Growth Capital Expenditures, Gross1   $224   ~$1,094   ~$2.9   ~$3.1   ~$1.8
Export Credit Financing for Newbuild-and-Growth Capital Expenditures   $111   ~$594   ~$1.6   ~$2.0   ~$1.3
Newbuild-and-Growth Capital Expenditures, Net of Financing   $113   ~$500   ~$1.3   ~$1.1   ~$0.5

____________________
1.  Includes all newbuild-related capital expenditures including shipyard progress payments.
Note: Numbers may not add due to rounding.

The following table presents other capital expenditures, which mainly consist of investments related to maintenance, Dry-dock renovations, technology and digital:

             
    Third Quarter 2026
(millions)
  Fourth Quarter 2026
(millions)
  Full Year 2026
(millions)
Other Capital Expenditures   $134   ~$96   ~$540
             

Fleet and Brand Updates

  • Norwegian Cruise Line officially opened Great Tides Waterpark on September 4th on its private island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay. Located on NCL’s expansive 270-acre private island, the waterpark features 19 thrilling waterslides, a wandering river, the industry’s first-ever cliff jumps, and a dedicated kids splash zone, as well as new food and beverage offerings. Learn more here.
  • Norwegian Cruise Line opened for sale Norwegian Bella™, the final ship in its Prima Class. Inaugural season of voyages will offer itineraries across Europe and will begin May 2028. Learn more here.
  • Oceania Cruises floated out Oceania Sonata, marking a major construction milestone for the first ship in the new Sonata Class. The ship is expected to debut in August 2027. Learn more here.

Conference Call

The Company has scheduled a conference call for Thursday, October 29th, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss third quarter 2026 results and provide a business update. A link to the live webcast along with a slide presentation can be found on the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://www.nclhltd.com/investors. A replay of the conference call will also be available on the website for 30 days after the call.

About Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) is a leading global cruise company which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. NCLH has a combined fleet of 33 ships and approximately 72,000 Berths, excluding two ships under long-term charter to third parties, and offers itineraries to nearly 700 destinations worldwide. NCLH expects to add 16 additional ships across its three brands through 2037, which will add approximately 43,000 Berths to its fleet. To learn more, visit www.nclhltd.com.

Terminology

Adjusted EBITDA. EBITDA adjusted for other income (expense), net and other supplemental adjustments.

Adjusted EPS. Adjusted Net Income divided by the number of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding.

Adjusted Gross Margin. Gross margin adjusted for payroll and related, fuel, food, other and ship depreciation inclusive of any loss on disposal of ships. Gross margin is calculated pursuant to GAAP as total revenue less total cruise operating expense and ship depreciation inclusive of any loss on disposal of ships.

Adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel. Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel adjusted for supplemental adjustments.

Adjusted Net Income. Net income (loss), adjusted for the effect of dilutive securities and other supplemental adjustments.

Adjusted Operational EBITDA Margin. Adjusted EBITDA divided by Adjusted Gross Margin.

Adjusted ROIC. An amount expressed as a percentage equal to (i) Adjusted EBITDA less depreciation and amortization plus other supplemental adjustments, divided by (ii) the sum of total long-term debt, including the short-term portion thereof, and shareholders’ equity as of the end of a respective quarter, averaged for the most recent five fiscal quarters ending with the last date of the applicable fiscal year.

Berths. Double occupancy capacity per cabin (single occupancy per studio cabin) even though many cabins can accommodate three or more passengers.

Capacity Days. Berths available for sale multiplied by the number of cruise days for the period for ships in service excluding announced ships with long-term charters to third parties once their charters begin.

Constant Currency. A calculation whereby foreign currency-denominated revenues and expenses in a period are converted at the U.S. dollar exchange rate of a comparable period in order to eliminate the effects of foreign exchange fluctuations.

Dry-dock. A process whereby a ship is positioned in a large basin where all of the fresh/sea water is pumped out in order to carry out cleaning and repairs of those parts of a ship which are below the water line.

EBITDA. Earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization.

EPS. Earnings (loss) per share.

GAAP. Generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S.

Gross Cruise Cost. The sum of total cruise operating expense and marketing, general and administrative expense.

Net Cruise Cost. Gross Cruise Cost less commissions, transportation and other expense and onboard and other expense.

Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel. Net Cruise Cost less fuel expense.

Net Debt. Long-term debt, including current portion, less cash and cash equivalents.

Net Leverage. Net Debt divided by Adjusted EBITDA for the trailing twelve-months.

Net Per Diem. Adjusted Gross Margin divided by Passenger Cruise Days.

Net Yield. Adjusted Gross Margin per Capacity Day.

Occupancy, Occupancy Percentage or Load Factor. The ratio of Passenger Cruise Days to Capacity Days. A percentage greater than 100% indicates that three or more passengers occupied some cabins.

Passenger Cruise Days. The number of passengers carried for the period, multiplied by the number of days in their respective cruises excluding ships with long-term charters to third parties.

Revolving Loan Facility. Our senior secured revolving credit facility among NCLC, as borrower, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent. The revolving credit facility was increased from approximately $2.5 billion as of September 30, 2026 to approximately $2.8 billion in October 2026.

Shipboard Retirement Plan. An unfunded defined benefit pension plan for certain crew members which computes benefits based on years of service, subject to certain requirements.

2030 Exchangeable Notes. On April 7, 2025, pursuant to an indenture among NCLC, as issuer, NCLH, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, NCLC issued $353.9 million aggregate principal amount of exchangeable senior notes due 2030. Additionally, on September 11, 2025, pursuant to an indenture among NCLC, as issuer, NCLH, as guarantor, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, NCLC issued $1,407.0 million aggregate principal amount of exchangeable senior notes due 2030.

References to “dollar(s)” or “$” are to United States dollars and “euro(s)” or “€” are to the official currency of the Eurozone.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted Gross Margin, Adjusted Operational EBITDA Margin, Net Yield, Net Cruise Cost, Adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel, Adjusted EBITDA, Net Leverage, Net Debt, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EPS, Adjusted ROIC and Net Per Diem, to enable us to analyze our performance. See “Terminology” for the definitions of these and other non-GAAP financial measures. Our management believes the presentation of Adjusted ROIC provides a useful performance metric to both management and investors for evaluating our effective use of capital and has used it as a performance measure for our incentive compensation. We utilize Adjusted Gross Margin, Net Yield, and Net Per Diem to manage our business on a day-to-day basis because they reflect revenue earned net of certain direct variable costs. We utilize Adjusted Operational EBITDA Margin to assess operating performance. We also utilize Net Cruise Cost and Adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel to manage our business on a day-to-day basis. In measuring our ability to control costs in a manner that positively impacts net income (loss), we believe changes in Adjusted Gross Margin, Adjusted Operational EBITDA Margin, Net Yield, Net Cruise Cost and Adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel to be the most relevant indicators of our performance.

As our business includes the sourcing of passengers and deployment of vessels outside of the U.S., a portion of our revenue and expenses are denominated in foreign currencies, particularly British pound, Canadian dollar, Euro and Australian dollar which are subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates versus our reporting currency, the U.S. dollar. In order to monitor results excluding these fluctuations, we calculate certain non-GAAP measures on a Constant Currency basis, whereby current period revenue and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates of the comparable period. We believe that presenting these non-GAAP measures on both a reported and Constant Currency basis is useful in providing a more comprehensive view of trends in our business.

We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is appropriate as a supplemental financial measure as it is used by management to assess operating performance. We also believe that Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure in determining our performance as it reflects certain operating drivers of our business, such as sales growth, operating costs, marketing, general and administrative expense and other operating income and expense. In addition, management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a performance measure for our incentive compensation. Adjusted EBITDA is not a defined term under GAAP nor is it intended to be a measure of liquidity or cash flows from operations or a measure comparable to net income (loss) as it does not take into account certain requirements such as capital expenditures and related depreciation, principal and interest payments and tax payments and it includes other supplemental adjustments.

In addition, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures that exclude certain amounts and are used to supplement GAAP net income (loss) and EPS. We use Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS as key performance measures of our earnings performance. We believe that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our performance and when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management’s internal comparison to our historical performance. In addition, management uses Adjusted EPS as a performance measure for our incentive compensation. The amounts excluded in the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures may vary from period to period; accordingly, our presentation of Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS may not be indicative of future adjustments or results. For example, for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, we had an expense of $22.4 million related to restructuring costs. We included this as an adjustment in the reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income since these costs are not representative of our day-to-day operations, and this adjustment did not occur and is not included in the comparative period presented within this release.

Non-GAAP diluted weighted-average shares are calculated using the treasury stock method to calculate the effect of restricted share units and options and the if-converted method to calculate the effect of convertible instruments. This is the same methodology that is used when calculating GAAP diluted weighted-average shares. However, the determination of whether the shares are dilutive or anti-dilutive is made independently on a GAAP and non-GAAP net income or loss basis, and therefore, the number of diluted weighted-average shares outstanding for GAAP and non-GAAP may be different.

Net Leverage and Net Debt are performance measures that we believe provide management and investors a more complete understanding of our leverage position after factoring in cash and cash equivalents.

You are encouraged to evaluate each adjustment used in calculating our non-GAAP financial measures and the reasons we consider our non-GAAP financial measures appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating our non-GAAP financial measures, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses similar to the adjustments in our presentation. Our non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider these measures in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Our presentation of our non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other companies. Please see a historical reconciliation of these measures to the most comparable GAAP measure presented in our consolidated financial statements below.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements, estimates or projections contained in this release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained, or incorporated by reference, in this release, including, without limitation, our expectations regarding our results of operations, future financial position, including our liquidity requirements and future capital expenditures, plans, prospects, actions taken or strategies being considered with respect to our liquidity position, including with respect to refinancing, amending the terms of, or extending the maturity of our indebtedness, our ability to comply with covenants under our debt agreements, expectations regarding our exchangeable notes, valuation and appraisals of our assets, expectations regarding our deferred tax assets, and valuation allowances, expected fleet additions and deliveries and ship sales, including expected timing and impact thereof, our expectations regarding the impact of macroeconomic conditions and recent global events, and expectations relating to our sustainability program, decarbonization efforts and alternative fuel sources and related regulation may be forward-looking statements. Many, but not all, of these statements can be found by looking for words like “expect,” “anticipate,” “goal,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “will,” “may,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “intend,” “future” and similar words. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance and may involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements. Examples of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to the impact of: adverse general economic factors, such as fluctuating or increasing levels of interest rates, inflation, unemployment, underemployment, tariff increases and trade wars, the volatility of fuel prices, declines in the securities and real estate markets, and perceptions of these conditions that decrease the level of disposable income of consumers or consumer confidence; our indebtedness and restrictions in the agreements governing our indebtedness that require us to maintain minimum levels of liquidity and be in compliance with maintenance covenants and otherwise limit our flexibility in operating our business, including the significant portion of assets that are collateral under these agreements; our ability to work with lenders and others or otherwise pursue options to defer, renegotiate, refinance or restructure our existing debt profile, near-term debt amortization, newbuild-related payments and other obligations and to work with credit card processors to satisfy potential future demands for collateral on cash advanced from customers relating to future cruises; our need for additional financing or financing to optimize our balance sheet, which may not be available on favorable terms, or at all, and our outstanding exchangeable notes and any future financing which may be dilutive to existing shareholders; our ability to maintain and strengthen our brand; shareholder activism and/or proxy contests; the unavailability of ports of call and the impacts of port and destination fees and expenses; future increases in the price of, or major changes, disruptions or reductions in, commercial airline services; changes involving the tax and environmental regulatory regimes in which we operate, including new and existing regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions; the accuracy of any appraisals of our assets; our success in controlling operating expenses and capital expenditures; adverse events impacting the security of travel, or customer perceptions of the security of travel, such as terrorist acts, geopolitical conflict, armed conflict or threats thereof, acts of piracy, and other international events; public health crises, and their effect on the ability or desire of people to travel (including on cruises); adverse incidents involving cruise ships; breaches in data security or other disturbances to our information technology systems and other networks or our actual or perceived failure to comply with requirements regarding data privacy and protection; changes in fuel prices and the type of fuel we are permitted to use and/or other cruise operating costs; mechanical malfunctions and repairs, delays in our shipbuilding program, maintenance and refurbishments and the consolidation of qualified shipyard facilities; the risks and increased costs associated with operating internationally; our inability to recruit or retain qualified personnel or the loss of key personnel or employee relations issues; impacts related to climate change and our ability to achieve our climate-related or other sustainability goals; our inability to obtain adequate insurance coverage; implementing precautions in coordination with regulators and global public health authorities to protect the health, safety and security of guests, crew and the communities we visit and to comply with related regulatory restrictions; pending or threatened litigation, investigations and enforcement actions; volatility and disruptions in the global credit and financial markets, which may adversely affect our ability to borrow and could increase our counterparty credit risks, including those under our credit facilities, derivatives, contingent obligations, insurance contracts and new ship progress payment guarantees; our reliance on third parties to provide hotel management services for certain ships, technology services and certain other critical services; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; our expansion into new markets and investments in new markets, businesses and land-based destination projects; overcapacity in key markets or globally; and other factors set forth under “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The above examples are not exhaustive and new risks emerge from time to time. There may be additional risks that we currently consider immaterial or which are unknown. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections regarding our present and future business strategies and the environment in which we expect to operate in the future. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements included in this release, which speak only as of the date made. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change of events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement was based, except as required by law.

Investor Relations & Media Contacts

Sarah Inmon
(786) 812-3233
InvestorRelations@nclcorp.com

                         
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE HOLDINGS LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
                         
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,    September 30, 
    2026   2025   2026   2025
Revenue                        
Passenger ticket   $ 1,945,639     $ 2,049,959     $ 5,217,798     $ 5,177,628  
Onboard and other     1,001,124       888,183       2,700,730       2,405,564  
Total revenue     2,946,763       2,938,142       7,918,528       7,583,192  
Cruise operating expense                        
Commissions, transportation and other     547,675       521,981       1,429,948       1,405,159  
Onboard and other     236,180       222,002       579,494       548,544  
Payroll and related     390,315       355,396       1,165,104       1,036,033  
Fuel     195,733       175,913       584,043       508,304  
Food     92,043       81,866       260,047       238,777  
Other     205,722       197,701       613,721       578,827  
Total cruise operating expense     1,667,668       1,554,859       4,632,357       4,315,644  
Other operating expense                        
Marketing, general and administrative     367,118       383,002       1,246,003       1,167,432  
Depreciation and amortization     287,703       250,832       819,624       725,889  
Total other operating expense     654,821       633,834       2,065,627       1,893,321  
Operating income     624,274       749,449       1,220,544       1,374,227  
Non-operating income (expense)                        
Interest expense, net     (170,544 )     (328,816 )     (507,418 )     (783,470 )
Other income (expense), net     30,901       13,003       105,121       (167,927 )
Total non-operating income (expense)     (139,643 )     (315,813 )     (402,297 )     (951,397 )
Net income before income taxes     484,631       433,636       818,247       422,830  
Income tax benefit (expense)     6,834       (14,341 )     437       (13,838 )
Net income   $ 491,465     $ 419,295     $ 818,684     $ 408,992  
Weighted-average shares outstanding                        
Basic     459,221,105       450,996,955       458,345,947       446,279,721  
Diluted     460,423,326       495,727,378       463,719,391       505,317,442  
Earnings per share                        
Basic   $ 1.07     $ 0.93     $ 1.79     $ 0.92  
Diluted   $ 1.07     $ 0.86     $ 1.77     $ 0.87  

                         
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE HOLDINGS LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
                         
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,    September 30, 
    2026   2025   2026   2025
Net income   $ 491,465     $ 419,295   $ 818,684     $ 408,992
Other comprehensive income:                        
Shipboard Retirement Plan     43       16     128       48
Cash flow hedges:                        
Net unrealized gain     112,951       43     168,897       52,944
Amount realized and reclassified into earnings     (48,715 )     8,807     (84,953 )     23,924
Total other comprehensive income     64,279       8,866     84,072       76,916
Total comprehensive income   $ 555,744     $ 428,161   $ 902,756     $ 485,908

             
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE HOLDINGS LTD.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share data)
             
       September 30,       December 31, 
    2026   2025
Assets            
Current assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 256,508     $ 209,893  
Accounts receivable, net     241,186       291,659  
Inventories     187,700       138,181  
Prepaid expenses and other assets     608,366       498,808  
Total current assets     1,293,760       1,138,541  
Property and equipment, net     20,364,242       19,068,807  
Goodwill     135,764       135,764  
Trade names     500,525       500,525  
Other long-term assets     1,718,818       1,697,764  
Total assets   $ 24,013,109     $ 22,541,401  
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity            
Current liabilities:            
Current portion of long-term debt   $ 1,134,959     $ 875,899  
Accounts payable     177,965       169,655  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities     1,295,194       1,206,430  
Advance ticket sales     3,141,976       3,200,593  
Total current liabilities     5,750,094       5,452,577  
Long-term debt     13,951,544       13,730,277  
Other long-term liabilities     1,162,523       1,148,659  
Total liabilities     20,864,161       20,331,513  
Commitments and contingencies            
Shareholders’ equity:            
Ordinary shares, $0.001 par value; 980,000,000 shares authorized; 459,272,300 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2026 and 455,257,489 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2025     459       455  
Additional paid-in capital     8,263,732       8,227,432  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)     (367,293 )     (451,365 )
Accumulated deficit     (4,747,950 )     (5,566,634 )
Total shareholders’ equity     3,148,948       2,209,888  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 24,013,109     $ 22,541,401  

             
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE HOLDINGS LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
             
    Nine Months Ended
    September 30, 
    2026   2025
Cash flows from operating activities            
Net income   $ 818,684     $ 408,992  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:            
Depreciation and amortization expense     885,786       787,760  
Loss on extinguishment of debt     —       272,085  
Share-based compensation expense     67,420       64,598  
Net foreign currency adjustments on euro-denominated debt     (90,113 )     133,260  
Other, net     6,780       (1,922 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:            
Accounts receivable, net     42,669       (32,046 )
Inventories     (53,394 )     (6,322 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets     (19,689 )     13,360  
Accounts payable     30,353       49,584  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities     54,461       (72,590 )
Advance ticket sales     (36,597 )     13,877  
Net cash provided by operating activities     1,706,360       1,630,636  
Cash flows from investing activities            
Additions to property and equipment, net     (2,292,043 )     (2,821,959 )
Proceeds from sale of ships     104,995       —  
Other     (7,591 )     (9,587 )
Net cash used in investing activities     (2,194,639 )     (2,831,546 )
Cash flows from financing activities            
             
Repayments of long-term debt     (1,894,036 )     (7,723,694 )
Proceeds from long-term debt     2,487,283       9,225,819  
Common share issuance proceeds, net     —       145,272  
Net share settlement of restricted share units     (31,105 )     (23,824 )
Early redemption premium     —       (238,126 )
Deferred financing fees and other     (27,248 )     (208,501 )
Net cash provided by financing activities     534,894       1,176,946  
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     46,615       (23,964 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period     209,893       190,765  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period   $ 256,508     $ 166,801  

 
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE HOLDINGS LTD.
NON-GAAP RECONCILING INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
 
The following table sets forth selected statistical information:
 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,    September 30,   
    2026   2025   2026   2025  
Passengers carried   983,214   803,268   2,750,963   2,211,002  
Passenger Cruise Days   7,204,938   6,828,243   20,585,418   18,904,286  
Capacity Days   6,766,454   6,417,724   19,749,163   18,170,560  
Occupancy Percentage   106.5 % 106.4 % 104.2 % 104.0 %
                   

Adjusted Gross Margin, Net Per Diem, and Net Yield were calculated as follows (in thousands, except Net Yield, Net Per Diem, Capacity Days, Passenger Cruise Days, per Passenger Cruise Day and Capacity Day data):

                                     
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,    September 30, 
        2026           2026    
        Constant Currency           Constant Currency    
    2026   compared to 2025   2025   2026   compared to 2025   2025
Total revenue   $ 2,946,763   $ 2,940,593   $ 2,938,142   $ 7,918,528   $ 7,881,105   $ 7,583,192
Less:                                    
Total cruise operating expense     1,667,668     1,665,552     1,554,859     4,632,357     4,614,206     4,315,644
Ship depreciation     266,348     266,348     229,579     757,185     757,185     667,070
Gross margin     1,012,747     1,008,693     1,153,704     2,528,986     2,509,714     2,600,478
Ship depreciation     266,348     266,348     229,579     757,185     757,185     667,070
Payroll and related     390,315     390,261     355,396     1,165,104     1,164,899     1,036,033
Fuel     195,733     195,691     175,913     584,043     584,066     508,304
Food     92,043     92,029     81,866     260,047     259,227     238,777
Other     205,722     204,618     197,701     613,721     604,784     578,827
Adjusted Gross Margin   $ 2,162,908   $ 2,157,640   $ 2,194,159   $ 5,909,086   $ 5,879,875   $ 5,629,489
                                     
Passenger Cruise Days     7,204,938     7,204,938     6,828,243     20,585,418     20,585,418     18,904,286
Capacity Days     6,766,454     6,766,454     6,417,724     19,749,163     19,749,163     18,170,560
                                     
Total revenue per Passenger Cruise Day   $ 408.99   $ 408.14   $ 430.29   $ 384.67   $ 382.85   $ 401.14
Gross margin per Passenger Cruise Day   $ 140.56   $ 140.00   $ 168.96   $ 122.85   $ 121.92   $ 137.56
Net Per Diem   $ 300.20   $ 299.47   $ 321.34   $ 287.05   $ 285.63   $ 297.79
                                     
Gross margin per Capacity Day   $ 149.67   $ 149.07   $ 179.77   $ 128.06   $ 127.08   $ 143.11
Net Yield   $ 319.65   $ 318.87   $ 341.89   $ 299.21   $ 297.73   $ 309.81

 
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE HOLDINGS LTD.
NON-GAAP RECONCILING INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
 
Gross Cruise Cost, Net Cruise Cost, Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel and Adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel were calculated as follows (in thousands, except Capacity Days and per Capacity Day data):
 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,    September 30, 
        2026           2026    
        Constant Currency           Constant Currency    
    2026   compared to 2025   2025   2026   compared to 2025   2025
Total cruise operating expense   $ 1,667,668   $ 1,665,552   $ 1,554,859   $ 4,632,357   $ 4,614,206   $ 4,315,644
Marketing, general and administrative expense     367,118     367,130     383,002     1,246,003     1,240,886     1,167,432
Gross Cruise Cost     2,034,786     2,032,682     1,937,861     5,878,360     5,855,092     5,483,076
Less:                                    
Commissions, transportation and other expense     547,675     546,773     521,981     1,429,948     1,421,736     1,405,159
Onboard and other expense     236,180     236,180     222,002     579,494     579,494     548,544
Net Cruise Cost     1,250,931     1,249,729     1,193,878     3,868,918     3,853,862     3,529,373
Less: Fuel expense     195,733     195,691     175,913     584,043     584,066     508,304
Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel     1,055,198     1,054,038     1,017,965     3,284,875     3,269,796     3,021,069
Less Other Non-GAAP Adjustments:                                    
Non-cash deferred compensation (1)     614     614     553     1,842     1,842     1,658
Non-cash share-based compensation (2)     21,321     21,321     18,418     65,395     65,395     64,598
Professional advisory fees (3)     150     150     —     5,392     5,392     —
Restructuring costs (4)     2,710     2,710     —     22,387     22,387     —
Adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel   $ 1,030,403   $ 1,029,243   $ 998,994   $ 3,189,859   $ 3,174,780   $ 2,954,813
                                     
Capacity Days     6,766,454     6,766,454     6,417,724     19,749,163     19,749,163     18,170,560
                                     
Gross Cruise Cost per Capacity Day   $ 300.72   $ 300.41   $ 301.95   $ 297.65   $ 296.47   $ 301.76
Net Cruise Cost per Capacity Day   $ 184.87   $ 184.69   $ 186.03   $ 195.90   $ 195.14   $ 194.24
Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel per Capacity Day   $ 155.95   $ 155.77   $ 158.62   $ 166.33   $ 165.57   $ 166.26
Adjusted Net Cruise Cost Excluding Fuel per Capacity Day   $ 152.28   $ 152.11   $ 155.66   $ 161.52   $ 160.76   $ 162.62

____________________

(1) Non-cash deferred compensation expenses related to the Shipboard Retirement Plan, which are included in payroll and related expense.
(2) Non-cash share-based compensation expenses related to equity awards, which are included in marketing, general and administrative expense and payroll and related expense.
(3) Incremental expenses related to activist investor activities, which are not associated with ongoing operations and are included in marketing, general and administrative expense.
(4) Severance and other related fees associated with certain employee terminations, including non-cash share-based compensation expense related to accelerated vesting for a former executive, net of forfeitures, which are included in marketing, general and administrative expense.

 
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE HOLDINGS LTD.
NON-GAAP RECONCILING INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
 
Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS were calculated as follows (in thousands, except share and per share data):
 
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,    September 30, 
    2026   2025   2026   2025
Net income   $ 491,465     $ 419,295     $ 818,684     $ 408,992
Effect of dilutive securities – exchangeable notes     —       7,287       1,576       32,056
Net income and assumed conversion of exchangeable notes     491,465       426,582       820,260       441,048
Non-GAAP Adjustments:                        
Non-cash deferred compensation (1)     1,103       988       3,310       2,964
Non-cash share-based compensation (2)     21,321       18,418       65,395       64,598
Professional advisory fees (3)     150       —       5,392       —
Restructuring costs (4)     2,710       —       22,387       —
Extinguishment and modification of debt (5)     —       154,486       —       272,463
Net foreign currency adjustments on euro-denominated debt (6)     (19,815 )     (4,662 )     (90,113 )     133,260
Loss on ship disposal (7)     16,825       —       16,825       —
Adjusted Net Income   $ 513,759     $ 595,812     $ 843,456     $ 914,333
                         
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding – Net income and Adjusted Net Income     460,423,326       495,727,378       463,719,391       505,317,442
                         
Diluted EPS   $ 1.07     $ 0.86     $ 1.77     $ 0.87
Adjusted EPS   $ 1.12     $ 1.20     $ 1.82     $ 1.81

____________________

(1) Non-cash deferred compensation expenses related to the Shipboard Retirement Plan, which are included in payroll and related expense and other income (expense), net.
(2) Non-cash share-based compensation expenses related to equity awards, which are included in marketing, general and administrative expense and payroll and related expense.
(3) Incremental expenses related to activist investor activities, which are not associated with ongoing operations and are included in marketing, general and administrative expense.
(4) Severance and other related fees associated with certain employee terminations, including non-cash share-based compensation expense related to accelerated vesting for a former executive, net of forfeitures, which are included in marketing, general and administrative expense.
(5) Losses on extinguishment of debt and modification of debt are included in interest expense, net.
(6) Net gains and losses for foreign currency remeasurements of our euro-denominated debt principal included in other income (expense), net.
(7) A loss on disposal related to the sale of Oceania Sirena, which is included in depreciation and amortization expense.
   

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA were calculated as follows (in thousands):
                         
    Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30,    September 30, 
    2026   2025   2026   2025
Net income   $ 491,465     $ 419,295     $ 818,684     $ 408,992
Interest expense, net     170,544       328,816       507,418       783,470
Income tax (benefit) expense     (6,834 )     14,341       (437 )     13,838
Depreciation and amortization expense     287,703       250,832       819,624       725,889
EBITDA     942,878       1,013,284       2,145,289       1,932,189
Other (income) expense, net (1)     (30,901 )     (13,003 )     (105,121 )     167,927
Other Non-GAAP Adjustments:                        
Non-cash deferred compensation (2)     614       553       1,842       1,658
Non-cash share-based compensation (3)     21,321       18,418       65,395       64,598
Professional advisory fees (4)     150       —       5,392       —
Restructuring costs (5)     2,710       —       22,387       —
Adjusted EBITDA   $ 936,772     $ 1,019,252     $ 2,135,184     $ 2,166,372

____________________

(1) Primarily consists of gains and losses, net for foreign currency remeasurements.
(2) Non-cash deferred compensation expenses related to the Shipboard Retirement Plan, which are included in payroll and related expense.
(3) Non-cash share-based compensation expenses related to equity awards, which are included in marketing, general and administrative expense and payroll and related expense.
(4) Incremental expenses related to activist investor activities, which are not associated with ongoing operations and are included in marketing, general and administrative expense.
(5) Severance and other related fees associated with certain employee terminations, including non-cash share-based compensation expense related to accelerated vesting for a former executive, net of forfeitures, which are included in marketing, general and administrative expense.
   

Net Debt and Net Leverage were calculated as follows (in thousands):
         
    September 30,   
    2026  
Long-term debt   $ 13,951,544  
Current portion of long-term debt     1,134,959  
Total Debt     15,086,503  
Less: Cash and cash equivalents     256,508  
Net Debt   $ 14,829,995  
         
Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ended   $ 2,699,038  
         
Net Leverage     5.5x  

MARIETTA, Pa., Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Donegal Group Inc. (NASDAQ: DGICA) and (NASDAQ: DGICB) today reported its financial results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2026.

Significant Items for third quarter of 2026 (all comparisons to third quarter of 2025):

  • Net premiums earned decreased 3.0% to $222.9 million
  • Combined ratio of 96.5%, compared to 95.9%
  • Net income of $18.2 million, or 49 cents per diluted Class A share, compared to $20.1 million, or 55 cents per diluted Class A share
  • Net income included after-tax net investment losses of $0.6 million, or 1 cent per diluted Class A share, compared to after-tax net investment gains of $1.0 million, or 3 cents per diluted Class A share
  • Annualized return on average equity of 10.9%, compared to 13.0%
  • Book value per share of $17.70 at September 30, 2026, compared to $17.14 at September 30, 2025

Financial Summary

  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
    2026       2025     % Change     2026       2025     % Change
  (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
                       
Income Statement Data                      
Net premiums earned $ 222,883     $ 229,822     -3.0 %   $ 666,814     $ 694,299     -4.0 %
Investment income, net   14,689       13,943     5.4       43,468       38,466     13.0  
Net investment (losses) gains   (701 )     1,272     NM2     2,087       2,345     -11.0  
Total revenues   237,658       245,919     -3.4       714,773       737,872     -3.1  
Net income   18,157       20,080     -9.6       51,973       62,152     -16.4  
Non-GAAP operating income1   18,639       19,075     -2.3       50,225       60,299     -16.7  
Annualized return on average equity   10.9 %     13.0 %   -2.1 pts     10.6 %     14.1 %   -3.5 pts
                       
Per Share Data                      
Net income – Class A (diluted) $ 0.49     $ 0.55     -10.9 %   $ 1.40     $ 1.72     -18.6 %
Net income – Class B   0.45       0.51     -11.8       1.29       1.58     -18.4  
Non-GAAP operating income – Class A (diluted)   0.50       0.52     -3.8       1.35       1.67     -19.2  
Non-GAAP operating income – Class B   0.46       0.48     -4.2       1.25       1.53     -18.3  
Book value   17.70       17.14     3.3       17.70       17.14     3.3  
                       

1The “Definitions of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this release defines and reconciles data that we prepare on an accounting basis other than U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

2Not meaningful.

Management Commentary

Kevin G. Burke, President and Chief Executive Officer of Donegal Group Inc., stated, “As expected, we continued to experience soft market conditions throughout our operating regions in the third quarter of 2026. Although those conditions continued to impede our ability to achieve our premium growth plan, we were able to deliver solid profitability, as demonstrated by earnings per diluted Class A share of $0.49 and an annualized return on equity of 10.9%.”

“Net premiums written1 declined modestly for both commercial and personal lines. We primarily attribute the declines to higher-than-planned attrition that we believe resulted from our commitment to pricing discipline on policy renewals amid increased rate competition, offset partially by incrementally higher new business writings as we have selectively enhanced our competitive posture for desired accounts. Within our personal lines, our automobile new business growth benefited from the reintroduction of a 12-month policy term that customers selected for the vast majority of new automobile policies written during the quarter. The increase from six-month terms to 12-month terms effectively doubled the net premiums written related to those new policies.”

“Our underwriting results for the third quarter were generally favorable despite an increase in weather-related losses compared to the prior-year quarter and a handful of unusually severe workers’ compensation claims during the quarter. We were pleased with the relative consistency of our core loss ratio compared to the prior-year quarter.”

“As we close out 2026 and finalize our business plan for 2027, we continue to engage with our independent agency partners in developing and deploying specific action plans with a goal of achieving profitable premium growth, albeit at a modest pace in recognition of current market conditions. We remain confident in our team’s ability to successfully achieve our strategic objectives that we believe will enhance stockholder value over time.”

Insurance Operations

Donegal Group is an insurance holding company whose insurance subsidiaries and affiliates offer property and casualty lines of insurance in three Mid-Atlantic states (Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania), five Southern states (Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia), eight Midwestern states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin) and five Southwestern states (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Utah). Donegal Mutual Insurance Company and the insurance subsidiaries of Donegal Group conduct business together as the Donegal Insurance Group.

  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2026   2025   % Change   2026   2025   % Change
  (dollars in thousands)
                       
Net Premiums Earned                      
Commercial lines $ 142,916   $ 140,289   1.9 %   $ 423,395   $ 415,032   2.0 %
Personal lines   79,967     89,533   -10.7       243,419     279,267   -12.8  
Total net premiums earned $ 222,883   $ 229,822   -3.0 %   $ 666,814   $ 694,299   -4.0 %
                       
Net Premiums Written                      
Commercial lines:                      
Automobile $ 46,089   $ 45,621   1.0 %   $ 161,477   $ 152,730   5.7 %
Workers’ compensation   18,540     21,013   -11.8       66,007     74,010   -10.8  
Commercial multi-peril   47,391     51,800   -8.5       161,997     169,068   -4.2  
Other   13,508     11,950   13.0       46,258     40,108   15.3  
Total commercial lines   125,528     130,384   -3.7       435,739     435,916   -0.0  
Personal lines:                      
Automobile   49,044     53,870   -9.0       140,480     161,803   -13.2  
Homeowners   32,728     32,908   -0.5       92,000     95,286   -3.4  
Other   2,433     2,453   -0.8       7,215     7,516   -4.0  
Total personal lines   84,205     89,231   -5.6       239,695     264,605   -9.4  
Total net premiums written $ 209,733   $ 219,615   -4.5 %   $ 675,434   $ 700,521   -3.6 %
                       


Net Premiums Written

The 4.5% decrease in net premiums written for the third quarter of 2026 compared to the third quarter of 2025, as shown in the table above, represents the net combination of a 3.7% decrease in commercial lines net premiums written and a 5.6% decrease in personal lines net premiums written. The $9.9 million decrease in net premiums written for the third quarter of 2026 compared to the third quarter of 2025 reflected competitive market conditions and included:

  • Commercial Lines: $4.9 million decrease that we attribute primarily to modestly higher attrition and a lower level of renewal premium increases, offset partially by incremental growth in new business writings.
  • Personal Lines: $5.0 million decrease that we attribute primarily to a lower level of renewal premium increases, offset partially by incremental growth in new business writings that included the impact of our insurance subsidiaries’ introduction during the third quarter of 2026 of a 12-month automobile policy term option for new business policies.

Underwriting Performance

We evaluate the performance of our commercial lines and personal lines segments primarily based upon the underwriting results of our insurance subsidiaries as determined under statutory accounting practices. The following table presents comparative details with respect to the GAAP and statutory combined ratios1 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2026 and 2025:

  Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
  September 30   September 30
  2026   2025   2026   2025
               
GAAP Combined Ratios (Total Lines)              
Loss ratio – core losses 51.8 %   51.1 %   52.1 %   51.8 %
Loss ratio – weather-related losses 8.6     6.2     7.2     7.0  
Loss ratio – large fire losses 2.6     4.4     5.0     4.3  
Loss ratio – net prior-year reserve development -1.5     0.4     -2.6     -1.8  
Loss ratio 61.5     62.1     61.7     61.3  
Expense ratio 34.8     33.5     35.3     33.4  
Dividend ratio 0.2     0.3     0.3     0.4  
Combined ratio 96.5 %   95.9 %   97.3 %   95.1 %
               
Statutory Combined Ratios              
Commercial lines:              
Automobile 96.9 %   100.9 %   93.2 %   96.7 %
Workers’ compensation 128.1     103.9     115.1     108.7  
Commercial multi-peril 95.6     91.6     106.0     93.1  
Other 93.3     87.5     97.8     96.2  
Total commercial lines 100.7     96.6     101.9     97.3  
Personal lines:              
Automobile 89.3     91.2     84.4     85.1  
Homeowners 91.7     102.1     89.4     100.0  
Other 85.5     52.8     75.8     54.9  
Total personal lines 90.1     94.1     86.0     89.6  
Total lines 96.5 %   95.5 %   96.2 %   94.4 %
               


Loss Ratio

For the third quarter of 2026, the loss ratio decreased slightly to 61.5%, compared to 62.1% for the third quarter of 2025. For the commercial lines segment, the core loss ratio, which excludes weather-related losses, large fire losses and net development of reserves for losses incurred in prior accident years, of 57.2% for the third quarter of 2026 increased from 54.0% for the third quarter of 2025, due largely to higher workers’ compensation and casualty loss severity. For the personal lines segment, the core loss ratio of 42.2% for the third quarter of 2026 decreased from 46.6% for the third quarter of 2025, with the improvement primarily attributable to the homeowners line of business.

Weather-related losses were $19.1 million, or 8.6 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the third quarter of 2026, compared to $14.3 million, or 6.2 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the third quarter of 2025. Weather-related loss activity for the third quarter of 2026 was lower than our previous five-year average of $20.4 million, or 9.3 percentage points of the loss ratio, for third-quarter weather-related losses. Our insurance subsidiaries incurred $4.2 million in losses from a July severe convective storm in the third quarter of 2026.

Large fire losses, which we define as individual fire losses in excess of $50,000, for the third quarter of 2026 were $5.8 million, or 2.6 percentage points of the loss ratio. That amount compared to large fire losses of $10.0 million, or 4.4 percentage points of the loss ratio, for the third quarter of 2025. We experienced decreases in both commercial property and homeowners fire losses compared to the prior-year quarter.

Net favorable development of reserves for losses incurred in prior accident years of $3.5 million decreased the loss ratio for the third quarter of 2026 by 1.5 percentage points, compared to net unfavorable development of $1.0 million that increased the loss ratio for the third quarter of 2025 by 0.4 percentage points. For the third quarter of 2026, we attribute the net favorable development primarily to lower-than-expected emergence that our insurance subsidiaries experienced for the workers’ compensation and commercial automobile lines of business.

Expense Ratio

The expense ratio was 34.8% for the third quarter of 2026, compared to 33.5% for the third quarter of 2025. The increase in the expense ratio primarily reflected the impact of a lower base of net premiums earned compared to the prior-year quarter.

Investment Operations

Donegal Group’s investment strategy is to generate an appropriate amount of after-tax income on its invested assets while minimizing credit risk through investment in high-quality securities. As a result, we had invested 95% of our consolidated investment portfolio in diversified, highly rated and marketable fixed-maturity securities at September 30, 2026.

  September 30, 2026   December 31, 2025
  Amount   %   Amount   %
  (dollars in thousands)
Fixed maturities, at carrying value:              
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S.              
government corporations and agencies $ 97,279     6.5 %   $ 103,619     6.9 %
Obligations of states and political subdivisions   516,109     34.6       485,710     32.4  
Corporate securities   381,926     25.6       383,927     25.6  
Mortgage-backed securities   424,471     28.4       445,227     29.7  
Allowance for expected credit losses   (1,203 )   -0.1       (1,313 )   -0.1  
Total fixed maturities   1,418,582     95.0       1,417,170     94.5  
Equity securities, at fair value   51,055     3.4       44,370     3.0  
Short-term investments, at cost   23,235     1.6       38,713     2.5  
Total investments $ 1,492,872     100.0 %   $ 1,500,253     100.0 %
               
Average investment yield   3.9 %         3.6 %    
Average tax-equivalent investment yield   4.0 %         3.7 %    
Average fixed-maturity duration (years)   6.1           5.5      
               

Net investment income of $14.7 million for the third quarter of 2026 increased 5.4% compared to $13.9 million for the third quarter of 2025. The increase in net investment income primarily reflected an increase in average investment yield relative to the prior-year third quarter.

Net investment losses of $0.7 million for the third quarter of 2026 were primarily related to net realized investment losses on the strategic sales of available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities, offset partially by net unrealized gains in the fair value of equity securities held at September 30, 2026. Net investment gains of $1.3 million for the third quarter of 2025 were primarily related to net unrealized gains in the fair value of equity securities held at September 30, 2025, offset partially by net realized investment losses on the strategic sales of available-for-sale fixed-maturity securities.

Our book value per share was $17.70 at September 30, 2026, compared to $17.33 at December 31, 2025, with the increase related to net income, offset partially by cash dividends declared as well as $24.1 million of after-tax net unrealized losses within our available-for-sale fixed-maturity portfolio during 2026 that decreased our book value by $0.65 per share.

Definitions of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We prepare our consolidated financial statements on the basis of GAAP. Our insurance subsidiaries also prepare financial statements based on statutory accounting principles state insurance regulators prescribe or permit (“SAP”). In addition to using GAAP-based performance measurements, we also utilize certain non-GAAP financial measures that we believe provide value in managing our business and for comparison to the financial results of our peers. These non-GAAP measures are net premiums written, operating income or loss and statutory combined ratio.

Net premiums written and operating income or loss are non-GAAP financial measures investors in insurance companies commonly use. We define net premiums written as the amount of full-term premiums our insurance subsidiaries record for policies effective within a given period less premiums our insurance subsidiaries cede to reinsurers. We define operating income or loss as net income or loss excluding after-tax net investment gains or losses, after-tax restructuring charges and other significant non-recurring items. Because our calculation of operating income or loss may differ from similar measures other companies use, investors should exercise caution when comparing our measure of operating income or loss to the measure of other companies.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net premiums earned to net premiums written for the periods indicated:

  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2026   2025   % Change   2026   2025   % Change
  (dollars in thousands)
                       
Reconciliation of Net Premiums                      
Earned to Net Premiums Written                      
Net premiums earned $ 222,883     $ 229,822     -3.0 %   $ 666,814   $ 694,299   -4.0 %
Change in net unearned premiums   (13,150 )     (10,207 )   28.8       8,620     6,222   38.5  
Net premiums written $ 209,733     $ 219,615     -4.5 %   $ 675,434   $ 700,521   -3.6 %
                       

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to operating income for the periods indicated:

  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
    2026       2025     % Change     2026       2025     % Change
  (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
                       
Reconciliation of Net Income                      
to Non-GAAP Operating Income                      
Net income $ 18,157     $ 20,080     -9.6 %   $ 51,973     $ 62,152     -16.4 %
Investment losses (gains) (after tax)   554       (1,005 )   NM       (1,649 )     (1,853 )   -11.0  
Other, net   (72 )     –     NM       (99 )     –     NM  
Non-GAAP operating income $ 18,639     $ 19,075     -2.3 %   $ 50,225     $ 60,299     -16.7 %
                       
Per Share Reconciliation of Net Income                      
to Non-GAAP Operating Income                      
Net income – Class A (diluted) $ 0.49     $ 0.55     -10.9 %   $ 1.40     $ 1.72     -18.6 %
Investment losses (gains) (after tax)   0.01       (0.03 )   NM       (0.05 )     (0.05 )   0.0  
Other, net   –       –     NM       –       –     NM  
Non-GAAP operating income – Class A $ 0.50     $ 0.52     -3.8 %   $ 1.35     $ 1.67     -19.2 %
                       
Net income – Class B $ 0.45     $ 0.51     -11.8 %   $ 1.29     $ 1.58     -18.4 %
Investment losses (gains) (after tax)   0.01       (0.03 )   NM       (0.04 )     (0.05 )   -20.0  
Other, net   –       –     NM       –       –     NM  
Non-GAAP operating income – Class B $ 0.46     $ 0.48     -4.2 %   $ 1.25     $ 1.53     -18.3 %
                       

The statutory combined ratio is a non-GAAP standard measurement of underwriting profitability that is based upon amounts determined under SAP. The statutory combined ratio is the sum of:

  • the statutory loss ratio, which is the ratio of calendar-year incurred losses and loss expenses, excluding anticipated salvage and subrogation recoveries, to premiums earned;
  • the statutory expense ratio, which is the ratio of expenses incurred for net commissions, premium taxes and underwriting expenses to premiums written; and
  • the statutory dividend ratio, which is the ratio of dividends to holders of workers’ compensation policies to premiums earned.

The statutory combined ratio does not reflect investment income, federal income taxes or other non-operating income or expense. A statutory combined ratio of less than 100% generally indicates underwriting profitability.

Dividend Information

On October 15, 2026, we declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.1925 per share for our Class A common stock and $0.175 per share for our Class B common stock, which are payable on November 16, 2026 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 2, 2026.

Pre-Recorded Webcast

At approximately 8:30 am ET on Thursday, October 29, 2026, we will make available in the Investors section of our website a pre-recorded audio webcast featuring management commentary on our quarterly results and general business updates. You may listen to the pre-recorded webcast by accessing the link on our website at http://investors.donegalgroup.com. A supplemental investor presentation is also available via our website.

About the Company

Donegal Group Inc. is an insurance holding company whose insurance subsidiaries and affiliates offer property and casualty lines of insurance in certain Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, Southern and Southwestern states. Donegal Mutual Insurance Company and the insurance subsidiaries of Donegal Group Inc. conduct business together as the Donegal Insurance Group. The Donegal Insurance Group has an A.M. Best rating of A (Excellent).

The Class A common stock and Class B common stock of Donegal Group Inc. trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbols DGICA and DGICB, respectively. We are focused on several primary strategies, including achieving sustained excellent financial performance, advancing our operational and digital capabilities, capitalizing on opportunities to grow profitably and providing superior experiences to our agents, policyholders and employees.

Safe Harbor

We base all statements contained in this release that are not historic facts on our current expectations. Such statements are forward-looking in nature (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) and necessarily involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements we make may be identified by our use of words such as “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate” and similar expressions. Our actual results could vary materially from our forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause our actual results to vary materially from the forward-looking statements we have previously made include, but are not limited to, adverse litigation and other industry trends that could increase our loss costs (including distracted driving, higher rates of litigation, higher judicial awards and escalating medical, automobile and property repair costs, including due to tariffs), adverse and catastrophic weather events and other natural disasters (including from changing climate conditions), man-made disasters (such as terrorism), our ability to maintain profitable operations (including our ability to underwrite risks effectively and charge adequate premium rates), the adequacy of the loss and loss expense reserves of our insurance subsidiaries, the successful operation (including cost, security and availability) of the information technology systems our insurance subsidiaries utilize, the successful development and deployment of new technologies (including artificial intelligence, data modernization and cloud migration) to allow our insurance subsidiaries to compete effectively, the loss or significant restriction of the use of specific rating attributes, analytical models or technologies our insurance subsidiaries use in their pricing and underwriting, increases in assessments pursuant to guaranty fund laws, business and economic conditions in the areas in which we and our insurance subsidiaries operate (including from pandemics), interest rates and other factors impacting the investment portfolios of our insurance subsidiaries, competition from various insurance and other financial businesses (including changes in consumer preferences for insurance distribution channels), the availability and cost of reinsurance, legal and judicial developments, changes in regulatory requirements, our ability to attract and retain independent insurance agents (and their ability to maintain adequate levels of premium volume and quality), changes in our A.M. Best rating and the other risks that we describe from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We disclaim any obligation to update such statements or to announce publicly the results of any revisions that we may make to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

Investor Relations Contacts

Jeremy Hellman, Vice President, The Equity Group Inc.
Phone: (212) 836-9626
E-mail: jhellman@theequitygroup.com

Jeffrey D. Miller, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (717) 426-1931
E-mail: investors@donegalgroup.com

Financial Supplement

Donegal Group Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(unaudited; in thousands, except share data)
           
      Quarter Ended September 30,
        2026       2025  
           
Net premiums earned $ 222,883     $ 229,822  
Investment income, net of expenses   14,689       13,943  
Net investment (losses) gains   (701 )     1,272  
Lease income   74       75  
Installment payment fees   713       807  
  Total revenues   237,658       245,919  
           
Net losses and loss expenses   137,007       142,715  
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs   35,881       37,218  
Other underwriting expenses   41,724       39,688  
Policyholder dividends   490       731  
Interest     343       341  
Other expenses, net   168       177  
  Total expenses   215,613       220,870  
           
Income before income tax expense   22,045       25,049  
Income tax expense   3,888       4,969  
           
Net income $ 18,157     $ 20,080  
           
Net income per common share:      
  Class A – basic $ 0.49     $ 0.56  
  Class A – diluted $ 0.49     $ 0.55  
  Class B – basic and diluted $ 0.45     $ 0.51  
           
Supplementary Financial Analysts’ Data      
           
Weighted-average number of shares      
  outstanding:      
  Class A – basic   31,658,439       30,953,696  
  Class A – diluted   32,166,249       31,439,953  
  Class B – basic and diluted   5,576,775       5,576,775  
           
Net premiums written $ 209,733     $ 219,615  
           
Book value per common share      
  at end of period $ 17.70     $ 17.14  
           
Annualized return on average equity   10.9 %     13.0 %

Donegal Group Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(unaudited; in thousands, except share data)
           
      Nine Months Ended September 30,
        2026       2025  
           
Net premiums earned $ 666,814     $ 694,299  
Investment income, net of expenses   43,468       38,466  
Net investment gains   2,087       2,345  
Lease income   222       228  
Installment payment fees   2,182       2,534  
  Total revenues   714,773       737,872  
           
Net losses and loss expenses   411,562       425,666  
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs   108,301       115,950  
Other underwriting expenses   127,300       116,033  
Policyholder dividends   1,702       2,309  
Interest     1,013       1,010  
Other expenses, net   1,179       269  
  Total expenses   651,057       661,237  
           
Income before income tax expense   63,716       76,635  
Income tax expense   11,743       14,483  
           
Net income $ 51,973     $ 62,152  
           
Net income per common share:      
  Class A – basic $ 1.42     $ 1.74  
  Class A – diluted $ 1.40     $ 1.72  
  Class B – basic and diluted $ 1.29     $ 1.58  
           
Supplementary Financial Analysts’ Data      
           
Weighted-average number of shares      
  outstanding:      
  Class A – basic   31,520,696       30,587,219  
  Class A – diluted   31,996,127       31,071,583  
  Class B – basic and diluted   5,576,775       5,576,775  
           
Net premiums written $ 675,434     $ 700,521  
           
Book value per common share      
  at end of period $ 17.70     $ 17.14  
           
Annualized return on average equity   10.6 %     14.1 %

Donegal Group Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
           
      September 30, December 31,
        2026       2025  
      (unaudited)    
           
ASSETS
Investments:      
  Fixed maturities:      
    Held to maturity, at amortized cost $ 804,647     $ 776,447  
    Available for sale, at fair value   613,935       640,723  
  Equity securities, at fair value   51,055       44,370  
  Short-term investments, at cost   23,235       38,713  
    Total investments   1,492,872       1,500,253  
Cash     32,503       26,786  
Premiums receivable   220,719       180,804  
Reinsurance receivable   410,095       398,582  
Deferred policy acquisition costs   69,145       68,670  
Prepaid reinsurance premiums   205,818       171,083  
Other assets   41,388       40,451  
    Total assets $ 2,472,540     $ 2,386,629  
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities:      
  Losses and loss expenses $ 1,127,476     $ 1,100,050  
  Unearned premiums   634,396       591,040  
  Borrowings under lines of credit   35,000       35,000  
  Other liabilities   14,384       20,121  
    Total liabilities   1,811,256       1,746,211  
Stockholders’ equity:      
  Class A common stock   348       344  
  Class B common stock   56       56  
  Additional paid-in capital   399,253       391,811  
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (32,400 )     (8,296 )
  Retained earnings   335,253       297,729  
  Treasury stock   (41,226 )     (41,226 )
    Total stockholders’ equity   661,284       640,418  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 2,472,540     $ 2,386,629  

  • Extended higher-grade mineralized zone approximately 50 metres up-dip
  • Confirmed the presence and orientation of a broad low-grade mineralized structure at depth
  • Filled a gap in the geological model, expanding and improving continuity of Unit 2
  • Identified additional primary copper-gold porphyry mineralization, enriched in palladium

TORONTO, Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NorthWest Copper Corp. (“NorthWest” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: NWST) is pleased to announce additional copper-gold assay results from the Western Zone at its 100% owned Kwanika project in British Columbia, highlighted by 73.9 metres grading 1.39% copper equivalent (“CuEq”), including a higher-grade interval of 25.9 metres grading 2.19% CuEq, anchored by 1.58 g/t gold.

The three holes form part of the Company’s completed 43-hole, 12,291 metre 2026 exploration program. The drilling achieved several key objectives, including extending higher-grade mineralization approximately 50 metres up-dip and closing a geological gap in Unit 2 proximal to current mineral resources. These results expand the known extent of mineralization, improve geological and grade continuity, while reducing drill-hole spacing to approximately 50 metres in targeted areas.

Immediately below the current mineral resource, drilling intersected primary copper-gold porphyry mineralization, highlighting potential for additional mineralization beyond the currently defined resource. Drilling also confirmed the presence and orientation of a broad, low-grade, mineralized structure below known mineralization supporting opportunities to identify parallel mineralization at depth.

Western Zone Drill Hole Highlights:

K-26-260: 73.9 metres of 0.51% Cu and 0.79 g/t Au (1.39% CuEq) from 457.0 metres,
  including 25.9 metres of 0.48% Cu and 1.58 g/t Au (2.19% CuEq) from 505 metres
K-26-260: 74.8 metres of 0.23% Cu and 0.49 g/t Au (0.78% CuEq) from 600.2 metres
K-26-258: 10.9 metres of 0.33% Cu and 0.62 g/t Au (1.01% CuEq) from 406.2 metres

Paul Olmsted, CEO of NorthWest stated: “These results represent another positive step forward at Kwanika, combining significant copper-gold grades with meaningful advances in our understanding of the Western Zone. The grades and significant mineralized widths reinforce the quality of existing mineralization at Kwanika and its potential for continued expansion. Importantly, we are extending known mineralization, improving geological continuity and identifying additional exploration opportunities beyond the current mineral resource. Together, these results strengthen our confidence in Kwanika as we advance our mineral resource and development objectives.”

2026 Kwanika Exploration Program

With the three holes reported in this release, the Company has now reported results from 17 of the 43 holes completed during the 2026 Kwanika drill program, which totaled 12,291 metres. Planned collar locations for the holes of the 2026 drill program are presented in Figure 1, along with the location of the cross sections 351275 E, 351250 E, and 351175 E (Figures 2, 3, and 4) containing the holes reported in this release.

Figure 1: Kwanika Central 2026 drill hole location map

Kwanika Central 2026 drill hole location map

Geoff Chinn, VP Business Development and Exploration added: “The results from K-26-258 and K-26-260 demonstrate that as drilling progresses to the West holes there is more opportunity to expand mineralization. K-26-258 extended Unit 1 mineralization up-dip and confirmed the presence and orientation of a parallel mineralized structure at depth below the known mineralization. Hole K-26-260 closed a key gap in Unit 2 and intersected a wide interval of primary copper-gold porphyry mineralization enriched in palladium that may warrant expanding last year’s palladium re-sampling program from old holes. In sum, it’s encouraging to see mineralized expansions as we drill to the west and at depth. With our Western Zone results now fully reported, we look forward to receiving the remaining assay results from twenty-six holes in the North Pit Extension Zone.”

Kwanika Exploration Drill Hole Summaries

Results of three drill holes are presented on cross sections 351275 E, 351250 E, and 351175 E (Figures 2, 3, and 4) with composited mineralized intersections listed in Table 1 and collar locations provided in Table 2. All cross sections are in the Western Zone. The holes were designed to extend mineralization up-dip, close a gap in mineralization, confirm presence and orientation of a deep mineralized structure, test for primary Cu-Au porphyry mineralization under the known fractured mineralized structures, and reduce drill hole spacing to approximately 50 metres to support upgraded mineral resources in the Indicated category. A summary of the geological aspects of holes is presented below.

Figure 2: Cross-Section 351275 E showing 2026 drill results with blue hole traces

Cross-Section 351275 E showing 2026 drill results with blue hole traces

Figure 3: Cross-Section 351250 E showing 2026 drill results with blue hole traces

Cross-Section 351250 E showing 2026 drill results with blue hole traces

Figure 4: Cross-Section 351175 E showing 2026 drill results with blue hole traces

Cross-Section 351175 E showing 2026 drill results with blue hole traces

Western Zone:

Hole K-26-256 on 351175E (Fig. 4) was drilled with HQ to 117 metres and NQ sized core to the end of hole and sampled on about 2 metre intervals from half sawn core and drilled on 260° azimuth at a -88° dip to a depth of 513 metres.

After 35 metres of overburden the hole intersected post-mineralization Cretaceous sediments to 451 metres then maroon-green hematite altered tectonic breccia to 452 metres, and a hematite-chlorite altered maroon and green porphyritic monzonite to 513 metres. The hole was abandoned due to difficult ground condition and poor drilling performance before intersecting targeted mineralized depths.

Hole K-26-258 on 351275E (Fig. 2) was drilled with NQ2 sized core and sampled on about 2 metre intervals from half sawn core and drilled on 170° azimuth at a -75° dip to a depth of 648 metres.

After 33 metres of overburden the hole intersected post-mineralization Cretaceous sediments to 406 metres then mineralized maroon-green hematite altered tectonic breccia hosting native copper and localized clasts of stockwork to 412 metres as per Table 1, Composite 2 (Comp. 2) and a weakly mineralized light tan potassic altered fractured porphyritic monzonite with early quartz-sulphide stockwork veins to 455 metres followed by a weakly mineralized light orange to tan potassic-sericite altered monzodiorite hosting localized quartz-sulphide stockwork and planar anhydrite veinlets to 471 metres (Comp. 3). A sequence of propylitic altered andesite porphyry to 474 metres, grey-green to orange monzondiorite to 487 metres, grey-green to light orange quartz monzonite to 493 metres, andesite porphyry to 497 metres, grey-green monzodiorite to 503 metres, grey-green to light orange quartz monzonite to 509 metres, grey-green propylitic altered andesite to 522 metres, weakly propylitic altered dark green diorite to 528 metres, moderately propylitic altered light green to grey-green monzodiorite to 533 metres. These intervals are followed by a weakly propylitic and potassic altered medium grey to light green-grey diorite to 648 metres, crosscut by fault zones at 576 and 591metres, mineralized between 604 and 630 metres (Comp. 4), and crosscut by late porphyritic dykes between 630 and 633 metres and between 645 and 647 metres.

Hole K-26-260 on 351250E (Fig. 3) was drilled with NQ2 sized core and sampled on about 2 metre intervals from half sawn core and drilled on 177° azimuth at a -88° dip to a depth of 675 metres.

After 33 metres of overburden the hole intersected post-mineralization Cretaceous sediments to 404 metres then propylitic altered dark green tectonic breccia to 420 metres and an oxidized mineralized hematite altered maroon porphyritic diorite to 472 metres (Comp. 5). This is followed by a mineralized fractured light tan potassic altered porphyritic monzonite with early dismembered quartz-sulphide veins and veinlets to 575 metres (Comp. 7, 8, and 9) crosscut by late maroon porphyritic dyke between 575 and 590 metres followed by coherent mineralized orange mottled potassic altered porphyritic monzonite to 675 metres with dominantly dismembered quartz stockwork to 610 metres (Comp. 11) and planar early quartz-sulphide veins (Comp 12) correlated to primary Porphyry Cu-Au Unit 16. Curiously, Composites 11 and 12 both have elevated palladium values, more typical of Unit 2, demonstrating the potential of primary porphyry mineralization to host elevated palladium metal. The hole ended in mineralization at 675 metres.

Hole Summary: Hole K-26-256 on section 351175E (Fig. 4) was abandoned before intersecting anticipated mineralized structures. Hole K-26-258 on section 351275E (Fig. 2) successfully extended Copper Oxide Unit 15 and/or Unit 1 up-dip about 50 metres to the Cretaceous sediment contact (Comp. 2) with Unit 2 and Unit 16 up-dip extensions manifesting as a wide low-grade copper dominant intercept (Comp. 3) typical of distal mineralized extensions. As follow up to hole K-07-56, K-26-258 pushed deeper through weakly altered rocks to confirm the presence and orientation of an altered deep wide parallel mineralized structure under known mineralization of a style typical of distal mineralized extensions and suggesting potential for higher grade mineralization down-dip. Hole K-26-260 on section 351250E (Fig. 3) filled a key gap in Unit 2 that will improve geological and grade continuity and incrementally expand mineral resources in this area. Primary Cu-Au porphyry was encountered deep in K-26-260 that had elevated palladium, demonstrating potential for a small palladium credit in that style of mineralization.

Table 1: Drill Results in this News Release1 2

Comp Hole From To Length Area Cu Au Ag Pd CuEq True
Width
Mineralized
#   (m) (m) (m)   (%) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) (%) Est. (m) Unit
1 K-26-256 – – – Western – – – – – – Abandoned at 513m
2 K-26-258 406.2 417.0 10.9 Western 0.33 0.62 0.54 0.02 1.01 8.9 Copper Oxide 15/HG Au 1
3 K-26-258 417.0 470.6 53.6 Western 0.28 0.13 0.37 0.00 0.43 51.8 Up-dip ext. Units 2, 16
4 K-26-258 604.2 645.2 41.0 Western 0.34 0.23 0.32 0.01 0.60 33.6 Deep Mineralized Structure
5 K-26-260 419.2 433.0 13.8 Western 0.40 0.15 1.56 0.01 0.59 9.3 Copper Oxide 15
6 K-26-260 457.0 530.9 73.9 Western 0.51 0.79 2.37 0.02 1.39 49.4  
7 Including 457.0 505.0 48.0 Western 0.53 0.37 2.57 0.00 0.95 32.1 Higher-Grade Au 1
8 And 505.0 530.9 25.9 Western 0.48 1.58 2.00 0.05 2.19 17.3 Higher-Grade Au 1
9 K-26-260 545.0 565.0 20.0 Western 0.25 0.79 1.19 0.02 1.11 13.4 Higher-Grade Au 1
10 K-26-260 600.2 675.0 74.8 Western 0.23 0.49 1.34 0.07 0.78 50.1  
11 Including 604.7 621.0 16.3 Western 0.19 0.74 1.42 0.08 1.00 10.9 Higher-Grade Au 2
12 And 632.0 671.0 39.0 Western 0.29 0.46 1.55 0.08 0.80 26.1 Porphyry Cu-Au 16


Table 2: Drill Collar Information3

Hole Collar X Collar Y Collar Z Collar
Azimuth
Collar Dip Final Length Core Size
K-26-256 351167 6156262 1014 260 -88 513 HQ, NQ
K-26-258 351290 6156210 1003 170 -75 648 NQ2
K-26-260 351247 6156236 999 177 -88 675 NQ2

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Drilling at Kwanika in 2026 was designed and supervised by NorthWest and implemented by InData Geoscience with assay QA/QC checks by Explore Geosolutions. Samples were collected, tracked and an external QA/QC program was implemented using coarse blanks and certified prepared blanks and standards to monitor analytical accuracy and precision. The samples were sealed on site and shipped to Activation Laboratories Ltd. (“Actlabs”) in Kamloops, BC. The laboratory’s internal quality control system complies with global certifications for quality ISO 17025. Drill core samples were analyzed using a combination of Actlabs multi-element 1F2 analysis for low level concentrations (4-Acid Digestion, ICP-OES) and the 8-4 Acid ICP-OES analysis for higher level concentrations (4-Acid Digestion, ICP-OES with automatic over limits for base metals and silver). Gold, platinum and palladium assaying was completed with 1C-OES method, using a 30-gram fire assay with ICP finish analysis. In addition, about 5% of the sample pulps are re-assayed at a secondary laboratory to confirm reproducibility and check for bias.

Technical aspects of this news release have been reviewed, verified, and approved by Geoff Chinn, P.Geo., VP Business Development and Exploration for NorthWest, who is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About NorthWest:

NorthWest is a copper-gold exploration and development company with a pipeline of advanced and early-stage projects in British Columbia, including Kwanika-Stardust, Lorraine-Top Cat and East Niv. With a robust portfolio in an established mining jurisdiction, NorthWest is well positioned to participate fully in strengthening global copper and gold markets. The Company is committed to responsible mineral exploration, working collaboratively with First Nations to help ensure future development incorporates stewardship best practices and respects traditional land use. Additional information can be found on the Company’s website at www.northwestcopper.ca.

On Behalf of NorthWest
“Paul Olmsted”
CEO, NorthWest Copper

For further information, please contact: 
416-457-3333
info@northwestcopper.ca 

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information 

 This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussion with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often, but not always using phrases such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to statements with respect to; plans and intentions of the Company; proposed exploration and development of NorthWest’s exploration property interests; the Company’s ability to finance future operations; mine plans; magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; the development, operational and economic results of current and future potential economic studies; adding the Lorraine resource to the Kwanika-Stardust Project; the Company’s goals for 2025; geological interpretations; the estimation of Mineral Resources; anticipated advancement of mineral properties or programs; future exploration prospects; the completion and timing of technical reports; future growth potential of NorthWest; and future development plans.

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, constitutes forward-looking information. Although NorthWest believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information since NorthWest can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in NorthWest’s periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking information are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from NorthWest’s expectations include risks associated with the business of NorthWest; risks related to reliance on technical information provided by NorthWest; risks related to exploration and potential development of the Company’s mineral properties; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for cooperation of government agencies and First Nation groups in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time and additional risks identified in NorthWest’s filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.com). 

Forward-looking information is based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the information is made. NorthWest does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.


1 Estimated true widths based on collar azimuth and dip and the average dip of the mineralized zone
2 CuEq assumes metal prices of $3,100/oz gold, $4.50/lb copper, $36/oz silver and $1,100/oz palladium metal recoveries of 96% gold, 90% copper, 96% silver, 0% palladium and calculated as follows: Cu +100* ( (Au /31.1035 * Au Price * Au Rec) / (Cu Price * 2204.62 * Cu Rec) + (Ag /31.1035 * Ag Price * Ag Rec) / (Cu Price*2204.62 * Cu Rec) + (Pd /31.1035 * Pd Price * Pd Rec) / (Cu Price*2204.62 * Cu Rec))
3 Collar coordinates reference UTM Zone 10N NAD83.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at 

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/322dbef3-f5a8-493d-baea-e032c667954e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/984aa8ee-0cea-47ff-86ba-39f3876956bb

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cb5e8306-ffb5-400c-9af8-9a29652c0400

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/28b9464f-139d-4ec3-9226-8cdd6e194f39 

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Opendoor Technologies Inc. (“Opendoor”) (Nasdaq: OPEN), the e-commerce platform for residential real estate, today announced that Mike Alfred, Founder and Managing Partner of Alpine Fox LP, has been appointed to its Board of Directors (“Board”), effective immediately. Mr. Alfred will also serve on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board.

“I’m excited to welcome Mike to our Board,” said Kaz Nejatian, Opendoor CEO, President and Board Director. “Mike is a builder who has founded and scaled technology companies, and he’s spent years as an investor thinking about how companies create long-term value. His perspective as an operator, investor and public company director will be incredibly valuable as we continue to make buying and selling a home simple and certain.”

“I’m honored to join Opendoor’s Board,” said Mr. Alfred. “Opendoor is tackling one of the largest and most important markets in the world. I look forward to working with Kaz, the Board and the management team to help build on the company’s momentum.”

Mr. Alfred is the Founder and Managing Partner of Alpine Fox LP, a private investment partnership and a shareholder of Opendoor. He has served on the board of directors of IREN Limited (Nasdaq: IREN), an AI data center developer and Bitcoin miner, since 2021, and of Bakkt Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BKKT) since 2025. Previously, Mr. Alfred co-founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Digital Assets Data, Inc., a financial technology and data company serving the digital asset ecosystem, until its sale to New York Digital Investment Group in 2020. Before that, he co-founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of BrightScope, Inc., a financial information company, from 2008 until its acquisition by Strategic Insight, Inc. in 2016. He then served as a Managing Director and member of Strategic Insight’s executive committee. Mr. Alfred also advises the Chief Executive Officer of Amenify Corporation, a real estate technology company, and serves on the boards of the privately held companies Eaglebrook Advisors and Wealthie Inc. He holds a B.A. in History from Stanford University.

About Opendoor

Opendoor exists to tilt the world in favor of homeowners by making homeownership simpler, faster, and fairer for everyone. Since 2014, Opendoor has given people a more convenient, more certain way to buy and sell a home, whether they already own or are working hard to become homeowners. Opendoor currently operates in markets across the U.S. For more information, please visit www.opendoor.com.

Contacts

Investors:

investors@opendoor.com

Media:
Contact Kaz on X @Nejatian

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Miata Metals Corp. (TSXV: MMET; FSE: 8NQ; OTCQX: MMETF) (“Miata” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce drill results from four holes from its ongoing 25,000 m diamond drilling program at its Sela Creek Gold Project (“Sela Creek” or the “Project”) in Suriname.

Hole 26DDH-JT-026 delivered an exceptionally high-grade intercept of 13.59 m at 10.33 g/t Au from 184.41 m, including 3.56 m at 37.62 g/t Au. This result represents a step-out from recently reported hole 26DDH-JT-025, which intersected 43.0 m at 2.42 g/t Au and a separate 25.6 m at 1.96 g/t Au, further supporting the continuity of mineralization through central Jons Trend. JT-026 also intersected a separate 21.0 m at 1.01 g/t Au from 207.0 m, including 6.95 m at 1.45 g/t Au, providing further evidence for multiple stacked mineralized zones at Jons Trend.

Highlights:

  • Hole 26DDH-JT-026 intersected:
    • 13.59 m at 10.33 g/t Au from 184.41 m, including:
      • 3.56 m at 37.62 g/t Au from 184.41 m
    • 21.0 m at 1.01 g/t Au from 207.0 m, including:
      • 6.95 m at 1.45 g/t Au from 219.0 m
    • Additional mineralization includes 4.52 m at 1.14 g/t Au from 132.48 m and 1.0 m at 3.53 g/t Au from 238.0 m.
  • Hole 26DDH-JT-026 represents a step-out from recently reported hole JT-025, further demonstrating the continuity of mineralization through the central portion of Jons Trend.
  • The additional 21.0 m mineralized interval below the headline intersect further demonstrates the stacked nature of the gold-bearing vein system at Jons Trend.

“JT-026 is another exceptional result from central Jons Trend and, importantly, provides further evidence for continuity of the higher-grade mineralization at depth,” stated Dr. Jacob (Jaap) Verbaas, CEO of Miata Metals. “The interval of 13.59 m at 10.33 g/t Au, including 3.56 metres at 37.62 grams per tonne gold, is one of Miata’s highest-grade intervals reported to date. The additional 21-metre mineralized interval below the headline zone also reinforces the stacked nature of the system. Together with the two broad intervals recently reported from JT-025, we continue to see an encouraging combination of grade, width and continuity through the central portion of Jons Trend. Our ongoing drilling is focused on extending these mineralized zones along their interpreted plunge and at depth.”

SW-NE cross-section through central Jons Trend showing 26DDH-JT-026 and nearby drilling. Highlight intervals in JT-026 include 13.59 m at 10.33 g/t Au, including 3.56 m at 37.62 g/t Au, and a separate 21.0 m at 1.01 g/t Au.

Figure 1. SW-NE cross-section through central Jons Trend showing 26DDH-JT-026 and nearby drilling. Highlight intervals in JT-026 include 13.59 m at 10.33 g/t Au, including 3.56 m at 37.62 g/t Au, and a separate 21.0 m at 1.01 g/t Au.

Jons Trend Drilling:

Hole 26DDH-JT-026 was collared on the southwest side of central Jons Trend and drilled toward the north-northeast to test the continuation of the mineralized vein system at depth. The hole represents a step-out from recently reported JT-025, further supporting the continuity of mineralization through central Jons Trend.

The principal interval in JT-026 returned 13.59 m at 10.33 g/t Au from 184.41 m, including 3.56 m at 37.62 g/t Au from 184.41 m.

The results from JT-026 build on the recently reported intersections in JT-025, providing further evidence of continuity within the mineralized system at central Jons Trend. The high-grade interval in JT-026 also demonstrates the presence of higher-grade mineralization within the broader stacked vein system. Mineralization within the JT-026 high-grade interval is associated with strong silicification and a silica-sulfide breccia within the southwest-dipping vein array. Visible gold has also been observed within the mineralized interval.

Core photographs from the JT-026 high-grade interval showing silica-sulfide brecciation, quartz veining and visible gold. A. 26DDH-JT-026 at 185.27 m (6.36 g/t Au) showing quartz-pyrite (py)-chlorite vein cross-cutting silica and biotite altered schist. B. 26DDH-JT-026 at 185.69 m (4.56 g/t Au) showing quartz-pyrite extensional veining and brecciation, with thin fractures filled with visible gold (Au) cross-cutting veins.

Figure 2. Core photographs from the JT-026 high-grade interval showing silica-sulfide brecciation, quartz veining and visible gold. A. 26DDH-JT-026 at 185.27 m (6.36 g/t Au) showing quartz-pyrite (py)-chlorite vein cross-cutting silica and biotite altered schist. B. 26DDH-JT-026 at 185.69 m (4.56 g/t Au) showing quartz-pyrite extensional veining and brecciation, with thin fractures filled with visible gold (Au) cross-cutting veins.

Below the headline intersection, JT-026 returned a separate interval of 21.0 m at 1.01 g/t Au from 207.0 m, including 6.95 m at 1.45 g/t Au from 219.0 m. The presence of multiple mineralized intervals at different depths is consistent with the stacked-vein architecture observed throughout central Jons Trend.

The results from JT-026 further extend the mineralization identified in recently reported hole JT-025, which returned two broad zones of 25.6 m at 1.96 g/t Au and 43.0 m at 2.42 g/t Au. Collectively, the drilling continues to demonstrate the continuity of broad mineralized zones through central Jons Trend, with higher-grade mineralization occurring within the broader stacked vein system.

Plan view of Jons Trend highlighting JT-026 through JT-030 and the location of previously reported hole JT-025, an interpreted E-W-trending structural boundary northwest of Jons Trend, and the principal interpreted footprint of mineralized vein zones.

Figure 3. Plan view of Jons Trend highlighting JT-026 through JT-030 and the location of previously reported hole JT-025, an interpreted E-W-trending structural boundary northwest of Jons Trend, and the principal interpreted footprint of mineralized vein zones.

Western and Northwestern Step-Out Drilling at Jons Trend:

Holes 26DDH-JT-027 through to JT-030 tested the western and northwestern extent of Jons Trend and the continuation of mineralization across an interpreted E-W-trending structural zone northwest of the Jons Pit discovery area. JT-027 intersected several mineralized intervals, including 3.60 m at 2.63 g/t Au, 6.82 m at 1.05 g/t Au and 15.62 m at 0.65 g/t Au. The more distal holes JT-028 through JT-030 returned only narrow mineralized intervals. The results provide additional definition of the western and northwestern boundary of the principal Jons Trend mineralized system. The Company’s ongoing drilling is focused on the central mineralized axis and its down-dip and down-plunge extensions, where broad and higher-grade mineralization remains open, and identifying extensions on the southeastern end.

Drill Results Table:

Table 1. Gold assay results. Reported intervals are down-hole lengths.

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Est. True Width
(m)
26DDH-JT-026 8.7 10.2 1.5 0.66 saprolite
and 63.46 65 1.54 1.30 0.88
and 71 73 2 0.52 1.64
and 84 88 4 0.50 3.28
and 97 100.14 3.14 0.50 2.22
and 112.5 117 4.5 0.55 3.45
and 123 126.92 3.92 0.75 3
and 132.48 137 4.52 1.14 3.46
and 166 172 6 0.52 4.6
and 184.41 198 13.59 10.33 10.41
including 184.41 187.97 3.56 37.62 2.73
and 207 228 21 1.01 18.19
including 212 218 6 1.36 5.2
including 219 225.95 6.95 1.45 6.02
and 238 239 1 3.53 0.94
26DDH-JT-027 5.5 8.5 3 1.36 saprolite
and 106.5 110.1 3.6 2.63 3.48
and 123 124 1 1.02 0.82
and 126 127 1 0.68 0.82
and 145.75 148.46 2.71 0.61 1.92
and 157 163.82 6.82 1.05 4.82
including 161 163.82 2.82 1.39 1.99
and 176 177 1 0.60 0.91
and 189 204.62 15.62 0.65 14.16
including 192 194 2 1.17 1.81
including 198.7 202.96 4.26 0.91 3.86
and 225 226 1 0.82 0.82
and 235 236 1 0.52 0.82
and 263 264.5 1.5 0.81 1.45
and 285.43 288.17 2.74 0.91 0.24
26DDH-JT-028 41.5 43 1.5 0.67 1.23
26DDH-JT-029 8.5 11.5 3 0.60 saprolite
26DDH-JT-030 113.5 115 1.5 1.28 1.41
           


Table 2. Updated Collar Table

Hole ID Easting* Northing Elevation (m) Azimuth** Dip Length
(m)
26DDH-JT-026 754848 418028 105 25 -70 275.1
26DDH-JT-027 754761 418064 105 357 -55 311.8
26DDH-JT-028 754573 418313 116 18 -55 173.28
26DDH-JT-029 754607 418393 109 18 -60 159.24
26DDH-JT-030 754735 418475 113 18 -60 161.97
             


* WGS84 UTM Zone 21N

** Magnetic declination applied for -18.34°.

All drill information is available through this link.

QAQC

Drill core samples were halved on Sela Creek and half-core samplers were processed at FiLAB Suriname, a commercial certified laboratory under ISO 9001:2015. At FiLAB, samples are crushed and pulverized to 85% passing 88 µm prior to analysis using a 50 g fire assay (50 g aliquot) with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that return assay values over 5.0 grams per tonne (g/t) Au, another cut was taken from the original pulp and fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. Samples with coarse visible gold or returning an assay value over 10.0 g/t Au, metallic screen analysis is conducted on the coarse reject material. Miata Metals inserts certified reference standards, as well as blanks and crushed core duplicates, in the sample sequence for quality control and assurance. All QAQC results fell within acceptable limits.

QP Statement

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Jacob Verbaas, P.Geo., a director of the Company and Qualified Person as defined under the definitions of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Miata Metals Corp.

Miata Metals Corp. (TSX.V: MMET) is a Canadian mineral exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, as well as the OTCQX (OTCQX: MMETF) and Frankfurt (FSE: 8NQ) Exchanges. The Company is focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. The Company holds a 70% interest in the ~215 km2 Sela Creek Gold Project with an option to acquire a full 100% interest, and a 70% beneficial interest in the Nassau Gold Project with an option to acquire 100%. Both exploration properties are located in the greenstone belt of Suriname.

On Behalf of the Board

Dr. Jacob (Jaap) Verbaas, P.Geo | CEO and Director

For Further Information, please contact:

Nikki McEachnie
Director of Investor Relations
nikki@miatametals.com
1-778-486-1500

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained herein constitutes “forward-looking information” under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipates”, “anticipated”, “expected”, “intends”, “will” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results will occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although management of the Company have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX.V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Midnight Sun Mining Corp. (TSXV: MMA / OTCQX: MDNGF) (“Midnight Sun” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the appointment of a Chairman of the Board, as well as the nomination of two new, highly accomplished, independent candidates for election at the Company’s upcoming annual general meeting, scheduled for December 4, 2026. Bringing extensive experience in major mine development and operations, capital markets, and corporate governance, the nominees add significant expertise to the Board as Midnight Sun advances its flagship Dumbwa copper deposit.

Appointment of Chairman of the Board

Brett A. Richards has been appointed as Chairman of the Board, effective immediately.

Mr. Richards has served as a director of Midnight Sun since August 2017 and brings more than 35 years of experience in the mining and metals industry, including three decades focused primarily on Africa. His extensive experience spans the full mining lifecycle, from exploration and mine development through construction, operations and strategic exits. He is currently principal of Richards Enterprises Inc.

The appointment of an independent Chairman reinforces Midnight Sun’s commitment to strong corporate governance and independent Board oversight, while leveraging extensive mining industry leadership.

New Independent Director Nominees

Two new independent director nominees, Andrew Neale and Caroline Cathcart, will be included on the board slate at the upcoming annual general meeting, joining current independent board members Brett Richards, Rick Mazur, and Wayne Moorhouse, along with Company President and CEO Al Fabbro. Together, the nominees bring significant and complementary experience to the board, strengthening the overall slate with specific expertise in the areas of public company governance, capital markets, and deposit development.

Andrew Neale, MASc.
Mr. Neale is a mining executive with more than 40 years of international experience spanning exploration, project evaluation, feasibility studies, engineering, mine construction, and operations.

His career includes senior roles with major mining companies including Falconbridge, Noranda, and Freeport-McMoRan, where he held overall operational responsibility for the Grasberg Mine in Indonesia, one of the world’s largest copper and gold mining operations. Notably, Mr. Neale also led the due diligence team that exposed the Bre-X gold fraud.

Mr. Neale is currently CEO of CopAur Minerals Inc. (TSXV: CPAU), which is advancing the Kinsley gold project in Nevada. He holds a Master of Applied Science degree from the University of Alberta.

Caroline Cathcart, LLM, CIM, FCSI
Ms. Cathcart is a senior capital markets executive with more than 30 years of experience in resource-sector investing, portfolio management, corporate governance, and regulatory oversight.

As Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Goodman & Company, Investment Counsel Inc., she worked alongside prominent resource investor Ned Goodman, leading market strategy and research initiatives. Previously, during nearly two decades at Research Capital Corporation, she managed resource-focused investment funds and led the firm’s investment fund division, which grew to more than $1 billion in assets under management. She was also a significant early stakeholder in the Island Gold project, now owned by Alamos Gold.

Ms. Cathcart subsequently held senior leadership positions at RPIA, a global investment manager with more than $20 billion in assets under management, most recently serving as Chief Administrative & Legal Officer. She currently advises investment managers and boards on governance and regulatory matters through C.M. Cathcart Consulting Inc.

She serves as an Independent Director of Eloro Resources Ltd. (TSX: ELO) and holds a Master of Laws from the University of Edinburgh, along with the CIM and FCSI designations.

Advanced Notice Policy

The Company also announces the adoption by its board of directors of an advance notice policy (the “Advance Notice Policy”) regarding the election of directors.

The purpose of the Advance Notice Policy is to provide a clear process for the shareholders, directors and management to follow when nominating directors of the Company. Such a policy will ensure that shareholders receive adequate notice of director nominations and sufficient information regarding all director nominees and to allow shareholders to register an informed vote after having been afforded reasonable time for appropriate deliberation.

The Advance Notice Policy sets a deadline by which director nominations must be submitted to the Company prior to any annual general or special meeting of the shareholders and also sets out the required information that must be included in the notice to the Company.  No person will be eligible for election as a director of the Company unless nominated in accordance with the Advance Notice Policy.

In the case of an annual general meeting of the shareholders, notice to the Company must be made not less than 30 days prior to the date of the annual general meeting. If the annual general meeting is being held on a date that is less than 50 days following the date on which the first public announcement of the meeting was made, notice may be made not later than the close of business on the 10th day following such public announcement.

In the case of a special meeting of shareholders (which is not also an annual general meeting) called for the purpose of electing directors, notice to the Company must be made not later than the close of business on the 15th day following the day on which the first public announcement of the date of the special meeting was made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the board of directors may, in its sole discretion, waive any requirement of the Advance Notice Policy.

The Advance Notice Policy is now in effect and will apply in connection with the Shareholders’ Meeting. The Company intends to seek shareholder approval by ordinary resolution of amendments to the Company’s articles to include advance notice provisions with respect to the election of directors (the “Advance Notice Amendments”) which contain substantially the same terms as the Advance Notice Policy. If the Advance Notice Amendments are not approved by ordinary resolution, then the Advance Notice Policy and the Advance Notice Amendments will terminate and be void and of no further force or effect following the later of the conclusion of the Shareholders’ Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

A full description of the Advance Notice Amendments will be contained in the information circular to be prepared for the Shareholders’ Meeting and mailed to the Company’s shareholders.  A copy of the Advance Notice Policy will be filed on SEDAR+ under the Company’s profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Midnight Sun

Midnight Sun is rapidly advancing the Solwezi Copper Project, with a focus on our flagship Dumbwa copper deposit. The Project is located near the town of Solwezi in the heart of the Zambia–Congo Copperbelt, the world’s second-largest copper-producing region. This prolific mining district is renowned for hosting multiple major copper deposits, and benefits from excellent infrastructure, an established mining workforce, and a long history of successful production.

The Solwezi Copper Project is surrounded by producing copper mines, including the geologically similar Lumwana mine to the west and First Quantum’s Kansanshi mine – Africa’s largest integrated metallurgical processing facility, approximately 6 kilometres east of the Company’s recently announced Kazhiba Oxide Resource. This highly favourable location highlights the district-scale potential of Midnight Sun’s land package.

The Dumbwa copper deposit underlays a robust 20-kilometre copper-in-soil anomaly, and ongoing drilling has demonstrated strong geological similarities to the nearby Lumwana mine, underscoring the potential scale of this newly identified copper system.

Led by an experienced geological team with a proven track record of major discoveries in the Zambia–Congo Copperbelt and globally, Midnight Sun’s goal is to delineate Zambia’s next generational copper deposit.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF MIDNIGHT SUN MINING CORP.
Al Fabbro
President & CEO

For Further Information Contact:
Adrian O’Brien
VP Business Development and Communications
Tel: +1 604 809 6890
Em: adrian@midnightsunmining.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that are based on expectations, estimates, assumptions, geological theories, and projections as at the date of this news release. The information in this news release about any information herein that is not a historical fact may be “forward looking statements.” Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, interpretations, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (which may, but not always, include phrases such as “anticipates”, “expects”, “plans”, “scheduled”, “believed” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements and are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required by law.

Sustained commercial momentum, continued margin improvement, and targeted investments strengthen growth foundation

Highlights

For the three months ended September 30, 2026:

  • Revenues of $691.5 million
  • Book-to-bill ratio of 1.12x, resulting in 1.12x book-to-bill for the trailing 12 months
  • GAAP net income of $0.6 million, or $0.01 per diluted share
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $58.0 million
  • Adjusted net income of $27.9 million, or $0.28 per diluted share
  • Cash provided by operations of $60.8 million and free cash flow of $52.5 million
  • Raised midpoints of full-year revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance and narrowed ranges

DURHAM, N.C., Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fortrea (Nasdaq: FTRE) (the “Company”), a leading global contract research organization (“CRO”), today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026.

“Fortrea delivered another quarter of progress on our return-to-growth strategy, reflecting stronger commercial execution, continued operational improvements and financial discipline,” said Anshul Thakral, CEO of Fortrea. “Our sustained bookings momentum is building a foundation for growth, while targeted investments in early clinical development and technology enhance our ability to deliver differentiated value to clients. I’m proud of how Fortrea’s teams around the world are embracing our future direction while delivering for clients today. Our continued execution against our priorities gives us confidence to raise the midpoints of full-year guidance while narrowing ranges. We remain focused on translating stronger demand into revenue growth, margin expansion and long-term shareholder value.”

Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results

Revenue for the third quarter was $691.5 million, compared to $701.3 million in the third quarter of 2025.

Third quarter GAAP net income was $0.6 million and diluted income per share was $0.01, compared to third quarter of 2025 GAAP net loss of $(15.9) million and diluted loss per share of $(0.17). Third quarter adjusted net income was $27.9 million and adjusted diluted EPS was $0.28, compared to third quarter of 2025 adjusted net income of $11.7 million and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.12. Third quarter adjusted EBITDA was $58.0 million, compared to third quarter of 2025 adjusted EBITDA of $50.7 million.

During the third quarter, the Company performed a detailed review of contracts included in its backlog. As a result, the Company reduced backlog by $558 million to reflect the cumulative impact of estimated scope and study delivery requirements across customer contracts, including inactive trials. The adjustment has no impact on historical financial results, previously issued or current 2026 guidance, or near-term revenue estimates. As adjusted, backlog as of September 30, 2026, was $7,316 million. The book-to-bill ratio, which was not impacted by the adjustment, was 1.12x for the quarter.

Year-to-Date 2026 Financial Results

Year-to-date revenue was $2,006.2 million, compared to $2,062.9 million in the same period of 2025.

Year-to-date GAAP net loss was $(36.2) million and diluted loss per share was $(0.38), compared to net loss of $(953.7) million and diluted loss per share of $(10.53), inclusive of a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $797.9 million, for the same period of 2025. Year-to-date adjusted net income was $65.8 million and adjusted diluted EPS was $0.66, compared to adjusted net income of $31.2 million and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.34 for the same period of 2025. Year-to-date adjusted EBITDA was $163.7 million, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $135.9 million for the same period of 2025.

2026 Financial Guidance

The Company updated its full-year 2026 guidance, narrowing the revenue and adjusted EBITDA ranges and raising both midpoints. The Company now expects revenues of $2,665 million to $2,690 million and adjusted EBITDA of $210 million to $218 million.

Earnings Call and Replay

Fortrea will host a conference call at 8:00 am ET on October 29, 2026, to review its third quarter financial results and conduct a question-and-answer session. To participate in the earnings call, participants should register online at the Fortrea Investor Relations website. To avoid potential delays, please join at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. The conference call can also be accessed through the following earnings webcast link. A replay of the live conference call will be available shortly after the conclusion of the event and accessible on the events and presentations section of the Fortrea website. A supplemental slide presentation will also be available on the Investor Relations website prior to the start of the call.

About Fortrea

Fortrea (Nasdaq: FTRE) is a leading global provider of clinical development solutions to the life sciences industry. We partner with emerging and large biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and diagnostic companies to drive healthcare innovation that accelerates life changing therapies to patients. Fortrea provides phase I-IV clinical trial management, clinical pharmacology and consulting services, delivered in highly flexible models that include full service, functional service provider and hybrid service structures. Fortrea’s solutions leverage three decades of experience spanning more than 20 therapeutic areas, a passion for scientific rigor, technology innovation and a strong investigator site network. Our talented and diverse team working in about 100 countries is scaled to deliver focused and agile solutions to clients globally. Learn more about how Fortrea is streamlining drug development at Fortrea.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X and Bluesky.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, without limitation, the Company’s 2026 financial guidance. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “guidance,” “expect,” “assume,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “forecast,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “would,” “target,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements, including the Company’s 2026 financial guidance, are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Actual results may differ materially from the Company’s expectations due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the following: the Company’s dependence on third parties generally to provide services critical to its businesses; the Company’s ability to successfully implement the Company’s business strategies and execute the Company’s long-term value creation strategy; risks and expenses associated with the Company’s international operations, tariff policies, trade sanctions and other trade restrictions and currency fluctuations; the anticipated benefits of the Company’s acquisition of the Early Phase Services division of Worldwide Clinical Trials; the Company’s customer or therapeutic area concentrations; the Company’s adoption and use of technology within its business and the risks that the Company may not be able to capture the anticipated benefits of such technology or that such technology may have negative effects; the outcome and impact of pending or future litigation; any further deterioration in the macroeconomic environment, particularly within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, or further changes in government regulations and funding, which could lead to defaults or cancellations by the Company’s customers; the risk that the Company’s backlog and net new business may not grow to the extent anticipated over a specified period of time or be indicative of the Company’s future revenues and that the Company might not realize all of the anticipated future revenue reflected in the Company’s backlog; the Company’s ability to generate sufficient net new business awards, or if net new business awards are delayed, terminated, reduced in scope, or fail to go to contract; if the Company underprices its contracts, overruns its cost estimates, or fails to receive approval for, or experiences delays in documentation of change orders; and other factors described from time to time in documents that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). For a further discussion of the risks relating to the Company’s business, see the “Risk Factors” Section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, as filed with the SEC, as such factors may be amended or updated from time to time in the Company’s subsequent periodic and other filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release and in the Company’s filings with the SEC. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends, or indications of future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data. All forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release and the Company does not undertake any obligation, other than as may be required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.

Note on Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release includes information based on financial measures that are not recognized under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), such as Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Basic and Diluted EPS, and Free Cash Flow. Non-GAAP financial measures are presented only as a supplement to the Company’s financial statements based on GAAP. Non-GAAP financial information is provided to enhance understanding of the Company’s financial performance, but none of these non-GAAP financial measures are recognized terms under GAAP, and non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute analysis for, the Company’s results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP.

The Company uses non-GAAP measures in its operational and financial decision making and believes that it is useful to exclude certain items in order to focus on what it regards to be a more meaningful indicator of the underlying operating performance of the business. For example, in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, the Company excludes all the amortization of intangible assets associated with acquired customer relationships and backlog, databases, non-compete agreements and trademarks, trade names and other from non-GAAP expense and income measures, as such amounts can be significantly impacted by the timing and size of acquisitions. Although the Company excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets from the Company’s non-GAAP expenses, the Company believes that it is important for investors to understand that revenue generated from such intangibles is included within revenue in determining net income attributable to the Company. Internal management reports feature non-GAAP measures which are also used to prepare strategic plans and annual budgets and review management compensation. The Company also believes that investors may find non-GAAP financial measures useful for the same reasons, although investors are cautioned that non-GAAP financial measures are not a substitute for GAAP disclosures.

The non-GAAP financial measures are not presented in accordance with GAAP. Please refer to the schedules attached to this release for relevant definitions and reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures contained herein to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. The Company’s full-year 2026 guidance measures (other than revenue) are provided on a non-GAAP basis without a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measure because the Company is unable to predict with a reasonable degree of certainty certain items contained in the GAAP measures without unreasonable efforts. Such items include, but are not limited to, acquisition-related expenses, restructuring and related expenses, goodwill impairment, stock-based compensation and other items not reflective of the Company’s ongoing operations.

Non-GAAP measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in their evaluation of companies comparable to the Company, many of which present non-GAAP measures when reporting their results. Non-GAAP measures have limitations as an analytical tool. They are not presentations made in accordance with GAAP, are not measures of financial condition or liquidity and should not be considered as an alternative to profit or loss for the period determined in accordance with GAAP or operating cash flows determined in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP measures are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. As a result, you should not consider such performance measures in isolation from, or as a substitute analysis for, the Company’s results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Fortrea Contacts

Tracy Krumme (Investors) – 984-385-6707, tracy.krumme@fortrea.com
Sue Zaranek (Media) – 919-943-5422, media@fortrea.com
Kate Dillon (Media) – 646-818-9115, kdillon@prosek.com

       
FORTREA HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in millions, except per share data)
(unaudited)
       
  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2026   2025   2026   2025
Revenues $ 691.5     $ 701.3     $ 2,006.2     $ 2,062.9  
Costs and expenses:              
Direct costs, exclusive of depreciation and amortization   552.0       578.6       1,603.9       1,690.2  
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization   103.8       106.8       306.4       353.4  
Depreciation and amortization   20.0       19.6       59.4       58.7  
Goodwill and other asset impairments   —       —       —       797.9  
Restructuring and other charges   0.7       4.9       10.1       21.7  
Total costs and expenses   676.5       709.9       1,979.8       2,921.9  
Operating income (loss)   15.0       (8.6 )     26.4       (859.0 )
Other income (expense):              
Interest expense   (20.2 )     (22.6 )     (58.6 )     (68.2 )
Foreign exchange gain (loss)   1.3       (2.6 )     14.5       (28.1 )
Other, net   0.3       5.1       0.6       7.9  
Loss before income taxes   (3.6 )     (28.7 )     (17.1 )     (947.4 )
Income tax (benefit) expense   (4.2 )     (12.8 )     19.1       6.3  
Net income (loss) $ 0.6     $ (15.9 )   $ (36.2 )   $ (953.7 )
               
Earnings (loss) per common share              
Basic and diluted $ 0.01     $ (0.17 )   $ (0.38 )   $ (10.53 )
                               

FORTREA HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars and shares in millions)
(unaudited)
       
  September 30,
2026
  December 31,
2025
ASSETS      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 220.6     $ 174.6  
Accounts receivable and unbilled services, net   641.1       589.7  
Prepaid expenses and other   91.0       132.9  
Total current assets   952.7       897.2  
Property, plant and equipment, net   158.6       149.5  
Goodwill, net   949.9       960.0  
Intangible assets, net   572.0       622.0  
Deferred income taxes   6.2       6.2  
Other assets, net   98.8       80.8  
Total assets $ 2,738.2     $ 2,715.7  
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY      
Current liabilities:      
Accounts payable $ 53.0     $ 29.7  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   372.1       395.8  
Unearned revenue   525.5       473.8  
Current portion of long-term debt   23.4       4.8  
Short-term operating lease liabilities   9.3       9.2  
Total current liabilities   983.3       913.3  
Long-term debt, less current portion   1,031.9       1,048.0  
Operating lease liabilities   53.8       54.0  
Deferred income taxes and other tax liabilities   97.1       97.6  
Other liabilities   39.8       39.3  
Total liabilities   2,205.9       2,152.2  
Commitments and contingent liabilities      
Equity:      
Common stock, 96.5 and 93.1 shares outstanding at September 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively   0.1       0.1  
Additional paid-in capital   2,152.6       2,116.6  
Accumulated deficit   (1,419.4 )     (1,383.2 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (201.0 )     (170.0 )
Total equity   532.3       563.5  
Total liabilities and equity $ 2,738.2     $ 2,715.7  
               

FORTREA HOLDINGS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)
(unaudited)
   
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2026   2025
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:      
Net loss $ (36.2 )   $ (953.7 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities:      
Depreciation and amortization   59.4       58.7  
Stock compensation   36.0       59.6  
Credit loss expense   4.0       13.5  
Operating lease right-of-use asset expense   6.2       8.6  
Operating lease right-of-use asset impairment   —       1.3  
Goodwill and other asset impairments   —       797.9  
Deferred income taxes   1.0       (24.4 )
Unrealized foreign exchange movements   (13.2 )     38.8  
Other, net   2.8       2.2  
Changes in assets and liabilities:      
Increase in accounts receivable and unbilled services, net   (55.3 )     (10.6 )
Decrease in prepaid expenses and other   20.3       43.8  
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable   23.7       (89.7 )
Increase in unearned revenue   51.0       54.6  
Decrease in accrued expenses and other   (27.0 )     (16.2 )
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities   72.7       (15.6 )
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:      
Capital expenditures   (25.3 )     (17.7 )
Proceeds from sale of business, net   —       39.6  
Proceeds from sale of assets   2.0       —  
Net cash (used for) provided by investing activities   (23.3 )     21.9  
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:      
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities   —       453.9  
Payments on revolving credit facilities   —       (453.9 )
Debt issuance costs   —       (0.6 )
Net cash used for financing activities   —       (0.6 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   (3.4 )     7.1  
Net change in cash and cash equivalents   46.0       12.8  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   174.6       118.5  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 220.6     $ 131.3  
               


RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES

FORTREA HOLDINGS INC.
NET INCOME TO ADJUSTED EBITDA RECONCILIATION
(in millions)
(unaudited)

           
  Trailing Twelve Months Ended
  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
  September 30,
2026

  2026   2025   2026   2025
Adjusted EBITDA:                  
Net income (loss) $ (68.7 )   $ 0.6     $ (15.9 )   $ (36.2 )   $ (953.7 )
Income tax expense (benefit)   16.0       (4.2 )     (12.8 )     19.1       6.3  
Interest expense   81.8       20.2       22.6       58.6       68.2  
Foreign exchange (gain) loss   (15.7 )     (1.3 )     2.6       (14.5 )     28.1  
Depreciation and amortization (a)   78.7       20.0       19.6       59.4       58.7  
Goodwill and other asset impairments   —       —       —       —       797.9  
Restructuring and other charges (b)   38.0       1.4       6.3       12.7       23.8  
Stock based compensation   50.8       12.0       22.3       36.0       59.6  
Acquisition and disposition-related costs (c)   3.9       2.8       2.3       2.8       8.9  
One-time spin-related costs (d)   2.3       —       3.0       1.0       23.4  
CEO transition related costs   —       —       0.3       —       5.1  
Receivables securitization yield expense   17.3       4.2       4.5       13.0       13.4  
Cloud computing arrangements (e)   4.6       1.2       0.9       3.6       2.1  
Other (f)   8.7       1.1       (5.0 )     8.2       (5.9 )
Adjusted EBITDA $ 217.7     $ 58.0     $ 50.7     $ 163.7     $ 135.9  
                                       

(a) Includes amortization of intangible assets acquired as part of business acquisitions.

(b) Restructuring and other charges represent amounts incurred in connection with the elimination of redundant positions, organizational realignment initiatives, and other actions taken to reduce overcapacity, align resources and facilities, and restructure certain operations.

(c) Acquisition-related costs include transaction, integration, and other direct and incremental costs incurred in connection with acquisitions. Disposition-related costs are short-term incremental costs to support the transition services agreement associated with the sale of the Enabling Services Segment.

(d) Represents one-time or incremental costs required to implement capabilities to exit the transition services agreement with the Company’s former parent.

(e) Represents amortization of implementation costs deferred in connection with cloud computing arrangements.

(f) Includes adjustments to estimated contingent consideration on a sale of a facility, income related to services provided under transition services agreements, certain legal expenses related to specifically identified litigation matters, including the shareholder litigation and the CFO transition-related litigation, settlements related to litigation initiated prior to the spinoff of the Company as a standalone company, and non-recurring business advisory consulting services.

       
FORTREA HOLDINGS INC.
NET INCOME TO ADJUSTED NET INCOME RECONCILIATION
(in millions, except per share data)
(unaudited)
       
  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2026   2025   2026   2025
Adjusted net income:              
Net income (loss) $ 0.6     $ (15.9 )   $ (36.2 )   $ (953.7 )
Foreign exchange (gain) loss   (1.3 )     2.6       (14.5 )     28.1  
Amortization (a)   14.5       14.8       43.7       43.9  
Goodwill and other asset impairments   —       —       —       797.9  
Restructuring and other charges (b)   1.4       6.3       12.7       23.8  
Stock based compensation   12.0       22.3       36.0       59.6  
Acquisition and disposition-related costs (c)   2.8       2.3       2.8       8.9  
One-time spin-related costs (d)   —       3.0       1.0       23.4  
CEO transition related costs   —       0.3       —       5.1  
Receivables securitization yield expense   4.2       4.5       13.0       13.4  
Cloud computing arrangements (e)   1.2       0.9       3.6       2.1  
Other (f)   1.1       (5.0 )     8.2       (5.9 )
Income tax impact of adjustments (g)   (8.6 )     (24.4 )     (4.5 )     (15.4 )
Adjusted net income $ 27.9     $ 11.7     $ 65.8     $ 31.2  
               
Basic shares   95.6       91.2       94.6       90.6  
Diluted shares   101.2       93.8       99.6       92.0  
Adjusted basic EPS $ 0.29     $ 0.13     $ 0.70     $ 0.34  
Adjusted diluted EPS $ 0.28     $ 0.12     $ 0.66     $ 0.34  
                               

(a) Includes amortization of intangible assets acquired as part of business acquisitions.

(b) Restructuring and other charges represent amounts incurred in connection with the elimination of redundant positions, organizational realignment initiatives, and other actions taken to reduce overcapacity, align resources and facilities, and restructure certain operations.

(c) Acquisition-related costs include transaction, integration, and other direct and incremental costs incurred in connection with acquisitions. Disposition-related costs are short-term incremental costs to support the transition services agreement associated with the sale of the Enabling Services Segment.

(d) Represents one-time or incremental costs required to implement capabilities to exit the transition services agreement with the Company’s former parent.

(e) Represents amortization of implementation costs deferred in connection with cloud computing arrangements.

(f) Includes adjustments to estimated contingent consideration on a sale of a facility, income related to services provided under transition services agreements, certain legal expenses related to specifically identified litigation matters, including the shareholder litigation and the CFO transition-related litigation, settlements related to litigation initiated prior to the spinoff of the Company as a standalone company, and non-recurring business advisory consulting services.

(g) Income tax impact of adjustments represents the amount of additional tax expense that the Company estimates it would record if it used Non-GAAP results instead of GAAP results in the calculation of its provision.

       
FORTREA HOLDINGS INC.
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW RECONCILIATION
(in millions)
(unaudited)
       
  Three Months Ended September 30, 2026   Nine Months Ended September 30, 2026
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 60.8     $ 72.7  
Capital expenditures   (8.3 )     (25.3 )
Free cash flow $ 52.5     $ 47.4  
               

Coastal Financial Corporation Reports Strong Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Driven by CCBX Program Growth

EVERETT, Wash., Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Coastal Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CCB) (the “Company”, “Coastal”, “we”, “our”, or “us”), the holding company for Coastal Community Bank (the “Bank”), through which it operates a community-focused bank segment (“community bank”) with an industry leading banking as a service (“BaaS”) segment (“CCBX”), today reported unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, including net income of $13.8 million, or $0.89 per diluted common share, compared to net loss of $(42.1) million, or $(2.76) per diluted common share, for the three months ended June 30, 2026 and $13.6 million, or $0.88 per diluted common share, for the three months ended September 30, 2025.

Management Discussion of the Third Quarter Results

“The third quarter better reflects the underlying earnings power of Coastal’s business, following a challenging second quarter for our shareholders. During the quarter we updated our assessment of the affected relationship, including loan portfolio performance, expected credit losses and our assessment of the collectability of amounts due under the partner’s indemnification arrangement. The results of that review substantially supported the estimates established at June 30, 2026. I am pleased with the momentum we saw across the segments,” said Eric Sprink, Chief Executive Officer of Coastal.

“Beyond this relationship, we returned to profitability with net income of $13.8 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.89, and our ROA was 1.01%. BaaS program fee income grew to $14.1 million, up $2.1 million, or 17.6%, from second quarter, and $6.3 million, or 79.6%, from the same quarter last year, reflecting the strength and stability of our broader partner portfolio. Our off-balance sheet credit card accounts now stand at 1.3 million, which is approximately 236% more than where we ended the third quarter of 2025, and eight of our active partner programs are in various stages of expanding into additional products. On the community bank side, deposits grew $63.2 million, or 4.0%, to $1.64 billion in the quarter, at a cost of deposits of just 1.54%.

“We ended the quarter well capitalized, with strong cash reserves and a strong pipeline. I believe the fundamentals of this business remain strong, with solid fee income growth, robust partner activity and continued capital strength, and that we are well-positioned to continue executing on our long-term strategy.”

Key Points for Third Quarter

  • CCBX Growth, Partner and Product Diversification. As of September 30, 2026 we had one partner in testing, two in implementation/onboarding, and three signed letters of intent (LOIs). Our active pipeline positions us for continued growth, with new partnership opportunities and product launches expected for the remainder of 2026. Total BaaS program fee income was $14.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2026, an increase of $2.1 million, or 17.6%, from the three months ended June 30, 2026.

    As previously announced, one of our partners, Bluevine, Inc. (“Bluevine”) has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Valley National Bancorp (“Valley”), subject to regulatory and other customary approvals. Valley has indicated it expects the transaction to close in the second quarter of 2027, at which time the Bluevine relationship is expected to terminate, with associated deposits anticipated to transition out. At September 30, 2026, the Bank held $452.4 million in Bluevine deposits on its balance sheet and swept $1.85 billion off-balance sheet to other banks. The Bank held $3.0 million in Bluevine originated loans at quarter-end. Separately, the Bank held a $6.8 million commercial loan to Bluevine at quarter-end. Bluevine is part of a broader, diversified CCBX deposit platform. Coastal expects to replace related on-balance sheet funding through its existing sweep capabilities and other funding sources and does not expect a material adverse effect on liquidity or funding as a result of the anticipated termination of the Bluevine relationship.

  • Partner Credit Performance Stabilizing. Following the $22.8 million specific provision for credit losses and $46.0 million credit enhancement asset valuation adjustment recorded in the second quarter of 2026 related to one partner (“The Partner”), we updated our assessment of the loan portfolio performance, expected credit losses and the collectability of amounts due under the indemnification arrangement as of September 30, 2026.

    Overall, the loan portfolio performance remained generally consistent with the expectations underlying the June 30 assessment, although actual charge-offs were modestly higher than previously projected. Additional provision expense recognized during the third quarter was driven in part by these higher charge-offs, as well as new loan originations and normal updates to assumptions used in the Company’s allowance for credit losses methodology.

    Based on management’s assessment as of September 30, 2026, projected cash flows under the Partner’s program agreement continued to support our accounting treatment to record substantially all of the corresponding incremental credit enhancement amounts. Approximately $3.1 million of additional provision expense was not offset by credit enhancement income because collection of that portion was not considered probable. The $22.8 million specific allowance remained unchanged, while the valuation allowance against the credit enhancement asset decreased modestly to $45.6 million from $46.0 million at June 30, 2026.

    Taken together, the results of management’s updated assessment substantially supported the loss estimates established in the second quarter. Management continues to closely monitor the Partner’s credit performance and its ability to satisfy its contractual obligations and will update its estimates as additional information becomes available.

  • Positive On- and Off-Balance Sheet Trends Continue. At September 30, 2026 we swept off-balance sheet $6.29 billion in deposits for Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance and liquidity purposes, and generated $1.4 million in noninterest income during the quarter ended September 30, 2026, an increase of $193,000, or 16.4%, from $1.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 and an increase of $1.1 million, or 340.5%, from $311,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2025.

    During the third quarter of 2026, we sold $5.99 billion of loans, including $4.69 billion of additional credit card receivables originated through ongoing cardholder spend and revolving activity and sold under existing forward flow arrangements, compared to $4.56 billion of sold loans in the quarter ended June 30, 2026, including $3.68 billion sold under the same forward flow arrangements. As of September 30, 2026 there were 1.3 million off-balance sheet credit cards with fee earning potential, an increase of 452,984, or 51.38%, compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2026 and an increase of 937,831, or 236.34%, from September 30, 2025.

    Nonperforming assets decreased $14.7 million quarter over quarter driven by improvements across both the community bank and CCBX portfolios. The decline in CCBX nonperforming assets is consistent with the stabilization in partner credit performance and net charge-offs trending down during the quarter.

  • Noninterest Expense Declined Significantly Quarter Over Quarter. Total noninterest expense decreased $56.3 million to $84.8 million in the third quarter of 2026 from $141.1 million in the second quarter. The decline primarily reflected the absence of the second quarter’s $46.0 million credit enhancement receivable valuation adjustment related to The Partner, a $5.9 million reduction in data processing and software license expenses, reflecting the absence of $4.4 million in second-quarter accelerated depreciation and lower current-quarter amortization, a $4.7 million reduction in BaaS loan expense and a $1.6 million reduction in salaries and employee benefits, comprised of $1.3 million in lower salaries and $290,000 in lower severance expense. These reductions were partially offset by a $1.6 million increase in legal and professional fees, partly related to The Partner, and a $440,000 increase in FDIC deposit insurance assessments. The latter reflected a second-quarter assessment true-up and a higher assessment rate effective in the third quarter of 2026, partly attributable to the second-quarter net loss’s effect on the FDIC assessment rate calculation.

    Separately, noninterest income was reduced by $477,000 in unrealized gain on equity securities, reflecting a $565,000 downward valuation adjustment on a strategic equity investment.

  • Expense Discipline and Stronger Operating Leverage: Coastal prioritizes operational efficiency and greater operating leverage. After investing significantly in people, technology and risk infrastructure to build a scaled, regulated platform, the Company is shifting its focus to achieving more consistent profitability. Management is actively managing operating expenses and has launched targeted initiatives to lower noninterest expense, with further progress expected as technology modernization matures and operational efficiencies materialize. These efforts include reviewing vendors, contractors and discretionary spending; eliminating duplication; replacing legacy systems with more efficient technology; and applying clear risk-adjusted return standards to every partner program and product. The Company is also using AI to improve employee effectiveness and productivity and reduce future costs. We have identified up to $20.0 million in potential annualized savings in noninterest expenses and expect to gradually achieve these potential savings over the next 4–6 quarters. These expenses exclude BaaS loan and fraud expenses, which are generally reimbursed by our CCBX partners and recognized in noninterest income in accordance with GAAP.

    Lastly, and as part of the expense discipline discussed above, Eric Sprink, in his role as Chief Executive Officer, voluntarily agreed to a nearly 43% reduction in his Base Salary from $874,000 to $500,000 effective immediately.

  • Leadership Updates: As previously announced, Joel Edwards, who served as Coastal’s Chief Financial Officer until his retirement in 2025, returned as interim Chief Financial Officer following the departure of Brandon Soto in August 2026. The Company’s search for a permanent Chief Financial Officer is ongoing and in its final stages. In addition, Brian Hamilton has stepped down as President of Coastal, having led the modernization of CCBX’s technology platform, including integral investments in CCBX’s infrastructure that have positioned the business for its next phase. Mr. Hamilton will remain on the Company’s Board of Directors and as an advisor to the Company to support continuity across CCBX.

Capital and Liquidity

The Company and the Bank remained well capitalized at September 30, 2026, with a Company common equity Tier 1 ratio of 11.47%, a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 8.81%, and a total risk-based capital ratio of 13.82%, each above the levels required to be considered well capitalized. The Company retained $803.6 million of cash and cash equivalents and $827.4 million of additional contingent borrowing capacity, with no borrowings outstanding as of September 30, 2026. The Company’s capital efficient model, including ongoing loan sales and off-balance sheet deposit and card programs, continues to support internal capital generation.

Third Quarter 2026 Financial Highlights

The tables below outline some of our key operating metrics.

  Three Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data; unaudited) September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  March 31,
2026
  December 31,
2025
  September 30,
2025
Income Statement Data:                  
Interest and dividend income $ 121,183     $ 118,554     $ 111,681     $ 107,886     $ 109,027  
Interest expense   32,897       29,187       28,324       28,521       31,126  
Net interest income   88,286       89,367       83,357       79,365       77,901  
Provision for credit losses   46,019       92,157       51,398       48,041       56,598  
Net interest income (loss) after provision for credit losses   42,267       (2,790 )     31,959       31,324       21,303  
Noninterest income   61,040       88,707       66,077       58,661       66,777  
Noninterest expense   84,843       141,111       83,452       72,804       70,172  
Provision (benefit) for income tax   4,676       (13,089 )     2,565       4,538       4,316  
Net income (loss) $ 13,788     $ (42,105 )   $ 12,019     $ 12,643     $ 13,592  
                   
  As of and for the Three Month Period
  September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  March 31,
2026
  December 31,
2025
  September 30,
2025
Balance Sheet Data:                  
Cash and cash equivalents $ 803,551     $ 1,008,448     $ 1,495,467     $ 736,970     $ 642,258  
Investment securities   44,720       45,246       46,169       48,247       43,942  
Loans held for sale   140,337       107,838       124,039       71,216       42,894  
Loans receivable   4,185,529       4,208,270       3,859,379       3,749,531       3,703,848  
Allowance for credit losses   (208,104 )     (213,724 )     (172,427 )     (169,530 )     (173,813 )
Total assets   5,276,427       5,456,152       5,663,829       4,741,437       4,553,076  
Interest bearing deposits   4,047,804       4,249,420       4,462,003       3,564,583       3,408,160  
Noninterest bearing deposits   631,027       612,478       579,161       579,616       564,403  
Core deposits(1)   4,669,114       4,850,783       5,028,967       4,131,911       3,959,360  
Total deposits   4,678,831       4,861,898       5,041,164       4,144,199       3,972,563  
Total borrowings   48,150       48,112       48,074       48,036       47,999  
Total shareholders’ equity $ 478,267     $ 463,447     $ 503,762     $ 490,959     $ 475,277  
                   
Share and Per Share Data(2):                  
Earnings (loss) per share – basic $ 0.90     $ (2.76 )   $ 0.79     $ 0.84     $ 0.90  
Earnings (loss) per share – diluted $ 0.89     $ (2.76 )   $ 0.78     $ 0.82     $ 0.88  
Dividends per share   —       —       —       —       —  
Book value per share(3) $ 31.28     $ 30.33     $ 33.05     $ 32.43     $ 31.45  
Tangible book value per share(4) $ 31.02     $ 30.05     $ 32.76     $ 32.13     $ 31.45  
Weighted avg outstanding shares
– basic
  15,256,873       15,243,357       15,179,447       15,116,005       15,093,274  
Weighted avg outstanding shares
– diluted
  15,417,178       15,243,357       15,422,822       15,455,856       15,443,987  
Shares outstanding at end of period   15,288,479       15,280,689       15,241,491       15,140,192       15,112,000  
Stock options outstanding at
end of period
  63,890       65,835       68,585       118,881       122,206  

  As of and for the Three Month Period
  September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  March 31,
2026
  December 31,
2025
  September 30,
2025
Credit Quality Data:                  
Nonperforming assets(5)to total assets   1.15 %     1.38 %     1.19 %     1.35 %     1.31 %
Nonperforming assets(5)to loans receivable and OREO   1.44 %     1.79 %     1.75 %     1.71 %     1.61 %
Nonperforming loans(5)to total loans receivable   1.44 %     1.79 %     1.75 %     1.71 %     1.61 %
Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans   344.2 %     284.2 %     259.3 %     264.4 %     290.8 %
Allowance for credit losses to total loans receivable   4.97 %     5.08 %     4.47 %     4.52 %     4.69 %
Gross charge-offs $ 57,794     $ 58,218     $ 54,523     $ 55,189     $ 54,534  
Gross recoveries $ 7,877     $ 7,583     $ 4,936     $ 5,114     $ 5,289  
Net charge-offs to average loans(6)   4.43 %     4.90 %     5.13 %     5.31 %     5.37 %
                   
Capital Ratios:                  
Company                  
Tier 1 leverage capital   8.81 %     9.11 %     10.09 %     10.62 %     10.54 %
Common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital   11.47 %     10.86 %     12.08 %     12.43 %     12.33 %
Tier 1 risk-based capital   11.56 %     10.94 %     12.17 %     12.52 %     12.42 %
Total risk-based capital   13.82 %     13.30 %     14.54 %     14.95 %     14.88 %
Bank                  
Tier 1 leverage capital   9.30 %     9.12 %     10.10 %     10.60 %     10.49 %
Common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital   12.22 %     10.97 %     12.19 %     12.50 %     12.37 %
Tier 1 risk-based capital   12.22 %     10.97 %     12.19 %     12.50 %     12.37 %
Total risk-based capital   13.52 %     12.27 %     13.48 %     13.79 %     13.66 %

(1)  Core deposits are defined as all deposits excluding brokered and time deposits.
(2)  Share and per share amounts are based on total actual or average common shares outstanding, as applicable.
(3)  We calculate book value per share as total shareholders’ equity at the end of the relevant period divided by the outstanding number of our common shares at the end of each period.
(4)  Tangible book value per share is a non-GAAP financial measure. We calculate tangible book value per share as total shareholders’ equity at the end of the relevant period, less goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by the outstanding number of our common shares at the end of each period. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is book value per share. See reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures at the end of this earnings release for the impact of intangible assets on book value.
(5)  Nonperforming assets and nonperforming loans include loans 90+ days past due and accruing interest.
(6)  Annualized calculations.

Key Performance Ratios

Return on average assets (“ROA”) was 1.01% for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 compared to (3.32)% and 1.19% for the quarters ended June 30, 2026 and September 30, 2025, respectively. The significant decline in ROA for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 was driven primarily by charges related to The Partner, including a valuation adjustment to the related credit enhancement asset and an increase in the provision for credit losses. The decrease year over year is largely due to lower yield on interest earning assets and an increase in average assets.

Compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2026, yield on earning assets declined 0.60% while yield on loans receivable decreased by 0.71%. Average loans receivable as of September 30, 2026 increased $326.1 million compared to June 30, 2026. While reported loan yield declined quarter over quarter, loan income net of BaaS loan expense divided by average loans, a non-GAAP measure the Company believes is more reflective of what the Bank actually earns, improved to 6.86% from 6.83% for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 (a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures are set forth in the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of this earnings release).Compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2025, yield on earning assets declined 0.75% and yield on loans receivable declined by 0.92%. Average loans receivable as of September 30, 2026 increased $837.9 million compared to September 30, 2025.

The quarter over quarter change in the efficiency ratio and noninterest income to average asset performance metrics were driven by changes in the credit enhancement on CCBX loans, which is included within noninterest income, due to changes in CCBX provision expense. Although these items have historically been largely offsetting, a portion of The Partner’s expected lifetime loan losses was not expected to be fully recovered under its indemnification arrangement, and management established a valuation allowance against the indemnification asset; similarly in the third quarter, management maintained the valuation allowance, adjusting for current collectability expectations, with substantially less impact, as The Partner’s portfolio continued to perform near expectations.

The following table shows the Company’s key performance ratios for the periods indicated.  

    Three Months Ended
(unaudited)   September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
    March 31,
2026
  December 31,
2025
  September 30,
2025
                       
Return on average assets(1)   1.01   %   (3.32 ) %   0.98   %   1.09   %   1.19   %
Return on average equity(1)   11.64   %   (33.10 ) %   9.80   %   10.41   %   11.52   %
Yield on earnings assets(1)   9.05   %   9.65   %   9.38   %   9.55   %   9.80   %
Yield on loans receivable(1)   10.03   %   10.74   %   10.76   %   10.63   %   10.95   %
Cost of funds(1)   2.67   %   2.62   %   2.59   %   2.77   %   3.07   %
Cost of deposits(1)   2.61   %   2.57   %   2.56   %   2.74   %   3.04   %
Net interest margin(1)   6.59   %   7.27   %   7.00   %   7.03   %   7.00   %
Noninterest expense to average assets(1)   6.20   %   11.13   %   6.78   %   6.25   %   6.13   %
Noninterest income to average assets(1)   4.46   %   7.00   %   5.37   %   5.04   %   5.83   %
Efficiency ratio   56.82   %   79.24   %   55.85   %   52.75   %   48.50   %
Loans receivable to deposits(2)   92.46   %   88.77   %   79.02   %   92.20   %   94.32   %

(1)  Annualized calculations shown for quarterly periods presented.
(2)  Includes loans held for sale.

Third Quarter Conference Call

The Company will host its third quarter conference call on October 29, 2026 at 8 a.m. ET (5 a.m. PT). A live webcast of the conference call, as well as a replay, will be available online on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s investor website at https://ir.coastalbank.com/

Q3 Earnings Call Webcast Link: Link to Earnings Call

Coastal Financial Corporation Overview

The Company has one main subsidiary, the Bank, which consists of three segments: CCBX, the community bank and treasury & administration. The CCBX segment includes all of our BaaS activities, the community bank segment includes all community banking activities and the treasury & administration segment includes treasury management, overall administration and all other aspects of the Company.  

CCBX Performance Update

Our CCBX segment continues to evolve, and we have 31 relationships, at varying stages, including one partner in testing, two in implementation/onboarding, three signed LOIs and four winding down as of September 30, 2026. We continue to focus on the composition of our partner portfolio by emphasizing relationships with well-established organizations that align with our long-term strategy, while continually evaluating our portfolio to ensure it reflects our risk and return objectives. As part of this disciplined approach, we remain focused on strengthening existing partnerships, thoughtfully expanding product offerings, winding down less promising relationships and selectively adding new relationships that complement our platform and support sustainable growth.

Our strategy is centered on building long-term partnerships and leveraging the scale of our existing relationships to drive continued growth while maintaining a strong focus on prudent risk management and operational excellence.

Increasing partner activity and transaction volumes will drive growth in noninterest income, a trend we expect to continue as existing products scale and new offerings are introduced. As part of our strategy to manage partner and lending limits, as well as overall portfolio composition and credit quality, we plan to continue selling loans. We also retain a portion of the fee income associated with processing transactions on sold credit card loans. This revenue stream continues to grow and is expected to provide ongoing income without adding balance sheet risk or capital requirements.

As our deposit base grows, we expect to continue moving deposits on and off the balance sheet, subject to applicable agreements, to manage liquidity, FDIC insurance coverage and deposit program operations. This deposit sweep capability allows us to better manage liquidity and deposit programs. At September 30, 2026 we swept off-balance sheet $6.29 billion in deposits for FDIC insurance and liquidity purposes, and generated $1.4 million in noninterest income during the quarter ended September 30, 2026, compared to $1.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. During the quarter ended September 30, 2026, eight partner programs were in various stages of expansion to include additional products, such as lines of credit, deposit programs, asset backed credit cards, credit cards and other lending products. The expansion of these and other partner initiatives is expected to drive higher partner revenue in upcoming periods.

The following table illustrates the activity and evolution in CCBX relationships for the periods presented.

  As of
(unaudited) September 30,
2026
June 30,
2026
September 30,
2025
Active(1) 21 22 20
Friends and family / testing 1 1 2
Implementation / onboarding 2 1 4
Signed letters of intent 3 3 2
Wind down – active but preparing to exit relationship 4 3 1
Total CCBX relationships 31 30 29
       
Total exited relationships life to date 10 10 8

(1)  Includes Bluevine, which has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Valley, subject to regulatory approvals. Valley has indicated it expects the transaction to close in the second quarter of 2027, at which time the Bluevine relationship is expected to terminate, with associated deposits anticipated to transition out.

CCBX loans decreased $18.9 million, or 0.8%, to $2.21 billion as a result of selling $5.99 billion in loans during the three months ended September 30, 2026, $4.69 billion of which was new activity on previously sold credit card loans.

The following table details the CCBX loan portfolio:

CCBX   As of
    September 30, 2026   June 30, 2026   September 30, 2025
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Balance   % to Total   Balance   % to Total   Balance   % to Total
Commercial and industrial loans:                        
Capital call lines   $ 209,701     9.5 %   $ 204,835     9.2 %   $ 177,530     9.8 %
All other commercial & industrial loans     23,797     1.1       24,638     1.1       22,710     1.3  
Real estate loans:                        
Residential real estate loans     330,909     15.0       324,873     14.6       374,129     20.7  
Consumer and other loans:                        
Credit cards     552,078     25.0       753,171     33.8       563,324     31.2  
Other consumer and other loans     1,091,049     49.4       918,779     41.3       667,062     37.0  
Gross CCBX loans receivable     2,207,534     100.0 %     2,226,296     100.0 %     1,804,755     100.0 %
Net deferred origination fees     (635 )         (544 )         (579 )    
Loans receivable   $ 2,206,899         $ 2,225,752         $ 1,804,176      
Loan Yield – CCBX(1)(2)     12.73 %         14.56 %         15.65 %    
                         

(1)  CCBX yield does not include the impact of BaaS loan expense. BaaS loan expense represents the amount paid or payable to partners for credit enhancements and originating & servicing CCBX loans. See reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures at the end of this earnings release for the impact of BaaS loan expense on CCBX loan yield.
(2)  Loan yield is annualized for the three months ended for each period presented and includes loans held for sale and nonaccrual loans.

The decrease in CCBX loans in the quarter ended September 30, 2026, includes a decrease of $28.8 million, or 1.7%, in consumer and other loans, partially offset by an increase of $6.0 million, or 1.9%, in residential real estate and an increase of $4.9 million, or 2.4%, in capital call lines as a result of normal balance fluctuations and business activities. We sold $5.99 billion in CCBX loans during the quarter ended September 30, 2026 compared to sales of $4.56 billion in the quarter ended June 30, 2026. We continue to manage CCBX credit and concentration levels in an effort to optimize our loan portfolio earnings and generate off-balance sheet fee income. CCBX loan yield decreased 1.83% for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2026 due to a change in overall mix of loans between quarters, which is impacted by loan sales and tightening underwriting standards; however, net BaaS loan income divided by average CCBX loans, a non-GAAP measure the Company believes is more reflective of what the Bank actually earns on its CCBX portfolio, declined only modestly to 7.02% from 7.07% for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, reflecting the stability of the Bank’s net earnings on CCBX loans (a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures are set forth in the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of this earnings release).

CCBX active debit cards, a key source of interchange income, increased by 1.8 million cards, or 20.0%, quarter over quarter and by 6.0 million cards, or 118.7%, year over year.

The following charts show the growth and quarter over quarter changes in credit card accounts that generate fee income. This includes accounts with balances, which are included in our loan totals, and accounts that have been sold and have no corresponding balance in our loan totals, both of which generate fee income. During the current quarter, on-balance sheet accounts declined as loan sales shifted a portion of the accounts off-balance sheet, increasing the off-balance sheet count.

CCBX Credit Cards

Quarter over Quarter Change in CCBX Credit Cards

The following table details the CCBX deposit portfolio:

CCBX   As of
    September 30, 2026   June 30, 2026   September 30, 2025
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Balance   % to Total   Balance   % to Total   Balance   % to Total
Demand, noninterest bearing   $ 139,685     4.6 %   $ 109,634     3.3 %   $ 64,681     2.7 %
Interest bearing demand and money market     2,428,569     79.8       2,723,084     82.8       2,300,113     96.9  
Savings     473,253     15.6       455,014     13.9       10,168     0.4  
Total core deposits     3,041,507     100.0       3,287,732     100.0       2,374,962     100.0  
Other deposits     —     0.0       —     0.0       —     —  
Total CCBX deposits   $ 3,041,507     100.0 %   $ 3,287,732     100.0 %   $ 2,374,962     100.0 %
Cost of deposits(1)     3.17 %         3.19 %         3.90 %    
Swept deposits   $ 6,290,544         $ 4,261,255         $ 672,327      

(1)  Cost of deposits is annualized for the three months ended for each period presented.

CCBX deposits reported on the balance sheet decreased $246.2 million, or 7.5%, in the three months ended September 30, 2026 to $3.04 billion. The decline was primarily attributable to increased use of off-balance sheet sweep arrangements and does not reflect a decline in underlying partner deposit activity. Deposits swept off-balance sheet for increased FDIC insurance coverage and liquidity purposes increased to $6.29 billion at September 30, 2026, compared to $4.26 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, demonstrating continued growth in partner balances despite lower reported on-balance-sheet balances.

Community Bank Performance Update

In the quarter ended September 30, 2026, the community bank saw net loans decrease $3.9 million, or 0.2%, to $1.98 billion, as a result of normal balance fluctuations.

The following table details the community bank loan portfolio:

Community Bank   As of
    September 30, 2026   June 30, 2026   September 30, 2025
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Balance   % to Total   Balance   % to Total   Balance   % to Total
Commercial and industrial loans   $ 241,401     12.2 %   $ 237,176     11.9 %   $ 170,847     9.0 %
Real estate loans:                        
Construction, land and land development loans     248,766     12.5       221,562     11.2       218,061     11.4  
Residential real estate loans     191,980     9.7       199,530     10.0       202,979     10.7  
Commercial real estate loans     1,291,700     65.1       1,319,798     66.4       1,300,335     68.2  
Consumer and other loans:                        
Other consumer and other loans     10,736     0.5       10,760     0.5       14,181     0.7  
Gross community bank loans receivable     1,984,583     100.0 %     1,988,826     100.0 %     1,906,403     100.0 %
Net deferred origination fees     (5,953 )         (6,308 )         (6,731 )    
Loans receivable   $ 1,978,630         $ 1,982,518         $ 1,899,672      
Loan Yield(1)     6.66 %         6.57 %         6.51 %    

(1)  Loan yield is annualized for the three months ended for each period presented and includes loans held for sale and nonaccrual loans.

The decrease in community bank loans consisted of a decrease of $28.1 million in commercial real estate loans, $7.6 million in residential real estate loans and $24,000 in consumer and other loans, partially offset by an increase of $27.2 million in construction, land and land development loans and $4.2 million in commercial and industrial loans during the quarter ended September 30, 2026.

The following table details the community bank deposit portfolio:

Community Bank   As of
    September 30, 2026   June 30, 2026   September 30, 2025
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Balance   % to Total   Balance   % to Total   Balance   % to Total
Demand, noninterest bearing   $ 491,342     30.0 %   $ 502,844     31.9 %   $ 499,722     31.3 %
Interest bearing demand and money market     1,084,783     66.3       1,005,748     63.9       1,025,929     64.2  
Savings     51,482     3.1       54,459     3.5       58,747     3.7  
Total core deposits     1,627,607     99.4       1,563,051     99.3       1,584,398     99.2  
Other deposits     1     0.0       1     0.0       1     0.0  
Time deposits less than $250,000     6,133     0.4       7,283     0.5       4,834     0.3  
Time deposits $250,000 and over     3,583     0.2       3,831     0.2       8,368     0.5  
Total community bank deposits   $ 1,637,324     100.0 %   $ 1,574,166     100.0 %   $ 1,597,601     100.0 %
Cost of deposits(1)     1.54 %         1.46 %         1.77 %    

(1)  Cost of deposits is annualized for the three months ended for each period presented.

Community bank deposits increased $63.2 million, or 4.0%, during the three months ended September 30, 2026 to $1.64 billion as a result of normal growth and balance fluctuations. The community bank segment includes noninterest bearing deposits of $491.3 million, or 30.0%, of total community bank deposits, resulting in a cost of deposits of 1.54%, which is up slightly from 1.46% for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, and down from 1.77% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025.

Net Interest Income and Margin Discussion

Net interest income was $88.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, a decrease of $1.1 million, or 1.2%, from $89.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, and an increase of $10.4 million, or 13.4%, from $77.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. Net interest income compared to June 30, 2026 was lower primarily due to an increase in interest expense on interest bearing accounts due primarily to an increase in average interest bearing deposits. Net interest income was higher compared to September 30, 2025 primarily due to higher loan interest resulting from an increase in average loans receivable partially offset by a decrease in loan rates.

Net interest margin was 6.59% for the three months ended September 30, 2026, compared to 7.27% for the three months ended June 30, 2026 and 7.00% for the three months ended September 30, 2025. The decrease in net interest margin for the three months ended September 30, 2026 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2026 was primarily driven by a decrease in average loan yield driven by a change in loan mix. Net interest margin, net of BaaS loan expense, (a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures are set forth in the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of this earnings release) was 3.93% for the three months ended September 30, 2026, compared to 3.98% for the three months ended June 30, 2026 and 4.05% for the three months ended September 30, 2025. The quarter-over-quarter decrease in net interest margin, net of BaaS loan expense, was also primarily driven by a decrease in average loan yield due to a change in loan mix.

Interest and fees on loans receivable increased $2.0 million, or 1.8%, to $113.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2026, compared to $111.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026, as a result of an increase in average loans receivable. Interest and fees on loans receivable increased $12.7 million, or 12.7%, compared to $100.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, due to loan growth, partially offset by a decrease in loan yield.

The following table illustrates how net interest margin and loan yield is affected by BaaS loan expense:

Consolidated   As of and for the Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30
2026
  June 30
2026
  September 30
2025
Net interest margin, net of BaaS loan expense:        
Net interest margin(1)     6.59 %     7.27 %     7.00 %
Earning assets     5,311,128       4,928,350       4,413,529  
Net interest income (GAAP)     88,286       89,367       77,901  
Less: BaaS loan expense     (35,715 )     (40,409 )     (32,840 )
Net interest income, net of BaaS loan expense(2)   $ 52,571     $ 48,958     $ 45,061  
Net interest margin, net of BaaS loan expense(1)(2)     3.93 %     3.98 %     4.05 %
Loan income net of BaaS loan expense divided by average loans:    
Loan yield (GAAP)(1)     10.03 %     10.74 %     10.95 %
Total average loans receivable   $ 4,474,470     $ 4,148,380     $ 3,636,545  
Interest and earned fee income on loans (GAAP)     113,082       111,097       100,367  
BaaS loan expense     (35,715 )     (40,409 )     (32,840 )
Net loan income(2)   $ 77,367     $ 70,688     $ 67,527  
Loan income, net of BaaS loan expense, divided by average loans(1)(2)     6.86 %     6.83 %     7.37 %

(1) Annualized calculations shown for periods presented.
(2) A reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures are set forth at the end of this earnings release.

Average investment securities decreased $772,000 to $45.0 million compared to the three months ended June 30, 2026 as a result of maturities and principal paydowns, and decreased $26,000 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2025.

Cost of funds was 2.67% for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, an increase of five basis points from the quarter ended June 30, 2026, and a decrease of 40 basis points from the quarter ended September 30, 2025. Cost of deposits for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 was 2.61%, compared to 2.57% for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, and 3.04% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. The decreased cost of funds and deposits compared to September 30, 2025 was largely due to the reductions in the Fed funds rate in 2025; however, the 0.25% increase to the Fed funds rate effective September 17, 2026, along with any future changes in the rate, will impact cost of funds and deposits in the future.

The following table summarizes the average yield on loans receivable and cost of deposits:

  For the Three Months Ended
  September 30, 2026   June 30, 2026   September 30, 2025
  Yield on
Loans(2)
  Cost of
Deposits(2)
  Yield on
Loans(2)
  Cost of
Deposits(2)
  Yield on
Loans(2)
  Cost of
Deposits(2)
Community Bank 6.66 %   1.54 %   6.57 %   1.46 %   6.51 %   1.77 %
CCBX(1) 12.73 %   3.17 %   14.56 %   3.19 %   15.65 %   3.90 %
Consolidated 10.03 %   2.61 %   10.74 %   2.57 %   10.95 %   3.04 %

(1)  CCBX yield on loans does not include the impact of BaaS loan expense. BaaS loan expense represents the amount paid or payable to partners for credit and fraud enhancements and originating & servicing CCBX loans. To determine Net BaaS loan income earned from CCBX loan relationships, the Company takes BaaS loan interest income and deducts BaaS loan expense to arrive at Net BaaS loan income, which can be compared to interest income on the Company’s community bank loans. See reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures at the end of this earnings release for the impact of BaaS loan expense on CCBX loan yield.
(2)  Annualized calculations for periods presented.

The following table illustrates how BaaS loan interest income is affected by BaaS loan expense resulting in net BaaS loan income and the associated yield:

    For the Three Months Ended
    September 30, 2026   June 30, 2026   September 30, 2025
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Income / Expense   Income / expense divided by average CCBX loans(2)   Income / Expense   Income / expense divided by average CCBX loans(2)   Income / Expense   Income / expense divided by average CCBX loans(2)
BaaS loan interest income   $ 79,623   12.73 %   $ 78,580   14.56 %   $ 69,643   15.65 %
Less: BaaS loan expense     35,715   5.71 %     40,409   7.49 %     32,840   7.38 %
Net BaaS loan income(1)   $ 43,908   7.02 %   $ 38,171   7.07 %   $ 36,803   8.27 %
Average BaaS Loans(3)   $ 2,480,545       $ 2,164,634       $ 1,764,957    

(1) A reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures are set forth at the end of this earnings release.
(2) Annualized calculations shown for the periods presented.
(3) Includes loans held for sale.

Noninterest Income Discussion

Noninterest income was $61.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2026, a decrease of $27.7 million from $88.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026, and a decrease of $5.7 million from $66.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025. The decrease in noninterest income for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 as compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2026 was primarily due to a $29.0 million decrease in credit enhancement income, which moved in tandem with a corresponding decrease in the provision for credit losses, both driven by change in loan mix and sales of loans and expected losses based upon an analysis of the CCBX loan portfolio, partially offset by an additional $3.1 million downwards adjustment to credit enhancement income related to The Partner whose indemnification of credit losses is not expected to be fully collectable, a $183,000 decrease in BaaS fraud enhancements and a $477,000 decrease in unrealized gain on equity securities reflecting a $565,000 downward valuation adjustment on a strategic equity investment, partially offset by an increase of $2.1 million in BaaS program income (see “Appendix B” for more information on the accounting for BaaS allowance for credit losses and credit and fraud enhancements).

The $5.7 million decrease in noninterest income over the quarter ended September 30, 2025 was primarily due to an $11.6 million decrease in BaaS credit and fraud enhancements, partially offset by an increase of $6.3 million in BaaS program income.

Noninterest Expense Discussion

Total noninterest expense decreased $56.3 million to $84.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2026, compared to $141.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026, and increased $14.7 million from $70.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025. The $56.3 million decrease in noninterest expense for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, as compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2026, was primarily due to a $46.0 million credit enhancement receivable valuation adjustment recorded in the second quarter of 2026 related to the assessment of collectability for The Partner that did not recur in the third quarter of 2026, a $5.9 million decrease in data processing and software licenses reflecting the absence of $4.4 million in second-quarter accelerated depreciation and lower current-quarter amortization and a $1.6 million decrease in salaries and employee benefits, partially offset by a $1.6 million increase in legal and professional fees. Also contributing to the variance was a $4.7 million decrease in BaaS loan expense and a $183,000 decrease in BaaS fraud expense. BaaS loan expense represents the amount paid or payable to partners for credit enhancements and originating & servicing CCBX loans. BaaS fraud expense represents non-credit fraud losses on partner’s customer loan and deposit accounts. A portion of this expense is realized during the quarter in which the loss occurs, and a portion is estimated based on historical or other information from our partners.

The $14.7 million increase in noninterest expense for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2025 was largely due to a $3.8 million increase in legal and professional expenses, a $2.3 million increase in data processing and software licenses due to enhancements and investments in technology and a $1.9 million increase in salaries and employee benefits. Also contributing to the variance is a $2.9 million increase in BaaS loan expense and a $2.0 million increase in BaaS fraud expense.

Certain operating expenses associated with CCBX programs are reimbursed by our CCBX partners. In accordance with GAAP we recognize all expenses in noninterest expense and the reimbursement of expenses from our CCBX partners in noninterest income. The $51.7 million decrease in noninterest expense net of BaaS loan expense, BaaS fraud expense and reimbursement of expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, as compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2026, was primarily due to a $46.0 million credit enhancement receivable valuation adjustment recorded in the second quarter related to the assessment of collectability for The Partner that did not recur in the third quarter. The following table reflects the portion of noninterest expenses that are reimbursed by partners to assist in understanding how the increases in noninterest expense are related to expenses incurred and reimbursed by CCBX partners:

    Three Months Ended
    September 30,   June 30,   September 30,
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   2026   2026   2025
Total noninterest expense (GAAP)   $ 84,843   $ 141,111   $ 70,172
Less: BaaS loan expense     35,715     40,409     32,840
Less: BaaS fraud expense     4,129     4,312     2,127
Less: Reimbursement of expenses (BaaS)     2,592     2,259     1,412
Noninterest expense, net of BaaS loan expense, BaaS fraud expense and reimbursement of expenses (BaaS)(1)   $ 42,407   $ 94,131   $ 33,793

(1) A reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures are set forth at the end of this earnings release.

Provision for Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes reflected an expense of $4.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2026, compared to tax benefit of $13.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026 and expense of $4.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025. The tax benefit recognized during the three months ended June 30, 2026 was primarily attributable to the pre-tax loss incurred during the period, while differences between periods also reflect changes in the taxability of certain equity awards.

As CCBX activities and employee presence expand into additional states, the Company becomes subject to additional state tax jurisdictions, which has increased the overall tax rate used in calculating the provision for income taxes. The Company uses a federal statutory tax rate of 21.0% as a basis for calculating provision for federal income taxes and 3.64% for calculating the provision for state income taxes.

Financial Condition Overview

Total assets decreased $179.7 million, or 3.3%, to $5.28 billion at September 30, 2026, compared to $5.46 billion at June 30, 2026. The decrease is primarily comprised of a $202.5 million decrease in interest earning deposits with other banks and a $22.7 million decrease in loans receivable, partially offset by a $32.5 million increase in loans held for sale. The decrease in loans receivable is primarily the result of $5.99 billion in loan sales during the quarter.

As of September 30, 2026, in addition to the $803.6 million in cash on hand, the Company had borrowing capacity of up to a total of $621.4 million from the Federal Reserve Bank discount window and Federal Home Loan Bank, plus an additional $206.0 million available under credit facilities with banker’s banks. There were no borrowings outstanding on these lines as of September 30, 2026.

The Company, on a stand alone basis, had a cash balance of $14.5 million as of September 30, 2026, a portion of which is retained for general operating purposes, including debt repayment, and for funding $2.5 million in commitments to bank technology investment funds, with the remaining cash available to be contributed to the Bank as capital.  

Uninsured deposits were estimated at $899.6 million as of September 30, 2026, compared to $1.35 billion as of June 30, 2026. While uninsured deposits decreased from the prior quarter, they may fluctuate due to the composition and timing of certain partner deposit balances, including the periodic use of sweep arrangements.

Total shareholders’ equity as of September 30, 2026 increased $14.8 million since June 30, 2026. The increase in shareholders’ equity was primarily comprised of $13.8 million in net income and an increase of $1.0 million in common stock outstanding as a result of equity awards vested and exercised during the three months ended September 30, 2026. During the quarter ended September 30, 2026, the Company contributed $25.0 million of capital to the Bank to support the Bank’s capital position and capacity for continued growth.

The Company and the Bank remained well capitalized at September 30, 2026, as summarized in the following table.

(unaudited)   Coastal Community Bank   Coastal Financial Corporation   Minimum Well Capitalized Ratios under Prompt Corrective Action(1)
Tier 1 Leverage Capital (to average assets)   9.30 %   8.81 %   5.00 %
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (to risk-weighted assets)   12.22 %   11.47 %   6.50 %
Tier 1 Capital (to risk-weighted assets)   12.22 %   11.56 %   8.00 %
Total Capital (to risk-weighted assets)   13.52 %   13.82 %   10.00 %

(1) Presents the minimum capital ratios for an insured depository institution, such as the Bank, to be considered well capitalized under the Prompt Corrective Action framework. The minimum requirements for the Company to be considered well capitalized under Regulation Y include to maintain, on a consolidated basis, a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0 percent or greater and a tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0 percent or greater.

Asset Quality

The allowance for credit losses was $208.1 million and 4.97% of loans receivable at September 30, 2026, compared to $213.7 million and 5.08% at June 30, 2026 and $173.8 million and 4.69% at September 30, 2025. The allowance for credit loss allocated to the CCBX portfolio was $192.0 million and 8.70% of CCBX loans receivable at September 30, 2026, with $16.1 million of allowance for credit loss allocated to the community bank, or 0.81% of total community bank loans receivable. The decline in CCBX’s allowance ratio primarily reflected a reduced reserve on certain overdraft receivables under an agreement for the partner to purchase them at 60 days past due, before the Bank’s customary charge-off point. Changes in loan mix and an updated prepayment study also affected the allowance.

The following table details the allocation of the allowance for credit loss as of the period indicated:

    As of September 30, 2026   As of June 30, 2026   As of September 30, 2025
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Community Bank   CCBX   Total   Community Bank   CCBX   Total   Community Bank   CCBX   Total
Loans receivable   $ 1,978,630     $ 2,206,899     $ 4,185,529     $ 1,982,518     $ 2,225,752     $ 4,208,270     $ 1,899,672     $ 1,804,176     $ 3,703,848  
Allowance for credit losses     (16,094 )     (192,010 )     (208,104 )     (15,723 )     (198,001 )     (213,724 )     (18,354 )     (155,459 )     (173,813 )
Allowance for credit losses to total loans receivable     0.81 %     8.70 %     4.97 %     0.79 %     8.90 %     5.08 %     0.97 %     8.62 %     4.69 %
                                                                         

Net charge-offs totaled $49.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, compared to $50.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 and $49.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. Net charge-offs as a percent of average loans decreased to 4.43% for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 compared to 4.90% for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, and 5.37% for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. Under one partner program, the Company retains ownership of approximately 5% of a $167.5 million loan portfolio and retains the provision for credit losses for that portfolio. Loan sales during the quarter temporarily increased its retained share to approximately 15% of the $167.5 million portfolio, or $25.1 million in loans. Net charge-offs for this $25.1 million in loans were $778,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2026, $1.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026 and $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2025.

The following table details net charge-offs for the community bank and CCBX for the period indicated:

    Three Months Ended
    September 30, 2026   June 30, 2026   September 30, 2025
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Community Bank   CCBX   Total   Community Bank   CCBX   Total   Community Bank   CCBX   Total
Gross charge-offs   $ 4     $ 57,790     $ 57,794     $ 56     $ 58,162     $ 58,218     $ 18     $ 54,516     $ 54,534  
Gross recoveries     (3 )     (7,874 )     (7,877 )     (2 )     (7,581 )     (7,583 )     (19 )     (5,270 )     (5,289 )
Net charge-offs (recoveries)   $ 1     $ 49,916     $ 49,917     $ 54     $ 50,581     $ 50,635     $ (1 )   $ 49,246     $ 49,245  
Net charge-offs to average loans(1)     0.00 %     7.98 %     4.43 %     0.01 %     9.37 %     4.90 %     0.00 %     11.07 %     5.37 %

(1) Annualized calculations shown for periods presented.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2026, a $43.9 million provision for credit losses was recorded for CCBX partner loans, compared to $94.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. The decrease primarily reflected that the $22.8 million specific provision recorded in the quarter ended June 30, 2026 for credit losses not expected to be fully recovered under The Partner’s indemnification arrangement remained unchanged in the current quarter with no incremental provision required for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. Changes in portfolio composition and weighted average lives also impacted the current quarter provision. The CCBX allowance for credit losses was $192.0 million at September 30, 2026, compared to $198.0 million at June 30, 2026. In general, CCBX loans have a higher level of expected losses than our community bank loans, which is reflected in the factors for the allowance for credit losses.

In accordance with accounting guidance, we estimate and record a provision for expected losses for these CCBX loans and reclassified negative deposit accounts, with expected losses reflected in the allowance for credit losses. When provision expense is recognized for CCBX credit losses and unfunded commitments that are subject to partner indemnification, we also record a credit enhancement asset through noninterest income (BaaS credit enhancements) representing amounts contractually due under the applicable partner agreements. We evaluate the collectability of the credit enhancement asset each reporting period and record a valuation adjustment when collection of all or a portion of the asset is no longer considered probable. The credit enhancement asset is reduced as indemnification payments are received from CCBX partners. Management regularly evaluates and manages counterparty risk associated with its CCBX partners, as the Bank could incur additional credit losses to the extent a partner is unable to fulfill its contractual obligations.

The factors used in management’s analysis for community bank credit losses indicated that a provision of $372,000 was needed for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 compared to a provision recapture of $2.4 million and $583,000 for the quarters ended June 30, 2026 and September 30, 2025, respectively. The provision in the current period was due to a change in prepayment speeds and changes in the overall mix of the portfolio.

The following table details the provision expense (recapture) for loans by segment for the period indicated:

    Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  September 30,
2025
Community bank   $ 372   $ (2,377 )   $ (583 )
CCBX     43,925     94,309       58,847  
Total provision expense – loans receivable   $ 44,297   $ 91,932     $ 58,264  
                       

In addition, there was a $1.4 million provision for unfunded commitments, recorded primarily due to an increase in unfunded commitments.

At September 30, 2026, our nonperforming assets were $60.5 million, or 1.15% of total assets, compared to $75.2 million, or 1.38% of total assets, at June 30, 2026 and $59.8 million, or 1.31% of total assets, at September 30, 2025. These ratios are impacted by nonperforming CCBX loans that are covered by CCBX partner credit enhancements. As of September 30, 2026, $52.8 million of the $54.6 million in nonperforming CCBX loans were covered by CCBX partner credit enhancements described above. Additionally, certain CCBX partners employ collection practices that place specific loans on nonaccrual status to enhance collectability. As of September 30, 2026, $18.7 million of these loans are less than 90 days past due.

Nonperforming assets decreased $14.7 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2026, compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2026. Community bank nonperforming loans decreased $380,000 from June 30, 2026 to $5.8 million as of September 30, 2026. CCBX nonperforming loans decreased $14.3 million to $54.6 million from June 30, 2026. The decrease in CCBX nonperforming loans is due to a decrease of $7.2 million in nonaccrual loans from June 30, 2026 to $23.3 million, combined with a $7.2 million decrease in CCBX loans that are past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest. As a result of the type of loans (primarily consumer loans) originated through our CCBX partners, we would typically anticipate that balances 90 days past due or more and still accruing will generally increase as those loan portfolios grow. Consumer loans originated through CCBX lending partners may continue to accrue interest beyond 90 days past due. Installment (closed-end) loans generally continue to accrue until 120 past due while revolving (open-end) loans generally continue to accrue until 180 days past due. There were no repossessed assets or other real estate owned at September 30, 2026. Our nonperforming loans to loans receivable ratio was 1.44% at September 30, 2026, compared to 1.79% at June 30, 2026 and 1.61% at September 30, 2025.

The following table details the Company’s nonperforming assets for the periods indicated.

Consolidated As of
(dollars in thousands; unaudited) September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  September 30,
2025
Nonaccrual loans:          
Commercial and industrial loans $ 198     $ 243     $ 2,297  
Real estate loans:          
Construction, land and land development   —       —       1,697  
Residential real estate   1,695       1,705       —  
Commercial real estate   4,000       4,344       348  
Consumer and other loans:          
Credit cards   18,161       26,670       19,677  
Other consumer and other loans   5,071       3,729       2,820  
Total nonaccrual loans   29,125       36,691       26,839  
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more:          
Commercial & industrial loans   346       504       910  
Real estate loans:          
Residential real estate loans   1,610       1,446       1,575  
Consumer and other loans:          
Credit cards   17,536       27,077       22,626  
Other consumer and other loans   11,851       9,472       7,813  
Total accruing loans past due 90 days or more   31,343       38,499       32,924  
Total nonperforming loans   60,468       75,190       59,763  
Real estate owned   —       —       —  
Repossessed assets   —       —       —  
Total nonperforming assets $ 60,468     $ 75,190     $ 59,763  
Total nonaccrual loans to loans receivable   0.70 %     0.87 %     0.72 %
Total nonperforming loans to loans receivable   1.44 %     1.79 %     1.61 %
Total nonperforming assets to total assets   1.15 %     1.38 %     1.31 %
                       

The following tables detail the CCBX and community bank nonperforming assets, which are included in the total nonperforming assets table above.

CCBX As of
(dollars in thousands; unaudited) September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  September 30,
2025
Nonaccrual loans:          
Commercial and industrial loans:          
All other commercial & industrial loans $ 49     $ 68     $ 157  
Consumer and other loans:          
Credit cards   18,161       26,670       19,677  
Other consumer and other loans   5,071       3,729       2,820  
Total nonaccrual loans   23,281       30,467       22,654  
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more:          
Commercial & industrial loans   346       504       910  
Real estate loans:          
Residential real estate loans   1,610       1,446       1,575  
Consumer and other loans:          
Credit cards   17,536       27,077       22,626  
Other consumer and other loans   11,851       9,472       7,813  
Total accruing loans past due 90 days or more   31,343       38,499       32,924  
Total nonperforming loans   54,624       68,966       55,578  
Other real estate owned   —       —       —  
Repossessed assets   —       —       —  
Total nonperforming assets $ 54,624     $ 68,966     $ 55,578  
Total CCBX nonperforming assets to total consolidated assets   1.04 %     1.26 %     1.22 %

Community Bank As of
(dollars in thousands; unaudited) September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  September 30,
2025
Nonaccrual loans:          
Commercial and industrial loans $ 149     $ 175     $ 2,140  
Real estate:          
Construction, land and land development   —       —       1,697  
Residential real estate   1,695       1,705       —  
Commercial real estate   4,000       4,344       348  
Total nonaccrual loans   5,844       6,224       4,185  
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more:          
Total accruing loans past due 90 days or more   —       —       —  
Total nonperforming loans   5,844       6,224       4,185  
Other real estate owned   —       —       —  
Repossessed assets   —       —       —  
Total nonperforming assets $ 5,844     $ 6,224     $ 4,185  
Total community bank nonperforming assets to total consolidated assets   0.11 %     0.11 %     0.09 %
                       

Negative deposit account balances are reclassified as loans for financial reporting purposes and are included in the Company’s allowance for credit losses under its CECL methodology. Because these balances do not accrue interest, they are not included in nonaccrual loans. Management monitors the aging, collectability and expected credit losses associated with these balances as part of its ongoing credit risk management process. Consistent with the second quarter of 2026, The Partner’s reclassified negative deposit account, which was outstanding for more than 90 days both quarters, remains included in loans receivable at $22.8 million, with no change quarter over quarter. Management established a 100% specific reserve against this balance in the second quarter of 2026 that was unchanged at September 30, 2026, reflecting its assessment that full collection is not expected under the applicable indemnification arrangement.

About Coastal Financial

Coastal Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CCB) (the “Company”), is an Everett, Washington based bank holding company whose wholly owned subsidiaries are Coastal Community Bank (“Bank”) and Arlington Olympic LLC. The $5.28 billion Bank provides service through 14 full-service branches in Snohomish, Island and King Counties, one loan production office in King County, the Internet and its mobile banking application. The Bank provides banking as a service to digital financial service providers, companies and brands that want to provide financial services to their customers through the Bank’s CCBX segment. To learn more about the Company visit www.coastalbank.com.

CCB-ER

Contact

Eric Sprink, Chief Executive Officer, esprink@coastalbank.com
Joel G. Edwards, Chief Financial Officer, jedwards@coastalbank.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This earnings release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance. Any statements about our management’s expectations, beliefs, plans, predictions, forecasts, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and may be forward-looking. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believes,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “predicts,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “estimate,” “plans,” “projects,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expects,” “intends” and similar words or phrases. Any or all of the forward-looking statements in this earnings release may turn out to be inaccurate. The inclusion of or reference to forward-looking information in this earnings release should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the future plans, estimates or expectations contemplated by us will be achieved. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation, our ability to effectively evaluate and manage counterparty risk associated with CCBX partners and the risk that the conflicts in the Middle East and/or changes in U.S. trade policies, including the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, may adversely impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations and those other risks and uncertainties discussed under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent period filed and in any of our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from what we anticipate. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

COASTAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(Dollars in thousands; unaudited)

ASSETS
  September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  March 31,
2026
  December 31,
2025
  September 30,
2025
Cash and due from banks $ 45,707     $ 48,088     $ 52,695     $ 34,241     $ 34,928  
Interest earning deposits with other banks   757,844       960,360       1,442,772       702,729       607,330  
Investment securities, available-for-sale, at fair value   25       27       28       29       31  
Investment securities, held-to-maturity, at amortized cost   44,695       45,219       46,141       48,218       43,911  
Other investments   18,803       14,177       14,023       12,837       12,778  
Loans held for sale   140,337       107,838       124,039       71,216       42,894  
Loans receivable   4,185,529       4,208,270       3,859,379       3,749,531       3,703,848  
Allowance for credit losses   (208,104 )     (213,724 )     (172,427 )     (169,530 )     (173,813 )
Total loans receivable, net   3,977,425       3,994,546       3,686,952       3,580,001       3,530,035  
CCBX credit enhancement asset, net   150,327       154,346       180,587       177,657       177,741  
CCBX receivable   34,456       28,134       24,926       23,047       16,260  
Premises and equipment, net   27,088       25,736       29,710       29,325       29,114  
Lease right-of-use assets   4,093       4,368       4,641       4,821       4,788  
Accrued interest receivable   24,969       20,937       20,139       18,613       20,493  
Bank-owned life insurance, net   14,337       14,199       14,044       13,910       13,777  
Deferred tax asset, net   17,164       16,196       —       —       —  
Intangible assets, net   3,981       4,207       4,434       4,536       —  
Other assets   15,176       17,774       18,698       20,257       18,996  
Total assets $ 5,276,427     $ 5,456,152     $ 5,663,829     $ 4,741,437     $ 4,553,076  
                   
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
LIABILITIES                  
Deposits $ 4,678,831     $ 4,861,898     $ 5,041,164     $ 4,144,199     $ 3,972,563  
Subordinated debt, net   44,555       44,518       44,480       44,443       44,406  
Junior subordinated debentures, net   3,595       3,594       3,594       3,593       3,593  
Deferred compensation   221       236       251       267       281  
Accrued interest payable   1,229       2,178       2,665       1,435       1,106  
Lease liabilities   4,241       4,522       4,799       4,984       4,956  
CCBX payable   18,780       32,980       28,410       27,492       31,221  
Deferred tax liability, net   —       —       1,656       853       799  
Other liabilities   46,708       42,779       33,048       23,212       18,874  
Total liabilities   4,798,160       4,992,705       5,160,067       4,250,478       4,077,799  
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                  
Common Stock   237,044       236,012       234,222       233,438       230,399  
Retained earnings   241,224       227,436       269,541       257,522       244,879  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax   (1 )     (1 )     (1 )     (1 )     (1 )
Total shareholders’ equity   478,267       463,447       503,762       490,959       475,277  
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 5,276,427     $ 5,456,152     $ 5,663,829     $ 4,741,437     $ 4,553,076  
                                       

COASTAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts; unaudited)

  Three Months Ended
  September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  March 31,
2026
  December 31,
2025
  September 30,
2025
INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME                  
Interest and fees on loans $ 113,082     $ 111,097     $ 102,887   $ 100,206   $ 100,367
Interest on interest earning deposits with other banks   7,286       6,607       8,128     6,810     8,007
Interest on investment securities   609       612       622     635     616
Dividends on other investments   206       238       44     235     37
Total interest income   121,183       118,554       111,681     107,886     109,027
INTEREST EXPENSE                  
Interest on deposits   30,931       28,043       27,670     27,863     30,466
Interest on borrowed funds   1,966       1,144       654     658     660
Total interest expense   32,897       29,187       28,324     28,521     31,126
Net interest income   88,286       89,367       83,357     79,365     77,901
PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES   46,019       92,157       51,398     48,041     56,598
Net interest income (expense) after provision for credit losses   42,267       (2,790 )     31,959     31,324     21,303
NONINTEREST INCOME                  
Service charges and fees   979       1,016       850     882     903
Gain on sales of loans, net   7       —       —     —     —
Unrealized (loss) gain on equity securities, net   (502 )     (25 )     126     —     9
Other income   533       667       410     459     461
Noninterest income, excluding BaaS program income and BaaS indemnification income   1,017       1,658       1,386     1,341     1,373
Servicing and other BaaS fees   3,509       2,917       2,623     2,113     1,575
Transaction and interchange fees   8,026       6,836       5,873     4,924     4,878
Reimbursement of expenses   2,592       2,259       2,392     1,868     1,412
BaaS program income   14,127       12,012       10,888     8,905     7,865
BaaS credit enhancements   41,767       70,725       50,744     47,325     55,412
BaaS fraud enhancements   4,129       4,312       3,059     1,090     2,127
BaaS indemnification income   45,896       75,037       53,803     48,415     57,539
Total noninterest income   61,040       88,707       66,077     58,661     66,777
NONINTEREST EXPENSE                  
Salaries and employee benefits   22,003       23,615       23,164     22,787     20,146
Occupancy   932       890       859     1,091     952
Data processing and software licenses   8,441       14,348       7,643     6,978     6,114
Legal and professional expenses   7,792       6,197       7,002     4,447     3,957
Point of sale expense   427       464       445     105     69
Excise taxes   1,059       988       1,169     756     696
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) assessments   1,269       829       573     817     815
Director and staff expenses   655       718       668     870     544
Marketing   7       6       38     259     272
Credit enhancement receivable valuation adjustment   —       46,009       —     —     —
Other expense   2,414       2,326       1,892     2,348     1,640
Noninterest expense, excluding BaaS loan and BaaS fraud expense   44,999       96,390       43,453     40,458     35,205
BaaS loan expense   35,715       40,409       36,940     31,256     32,840
BaaS fraud expense   4,129       4,312       3,059     1,090     2,127
BaaS loan and fraud expense   39,844       44,721       39,999     32,346     34,967
Total noninterest expense   84,843       141,111       83,452     72,804     70,172
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes   18,464       (55,194 )     14,584     17,181     17,908
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES   4,676       (13,089 )     2,565     4,538     4,316
NET INCOME (LOSS) $ 13,788     $ (42,105 )   $ 12,019   $ 12,643   $ 13,592
Basic earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.90     $ (2.76 )   $ 0.79   $ 0.84   $ 0.90
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $ 0.89     $ (2.76 )   $ 0.78   $ 0.82   $ 0.88
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:                  
Basic   15,256,873       15,243,357       15,179,447     15,116,005     15,093,274
Diluted   15,417,178       15,243,357       15,422,822     15,455,856     15,443,987
                                 

COASTAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AVERAGE BALANCES, YIELDS, AND RATES – QUARTERLY
(Dollars in thousands; unaudited)

  For the Three Months Ended
  September 30, 2026   June 30, 2026   September 30, 2025
  Average
Balance
  Interest &
Dividends
  Yield /
Cost(1)
  Average
Balance
  Interest &
Dividends
  Yield /
Cost(1)
  Average
Balance
  Interest &
Dividends
  Yield /
Cost(1)
Assets                                  
Interest earning assets:                                  
Interest earning deposits with other banks $ 775,638     $ 7,286   3.73 %   $ 717,893     $ 6,607   3.69 %   $ 719,191     $ 8,007   4.42 %
Investment securities, available-for-sale(2)   27       —   —       28       —   —       33       —   —  
Investment securities, held-to-maturity(2)   45,010       609   5.37       45,781       612   5.36       45,030       616   5.43  
Other investments   15,983       206   5.11       16,268       238   5.87       12,730       37   1.15  
Loans receivable(3)   4,474,470       113,082   10.03       4,148,380       111,097   10.74       3,636,545       100,367   10.95  
Total interest earning assets   5,311,128       121,183   9.05       4,928,350       118,554   9.65       4,413,529       109,027   9.80  
Noninterest earning assets:                                  
Allowance for credit losses   (207,116 )             (171,130 )             (158,525 )        
Other noninterest earning assets   321,863               327,580               286,002          
Total assets $ 5,425,875             $ 5,084,800             $ 4,541,006          
                                   
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity                                  
Interest bearing liabilities:                                  
Interest bearing deposits $ 4,078,051     $ 30,931   3.01 %   $ 3,781,107     $ 28,043   2.97 %   $ 3,394,664     $ 30,466   3.56 %
Fed funds borrowings   122,119       1,167   3.79       1,099       11   4.01       —       —   —  
FHLB advances and other borrowings   13,370       135   4.01       48,725       480   3.95       —       —   —  
Subordinated debt   44,531       608   5.42       44,494       598   5.39       44,383       598   5.35  
Junior subordinated debentures   3,594       56   6.18       3,594       55   6.14       3,592       62   6.85  
Total interest bearing liabilities   4,261,665       32,897   3.06       3,879,019       29,187   3.02       3,442,639       31,126   3.59  
Noninterest bearing deposits   627,962               588,188               577,820          
Other liabilities   66,445               107,447               52,447          
Total shareholders’ equity   469,803               510,146               468,100          
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 5,425,875             $ 5,084,800             $ 4,541,006          
Net interest income     $ 88,286           $ 89,367           $ 77,901    
Interest rate spread         5.99 %           6.63 %           6.21 %
Net interest margin(4)         6.59 %           7.27 %           7.00 %

(1)  Yields and costs are annualized.
(2)  For presentation in this table, average balances and the corresponding average rates for investment securities are based upon historical cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts.
(3)  Includes loans held for sale and nonaccrual loans.
(4)  Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by the average total interest earning assets.

COASTAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION
SELECTED AVERAGE BALANCES, YIELDS, AND RATES – BY SEGMENT – QUARTERLY
(Dollars in thousands; unaudited)

  For the Three Months Ended
  September 30, 2026   June 30, 2026   September 30, 2025
(dollars in thousands; unaudited) Average
Balance
  Interest &
Dividends
  Yield /
Cost(1)
  Average
Balance
  Interest &
Dividends
  Yield /
Cost(1)
  Average
Balance
  Interest &
Dividends
  Yield /
Cost(1)
Community Bank                                  
Assets                                  
Interest earning assets:                                  
Loans receivable(2) $ 1,993,925   $ 33,459   6.66 %   $ 1,983,746   $ 32,517   6.57 %   $ 1,871,588   $ 30,724   6.51 %
Total interest earning assets   1,993,925     33,459   6.66       1,983,746     32,517   6.57       1,871,588     30,724   6.51  
Liabilities                                  
Interest bearing liabilities:                                
Interest bearing deposits   1,121,204     6,320   2.24 %     1,062,196     5,657   2.14 %     1,096,883     7,136   2.58 %
Intrabank liability   363,768     3,420   3.73       426,969     3,931   3.69       271,961     3,028   4.42  
Total interest bearing liabilities   1,484,972     9,740   2.60       1,489,165     9,588   2.58       1,368,844     10,164   2.95  
Noninterest bearing deposits   508,953             494,581             502,744        
Net interest income     $ 23,719           $ 22,929           $ 20,560    
Net interest margin(3)         4.72 %           4.64 %           4.36 %
                                   
CCBX                                  
Assets                                  
Interest earning assets:                                  
Loans receivable(2)(4) $ 2,480,545   $ 79,623   12.73 %   $ 2,164,634   $ 78,580   14.56 %   $ 1,764,957   $ 69,643   15.65 %
Intrabank asset   595,311     5,578   3.72       647,884     5,962   3.69       607,900     6,768   4.42  
Total interest earning assets   3,075,856     85,201   10.99       2,812,518     84,542   12.06       2,372,857     76,411   12.78  
Liabilities                                  
Interest bearing liabilities:                            
Interest bearing deposits   2,956,847     24,611   3.30 %     2,718,911     22,386   3.30 %     2,297,781     23,330   4.03 %
Total interest bearing liabilities   2,956,847     24,611   3.30       2,718,911     22,386   3.30       2,297,781     23,330   4.03  
Noninterest bearing deposits   119,009             93,607             75,076        
Net interest income     $ 60,590           $ 62,156           $ 53,081    
Net interest margin(3)         7.82 %           8.86 %           8.88 %
Net interest margin, net of BaaS loan expense(5)         3.21 %           3.10 %           3.38 %

  For the Three Months Ended
  September 30, 2026   June 30, 2026   September 30, 2025
(dollars in thousands; unaudited) Average
Balance
  Interest &
Dividends
  Yield /
Cost(1)
  Average
Balance
  Interest &
Dividends
  Yield /
Cost(1)
  Average
Balance
  Interest &
Dividends
  Yield /
Cost(1)
Treasury & Administration                            
Assets                                  
Interest earning assets:                                  
Interest earning deposits with other banks $ 775,638   $ 7,286   3.73 %   $ 717,893   $ 6,607   3.69 %   $ 719,191   $ 8,007   4.42 %
Investment securities, available-for-sale(6)   27     —   3.37       28     —   3.52       33     —   —  
Investment securities, held-to-maturity(6)   45,010     609   5.37       45,781     612   5.36       45,030     616   5.43  
Other investments   15,983     206   5.11       16,268     238   5.87       12,730     37   1.15  
Total interest earning assets   836,658     8,101   3.84 %     779,970     7,457   3.83 %     776,984     8,660   4.42 %
Liabilities                                  
Interest bearing liabilities:                                  
Fed funds borrowings $ 122,119     1,167   3.79 %   $ 1,099     11   4.01 %   $ —     —   — %
FHLB advances and borrowings   13,370     135   4.01       48,725     480   3.95       —     —   —  
Subordinated debt   44,531     608   5.42       44,494     598   5.39       44,383     598   5.35  
Junior subordinated debentures   3,594     56   6.18       3,594     55   6.14       3,592     62   6.85  
Intrabank liability, net(7)   231,543     2,158   3.70       220,915     2,031   3.69       335,939     3,740   4.42  
Total interest bearing liabilities   415,157     4,124   3.94       318,827     3,175   3.99       383,914     4,400   4.55  
Net interest income     $ 3,977           $ 4,282           $ 4,260    
Net interest margin(3)         1.89 %           2.20 %           2.18 %

(1)   Yields and costs are annualized.
(2)   Includes loans held for sale and nonaccrual loans.
(3)   Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by the average total interest earning assets.
(4)   CCBX yield does not include the impact of BaaS loan expense. BaaS loan expense represents the amount paid or payable to partners for credit enhancements, fraud enhancements and originating & servicing CCBX loans. See reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures at the end of this earnings release for the impact of BaaS loan expense on CCBX loan yield.
(5)   Net interest margin, net of BaaS loan expense, includes the impact of BaaS loan expense. BaaS loan expense represents the amount paid or payable to partners for credit enhancements, fraud enhancements, originating & servicing CCBX loans. See reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures at the end of this earnings release.
(6)   For presentation in this table, average balances and the corresponding average rates for investment securities are based upon historical cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts.
(7)   Intrabank assets and liabilities are consolidated for period calculations and presented as intrabank asset, net or intrabank liability, net in the table above.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to provide meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s operational performance and to enhance investors’ overall understanding of financial performance.

However, these non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental and are not a substitute for an analysis based on GAAP measures. As other companies may use different calculations for these adjusted measures, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled adjusted measures reported by other companies.

The following non-GAAP measures are presented to illustrate the impact of BaaS loan expense on net loan income and yield on loans and CCBX loans and the impact of BaaS loan expense on net interest income and net interest margin.

Loan income, net of BaaS loan expense, divided by average loans, is a non-GAAP measure that includes the impact of BaaS loan expense on loan income and the yield on loans. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is yield on loans.

Net BaaS loan income divided by average CCBX loans is a non-GAAP measure that includes the impact of BaaS loan expense on net BaaS loan income and the yield on CCBX loans. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is yield on CCBX loans.

Net interest income, net of BaaS loan expense, is a non-GAAP measure that includes the impact of BaaS loan expense on net interest income. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is net interest income.

CCBX net interest margin, net of BaaS loan expense, is a non-GAAP measure that includes the impact of BaaS loan expense on net interest rate margin. The most directly comparable GAAP measure is CCBX net interest margin.

Reconciliations of the GAAP and non-GAAP measures are presented below.

CCBX   As of and for the Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30
2026
  June 30
2026
  September 30
2025
CCBX loan income net of BaaS loan expense divided by average CCBX loans:
CCBX loan yield (GAAP)(1)     12.73 %     14.56 %     15.65 %
Total average CCBX loans receivable   $ 2,480,545     $ 2,164,634     $ 1,764,957  
Interest and earned fee income on CCBX loans (GAAP)     79,623       78,580       69,643  
BaaS loan expense     (35,715 )     (40,409 )     (32,840 )
Net BaaS loan income   $ 43,908     $ 38,171     $ 36,803  
Net BaaS loan income divided by average CCBX loans(1)     7.02 %     7.07 %     8.27 %
CCBX net interest margin, net of BaaS loan expense:        
CCBX net interest margin(1)     7.82 %     8.86 %     8.88 %
CCBX earning assets     3,075,856       2,812,518       2,372,857  
Net interest income (GAAP)     60,590       62,156       53,081  
Less: BaaS loan expense     (35,715 )     (40,409 )     (32,840 )
Net interest income, net of BaaS
loan expense
  $ 24,875     $ 21,747     $ 20,241  
CCBX net interest margin, net of BaaS loan expense(1)     3.21 %     3.10 %     3.38 %

Consolidated   As of and for the Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30
2026
  June 30
2026
  September 30
2025
Loan income net of BaaS loan expense divided by average loans:    
Loan yield (GAAP)(1)     10.03 %     10.74 %     10.95 %
Total average loans receivable   $ 4,474,470     $ 4,148,380     $ 3,636,545  
Interest and earned fee income on loans (GAAP)     113,082       111,097       100,367  
BaaS loan expense     (35,715 )     (40,409 )     (32,840 )
Net loan income   $ 77,367     $ 70,688     $ 67,527  
Loan income, net of BaaS loan expense, divided by average loans(1)     6.86 %     6.83 %     7.37 %
Net interest margin, net of BaaS loan expense:        
Net interest margin(1)     6.59 %     7.27 %     7.00 %
Earning assets     5,311,128       4,928,350       4,413,529  
Net interest income (GAAP)     88,286       89,367       77,901  
Less: BaaS loan expense     (35,715 )     (40,409 )     (32,840 )
Net interest income, net of BaaS loan expense   $ 52,571     $ 48,958     $ 45,061  
Net interest margin, net of BaaS loan expense(1)     3.93 %     3.98 %     4.05 %

(1) Annualized calculations for periods presented.

The following non-GAAP measure is presented to illustrate the impact of BaaS loan expense, BaaS fraud expense and reimbursement of expenses (BaaS) on noninterest expense. Certain noninterest expenses are reimbursed by our CCBX partners. In accordance with GAAP we recognize all expenses in noninterest expense and the reimbursement of expenses from our CCBX partners in noninterest income. This non-GAAP measure is intended to help investors distinguish between noninterest expenses borne by the Company and those incurred for, and reimbursed by, CCBX partners. The most comparable GAAP measure is noninterest expense.

The $51.7 million decrease in noninterest expense net of BaaS loan expense, BaaS fraud expense and reimbursement of expenses for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, as compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2026, was primarily due to a $46.0 million credit enhancement receivable valuation adjustment recorded in the second quarter of 2026 related to the assessment of collectability for The Partner that did not recur in the third quarter.

    As of and for the Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  September 30,
2025
Noninterest expense, net of BaaS loan expense, BaaS fraud expense and reimbursement of expenses (BaaS)
Noninterest expense (GAAP)   $ 84,843   $ 141,111   $ 70,172
Less: BaaS loan expense     35,715     40,409     32,840
Less: BaaS fraud expense     4,129     4,312     2,127
Less: Reimbursement of expenses     2,592     2,259     1,412
Noninterest expense, net of BaaS loan expense, BaaS fraud expense and reimbursement of expenses   $ 42,407   $ 94,131   $ 33,793
                   

The following non-GAAP measure is presented to illustrate the impact of intangible assets on book value per share. We calculate tangible book value per share as total shareholders’ equity at the end of the relevant period, less goodwill and other intangible assets, divided by the outstanding number of our common shares at the end of each period. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is book value per share.

    As of
(dollars in thousands, except per share information; unaudited)   September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  March 31,
2026
  December 31,
2025
  September 30,
2025
Tangible book value per share        
Book value (GAAP)   $ 31.28   $ 30.33   $ 33.05   $ 32.43   $ 31.45
Total shareholders’ equity     478,267     463,447     503,762     490,959     475,277
Less: Intangible assets     3,981     4,207     4,434     4,536     —
Tangible book value   $ 474,286   $ 459,240   $ 499,328   $ 486,423   $ 475,277
Common shares outstanding     15,288,479     15,280,689     15,241,491     15,140,192     15,112,000
Tangible book value per share   $ 31.02   $ 30.05   $ 32.76   $ 32.13   $ 31.45

APPENDIX A
As of September 30, 2026
 

Industry Concentration

We have a diversified loan portfolio, representing a wide variety of industries. Our major categories of loans are commercial real estate, consumer and other loans, residential real estate, commercial and industrial, and construction, land and land development loans. Together they represent $4.19 billion in outstanding loan balances. When combined with $2.74 billion in unused commitments, the total of these categories is $6.93 billion.

Commercial real estate loans represent the largest segment of our loans, comprising 30.8% of our total balance of outstanding loans as of September 30, 2026. Unused commitments to extend credit represents an additional $34.7 million, and the combined total in commercial real estate loans represents $1.33 billion, or 19.1% of our total outstanding loans and loan commitments.

The following table summarizes our loan commitments by industry for our commercial real estate portfolio as of September 30, 2026:

(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Outstanding Balance   Available Loan Commitments   Total Outstanding Balance & Available Commitments   % of Total Loans
(Outstanding Balance &
Available Commitments)
  Average Loan Balance   Number of Loans
Apartments   $ 343,787   $ 10,162   $ 353,949   5.1 %   $ 3,657   94
Hotel/Motel     190,380     4,350     194,730   2.8       7,615   25
Convenience Store     144,155     3,824     147,979   2.1       2,184   66
Retail     108,901     616     109,517   1.6       1,224   89
Warehouse     100,392     250     100,642   1.4       2,049   49
Mixed use     94,067     6,893     100,960   1.5       1,057   89
Office     80,797     3,775     84,572   1.2       1,063   76
Mini Storage     63,144     —     63,144   0.9       4,510   14
Strip Mall     42,293     —     42,293   0.6       6,042   7
Manufacturing     37,813     2,216     40,029   0.6       1,304   29
Groups < 0.50% of total     85,971     2,640     88,611   1.3       1,246   69
Total   $ 1,291,700   $ 34,726   $ 1,326,426   19.1 %   $ 2,128   607
                                   

Consumer loans comprise 39.5% of our total balance of outstanding loans as of September 30, 2026. Unused commitments to extend credit represents an additional $1.15 billion, and the combined total in consumer and other loans represents $2.81 billion, or 40.5% of our total outstanding loans and loan commitments. The $1.15 billion in commitments is subject to CCBX partner/portfolio maximum limits. As illustrated in the table below, our CCBX partners bring in a large number of mostly smaller dollar loans, resulting in an average consumer loan balance of just $400. CCBX consumer loans are underwritten to CCBX credit standards, and underwriting of these loans is regularly tested, including quarterly testing for partners with the largest exposures.

The following table summarizes our loan commitments by industry for our consumer and other loan portfolio as of September 30, 2026:

(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Outstanding Balance   Available Loan Commitments(1)   Total Outstanding Balance & Available Commitments(1)   % of Total Loans
(Outstanding Balance &
Available Commitments)
  Average Loan Balance   Number of Loans
CCBX consumer loans
Credit cards   $ 552,078   $ 947,245   $ 1,499,323   21.6 %   $ 1.5   378,057
Installment loans     797,363     41,645     839,008   12.1       0.3   2,637,339
Lines of credit     251,707     147,114     398,821   5.8       0.2   1,336,947
Other loans     41,979     —     41,979   0.6       0.1   358,418
Community bank consumer loans
Installment loans     672     —     672   0.0       26.9   25
Lines of credit     196     362     558   0.0       5.8   34
Other loans     9,868     16,000     25,868   0.4       26.0   380
Total   $ 1,653,863   $ 1,152,366   $ 2,806,229   40.5 %   $ 0.4   4,711,200

(1)  Total exposure on CCBX loans is subject to CCBX partner/portfolio maximum limits.

Residential real estate loans comprise 12.5% of our total balance of outstanding loans as of September 30, 2026. Unused commitments to extend credit represents an additional $810.3 million, which is subject to partner/portfolio maximum limits, and the combined total in residential real estate loans represents $1.33 billion, or 19.2% of our total outstanding loans and loan commitments. Community bank residential real estate loans are closed-end loans secured by first liens on homes and include loans to investors who purchase and lease homes to others.

The following table summarizes our loan commitments by industry for our residential real estate loan portfolio as of September 30, 2026:

(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Outstanding Balance   Available Loan Commitments(1)   Total Outstanding Balance & Available Commitments(1)   % of Total Loans
(Outstanding Balance &
Available Commitments)
  Average Loan Balance   Number of Loans
CCBX residential real estate loans
Home equity lines of credit   $ 330,909   $ 756,231   $ 1,087,140   15.7 %   $ 30   10,984
Community bank residential real estate loans
Closed end, secured by first liens     145,597     283     145,880   2.1       522   279
Home equity lines of credit     34,628     51,382     86,010   1.2       128   271
Closed end, second liens     11,755     2,363     14,118   0.2       336   35
Total   $ 522,889   $ 810,259   $ 1,333,148   19.2 %   $ 45   11,569

(1)  Total exposure on CCBX loans is subject to CCBX partner/portfolio maximum limits.

Commercial and industrial loans comprise 11.3% of our total balance of outstanding loans as of September 30, 2026. Unused commitments to extend credit represents an additional $695.6 million, and the combined total in commercial and industrial loans represents $1.17 billion, or 16.9% of our total outstanding loans and loan commitments. Included in commercial and industrial loans is $209.7 million in outstanding capital call lines, with an additional $572.5 million in available loan commitments, which is limited to a $350.0 million portfolio maximum. Capital call lines are provided to venture capital firms through one of our CCBX BaaS clients. These loans are secured by the capital call rights and are individually underwritten to the Bank’s credit standards, and the underwriting is reviewed by the Bank on every capital call line.

The following table summarizes our loan commitment by industry for our commercial and industrial loan portfolio as of September 30, 2026:

(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Outstanding Balance   Available Loan Commitments(1)   Total Outstanding Balance & Available Commitments(1)   % of Total Loans
(Outstanding Balance &
Available Commitments)
  Average Loan Balance   Number of Loans
CCBX C&I loans
Capital call lines   $ 209,701   $ 572,540   $ 782,241   11.3 %   $ 1,626   129
Retail and other loans     23,797     31,605     55,402   0.8       1   30,673
Community bank C&I loans
Financial institutions     101,145     —     101,145   1.5       4,214   24
Other Venture Capital     56,782     25,000     81,782   1.2       11,356   5
Construction/Contractor services     40,585     34,595     75,180   1.1       235   173
Medical / Dental / Other care     3,563     1,791     5,354   0.1       274   13
Transportation     4,127     15     4,142   0.1       590   7
Manufacturing     4,513     2,421     6,934   0.1       146   31
Groups < 0.10% of total     30,686     27,678     58,364   0.7       158   194
Total   $ 474,899   $ 695,645   $ 1,170,544   16.9 %   $ 15   31,249

(1) Total exposure on CCBX loans is subject to CCBX partner/portfolio maximum limits.

Construction, land and land development loans comprise 5.9% of our total balance of outstanding loans as of September 30, 2026. Unused commitments to extend credit represent an additional $47.8 million, and the combined total in construction, land and land development loans represents $296.6 million, or 4.3% of our total outstanding loans and loan commitments.

The following table details our loan commitment for our construction, land and land development portfolio as of September 30, 2026:

(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Outstanding Balance   Available Loan Commitments   Total Outstanding Balance & Available Commitments   % of Total Loans
(Outstanding Balance &
Available Commitments)
  Average Loan Balance   Number of Loans
Commercial construction   $ 123,848   $ 12,491   $ 136,339   2.0 %   $ 12,385   10
Residential construction     54,754     29,290     84,044   1.2       1,480   37
Land development     37,308     5,655     42,963   0.6       3,109   12
Undeveloped land loans     17,482     —     17,482   0.3       1,345   13
Developed land loans     15,374     368     15,742   0.2       1,281   12
Total   $ 248,766   $ 47,804   $ 296,570   4.3 %   $ 2,962   84
                                   

Exposure and risk in our construction, land and land development portfolio increased compared to recent periods as indicated in the following table:

    Outstanding Balance as of
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  March 31,
2026
  December 31,
2025
  September 30,
2025
Commercial construction   $ 123,848   $ 121,058   $ 138,232   $ 124,894   $ 124,240
Residential construction     54,754     43,162     34,241     37,395     35,929
Undeveloped land loans     17,482     17,011     20,633     20,704     20,584
Developed land loans     15,374     15,578     18,855     20,559     22,756
Land development     37,308     24,753     22,950     18,523     14,552
Total   $ 248,766   $ 221,562   $ 234,911   $ 222,075   $ 218,061
                               

Commitments to extend credit for on-balance sheet loans total $2.74 billion at September 30, 2026, however we do not anticipate our customers using the $2.74 billion that is showing as available due to CCBX partner and portfolio limits.

As of September 30, 2026, commitments associated with sold credit card receivables subject to receivable sale agreements totaled $7.78 billion. While we retain the customer account relationship, receivables generated under these programs are periodically sold to BaaS partners pursuant to the applicable receivable sale agreements and remain subject to the Company’s established partner and portfolio limits.

The following table presents commitments associated with outstanding commitments to extend credit for on-balance sheet loans, CCBX sold credit card receivable commitments, standby and commercial letters of credit and equity investment commitments as of September 30, 2026:

Consolidated    
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   As of
September 30,
2026 (1)
Commitments to extend credit:    
Credit cards   $ 947,245
Residential real estate loans     810,259
Commercial and industrial loans – capital call lines     572,540
Consumer and other loans     205,121
Commercial and industrial loans     123,105
Commercial real estate loans     34,726
Construction – residential real estate loans     29,290
Construction – commercial real estate loans     18,513
Commitments to extend credit   $ 2,740,799
CCBX sold receivable commitment   $ 7,778,833
Standby letters of credit   $ 2,051
Equity investment commitment   $ 2,475

(1)  Total exposure on CCBX loans is subject to CCBX partner/portfolio maximum limits.

We have portfolio limits with each of our partners to manage loan concentration risk, liquidity risk and counterparty partner risk. For example, as of September 30, 2026, capital call lines outstanding balance totaled $209.7 million, and while commitments totaled $572.5 million the commitments are cancelable, and are also limited to a maximum of $350.0 million by agreement with each partner. These limits allow us to manage portfolio concentrations with partners and by loan type.

See the table below for CCBX portfolio maximums and related available commitments for on-balance sheet loans:

CCBX                
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   Balance   Percent of CCBX Loans Receivable Available Commitments(1)   Maximum Portfolio Size Cash Reserve/Pledge Account Amount
Commercial and industrial loans:            
Capital call lines   $ 209,701     9.5 % $ 572,540   $ 350,000 $ —  
All other commercial & industrial loans     23,797     1.1     31,605     307,752   2,088  
Real estate loans:                
Home equity lines of credit(2)     330,909     15.0     756,231     403,846   31,406  
Consumer and other loans:            
Credit cards – cash secured     56         19       —  
Credit cards – unsecured     552,022         947,226       46,960  
Credit cards – total     552,078     25.0     947,245     1,101,741   46,960  
Installment loans – cash secured     265,952         41,645       —  
Installment loans – unsecured     531,411         —       (16,580 )
Installment loans – total     797,363     36.1     41,645     1,666,661   (16,580 )
Other consumer and other loans     293,686     13.3     147,114     775,000   21,086  
Gross CCBX loans receivable     2,207,534     100.0 % $ 2,496,380   $ 4,605,000 $ 84,960  
Net deferred origination fees     (635 )            
Loans receivable   $ 2,206,899              

(1) Remaining commitment available, net of outstanding balance.
(2) These home equity lines of credit are secured by residential real estate and are accessed by using a credit card, but are classified as 1-4 family residential properties per regulatory guidelines.

APPENDIX B
As of September 30, 2026
 

CCBX – BaaS Reporting Information

During the quarter ended September 30, 2026, $41.8 million was recorded in BaaS credit enhancements related to the provision for credit losses – loans and reserve for unfunded commitments for CCBX partner loans and negative deposit accounts. Agreements with our CCBX partners provide a credit enhancement under which the partner indemnifies or reimburses the Bank for covered credit losses on loans, unfunded commitments and negative deposit accounts. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, we estimate expected credit losses on these exposures and record the related provision for credit losses and reserve for unfunded commitments. Concurrently, a credit enhancement asset is recognized through noninterest income (BaaS credit enhancements) representing the expected reimbursement from the partner. The collectability of the credit enhancement asset is evaluated each reporting period and a valuation adjustment is recorded when collection of all or a portion of the asset is no longer considered probable. The credit enhancement asset is relieved as credit enhancement payments and recoveries are received from the CCBX partner or taken from the partner’s cash reserve account. Management regularly evaluates and manages counterparty risk associated with its CCBX partners, as the Bank could incur additional credit losses to the extent a partner is unable to fulfill its contractual obligations.

Agreements with our CCBX partners also provide protection to the Bank from fraud by indemnifying or reimbursing covered fraud losses. BaaS fraud includes non-credit fraud losses on loans and deposits originated through partners. Generally fraud losses related to loans are comprised primarily of first payment defaults. Fraud losses are recorded when incurred as losses in noninterest expense, and the enhancement received from the CCBX partner is recorded in noninterest income, resulting in a net impact of zero to the income statement.

Many CCBX partners also pledge a cash reserve account at the Bank, which the Bank can collect from when losses occur that is then replenished by the partner on a regular interval. Although agreements with our CCBX partners provide for credit enhancements that provide protection to the Bank from credit and fraud losses if our partner is unable to fulfill their contractual obligation and if the cash flows on the loans were not sufficient to fund the reimbursement of loan losses, then the Bank would be exposed to additional loan and deposit losses as a result of this counterparty risk. If a CCBX partner does not replenish their cash reserve account, the Bank may consider an alternative plan for funding the cash reserve. This may involve the possibility of adjusting the funding amounts or timelines to better align with the partner’s specific situation. If a mutually agreeable funding plan is not agreed to, the Bank could declare the agreement in default, take over servicing and cease paying the partner for servicing the loan and providing credit enhancements. In the event of a partner default, the Bank would evaluate any remaining credit enhancement asset associated with that partner to determine whether a write-off is appropriate. If a write-off occurs, the Bank would stop payments to the CCBX partner and retain the full yield and any fee income on the loan portfolio going forward, decreasing our BaaS loan expense.

The Bank records contractual interest earned from the borrowers on CCBX partner loans in interest income, adjusted for origination costs, which are paid or payable to the CCBX partners. BaaS loan expense represents the amount paid or payable to partners for credit and fraud enhancements and originating & servicing CCBX loans. To determine net revenue (Net BaaS loan income) earned from CCBX loan relationships, the Bank takes BaaS loan interest income and deducts BaaS loan expense to arrive at Net BaaS loan income (a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures are set forth in the preceding section of this earnings release) which can be compared to interest income on the Company’s community bank loans.

The following table illustrates how CCBX partner loan income and expenses are recorded in the financial statements:

Loan income and related loan expense   Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  September 30,
2025
Yield on loans(1)     12.73 %     14.56 %     15.65 %
BaaS loan interest income   $ 79,623     $ 78,580     $ 69,643  
Less: BaaS loan expense     35,715       40,409       32,840  
Net BaaS loan income(2)   $ 43,908     $ 38,171     $ 36,803  
Net BaaS loan income divided by average BaaS loans(1)(2)     7.02 %     7.07 %     8.27 %

(1) Annualized calculation for quarterly periods shown.
(2) A reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures are set forth in the preceding section of this earnings release.

An increase in average loans receivable resulted in increased interest income and net BaaS loan income on CCBX loans during the quarter ended September 30, 2026 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2026. Our strategy is to optimize the CCBX loan portfolio and strengthen our balance sheet through originating higher quality new loans with enhanced credit standards. These higher quality loans tend to have lower stated rates and expected losses than some of our CCBX loans historically. We continue to manage CCBX credit and concentration levels in an effort to optimize our loan portfolio and also generate off-balance sheet fee income. Growth in CCBX loans has resulted in an increase in interest income for the quarter ended September 30, 2026 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2025, as well as an increase in net BaaS loan income.

The following tables are a summary of the interest components, direct fees and expenses of BaaS for the periods indicated and are not inclusive of all income and expense related to BaaS.

Interest income   Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  September 30,
2025
BaaS loan interest income   $ 79,623   $ 78,580   $ 69,643
Total BaaS loan interest income   $ 79,623   $ 78,580   $ 69,643

Interest expense   Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  September 30,
2025
BaaS interest expense   $ 24,611   $ 22,386   $ 23,330
Total BaaS interest expense   $ 24,611   $ 22,386   $ 23,330

BaaS income   Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  September 30,
2025
BaaS program income:            
Servicing and other BaaS fees   $ 3,509   $ 2,917   $ 1,575
Transaction and interchange fees     8,026     6,836     4,878
Reimbursement of expenses     2,592     2,259     1,412
Total BaaS program income     14,127     12,012     7,865
BaaS indemnification income:            
BaaS credit enhancements     41,767     70,725     55,412
BaaS fraud enhancements     4,129     4,312     2,127
BaaS indemnification income     45,896     75,037     57,539
Total noninterest BaaS income   $ 60,023   $ 87,049   $ 65,404
                   

Servicing and other BaaS fees increased $592,000, and transaction and interchange fees increased $1.2 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2026 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2026. We expect servicing and other BaaS fees to be higher when bringing on new partners and then to decrease when transaction and interchange fees increase as partner activity grows and these recurring fees exceed contracted minimum fees. Increases in BaaS reimbursement of fees offset increases in noninterest expense from BaaS expenses covered by CCBX partners.

BaaS loan and fraud expense:   Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands; unaudited)   September 30,
2026
  June 30,
2026
  September 30,
2025
BaaS loan expense   $ 35,715   $ 40,409   $ 32,840
BaaS fraud expense     4,129     4,312     2,127
Total BaaS loan and fraud expense   $ 39,844   $ 44,721   $ 34,967

Graphs accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/99ab0b8d-d005-4239-bf58-5bf3dce3ba05

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/01d76f54-f8e6-4350-aea0-0b281a73069e

GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, Newfoundland and Labrador, Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt Corp. (TSXV: FAN) (OTCQB: FANCF) (FSE: P210) (“First Atlantic” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that permitted pit excavation has begun at the RPM Zone of the Company’s wholly owned Pipestone XL Nickel-Cobalt (Ni-Fe-Co) Alloy Project in central Newfoundland, where construction of the year-round exploration access road advances past Alloy Max toward the Super Gulp Zone. When completed, the road will connect four drilled awaruite discoveries (RPM, Alloy Max South, Alloy Max North and Super Gulp) spanning approximately 14 kilometres of the 30-kilometre Pipestone Ophiolite Complex and link through to Highway 1 and Grand Falls-Windsor, while opening the way to about 16 kilometres of undrilled ground between Super Gulp and the historical Atlantic Lake Zone. Because overburden at Pipestone XL is very shallow, the Company can dig trenches to bedrock along the route as the road is built and sample the exposed rock directly for visibly disseminated awaruite. This technique guided drilling at Alloy Max North and Alloy Max South.

Ongoing excavation of the permitted pit at the RPM Zone, located north of existing drilling, is supplying the overburden and decomposed bedrock used to build the exploration access road, which will ultimately provide ground access along the full 30-kilometre trend. As the pit is dug out, the bedrock beneath is being exposed and will be sampled and tested for awaruite. The pit sits in an area of intermediate magnetic intensity rather than at a peak anomaly on the airborne total magnetic intensity (TMI) survey. This matters because TMI at Pipestone XL mainly maps magnetite formed during serpentinization, not awaruite itself, so the highest values mark the most magnetite-rich rock rather than necessarily the most awaruite. The setting matches Alloy Max, where ground with an intermediate TMI response is returning strong visibly disseminated awaruite. Together these results support the Company’s evolving targeting model, which now treats the intermediate response as prospective and adds area and volume to the ground that can host mineralization.

West of the RPM Zone, a new exploration access road of approximately 2 kilometres is being developed from the camp down the west side of Pipestone Pond, where surface rock samples collected by Company geologists returned positive Davis Tube Recovery (DTR) magnetically recoverable nickel. This targeted ground lies down-dip of the drilled zone, has never been drilled and is a permitted drill target. The Company intends to follow up on additional targets west and north of the RPM Zone as they are identified through mapping, trenching and surface sampling.

First Atlantic has raised approximately $13.4 million since September 2026 through three no-warrant, non-brokered private placements priced at up to $0.83 per share. The Company intends to use the proceeds to fund the remainder of its 2026 and 2027 drilling and exploration programs. These include drilling across the RPM Zone, Alloy Max South, Alloy Max North and Super Gulp with holes oriented to the east; construction of the exploration access road; and trenching and bedrock sampling, in each case only to the extent the expenditures are Qualifying Expenditures. The Company believes that completing exploration access along the full 30-kilometre trend supports its long-term objective to develop Pipestone XL as a large-scale, multi-pit nickel-cobalt mining district. Awaruite, a naturally occurring nickel-iron alloy, has the potential to be concentrated and processed without conventional smelting, which the Company believes could help address the midstream smelting bottleneck that limits future nickel and cobalt supply.

First Atlantic welcomes direct calls from shareholders and prospective investors. Rob Guzman, Investor Relations, is available at +1-844-592-6337 to answer questions about this news release or the Company, or by email at rob@fanickel.com.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

1. Exploration Access Road to Connect the RPM Zone to Alloy Max and Super Gulp, Drilled Awaruite Discoveries Spanning Approximately 14 km of the Pipestone Ophiolite Complex: When completed, the year-round exploration access road will connect the RPM Zone to Alloy Max and Super Gulp, drilled awaruite discoveries spanning approximately 14 kilometres of the 30-kilometre Pipestone Ophiolite Complex, four zones in all: RPM, Alloy Max South, Alloy Max North and Super Gulp. Construction is currently advancing north of Alloy Max toward Super Gulp.

2. Permitted Pit Excavation North of Existing Drilling at the RPM Zone: Permitted pit excavation north of AN-25-13, the furthest north hole at the RPM Zone, is removing overburden and decomposed bedrock for construction of the exploration access road. The exposed bedrock, in ground with an intermediate magnetic response on the airborne survey, will be sampled and tested for awaruite.

3. Additional Permits Received for Trenching, Test Pitting and Crossings Along the Road: In addition to its excavation permits, the Company has received separate permits for trenching and test pitting along the exploration access road. These allow shallow trenches to expose bedrock for direct sampling as construction advances, together with individual permits for the bridge and culvert crossings on both segments.

4. Intermediate Magnetic Response Adds Area and Volume to Prospective Ground: Airborne total magnetic intensity (TMI) at Pipestone XL mainly maps magnetite formed during serpentinization, not awaruite itself. At Alloy Max, ground with an intermediate TMI response has returned strong visibly disseminated awaruite, which the Company had expected to be confined to the most strongly magnetic rock. The Company’s targeting model now treats intermediate-response ground as prospective at the RPM Zone and Alloy Max.

5. Permitted Drill Target West of Pipestone Pond at the RPM Zone: Surface DTR samples collected west of Pipestone Pond returned magnetically recoverable nickel grades comparable to those found within the drilled limits of the RPM Zone. The area has never been drilled, and a new section of exploration access road, approximately 2 kilometres long, is being built south of the camp to bring a drill to it.

6. $13.4 Million Raised Since September at Up to $0.83 Per Share to Fund 2026 and 2027 Work: Three no-warrant, non-brokered flow-through private placements since September 2026 have raised approximately $13.4 million. The Company intends to use the proceeds to fund the remainder of its 2026 and 2027 exploration programs, including drilling, the exploration access road, trenching and bedrock sampling, and metallurgical test work across the trend.

7. Year-Round Ground Access to Replace Helicopter and Seasonal Limits: Once completed, the exploration access road is expected to give drill rigs, heavier equipment and crews ground access through seasonal weather, including to areas such as Super Gulp that were previously reachable only by helicopter. Year-round access is expected to support faster drilling, more personnel in camp and larger-scale sampling.

8. Road Access Enabled Every Drilled Discovery at Pipestone XL: Road access to the RPM Zone enabled the RPM discovery and its rapid drilling program, and road access was equally instrumental in the 2026 Alloy Max North and Alloy Max South discoveries. Approximately 16 km of undrilled ground lies between Super Gulp and Atlantic Lake along the route north.

EXPLORATION ACCESS ROAD ALONG THE 30-KILOMETRE PIPESTONE XL TREND

First Atlantic is developing the exploration access road in two stages along the 30-kilometre nickel trend of the Pipestone Ophiolite Complex, with construction currently advancing north of Alloy Max toward the Super Gulp Zone. Exploration access has been instrumental in each of the Company’s drilled discoveries at Pipestone XL. Connecting multiple drilled zones by year-round road access supports the Company’s objective of developing Pipestone XL as a multi-pit nickel-cobalt mining district.

  • Initial stage, connecting the drilled discoveries: The initial stage will connect the RPM Zone to Alloy Max and Super Gulp, the Company’s drilled awaruite discoveries, which lie within approximately 14 kilometres of each other at the southern end of the trend.
  • Second stage, 16 kilometres of undrilled ground: The second stage is designed to extend the road north beyond Super Gulp through approximately 16 kilometres of undrilled ground to the historic Atlantic Lake Zone. The Company believes this will allow it to explore that part of the trend systematically for additional awaruite zones.
  • Full 30-kilometre trend: Together, the two stages are designed to provide ground access along the entire 30-kilometre trend. Before First Atlantic began exploring the Project, road access reached only Atlantic Lake, at the far north, and the southern half of the complex remained largely underexplored.
  • Discovery record: Ground access to the RPM Zone enabled its first large-scale drilling, and completion of the drill access trail to Alloy Max in 2026 led to the Alloy Max North and Alloy Max South discoveries.
  • Year-round drilling: Year-round ground access is expected to increase the pace of drilling, with drill rigs, heavier equipment and crews working through every season, and to allow the Company to bring in a larger, more powerful drill capable of drilling deeper and through faulted ground.
  • Construction Equipment on site: Three excavators, two dump trucks and a bulldozer are on site, excavating fill at the permitted pit north of the RPM Zone and hauling it north along the route, and the Company intends to add equipment as construction advances.
  • Exploration during construction: With trenching and test-pitting permits in hand and overburden in places only a few metres thick, shallow trenches dug as the road advances expose bedrock that is sampled directly for visibly disseminated awaruite, building an inventory of priority drill targets along the route.

Map of the Pipestone XL Project showing the exploration access road route, under development, from the RPM Zone north through Alloy Max and Super Gulp toward the Atlantic Lake Zone; the new section along the west side of Pipestone Pond, and the connection toward Grand Falls-Windsor.Figure 1: Map of the Pipestone XL Project showing the exploration access road route, under development, from the RPM Zone north through Alloy Max and Super Gulp toward the Atlantic Lake Zone; the new section along the west side of Pipestone Pond, and the connection toward Grand Falls-Windsor.

The Company intends to fund the exploration access road, drilling and other exploration described in this news release from the approximately $13.4 million raised since September 2026. That amount consists of $6,157,500 closed on September 18, 2026 at $0.75 per flow-through share, $3.77 million closed on September 28, 2026 at $0.75 per flow-through share and $0.785 per charity flow-through share, and $3,492,000.90 closed on October 6, 2026 at $0.83 per flow-through share. Expenditures funded from flow-through proceeds will be funded only to the extent they qualify as Qualifying Expenditures (as defined in the Company’s news release of October 6, 2026).

THE RPM ZONE: PIT EXCAVATION NORTH OF EXISTING DRILLING AND A NEW DRILL TARGET AREA WEST OF PIPESTONE POND

Existing drilling has defined the RPM Zone over more than 1.2 kilometres of strike and more than 800 metres of width from 13 holes, all of which intersected visible awaruite and returned positive magnetically recoverable nickel. The zone remains open to the north, south, west and at depth. The Company holds drill permits for ground beyond these limits, both north of the existing drilling and west of Pipestone Pond.

  • Pit Excavation North of Existing Drilling: North of AN-25-13, the furthest north hole at the RPM Zone, permitted pit excavation is removing overburden and decomposed bedrock for construction of the exploration access road. The Company plans to sample and test the exposed bedrock for awaruite.
  • Target Area West of Pipestone Pond: Surface DTR samples collected west of Pipestone Pond in October 2025 returned magnetically recoverable nickel grades comparable to those found within the drilled limits of the RPM Zone. The area lies down-dip of the drilled zone, has never been drilled and is a permitted drill target. A new section of exploration access road, approximately 2 kilometres long, is being built south of the camp to bring a drill to it.
  • New Potential in Intermediate Magnetic Rock: Drilling at Alloy Max in 2026 showed that rock with an intermediate magnetic response on the airborne survey, not only the strongest magnetic anomalies, is prospective for visibly disseminated awaruite in drill core. Airborne total magnetic intensity (TMI) mainly maps magnetite formed during serpentinization rather than awaruite itself, so this intermediate magnetic rock adds area and volume to the ground that can host mineralization at the RPM Zone and across Pipestone XL. The pit north of drill hole AN-25-13 sits in this type of ground.

Sampling the exposed bedrock north of the existing RPM drilling and drilling the targeted areas west of Pipestone Pond are designed to test the extension of the RPM Zone beyond its current drilled limits.

RPM Zone area map showing surface DTR nickel results and the Exploration Priority 2 area west of Pipestone Pond, with the alignment of the exploration access road being developed down the west side of Pipestone Pond.

Figure 2: RPM Zone area map showing surface DTR nickel results and the Exploration Priority 2 area west of Pipestone Pond, with the alignment of the exploration access road being developed down the west side of Pipestone Pond.

Road construction with earthmoving equipment along the exploration access road corridor north of the RPM Zone, Pipestone XL Project (Fall 2026).

Figure 3: Road construction with earthmoving equipment along the exploration access road corridor north of the RPM Zone, Pipestone XL Project (Fall 2026).

Excavator ditching and clearing along the exploration access road at Pipestone XL, with overburden and boulders pushed aside to open drainage across boggy ground (Fall 2026).

Figure 4: Excavator ditching and clearing along the exploration access road at Pipestone XL, with overburden and boulders pushed aside to open drainage across boggy ground (Fall 2026).

Stripping overburden to decomposed bedrock at the permitted pit north of the RPM Zone, which supplies fill for the exploration access road and exposes bedrock that can be sampled (Fall 2026).

Figure 5: Stripping overburden to decomposed bedrock at the permitted pit north of the RPM Zone, which supplies fill for the exploration access road and exposes bedrock that can be sampled (Fall 2026).

Dump truck hauling fill from the permitted pit north of the RPM Zone along the exploration access road, Pipestone XL Project (Fall 2026).

Figure 6: Dump truck hauling fill from the permitted pit north of the RPM Zone along the exploration access road, Pipestone XL Project (Fall 2026).

PIPESTONE XL: A DISTRICT-SCALE NICKEL-COBALT ALLOY PROJECT

Pipestone XL is First Atlantic’s wholly owned, district-scale project spanning the entire 30-kilometre Pipestone Ophiolite Complex in central Newfoundland, a belt of ultramafic rock enriched in nickel, cobalt, and chromium. The Project hosts multiple zones of awaruite (Ni₃Fe) mineralization, including RPM, Alloy Max, Super Gulp, Atlantic Lake, and Chrome Pond. The RPM Zone is the most advanced, with drilling having outlined magnetically recoverable awaruite over more than 1.2 kilometres of strike and more than 800 metres of width. Drilling is ongoing at Alloy Max, a second large-scale zone spanning approximately 4 kilometres of strike and up to 1.5 kilometres in width, making it larger than the RPM Zone.

Awaruite at Pipestone XL is the product of serpentinization, which drove sulphur out of the system and left a sulphur-free alloy which carries no acid mine drainage risk and can be concentrated by the Company’s ONSHORE MAX™ process without smelting, roasting, or high-pressure acid leaching. This smelter-free pathway addresses the midstream bottleneck in North America, where the United States has no operating nickel smelters and only two remain in Canada, and supports a vertically integrated supply chain moving directly from mine to downstream battery refining, stainless steel and specialty alloy production. The Company is also evaluating secondary chromium mineralization as a potential co-product, along with low-carbon Engineered Mineral Hydrogen (EMH) in partnership with VEMA Hydrogen1. Investors can learn more about VEMA’s Engineered Mineral Hydrogen at https://www.vema.earth.

Map showing multiple target zones across the 30-kilometer nickel trend over total magnetic intensity (TMI) at the Pipestone XL Project highlighting the showing, the 30-kilometre Pipestone Ophiolite Complex and the RPM, Alloy Max, Super Gulp, Atlantic Lake and Chrome Pond Zones.

Figure 7: Map showing multiple target zones across the 30-kilometer nickel trend over total magnetic intensity (TMI) at the Pipestone XL Project highlighting the showing, the 30-kilometre Pipestone Ophiolite Complex and the RPM, Alloy Max, Super Gulp, Atlantic Lake and Chrome Pond Zones.

Pipestone XL is located in an established infrastructure corridor with year-round road access, nearby high-voltage transmission and clean hydroelectric power from the Bay d’Espoir generating station. It is also located approximately 200 kilometres from Gander International Airport and Vale’s Long Harbour nickel processing plant. This positioning aligns with growing U.S. and allied policy focus on critical mineral supply chains, including nickel’s addition to the U.S. critical minerals list in 2022, the January 2026 White House proclamation on processed critical minerals2, the Company’s acceptance into the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium3, and the June 2026 G7 Leaders’ Declaration naming nickel one of two pilot critical minerals for allied investment and offtake4.

Newfoundland and Labrador is consistently recognized as one of the world’s leading mining jurisdictions in the Fraser Institute’s Annual Survey of Mining Companies, ranking 7th globally on the Policy Perception Index in the most recent survey, published in February 2026, and placing in the global top 10 for overall investment attractiveness in each of the three prior surveys. Pipestone XL is positioned to become a secure and reliable North American source of nickel and cobalt for the stainless steel, electric vehicle, aerospace, and defense industries.

AWARUITE AT PIPESTONE XL: A SMELTER-FREE NICKEL-COBALT ALLOY (Ni₃Fe)

Awaruite is a naturally occurring, magnetic, sulphur-free nickel-iron-cobalt alloy (Ni₃Fe) containing approximately 77% nickel. Because it already exists in a metallic state, awaruite can be concentrated without smelting, roasting, or high-pressure acid leaching. Mineralogical and electron microprobe analysis at the Company’s RPM Zone has confirmed the awaruite averages 77.62% nickel and 1.69% cobalt, with grades as high as 86.68% nickel and 6.05% cobalt5.

USGS quote on awaruite nickel-iron-cobalt alloy.

Figure 8: USGS quote on awaruite nickel-iron-cobalt alloy.6

Initial metallurgical test work using the Company’s ONSHORE MAX™ (Magnetic Alloy eXtraction) process upgraded rock samples from the project’s RPM Zone into a high-grade alloy concentrate averaging 67.4% nickel and grading up to 71.9% nickel and 1.76% cobalt7. Low-intensity magnetic separation first produced a magnetic concentrate grading approximately 1.6% nickel, which flotation then upgraded to the final concentrate. By comparison, a typical nickel concentrate grades 10% to 15% nickel, according to the Nickel Institute. This concentrate can move directly to downstream battery chemical refining or the manufacture of specialty alloys and stainless steel.

The absence of sulphur reduces acid mine drainage risk and related permitting challenges, positioning Pipestone XL to supply North American industries including stainless steel, electric vehicles, aerospace, and defence.

INVESTOR INFORMATION

The Company’s common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “FAN”, on the OTCQB under the symbol “FANCF”, and on several German exchanges, including Frankfurt and Tradegate, under the symbol “P210”. Investors can get updates about First Atlantic by signing up to receive news via email and SMS text at www.fanickel.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

First Atlantic Investor Relations, Robert Guzman. Tel: +1-844-592-6337 | Email: rob@fanickel.com

QUALIFIED PERSON

Adrian Smith, P.Geo., a director and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101. The qualified person is a member in good standing of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL) and is a registered professional geoscientist (P.Geo.). Mr. Smith has reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed herein.

ABOUT FIRST ATLANTIC NICKEL & COBALT CORP.

First Atlantic Nickel & Cobalt Corp. (TSXV: FAN | OTCQB: FANCF | FSE: P210) is a critical mineral exploration company in Newfoundland and Labrador developing the Pipestone XL Nickel-Cobalt (Ni-Fe-Co) Alloy Project. The project spans the entire 30-kilometre Pipestone Ophiolite Complex, where multiple zones, including RPM, Alloy Max, Super Gulp, Atlantic Lake and Chrome Pond, contain awaruite (Ni₃Fe), a naturally occurring magnetic nickel-iron-cobalt alloy of approximately 77% nickel with no sulphur and no sulphides, along with secondary chromium mineralization. Awaruite’s sulphur-free composition removes acid mine drainage risk, while its magnetic properties enable processing through magnetic separation and flotation, eliminating the electricity requirements, emissions and environmental impacts of conventional smelting, roasting or high-pressure acid leaching, while reducing dependence on overseas nickel processing infrastructure.

The U.S. Geological Survey recognized awaruite’s strategic importance in its 2012 Annual Report on Nickel8, noting that these deposits may help alleviate prolonged nickel concentrate shortages since the natural alloy is much easier to concentrate than typical nickel sulphide. In 2026, initial metallurgical test work using the Company’s ONSHORE MAX™ (Magnetic Alloy eXtraction) process upgraded RPM Zone material into a high-grade alloy concentrate averaging 67.4% nickel and grading up to 71.9% nickel and 1.76% cobalt, demonstrating a smelter-free, mine-to-refinery pathway. First Atlantic is a member of the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium. The Company is also advancing a parallel geologic hydrogen initiative at Pipestone XL, where the same serpentinization process that formed awaruite also generates natural hydrogen, and has signed a letter of intent with VEMA Hydrogen to jointly develop low-carbon Engineered Mineral Hydrogen (EMH) through a proposed 50/50 joint venture. The Pipestone XL project is located near existing infrastructure with year-round road access and proximity to hydroelectric power, providing favorable logistics for exploration and future development and strengthening First Atlantic’s role to establish a secure and reliable source of North American nickel and cobalt production for the stainless steel, electric vehicle, aerospace, and defense industries. This mission gained importance when the U.S. added nickel to its critical minerals list in 2022, recognizing it as a non-fuel mineral essential to economic and national security with a supply chain vulnerable to disruption.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by words such as “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “may”, “will”, “would”, “could”, “potential”, “proposed”, “target”, “prospective”, “indicates”, “designed to”, “expected to” and similar expressions, as well as statements that events, conditions or results “will”, “may”, “could”, “would” or “should” occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding: the Company’s exploration plans, expectations and objectives at the Pipestone XL Nickel-Cobalt Alloy Project; the advancement, extension, completion, timing and cost of the exploration access road, including construction north from Alloy Max toward Super Gulp and the Atlantic Lake Zone, the new section along the west side of Pipestone Pond and the planned eventual connection to Grand Falls-Windsor; the expected benefits of year-round ground access, including access for heavier equipment, faster drilling, additional camp personnel, larger-scale sampling and the expected reduction in travel time to the RPM Zone; the expansion of the Company’s equipment fleet and its assessment of a larger, more powerful drill; the intended use of the proceeds of the Company’s recent financings and the expectation that those proceeds will fund the remainder of the Company’s 2026 and 2027 exploration programs; the interpretation that airborne TMI at Pipestone XL mainly reflects magnetite rather than awaruite, that ground with an intermediate magnetic response is prospective and adds area and volume to the ground that may host mineralization, and the Company’s targeting model across Pipestone XL; the planned sampling and testing of bedrock exposed at the permitted pit north of the RPM Zone and in trenches along the route of the exploration access road, and the results of that work; the continuity of mineralization north of the drilled RPM Zone and between Alloy Max North and Super Gulp; the potential of the ground west of Pipestone Pond and of the ground between Super Gulp and the Atlantic Lake Zone; the Company’s belief that extending the exploration access road north will allow it to explore systematically for additional awaruite zones; the interpretation that mineralization at the RPM Zone and Alloy Max dips to the west, the potential that mineralization at Super Gulp shares that orientation, and the orientation of future drill holes; the Company’s long-term objective of advancing Pipestone XL toward a potential multi-zone nickel-cobalt district and a potential North American source of nickel and cobalt, and the potential for awaruite to be processed without conventional smelting; the availability, validity and renewal of licences, permits and approvals, including the Crown Lands Licence to Occupy, the excavation, trenching, test-pit, crossing, pit and drill permits, and the Company’s exploration approval; the qualification of expenditures as Qualifying Expenditures and their incurrence and renunciation within the required timelines; and the proposed joint venture with VEMA Hydrogen, including the sampling, categorization and testing of rock from target areas along the exploration access road for VEMA’s Engineered Mineral Hydrogen (“EMH”) process.

Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions that management considers reasonable as of the date of this news release, including assumptions regarding the accuracy of visual observations, geological logging and mapping, geophysical interpretations, DTR sampling and other exploration data; the continuity and geometry of mineralization, including its westward dip at the RPM Zone and Alloy Max and the assumption that mineralization at Super Gulp shares that orientation; the Company’s ability to complete planned drilling, sampling, assaying, metallurgical and other technical work; the ability of a larger drill, or other methods, to advance drill holes through faulted ground; the availability of a suitable drill, equipment, personnel and contractors on acceptable terms; the ability to extend and maintain the exploration access road along the planned route within anticipated budgets and schedules; the availability of excavators, dump trucks, other equipment, operators and fill material from the permitted pit; the continued validity and timely renewal of the Company’s licences, permits and approvals that construction of the exploration access road will continue in compliance with the conditions of the environmental assessment releases and the Company’s permits; that the Company’s expenditures will qualify as Qualifying Expenditures and will be incurred and renounced within the required timelines; that the proceeds of the Company’s recent financings will be sufficient for the work described in this news release; the continued validity of the Company’s geological model; that metallurgical results from the RPM Zone are indicative of mineralization elsewhere at Pipestone XL; the Company’s ability to expand its camp; and general business, market, commodity price and regulatory conditions.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with early-stage mineral exploration; the risk that visual observations of mineralization, including awaruite abundance and grain size, may not correlate with assay results, DTR results, recoverability, grade, tonnage or economic viability; the risk that any visible awaruite observed in bedrock samples from the permitted pit north of the RPM Zone and along the exploration access road may not be confirmed by DTR or assay results; the risk that ground with an intermediate magnetic response may not host mineralization comparable to the drilled areas, that the Company’s interpretation of the airborne magnetic data may be incorrect and that its targeting model may not be confirmed; the risk that the ground west of Pipestone Pond, between Super Gulp and the Atlantic Lake Zone, or elsewhere along the route may not be mineralized; the risk that extending the exploration access road may not result in additional discoveries; the risk that the cost of the exploration access road and of the work described in this news release may exceed the proceeds of the Company’s recent financings, or that the scope and timing of 2027 work may change; the risk that the ground between drill holes may not be mineralized and that true widths may differ from drilled widths; the risk that faulted or broken ground may continue to prevent holes from reaching their planned depths or increase the cost and time required to drill them; the risk that a larger drill may not be available on acceptable terms or within anticipated timelines; the risk that the geological and structural interpretations, including the westward dip of mineralization, may not be confirmed by further drilling; the risk that mineralization at Super Gulp may not share the westward orientation interpreted at the RPM Zone and Alloy Max, and that holes oriented to the east may not intersect mineralization as expected; the risk that surface DTR results west of Pipestone Pond may not be confirmed by drilling; the risk that metallurgical results from the RPM Zone may not be representative of mineralization at Alloy Max or elsewhere on the project; the risk that the exploration access road may not deliver the expected logistical efficiencies; permitting, access, cost, weather or construction delays affecting the exploration access road, camp expansion and any expanded exploration; seasonal and environmental restrictions on construction and exploration activity; the risk that licences, permits and approvals, including the Crown Lands Licence to Occupy, may not be renewed, issued or maintained on acceptable terms or within anticipated timelines; the risk of non-compliance with, or changes to, the conditions of the environmental assessment releases or permits; the risk that expenditures may not qualify as Qualifying Expenditures or may not be incurred within the required period; adverse tax determinations or changes in tax laws or their interpretation; uncertainty regarding metallurgical recoverability and processing characteristics; uncertainty regarding the potential generation, recovery, storage, commerciality or development of geologic hydrogen; risks relating to the negotiation and completion of definitive agreements with VEMA Hydrogen; environmental, title, regulatory and community-related risks; the availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms; changes in commodity prices, market conditions and investor sentiment; operational, equipment, contractor and laboratory risks; and the other risks described in the Company’s continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Company is an exploration-stage issuer and has not established mineral resources or mineral reserves at the Pipestone XL Nickel-Cobalt Alloy Project. There can be no assurance that further exploration or technical work will result in the delineation of mineral resources or mineral reserves, or that the project will be advanced to production. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date of this news release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise such information except as required by applicable securities laws.

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1
https://fanickel.com/20260608-vema-hydrogen-and-first-atlantic-nickel-cobalt-sign-loi-to-develop-engineered-mineral-hydrogen-at-pipestone-xl-awaruite-project-in-newfoundland
2 https://fanickel.com/20260115-first-atlantic-nickel-highlights-relevance-of-pipestone-xl-awaruite-nickel-cobalt-alloy-discovery-to-address-u-s–critical-mineral-supply-chain-vulnerabilities-identified-in-january-14-2026-white-house-proclamation
3 https://fanickel.com/20260331-first-atlantic-nickel-announces-acceptance-into-defense-industrial-base-consortium-dibc—pipestone-xl-smelter-free-nickel-cobalt-alloy-project-addresses-midstream-smelting-bottleneck-in-u-s–defense-supply-chain
4 https://fanickel.com/20260619-first-atlantic-nickel-cobalt-highlights-g7-leaders-declaration-on-critical-minerals-g7-names-nickel-one-of-only-two-pilot-minerals-for-a-new-allied-traceability-framework-moves-to-mobilize-equity-investment-and-offtake-and-establishes-a-critical-
5 https://fanickel.com/20260521-first-atlantic-nickel-cobalt-reports-electron-microprobe-analysis-returning-77-62-nickel-and-1-69-cobalt-in-awaruite-at-the-rpm-zone-pipestone-xl-project-a-rare-naturally-magnetic-ni-fe-co-high-grade-alloy-mineralogically-capable-of-bypassing-mid
6 https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/mineral-pubs/nickel/mcs-2012-nicke.pdf
7 https://fanickel.com/20260624-first-atlantic-nickel-cobalt-produces-high-grade-alloy-concentrate-up-to-71-9-nickel-and-1-76-cobalt-from-its-pipestone-xl-nickel-cobalt-alloy-project-using-its-first-ever-onshore-max-magnetic-alloy-extraction-recovery-concentration-process-unvei
8 https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/mineral-pubs/nickel/mcs-2012-nicke.pdf

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6c88f58e-c30b-4d5e-a340-47ad6d07b83b

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6cc391bf-bf31-44ff-a8d3-d0c749ec0e1f

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7be8d2c4-9b5f-4882-a915-62a3ad498783

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/300bedfc-1ee8-4f43-a020-547531420195

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/afb14d89-610a-455c-ae0e-784001696ec9

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/51fd9ea5-0f40-45e2-8151-369d70d064d7

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d52ed361-3090-4df8-bd6b-2d197ce04a9b

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/32209713-9ec4-48f2-84eb-2f7f60ad0a09

Acquisition of GigaCloud, valued at up to USD 50 million, expands secure, resilient cloud infrastructure for Ukrainian businesses and public institutions

New York, Dubai & Kyiv, 29 October 2026 – VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON), a global digital operator (“VEON” or the “Company”), today announces that its Ukrainian digital operator Kyivstar (Nasdaq: KYIV; KYIVW) (the “Company” or “Kyivstar”) is to acquire GigaCloud, one of Ukraine’s leading cloud infrastructure providers. Valued at up to USD 50 million, the acquisition will expand the secure, resilient digital infrastructure that Ukrainian businesses and public institutions need to operate, innovate and grow. It also accelerates VEON’s strategy to build cloud services for enterprise customers and reinforces Kyivstar’s long-term commitment to Ukraine’s digital economy.

Founded in 2016, GigaCloud is one of Ukraine’s leading cloud infrastructure providers, serving more than 1,800 enterprise customers and supporting digital transformation across a broad range of industries. Following completion of the transaction, GigaCloud will become a subsidiary of Kyivstar. Its expertise and strong reputation in cloud technology will be combined with Kyivstar’s financial strength and growth strategy to accelerate GigaCloud’s expansion and strengthen Ukraine’s digital infrastructure.

“Digital infrastructure is ultimately about people: the entrepreneurs building businesses, the teams delivering public services, and the families who depend on them. Kyivstar’s acquisition of GigaCloud strengthens the secure, resilient foundation Ukraine needs to keep growing and to give its people better opportunities,” said Kaan Terzioglu, CEO of VEON Group.

The acquisition develops Kyivstar’s strategy to evolve from a telecommunications operator into a leading digital ecosystem and technology platform company. By expanding its presence in the fast-growing cloud computing sector, Kyivstar is seeking to create a powerful platform for enterprise IT compute, AI, cybersecurity, and data-driven solutions.

“This transaction is a significant step in executing Kyivstar’s long-term strategy to build Ukraine’s leading digital ecosystem. As demand for cloud computing, AI capabilities, and secure data infrastructure continues to grow, we see substantial opportunities to expand our presence in high-value digital services. GigaCloud has established itself as a trusted market leader with exceptional talent, proven technological expertise, and strong customer relationships. Together, we intend to accelerate the development of sovereign digital infrastructure, unlock new growth opportunities, and create a stronger, more diversified technology business positioned to deliver long-term value for all stakeholders,” said Oleksandr Komarov, President of Kyivstar Group Ltd.

The purchase underscores Kyivstar’s commitment to expanding its digital business portfolio where recent acquisitions have included the acquisition of e-mobility operators Uklon and E-wings, clean energy companies Six Solar Power Plants and Sunvin, internet service provider Shtorm and digital healthcare company Tabkletki. Kyivstar is committed to support the development of Ukraine’s digital economy through long-term investments in infrastructure and innovation.

About VEON

VEON is a digital operator that provides connectivity and digital services to over 150 million connectivity customers and more than 228 million digital users. Operating across five countries that are home to more than 6% of the world’s population, VEON is transforming lives through technology driven services that empower individuals and drive economic growth. VEON is listed on Nasdaq. For more information, visit: https://www.veon.com

About Kyivstar Group Ltd.

Kyivstar Group Ltd. is a Nasdaq-listed holding company that operates JSC Kyivstar, Ukraine’s leading digital operator and the first Ukrainian company to list on a U.S. stock exchange. Kyivstar Group Ltd.’s companies provide a broad range of connectivity and digital services, including mobile and fixed-line voice and data, ride-hailing, e-health, digital TV, and enterprise solutions such as Big Data, cloud, and cybersecurity. For more information, please visit https://investors.kyivstar.ua.

About GigaCloud

GigaCloud is a leader in the Ukrainian cloud market. Since 2016, GigaCloud has supported the digital transformation of more than 1,800 companies through cloud technologies. The company serves large enterprises and is a leading partner of the public sector in implementing digital transformation initiatives powered by cloud solutions. GigaCloud’s infrastructure includes five data centers located in Ukraine and Poland across three availability zones. GigaCloud leverages state-of-the-art technologies to build secure, resilient, and highly available cloud infrastructure.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains “forward-looking statements”, within the meaning of the Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to VEON’s performance and strategic ambitions in Ukraine with the acquisition of GigaCloud. There are numerous risks, uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially from those expressed by such statements, including risks relating to VEON’s performance and strategic ambitions in Ukraine with the acquisition of GigaCloud, among others discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in VEON’s 2025 Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 16, 2026 and other public filings made by VEON with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this release and VEON disclaims any obligation to update them, except as required by law.

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