King Copper Fortifies Team for High-Grade Peruvian Copper Project

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – February 27, 2026 – King Copper Discovery Corp. (TSXV: KCP) is making a decisive push to advance its promising Colquemayo copper-gold project in Peru, announcing the strategic appointments of two seasoned industry veterans to its technical and corporate affairs teams. The move signals a new phase of aggressive exploration, underscored by an upcoming 35,000-metre drill program and a high-profile showcase at the world’s premier mining conference.

The company is betting that a combination of proven technical leadership, deep-seated community relations expertise, and the project’s exceptional high-grade historical results will unlock the potential of a district-scale mineral system in one of South America’s most prolific mining belts.

Bolstering the Ranks with Peruvian Expertise

King Copper has significantly strengthened its operational capabilities with two key hires who bring decades of direct, in-country experience. Mr. Fabio Cuoco has been appointed as Project Manager, bringing over twenty years of experience leading multi-rig exploration teams for mining giants like Rio Tinto and Vale in Peru. His background is heavily focused on the discovery and delineation of copper and porphyry copper systems, aligning perfectly with the geological model at Colquemayo.

Equally critical is the appointment of Mr. Javier Escudero as Senior Advisor for Corporate and Social Affairs. Mr. Escudero is a highly respected figure in the Peruvian mining sector, having held senior sustainability and government affairs roles at Hudbay Peru, Rio Tinto, and Gold Fields. His career has been dedicated to navigating the complex socio-political landscape of Peruvian mining, fostering public-private partnerships, and ensuring projects secure the crucial “social license to operate.”

These appointments are seen by industry observers as a calculated move to de-risk the Colquemayo project on two essential fronts: the technical execution of a large-scale exploration campaign and the socio-political management required for long-term success in the region.

Unlocking a High-Grade Copper-Gold System

The Colquemayo project, in which King Copper has an option to earn a 100% interest, is the central focus of the company's renewed efforts. Located in southern Peru, the 6,600-hectare property is distinguished by historical drill results that are turning heads in the industry. One notable past intersection returned a remarkable 237.3 metres grading 2.4% copper, 0.08 g/t gold, and 10 g/t silver.

Within that broad interval were even higher-grade sections, including 161.2 metres of 3.4% copper and a bonanza-grade zone of 31.3 metres grading an exceptional 14.8% copper, 0.2 g/t gold, and 47 g/t silver.

These grades are highly significant when compared to other major copper discoveries in the Andean region. While many large-scale porphyry deposits are considered economic at grades below 1% copper, Colquemayo’s historical intercepts suggest the presence of a very rich mineralizing system. The project’s geology is defined as a high-sulphidation epithermal system, which geologists believe may be the upper expression of a much larger, deeper porphyry copper deposit—a model similar to world-class discoveries like Filo del Sol and Valeriano.

In preparation for its next major step, King Copper’s technical team has meticulously relogged and reinterpreted approximately 20,000 metres of historical drill core. This foundational work has informed the design of a fully financed, 35,000-metre drill program aimed at testing for large-scale porphyry mineralization and expanding upon the known high-grade zones.

Strategic Showcase at World's Premier Mining Conference

To build momentum ahead of its drilling campaign, King Copper will participate in the upcoming 2026 Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention in Toronto. The company has secured a coveted spot in the Core Shack (Booth #3116A) for March 1st and 2nd.

The PDAC Core Shack is a unique venue where exploration companies display physical drill core samples from their most exciting projects. It allows potential investors, analysts, and technical experts to see the mineralization firsthand, offering a tangible layer of validation that goes beyond presentations and press releases. For King Copper, it provides a powerful platform to showcase the high-grade nature of the Colquemayo core and to communicate its refined geological model to a global audience just as it prepares to deploy drills.

Navigating the Complexities of Mining in Peru

While Peru is a top global copper producer with favorable geology, operating in the country presents significant social and regulatory challenges. The concept of a “social license to operate”—the ongoing acceptance and approval of a project by local communities and stakeholders—is paramount to success. A history of social conflicts, often tied to environmental concerns and the distribution of economic benefits, has stalled or halted numerous mining projects in the past, even those with full legal and regulatory approval.

In this context, the appointment of Javier Escudero is particularly strategic. His extensive experience at Hudbay and Rio Tinto involves precisely this type of high-stakes community and government engagement. His role will be to ensure King Copper builds a foundation of trust and transparency with local stakeholders, a proactive approach that moves beyond transactional community relations toward a more sustainable, dialogue-based partnership.

By prioritizing social and corporate affairs at this early stage, King Copper is demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of the modern mining landscape, recognizing that long-term value creation is inextricably linked to responsible and ethical development.

In conjunction with the new appointments, the company has granted 250,000 stock options and 450,000 restricted share units (RSUs) to align the interests of its strengthened team with those of its shareholders. With a world-class team now in place, a compelling geological target, and a major drill program on the horizon, King Copper is positioning itself to be a significant player in the next wave of South American copper discovery.