CHARBONE Expands Helium Fleet to Five Units Following Accelerated Commercial Demand

Global helium supply shortages have enabled CHARBONE to grow its business faster in underserved markets.

Varennes, Quebec, July 16, 2026 – CHARBONE CORPORATION (TSXV: CH; OTCQB: CHHYF; FSE: K47) (“CHARBONE” or the “Company”), a vertically integrated industrial gases company focused on production, distribution and storage of clean ultra-high purity (“UHP”) hydrogen and other strategic industrial gases, today announced the expansion of its dedicated helium delivery fleet from one unit to five, enabling accelerated service to North American customers amid tightening global supply.

Recent geopolitical disruptions to Qatar’s Ras Laffan complex, historically responsible for approximately one-third of global helium supply, and the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed to Western shipping, export constraints have driven price volatility across North American markets. Reported helium spot prices have increased significantly, creating urgent demand for reliable domestic supply sources for sectors like semiconductor manufacturing and healthcare, among others.

CHARBONE’s helium division, launched in 2025, leverages the company’s vertically integrated infrastructure and decentralized production model. By establishing supply capability ahead of recent market disruptions, CHARBONE secured long-term customer commitments through 2028 that insulate North American operations from volatile international shipping dependencies.

Operational Scale and Market Penetration

The Company’s growth is reflected in its rapidly expanding customer base and logistics capacity:

Fleet Expansion: The dedicated helium trailer fleet increased from a single unit in Q4 2025 to five today, with the capacity to add five more within months.
Customer Acquisition: 22 new helium customers were added across Quebec recently, spanning laboratories, advanced manufacturing, and technical services.
Revenue Diversification: CHARBONE continues to deploy recurring revenue streams across UHP hydrogen, helium, and oxygen, supporting portfolio diversification.

“We were prepared to scale helium production well before recent supply disruptions materialized. With trailers on order and agreements in place, we’ve grown our dedicated helium fleet from one unit to five and remain positioned to add five more within months to meet this surge in demand,” said Patrick Cuddihy, Senior Vice-President of CHARBONE.

Cette pénurie a également servi d’outil stratégique d’entrée sur le marché. The shortage has also acted as a strategic market entry tool. Because industrial gas buyers are typically permitted to seek secondary suppliers when their primary providers cannot deliver, CHARBONE has captured market share from established competitors facing supply constraints. Management expects these new helium relationships to eventually facilitate cross-selling of hydrogen and oxygen products.

While CHARBONE’s helium division continues to benefit from the setback on production facilities in Qatar require rebuilding from drone and missel attacks in March 2026 and shipping constraints persist, CHARBONE remains in continuous commercial production at its Sorel-Tracy flagship hydrogen plant. With Phase 1B scale-up currently underway, the Company is focused on delivering sustained sales growth across its decentralized North American network.

A detailed article exploring CHARBONE’s helium operations and market positioning is available on social media. Investors and stakeholders are encouraged to review the full piece for additional context.

New IR contract

CHARBONE is also pleased to announce that it has engaged IMPAQ Capital Inc. (“IMPAQ”), an independent service provider, to deliver investor relations services. Based in Montréal, Québec, IMPAQ specializes in tailored outreach programs that strengthen visibility and engagement with qualified North American investment professionals.

The agreement is for an initial term of ten (10) months, effective July 13, 2026, and will automatically renew for successive three (3)-month periods unless terminated by the Company. IMPAQ will receive a monthly cash fee of $8,500. In addition, the Company has agreed to allocate to IMPAQ 300,000 of the already announced grant of stock options on June 23, 2026, at an exercise price of $0.15. 25% of the options will vest quarterly and be exercisable over a two-year period, subject to CHARBONE’s Omnibus Equity Plan, and standard vesting provisions.

IMPAQ’s Canada-focused expertise with French and English speaking representatives combined with CHARBONE’s previously disclosed existing US-based investor relations firm, RB Milestone Group, the Company is well positioned to continue strengthening its footprint with North American investor communities.

Momentum Public Relations Inc. Appointment

CHARBONE has retained the services of Momentum Public Relations Inc. (“Momentum”) for services related to its investor and media relations strategies. These services will be primarily provided by Mr. Maxence Gagné-Godbout, who acts at arm’s length from the Company. Under the agreement, Momentum will receive fees of $10,000 per month. The six-month agreement is valid until May 15, 2026. No other compensation is payable under this engagement. The agreement is subject to regulatory approval.

About CHARBONE CORPORATION

CHARBONE is a vertically integrated industrial gases company focused on developing and operating a network of supply hubs for the production, storage, and distribution of Ultra-High Purity (UHP) strategic industrial gases. The Company serves customers across sectors including semiconductors, artificial intelligence and data centers, advanced pharmaceuticals, and aerospace and defense technologies, where UHP gases are critical for high-precision manufacturing processes and operational performance. CHARBONE is advancing a network of clean UHP hydrogen production facilities across North America and selected international markets. The Company’s modular, decentralized, and demand-driven approach, combined with its integrated storage and distribution platform for all UHP gases, supports scalable growth, enhances operational flexibility, and enables more stable and diversified revenue generation. This model allows CHARBONE to efficiently serve mid-tier industrial gas customers with a reliable supply of UHP gases, including hydrogen, helium, oxygen, and any others that are in high-demand gases that are often difficult to source. The Company is committed to supporting the global transition to a lower-carbon economy by providing accessible, decentralized clean hydrogen and specialty gases, while addressing supply gaps for underserved industrial customers and accelerating the shift towards localized clean energy. CHARBONE is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: CH), the OTC Markets (OTCQB: CHHYF), and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: K47).

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (“forward-looking statements”). These forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as “intends”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “believes”, “plans”, “likely”, or similar words. Forward-looking statements reflect the respective expectations, estimates or projections of Charbone’s management regarding future results or events, based on opinions, assumptions and estimates considered reasonable by management at the date the statements are made. Although Charbone believes that the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, as unknown or unpredictable factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties related to Charbone’s activities may affect forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, without limitation, those described under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s management discussion and analysis for the period ended September 30, 2025, which can be accessed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca; they could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Unless required by applicable securities laws, Charbone does not undertake to update or revise the forward-looking statements.

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 press release.