The Metals Company: NOAA expects mid-December decision

Certification is an intermediate NOAA review step and does not itself approve or issue an exploration license or commercial recovery permit.

Available on EDGAR 11/09/2026 - 09:16 AM EST Accepted by SEC EDGAR 11/09/2026 - 09:16 AM EST Learn about SEC filing dates

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

The Metals Company Inc. said its subsidiary, The Metals Company USA LLC (“TMC USA”), received a letter from NOAA on November 3, 2026. NOAA expects to notify TMC USA by mid-December 2026 of its final determination on certification of the subsidiary’s consolidated application for an exploration license and a commercial recovery permit under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act.

The timing is an estimate that may change, and the Act does not impose a mandatory deadline for NOAA’s determination. Certification is an intermediate step in NOAA’s review and does not itself constitute approval or issuance of a license or permit.

8-K Event Classification

2 items: 7.01, 9.01

2 items

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure Disclosure

Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits

Financial statements, pro forma financial information, or exhibit attachments filed with this report.

Key Figures

Expected NOAA notification: By mid-December 2026

1 metrics

Expected NOAA notification By mid-December 2026 Final determination on certification of TMC USA’s consolidated application

Key Terms

Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, exploration license, commercial recovery permit, certification

4 terms

Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act regulatory

"under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act"

A "Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act" is a law that creates the rules and permits for finding, testing and mining metal-rich deposits on the ocean floor beyond coastal waters. It sets who can get rights, what environmental safeguards and fees apply, and how disputes or liabilities are resolved. Investors care because the law determines whether a project can proceed, how costly and risky it will be, and how returns and legal exposure are shared—much like a property title and zoning rules decide the value and cost of building on land.

exploration license regulatory

"an exploration license and a commercial recovery permit"

A permit granted by a government or landowner that gives a company the legal right to search a defined area for minerals, oil, gas, or other natural resources. It does not authorize commercial production but allows costly surveying, drilling and testing to determine whether a viable deposit exists; for investors it represents a speculative asset that can create large upside if discoveries are made or become a bargaining chip in deals, while also carrying the risk of being written off if nothing is found.

commercial recovery permit regulatory

"an exploration license and a commercial recovery permit"

certification regulatory

"final determination on certification"

A certification is an official approval or documented statement from a recognized authority that a product, process, person, or company meets specific standards or rules. For investors, certifications act like third-party report cards — they reduce uncertainty about quality, safety, compliance or competence, which can affect a company’s legal risk, market access, customer trust and ultimately its revenue and valuation.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

When does NOAA expect to make a decision on TMC’s application?

NOAA expects to notify TMC USA by mid-December 2026 of its final determination on certification. The timing is an estimate that may change, and the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act does not impose a mandatory deadline. Certification is an intermediate review step, not approval or issuance of a license or permit.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT 

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the 

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 9, 2026

TMC THE METALS COMPANY INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

British Columbia, Canada	001-39281	Not Applicable
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

1111 West Hastings Street, 15th Floor
Vancouver, British Columbia
(Address of principal executive
offices) V6E 2J3
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (888) 458-3420

Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
TMC Common Shares without par value		TMC		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On November 3, 2026, The Metals Company USA LLC (“TMC USA”), a subsidiary of the Company, received a letter from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”) stating that NOAA expects to notify TMC USA by mid-December 2026 of its final determination on certification of TMC USA’s consolidated application for an exploration license and a commercial recovery permit under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (“DSHMRA”).

The information in this Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the expected timing of NOAA’s determination on certification of TMC USA’s consolidated application. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. DSHMRA does not impose a mandatory deadline for NOAA’s determination, the timing described above is an estimate and may change, and certification is an intermediate step in NOAA’s review that does not constitute approval or issuance of any license or permit. Additional factors are described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	TMC THE METALS COMPANY INC.
Date: November 9, 2026	By:	/s/ Craig Shesky
	Name:	Craig Shesky
	Title:	Chief Financial Officer

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

4 documents

Other Documents

• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA 3.5 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION DEFINITION LINKBASE 25.9 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE 35.2 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE 24.6 KB