Ero Copper Reports Second Quarter 2026 Operating and Financial Results

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(all amounts in US dollars, unless otherwise noted)

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ero Copper Corp. (TSX: ERO, NYSE: ERO) (“Ero” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce its operating and financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026. Management will host a conference call tomorrow, Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time to discuss the results. Dial-in details for the call can be found near the end of this press release.

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HIGHLIGHTS

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“Ero delivered a solid second quarter, generating strong cash flow and continuing to deliver on our commitment to deleverage the balance sheet. The progress we have made over the past 18 months has materially strengthened the Company’s financial position and is delivering true value to our business – core commitments we made to our shareholders in early 2025,” said Makko DeFilippo, President & Chief Executive Officer.

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“Our financial progress is being underpinned by operational execution across the portfolio. At Caraíba, we remain on track to achieve another annual plant throughput record in 2026, approximately 20% above 2025 levels. At Tucumã, plant throughput increased 27% quarter-on-quarter, and our tailings filtration expansion is now partially complete and remains on track for completion by year-end. Xavantina also delivered a significant improvement in mining and processing performance compared to the first quarter, together with a substantial increase in gold recovered from historic concentrate stockpiles. We are seeing true benefits of our OneEro strategic initiative and are entering the second half with momentum across all three operations and a clear line of sight to further production and cash flow growth. After an excellent Q2, we believe Ero is well positioned to deliver a strong second half of 2026.”

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⁽¹⁾
_{These are non-IFRS measures and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. Please refer to the Company’s discussion of Non-IFRS measures in its Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 and the Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures section at the end of this press release.}
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_{The Company’s net debt leverage ratio as of June 30, 2026 of 0.8x was calculated as net debt of $452.7 million divided by trailing 12-month adjusted EBITDA of $533.1 million.}

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SECOND QUARTER REVIEW

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The Caraíba Operations

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The Tucumã Operation

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The Xavantina Operations

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⁽¹⁾
_{These are non-IFRS measures and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. Please refer to the Company’s discussion of Non-IFRS measures in its Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 and the Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures section at the end of this press release.}

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OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

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⁽¹⁾
_{Please refer to the Company’s discussion of Non-IFRS measures in its Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 and the Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures section at the end of this press release.}
⁽²⁾ _{The Company declared commercial production at the Tucumã Operation effective July 1, 2025. As such, copper C1 cash costs for the Tucumã Operation reflects costs from Q3 2025 onward only.}
⁽³⁾ _{Gold sold in concentrate includes gold ounces produced in flotation and the historic gold concentrate stockpile.}

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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

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($ in millions, except per share amounts)

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⁽¹⁾
_{Please refer to the Company’s discussion of Non-IFRS measures in its Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 and the Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures section at the end of this press release.}

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2026 GUIDANCE

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Consolidated copper production guidance is maintained in the range of 67,500 to 77,500 tonnes, with production expected to be second-half weighted at both copper operations. At the Caraíba Operations, H2 2026 production is expected to benefit from higher grades from planned mine sequencing along with higher throughput levels. Production at the Tucumã Operation is expected to be modestly higher in H2 2026 as sustained higher plant throughput rates from ongoing process improvements are expected to offset lower grades.

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At Xavantina, gold production from mining and processing operations is expected at the low end of the guided range of 40,000 to 50,000 ounces in 2026, reflecting the impact of extended downtime in H1 2026 related to the installation and tie-in of ventilation and cooling infrastructure and a slower ramp-up of mining activities in Q2. Gold production is expected to increase sequentially through the remainder of the year, with full-year production projected to be significantly second-half weighted.

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Gold concentrate sales volumes are expected to increase significantly in H2 2026 with drier seasonal conditions and the commissioning of a mobile filter press and industrial dryer in late Q2 2026, which are expected to meaningfully reduce concentrate drying times. Gold concentrate sales from historic stockpiles are not included in Xavantina’s guidance ranges, which capture only production from mining and processing operations.

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Consolidated copper C1 cash cost⁽¹⁾ guidance is maintained in the range of $2.15 to $2.35 per pound produced. Costs are expected to decline sequentially through H2 2026, driven by increased production and higher processed grades at the Caraíba Operations as well as the expected benefits from higher byproduct revenues and improved smelting and refining terms relative to original guidance. If the current strength of the Brazilian real and inflationary pressures associated with the U.S.-Iran conflict persist through the remainder of the year, the Company estimates potential incremental impacts of approximately $0.10 per pound on reported consolidated copper C1 cash costs⁽¹⁾. The cash impact associated with the stronger Brazilian real is expected to be offset by approximately $40 million to $45 million of full-year realized gains from the Company’s foreign exchange hedge program, assuming a USD/BRL exchange rate of 5.10 through year-end.

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C1 cash cost⁽¹⁾ and AISC⁽¹⁾ guidance for Xavantina’s mined gold production has been updated to $1,100 to $1,350 per ounce and $2,200 to $2,700 per ounce, respectively, reflecting production volumes that are expected to be at the low end of the maintained guidance range. Unit costs are expected to decline through H2 2026 as production volumes increase. If the current strength of the Brazilian real and inflationary pressures associated with the U.S.-Iran conflict persist through the remainder of the year, the Company estimates potential incremental impacts of approximately $100 per ounce on reported C1 cash costs⁽¹⁾ for mined gold. The cash impact of the stronger Brazilian real is expected to be offset by realized gains from the Company’s foreign exchange hedge program.

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Total capital expenditure guidance has been updated to $285 to $330 million, reflecting the approval of approximately $10 million for a new powerline at Xavantina to strengthen site infrastructure, support future growth opportunities and reduce power transmission rates. If the current strength of the Brazilian real and inflationary pressures associated with the U.S.-Iran conflict persist through the remainder of the year, the Company estimates potential incremental impacts of approximately $20 million to $25 million on reported capital expenditures. The cash impact of the stronger Brazilian real is expected to be offset by realized gains from the Company’s foreign exchange hedge program.

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2026 Production and Cost Guidance

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_{Note: Guidance is based on estimates and assumptions including, but not limited to, mineral reserve estimates, grade and continuity of interpreted geological formations and metallurgical recovery performance. Please refer to the Company’s SEDAR+ and EDGAR filings, including the most recent Annual Information Form (“AIF”), for a detailed summary of risks factors.}
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_{Please refer to the section titled “Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures” within this Press Release.}

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2026 Capital Expenditure Guidance

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Figures presented in the table below are in USD millions.

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_{Note: Guidance is based on certain estimates and assumptions, including but not limited to, mineral reserve estimates, grade and continuity of interpreted geological formations and metallurgical performance. Please refer to the Company’s most recent AIF and Management of Risks and Uncertainties in the MD&A for complete risk factors.}

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CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

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The Company will hold a conference call on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 11:30 am Eastern time (8:30 am Pacific time) to discuss these results. A results presentation will be available for download via the webcast link and in the Presentations section of the Company’s website on the day of the conference call.

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Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Measures

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Financial results of the Company are presented in accordance with IFRS. The Company utilizes certain alternative performance (non-IFRS) measures to monitor its performance, including copper C1 cash cost, gold C1 cash cost, gold AISC, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income attributable to owners of the Company, adjusted net income per share, net (cash) debt, working capital and available liquidity. These performance measures have no standardized meaning prescribed within generally accepted accounting principles under IFRS and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other mining companies. These non-IFRS measures are intended to provide supplemental information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

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For additional details please refer to the Company’s discussion of non-IFRS and other performance measures in its Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

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Copper C1 cash cost

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The following table provides a reconciliation of copper C1 cash cost to cost of production, its most directly comparable IFRS measure.

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The Caraíba Operations

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The Tucumã Operation

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Gold Production C1 cash cost and gold AISC

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The following table provides a reconciliation of gold C1 cash cost and gold AISC to cost of production, its most directly comparable IFRS measure.

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Historic Gold Concentrate C1 cash cost and gold AISC

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The following table provides a reconciliation of historic gold concentrate C1 cash cost and historic gold concentrate AISC to cost of production, its most directly comparable IFRS measure.

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Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and Adjusted EBITDA

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The following table provides a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income, its most directly comparable IFRS measure.

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Adjusted net income attributable to owners of the Company and Adjusted net income per share attributable to owners of the Company

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The following table provides a reconciliation of Adjusted net income attributable to owners of the Company and Adjusted EPS to net income attributable to the owners of the Company, its most directly comparable IFRS measure.

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Net Debt (Cash)

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The following table provides a calculation of net debt (cash) based on amounts presented in the Company’s condensed consolidated interim financial statements as at the periods presented.

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Working Capital and Available Liquidity

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The following table provides a calculation for these based on amounts presented in the Company’s condensed consolidated interim financial statements as at the periods presented.

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ABOUT ERO

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Ero is a Brazil-focused, growth-oriented mining company with a diversified portfolio of copper and gold assets. Headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., the Company operates two copper mines – the Caraíba Operations in Bahia State and the Tucumã Operation in Pará State – as well as the Xavantina Operations, a producing gold mine in Mato Grosso State. In addition to its operating assets, Ero is advancing the Furnas Copper-Gold Project, located in the mineral-rich Carajás Province in Pará State, through a definitive earn-in agreement with Vale Base Metals to acquire a 60% interest in the project.

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Ero’s operating philosophy is grounded in a commitment to safety, operational excellence, and the responsible production of minerals essential for a better tomorrow. The Company’s shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ERO.” Additional information, including technical reports on the Company’s operations and projects, is available on the Company’s website (www.ero.com), SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca), and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov).

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

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Farooq Hamed, VP, Investor Relations
[email protected]

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CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION AND STATEMENTS

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This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements include statements that use forward-looking terminology such as “may”, “could”, “would”, “will”, “should”, “intend”, “target”, “plan”, “expect”, “budget”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “schedule”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “potential”, “view” or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Company’s expected production, operating costs and capital expenditures at the Caraíba Operations, the Tucumã Operation and the Xavantina Operations, including the expected timing and weighting of production, plant throughput, mined and processed copper or gold grades, recoveries and unit costs; capital and operating cost estimates and economic analyses (including cash flow projections), including those from the Caraíba Operations Technical Report, the Xavantina Operations Technical Report, the Tucumã Project Technical Report and the Furnas Project Technical Report;the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources; estimated completion dates for certain milestones, including completion of the Pilar Mine’s new external shaft at the Caraíba Operations; the ability of the Company to maintain improved performance at the Caraíba mill and realize the expected benefits associated with the Pilar Mine’s new external shaft; the expected timing of delivery, installation and commissioning of additional modular tailings filters at the Tucumã Operation and the anticipated impact of such filters on tailings filtration capacity, plant throughput and future production; the expected benefits of the ventilation and cooling infrastructure installed at the Xavantina Operations, including increased mining rates, mill throughput and processed gold grades; expectations regarding gold concentrate sales from the Xavantina Operations, including the expected timing and volume of sales and the anticipated benefits of drier seasonal conditions and the mobile filter press and industrial dryer commissioned on site; the anticipated benefits of the new powerline and processing plant optimization initiatives at the Xavantina Operations; expectations regarding the impact of inflationary pressures, the US-Iran conflict and fluctuations in the Brazilian real on the Company’s operating costs, capital expenditures and financial results; expectations of cost savings related to the OneEro Program; expectations regarding foreign exchange derivative contracts, including expected gains thereon and the exchange rate assumptions underlying such expectations; the Company’s capital allocation priorities, including continued deleveraging of the balance sheet; the Company’s ability to advance work programs under the Furnas earn-in agreement, including exploration, drilling, permitting, engineering, geotechnical, hydrogeological, environmental and metallurgical programs; the expected completion of the Phase 3 drill program and other planned exploration activities at the Furnas Copper-Gold Project; the timing and completion of a pre-feasibility study for the Furnas Copper-Gold Project, currently expected to be published in 2027; the potential to extend known mineralization, upgrade mineral resources to higher-confidence categories or mineral reserves, enhance project economics or increase the potential production profile at the Furnas Copper-Gold Project; the discovery of additional mineralization and the potential impact of exploration results on future production rates at the Company’s mines or processing facilities; the Company’s expectations associated with historic gold concentrate stockpiles at the Xavantina Operations, including operating costs, payability, grades, sales volumes and the timing of sales; and any other statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future plans, intentions, levels of activity, results, performance or achievements.

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Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, actions, events, conditions, performance or achievements to materially differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks discussed in this press release and in the Company’s most recent Annual Information Form (“AIF”) under the heading “Risk Factors”. The risks discussed in this press release and in the AIF are not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, actions, events, conditions, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results, actions, events, conditions, performance or achievements to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.

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Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements involve statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and the Company’s actual results, achievements or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, those referred to herein and in the AIF under the heading “Risk Factors”.

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The Company’s forward-looking statements are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, many of which may be difficult to predict and beyond the Company’s control. In connection with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release and in the AIF, the Company has made certain assumptions about, among other things: favourable equity and debt capital markets; the ability to raise any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to advance the production, development and exploration of the Company’s properties and assets; future prices of copper, gold and other metal prices; the timing and results of exploration and drilling programs; the accuracy of any mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; the geology of the Caraíba Operations, the Xavantina Operations, the Tucumã Operation and the Furnas Copper-Gold Project being as described in the respective technical report for each property; production costs; the accuracy of budgeted exploration, development and construction costs and expenditures; the price of other commodities such as fuel; future currency exchange rates, interest rates and tariff rates; operating conditions being favourable such that the Company is able to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner; work force continuing to remain healthy in the face of prevailing epidemics, pandemics or other health risks, political and regulatory stability; the receipt of governmental, regulatory and third party approvals, licenses and permits on favourable terms; obtaining required renewals for existing approvals, licenses and permits on favourable terms; requirements under applicable laws; sustained labour stability; stability in financial and capital goods markets; availability of equipment; positive relations with local groups and the Company’s ability to meet its obligations under its agreements with such groups; and satisfying the terms and conditions of the Company’s current loan arrangements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date of this press release, these assumptions are subject to significant business, social, economic, political, regulatory, competitive and other risks and uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that could cause actual actions, events, conditions, results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. Other events or circumstances could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated or projected and expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. There can be no assurance that forward-looking 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.

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Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as and to the extent required by applicable securities laws.

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CAUTIONARY NOTES REGARDING MINERAL RESOURCE AND MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATES

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Unless otherwise indicated, all reserve and resource estimates included in this press release and the documents incorporated by reference herein have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101″) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the “CIM”) — CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended (the “CIM Standards”). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and reserve and resource information included herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this presentation and the documents incorporated by reference herein use the terms “measured resources,” “indicated resources” and “inferred resources” as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards.

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Further to recent amendments, mineral property disclosure requirements in the United States (the “U.S. Rules”) are governed by subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) which differ from the CIM Standards. As a foreign private issuer that is eligible to file reports with the SEC pursuant to the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system (the “MJDS”), Ero is not required to provide disclosure on its mineral properties under the U.S. Rules and will continue to provide disclosure under NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards. If Ero ceases to be a foreign private issuer or loses its eligibility to file its annual report on Form 40-F pursuant to the MJDS, then Ero will be subject to the U.S. Rules, which differ from the requirements of NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards.

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Pursuant to the new U.S. Rules, the SEC recognizes estimates of “measured mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources” and “inferred mineral resources.” In addition, the definitions of “proven mineral reserves” and “probable mineral reserves” under the U.S. Rules are now “substantially similar” to the corresponding standards under NI 43-101. Mineralization described using these terms has a greater amount of uncertainty as to its existence and feasibility than mineralization that has been characterized as reserves. Accordingly, U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources, or inferred mineral resources that Ero reports are or will be economically or legally mineable. Further, “inferred mineral resources” have a greater amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of “inferred mineral resources” may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. While the above terms under the U.S. Rules are “substantially similar” to the standards under NI 43-101 and CIM Standards, there are differences in the definitions under the U.S. Rules and CIM Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral reserves or mineral resources that Ero may report as “proven mineral reserves”, “probable mineral reserves”, “measured mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources” and “inferred mineral resources” under NI 43-101 would be the same had Ero prepared the reserve or resource estimates under the standards adopted under the U.S. Rules.

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