PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As online scams, coercive debt collection, and lending that outruns what households can repay spread across Asia, consumer protection is failing where it counts: in practice. This is the finding of a new report by the Fair Finance Asia (FFA) network and research partner, Profundo. Empowering Consumers as Partners in Sustainability: Case Studies on Financial Regulation and Implementation calls on regulators and banks to close the gap between regulation and delivery, and to treat consumers as partners in sustainability, not passive customers.
Building on FFA's 2024 consumer empowerment scorecard, the report presents four case studies: over-indebtedness in Cambodia, cybersecurity fraud in Thailand, women entrepreneurs' access to finance in Pakistan, and consumer engagement and accountability in Indonesia. Each case maps how far enforcement delivers on regulation. This report was developed with Fair Finance Cambodia, ResponsiBank Indonesia, Fair Finance Pakistan, and Fair Finance Thailand.
Bernadette Victorio, Program Lead, Fair Finance Asia, said: "Across Asia, consumers are handed rights they cannot use. A complaint line no one answers. A fraud alert you have to know how to switch on. A loan approved without asking whether the household can repay it. These are not gaps in regulation, they are failures of delivery that fall hardest on women entrepreneurs, the elderly, and low-income borrowers. Banks and regulators already have the fix: protections that are automatic, not optional; grievance mechanisms that end in redress, not silence; lending built on what people can repay."
Juliette Laplane, Senior Researcher, Profundo, said: ''Even with consumer protection rules in place, major implementation gaps remain. Across all four cases, the common thread is clear: regulation alone is insufficient; it must be backed by proactive disclosure, accessible grievance mechanisms, meaningful consumer engagement, and robust enforcement to hold financial institutions accountable.''
Over-indebtedness in Cambodia
Although financial consumer protection was the highest-scoring theme in FFA's 2024 scorecard, Cambodian banks scored lowest among the four countries. Borrowers still face inadequate debt burden assessments, inconsistent complaint handling, abusive collection practices, and vulnerable collateral.
Recommendations for banks:
- Comply with the Code of Conduct for banking and financial institutions (BFIs).
- Assess borrowers' ability to repay systematically.
- Restrict collateral practices that compound over-indebtedness.
- Adopt responsible collection guidelines, extend them to third parties, and make complaints handling transparent.
Recommendations for the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC):
- Mandate annual public audits on consumer protection.
- Standardize repayment capacity assessments.
- Cap recovery fees and sanction unethical practices.
- Ban high-risk collateral and back the Financial Consumer and Protection Centre (FCPC).
Sophoan Phean, National Director, Oxfam in Cambodia, said: "While Cambodia has made important progress in developing its financial consumer protection framework, stronger implementation and accountability are needed. Addressing over-indebtedness requires effective grievance mechanisms, responsible lending practices, and stronger accountability."
Consumer Cybersecurity Risk in Thailand
Thai banks scored highest on consumer protection, yet fraud proliferates, exposing the elderly and digitally excluded customers the most. The gaps: weak financial literacy programs, inconsistent coverage of banking agents, optional rather than automatic security alerts, and no interim compensatory relief for victims.
Recommendations for banks:
- Make all security alerts free and automatic.
- Monitor complaint mechanisms transparently.
- Train consumers on cyber threats and sound financial management.
Recommendations for the Bank of Thailand (BoT):
- Regulate human-facing scam tactics.
- Mandate consumer education for vulnerable groups.
Ponpakin Phruttiwongwanit, Project Coordinator, Fair Finance Thailand, said: "Most of Thailand's protections for bank customers work on the technical side: face scans, app restrictions, and transaction limits. These matter, yet they cannot stop a scam in which the customer is tricked into approving the transfer themselves. Around 700 online scam cases are reported in Thailand every day; most victims never get back the money they lose. Banks and the Bank of Thailand must empower consumers to protect themselves."
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan
The three Pakistani banks assessed scored above average on financial inclusion. They also offer products for unbanked and underbanked customers, but women entrepreneurs are largely unaware of these. Regulation has improved, but weak implementation blunts it.
Recommendations for banks:
- Conduct structured and proactive community outreach through accessible channels tailored to customers with low digital literacy.
Recommendations for the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP):
- Adopt an impact-driven approach to target setting and monitoring.
- Introduce intermediate milestones and a response framework.
Asim Jaffry, Country Program Lead, Fair Finance Pakistan, said: "Financial-inclusion policies and banking products for women entrepreneurs have improved, but awareness of available products remains an immediate barrier. We urge Pakistani banks to undertake proactive, locally accessible, and gender-responsive outreach, while calling on State Bank of Pakistan to strengthen monitoring and evaluate measurable outcomes for women entrepreneurs."
Consumer Engagement and Accountability Mechanisms in Indonesia
Indonesian banks scored lowest of the four countries in consumer engagement and accountability with few channels for raising sustainability concerns. Consumers cannot see what their deposits finance and civil society struggles to hold banks accountable on due diligence.
Recommendations for banks:
- Establish non-judicial and responsive ESG grievance mechanisms.
- Disclose portfolio impacts and engage consumers proactively on sustainability topics.
- Strengthen ESG due diligence.
Recommendations for Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK) / Financial Services Authority:
- Broaden mandatory disclosure and require third-party assurance of sustainability reports.
- Require client consent to disclosure in high-risk lending.
- Champion a mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence law covering finance.
- Penalize misleading sustainability claims; train judiciary and regulators.
Victoria Fanggidae, Executive Director, The PRAKARSA, said: "Most Indonesian banks still lack any real grievance channel for harms linked to their financing. We urge Indonesian banks to establish accessible, transparent ESG grievance mechanisms and disclose the projects they finance. We call on OJK to mandate independent assurance of sustainability reporting and enforce real consequences when a bank's lending practices contradict its published ESG commitments."
Access the case studies and recommendations: bit.ly/4ql4HVK
Media contacts:
Kyle Cruz
Influencing and Campaigning Manager
Fair Finance Asia
kylejuliene.cruz@oxfam.org
About Fair Finance Asia
FFA is a regional network of Asian civil society organizations working to ensure that financial institutions' funding decisions respect the social and environmental well-being of the communities where they operate. Civil society coalitions from 10 countries are part of the FFA network: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Learn more: fairfinanceasia.org
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Fair Finance Asia calls on Asian Banks and Regulators to Protect and Empower Consumers as Partners in Sustainability
Vortex extends ~150 meters west, with 12.5 meters at 375.41 g/t silver,
including 4.2 meters of 748.02 g/t silver
WINNEMUCCA, Nev., Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: HYMC) ("Hycroft" or "the Company") announces additional drill results from the 2025-2026 Exploration Drill Program (the "Drill Program") at the Hycroft Mine, located in Nevada, USA, a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction.
Highlights:
- High-grade silver continuity confirmed up-dip at Brimstone, moving the system closer to surface with H26D-6169 intersecting 82.7 meters at 87.52 g/t silver and 0.77 g/t gold, including 19.4 meters at 108.19 g/t silver and 2.10g/t gold and an interval of 0.7 meters at 14.35 g/t gold
- Vortex high-grade silver system extended approximately 150 meters to the west, with H26D-6088 intersecting 12.5 meters at 375.41 g/t silver, including 4.2 meters of 748.02 g/t silver
- Potential feeder target below Brimstone advanced by newly confirmed stockwork veining across a wider zone, as follow-up drilling on last year's geophysics survey continues
- These exciting results confirm the continued growth of Brimstone and Vortex and support the Company's strategy of expanding both systems to define the best path for development, including the potential for a high-grade underground silver mine
- Since commencing the Drill Program in August 2025, the Company has completed approximately 15,585 meters of core drilling of an approximately 26,000-meter core drill program
Diane Garrett, Executive Chairman and CEO, commented: "Our drilling continues to confirm the size, continuity, and growth potential of the high-grade silver systems at Brimstone and Vortex. At Brimstone, we're expanding high-grade silver mineralization closer to surface while increasing confidence in the potential for a feeder system at depth. At Vortex, we've extended the high-grade zone an additional 150 meters to the west. Together, these results reinforce the case for a high-grade underground mine. With a strong, debt-free balance sheet, our operational focus this year is to determine the optimal path forward for the mine and drive shareholder value."
| Table 1. Drill Intercept Highlights |
|
| Hole ID | FROM | TO | INTERVAL | GRADE |
| (meters) | (meters) | (meters) | Ag (g/t) | Au (g/t) | AgEQ (g/t) | AuEQ (g/t) |
| Brimstone High-Grade System | | | | | |
| H25D-6080 | 79.6 | 132.1 | 52.5 | 18.46 | 0.43 | 50.71 | 0.68 |
| Including | 84.3 | 90.8 | 6.5 | 40.46 | 0.85 | 104.21 | 1.39 |
| 185.3 | 235.6 | 50.3 | 13.00 | 0.36 | 40.00 | 0.53 |
| Including | 215.0 | 219.5 | 4.5 | 66.66 | 0.62 | 113.16 | 1.51 |
| | | | | | | |
| H25D-6082 | 65.1 | 119.4 | 54.3 | 59.39 | 0.46 | 93.89 | 1.25 |
| Including | 69.9 | 75.5 | 5.6 | 173.58 | 0.44 | 206.58 | 2.75 |
| | | | | | | |
| H26D-6085 | 0.0 | 153.0 | 153.0 | 9.87 | 0.44 | 42.87 | 0.57 |
| | | | | | | |
| H26D-6086 | 0.0 | 142.2 | 142.2 | 17.66 | 0.37 | 45.41 | 0.61 |
| | | | | | | |
| H26D-6087 | 29.3 | 177.1 | 147.8 | 32.34 | 0.44 | 65.34 | 0.87 |
| Including | 50.6 | 55.0 | 4.4 | 546.83 | 0.36 | 573.83 | 7.65 |
| Including | 125.0 | 149.7 | 24.6 | 21.92 | 0.89 | 88.67 | 1.18 |
| | | | | | | |
| H26D-6169 | 71.2 | 76.1 | 4.9 | 92.81 | 0.18 | 106.31 | 1.42 |
| 91.0 | 106.0 | 15.0 | 41.96 | 0.70 | 94.46 | 1.26 |
| 122.2 | 204.9 | 82.7 | 87.52 | 0.77 | 145.27 | 1.94 |
| Including | 122.2 | 131.9 | 9.7 | 175.77 | 0.36 | 202.77 | 2.70 |
| Including | 143.6 | 147.4 | 3.8 | 108.90 | 0.33 | 133.65 | 1.78 |
| Including | 167.0 | 173.1 | 6.1 | 140.27 | 0.64 | 188.27 | 2.51 |
| Including | 181.7 | 201.1 | 19.4 | 108.19 | 2.10 | 265.69 | 3.54 |
| | | | | | | |
| H26D-6170 | 85.6 | 235.0 | 149.4 | 33.32 | 0.42 | 64.82 | 0.86 |
| Including | 100.2 | 108.7 | 8.5 | 148.12 | 1.37 | 250.87 | 3.34 |
| Including | 171.6 | 181.2 | 9.6 | 69.26 | 0.50 | 106.76 | 1.42 |
| Including | 220.5 | 235.0 | 14.5 | 70.74 | 0.17 | 83.49 | 1.11 |
| | | | | | | |
| Brimstone Geophysics | | | | | | |
| H26D-6089 | 200.9 | 303.0 | 102.1 | 11.26 | 0.39 | 40.51 | 0.54 |
| Including | 119.8 | 137.2 | 17.4 | 29.04 | 0.49 | 65.79 | 0.88 |
| | | | | | | |
| H26D-6089X | 645.9 | 647.4 | 1.5 | 120.00 | 0.24 | 138.00 | 1.84 |
| 664.8 | 667.5 | 2.7 | 44.63 | 0.10 | 52.13 | 0.70 |
| Vortex High-Grade System |
| H26D-6088 | 0.0 | 63.4 | 63.4 | 4.73 | 0.29 | 26.48 | 0.35 |
| 313.9 | 405.4 | 91.4 | 66.79 | 0.32 | 90.79 | 1.21 |
| Including | 387.2 | 399.6 | 12.5 | 375.41 | 0.21 | 391.43 | 5.22 |
| Also including | 395.3 | 399.6 | 4.2 | 748.02 | 0.28 | 769.02 | 10.25 |
Table 1. Drill Intercept Highlights
Hole ID
FROM
TO
INTERVAL
GRADE
(meters)
(meters)
(meters)
Ag (g/t)
Au (g/t)
AgEQ (g/t)
AuEQ (g/t)
Brimstone High-Grade System
H25D-6080
79.6
132.1
52.5
18.46
0.43
50.71
0.68
Including
84.3
90.8
6.5
40.46
0.85
104.21
1.39
185.3
235.6
50.3
13.00
0.36
40.00
0.53
Including
215.0
219.5
4.5
66.66
0.62
113.16
1.51
H25D-6082
65.1
119.4
54.3
59.39
0.46
93.89
1.25
Including
69.9
75.5
5.6
173.58
0.44
206.58
2.75
H26D-6085
0.0
153.0
153.0
9.87
0.44
42.87
0.57
H26D-6086
0.0
142.2
142.2
17.66
0.37
45.41
0.61
H26D-6087
29.3
177.1
147.8
32.34
0.44
65.34
0.87
Including
50.6
55.0
4.4
546.83
0.36
573.83
7.65
Including
125.0
149.7
24.6
21.92
0.89
88.67
1.18
H26D-6169
71.2
76.1
4.9
92.81
0.18
106.31
1.42
91.0
106.0
15.0
41.96
0.70
94.46
1.26
122.2
204.9
82.7
87.52
0.77
145.27
1.94
Including
122.2
131.9
9.7
175.77
0.36
202.77
2.70
Including
143.6
147.4
3.8
108.90
0.33
133.65
1.78
Including
167.0
173.1
6.1
140.27
0.64
188.27
2.51
Including
181.7
201.1
19.4
108.19
2.10
265.69
3.54
H26D-6170
85.6
235.0
149.4
33.32
0.42
64.82
0.86
Including
100.2
108.7
8.5
148.12
1.37
250.87
3.34
Including
171.6
181.2
9.6
69.26
0.50
106.76
1.42
Including
220.5
235.0
14.5
70.74
0.17
83.49
1.11
Brimstone Geophysics
H26D-6089
200.9
303.0
102.1
11.26
0.39
40.51
0.54
Including
119.8
137.2
17.4
29.04
0.49
65.79
0.88
H26D-6089X
645.9
647.4
1.5
120.00
0.24
138.00
1.84
664.8
667.5
2.7
44.63
0.10
52.13
0.70
Vortex High-Grade System
H26D-6088
0.0
63.4
63.4
4.73
0.29
26.48
0.35
313.9
405.4
91.4
66.79
0.32
90.79
1.21
Including
387.2
399.6
12.5
375.41
0.21
391.43
5.22
Also including
395.3
399.6
4.2
748.02
0.28
769.02
10.25
| Note: $3,600/oz gold and $48/oz silver are used for gold equivalent (AuEQ) and silver equivalent (AgEQ) numbers |
Note: $3,600/oz gold and $48/oz silver are used for gold equivalent (AuEQ) and silver equivalent (AgEQ) numbers
Brimstone Results
The current dimensions of Brimstone are approximately 300m wide (north to south) and approximately 500m long (east to west down-dip). The system remains open in all directions and at depth. In addition to step-out drilling for expanding the mineralization, the exploration program is also drilling a geophysics anomaly identified in 2025 which indicated a potential feeder system below the known mineralization.
Holes H26D-6085, H26D-6086, H26D-6087, H26D-6169, and H26D-6170 continued to expand the up-dip portion of the Brimstone high-grade system. In particular, hole H26D-6169 confirmed continuity of the high-grade system through the widest section. This hole returned an impressive intercept of 82.7 meters at 87.52 g/t silver and 0.77 g/t gold, including 19.4 meters at 108.19 g/t silver and 2.10 g/t gold and an interval of 0.7 meters grading 14.35 g/t gold. Grades of this nature can potentially be supportive of both an open pit and an underground context providing attractive optionality for mining operations.
Drilling continued below the main high-grade system to test the potential feeder identified by the geophysics survey completed in 2025. Holes H26D-6089 and H26D-6089X stepped out approximately 90 meters down-dip from the initial holes tested in late 2025 and returned alteration and geochemistry consistent with the Brimstone fluid pathway. Hole H26D-6089X intersected an 18-meter zone of stockwork veining, including 1.5 meters at 120.00 g/t silver. These results support the interpretation of a potential feeder system at depth. The signatures are consistent with that interpretation, but drilling remains high in the system and will continue to advance toward the target.
For the remainder of the Program, the Company will drill approximately 7,200 meters of core at Brimstone.
Figure 1
Brimstone Section as of March 16, 2026
Brimstone Section as of August 18, 2026
Vortex Results
The strike length at Vortex is currently over a kilometer and is more than 500 meters wide at its widest point. Like Brimstone, Vortex remains open in all directions and at depth. Recent drilling is returning higher grades to the west, southwest and to the north.
Hole H26D-6088 extended high-grade silver mineralization at Vortex approximately 150 meters to the west, returning 12.5 meters at 375.41 g/t silver, including 4.2 meters at 748.02 g/t silver. This hole was an offset to hole H25D-6072 and continues to expand the high-grade silver system consistent with the Company's structural targeting strategy at Vortex.
For the remainder of the Program, the Company is expanding drilling across the breadth of the deposit, targeting the northern, southern and eastern extensions in addition to the western zone, with approximately 3,000 meters of core planned.
Figure 2
Vortex Section as of April 2, 2026
Vortex Section as of August 18, 2026
About Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation
Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation is a US-based gold and silver company exploring and developing the Hycroft Mine, among the world's largest precious metals deposits, located in northern Nevada, a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction. With a long history of heap leach operations, Hycroft is advancing to the next phase of operations for processing sulfide mineralization. In addition, Hycroft is engaged in a robust exploration drill program (2025-2026 Exploration Drill Program) to expand and advance the two new high-grade silver systems Brimstone and Vortex. These discoveries represent a significant value driver for the Hycroft Mine.
For Further Information
Investor Relations:
E: info@hycroftmining.com
P: 775-245-0564
Media:
E: media@hycroftmining.com
P: 775-245-0564
www.hycroftmining.com
Qualified Person
The Company's Qualified Person for exploration is Alex Davidson, Vice President, Exploration, who has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release and in public statements by our officers or representatives that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future business strategy, plans and goals, competitive strengths, the advancement and development of the Hycroft Mine, the results and implications of metallurgical analysis and test work, and the expansion and growth of our business.
Forward-looking statements are often identified by future or conditional words such as "estimate," "plan," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "believe," "target," "budget," "may," "can," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seeks," "scheduled to" and similar words or expressions but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the statements. The risks include, but are not limited to: (i) risks related to changes in our operations at the Hycroft Mine, including risks associated with the cessation of mining operations at the Hycroft Mine; uncertainties concerning estimates of mineral resources; risks related to the lack of a completed feasibility study; risks related to metallurgical test work and process development; and risks related to our ability to re-establish commercially feasible mining and processing operations; and (ii) industry-related risks, including fluctuations in the price of gold and silver; the commercial success of, and risks related to, our exploration and development activities; uncertainties and risks related to our reliance on contractors and consultants; and the availability and cost of equipment, supplies, energy or reagents.
Any exploration target described in this press release does not represent, and should not be construed to be, an estimate of a mineral resource or mineral reserve. Ranges of potential tonnage and grade (or quality) of an exploration target are conceptual in nature; there has been insufficient exploration of the relevant property or properties to estimate a mineral resource; and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a mineral resource.
These and other risks may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, and the occurrence of one or more of these events or circumstances, alone or in combination with others, may have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flows, financial condition and results of operations. Please see the "Risk Factors" outlined in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and in other reports filed with the SEC, for more information about these and other risks.
Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Although these forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable when made, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements in this press release.
Any forward-looking statements made in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of those statements to reflect future events or developments, except as required by law.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Hycroft Extends High-Grade Silver at Brimstone and Vortex
Hycroft Extends High-Grade Silver at Brimstone and Vortex
