Form 8-K

8-K — TMC the metals Co Inc.

Accession: 0001104659-26-097581

Filed: 2026-08-17

Period: 2026-08-17

CIK: 0001798562

SIC: 1000 (METAL MINING)

Item: Regulation FD Disclosure

Item: Financial Statements and Exhibits

Documents

8-K — tm2623371d1_8k.htm (Primary)

EX-99.1 — EXHIBIT 99.1 (tm2623371d1_ex99-1.htm)

XML — IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT (R1.htm)

8-K — FORM 8-K

8-K (Primary)

Filename: tm2623371d1_8k.htm · Sequence: 1

false

0001798562

TMC the metals Co Inc.

00-0000000

0001798562

2026-08-17

0001798562

TMC:TMCCommonShareswithoutparvalueMember

2026-08-17

0001798562

TMC:RedeemablewarrantseachwholewarrantTMCCommonShareeachatanexercisepriceofdollar1150pershareMember

2026-08-17

iso4217:USD

xbrli:shares

iso4217:USD

xbrli:shares

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):

August 17, 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

Redeemable warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one TMC Common Share, each at an exercise price of $11.50 per share

TMCWW

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 ¨

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 August 17, 2026, the Company

issued a press release announcing that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has published a Notice of Intent to prepare

an Environmental Impact Statement in the Federal Register for the exploration license application submitted by the Company’s subsidiary,

The Metals Company USA LLC, under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act. The press release is furnished with this Current Report

on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated into this Item 7.01 by reference.

The information in this Item

7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1) 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. Except for historical information contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K

(including Exhibit 99.1), this Current Report on Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1) contains forward-looking statements

which involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by

these statements. Please refer to the cautionary note in the press release furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K

regarding these forward-looking statements.

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.

Description

99.1

Press Release dated August 17, 2026

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: August 17, 2026

By:

/s/ Craig Shesky

Name:

Craig Shesky

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1 — EXHIBIT 99.1

EX-99.1

Filename: tm2623371d1_ex99-1.htm · Sequence: 2

Exhibit 99.1

NOAA Publishes Notice of Intent in the

Federal Register to Prepare an Environmental Impact

Statement for TMC USA’s USA B Exploration License Application

· The publication of a Notice of Intent (“NOI”) to prepare an

Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) represents a key milestone in the transparent regulatory approval process for TMC

USA’s USA-B exploration license application

· The USA-B application area covers ~122,000 km2 of

seafloor containing an estimated 1.02 billion tonnes of polymetallic nodules with high grades of nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, and

meaningful quantities of many rare earth elements

· Publication of the NOI in the Federal Register follows NOAA’s earlier

certification of the USA-B exploration license application on May 26, 2026

NEW YORK, August 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TMC the metals company

Inc. (Nasdaq: TMC) (“TMC” or the “Company”), a leading developer of the world’s largest resource of critical

metals essential to energy, defense, manufacturing and infrastructure, today announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

(“NOAA”) has published a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement in the Federal Register for the exploration

license application submitted by the Company’s subsidiary, The Metals Company USA LLC (“TMC USA”), under the Deep Seabed

Hard Mineral Resources Act (“DSHMRA”) and its implementing regulations.

The USA-B application area in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (“CCZ”)

of the Pacific Ocean covers ~122,000 km2 of seafloor and hosts an estimated 1.02 billion tonnes of polymetallic nodules

based on TMC’s Technical Report Summary for the Initial Assessment published in August 2025. In addition to the USA-B exploration

license application, TMC USA is also advancing a consolidated application for an exploration license and commercial recovery permit for

the USA-A area, which was submitted to NOAA on January 22, 2026, and determined to be fully compliant on April 28, 2026.

Gerard Barron, CEO and Chairman of The Metals Company, commented: “The

publication of this Notice of Intent is another milestone in NOAA's methodical review process. We welcome the opportunity to participate

in a rigorous Environmental Impact Statement process that invites public input and builds on more than a decade of our own environmental

research and engineering, alongside 50 years of environmental research and a dozen other commercial and academic disturbance tests in

the CCZ. As we’ve said from the beginning, good regulation should be transparent, predictable and grounded in rigorous baseline

studies and impact assessment, and today’s announcement demonstrates that process is continuing as intended.”

The publication of the NOI follows the earlier certification of TMC

USA’s application for an exploration license over the USA-B area and represents another key step in a steady, transparent cadence

of expected regulatory milestones:

· NOAA will publish for public comment a draft EIS and draft Terms, Conditions

and Restrictions (“TCRs”) for TMC USA’s proposed exploration activities on the USA-B area

· Following the public comment period, NOAA will consider comments and the

EIS will be finalized

· NOAA will then make a final determination on the issuance of the license

and its associated TCRs

The Company and its partners have conducted over a decade of scientific

research, environmental baseline and impact data collection, and offshore engineering, building one of the most comprehensive datasets

ever assembled on polymetallic nodules and their surrounding ecosystems. To date, independent academics have published 37 peer-reviewed

studies based on the Company’s dataset collected from Eastern CCZ. Earlier this year, TMC began sharing key findings from its

Environmental Impact Assessment publicly as part of two new video series, highlighting how its dataset addresses environmental concerns and

how innovation has reduced its environmental footprint. The exploratory activities outlined as part of TMC USA’s USA B exploration

license application are expected to generate significant new data in Central and Western CCZ and, with all academics involved free to

publish, the Company anticipates that hundreds more papers will be published over the coming months and years.

NOAA has played a central role in advancing scientific understanding

of deep seabed mining impacts since the 1970s, including conducting environmental research cruises in the CCZ, monitoring early nodule

collection trials, and publishing a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement covering the CCZ in 1981. In the 1980s and 1990s, NOAA

conducted further research into benthic plumes through its Benthic Impact Experiments program where the agency used a custom-built machine

to simulate and study seafloor disturbance. The agency issued comprehensive DSHMRA implementing regulations in 1981 (for exploration licenses)

and 1989 (for commercial recovery permits) and has maintained an active licensing program since that time, with multiple exploration licenses

renewed on a five-year basis.

About The Metals Company

The Metals Company is a developer of lower-impact critical metals

from seafloor polymetallic nodules, on a dual mission: (1) supply metals for energy, defense, manufacturing and infrastructure with

net positive impacts compared to conventional production routes and (2) trace, recover and recycle the metals we supply to help

create a metal commons that can be used in perpetuity. The Company has conducted more than a decade of research into the environmental

and social impacts of offshore nodule collection and onshore processing. More information is available at www.metals.co.

Contacts

Media | media@metals.co

Investors | investors@metals.co

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information

within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by words such as anticipates,

believes, could, estimates, expects, intends, may, plans, possible, potential, should, will, would and variations of these words or similar

expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements in this press release include,

but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company’s strategy to pursue exploration and commercial recovery of seafloor

polymetallic nodules under the U.S. regulatory regime; NOAA’s anticipated publication for public comment of a draft EIS and draft

Terms, Conditions and Restrictions for TMC USA’s proposed exploration activities on the USA-B area and its consideration of the

comments received; the anticipated timing, scope and sequencing of the EIS process, including the duration of any public comment period;

the finalization of the EIS and NOAA’s final determination on whether to issue the exploration license and the terms, conditions

and restrictions that may be attached to it; the estimated resource potential of the USA-B area, including the estimated tonnage and

grades of polymetallic nodules and the presence of rare earth elements; the expectation that exploratory activities under the USA-B exploration

license will generate significant new scientific data and that additional peer-reviewed papers will be published based on that data;

and the Company’s expectation that publication of the NOI for the USA-B exploration license application, together with the progression

of the USA-A consolidated application, advances TMC USA’s broader strategy to unlock the full potential of its U.S. nodule resource.

The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements, and you should

not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions

and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, among other things, NOAA’s

review of the USA-B exploration license application and any determinations made during that review, including with respect to the scope

of any exploration license that may ultimately be granted; the outcome and timing of regulatory reviews by NOAA under DSHMRA; the scope,

timing and outcome of the review conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”), including the nature and

volume of public comments received and any resulting changes to the proposed action; the absence of any mandatory statutory deadline

under DSHMRA for completion of NOAA’s review; the risk that any terms, conditions and restrictions ultimately imposed by NOAA are

more restrictive than anticipated or render the proposed activities commercially unviable; potential legal challenges in U.S. courts

by third parties who claim to be adversely affected or aggrieved by NOAA’s actions, and the risk that TMC USA’s priority

rights in the application areas are terminated or successfully challenged; the need for continued policy support from the U.S. executive

branch and agencies including NOAA and the Department of Commerce, and the effect of shifts in U.S. political priorities, legal interpretations

or agency leadership; opposition to deep-seabed mining from governments, non-governmental organizations and other third parties; the

ability to obtain permits from the U.S. government; changes in environmental, mining and other applicable laws and regulations; risks

related to strategic partnerships and technology sharing; uncertainties relating to the accuracy of resource estimates; the Company’s

need for additional capital to fund the exploratory activities contemplated by the USA-B application and its other development plans,

and the availability of such capital on acceptable terms; the outcome of any pending or future litigation; and other risks and uncertainties

described in greater detail in the section entitled Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended

December 31, 2025, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2026, in the Company’s Quarterly Report

on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, filed on May 14, 2026, in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the

quarter ended June 30, 2026, filed on August 13, 2026, and in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K

filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company

expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether because of any new information,

future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

XML — IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT

XML

Filename: R1.htm · Sequence: 8

v3.26.1

Cover

Aug. 17, 2026

Document Information [Line Items]

Document Type

8-K

Amendment Flag

false

Document Period End Date

Aug. 17, 2026

Entity File Number

001-39281

Entity Registrant Name

TMC the metals Co Inc.

Entity Central Index Key

0001798562

Entity Tax Identification Number

00-0000000

Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code

Entity Address, Address Line One

1111 West Hastings Street

Entity Address, Address Line Two

15th Floor

Entity Address, City or Town

Vancouver

Entity Address, State or Province

Entity Address, Postal Zip Code

V6E 2J3

City Area Code

888

Local Phone Number

458-3420

Written Communications

false

Soliciting Material

false

Pre-commencement Tender Offer

false

Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer

false

Entity Emerging Growth Company

false

T M C Common Shareswithoutparvalue [Member]

Document Information [Line Items]

Title of 12(b) Security

TMC Common Shares without par value

Trading Symbol

TMC

Security Exchange Name

NASDAQ

Redeemablewarrantseachwholewarrant T M C Common Shareeachatanexercisepriceofdollar 1150pershare [Member]

Document Information [Line Items]

Title of 12(b) Security

Redeemable warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one TMC Common Share, each at an exercise price of $11.50 per share

Trading Symbol

TMCWW

Security Exchange Name

NASDAQ

- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the XBRL content amends previously-filed or accepted submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:

dei_AmendmentFlag

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

xbrli:booleanItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Area code of city

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:

dei_CityAreaCode

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

xbrli:normalizedStringItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:

dei_DocumentInformationLineItems

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

xbrli:stringItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

For the EDGAR submission types of Form 8-K: the date of the report, the date of the earliest event reported; for the EDGAR submission types of Form N-1A: the filing date; for all other submission types: the end of the reporting or transition period. The format of the date is YYYY-MM-DD.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:

dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

xbrli:dateItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, 485BPOS, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, or the word 'Other'.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:

dei_DocumentType

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

dei:submissionTypeItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Address Line 1 such as Attn, Building Name, Street Name

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:

dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

xbrli:normalizedStringItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Address Line 2 such as Street or Suite number

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:

dei_EntityAddressAddressLine2

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

xbrli:normalizedStringItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Name of the City or Town

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:

dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

xbrli:normalizedStringItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Code for the postal or zip code

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:

dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

xbrli:normalizedStringItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Name of the state or province.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:

dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

dei:stateOrProvinceItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Exchange Act

-Number 240

-Section 12

-Subsection b-2

+ Details

Name:

dei_EntityCentralIndexKey

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

dei:centralIndexKeyItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Indicate if registrant meets the emerging growth company criteria.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Exchange Act

-Number 240

-Section 12

-Subsection b-2

+ Details

Name:

dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

xbrli:booleanItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Commission file number. The field allows up to 17 characters. The prefix may contain 1-3 digits, the sequence number may contain 1-8 digits, the optional suffix may contain 1-4 characters, and the fields are separated with a hyphen.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:

dei_EntityFileNumber

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

dei:fileNumberItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Two-character EDGAR code representing the state or country of incorporation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:

dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

dei:edgarStateCountryItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Exchange Act

-Number 240

-Section 12

-Subsection b-2

+ Details

Name:

dei_EntityRegistrantName

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

xbrli:normalizedStringItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

The Tax Identification Number (TIN), also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN), is a unique 9-digit value assigned by the IRS.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Exchange Act

-Number 240

-Section 12

-Subsection b-2

+ Details

Name:

dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

dei:employerIdItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Local phone number for entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:

dei_LocalPhoneNumber

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

xbrli:normalizedStringItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Exchange Act

-Number 240

-Section 13e

-Subsection 4c

+ Details

Name:

dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

xbrli:booleanItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Exchange Act

-Number 240

-Section 14d

-Subsection 2b

+ Details

Name:

dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

xbrli:booleanItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Title of a 12(b) registered security.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Exchange Act

-Number 240

-Section 12

-Subsection b

+ Details

Name:

dei_Security12bTitle

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

dei:securityTitleItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Name of the Exchange on which a security is registered.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Exchange Act

-Number 240

-Section 12

-Subsection d1-1

+ Details

Name:

dei_SecurityExchangeName

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

dei:edgarExchangeCodeItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Exchange Act

-Number 240

-Section 14a

-Subsection 12

+ Details

Name:

dei_SolicitingMaterial

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

xbrli:booleanItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Trading symbol of an instrument as listed on an exchange.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:

dei_TradingSymbol

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

dei:tradingSymbolItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Securities Act

-Number 230

-Section 425

+ Details

Name:

dei_WrittenCommunications

Namespace Prefix:

dei_

Data Type:

xbrli:booleanItemType

Balance Type:

Period Type:

duration

- Details

Name:

us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=TMC_TMCCommonShareswithoutparvalueMember

Namespace Prefix:

Data Type:

Balance Type:

Period Type:

- Details

Name:

us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=TMC_RedeemablewarrantseachwholewarrantTMCCommonShareeachatanexercisepriceofdollar1150pershareMember

Namespace Prefix:

Data Type:

Balance Type:

Period Type: