Mr. Sean Charland reports

APEX COMPLETES 2025 RE-LOGGING AND RE-SAMPLING PROGRAM OF PRESERVED HISTORICAL DRILL CORE AT THE RIFT RARE EARTH PROJECT, ELK CREEK, NEBRASKA

Apex Critical Metals Corp. has completed its 2025 relogging and resampling program of preserved historical drill core from the Rift rare earth project, located near Elk Creek, Neb., United States.

The program was designed to establish a modern analytical baseline for the Rift carbonatite system by applying today's advanced geochemical and geological methods to drill core originally drilled by Molycorp Inc. during the 1970s and 1980s. A substantial portion of this core was preserved through the Conservation and Survey Division, School of Natural Resources, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, enabling a rare opportunity for modern re-evaluation.

The 2025 program included:

• Relogging of prioritized Molycorp drill holes within Apex's Rift land position;
• Modern geological descriptions to verify lithologies, alteration and mineralized intervals;
• Photography of drill core for future referencing;
• Selection and collection of samples for multielement analysis;
• Submission of samples to Actlabs for fusion ICP-MS, ICP-OES and XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analysis;
• Initial data review and modelling now under way, with assay results expected to be compiled and interpreted during Q1 2026.

Apex chief executive officer Sean Charland stated: "Completing this program is an important milestone for Apex. Having access to the preserved Molycorp drill core is a unique advantage, and our 2025 relogging and resampling initiative provides the first modern analytical foundation for understanding the scale and grade potential at Rift. This work allows us to accelerate our geological modelling, refine drill targeting, and build toward a more comprehensive evaluation of this significant rare earth and niobium system."

The Rift project covers a series of carbonatite and related intrusive rocks forming part of the broader Elk Creek carbonatite complex, one of North America's most prospective districts for rare earth elements and niobium. Historical drilling by Molycorp identified multiple zones of REE- (rare earth element) and niobium-bearing carbonatite within Apex's holdings; however, these historical results predate National Instrument 43-101, are non-compliant and are not being treated as current resources. Modern relogging and assay data will allow Apex to improve geological and structural interpretations, validate and refine historical intervals, support 2026 drill targeting, and progress toward potential future resource modelling after the company has completed its planned phased drilling during 2026.

With the 2025 program now complete, the company is compiling and interpreting newly generated analytical data, updating the geological model for the Rift carbonatite system, defining additional priority drill targets for the next phase of exploration, and continuing permitting and operational planning for drilling anticipated to commence in early 2026. A further update will be provided upon completion of data interpretation and integration into the Rift geological framework.

Marketing update

The company is also pleased to announce it has extended its investor relations agreement with Rumble Strip Media Inc. to enhance its investor awareness. Pursuant to the agreement, Rumble will provide certain social media, marketing and consulting services to Apex. In consideration, Apex will pay $1-million to Rumble, with $250,000 to be paid up front. The extension commences Dec. 5, 2025, for a three-month term ending March 5, 2025. The services to be provided by Rumble constitute investor relations activities within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. Rumble and its principals are arm's length to the company and, to the knowledge of the company, Rumble does not own, control or direct any securities of the company.

Stock options

The company wishes to announce that it has granted an aggregate of 75,000 incentive stock options to purchase up to 75,000 common shares of the company to a consultant under its equity incentive plan. The options are exercisable for a period of four years from the date of grant, expiring on Dec. 5, 2027, at a price of $2.50 per share. Additionally, the company announces that it has granted an aggregate of 25,000 restricted share units. The options and RSUs will vest six months from the date of grant. All options and the shares underlying such options are subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance.

Qualified person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Nathan Schmidt, PGeo, geologist for Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd. and a qualified person under NI 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The results discussed in this document are considered historical. An Apex Critical Metals qualified person has not performed sufficient work or data verification to validate these historical results in accordance with NI 43-101, and, therefore, results should not be relied upon until such time that the company has carried out its own sampling, drilling and modern analysis.

About Apex Critical Metals Corp.

Apex Critical Metals is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing rare earth element and niobium projects that support the growing demand for critical and strategic metals across the United States and Canada. The company's flagship Rift project, located within the highly prospective Elk Creek carbonatite complex in Nebraska, United States, hosts extensive rare earth rights surrounding one of North America's most advanced niobium-REE deposits. Historical drilling across the complex has reported broad intervals of high-grade REE mineralization, including intercepts such as 155.5 metres of 2.70 per cent REO (rare earth oxides) and 68.2 m of 3.32 per cent REO.

In Canada, Apex continues to advance its 100-per-cent-owned Cap project, located 85 kilometres northeast of Prince George, B.C. The 2025 drill program confirmed a significant niobium discovery with 0.59 per cent Nb2O5 (niobium pentoxide) over 36 metres, including 1.08 per cent Nb2O5 over 10 metres, within a 1.8-kilometre-long niobium trend. The Cap project continues to demonstrate strong potential for niobium mineralization within a large and previously unrecognized carbonatite system.

With a growing portfolio of critical mineral projects in both Canada and the United States, Apex Critical Metals is strategically positioned to help strengthen domestic supply chains for the minerals essential to advanced technologies, clean energy and national security. Apex is publicly listed in Canada on the CSE under the symbol APXC and quoted on the OTCQX market in the United States under the symbol APXCF and in Germany on the Borse Frankfurt under the symbol KL9 and/or WKN: A40CCQ.

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