Mr. Sean Charland reports

APEX SUMMARIZES PROGRESS TO-DATE AND 2026 OUTLOOK AT THE RIFT RARE EARTH PROJECT

Apex Critical Metals Corp. has provided a year-end summary of its 2025 activities and milestones at the Rift rare earth project, along with a 2026 outlook, including a more detailed summary of the coming phase I drill campaign.

Throughout 2025, Apex accumulated and expanded its private holdings within the Elk Creek carbonatite complex with a focus on the most prospective ground for rare earth element (REE) and niobium mineralization, and completed comprehensive technical and modelling work, enabled by the multiple strategic financings completed during the year.

Rift rare earth project: a transformative year summarized:

• After evaluating numerous known global carbonatites, the company identified Elk Creek as its highest priority and by September 3, 2025, had secured 2,407 acres;
• Project size subsequently expanded to 3,500 acres, including key consolidation pieces incorporating the most significant historical REE intersections from previous drilling;
• Apex launched and completed a relogging and reassaying program of preserved drill core from the Rift project during Q4 2025 in partnership with the Conservation and Survey Division, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (see news releases Nov. 24 and Dec. 8);
• Received approval from the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment (NDEE) for its mineral exploration/drill permit (see news release dated Jan. 5, 2026);
• Secured drill contractor with extensive local drilling experience in the Elk Creek carbonatite (Boart Longyear) for phase I drilling (see news release dated Jan. 12, 2026);
• Apex is completing final logistical steps with mobilization of drill equipment and crews now imminent.

Apex chief executive officer Sean Charland commented: "The past year has been transformational for Apex and we are in an outstanding position to continue that momentum as we prepare to initiate our first phase of drilling at our flagship Rift rare earth project. A successful inaugural drill campaign can quickly position Rift as a potential future source of the critical components necessary to support rare earth magnet production in the United States."

2026 phase I drill program at Rift

The company moved quickly during Q4 2025, completing relogging and reassaying of preserved historical drill core, creating and updating a 3-D geological model, securing its necessary permit, engaging an experienced drill contractor, and advancing logistics in preparation for phase I drilling.

Phase I drilling contemplates 8,000 metres of coring across 10 to 15 drill holes, with depths anticipated to range from 600 to 900 metres. The primary objective of the program is to validate and expand upon the historically significant intervals drilled by Molycorp (1973 to 1986) and Quantum Rare Earth Developments (2010 to 2011), which demonstrated a significant zone of REE mineralization that remains open in all directions. Additional stepout exploration drilling is also planned to the north and south within the favourable geophysical anomaly, with the aim of ascertaining better controls on the REE mineralization orientation in advance of mineral resource focused phase II drilling.

Additional outlook items at Rift in 2026:

• Completion of National Instrument 43-101 technical report on the project;
• Collection of downhole optical and acoustic televiewer survey data on select holes to improve structural interpretation and inform geological model;
• Collection of samples for geochemical and mineralogical testing;
• Assay results from phase I drilling (Q1 to Q2/2026);
• Updated 3-D model incorporating all data from relogging/reassaying and phase I;
• Refinement of regional niobium and REE targets across the 3,500-acre project area;
• Second half of 2026 expected to include phase II drilling and advancement toward inaugural mineral resource estimate.

Qualified person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Nathan Schmidt, PGeo, a qualified person under NI 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Schmidt is a geologist with Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., the consulting firm engaged by Apex Critical Metals to conduct and oversee all of the company's exploration work, including the 2026 drill program.

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 metres 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, British Columbia. 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 Canadian Securities Exchange 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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