Mr. Sean Charland reports

APEX CRITICAL METALS APPOINTS TREVOR HALL TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Apex Critical Metals Corp. has appointed Trevor Hall to its board of directors, effective immediately.

Mr. Hall is a Nebraska native with long-standing ties to the state. He earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has maintained a strong connection to Nebraska throughout his career. Mr. Hall is an experienced mining and commodities communications executive and currently serves as chief executive officer of Clear Commodity Network and host of Mining Stock Daily. He previously led a communications consultancy focused on helping mining and exploration companies strengthen stakeholder engagement, community outreach and corporate communications.

Mr. Hall commented: "I am grateful to be a part of the Apex Critical Metals board of directors. The Rift rare earth project is one of the most intriguing rare earth oxide endowments in the United States and a compelling exploration story. Rift and the Apex team are positioned to play an important role in resupplying American-produced rare earth minerals. I am honoured to work in my home state of Nebraska and assist in Apex's continued success."

"We are pleased to welcome Trevor to the board of Apex," said chief executive officer Sean Charland. "His Nebraska roots and experience in mining-sector communications and community engagement will be valuable as we continue to advance the Rift rare earth project. Trevor understands the importance of clear, transparent communication and building strong, long-term relationships with local communities and stakeholders."

About Apex Critical Metals Corp.

Apex Critical Metals is a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing rare earth element (REE) 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 deposits. Two historical drill holes located within the 700-metre corridor of interest returned broad intervals of greater than 2.00 per cent REO (rare earth oxide), with higher-grade (greater than 3.00 per cent REO) intervals within. The company's 2026 drilling has continued to demonstrate this grade profile and has expanded the footprint of the high-grade mineralization (Trinity zone) over approximately 380 metres from the historical drill holes to date. Additionally, drilling has delineated a new deeper horizon (Neo zone) of strongly elevated NdPr (neodymium-praseodymium) beneath the high-grade material, with NdPr distributions between 30 per cent and 50 per cent.

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 an emerging 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. For more information, please see the company's news releases dated Aug. 27, 2025, Nov. 12, 2025, Dec. 31, 2025, and June 30, 2026, which are available under the company's issuer profile on SEDAR+.

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 Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol KL9 and/or WKN: A40CCQ.

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