Mr. Stephen Stares reports

BENTON CLOSES $2 MILLION NON-BROKERED UNIT FINANCING

Benton Resources Inc. has closed its previously announced (see May 27, 2026, news release) non-brokered private placement financing with investor Eric Sprott.

The company has issued 28,571,429 units at seven cents per unit for gross proceeds of $2-million, each unit consisting of one common share of the company and one common share purchase warrant, each warrant being exercisable for an additional common share of the company at an exercise price of 10 cents for 36 months from the date of issue.

Mr. Sprott, a long-time investor and largest shareholder of the company, has acquired through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation beneficially owned by him, 28,571,429 units pursuant to the private placement for total consideration of $2-million. Prior to the private placement, Mr. Sprott beneficially owned or controlled 28.75 million common shares and 3,125,000 warrants, representing approximately 11.0 per cent on a non-diluted basis and 12.0 per cent on a fully diluted basis assuming the exercise of such warrants.

As a result of the private placement, Mr. Sprott now beneficially owns or controls 57,321,429 common shares and 31,696,429 common share purchase warrants of the company, representing approximately 19.7 per cent on a non-diluted basis and 27.6 per cent on a fully diluted basis assuming the exercise of such warrants.

The securities are held for investment purposes. Mr. Sprott has a long-term view of the investment, and may acquire additional securities, including on the open market or through private acquisitions, or sell the securities, including on the open market or through private dispositions, in the future depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans and/or other relevant factors.

A copy of the early warning report with respect to the foregoing will appear on Benton Resources' profile on SEDAR+ and may also be obtained by calling Mr. Sprott's office at 416-945-3294 (2176423 Ontario Ltd., 7 King St. East, Suite 1106, Toronto, Ont., M5C 3C5).

Mr. Sprott's participation constituted a related-party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions). The company expects that such participation will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to applicable exemptions thereunder, including the exemption for transactions not exceeding 25 per cent of the company's market capitalization.

Stephen Stares, president and chief executive officer of the company, stated: "Benton is pleased to have Eric Sprott's continued support as our largest shareholder. This financing positions us to advance our recently acquired natural hydrogen and helium prospects in Newfoundland, in partnership with Metals Creek Resources, while also supporting progress across our broader portfolio of critical minerals projects in the province."

All securities issued pursuant to the private placement are subject to a four-month-and-one-day hold period. No finders' fees have been paid in relation to the private placement.

The proceeds from the sale of the units will be used to advance Benton's recently acquired hydrogen prospects in Newfoundland that are held on a 50/50 basis with Metals Creek Resources Corp. and for working capital purposes.

Qualified person

Stephen House (PGeo), vice-president of exploration for Benton Resources, the qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release and prepared or supervised its preparation.

About Benton Resources Inc.

Benton Resources is a well-financed mineral exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol BEX. Benton has a diversified, highly prospective property portfolio, and holds large equity positions in other mining companies that are advancing high-quality assets. Whenever possible, BEX retains net smelter return royalties with potential long-term cash flow.

Benton is focused on advancing its high-grade copper-gold Great Burnt project in central Newfoundland, which has a mineral resource estimate of 667,000 tonnes of 3.21 per cent copper indicated and 482,000 tonnes of 2.35 per cent Cu inferred. The project has an excellent geological setting covering 25 kilometres of strike and boasts six known copper-gold-silver zones over 15 kilometres that are all open for expansion. Further potential for discovery is excellent given the extensive number of untested geophysical targets and Cu-Au soil anomalies. Phase 1 and 2 drill programs returned impressive results, including 25.42 metres of 5.51 per cent Cu, including 9.78 m of 8.31 per cent Cu and 1.00 m of 12.70 per cent Cu. Drilling at the South Pond gold zone, approximately 7.5 kilometres north of the Great Burnt copper-gold zone, has confirmed a robust gold-mineralized system over 2.5 km with results of 74.20 m of 1.43 grams per tonne gold and 43.75 m of 1.62 g/t Au, and is open for expansion in all directions.

We seek Safe Harbor.