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Vancouver, B.C. – May 14, 2026 - TheNewswire – IDEX Metals Corp. (" IDEX " or the " Company ") (TSXV: IDEX; OTCQB: IDXMF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a mineral property option agreement, dated May 13, 2026 (the “ Option Agreement ”) with WestGold Metals Corp. (“ WestGold ”), traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “ CSE ”) under the symbol “WGM.CN”, and Silver Rock Resources, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “ Optionor ”), pursuant to which the Company has granted to WestGold an exclusive option (the “ Option ”) to acquire a 90% interest in three of the Company’s exploration properties located in the State of Idaho, USA: the Amie Project, the Silver Rock Project, and the Demming Project (together, the “ Properties ”). The proposed transaction is expected to provide the Company with non-dilutive exposure to exploration success at the Properties through a combination of a cash payment, equity consideration, exploration expenditures, and a retained royalty interest. WestGold is at arm’s length to the Company and the Optionor, and the Option does not constitute a related party transaction.

Clayton Fisher, CEO of IDEX, commented, “This transaction is exactly the kind of value-creation opportunity we want to execute as we build IDEX: monetize non-core assets, retain meaningful upside, and concentrate our capital and technical effort on the Freeze Project. By optioning our Owyhee project portfolio to WestGold, we are putting Amie, Silver Rock and Demming into the hands of a dedicated junior explorer with committed exploration capital, while IDEX shareholders retain multiple ways to participate in future exploration success. The structure provides exposure through a 9.9% equity position in WestGold, committed exploration expenditures across the projects, a retained 10% carried interest in each project, and a retained royalty interest. In our view, this creates powerful optionality — if WestGold is successful in unlocking value across these projects, IDEX shareholders have direct leverage to that upside; at the same time, our team remains firmly focused on advancing Freeze, our flagship copper project and what we believe is the Company’s most compelling value-creation opportunity.”

Pursuant to the Option Agreement, WestGold may acquire a 90% undivided interest in the Properties (free and clear of all encumbrances, other than the Royalty (as defined below), and certain permitted encumbrances). In order to exercise the Option, WestGold is required to make the following payments:

(a) Share Consideration: WestGold is required to issue 5,737,000 common shares in the capital of WestGold (the “ WestGold Shares ”) to the Optionor on or before the date that is two business days following the satisfaction of all conditions precedent in the Option Agreement (the “ Effective Date ”); and

(b) Cash Payment: WestGold is required to pay the Optionor $100,000 within 30 business days of the Effective Date.

In addition to the above, WestGold must incur a minimum of $5,000,000 in aggregate exploration expenditures on the Properties over a three-year period, as follows: (i) $1,000,000 by the first anniversary of the Effective Date; (ii) a cumulative $3,000,000 by the second anniversary; and (iii) a cumulative $5,000,000 by the third anniversary.

The WestGold Shares will be issued at a deemed price per WestGold Share equal to: (i) the price per common share offered in an equity financing to be completed by WestGold before the exercise of the Option (the “ Equity Financing ”), or (ii) if WestGold does not complete the Equity Financing, the volume weighted average trading price of WestGold’s common shares on the CSE for the 20 trading days preceding the Effective Date.

Upon full exercise of the Option, the parties will be deemed to have formed a joint venture, with WestGold holding a 90% participating interest and the Optionor retaining a 10% carried interest (the “ Joint Venture ”). WestGold will serve as operator of the Joint Venture and will be responsible for all costs of the Joint Venture, including exploration, development and mining operations, until the commencement of commercial production. Following the commencement of commercial production, the Optionor’s carried interest may be diluted by subsequent financings.

Additionally, upon full exercise of the Option, a 1.5% net smelter returns royalty (the “ Royalty ”) will be granted to the Optionor. WestGold has the right to reduce the Royalty to 1.0% at any time by payment of $2,000,000.

Closing of the Option is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including all applicable regulatory and stock exchange approvals. No finder’s fees were paid in association with this transaction.

About IDEX Metals Corp.

IDEX Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on advancing a portfolio of base and precious metal projects in Idaho, USA. IDEX is primarily focused on the exploration and development of the Freeze Copper-Gold porphyry prospect located in the newly discovered Idaho Copper District, Washington County, Idaho. With a strategic land position in a top-tier mining jurisdiction and surrounded by major industry players, IDEX is committed to redefining district-scale exploration in Idaho.

For more information, please visit https://idexmetals.com/ .

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Clayton Fisher, CEO & Director

For further information regarding IDEX contact:

Investor Relations
info@idexmetals.com
1 (604) 260-0356

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

No securities regulatory authority or stock exchange has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the closing of the Option, and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “will”, “may”, “should”, “anticipate”, “expects” and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include the failure to satisfy the conditions of the relevant securities exchange(s) and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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