Mr. Sean Charland reports

APEX MOBILIZES SECOND DRILL RIG AND PROVIDES PHASE I UPDATE AT THE RIFT RARE EARTH PROJECT IN NEBRASKA, U.S.A.

Apex Critical Metals Corp.'s phase I drill program has been fully mobilized, with two drill rigs now active at the company's 100-per-cent-controlled Rift rare earth project, located within the Elk Creek carbonatite complex in southeastern Nebraska, United States:

• Drill hole RIFT26-002, collared approximately 100 metres south of historical hole NEC11-004 intersected carbonatite over an approximately 330-metre interval starting at 178 metres downhole and extending through the interpreted mineralized zone:
  • This hole was designed to extend significant historically defined mineralization along strike to the south and better constrain the orientation and geometry of mineralization within the carbonatite body.
• Drill hole RIFT26-001A has reached a depth of 110 m with a target depth of 600 m. Carbonatite has not yet been intersected but is anticipated imminently at approximately 175 m downhole.
• Drill hole RIFT26-003 has now commenced, and additional pad preparation is currently under way to support further stepout drilling designed to test the extent of mineralization along strike to the north and south.
• Core processing is also well under way, with the first batch of samples expected to be prioritized for submission within the coming weeks.

Sean Charland, chief executive officer of Apex Critical Metals, commented: "With two drill rigs now active on site, phase I drilling at Rift is well under way and represents an important step toward better defining the scale and continuity of mineralization within our phase I priority target area at Rift. The program is designed to build on historical results, and we look forward to continuing to expand our understanding of the extent and continuity of the impressive historical mineralized intercepts as the season progresses."

The phase I drill program at the Rift rare earth project is designed to confirm and expand upon significant rare earth element (REE) mineralization identified by historical drilling while systematically testing the continuity of mineralization along strike and at depth. With two drill rigs now active on site, current drilling is focused on a high-priority area encompassing approximately 850 metres of north-south strike length within the southeastern portion of the project. Drill targeting is guided by an integrated data set that includes historical drilling, surface geochemistry and geophysical surveys, all of which have been incorporated into a modern three-dimensional geological model. Phase I drilling is intended to materially advance the company's understanding of REE mineralization and associated critical minerals within a large, prospective carbonatite system.

Management cautions that the interception of carbonatite is not necessarily indicative of mineralization. Assay results are required to confirm the presence, grade, and significance of any mineralization.

Qualified person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Nathan Schmidt, PGeo, a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 on 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 (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-REE deposits. Historical drilling across the complex has reported broad intervals of high-grade REE mineralization, including intercepts such as 155.5 m of 2.70 per cent REO 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, 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 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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