Pacific Empire closes financial tranche of placement

The October 15, 2025, news release announces two key developments. First, Pacific Empire has closed the second and final tranche of its private placement, raising total gross proceeds of $1,526,991.95. This financing provides the necessary capital for its planned exploration. Second, and more critically, the company announced that Omineca Drilling Ltd. has arrived at the Trident copper-gold project and that the inaugural diamond drill program on the property's main target area has commenced. The planned program consists of five holes totaling approximately 2,500 metres.

This news is materially positive as it represents the successful execution of the company's stated strategy over the past year. After a series of preparatory steps including geophysical surveys, target generation, permitting, and multiple financing rounds, the company is now fully funded and has begun the single most important catalyst for its valuation: the first-ever drill test of its highest-priority porphyry and breccia targets at Trident.

Historically, the company has faced delays, pushing the drill program from a planned "Summer/Fall 2024" to October 2025. This release confirms that the final hurdles have been cleared. The risk profile now shifts away from financing and operational readiness towards pure exploration risk. While the outcome is unknown, achieving this milestone is a significant de-risking event that was anticipated by the market. The oversubscription of the recent financing, announced in September 2025, indicates positive investor sentiment leading into this drill program.

The successful commencement of drilling validates management's plans and sets the stage for potential discovery. The market will now await drill results, which will be the primary driver of the stock price in the coming months.

Pacific Empire Minerals Corp. (PEMC) is a junior mineral exploration company focused on copper-gold porphyry deposits in British Columbia. Its flagship project is the 100%-owned Trident property, a 6,618-hectare, road-accessible project located in a prolific mining district between Centerra Gold's Mt. Milligan mine and NorthWest Copper's Kwanika deposit. The Trident property has seen sporadic exploration since the 1970s which identified copper-gold mineralization, but the primary target area, believed to be the core of the porphyry system, has never been drilled due to historical access issues. After consolidating 100% ownership in 2022 and receiving a multi-year drill permit in August 2025, the company has now commenced its inaugural drill program on these untested targets. The Trident property is subject to a 2% Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalty, half of which (1%) can be purchased for $500,000.