Apex Critical Metals acquires REE rights at Rift

Mr. Sean Charland reports APEX ACQUIRES ADDITIONAL REE RIGHTS AND CONSOLIDATES PRIORITY TARGET AREA AT THE ELK CREEK RIFT PROJECT, NEBRASKA Apex Critical Metals Corp. has acquired additional rare earth exploration rights within a high-priority target area at the Elk Creek Rift project in southeastern Nebraska, United States. The Rift project includes exploration rights and purchase options for an increased total of approximately 3,024 acres (1,224 hectares), encompassing highly prospective portions of the Elk Creek carbonatite complex contiguous and adjacent to Niocorp Developments Ltd. Sean Charland, chief executive officer of Apex Critical Metals, stated: "This acquisition consolidates a key area within our Elk Creek Rift project, and our team is actively refining our phase I drill plan and advancing permitting with a view towards commencing our inaugural program before the end of the year." The company is in the process of modelling all historical information for targeted drilling to expand upon the historical REE findings, with an initial focus on the EC-93 and NEC11-004 areas (previously reported), where high-grades of rare earth mineralization from historical drilling remain open in all directions. Other areas of the Rift project recently identified as requiring follow-up drilling include: EC-43 (one kilometre south of EC-93): 189.0 to 323.1 metres -- 134.1 metres of 1.22% TREO (total rare earth oxides): Including 12.2 metres of 3.18 per cent TREO from 243.8 to 256 metres or 27.4 metres of 1.83 per cent from 295.7 to 323.1 metres; EC-04 (west anomaly): 217.1 to 402.3 metres -- 185.2 metres of 1.18 per cent LREO (light rare earth oxides); 429.8 to 445.0 metres -- 15.2 metres of 1.14 per cent TREO. The historical drill hole EC-43 is approximately one kilometre to the southeast of EC-093 represents the nearest drill hole to EC-93/NEC11-004 and is within the south-central parts of a large overall area considered a high-priority for REE mineralization, as previously identified by Molycorp (1973 to 1986). The company believes this demonstrates the potential scale of REE mineralization within the complex. For additional information and disclosure regarding the company's Elk Creek Rift project, please visit the company's website and refer to the company's press releases on Sept. 3 and Oct. 1, 2025. Management cautions that discoveries on adjacent properties (for example, Niocorp Developments) are not necessarily indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Rift project. Drill holes EC-43 and EC-04 were originally completed by Molycorp between 1973 and 1986, with reanalysis performed by Quantum Rare Earth Development Corp. in 2010. The results presented herein, with the exception of the noted interval from EC-04, are from the 2010 reanalysis. Advancing U.S. rare earth independence This move aligns with surging U.S. investments in domestic REE production. Recent developments include the Department of Defense's $400-million (U.S.) equity stake in MP Materials' Mountain Pass mine and Apple's $500-million (U.S.) multiyear supply agreement with the same producer. According to the U.S. Geological Survey's 2025 Mineral Commodity Summaries, the United States remains 100 per cent import-dependent for several critical minerals, including rare earths, with domestic consumption at approximately 8,800 metric tonnes of rare earth oxides equivalent in 2024. The company's entry into the Elk Creek area supports efforts to diversify and secure North American REE supplies amid global supply chain vulnerabilities, including China's recent extensions of production quotas on imported concentrates. Qualified person and historical results The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Nathan Schmidt, PGeo, senior geologist for Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd. and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, who has prepared and reviewed the content of this press release. The results discussed in this document are considered historical. An Apex Critical Metals qualified person has not performed sufficient work or data verification to validate these results in accordance with NI 43-101. Although the historical results may not be reliable, the company nevertheless believes that they provide an indication of the property's potential and are relevant for any future exploration 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 metres of 2.70 per cent REO (rare earth oxides) 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. We seek Safe Harbor.