Apex Critical acquires options to U.S. property package

Executive Summary

• Apex Critical Metals Corp. has acquired exploration rights and purchase options for a 2,407-acre property package in the Midwestern United States, targeting rare earth elements (REEs) and critical minerals.
• The acquisition is part of a strategic expansion into the U.S. critical minerals sector, leveraging historic exploration data from a rare metal complex known for over 50 years.
• Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd. has been retained to review historical data and provide recommendations for future exploration activities.

Key Details

• Property Details: The package consists of 2,407 acres in the Midwestern U.S., covering a large portion of a rare metal complex that has been known for more than 50 years but remains largely underexplored.
• Acquisition Structure:
  • Apex acquired the rights to explore and an option to purchase the mineral interest.
  • Aggregate purchase price for the mineral interest: $567,472.84.
  • Option to purchase mineral interest: $10,000 (U.S.) per acre.
  • Royalty terms: If the option is exercised, an aggregate 2.5% Net Smelter Return (NSR) royalty is payable.
  • Repurchase right: Apex retains the right to repurchase 0.25% of the NSR for $500,000 (U.S.).
• Technical Advisor: Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd. has been retained to review the historical exploration data set and provide recommendations.
• Strategic Context: The move aligns with shifting government priorities and industrial demand for critical minerals. The U.S. is 100% import-dependent for 12 critical minerals, including REEs and niobium.
• Market Environment:
  • U.S. Department of Defense announced a $400-million equity stake in MP Materials Corp. on July 10, 2025, including a decade-long guaranteed pricing arrangement for permanent magnets.
  • Apple Inc. signed a $500-million multiyear supply agreement with MP Materials.
  • U.S. consumption of rare earths in 2024 was approximately 8,800 metric tonnes REO equivalent; domestic mine production at Mountain Pass was approximately 43,000 tons.
  • More than 90% of global niobium supply comes from Brazil, with no U.S. domestic production.
• Company Portfolio: Apex holds assets in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec, focusing on carbonatite systems which host world-class deposits like Araxa (Brazil), Bayan Obo (China), Niobec (Canada), and Mountain Pass (U.S.).

Notable Quotes

• "I've personally worked with Jody Dahrouge and his team for more than two decades, with several years spent evaluating rare earth element exploration opportunities. Over the past year, in addition to our collaborations in Canada (Cap project), we've focused our efforts on a particular district in the U.S. that we believe holds significant potential for rare earth and niobium discoveries. The recent shifting of government priorities and industrial demand forecasts aligns well with the highly prospective portfolio we are building at Apex." — Sean Charland, Chief Executive Officer