Big Ridge appoints Powell as COO

Executive Summary

• Big Ridge Gold Corp. appointed James Powell as Chief Operating Officer, effective March 23, 2026, to oversee the Hope Brook gold project operations, permitting, and stakeholder engagement.
• Shareholders exercised 13.16 million unit warrants from the July 2025 financing, generating $2.6 million in aggregate proceeds, which represents 63% of the warrants issued in that round.
• In connection with the new appointment, the company granted 300,000 stock options to Mr. Powell, exercisable at $0.32 per share in three equal tranches over three years.

Key Details

• Management Appointment:
  • Name: James Powell
  • Role: Chief Operating Officer (COO)
  • Effective Date: March 23, 2026
  • Responsibilities: Overall operation of the Hope Brook gold project, permitting, stakeholder engagement, and management.
  • Qualifications: B.Eng (Civil) from University of New Brunswick; M.Eng (Mining) from McGill University; Professional Engineer with 25+ years of experience. Former VP of Regulatory and Government Affairs for the Valentine gold mine.
• Warrant Exercises:
  • Quantity: 13.16 million unit warrants exercised.
  • Percentage of Total: 63% of warrants issued in the July 2025 financing.
  • Aggregate Proceeds: $2.6 million.
  • Use of Proceeds: Strengthening the balance sheet and supporting the advancement of the Hope Brook Gold Project (HBGP).
• Option Grants:
  • Recipient: James Powell (in connection with his appointment).
  • Total Options: 300,000 options.
  • Exercise Price: $0.32 per share.
  • Vesting Schedule: Three equal tranches on March 24, 2026, March 24, 2027, and March 24, 2028.
• Project Context (Hope Brook Gold Project):
  • Location: 85 km east of Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • History: Produced 752,162 ounces of gold (1987–1997) via open pit and underground mining.
  • Resources (Indicated): 16.19 million tonnes at 2.32 g/t Au for 1.2 million ounces (0.4 g/t cut-off).
  • Resources (Inferred): 2,215,000 tonnes at 3.25 g/t Au for 231,000 ounces (2.0 g/t cut-off).
  • Infrastructure: Operational 28-person camp, 1,100-metre airstrip, ice-free docking facility, and connection to provincial electrical power grid.

Notable Quotes

• Michael Bandrowski, President and CEO: "I would like to sincerely thank our strong shareholder base for their continued support. The proceeds further strengthen our balance sheet and will support the continued advancement of the HBGP."