Kirkland Lake starts 25,000-metre drill program

Mr. Stefan Sklepowicz reports KIRKLAND LAKE DISCOVERIES BEGINS FULLY FUNDED 25,000-M DRILL PROGRAM; APPOINTS VP EXPLORATION & TECHNICAL ADVISOR Kirkland Lake Discoveries Corp. has commenced its fully financed 25,000-metre diamond drilling program designed to unlock a system of gold and polymetallic targets across the company's extensive land package in the Kirkland Lake region of Ontario. Highlights Fully financed 25,000-metre drill program begins, with first rig turning at the high-priority Winnie Lake stock (WLS) contact corridor; second rig planned for January, 2026; Two coexisting mineralizing systems confirmed -- a copper-rich massive sulphide (CRMS) system and an intrusion-related gold system (IRGS) -- significantly enhancing discovery potential; Technical team expanded, adding vice-president, exploration, Ben Cleland, PGeo, and technical adviser Dr. Jean-Francois Montreuil to accelerate discovery efforts; AGM (annual general meeting) results announced, with all resolutions approved and board and auditor appointments confirmed. "The start of this 25,000-metre drill program marks a transformational moment for Kirkland Lake Discoveries. Over the past two years, our team has built an understanding of the geology around the Winnie Lake stock, and the confirmation of two coexisting mineralizing systems has elevated the scale of what is possible here. With a strengthened technical team and a fully funded program, we are now positioned to drill with both confidence and purpose. Every hole we put into the ground is designed to advance our understanding of systems that we believe have the potential to deliver meaningful new discoveries for our shareholders and for the Kirkland Lake region," said Stefan Sklepowicz, chief executive officer, Kirkland Lake Discoveries. Kirkland Lake officially commenced drilling on Nov. 21, with the first rig positioned along the contact corridor on the margins of the WLS. The company anticipates the addition of a second drill rig in early 2026 to accelerate systematic testing of high-priority target areas. The company's exploration is currently focused on KL West and the contact corridor and surrounding structures associated with the WLS. Dual mineralizing systems confirmed Building on phase 1 results and an updated geological model, Kirkland Lake has confirmed the presence of two distinct but coexisting mineralizing systems along the WLS Contact corridor: Copper-rich massive sulphide (CRMS) system; Intrusion-related gold system (IRGS). This dual-system framework significantly enhances the company's discovery potential within the prolific Archean Abitibi greenstone belt, one of the world's most productive gold camps. Multiple target zones around the WLS highlight the geological importance of both the syn-volcanic emplacement of the intrusion into mafic volcanic rocks and the subsequent regional deformation events that redistributed gold-bearing hydrothermal fluids. These processes have created a highly prospective environment for new gold and polymetallic discoveries. The overlap of these two systems suggests a long-lived mineralizing event, increasing the potential for finding higher-grade and larger-tonnage zones. Target areas Wolverine Bend showing Kirkland Lake's phase 2 drilling began at the newly discovered Wolverine Bend area, where August's inaugural drill program identified a five-metre mineralized interval within the intrusive WLS (drill hole KLD25-32, see Oct. 27, 2025, news release). The current drilling aims to: Determine the orientation and depth extent of this mineralized zone; Evaluate potential extensions of mineralization into the southern mafic volcanics; Test northwest-trending structures related to the Amikougami Lake shear zone to the east. Winnie West drilling is following up on the newly discovered Au-Ag-Cu-Bi (gold-silver-copper-bismuth) quartz vein within the WLS contact corridor intersected in drill hole KLD25-31 (see Oct. 27, 2025, news release) and the recent MobileMT conductivity anomaly. Drilling will focus on the western extension of the massive sulphide mineralization in mafic volcanics and proximal quartz vein-hosted gold in syenites (0.035 gram per tonne Au, 12.75 g/t Ag, 1395 ppm Cu and 1235 ppm Bi) at contact margins sampled in May, 2025. Nine Mile area Kirkland Lake will drill-test a 1.5-square-kilometre intrusion-related gold soil anomaly characterized by elevated Au-Bi-Cu-Mo-W (gold-bismuth-copper-molybdenum-tungsten) values along the northwestern margin of the WLS. Recent geophysical data sets including electromagnetic (EM) and magnetic surveys, have demonstrated a coincident EM response paired with a zone of magnetic destruction, a signature commonly associated with hydrothermal alteration surrounding mineralized intrusive systems. Expanded exploration team The company is pleased to announce the addition to its technical team of two key members: Ben Cleland, PGeo, as vice-president of exploration, and Dr. Jean-Francois Montreuil, as technical adviser. Ben Cleland, PGeo -- vice-president, exploration Mr. Cleland previously held senior roles at Vior Inc. and Greenstone Gold Mines, where he led technical teams, oversaw district-scale exploration programs and contributed to capital-raising initiatives. He is a registered professional geoscientist (PGeo, Ontario) with more than 15 years of experience advancing mineral projects across Canada. Mr. Cleland brings a strong record in exploration strategy, operational oversight, and stakeholder engagement, with recognized expertise in greenstone belt geology, structural controls on gold mineralization and integrating multidisciplinary data sets to guide discovery-focused exploration. As VP, exploration, Mr. Cleland will oversee exploration strategy, technical governance and program execution across Kirkland Lake's projects, working closely with the chief executive officer, executive team and board to drive long-term value creation. In connection with his appointment as VP, exploration, Mr. Cleland has been granted one million stock options at an exercise price of 40 cents in accordance with the company's stock option plan. The options are exercisable for a five-year term expiring Nov. 24, 2030, and subject to vesting provisions. Dr. Jean-Francois Montreuil, PGeo -- technical adviser Dr. Montreuil has more than a decade of experience exploring and characterizing complex hydrothermal systems associated with precious and critical metals. He contributed significantly to the advancement of Red Pine's Wawa gold project, including the discovery of the Minto mine deposit. He holds a PhD in earth sciences from INRS-ETE in Quebec City and continues to pursue active scientific research. His collaborations include work with the Geological Survey of Canada, BRGM, the Geological Survey of South Australia, BHP-Olympic Dam, the University of Windsor and Laurentian University. Dr. Montreuil has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in international geology journals. The addition of Mr. Cleland and Dr. Montreuil meaningfully strengthens the technical team's depth upon which Kirkland Lake can rely. Their combined expertise will help ensure that this significant drill program is executed efficiently, guided by strong geological discipline and strategically aligned to deliver impactful results. Inside look at Kirkland Lake's targeting process Kirkland Lake continues its commitment to industry-leading transparency through season 2 of its YouTube exploration series, Kirkland Lake Treasure Hunters. In the latest episode, executive chairman Denis Laviolette, chief executive officer Stefan Sklepowicz and members of the technical team provide a detailed walkthrough of key targeting areas across KL West. This episode introduces Kirkland Lake's strengthened exploration team and outlines the early stages of the company's 2025 to 2026 exploration plan, including the work under way to: Build and refine critical baseline data sets; Integrate geophysics, geochemistry, and historical and new core data; Consolidate multiple geological layers into a cohesive, district-scale exploration model; Highlight priority drill targets informed by this integrated framework. Investors are given a front-row view of how Kirkland Lake is assembling and interpreting the data that forms the foundation of its targeting decisions and discovery strategy. The newest episode is available on the company's website and on its official YouTube channel. Annual general and special meeting results The company is also pleased to report the results of its annual general and special meeting of shareholders held on Nov. 18, 2025, in Toronto, Ont. Shareholders approved all resolutions detailed in the company's management information circular, including: Setting the number of directors at four; Electing all nominees to the board of directors for the ensuing year; Appointing Crowe MacKay LLP as auditor of the company and authorizing the board to set the auditor's remuneration; Approving the company's stock option plan. Votes representing 29,945,451 shares were cast, representing 25.82 per cent of the company's issued and outstanding shares as of the record date. QP (qualified person) statement The technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Benjamin Cleland, PGeo, VP, exploration, who is a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 -- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Kirkland Lake Discoveries Corp. Kirkland Lake Discoveries has assembled a 400-square-kilometre exploration portfolio in the Kirkland Lake region of Ontario's Abitibi greenstone belt, one of the most prolific mining districts in the world. The company's properties span key fault zones, geophysical anomalies and volcanic-sedimentary contacts within the Blake River Group, a highly prospective assemblage known to host both gold and polymetallic massive-sulphide deposits. With exploration permits now in place, Kirkland Lake is positioned to advance a strong pipeline of drill-ready targets at KL East and KL West, supported by multiple anomalous soil trends, historical mineral showings and structurally controlled intersections. The team combines strong technical experience with a focus on smart, efficient exploration designed to deliver results. We seek Safe Harbor.