New Age Metals Expands Pgm Portfolio With Strategic Staking Of The Escape East Pgm-Ni-Cu Project Adjacent To Clean Air Metals' Deposits In Northwestern Ontario

(TheNewswire)

February26th, 2026 – Rockport, Ontario– TheNewswire – New Age Metals Inc.(TSX.V: NAM | OTCQB: NMTLF | FSE: P7J) (“NAM” or the“Company”) is pleased to announce that it has acquired, viastaking, the Escape East Project, a 100%-owned platinum groupmetals–nickel–copper (PGM–Ni–Cu) exploration propertycomprising approximately ~4,000 hectares in the Thunder Bay MiningDivision of Northwestern Ontario.

The Escape East Project is located adjacent to theThunder Bay North Project operated by Clean Air Metals Inc., whichhosts the Current Lake and Escape Lake platinum group metal deposits,as disclosed in publicly available NI 43-101 technical reports, andreferenced below.

This strategic staking complements the Company’srecently announced Lac des Îles (Platreef) claim group and expandsNew Age Metals’ land position within the broader Lac des Îlesintrusive complex region, a well-established magmatic PGM–Ni–Cugeological environment in proximity to the Lac des Iles Mine,Canada’s only primary palladium-producing operation.

Platinum group metals are recognizedas critical minerals by the Government of Canadadue to their importance in emissions control technologies, cleanenergy systems, and advanced industrial applications. New Age Metals’ Projects aligns withCanada’s Critical Minerals Strategy, whichaims to support domestic supply chains and responsible resourcedevelopment.

Harry Barr, Chairman and CEO,commented, “The acquisition of the PlatreefPGM Project represents a strategic addition to New Age Metals’growing PGM pipeline. The project is located in a proven PGM districtwith excellent infrastructure and strong geological indicators.Our objective is to build aleading Canadian-focused PGM exploration portfolio through disciplinedacquisition and systematic technical advancement. As our focus remains on disciplined capital allocation,advancing high-quality exploration assets, and creating long-termshareholder value.”

Highlights

• District-scale land package comprising approximately 4,000 hectares(~9,900 acres) in Northwestern Ontario

• Locatedadjacent to the Thunder Bay North Project operated by Clean Air MetalsInc., which hosts the Current Lake and EscapeLake PGM deposits

• Situated inproximity to the Lac des Iles Mine, Canada’sonly primary palladium-producing operation, owned and operated byImpala Canada Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Impala PlatinumHoldings Limited

• The Companyintends to proactively engage and consult with local FirstNations, consistent with New Age Metals’established policy of meaningful and ongoing collaboration withIndigenous communities

• Excellentinfrastructure and logistics, including roadaccess and proximity to Thunder Bay, a regional hub for miningservices, skilled workforce, transportation, and supply chains

• Geologicalsetting interpreted to be prospective for intrusion-hostedPGM–Ni–Cu mineralization, based onrift-related mafic–ultramafic intrusive units and regionalexploration data

• Magnetite-bearing gabbroic and ultramafic intrusive phasesinterpreted across the property, with magneticanomalies and sulphide-bearing zones identified in historicalexploration within the district

• Multipleuntested or underexplored intrusive and geophysical targets identifiedacross the land package, providing opportunitiesfor systematic follow-up exploration

• Strategicaddition to New Age Metals’ Platinum Group Metals projectpipeline, complementing the Company’s FlagshipRiver Valley Project (Ontario), and its broader PGM portfolio,including Northern Shield (Ring of Fire, Ontario), Platreef (Ontario)and Genesis (Alaska)

Click Image To View Full SizeFigure 1.Regional location of the Platreef PGM and Escape East PGM Projects inrelation to nearby third-party PGM assets, including Clean AirMetals’ Thunder Bay North Project and Impala Canada’s Lac des IlesMine. Mineral resource and mineral reserve figures presented arederived from public NI 43-101 disclosures¹,²

Escape East PGM Project

The Escape East Project is underlain by rift-relatedmafic to ultramafic intrusive rocks interpreted to be prospective formagmatic nickel–copper–platinum group metalsmineralization.

Historical exploration within the broader area hasincluded:

• High-resolution airborne magnetic surveys 

• Ground geophysics and geological mapping 

• Prospecting, trenching, and geochemicalsampling 

• Diamond drilling on adjacent properties 

Magnetic anomalies and intrusive targets identifiedwithin the Escape East land package remain under-tested and will beevaluated through systematic data compilation and targetrefinement.

The Escape East Project is located adjacent to theThunder Bay North Project operated by Clean Air Metals Inc., whichhosts the Current Lake and Escape Lake deposits. These depositscollectively comprise an underground-constrained mineral resourceestimate of 14.5 million tonnes grading 1.58 g/t Pt and 1.54 g/t Pd(8.12 g/t PtEq) in the Indicated category, and 8.1 million tonnesgrading 0.67 g/t Pt and 0.69 g/t Pd (4.07 g/t PtEq) in the Inferredcategory, as disclosed in the NI 43-101 Technical Report on theThunder Bay North Project, Northern Ontario, Canada, with an effectivedate of December 1, 2021, filed on SEDAR+ under Clean Air MetalsInc.1

The project compliments the Company’s Platreef PGM Projectcomprises 834 mining claims totaling approximately 16,680 hectares(~41,200 acres) within the Lac des Îles Igneous Complex inNorthwestern Ontario. The Project is considered prospective forintrusion-hosted PGM–Ni–Cu mineralization based onmagnetite-bearing gabbroic intrusions, sulphide-bearing zonesassociated with intrusive contacts, and coincident magnetic and IPanomalies identified through historical exploration.

The PlatreefPGM Project is located adjacent to theLac des Iles PGMMine, operated by Impala Canada Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of ImpalaPlatinum Holdings Limited (Implats; JSE: IMP; OTCQX:IMPUY), one of the world’s leading primaryproducers of platinum group metals, which reports proven and probable mineral reserves of40.9 million tonnes grading 2.31 g/t Pd, containing 3.04 millionounces of palladium, as disclosed in theNI 43-101 Technical Report onthe Feasibility Study for the Lac des Iles Mine,with an effective date of July4, 2018, filed on SEDAR+2

Exploration Strategy

New Age Metals intends to advance the Escape East PGM–Ni–CuProject through a phased, systematic explorationprogram designed to enhance geological understanding, prioritizehigh-quality targets, and advance the project toward potential drilltesting in a disciplined and technically driven manner.

• Compile, digitize, and reinterpret historicalgeological mapping, available drill data, airborne magnetic surveys,and relevant government geoscience datasets. 

• Integrate regional structural and intrusive modelingwith adjacent project data to refine geological interpretations andidentify priority corridors. 

• Conduct field verification programs, including detailedmapping, prospecting, and lithogeochemical sampling to confirmintrusive phases and mineralization indicators. 

• Undertake selective mechanical stripping, whereappropriate, to improve bedrock exposure and better define intrusivecontacts and sulphide-bearing zones. 

• Complete additional ground-based geophysical surveys(including magnetics and/or IP) to refine subsurface targets andenhance drill targeting precision. 

• Advance priority targets to diamond drilling, subjectto results, permitting, community engagement, and availablefunding. 

• Engage early and proactively with local First Nationsand regional stakeholders to ensure transparent communication andresponsible exploration practices consistent with the Company’sestablished policies. 

QualifiedPerson

Troy Gallik, P.Geo. (Member ID 3550), a PractisingRegistrant and Qualified Person (“QP”) as defined by NationalInstrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects,has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical informationcontained in this news release. Mr. Gallik is a geological consultantto New Age Metals Inc. and is not independent of the Company for thepurposes of NI 43-101.

The QP has reviewed available assessment files,historical drill logs, geophysical data, government geological data,and publicly available technical reports relevant to the Company’snewly acquired claims. The QP has not completed sufficient work toindependently verify all historical information referenced herein,particularly information generated by previous operators. However, theQP considers the historical information to be relevant and reliablefor the purposes of identifying and discussing explorationpotential.

AboutNAM

New Age Metals is a junior mineral exploration anddevelopment company focused on the discovery, exploration, anddevelopment of critical green metal projects in North America. TheCompany has three divisions: a Platinum Group Element division, aLithium/Rare Metals division, an Antimony-Gold Division as well as aninvestment in MetalQuest Mining’s(TSXV:MQM | OTC:MQMIF) high purityLac Otelnuk Iron Project.

The PGM Division includes the 100%owned, multi-million-ounce, district-scale River Valley Project, oneof North America’s largest undeveloped Platinum Group ElementProjects, situated 100 km by road east of Sudbury, Ontario.In addition to River Valley, NAM owns 100% ofthe Genesis PGM-Cu-Ni Project in Alaska. Most recent PGM announcement: https://newagemetals.com/new-age-metals-prepares-its-platinum-group-metals-division-to-launch/.

In addition, on January 21st 2026, theCompany recently expanded its Platinum Group Metals portfolio throughthe acquisition of the Northern Shield PGM Project in Ontario’s Ringof Fire region, strengthening its exposure to district-scalemafic–ultramafic systems prospective for nickel, copper, andplatinum group elements.

New Age Metals’ Antimony–Golddivision is located in Newfoundland and comprises a 20,950-hectareland package across 11 non-contiguous properties. Six of these properties are situated in the St. Alban’sarea, along Canstar’s Swanger and Little River mineralized trends.The remaining five properties are strategically positioned along thesame regional geological trend as the past-producing Beaver BrookAntimony Mine and are also located near New Found Gold’s QueenswaySouth Gold Project.

Management has completed Phase 1 exploration and hasnow finished Phase 2 fieldwork. The Phase 2 program successfullydelineated multiple gold–antimony (Au–Sb) trends, and the Companyis currently planning follow-up explorationwhile awaiting additional assay results. These results will be used toguide exploration targeting and program planning for 2026 and beyond.Most recent releases: https://newagemetals.com/axiom-exploration-group-initiates-xcite-helicopter-borne-tdem-survey-over-nams-sentinel-antimony-property-newfoundland-nam-monitors-fintech-solutions-to-enhance-market-transparency/

https://newagemetals.com/new-age-metals-samples-high-grade-antimony-gold-silver-and-lead-at-st-albans-newfoundland-and-starts-phase-2-exploration/

The BonanzaRidge Gold and Critical Metals Project has beensignificantly expanded with the option agreements for the Lavender Lake andSouth Gibi Lake properties, adding a combined ~5,216 hectares (~12,889acres) of prospective ground in the Kenora Gold Districtof northwestern Ontario. These properties, located about 25 kmsoutheast of Kenora, are strategically positioned along a favourablestructural corridor adjacent to NAM’s flagship Bonanza GoldProperty, and host known gold and copper occurrences with minimalmodern exploration to date. The consolidated portfolio now comprisesapproximately 8,500hectares of contiguous land within an emerginggold and critical metals jurisdiction, providing substantialopportunities for follow-up field work, structural modeling, targetgeneration, and future drill campaigns. Recent announcement:https://newagemetals.com/new-age-metals-expands-bonanza-ridge-gold-andcritical-metals-project-strategic-acquisition-oflavender-lake-south-gibi-lake-properties/.

The Company is establishing a Kenora, Ontario based field operationshub to support exploration activities acrossNorthwestern Ontario and Eastern Manitoba. The proposed facility wouldprovide centralized logistical, technical, and administrative supportfor regional exploration programs and is expected to improve fieldefficiency and coordination.

The Company’s Lithium Division is one of the largestmineral claim holders in the Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field, where theCompany is exploring hard rock lithium and various rare elements suchas tantalum, rubidium, and cesium. NAM is developing its lithium division inconjunction with its Farm-in/Joint Venture agreement with MineralResources Ltd. (“MinRes”), one of the world’s largest lithiumproducers. A minimum budget to maintain theProjects has been approved by Mineral Resources Ltd for May 2025 toApril 2026. Management is currently working on providing MineralResources, a go forward exploration program for spring, summer, andfall 2026.

In April 2024, a $1.5M NSERC Alliancegrant was awarded to a collaboration led by the University of Manitoba(Drs. Fayek and Camacho), with academic partners from LakeheadUniversity (Dr. Hollings) and industry partners including New AgeMetals and Grid Metals. This research isfocused on advancing Canada’s critical metals sector, with New AgeMetals’ portion targeting its Bird River lithium properties. The2025 work included core sampling and field visits. The project willlikely extend beyond the original 3-year term, due to its delayedstart. The parties involved in this grant plan to meet over the next60 days and will announce our plans for 2026 and beyond.

New Age Metals Inc. is supporting asuccessful $180K Mitacs research grant, awarded in 2023, through its$90K contribution (already accounted for and paid under the MineralResources joint venture). This academicpartnership with the University of New Brunswick and the University ofBritish Columbia is focused on understanding the origin and controlsof lithium pegmatite mineralization in the Cat Lake–Winnipeg Riverfield. MSc and post-doctoral research programs have recently beencompleted, and the Company is reviewing the results with the academicinstitutions to assess how the findings may be incorporated intofuture exploration programs. This collaboration provides access to top-tier scientific expertiseand equipment, significantly reducing analysis costs and addinglong-term value to the project.

The Company is actively seeking anoption/joint venture partner for our and its road-accessible GenesisPGM-Cu-Ni Project in Alaska and results from our Summer/Fall Programare expected by the end of the year. Recent announcement: https://newagemetals.com/new-age-metals-completes-summer-2025-exploration-program-on-the-genesis-pgm-cu-ni-project-alaska/ .

On August 6, 2025, New Age Metals announced anadditional investment in a 4thcritical metal. NAM currently owns approximately9.63% and holds warrants that, if exercised with today’s issued andoutstanding shares of MQM, would bring NAM to a 14.6% interest inMetalQuest Mining inc.

MetalQuest Mining inc. is developingone of North America’s largest iron projects, where approximately$120 million has been spent on the project. For moreinformation, pleasevisit MetalQuestMining.com . High-purity iron became a criticalmetal Federally in Canada and in the Provinces of Quebec andNewfoundland and Labrador in 2024. In the summer of 2025, MQMcontracted AtkinsRealis, an international engineering company, tocomplete a GAP Analysis on the Lac Otelnuk Project and its 2015Feasibility Study. Results are expected in Q1 2026.

MetalQuest Mining Inc. (“MQM”)has expanded its presence in the Ontario Ring of Fire through theacquisition of both the ROF-1 Project and the recently announcedFishhook Polymetallic Project. The FishhookProject further strengthens MetalQuest’s regional footprint,targeting polymetallic mineralization prospective for base andcritical metals.

Management is currently aggressivelyseeking new mineral acquisition opportunities on an internationalscale. Our philosophy is to be a projectgenerator with the objective of optioning our projects with major andjunior mining companies through to production.

Investors are invited to visit the New Age Metalswebsite at www.newagemetals.com where they can review the company andits corporate activities. Any questions or comments can be directed toinfo@newagemetals.com or Harry Barr at Hbarr@newagemetals.com or Farid Mammadov at faridm@newagemetals.com or call 613 659 2773.

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If you have not done so already, we encourage you tosign up on our website (www.newagemetals.com) toreceive our updated news.

On behalf of the Board ofDirectors

Harry G. Barr

Chairman and CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange norits Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in thepolicies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for theadequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary NoteRegarding Forward Looking Statements: This release contains forward-lookingstatements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements maydiffer materially from actual future events or results and are basedon current expectations or beliefs. For this purpose, statements ofhistorical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Inaddition, forward-looking statements include statements in which theCompany uses words such as “continue”, “efforts”,“expect”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “confident”,“intend”, “strategy”, “plan”, “will”, “estimate”,“project”, “goal”, “target”, “prospects”,“optimistic” or similar expressions. These statements by theirnature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differmaterially depending on a variety of important factors, including,among others, the Company’s ability and continuation of efforts totimely and completely make available adequate current publicinformation, additional or different regulatory and legal requirementsand restrictions that may be imposed, and other factors as may bediscussed in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR(www.sedar.com), including the most recent reports that identifyimportant risk factors that could cause actual results to differ fromthose contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company doesnot undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts’expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to anyforward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances afterthe date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-lookingstatements.

1 Readers are cautioned thatmineralization, mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, andtechnical information reported for adjacent or nearby properties arenot necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Thunder Bay EastProject. The Company has not independently verified the technicalinformation disclosed by third parties, and such information shouldnot be considered predictive of mineralization on the Company’sproperty.

2Readers are cautioned that mineralization,mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, and technicalinformation reported for adjacent properties are not necessarilyindicative of mineralization on the Lac des Iles PGM Project. TheCompany has not independently verified third-party data referencedherein, and such information should not be considered predictive ofmineralization on the Company’s property.

2 

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