REG - First Class Metals - Roy: Drill Mobilised & Drill Preparation Commenced

FIRST CLASS METALSAnnouncement

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RNS Number : 5783T  First Class Metals PLC  19 February 2026

The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute
inside information as stipulated under the retained EU law version of the
Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (the "UK MAR") which is part of UK
law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The information is
disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of the
UK MAR. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is
now considered to be in the public domain.

FIRST CLASS METALS PLC

19 February 2026

Drilling preparation commenced at Roy on the Sunbeam Property

 

First Class Metals PLC ("First Class Metals" "FCM" or the "Company") the UK
listed company focused on the discovery of economic metal deposits across its
exploration properties in Ontario, Canada, is pleased to provide an update on
preparations for the forthcoming drill programme at the Roy structure on the
Sunbeam Property. Drill mobilisation has now been completed.

Highlights

 

·    1,000m drill contract with provision for additional 500m signed with
Forage PL ("Forage") drilling

·    Drill preparation commenced on the Roy structure at the Sunbeam
property

·    First four drill collars have been marked.

·    Drill rig and supporting equipment on site

·    Drilling will focus on the Roy area of the Sunbeam property

·    Drilling will seek to prove depth continuity in the area of and along
strike of the 18.8g/t gold (Au) channel sample from the stripping

·    Emerald Geological Services ("EGS") will supervise drill preparation,
the day-to-day drilling as well as core logging and sampling

 

Marc J. Sale CEO First Class Metals Commented:

"The mobilisation of the drill rig to Roy and the anticipation of drilling
starting this weekend marks an important step forward in advancing the Sunbeam
Property. Forage has recently completed a programme in the district and brings
both local experience and a strong operational reputation.

The rapid progression from planning to mobilisation at Sunbeam demonstrates
that FCM is a company focused on delivery. Having recently completed drilling
at North Hemlo and now positioning to commence at Sunbeam, we are advancing
our exploration strategy in a disciplined and systematic manner.

The Roy trend represents a robust mineralised structure of district scale in a
geological environment know to host significant resources."

Figure 1 showing the stripped area at Roy which returned 18.8g/t Au and will
be the focus of the drilling.

ENDS

 

 

 

Qualified Person

The technical disclosures contained in this announcement have been drafted in
line with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum standards
and guidelines and approved by Marc J. Sale, who has more than 30 years in the
gold exploration industry and is considered a Qualified Person owing to his
status as a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Further Information:

Engage with us by asking questions, watching video summaries, and seeing what
other shareholders have to say. Navigate to our Interactive Investor hub here:

(https://fcm-l.investorhub.com/link/MP7o0P) www.firstclassmetalsplc.com
(//www.firstclassmetalsplc.com)

For further information, please contact:

James Knowles, Executive Chair

Email: JamesK@Firstclassmetalsplc.com (mailto:JamesK@Firstclassmetalsplc.com)

Tel: 07488 362641

Marc J Sale, CEO

Email: MarcS@Firstclassmetalsplc.com (mailto:MarcS@Firstclassmetalsplc.com)

Tel: 07711 093532

Novum Securities Limited (Financial Adviser)

David Coffman

Website: www.novumsecurities.com (http://www.novumsecurities.com)

Tel: (0)20 7399 9400

Axis Capital Markets (Broker)

Lewis Jones

Website: Axcap247.com (http://www.axcap247.com)

Tel: (0)203 026 0449

 

 

First Class Metals PLC - Background

 

First Class Metals listed on the LSE in July 2022 and is focused on metals
exploration in Ontario, Canada which has a robust and thriving junior mineral
exploration sector. In particular, the Hemlo 'camp' near Marathon, Ontario is
a proven world class address for gold exploration, featuring the Hemlo gold
deposit operated by Barrick Mining (>23M oz gold produced), with the past
producing Geco and Winston Lake base metal deposits also situated in the
region.

FCM currently holds 100% ownership of seven claim blocks covering over 250km²
in northwest Ontario. A further three blocks are under option and cover an
additional 30km(2).FCM is focussed on exploring for gold but has base metals
and critical metals mineralisation. FCM is maintaining a joint venture with GT
Resources on the West Pickle Lake Property a drill-proven ultra-high-grade
Ni-Cu project.

The flagship properties, North Hemlo and Sunbeam, are gold focussed. North
Hemlo has a significant discovery in the Dead Otter trend which is a
discontinuous 3.5km gold anomalous trend with a 19.6g/t Au peak grab sample.
This sampling being the highest known assay from a grab sample ever recorded
on the North Limb of Hemlo.

In October 2022 FCM completed the option to purchase the historical high-grade
past-producing Sunbeam gold mine near Atikokan, Ontario, ~15 km southeast of
Agnico Eagle's Hammond Reef gold deposit (3.3 Moz of open pit probable gold
reserves).

FCM acquired the Zigzag Project near Armstrong, Ontario in March 2023. The
property features Li-Ta-bearing pegmatites in the same belt as Green
Technology Metals' Seymour Lake Project, which contains a Mineral Resource
estimate of 9.9 Mt @ 1.04% Li2O. Zigzag was successfully drilled prior to
Christmas 2023 and results have now been released.

The Kerrs Gold property, acquired under option by First Class Metals in April
2024, is located in northeastern Ontario within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt,
one of the world's most prolific gold-producing regions. The project holds a
historical inferred resource of approximately 386,000 ounces of gold,
underscoring its potential as a meaningful addition to FCM's expanding gold
portfolio. Kerrs Gold complements the Company's exploration strategy and
provides exposure to a well-established mining district. FCM is currently
reviewing plans to advance the project and further unlock its value.

The significant potential of the properties for precious, base and battery
metals relates to 'nearology', since all properties lie in the same districts
as known deposits (Hemlo, Hammond Reef, Seymour Lake), and either contain
known showings, geochemical or geophysical anomalies, or favourable structures
along strike from known showings (e.g. the Esa project, with an inferred
Hemlo-style shear along strike from known gold occurrences).

For further information see the Company's presentation on the web site:

www.firstclassmetalsplc.com

 

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement may contain forward-looking statements
which are based on the Company's expectations, intentions and projections
regarding its future performance, anticipated events or trends and other
matters that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements can be
identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current
facts. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as 'aim',
'anticipate', 'target', 'expect', 'estimate', 'intend', 'plan', 'goal',
'believe', or other words of similar meaning. These statements are not
guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Given these risks and uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date of such statements and, except as
required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or
revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.

 

 

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