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Founders Metals Intersects 90.0 m of 1.02 g/t Gold at Lower Antino

Drill Results

Founders Metals Intersects 90.0 m of 1.02 g/t

Gold at Lower Antino

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 22, 2026) -

Founders Metals Inc.

(TSXV:

FDR) (OTCQX: FDMIF) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") announces drill results from the

Lower Antino Target at the Antino Gold Project ("Antino" or the "Project") in southeastern Suriname.

Hole LA041 returned

90.0 metres (m) of 1.02 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au)

, including

1.0 m of

28.44 g/t Au

- the highest-grade single drill intercept at Lower Antino to date. The results suggest gold

mineralization at Lower Antino occurs over multiple 15-90+ metre wide, sub-parallel gold zones along

~1.9 kilometres of strike with opportunity to grow.

Lower Antino Highlights

Large-scale gold system confirmed:

Intrusion-hosted orogenic gold system comprising several

broad gold zones along

~1,900 m of strike and to 350 m depth

Consistent grade over wide intercepts

: 90.0 m of 1.02 g/t Au (LA041) and 30.9 m of 1.56 g/t

Au (LA032) are excellent examples of broad mineralized intervals at Lower Antino; other previously

released intervals include 81.9 m of 1.01 g/t Au (LA003) and 50.0 m of 1.02 g/t Au (LA024)

High-grade zones present:

LA041 includes 1.0 m of 28.44 g/t Au, supporting potential for

higher-grade shoots within the broader mineralized system; historical grab samples up to 340 g/t

Au and channel samples up to 21 g/t Au have been reported

Significant oxide opportunity:

Average saprolite/oxide thickness of 50 m across the target area

provides meaningful potential for scalable oxide gold mineralization

Open for expansion in all directions:

Trench results 800 m south of current drilling returned 29.0

m of 0.51 g/t Au and 10.0 m of 0.68 g/t Au, demonstrating significant southward growth potential.

Pending drill results confirm an additional 100 m expansion to the south of the mineralized body.

Founders President & CEO, Colin Padget, commented, "The 90-metre intercept in LA041 is our

strongest result to date at Lower Antino and reinforces our view that this is a large-scale gold system.

The 28 g/t high-grade interval within this intercept is equally significant — it confirms the potential for

higher-grade zones that we first identified from surface sampling. With 50 metres of oxide cover and

mineralization open to the south, Lower Antino offers both near-surface bulk tonnage potential and high-

grade upside. We are ramping up 2026 operations with three rigs now turning and expect to release our

2026 exploration plans in the near future, along with additional results from 2025 drilling."

Geological Discussion

Gold mineralization at Lower Antino occurs within altered and sheared tonalite, a type of intrusive rock

that is a common host for gold deposits in the Guiana Shield. The gold is associated with abundant

disseminated pyrite (up to 15%) and quartz veining, with gold concentrations often consistently

distributed across broad intercepts. The drill-defined system aligns with a greater than 2 km geophysical

anomaly identified from IP surveys and similar scale gold geochemical anomaly, indicating the potential

footprint extends well beyond current drilling.

Mineralized intervals appear to be generally increasing in width as we continue to drill further south, and

the system remains open for expansion. Trenching 800 m beyond current drill extents returned 29.0 m of

0.51 g/t Au and 10.0 m of 0.68 g/t Au, and recent drilling 100 m further south shows similar mineralization

to the holes in this release with assays pending. The system continues to expand with drilling, reinforcing

Lower Antino's emergence as a significant gold target and potential companion to Upper Antino's high-

grade shear hosted vein mineralization.

Importantly, high-grade zones exist within the broader system. LA041 includes 1.0 m of 28.44 g/t Au, and

historical sampling has returned grades up to 340 g/t Au in grab samples and 21 g/t Au in channel

samples. These results indicate potential for higher-grade targets that could enhance future potential

economics of the bulk tonnage system. Additionally, the weathered surface layer (saprolite) averages 50

m thick across the target, presenting a near-surface oxide gold opportunity amenable to lower-cost

extraction methods.

Figure 1:

Antino Gold Project Property Map

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/281234_foundersfig1.jpg

Figure 2:

Lower Antino Plan Map

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/281234_foundersfig2.jpg

Table 1:

Drill Hole Assay Results

Drillhole

From (m)

To (m)

Interval (m)

Au (g/t)

25LADD042

0.00

48.60

48.60

0.33

and

103.00

109.00

6.00

0.62

25LADD041

156.00

246.00

90.00

1.02

and

256.00

280.00

24.00

0.42

25LADD040

0.00

57.60

57.60

0.43

and

109.00

149.00

40.00

0.33

and

187.00

199.00

12.00

0.30

and

208.00

270.00

62.00

0.33

25LADD039

230.00

232.00

2.00

2.65

25LADD038

122.00

127.00

5.00

0.57

25LADD037

NSA

25LADD036

112.00

118.00

6.00

0.37

25LADD035

NSA

25LADD034

110.00

136.00

26.00

0.35

25LADD033

0.00

8.10

8.10

0.85

and

29.10

60.00

30.90

1.56

25LADD032

89.00

103.00

14.00

0.46

and

155.00

163.00

8.00

0.30

25LADD031

NSA

25LADD030

237.00

239.00

2.00

3.19

25LADD029

138.00

210.00

72.00

0.50

and

247.00

275.00

28.00

0.56

*Intervals are down-hole depths. True widths of mineralization are estimated to be approximately 85% of the down-hole interval based on currently

available results and observations. All are diamond drill holes

.

Interval average grades are calculated with un-capped gold assays, as insufficient

drilling has been completed to determine capping levels for higher grade gold intercepts. Average widths are calculated using a 0.10 g/t gold cut-

off grade with <5.0 m of internal dilution of zero grade, and a minimum composite length of 2.0 m. Intervals below 1.0 gram-metre or with average

grade below 0.2 g/t Au are not reported.

Table 2:

Drill Hole Locations

Hole ID

Easting (m)

Northing (m)

Elevation (m)

Azimuth (°)

Dip (°)

Depth (m)

LA042

821858.04

401731.51

125.23

270.00

-50.10

200.00

LA041

821619.38

401365.37

171.11

270.10

-50.20

330.56

LA040

821568.72

401747.58

147.49

270.20

-45.30

272.00

LA039

821454.51

402292.11

168.56

110.10

-50.30

233.09

LA038

822056.55

402366.44

168.96

110.00

-50.00

199.72

LA037

821944.45

402404.97

158.84

110.00

-50.20

211.86

LA036

821530.21

402514.81

140.28

269.90

-50.20

253.88

LA035

821671.26

402526.41

127.10

270.10

-50.20

280.96

LA034

821069.23

401845.17

176.14

110.00

-49.90

311.12

LA033

821194.74

401644.14

128.66

290.00

-50.00

290.19

LA032

821451.92

402050.23

133.85

120.10

-50.30

308.18

LA031

821656.00

402112.55

125.87

120.00

-50.00

278.00

LA030

821887.71

402089.22

131.956

120.40

-50.00

250.78

LA029

821156.87

401572.83

129.21

290.10

-50.00

301.84

*The coordinate reference system is WGS 84, UTM zone 21N (EPSG 32621)

About Founders Metals Inc.

Founders Metals is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on advancing the Antino Gold

Project located in Suriname, South America, in the heart of the Guiana Shield. Antino is 56,000 hectares

and has produced over 500,000 ounces of gold from historical surface and alluvial mining to date

1

. The

Company is systematically advancing one of Suriname's most promising gold exploration and

development opportunities with drill-confirmed, district-scale potential. Founders is committed to

responsible exploration, community engagement, and delivering long-term value to shareholders through

technical excellence and strategic growth in the Guiana Shield.

1

2022 Technical Report - Antino Project; Suriname, South America. K. Raffle, BSc, P. Geo & Rock Lefrançois, BSc, P.Geo.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Per: "Colin Padget"

Colin Padget

President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director

Contact Information

Katie MacKenzie, Vice President, Corporate Development

Tel: 306 537 8903 |

[email protected]

Harp Gosal, Director, Investor Relations

Tel: 236 301 4211 |

[email protected]

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian

securities legislation, including statements regarding long term value creation and Company's

prospects. Forward-looking information can generally be identified by words such as "plans", "expects",

"is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or

variations indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" occur

or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and reasonable

assumptions but are subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies

that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including: general

business and economic uncertainties; exploration results; mining industry risks; and other factors

described in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. Although the

Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially,

other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking

information will prove accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those

anticipated. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The

Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with

applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that

term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or

accuracy of this release.

All material information on Founders Metals can be found at

www.sedarplus.ca

.

Qualified Persons

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne,

M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., an independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Quality Assurance and Control

Samples were analyzed at FILAB Suriname, a Bureau Veritas Certified Laboratory in Paramaribo,

Suriname (a commercial certified laboratory under ISO 9001:2015). Samples are crushed to 75%

passing 2.35 mm screen, riffle split (700 g) and pulverized to 85% passing 88 µm. Samples were

analyzed using a 50 g fire assay (50 g aliquot) with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that

return assay values over 5.0 grams per tonne (g/t) Au, another cut was taken from the original pulp and

fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. Founders Metals inserts blanks and certified reference standards

in the sample sequence for quality control. External QA-QC checks are performed at ALS Global

Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Lima, Peru (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility).  A

secure chain of custody is maintained in transporting and storing of all samples. Drill intervals with visible

gold are assayed using metallic screening. Rock chip samples from outcrop/bedrock are selective by

nature and may not be representative of the mineralization hosted on the project.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit

https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/281234