Vault Strategic Mining Corp Announces Closing of Non-Brokered Private Placement

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News Release February 23, 2026

VAULT STRATEGIC MINING CORP ANNOUNCES CLOSING

OF NON-BROKERED PRIVATE PLACEMENT

Vancouver, British Columbia - February 23, 2026 – Vault Strategic Mining Corp. (TSXV:KNOX)

(OTC:KNXFF) (FSE:M85) ("VAULT" or the "Company") announces the closing of the Company’s

previously announced non-brokered private placement of up to 2,000,000 units at a price of $0.25 per unit

(each, a "Unit") for gross proceeds of $500,000 (the "Private Placement").

Each Unit is comprised of one common share (each a "Share") and one-half of one transferable common

share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire

one additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.35 per share for a period of twelve

(12) months from the date of issuance.

The net proceeds from the Private Placement will be allocated toward exploration activities and for general

corporate purposes. All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement are subject to a hold period of

four months and one day expiring on June 24, 2026 as required under applicable securities legislation. The

Private Placement is subject to final TSX Venture Exchange approval (the "Exchange").

The Warrants have an acceleration provision, which provides that in the event that after four months and

one day from the date of issue of the Warrants, if the closing price of the Company's common shares on the

Exchange or any other stock exchange on which the Company's common shares are then listed, is at a price

equal to or greater than $0.60 for a period of five (5) consecutive trading days, the Company will have the

right to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by issuing a press release or other form of notice (the

"Notice") permitted by the certificate representing the Warrants, announcing that the Warrants will expire

at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific time) on the date that is not less than 30 days from the date the Notice is given.

The Company paid finder's fees totalling $12,000 and has issued 48,000 non-transferable broker warrants

exercisable at $0.35 per share for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of issuance to Canaccord

Genuity Corp.

On behalf of the Board:

Vault Strategic Mining Corp.

"R. Nick Horsley"

President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman

Tel: 604-343-4338| Email: [email protected]

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ANY SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF

1933 (THE "1933 ACT") AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO A U.S. PERSON

IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION

REQUIREMENTS OF THE 1933 ACT.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES

LAW.

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.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This release includes forward -looking statements regarding Vault, and the Company’s exploration Projects, which may include,

but is not limited to, statements with respect to the completion of the acquisition of the exploration Projects, and the ability to

obtain regulatory approvals, and other factors. Often, but not always, Forward -looking statements can be identified by the use of

words such as "plans", "is expected", "expects", "scheduled", "intends", "contemplates", "anticipates", "believes", "proposes ",

"estimates" or v ariations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would",

"might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations of the management of each

entity. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release, including completion of the acquisition of the Letain

Project, may not occur by certain specified dates or at all and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors

and uncertainties affecting the Company, including the risk that VAULT may not obtain all requisite approvals for the acquisition,

including the approval of the TSXV, risks of the resource industry, failure to obtain any other required regulatory approvals,

economic factors, any estimated amounts, timing of the acquisition and requited payments, the equity markets generally and risks

associated with growth, exploration and development. Although VAULT has attempted to identify important factors that could

cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other

factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those antici pated, estimated or intended. No forward-looking statement

can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which

they are made VAULT undertaked no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of

new information, future events, or otherwise.