Puma Exploration Announces Increase in Kinross’ Equity Stake
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Puma Exploration Announces
Increase in Kinross’ Equity Stake
Rimouski, Québec, December 23, 2025 – Puma Exploration Inc. (TSXV: PUMA, OTCQB: PUMXF) (“Puma”
or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that Kinross Gold Corporation (“Kinross”) has exercised its right,
granted under the investor rights agreement (“IRA”) dated October 23, 2024, to increase its ownership
stake in Puma’s share capital from 9.1% to 14.8% (on an undiluted basis) and 17.4% (on a partially diluted
basis) after giving effect to the Offering, but otherwise assuming that the number of issued and
outstanding common shares of Puma as at the date hereof remains unchanged).
On December 22, 2025, Kinross and Puma entered into a subscription agreement pursuant to which
Kinross agreed to purchase under a non brokered private placement 12,500,000 units of Puma (the
“Units”) at a price of $0.16 per Unit for proceeds of $2,000,000 (the “Offering”). Closing of the Offering is
expected to occur on or about December 24, 2025 and is subject to to receipt of all necessary regulatory
approvals and certain other conditions.
Each Unit is comprised of one (1) common share and one-half (½) common share purchase warrant (each
whole warrant , a “Warrant”). Each Warrant is exercisable to purchase one (1) common share of the
Company at $0.25 per share for a period of 24 months following closing of the Offering. The Warrants are
subject to an acceleration clause that allows the Company to provide notice to holders that the Warrants
will expire 30 days after the date the acceleration notice is delivered. The Company may provide the
acceleration notice only if the closing price of the Company's common shares on the TSX Venture
Exchange is equal to or greater than $0.40 for 30 consecutive trading days. The acceleration notice may
be provided at any time after the statutory hold period and before the expiry date of the Warrants. All
securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months and one
day under applicable securities laws.
No finder’s fees will be paid in connection with th e Offfering. The funds raised will support exploration
activities on Puma’s projects (not optioned to Kinross) and general corporate and working capital
requirements.
Marcel Robillard, President and CEO of Puma, commented, “We are very pleased to have strong support
from Kinross. Having just celebrated the 1st anniversary of our Option Agreement on Williams Brook, this
increased commitment reflects Kinross’ confidence in Puma and aligns with our objectives. These funds will
enable Puma to focus on our McKenzie Gold Project and other assets in northern New Brunswick.”
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Following closing of the Offering, Kinross will hold 29,550,577 common shares and 6,250,000 Warrants of
Puma. Under the IRA, Kinross retains the right to participate in future equity financings to maintain its
ownership percentage, or to increase its holding up to 19.9% of the Company’s total issued and
outstanding common shares following the issuance of additional securities.
Williams Brook Option Agreement Progress
In the inaugural year of the Williams Brook Option Agreement, Puma and Kinross drilled more than 3,600
metres at the Lynx Gold Zone (“LGZ”). The drilling program extended the LGZ by 50 metres to the
southwest and increased the depth of known mineralization to 300 metres. Assay results from this
campaign are pending and will be announced once received. Concurrently, surface exploration, including
grab sampling, yielded high -grade mineralization at both the Lion Gold Zone ( see Aug 7, 2025 News
Release), located approximately 10 km north of the LGZ and on the Jonpol property (see November 7,
2025 News Release).
Two drilling campaigns are scheduled for 2026. A first program of 1,500 is scheduled to start in Q1 on the
Lion and Jaguar Gold Zones. A potential second drilling program in the fall will test new targets delineated
by summer exploration surveys. The joint technical committee is actively confirming drill targets and
planning the exploration work for the Year 2 $3M fully funded program at Williams Brook.
Early Warning
An early warning report filed by Kinross in connection with the investment will be available on Puma’s
SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Alternatively, you may contact Luke Crosby, Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at 647 -788-4478 to obtain a copy of the report. Kinross is
organized under the laws of the Province of Ontario and its head office is located at 25 York Street, 17th
Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2V5. Puma’s head office is located at 175 Legaré Street, Rimouski, Quebec,
G5L 3B9.
Kinross acquired the units for investments purposes. Kinross may, from time to time, increase or decrease
its investment in Puma through market transactions, private placements, treasury issuances or otherwise,
including pursuant to the terms of the IRA between Kinross and Puma.
About Puma’s Assets in New Brunswick
Puma has accumulated an impressive portfolio of prospective gold landholdings strategically located
close to roads and infrastructure in Northern New Brunswick, including the Williams Brook Project and the
McKenzie Gold Project. Both are located near the Rocky Brook Millstream Fault (“RBMF”), a major regional
structure formed during the Appalachian Orogeny and a significant control for gold deposition in the
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region. Puma’s work to date has focused on the Williams Brook property, but prospecting and surface
exploration work on its other properties have confirmed their potential for significant gold mineralization.
The Williams Brook Project was optioned to Kinross Gold in October 2024.
About Puma Exploration
Puma Exploration is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on identifying and developing a
pipeline of precious metals projects in New Brunswick, near Canada's Renowned Bathurst Mining Camp.
Puma has a long history in Northern New Brunswick, having worked on regional projects for over 15 years.
Puma’s successful exploration methodology, which combines traditional prospecting methods with
detailed trenching and cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, has been instrumental in
understanding the region's geology and associated mineralized systems. Armed with geophysical surveys,
geochemical data, and consultants’ expertise, Puma has developed a cost -effective exploration tool to
discover gold at shallow depths and maximize drilling results.
Connect with us on Facebook / X/ LinkedIn.
Visit www.explorationpuma.com for more information or contact:
Marcel Robillard, President and CEO.
(418) 750-8510; [email protected]
Mia Boiridy, Head of Investor Relations and Director.
(250) 575-3305; [email protected]
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements
involve several known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance,
or achievements of Puma to be materially different from actual future results and achievements expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements,
which speak only as of the date the statements were made, except as required by law. Puma undertakes no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. The quarterly and annual reports and the documents submitted
to the securities administration describe these risks and uncertainties.