Pacific Ridge Secures Strategic Partnership and Refocuses on High-Grade BC Copper Assets

• Pacific Ridge Exploration (TSXV:PEX) joined the Fiore Group, gaining access to capital and strategic advisors Rob McLeod and Ryan Weymark to support growth and M&A opportunities.
• Company shifted from US expansion plans back to BC copper-gold projects, owning 100% of five properties including flagship Kliyul (CLA) and high-grade RDP projects.
• After $14 million invested and 19,000 meters of drilling since 2021, company plans inaugural resource estimate for Kliyul targeting minimum 250 million tons with 0.8% copper equivalent grades.
• Planning $1.5 million drill program to follow up on exceptional 110 meters at 1.4% copper equivalent intercept, comparing favourably to nearby Amarc's Joy discovery.
• Maintains tight share structure with only 19 million shares outstanding, positioning for significant leverage if drilling success continues at current grade levels.

Pacific Ridge Exploration Limited (TSXV:PEX) represents a compelling copper-focused story in British Columbia's emerging critical minerals landscape. Under the leadership of President and CEO Blaine Monaghan, the company has undergone a strategic transformation over the past year, pivoting from planned US expansion back to its core BC assets while securing backing from one of mining's most respected groups.

Strategic Partnership with Fiore Group

The most significant development for Pacific Ridge has been joining the Fiore Group, a move that validates the company's asset quality and provides crucial strategic support. 

"I think I found most gratifying over this past year where it's been really really hard to access capital in the market and you begin to question and wonder if your projects are as good as you think you are and that was really validation." 

The partnership brings strategic advisors Rob McLeod and Ryan Waymark, who will focus on evaluating growth opportunities and potential M&A activities.

The Fiore Group's involvement extends beyond capital provision to include board representation and strategic guidance. With approximately half a dozen companies operating under the banner, the group offers access to industry professionals and capital markets expertise. 

"I think the most important thing about being a part of one of these groups is the access to capital and access to a number of different industry professionals."

Abandoning US Expansion for BC Focus

Pacific Ridge's strategic pivot away from US acquisitions demonstrates management's ability to adapt to market conditions and capitalize on emerging opportunities. The company had struck deals to acquire 100% interest in four early-stage copper projects in the US Southwest, announcing a $2.4 million financing that struggled to gain traction. The situation changed dramatically when political developments led to market uncertainty, but also created unexpected opportunities in BC.

"The silver lining with that tantrum was that David Eby, our premier of BC became a huge proponent of critical minerals in BC. And then just up the road, Amarc made a brand new discovery at Joy."

This combination of political support for critical minerals and nearby discovery success led to the strategic decision to refocus entirely on BC assets, a move that has proven prescient given subsequent financing success and strategic partnership development.

Kliyul: The Flagship Asset

The Kliyul copper-gold project (though Monaghan states that in reality it is a gold-copper project as the gold to copper value ratio in the deposit is ~2:1) remains Pacific Ridge's flagship asset, having attracted the initial interest of the Fiore Group. Since 2021, the company has invested over $14 million and completed more than 19,000 meters of drilling at the property. The project demonstrates significant scale potential, with management targeting a minimum resource of 250 million tons based on extensive drilling and geological modeling.

"Although we have raised money for RDP, really Kliyul still is the flagship. I mean, we've spent more than $14 million there since 2021.”

The geological characteristics show promise for a substantial deposit, with highlight holes exceeding 300 meters of approximately 0.8% copper equivalent, with mineralization starting at surface. Recent drilling has intersected the deepest mineralized interval at 600 meters depth, with the system remaining open in all directions.

The ZTEM geophysical survey completed last year suggests significant expansion potential, indicating that drilling to date may have only tested a small portion of the overall system. 

"The ZTEM survey we completed last year demonstrates to us that perhaps so far we've only been drilling one small part of the system and that perhaps the majority of it remains hidden and untested to the north."

Interview with CEO Blaine Monaghan

RDP Project: High-Grade Discovery Potential

The RDP project presents a high-confidence drill target with exceptional grade potential, based on previous work by Antofagasta Minerals. The property delivered one of BC's best copper-gold intervals in 2022, with approximately 110 meters grading 1.4% copper equivalent. This intercept provides a strong foundation for Pacific Ridge's upcoming $1.5 million drill program designed to test step-out potential from this high-grade zone.

The geological interpretation suggests a steeply dipping pipe-shaped system leading to mineralization at depth, providing clear targeting vectors for the upcoming program. 

Regional Context and Comparative Analysis

Pacific Ridge benefits from its position in the increasingly active Stikine terrain and southern Toodoggone district, where recent discoveries have heightened industry interest. The regional geological setting includes established prospects like Kemess (Centerra Gold) and Lawyers-Ranch (Thesis Gold), with Amarc's new Joy discovery providing a direct comparison for RDP's potential.

When comparing RDP's discovery hole 5 to Amarc's breakthrough intercept, Monaghan noted: 

"I think their hole is maybe about 80% better. It's a similar sort of width you know about 100-110 and where we were about 1.4, I think they're at about 2.6 approximately." 

This comparison, while showing Amarc's slight grade advantage, demonstrates that RDP operates in similar geological territory with comparable potential, yet at a fraction of the market valuation.

Capital Structure and Financial Strategy

Pacific Ridge maintains a notably tight capital structure with only 19 million shares outstanding, a strategic advantage that the Fiore Group specifically valued when evaluating the investment opportunity. This structure provides significant leverage to drilling success, particularly given the high-grade nature of the targets being pursued.

The recent financing strategy reflects careful consideration of dilution versus opportunity. 

"I think a lot of thought was put in well let's raise what you need to now and with an eye to down the road raising capital at higher prices for either more drilling at RDP or further drilling at Kliyul."

It is a measured approach to capital raising that preserves upside for existing shareholders while maintaining adequate working capital.

Future Development Strategy

Pacific Ridge's development strategy focuses on systematic resource definition at Kliyul while pursuing high-impact drilling at RDP. The company plans to launch an inaugural resource estimate for Kliyul, providing the first formal quantification of the deposit's scale and grade characteristics. This milestone will serve as a catalyst for further investment and potential partnership discussions.

The strategic flexibility provided by 100% ownership of both flagship projects, combined with claims in good standing for a decade, offers multiple pathways for value creation. Whether through continued independent development, strategic partnerships, or potential acquisition scenarios, the company maintains optionality while building fundamental value through the drill bit.

The Investment Thesis for Pacific Ridge Exploration

• Proven High-Grade Discovery: RDP project hosts 110m of 1.4% copper equivalent, comparable to nearby Amarc's Joy discovery that has driven significant market revaluation
• Flagship Scale Potential: Kliyul project targeting 250+ million ton resource with $14M invested, 19,000m drilled, and significant expansion potential identified through geophysics
• Strategic Validation: Fiore Group backing provides capital access, strategic expertise, and M&A capabilities while validating asset quality through sophisticated due diligence
• Exceptional Leverage Structure: Only 19 million shares outstanding creates significant upside potential to drilling success, particularly given high-grade nature of targets
• Regional Momentum: Located in hot Stikine terrain/Toodoggone district with multiple active projects and government support for critical minerals development
• Ownership Optionality: 100% control of five copper-gold projects with decade-long claim tenure provides strategic flexibility for partnerships or M&A scenarios
• Systematic Development Approach: Clear technical vectors for expansion drilling, inaugural resource development, and measured capital deployment strategy

Macro Thematic Analysis

The critical minerals theme has gained unprecedented momentum in British Columbia, driven by both political support and private sector discovery success. Premier David Eby's endorsement of critical minerals development, combined with significant discoveries like Amarc's Joy project, has created a favorable environment for copper exploration companies. This convergence of political backing and geological success has attracted major mining groups to the region, with the Fiore Group's investment in Pacific Ridge exemplifying this trend.

The global copper supply deficit, driven by electrification and renewable energy infrastructure demands, has intensified focus on new discovery potential in established mining jurisdictions. British Columbia's Stikine terrain and Toodoggone district represent exactly this type of opportunity - proven geological systems with modern exploration techniques revealing new high-grade deposits. Pacific Ridge's position in this district, with two flagship projects showing exceptional grades, positions the company to benefit from both the macro copper theme and the specific regional momentum. The company's strategic pivot from US expansion back to BC assets demonstrates management's ability to recognize and capitalize on these shifting dynamics.