South Pacific Metals Announces Appointment of Timo Jauristo as Strategic Advisor

Rhea-AI Summary

South Pacific Metals Corp. (SPMEF) has appointed Timo Jauristo as Strategic Advisor, bringing over 40 years of mining industry expertise to the company. Jauristo's impressive background includes serving as Executive VP of Corporate Development at Goldcorp Inc. and holding senior executive positions at Placer Dome, where he contributed to advancing major gold and copper projects. He currently serves as an independent director at Integra Resources Corp. As part of his appointment, Jauristo has been granted 500,000 share options at C$0.50 per share, exercisable over five years with a structured vesting schedule. His appointment comes as SPMC prepares for its maiden drill program at the Osena and Anga Gold-Copper Projects in PNG's Kainantu Gold Region.

Positive

• Appointment of highly experienced mining executive with 40+ years of industry leadership
• Strategic advisor brings extensive experience in global exploration and project development
• Strong corporate development background from major mining companies like Goldcorp and Placer Dome
• Timing aligns with company's preparation for maiden drill program

Negative

• None.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 4, 2025) - South Pacific Metals Corp. (TSXV: SPMC) (OTCQB: SPMEF) (FSE: 6J00) ("SPMC" or "South Pacific Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Timo Jauristo as a Strategic Advisor to the Company.

Mr. Jauristo brings over 40 years of mining industry leadership to South Pacific Metals, with a distinguished track record spanning global exploration, project development, and corporate strategy. He formerly served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Goldcorp Inc., where he played a pivotal role in the company's international growth through strategic acquisitions and project evaluation. Prior to that, Timo held senior executive roles at Placer Dome and other major mining companies, contributing to the advancement of several world-class gold and copper projects across the Americas and Asia-Pacific. He is currently an independent director of Integra Resources Corp. and previously served as a Senior Advisor to the Investment Banking division of Canaccord Genuity Corp.'s Metals and Mining Group.

"As South Pacific Metals embarks on a pivotal exploration phase of drilling, we are fortunate to welcome Timo Jauristo as Strategic Advisor," said Michael Murphy, SPMC Executive Chair. "Timo's connections, coupled with his extensive board and advisory experience, has made him a trusted figure in the global mining community. As the Company advances toward its maiden drill program, Timo's direct involvement with our Osena and Anga Gold-Copper Projects underscores the significant untapped potential of these assets and reinforces our commitment to unlocking value in PNG's prolific Kainantu Gold Region."

Mr. Jauristo has been granted 500,000 share options of the Company in accordance with the Company's Omnibus Compensation Plan. The share options are exercisable at a price of C$0.50 per share for a period of five years from June 3, 2025 (the "Grant Date") and are subject to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. In addition, the share options are subject to vesting provisions, pursuant to which 1/3 of the share options vest on the Grant Date, a further 1/3 will vest on the one-year anniversary of the Grant Date, and the remaining 1/3 will vest on the two-year anniversary of the Grant Date.

Figure 1. Regional image showing location of Osena and Anga Projects

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About South Pacific Metals Corp.

South Pacific Metals Corp. is an emerging gold-copper exploration company operating in the heart of Papua New Guinea's proven gold and copper production corridors. With an expansive 3,100 km² land package and four transformative gold-copper projects contiguous with major producers K92 Mining, PanAust and neighbouring Barrick/Zijin, new leadership and experienced in-country teams are prioritizing thoughtful and rigorous technical programs focused on boots-on-the-ground exploration to prioritize discovery across its portfolio projects: Anga, Osena, Kili Teke, and May River.

Immediately flanking K92 Mining's active drilling and gold producing operations to the northeast and southwest, SPMC's Anga and Osena Projects are located within the high-grade Kainantu Gold District — each having the potential to host similar-style lode-gold and porphyry copper-gold mineralization as that present within K92's tenements. Kili Teke is an advanced exploration project situated only 40 km from the world-class Porgera Gold Mine and hosts an existing Inferred Mineral Resource with multiple opportunities for expansion and further discovery. The May River Project is located adjacent to the world-renowned Frieda River copper-gold project, with historical drilling indicating potential for a significant, untapped-gold mineralized system. SPMC common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: SPMC), the OTCQB Marketplace (OTCQB: SPMEF) and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: 6J00).

For further information, please contact:

Michael Murphy, Executive Chair
or
Investor Relations
South Pacific Metals Corp.
Tel: +1-604-653-9464
Email: info@southpacificmetals.ca

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.

Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Information

Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of SPMC. In making the forward-looking statements, SPMC has applied certain assumptions that are based on information available to the Company, including SPMC's strategic plan for the near and mid-term. There is no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements may involve various risks and uncertainties affecting the business of the Company. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because of the context of the statements, including such words as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "plans", "may", "estimates", or words of a similar nature. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things: the Company's upcoming exploration program. These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic, regulatory, or other unforeseen uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include, without limitation: success of the Company's projects, prices for metals remaining as estimated, currency exchange rates remaining as estimated, availability of funds for the Company's projects, capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates, prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation), no labour-related disruptions, no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production, all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner, and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in gold prices, fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation), fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar), operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mineral exploration, inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks and hazards, the Company's ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner, changes in laws, regulations and government practices, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations, legal restrictions relating to mineral exploration, increased competition in the mining industry for equipment and qualified personnel, the availability of additional capital, title matters and the additional risks identified in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described, or intended. Investors are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's property.

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FAQ

Who is Timo Jauristo and what is his role at South Pacific Metals (SPMEF)?

Timo Jauristo has been appointed as Strategic Advisor to South Pacific Metals, bringing over 40 years of mining industry experience. He previously served as Executive VP of Corporate Development at Goldcorp Inc. and held senior roles at Placer Dome.

What compensation was granted to Timo Jauristo by South Pacific Metals (SPMEF)?

Timo Jauristo was granted 500,000 share options exercisable at C$0.50 per share for five years, with a three-phase vesting schedule over two years from June 3, 2025.

What are the main projects South Pacific Metals (SPMEF) is currently developing?

South Pacific Metals is developing the Osena and Anga Gold-Copper Projects located in PNG's Kainantu Gold Region, with plans for a maiden drill program.

What is Timo Jauristo's current role outside of South Pacific Metals (SPMEF)?

Timo Jauristo currently serves as an independent director of Integra Resources Corp. and previously worked as a Senior Advisor to Canaccord Genuity Corp.'s Metals and Mining Group.

What is the vesting schedule for Timo Jauristo's share options at SPMEF?

The share options vest in three equal portions: one-third on the Grant Date (June 3, 2025), one-third on the first anniversary, and the final third on the second anniversary.