South Pacific Metals Appoints Simon Jackson to Board and Rebecca Moriarty as CFO

South Pacific Metals Corp. (TSXV: SPMC,OTC:SPMEF) (OTCQB: SPMEF) (FSE: 6J00) ("SPMC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Simon Jackson has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company, effective March 30, 2026, and that Rebecca Moriarity will be joining the Company as Chief Financial Officer on April 30, 2026.

Simon Jackson is an experienced resource industry executive with a broad range of senior management experience through all facets of the mining cycle from exploration, discovery, feasibility, financing, construction, operations and divestment. He has extensive Board and executive level experience from positions held at a number of Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"), TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"), and Australian Stock Exchange ("ASX") listed public companies.

He is currently Chairman of Predictive Discovery Limited (ASX) and also serves as Director of a number of other public companies with listings on the ASX, TSXV, and/or London Stock Exchange. He previously served as founding President and Chief Executive Officer, and later Chairman, of TSXV-listed Orca Gold Inc., which was acquired by Perseus Mining Limited in May 2022, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of ASX-listed Beadell Resources Limited, and Vice President of Corporate Development and Chief Financial Officer of formerly TSX-listed Red Back Mining Inc. prior to its takeover by Kinross Gold Corporation in September 2010.

He specializes in M&A, public equity markets management, and corporate finance. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Western Australia and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.

Michael Murphy, Executive Chairman of SPMC, stated, "We are very pleased to welcome Simon to the Board. He has a proven track record of building and backing successful mining companies, with a strong instinct for identifying value and helping teams unlock it. As we advance our projects, his experience in growing companies and delivering real outcomes in the sector will be highly valuable to SPMC and our shareholders."

Appointment of Chief Financial Officer

The Company also welcomes Rebecca Moriarty as Chief Financial Officer, effective April 30, 2026. Rebecca Moriarty is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 20 years of experience in the mining industry. Her background includes a unique combination of technical and business accounting expertise, having received a degree in Geology from Queens University and a CPA designation.

Ms. Moriarty is supported by the Malaspina Consultants team, a Vancouver-based financial consulting and advisory firm staffed with highly experienced accounting personnel. Prior to joining Malaspina, Ms. Moriarty worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where she was a manager working exclusively with resource companies.

She will succeed Scott Kelly as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Kelly will resign effective April 30, 2026, to pursue other opportunities. During April, he will work closely with Ms. Moriarty to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities. The Board of Directors extends its sincere appreciation to Mr. Kelly for his dedication, professionalism, and commitment to the Company, which have been instrumental in advancing the Company's strategic priorities.

Award of Restricted Share Units

The Company also announces that, subject to the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange, it has granted an aggregate of 1,860,000 restricted share units of the Company (the "RSUs") to certain directors, officers, employees, and consultants of the Company pursuant to its omnibus compensation plan (the "Plan").

Of the RSUs, a total of 992,500 RSUs are scheduled to vest March 31, 2027, and the remaining 867,500 RSUs are scheduled to vest March 31, 2028. Once vested, each RSU represents the right to receive one common share in the capital of the Company per RSU held, a cash amount equivalent, or a combination thereof, in each case subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable RSU agreement.

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.

SPMC has four explorations properties:

Ontenu (Osena) - Bordering K92 to the southwest. Drilling underway on K92-style targets with surface assays up to 21% Cu, 13.9 g/t Au, 645 g/t Ag and 73 g/t Au defining km-scale corridors.

Anga - Bordering K92 to the northeast, along strike from the K92's Arakompa discovery; soils to 1,080 ppb Au, 3,397 ppm Cu and stream samples up to 281.8 g/t Au.

Kili Teke - 4.2 Moz AuEq 43-101 inferred resource; results outside of resource include drilling 7.8 m @ 12.98% Cu plus11.75 g/t Au, surface samples up to 27.5% Cu.

May River - District-scale system beside Frieda River; high-grade drilling includes 19 m @ 11.47% Cu, 2.17 g/t Au and 109 m @ 1.53 g/t Au.

SPMC common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX.V: SPMC), the OTCQB Marketplace (OTCQB: SPMEF) and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: 6J00).

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information disclosed in this release has been compiled by Company geologists and consultants and reviewed and approved by Darren Holden, BSc(Hons) (Geology), PhD, FAusIMM, a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Dr. Holden is a Technical Advisor to the Company.

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 Caution

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included herein, including without limitation, statements relating the future operations and activities of SPMC, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the anticipated timing and completion of the Chief Financial Officer transition and related matters, and the terms, timing, vesting, and settlement of the RSUs. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by SPMC, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the risk that the Chief Financial Officer transition may not occur as currently anticipated or at all, changes in market conditions, regulatory developments, the Company's ability to retain key personnel, and other risk factors disclosed in the Company's public filings available under its profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. SPMC undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws.

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