- The acquisition will include Base Resources' 100%-owned
advanced, world-class Toliara heavy mineral sands project in
Madagascar ("Toliara" or
the "Project"), which includes a long-life, high-value and
low cost monazite stream, produced as a byproduct of primary
titanium and zirconium production.
- Toliara monazite production to be processed at Energy Fuels'
100%-owned White Mesa Mill (the "Mill") into separated rare
earth element ("REE") oxides, at low capital and operating
cost, setting a new paradigm for low-cost, globally competitive
U.S.-centered rare earth oxide production.
- The transaction will also secure Base Resources' mine
development and operations team, who have a successful track-record
of designing, constructing, and profitably operating a world-class
heavy mineral sands operation in Africa.
- Energy Fuels is currently engaged in high-level discussions
with various U.S. government agencies and other offices who provide
support for critical mineral projects, domestically and abroad.
- The transaction is complementary to and further strengthens
Energy Fuels' U.S.-leading uranium production capability and
plans.
- Senator Mike Lee, the Senior
Senator from Utah and a member of
the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, stated: "I'm
grateful to Energy Fuels for their work to ensure the United States has a domestic critical
mineral source. The acquisition of Base Resources and the Toliara
project will only further their capacity and ability to produce
minerals needed for defense, technology, and everyday life."
- Conference call on Monday, April 22,
2024 at 8:00 am ET.
LAKEWOOD, Colo., April 21,
2024 /CNW/ - Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU)
(TSX: EFR) ("Energy Fuels" or the "Company"), a
leading U.S. producer of uranium, REEs, and vanadium, is pleased to
announce that it has executed a definitive Scheme Implementation
Deed (the "SID") with Base Resources Limited (ASX: BSE)
(AIM: BSE) ("Base Resources") pursuant to which Energy
Fuels has agreed to acquire 100% of the issued shares of Base
Resources (the "Transaction") in consideration for (i)
0.0260 Energy Fuels common shares (the "Share
Consideration") and (ii) A$0.065
in cash, payable by way of a special dividend by Base Resources to
its shareholders (the "Cash Consideration", and together
with the Share Consideration, the "Scheme Consideration")
for each Base Resources ordinary share held, for a total equity
value of approximately A$375
million1. The Transaction will be effected by way
of a scheme of arrangement under Australia's Corporations Act (the
"Scheme"). Unless otherwise indicated in this news release,
all references to dollars or $ are references to United States dollars.
KEY TRANSACTION HIGHLIGHTS
- The Transaction will unlock significant value for
both Energy Fuels and Base Resources shareholders due to valuable
and clearly identifiable synergies.
- Base Resources' Toliara project in Madagascar is a world-class, advanced-stage,
low-cost, and large-scale heavy mineral sands project. In addition
to its stand-alone, ilmenite, rutile (titanium) and zircon
(zirconium) (collectively, "Ilmenite and Zircon") production
capability, the Project also contains large quantities of Monazite
which is a rich source of the 'magnet' REEs used in electric
vehicles ("EVs") and a variety of clean energy and advanced
technologies.
- Subject to receipt of further required Government of
Madagascar approvals, the Monazite
can be recovered as a byproduct of Ilmenite and Zircon production
at low incremental cost, thereby adding to Toliara's world-class
Ilmenite and Zircon capability at a cost of production that the
Company expects to be globally competitive and will position Energy
Fuels to be a first-tier REE oxide producer.
- Once in production, the Monazite from Toliara will provide a
large portion of the raw materials needed for Energy Fuels' rapidly
expanding and world-competitive REE oxide production facility at
the Mill. Since 2021, Energy Fuels has proven its technical
capabilities, speed-to-market, and competitiveness in a manner that
is not being accomplished by any other facility in North America, first by processing Monazite to
produce a mixed REE carbonate at the Mill, which it has been
selling into the commercial REE market since 2021, and now by the
commissioning of its Phase 1 NdPr separation facility at the
Mill.
- Energy Fuels is currently engaged in high-level discussions
with numerous U.S. government agencies and other offices who
provide financial support for critical mineral projects within the
U.S. and internationally, which may include grants, low-interest
debt, non- or limited-recourse debt, loan guarantees, and other
support vehicles.
- Energy Fuels is also releasing an AACE International
("AACE") Class 4 Pre-Feasibility Study (not a
Pre-Feasibility Study subject to or intended to be compliant with
National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") or Subpart 1300 of
Regulation S-K ("S-K 1300")) dated April 22, 2024, prepared by Roger Mason, Engineering Manager, WSP
USA Environment &
Infrastructure Inc., indicating globally competitive capital and
operating costs for its planned Phase 2 expanded REE oxide
production at the Mill (the "Mill PFS"), which will be filed
on the Electronic Document Gathering and Retrieval System
("EDGAR") at www.sec.gov/edgar, and will be available
on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval Plus
("SEDAR+") at www.sedarplus.ca, and on the
Company's website at www.energyfuels.com.
- With the Mill's unique, globally competitive, U.S.-based REE
production capability, Energy Fuels is uniquely positioned to
unlock significant value from Toliara's low-cost Monazite
production, in a manner that the Company believes no other facility
in the U.S. is capable of at this time.
- Monazite from Toliara will also provide material quantities
of low-cost uranium production at the Mill over the life of the
Project, which will supplement Energy Fuels' U.S.-leading uranium
production capacity.
- This addition of a low-cost source of REE raw materials to
Energy Fuels' globally competitive U.S. REE production
infrastructure, along with a sustainable low-cost source of uranium
production, is expected to be highly accretive to Energy Fuels'
shareholders on a net asset value per share basis, with potential
to unlock significant further upside.
- As part of this Transaction, Energy Fuels will also access
Base Resources' proven leadership and heavy mineral sands
operations team, which has an exceptional record of responsible
asset development, construction, commissioning and profitable
production in Africa. The Base
Resources team will not only continue to oversee the development
and operation of Toliara but will also enhance Energy Fuels' heavy
mineral sands teams in Australia
and Brazil, thus allowing the
Company to maximize the value of all projects to the Company's
shareholders.
- The offer is unanimously recommended by Base Resources'
Board of Directors and Base Resources has also received
voting intention statements from each of Base Resources' two major
shareholders, confirming that they each intend to vote in favor of
the Scheme2. Those two shareholders respectively
hold 26.5% and 24.8% of Base Resources' shares. In addition, each
of Base Resources' directors, holding (in aggregate) an additional
1.2% of Base Resources' shares, has confirmed their intention to
vote in favor of the Scheme2.
- Energy Fuels will host an investor webcast and conference
call on April 22, 2024 at
8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (10:00 p.m. Australian Eastern Standard
Time).
Mark S. Chalmers, President and
CEO of Energy Fuels stated: "The acquisition of Base Resources and
the Toliara project represents a monumental leap forward for the
Company, as we continue to execute on a truly revolutionary REE,
uranium and critical mineral combined strategy. For the past
four-plus years, Energy Fuels has innovated a new way to produce
critical minerals, that we believe is more cost competitive than
traditional approaches, by leveraging our uranium processing
expertise and infrastructure to develop a secure, U.S.-centric REE
oxide supply chain.
"At the same time, we plan to maintain our leadership and
profitability in our core U.S.-based uranium business without
diminishing our uranium capabilities or uranium growth potential in
any way. In fact, Toliara will provide a steady, low-cost source of
uranium for the Company over the life of the Project.
"To date, we have secured long-term sources of REE concentrate
through offtake (Chemours), and direct ownership (the Company's
100% owned Bahia Project in Brazil
once developed, and potentially 100% ownership of Base Resources'
Toliara project, and further potential offtakes through a joint
venture being negotiated with Astron Corporation Limited (the
Astron Donald Project in Australia)). Toliara is expected to be the
cornerstone source of feedstock supply to the Mill, with the scale
to provide an average of 21,800 tonnes of rare earth-bearing
Monazite per year at a cost that we believe will be at or below
other leading global REE producers, including those in China.
"Energy Fuels has proven its REE processing capabilities at our
Mill in Utah, as we have
commercially produced a high-purity mixed REE carbonate since 2021.
We recently completed construction of and are currently
commissioning the Phase 1 REE separation circuit at the Mill,
designed to produce up to 1,000 tonnes of NdPr oxide per year,
which would be sufficient to supply enough 'magnet' REE oxides to
produce 500,000 to 1 million EVs per year. We have also released
the Mill PFS announcing what we believe to be globally competitive
capital and REE production costs. Based on these highly compelling
economics and the expected consummation of the Base Resources and
Astron transactions, Energy Fuels is also planning to update the
Phase 2 REE separation infrastructure for the Mill to expand our
production capacity to 4,000 to 6,000 tonnes of NdPr oxide per
year, along with 150 - 225 tonnes of Dy oxide and 50 - 75 tonnes of
Tb oxide per year, which would supply enough 'magnet' REE oxides to
power 3 to 6 million EVs per year. This would put Energy Fuels in
the REE oxide production capacity category of the other major
'western' REE suppliers.
"We plan to supply REE oxides to U.S., European and Asian EV,
wind energy and other clean energy manufacturers, along with
emerging commercial REE metal-making, alloying, and magnet-making
facilities now under development in the U.S. We also plan to be a
reliable supplier to the U.S. defense industry, which could include
offtake for other REE oxides, besides the 'magnet' oxides,
contained in Monazite. This acquisition, along with the Mill's
current and planned REE separation capability, will go a long way
in establishing a 'western' REE supply chain. Energy Fuels is also
in high-level discussions with numerous U.S. government agencies
and offices that support critical mineral projects, and we look
forward to advancing these discussions as we continue to build our
REE business.
"The transaction will not only secure a world-class project for
Energy Fuels at a highly attractive acquisition price compared to
the fundamental value of the Project but will also secure a mine
development and operations team with a successful track-record of
designing, constructing, and profitably operating a world-class
heavy mineral sands operation in Africa."
Tim Carstens, Managing Director
of Base Resources, commented: "This transaction reflects the
exceptional quality of the Toliara project and the efforts of the
Base Resources team over several years to advance the project
towards construction readiness. The combined company will have the
financial and technical capability to not only build Toliara into
one of the best critical mineral projects in the world, but also to
develop an integrated value chain for the rare earth elements that
are essential to the global energy transition. Shareholders of Base
Resources will receive both a compelling and immediate premium, and
the opportunity to further participate in the market recognition
and development of a company with a unique diversified position in
the critical minerals landscape."
ABOUT TOLIARA
The Toliara project is a world-class, advanced-stage,
large-scale critical mineral deposit underpinned by the Ilmenite,
Zircon and Monazite-rich Ranobe deposit in southwest Madagascar.
On September 27, 2021, Base
Resources released the outcomes of its updated and enhanced
Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS2")3 for the
Toliara project, which calculated an after-tax NPV10
(10% discount rate) of $1 billion,
after-tax IRR of 23.8%, undiscounted life-of-mine free cash flows
of $5.9 billion, and initial capital
expenditures of $520 million to
achieve first production. According to DFS2, the Ranobe deposit's
estimated Ore Reserves of 904 million tonnes at 6.1% heavy mineral,
are sufficient to support an initial 38-year mine life4.
These results are based on the production of Ilmenite and
Zircon alone.
The Ranobe deposit also contains large quantities of Monazite,
which is a rich source of the 'magnet' REEs; neodymium and
praseodymium ("NdPr"), Dysprosium ("Dy") and Terbium
("Tb"), used in EVs and a variety of clean energy and
advanced technologies, that can be recovered as a byproduct of
Ilmenite and Zircon production at the Project.
In response to rising demand for REEs, on December 14, 2023, Base Resources released a
Pre-Feasibility Study for Toliara5 on the production of
Monazite through the concentration of the existing waste stream
from the DFS2 mineral sands processing facilities (the "Monazite
PFS"). Based on the combined outcomes of DFS2 and the Monazite
PFS, Toliara has an overall after-tax NPV10 (10%
discount rate) of $2.0 billion,
after-tax IRR of 32.4%, undiscounted life of mine free cash flows
of $10.7 billion, and initial capital
expenditures of $591 million, which
included additional incremental capital expenditures of
$71 million for Monazite production,
over the 38-year mine life. As the Monazite is an add-on to the
stand-alone Ilmenite and Zircon production and would be produced
through concentration of the waste stream from processing of the
mined Ore Reserves, the Mineral Resources and Reserves at the
Project did not change. The Monazite PFS thus demonstrated that
world-class Monazite production capability can be added to
Toliara's already stand-alone, world-class Ilmenite and Zircon
production capability at a low incremental cost of production,
thereby allowing the Monazite production to withstand low or
variable REE oxide markets.
Toliara is expected to be Energy Fuels' cornerstone source of
Monazite supply, providing a long-term and large-scale supply of
Monazite (21,800 tonnes per annum ("tpa") average Monazite
production), to the Mill for processing into REE oxides and other
advanced REE materials, along with the recovery of contained
uranium. As the Monazite will be a very low-cost byproduct of
Toliara's primary Ilmenite and Zircon production, the total cost of
production of REE oxides at the Mill is expected to be low-cost and
globally competitive.
Processing Monazite from Toliara will also add approximately
75,000 lbs of low-cost uranium production (at an incremental cost
of approximately $8 per pound) per
year at the Mill, totaling approximately 3 million pounds of
recovered U3O8 over the life of the Project.
This will provide a reliable low-cost stream of uranium production
at the Mill that will be able to withstand lower uranium prices and
will supplement Energy Fuels' U.S.-leading uranium production
capacity from other mines and sources.
Base Resources has a proven leadership and mineral sands
operations team with an exceptional record of responsible and
profitable production at its now winding down heavy mineral sands
project in Kwale County, Kenya,
all of whom are expected to join the Energy Fuels management team
upon completion of the Transaction. The Base Resources team will
continue to manage Toliara and will enhance Energy Fuels' teams in
Australia and Brazil, thus allowing the Company to maximize
the value of all projects to shareholders.
Although the Toliara project holds a mining permit that allows
production of Ilmenite, Rutile and Zircon, development at the
Project was suspended by the Government of Madagascar pending negotiation of fiscal terms
applying to the Project. With the recent adoption of a new Mining
Code in Madagascar and Base
Resources and the Government of Madagascar making sound progress on fiscal
terms negotiations, the Company believes the suspension will be
lifted, and required legal and fiscal stability achieved, during
2024. Aspects intended to facilitate the inclusion of Monazite on
the Project's mining permit as soon as reasonably practicable after
fiscal terms are agreed are included in the scope of current
negotiations. However, there can be no assurance as to the timing
of completion of fiscal terms negotiations and lifting of the
current suspension, the timing for achieving sufficient legal and
fiscal stability or the timing for approval of the addition of
Monazite to the mining permit. If such approvals are not obtained,
or obtained on terms less favorable than expected, this could delay
any final investment decision in relation to the Project or prevent
or otherwise have a significant effect on the development of the
Project or ability to recover Monazite from the Project.
Highlights of Toliara's economics are presented below:
|
Unit
|
Monazite
PFS1,3
|
Mineral
Sands DFS22,3
|
Combined
Mineral Sands
+ Monazite3
|
NPV10
(discount rate of 10%),
Post-Tax, Real
|
US$
millions
|
999
|
1,008
|
2,006
|
NPV8 (discount rate of 8%)
Post-Tax, Real
|
US$
millions
|
1,281
|
1,385
|
2,666
|
IRR
|
%
|
78.6 %
|
23.8 %
|
32.4 %
|
Initial (Stage 1)
Capex
|
US$
millions
|
71
|
520
|
591
|
Construction Period
(Stage 1)
|
Months
|
29
|
27
|
27
|
Stage 2
Capex
|
US$
millions
|
N/A
|
137
|
137
|
Construction Period
(Stage 2)
|
Months
|
N/A
|
21
|
21
|
Capital Payback Period
(Stage
1 + 2)
|
Years
|
1.0
|
4.5
|
3.6
|
Life of Mine
(LOM)
|
Years
|
38
|
38
|
38
|
LOM Free Cash
Flow
|
US$
millions
|
4,733
|
5,922
|
10,655
|
LOM Operating Costs
+
Royalty
|
US$/t ore
mined
|
0.98
|
3.78
|
4.92
|
LOM Operating Costs
+
Royalty
|
US$/t
produced
|
1,089
|
88
|
112
|
LOM Revenue
|
US$/t
produced
|
8,648
|
306
|
477
|
LOM Cash
Margin
|
US$/t
produced
|
7,559
|
218
|
365
|
LOM Revenue: Cost of
Sales
Ratio
|
Ratio :
1
|
7.9
|
3.5
|
4.3
|
Notes:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1)
|
Note the Monazite PFS
(14 December 2023) contemplates selling the Monazite from the
Toliara project to a third party at world Monazite prices. In
contrast, the combined company would transport the Monazite to the
Mill for additional processing and separation. The numbers in this
table do not reflect any downstream processing or margins at the
Mill.
|
|
2)
|
The DFS2 is dated 27
September 2021.
|
|
3)
|
The Monazite PFS and
DFS2 constituted a "Pre-Feasibility Study" and "Feasibility Study"
(respectively) for the purposes of JORC. Additionally, the Monazite
PFS was based on Mineral Resources, and DFS2 was based on Ore
Reserves, which, in each case, were estimated in accordance with
JORC. The results from these studies and such estimates may not be
comparable to data or estimates under either NI 43-101 or S-K 1300
– see note below under "Qualified Person".
|
MILL SYNERGIES
On April 22, 2024, Energy Fuels
will release its Mill PFS projecting globally competitive capital
and operating costs for planned expanded REE oxide production at
the Mill. The Mill is currently commissioning its Phase 1 NdPr
separation facility, which has been constructed within the Mill's
existing solvent extraction building and is designed to process up
to 10,000 tpa of Monazite to produce up to 1,000 tpa of NdPr
oxide.
The economics detailed in the Mill PFS are for the Phase 2
expansion of REE separation capacity in one or more additional
facilities at the Mill, capable of processing 30,000 tpa of
Monazite to produce approximately 3,000 tpa of NdPr oxide. The Mill
PFS shows globally competitive capital expenditures of $348 million for the 30,000 tpa Phase 2
separation facility and an average processing cost of $29.88/kg NdPr. This analysis does not include
any capital or operating costs associated with the recovery of Dy
and Tb or any revenues associated with the sales of those "heavy"
REE oxides.
Upon completion of the Transaction, Energy Fuels plans to update
the DFS2 and the Monazite PFS and re-issue those reports in a form
that complies with NI 43-101 and S-K-1300, and that also updates
and incorporates the results of the Mill PFS to expand Phase 2
production capacity from a 30,000 tpa Monazite process plant
capable of producing approximately 3,000 tpa of NdPr oxide to a
40,000 - 60,000 tpa Monazite process plant capable of producing
approximately 4,000 - 6,000 tpa of NdPr oxide, along with Dy and Tb
oxides.
The details of the Mill PFS are presented below:
|
Unit
|
NdPr Production at the
Mill1
|
Capital Costs to
Construct Phase 2
Separation Facility at the Mill
|
US$
millions
|
348
|
Operating Cost $/kg
NdPr
|
US$
|
29.88
|
Plant
Capacity2
|
Monazite
tpa
|
30,000
|
Notes:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1)
|
The Mill PFS addresses
the production of NdPr alone from processing Monazite. It does not
address or attribute any costs or value to the significant
quantities of Dy and Tb that will also be recovered from the
Monazite at the Mill. This will be updated in the future to also
address Dy and Tb production from Monazite.
|
|
2)
|
The Mill PFS assumes a
Phase 2 separation facility capacity of 30,000 tpa of Monazite.
With the planned Monazite production from the Company's Bahia
Project in Brazil, the planned acquisition of Toliara, the
potential acquisition of an interest in the Astron Donald Project,
and other potential Monazite acquisitions, Energy Fuels plans to
update the Mill PFS based on an increased Monazite throughput of
40,000 – 60,000 tpa, which would generate 4,000 - 6,000 tpa of
NdPr, 150 - 225 tpa of Dy, and 50 - 75 tpa of Tb. The Phase 2
separation facility is subject to completion of engineering design
and receipt of any required permits and licenses.
|
See the Mill PFS, which will be available on the Company's
website at www.energyfuels.com and on SEDAR and EDGAR, for
important information about its scope, key assumptions,
qualifications and risks.
TRANSACTION OVERVIEW AND
TIMELINE
Under the terms of the Scheme, if approved, each Base Resources
shareholder will receive (i) 0.0260 Energy Fuels common shares and
(ii) A$0.065 in cash, payable by way
of a special dividend, representing an implied price of
A$0.30 per Base
share4.
The Scheme Consideration represents a premium of 173% to the
Base Resources' 20-day volume weighted average price up to and
including April 19, 2024 of
A$0.11. Immediately following
implementation of the Scheme, Energy Fuels and Base Resources
shareholders will own approximately 83.6% and
16.4%6 of Energy Fuels post-closing,
respectively.
The Scheme is subject to customary closing conditions,
including: (a) approval by at least 75% of the number of votes
cast, and more than 50% of the number of Base Resources
shareholders present and voting, at the meeting of the shareholders
of Base Resources to approve the Scheme (the "Scheme
Meeting"); (b) approval by the Federal Court of Australia; (c) the Independent Expert
concluding that the Scheme is in the best interests of Base
Resources shareholders; (d) certain government and regulatory
approvals, including the Foreign Investment Review Board of
Australia, Malagasy Competition Council, the TSX and the NYSE
American; (e) no material adverse change or prescribed event to
Base Resources or Energy Fuels; and (f) other customary closing
conditions.
The SID also contains customary deal protection mechanisms,
including a "no shop" and "no talk" provision, "matching rights"
and "notification rights" for Energy Fuels, subject to customary
exceptions, and a termination fee payable by Base Resources in
certain circumstances in the amount of 1% of the Transaction Value
(or US$2.4 million). The SID
also provides for a reverse break fee in the same amount payable by
Energy Fuels in certain circumstances.
A Scheme Booklet setting out the key terms of the Scheme, the
Independent Expert's report, and the reasons for the Base Resources
directors' recommendation will be sent to all Base Resources
shareholders in due course. The Scheme Meeting is expected to be
held in late July / early August 2024
with the Transaction anticipated to close in the third quarter of
2024, subject to satisfaction of all conditions, including receipt
of all necessary approvals.
Full details of the terms and conditions of the Scheme are set
out in the SID that will be available on Energy Fuels' SEDAR+
profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and on Energy Fuels' EDGAR profile at
www.sec.gov/edgar.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS' RECOMMENDATION
AND SHAREHOLDER SUPPORT
The Board of Directors of Energy Fuels has unanimously approved
the Scheme, including, without limitation, the Scheme
Consideration.
The Board of Directors of Base Resources has unanimously
recommended that all Base Resources shareholders vote in favor of
the Scheme at the Scheme Meeting, in the absence of a superior
proposal and subject to the Independent Expert concluding (and
continuing to conclude) that the Scheme is in the best interests of
Base Resources shareholders. Subject to those same qualifications,
each director of Base Resources intends to vote (or cause to be
voted) all Base Resources shares which they own or control in favor
of the Scheme, representing approximately 1.2% of the issued
and outstanding Base Resources shares.
In addition, Base Resources' two largest shareholders, Pacific
Road Capital Management GP II Limited and Pacific Road Capital II
Pty Limited (owning 26.5% of Base Resources shares on issue) and
Sustainable Capital Ltd (owning 24.8% of Base Resources shares on
issue), have each provided a voting intention statement to Base
Resources confirming that they intend to vote all of the Base
Resources shares that they hold or control in favor of the Scheme,
subject to no superior proposal emerging and the Independent Expert
concluding (and continuing to conclude) that the Scheme is in the
best interests of shareholders.
ADVISORS AND COUNSEL
In connection with the Scheme, Energy Fuels has engaged BMO
Capital Markets and SCP Resource Finance as its financial advisers,
and Dentons Canada LLP as its Canadian legal counsel, Dentons
Australia Limited as its Australian legal counsel and Dorsey &
Whitney LLP as its U.S. legal Counsel. Base Resources has engaged
Azure Capital as its financial adviser, and Herbert Smith
Freehills as its Australian legal advisor.
INVESTOR CALL AND WEBCAST
Energy Fuels will be hosting a conference call and webcast on
Monday, April 22, 2024 at
8:00 am ET (10:00 pm Australian Eastern Standard
Time) to discuss the transaction.
You may dial in to the conference call, and participate in
Q&A, by calling 1-888-664-6392, and you will be connected to
the call by an Operator.
You may also access viewer-controlled Webcast slides and/or
stream audio of the call, by following this link: WEBCAST
A replay of the call will be available until May 6, 2024 by calling (888) 390-0541 or (416)
764-8677 and entering the replay code, 227391#
The investor call presentation slides can be viewed on the
Company's website at www.energyfuels.com.
QUALIFIED PERSON
THE TECHNICAL INFORMATION IN THIS PRESS RELEASE HAS BEEN
PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH JORC STANDARDS AND REVIEWED ON BEHALF
OF THE COMPANY BY DAN KAPOSTASY, VP,
TECHNICAL SERVICES OF ENERGY FUELS RESOURCES (USA) INC., A QUALIFIED PERSON UNDER BOTH
SK-1300 AND NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 43-101 REGULATIONS. THE JORC
COMPLIANT MINERAL RESOURCES AND RESERVES CONTAINED HEREIN WERE
DISCLOSED BY BASE RESOURCES ON DECEMBER 14,
2023. A QUALIFIED PERSON HAS NOT DONE SUFFICIENT WORK TO
CLASSIFY THESE ESTIMATES AS CURRENT NI 43-101 OR S-K 1300 ESTIMATES
OF MINERAL RESOURCES, MINERAL RESERVES OR EXPLORATION RESULTS.
ACCORDINGLY, ENERGY FUELS IS NOT TREATING THESE ESTIMATES AS A
CURRENT ESTIMATE OF MINERAL RESOURCES, MINERAL RESERVES, OR
EXPLORATION RESULTS AND IS TREATING THE INFORMATION DISCUSSED ABOVE
RELATING TO TOLIARA AS HISTORICAL IN NATURE.
ABOUT ENERGY FUELS
Energy Fuels is a leading US-based uranium and critical
minerals company. The Company, as the leading producer of uranium
in the United States, mines
uranium and produces natural uranium concentrates that are sold to
major nuclear utilities for the production of carbon-free nuclear
energy. Energy Fuels recently began production of advanced REE
materials, including mixed REE carbonate, and plans to produce
commercial quantities of separated REE oxides commencing in 2024.
Energy Fuels also produces vanadium from certain of its projects,
as market conditions warrant, and is evaluating the recovery of
radionuclides needed for emerging cancer treatments. Its corporate
offices are in Lakewood, Colorado,
near Denver, and substantially all
its assets and employees are in the
United States. Energy Fuels holds two of America's key
uranium production centers: the White Mesa Mill in Utah and the Nichols Ranch in-situ recovery
("ISR") Project in Wyoming.
The White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill operating
in the US today, has a licensed capacity of over 8 million pounds
of U3O8 per year, and has the ability to
produce vanadium when market conditions warrant, as well as REE
products, from various uranium-bearing ores. The Nichols Ranch ISR
Project is on standby and has a licensed capacity of 2 million
pounds of U3O8 per year. The Company recently
acquired the Bahia Project in Brazil, which is believed to have significant
quantities of titanium (ilmenite and rutile), zirconium (zircon)
and REE (monazite) minerals. In addition to the above production
facilities, Energy Fuels also has one of the largest NI 43-101
compliant uranium resource portfolios in the US and several uranium
and uranium/vanadium mining projects in production, on standby and
in various stages of permitting and development. The primary
trading market for Energy Fuels' common shares is the NYSE American
under the trading symbol "UUUU", and the Company's common shares
are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading
symbol "EFR".
ABOUT BASE RESOURCES
Base Resources is an Australian based, African focused,
mineral sands producer and developer with a track record of project
delivery and operational performance. Base Resources operates the
established Kwale Operations in Kenya and is developing the Toliara project in
Madagascar. Base Resources is an
ASX and AIM listed company. Further details about Base Resources
are available at www.baseresources.com.au.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This news release contains certain "Forward Looking
Information" and "Forward Looking Statements" within the meaning of
applicable United States and
Canadian securities legislation, which may include, but are not
limited to, statements with respect to: any expectation that the
Company will maintain its position as a leading U.S.-based uranium
and critical minerals company or as the leading producer of uranium
in the U.S.; any expectation that the Scheme will be completed or
if completed, completed on the terms and time proposed; any
expectation that the Transaction will unlock significant value to
both Energy Fuels and Base Resources shareholders due to valuable
and immediate synergies; any expectation as to production levels or
timing or duration of production from the Toliara Project or any of
the Company's other mines or projects; any expectations as to costs
of production at the Toliara Project, the Mill or any of the
Company's mines or other projects; any expectation that any
production at the Toliara Project or Mill will be world or globally
competitive; and any expectation that Energy Fuels will be in a
position to unlock the value of Toliara's low-cost Monazite,
including in a manner that no other facility in the U.S. is capable
of doing, or at all; any expectation that the Transaction will be
highly accretive to Energy Fuels' shareholders on a net asset value
per share basis, with potential to unlock significant further
upside, or at all; any expectation that the addition of the Base
Resources team will allow the Company to maximize the value of the
Company's projects; any expectation that Energy Fuels' Phase 1 REE
separation facility will be commissioned successfully; any
expectation that the Phase 2 separation facility will complete
engineering design or will receive all required permits and
licenses; any expectation that Energy Fuels will construct its
Phase 2 REE separation facility; any expectation that the Mill PFS
will be published as anticipated on April
22, 2024, or at all; the estimates and projections contained
in the DFS2, Monazite PFS and Mill PFS, including, without
limitation, any estimates of mineral resources and reserves; any
expectation that the Company will upgrade and re-issue the DFS2,
Monazite PFS and Mill PFS in conformity with NI-43-101 and S-K
1300; any expectation that the Project will operate and the
combined company will generate positive cash flow as the U.S. –
based REE market is developing, or in the event of fluctuations in
REE prices; any expectation that Energy Fuels is well-capitalized
and will be able to meet its working capital, project financing and
other financial commitments; any expectation that Energy Fuels will
be successful in its high-level discussions with numerous U.S.
government agencies and other offices that provide financial
support for critical mineral projects within the U.S. and
internationally or that Energy Fuels will be successful in
obtaining any grants, low-interest debt, non- or limited-recourse
debt, loan guarantees, or other support vehicles from any such
agencies or offices, or at all; any expectation that Energy Fuels
will be successful in agreeing fiscal terms with the Government of
Madagascar or in achieving
sufficient fiscal and legal stability; any expectation that the
current suspension relating to the Project will be lifted in the
near future or at all; any expectation that the additional permits
for the recovery of Monazite at the Project will be acquired on a
timely basis or at all; any expectation that the Company will be
successful in becoming a reliable, globally diversified,
multi-decade supplier of U.S.-produced magnet REE oxides to EV
manufacturers and other end-users; any expectation that the Company
will be successful in entering the REE metal, alloy, and
magnet-making space, in order to fully-integrate the entire REE
magnet supply chain; any expectation that the Company will be
successful in securing any additional low-cost Monazite
concentrates globally, or at all; any expectation that the Mill
will successfully continue to operate to the highest global
standards for the protection of human health and the environment;
any expectation that the Company will be successful in advancing
its REE initiatives or that it will be successful in installing REE
production capacity at the Mill and the timing of installation of
any such production capacity; any expectation as to the success of
the Company's permitting programs, including any permitting
required for the construction and operation of the planned Phase 2
separation facility at the Mill; and any expectation that Toliara
will become a world-class heavy mineral sands project. Generally,
these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects," "does not
expect," "is expected," "is likely," "budgets," "scheduled,"
"estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates," "does not
anticipate," or "believes," or variations of such words and
phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may,"
"could," "would," "might" or "will be taken," "occur," "be
achieved" or "have the potential to." All statements, other than
statements of historical fact, herein are considered to be
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may
cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the
Company to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements express or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those anticipated in these
forward-looking statements include risks associated with:
satisfying various conditions to closing the Scheme; commodity
prices and price fluctuations; engineering, construction,
processing and mining difficulties, upsets and delays; permitting
and licensing requirements and delays; changes to regulatory
requirements; legal challenges; the availability of feed sources
for the Mill; competition from other producers; public opinion;
government and political actions; the failure of the Government of
Madagascar to agree fiscal terms
or provide the approvals necessary to achieve sufficient fiscal and
legal stability on acceptable terms and conditions or at all; the
failure of the current suspension affecting the Project to be
lifted on a timely basis or at all; the failure of the Company to
obtain the required permits for the recovery of Monazite from the
Project; the failure of the Company to provide or obtain the
necessary financing required to develop the Project; available
supplies of Monazite; the ability of the Mill to produce rare earth
carbonate, rare earth element oxides or other rare earth element
products to meet commercial specifications on a commercial scale at
acceptable costs or at all; market factors, including future demand
for rare earth elements; the ability of the Mill to be able to
separate radium or other radioisotopes at reasonable costs or at
all; the estimates and projections in the updated technical reports
to be prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 and S-K 1300 may differ
from the estimates and projections contained in the DFS2, Monazite
PFS and Mill PFS; actual results may differ from all such estimates
and projections; and the other factors described under the caption
"Risk Factors" in the Company's most recently filed Annual Report
on Form 10-K, which is available for review on EDGAR at
www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and on the
Company's website at www.energyfuels.com. Forward-looking
statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news
release, and the Company disclaims, other than as required by law,
any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as
a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances,
or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or
otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking
statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no
obligation to update the information in this communication, except
as otherwise required by law.
Cautionary Note for U.S. Investors Concerning Mineral
Resources and Reserves
CERTAIN TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE
HAS BEEN PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH JORC. JORC CODE DIFFERS FROM
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
("SEC"), INCLUDING S-K 1300, AND THEREFORE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN
THIS NEWS RELEASE MAY NOT BE COMPARABLE TO SIMILAR INFORMATION
DISCLOSED IN FILINGS WITH THE SEC BY DOMESTIC UNITED STATES COMPANIES SUBJECT TO THE SEC'S
REPORTING AND DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS.
____________________________________
|
1
|
Based on (a) Base
Resource's fully diluted ordinary shares on issue of 1,239,116,949
(including performance rights that will vest by virtue of the
Transaction), (b) a share exchange ratio of 0.0260, (c) Energy
Fuels' closing share price on April 19, 2024 of US$5.84 per share
and (d) A$0.065 per Base Resources share in cash.
|
2
|
In the absence of a
superior proposal and subject to the Independent Expert concluding
(and continuing to conclude) that the Scheme is in the best
interests of shareholders.
|
3
|
The financial
information relating to the Ranobe deposit's mineral sands is based
on the definitive feasibility study prepared on September 27, 2021.
This study constituted a "Feasibility Study" for the purposes of
the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral
Resources and Ore Reserves, 2012 Edition ("JORC") and the Ore
Reserves underpinning this study were estimated in accordance with
JORC. The results from this study and the estimated Ore
Reserves may not be comparable to (as the case may be) data or
estimates under either NI 43-101 or S-K 1300– see note below under
"Qualified Person".
|
4
|
The JORC estimate of
Ore Reserves is presented for informational purposes only. A
qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify these
estimates as current NI 43-101 or S-K 1300 estimates of mineral
resources, mineral reserves, or exploration results. Energy Fuels
is not treating these estimates as a current estimate of mineral
resources, mineral reserves, or exploration results – see note
below under "Qualified Person".
|
5
|
The production and
financial information relating to the Ranobe deposit's monazite is
based on the pre-feasibility study prepared on December 14,
2023. This study constituted a "Pre-Feasibility Study" for
the purposes of JORC and the Mineral Resources underpinning this
study were estimated in accordance with JORC. The results
from this study and the estimated Mineral Resources may not be
comparable to (as the case may be) data or estimates under either
NI 43-101 or S-K 1300 – see note below under "Qualified
Person".
|
6
|
Based on Base fully
diluted ordinary shares on issue of 1,239,116,949 (including
performance rights that will vest by virtue of the Transaction),
Energy Fuels undiluted common shares on issue of 163,651,897 and a
share exchange ratio of 0.026.
|
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SOURCE Energy Fuels Inc.