Filed by Energy Fuels Inc.
(Commission File No.: 001-36204)
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: Uranerz Energy Corporation
(Commission File No.: 001-32974)
Federal Court Rejects Challenge to Energy Fuels Canyon Mine
Lakewood, Colorado April 8, 2015
Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE MKT:UUUU; TSX:EFR) (Energy Fuels
or the Company) is pleased to announce that the United States District
Court for the District of Arizona has denied a challenge by non-government
organizations and a Native American tribe to the Companys ability to operate
its Canyon mine.
The courts decision affirms the Companys right to continue
with mine development and uranium production at the Canyon mine in accordance
with previously obtained rights and regulatory approvals. In his order, Judge
David G. Campbell granted summary judgment in favor of the U.S. Forest Service
(USFS) and Energy Fuels, and ordered the plaintiffs action terminated. The
court rejected all of the plaintiffs claims, including claims alleging
non-compliance with certain environmental and cultural procedural laws. The
court also found that USFS properly consulted with the Native American tribe
when the Company decided to resume active mining operations. No substantive
environmental, health or safety issues were asserted by the plaintiffs.
Stephen P. Antony, President and CEO of Energy Fuels stated:
We are pleased that the federal court rejected the plaintiffs challenges to
the Canyon mine, which allows us to continue our development of this high-grade
deposit. In rejecting all of the plaintiffs claims, Judge Campbell noted that
the government engaged in extensive environmental analysis and consultations
regarding this project. The Canyon mine has been heavily studied, and the
technical and geologic characteristics of the project are well-understood.
Energy Fuels is absolutely committed to operating the Canyon mine in a
responsible manner, and we are proud to do our part in providing clean energy to
the world, as the uranium we produce will reduce air pollution and help address
climate change.
The district courts decision is subject to appeal.
The Canyon mine is a permitted high-grade uranium deposit
located in northern Arizona. The Company recently announced that it was
preparing to resume development at this project. At the current time, surface
development at the Canyon mine, including a headframe, evaporation pond, hoist,
environmental controls, and an office/maintenance facility, is in place. To
complete the mine, the Company expects to sink an additional 1,200 feet of
shaft, install a ventilation shaft and complete underground development.
ABOUT ENERGY FUELS: Energy Fuels is currently
Americas largest conventional uranium producer. Energy Fuels operates the White
Mesa Mill, which is the only conventional uranium mill currently operating in the U.S. The mill is capable of processing
2,000 tons per day of uranium ore and has a licensed capacity of over 8 million lbs. of
U3O8. Energy Fuels has
projects located in a number of Western U.S. states, including a producing mine, mines on standby,
and mineral properties in various stages of permitting and development. Energy
Fuels common shares are listed on the NYSE MKT under the trading symbol UUUU,
and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol EFR. For more
information, please visit Energy Fuels website, www.energyfuels.com.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF
URANERZ ENERGY CORPORATION AND ENERGY FUELS INC.: On January 5, 2015,
the Company announced a transaction whereby it would acquire all of the issued
and outstanding shares of Uranerz Energy Corporation (Uranerz). This press
release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to
purchase, a solicitation of an offer to sell the shares of common stock of
Uranerz or a solicitation of any proxy, vote or approval. Energy Fuels will file
with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a registration
statement on Form F-4 that will include a proxy statement of Uranerz that also
constitutes a prospectus of Energy Fuels. Energy Fuels and Uranerz also plan to
file with or furnish other documents to securities regulatory authorities in
Canada and the United States regarding the proposed acquisition of Uranerz by
Energy Fuels.
INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF URANERZ ARE URGED TO READ THE
PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC
CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF URANERZ BY
ENERGY FUELS.
Anyone may obtain copies of these documents when available
free of charge under Energy Fuels profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or EDGAR at
www.sec.gov, or by accessing Energy Fuels website at
www.energyfuels.com under the heading Investors and from Energy Fuels directly
by contacting Curtis Moore, Investor Relations: (303) 974-2140. Documents will
also be available free of charge under Uranerz profile on EDGAR at www.sec.gov
or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, or by accessing Uranerz
website at www.uranerz.com under the heading Investors and from Uranerz
directly by contacting Derek Iwanaka, Investor Relations: (800) 689-1659. Energy
Fuels, Uranerz, their respective directors and certain of their executive
officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from
the shareholders of Uranerz in connection with the proposed acquisition of
Uranerz by Energy Fuels. Information about the directors and executive officers
of Uranerz is set forth in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year-ended
December 31, 2014, which was filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015. Information
about the directors and executive officers of Energy Fuels can be found in its
annual information form dated March 18, 2015, which is available at
www.sedar.com and www.sec.gov. Other
information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a
description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or
otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other
relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:
This news release contains certain Forward Looking Information and
Forward Looking Statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian and
United States securities legislation, which may include, but is not limited to,
statements with respect to the permitting, approvals, environmental performance,
technical characteristics, and future litigation concerning the Canyon mine.
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, budget 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: statements with respect to the permitting,
approvals, environmental performance, technical characteristics, and future
litigation concerning the Canyon mine, and the other factors described under the
caption Risk Factors in the Companys Annual Information Form dated March 18,
2015, which is available for review on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com, and in its Form 40-F, which is available for review on EDGAR at
www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. 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
managements 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. Additional
information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in Energy Fuels
filings with the various securities commissions which are available online at
www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements are provided
for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations, beliefs
and plans of the management of Energy Fuels relating to the future. Readers are
cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes.
Investor Relations Inquiries:
Curtis Moore, VP - Marketing & Corporate
Development |
(303) 974-2140 or (888) 864-2125 |
investorinfo@energyfuels.com |
www.energyfuels.com |