IsoEnergy Ltd. (“
IsoEnergy”) (TSXV: ISO; OTCQX:
ISENF) and Consolidated Uranium Inc. (“
Consolidated
Uranium” or “
CUR”) (TSXV: CUR; OTCQX:
CURUF) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a
definitive arrangement agreement for a share-for-share merger of
IsoEnergy and Consolidated Uranium (the “
Arrangement
Agreement”), pursuant to which IsoEnergy will acquire all
of the issued and outstanding common shares of Consolidated Uranium
not already held by IsoEnergy or its affiliates (the “
CUR
Shares”) by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement
under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (the
“
Arrangement” or the “
Merger”).
Under the terms of the Merger, Consolidated
Uranium shareholders (the “Consolidated Uranium
Shareholders”) will receive 0.500 of a common share of
IsoEnergy (each whole share, an “IsoEnergy Share”)
for each CUR Share held (the “Exchange Ratio”).
The Exchange Ratio was determined giving consideration to recent
weighted average prices for each of IsoEnergy and Consolidated
Uranium for the period ended September 26, 2023. The implied fully
diluted in the-money equity value of the combined company (the
“Company”) is estimated at approximately $903.5
million. Upon completion of the Merger, existing IsoEnergy and
Consolidated Uranium shareholders will own approximately 70.5% and
29.5% of the Company, respectively, on a fully diluted in the-money
basis.
Strategic Rationale for the
Merger
- Built for the Current
Uranium Market: Boasting an impressive suite of
projects, with substantial current and historical resources, in top
uranium mining jurisdictions, at varying stages of development,
providing near, medium, and long term leverage to rising uranium
prices.
- Focused Production
Strategy: With the goal of building a globally
significant, multi-asset, multi-jurisdiction uranium producer the
Company will focus on restarting, developing and exploring its
projects while looking to further expand the portfolio through
M&A activity.
- Complimentary Project
Base: Creates a globally diversified uranium company with
near-term production, development and exploration projects in top
tier jurisdictions, anchored by the world’s highest grade indicated
uranium resource located in Canada’s Athabasca Basin and
fully-permitted, conventional uranium mines in the U.S. ready for
rapid restart.
- Global Exploration
Potential: Provides investors with exposure to significant
exploration upside across a diversified pipeline of properties
situated in Canada, the U.S., Australia, and Argentina.
- Outstanding
Leadership: The combined board and management have decades
of experience, and a demonstrated track record, in all facets of
uranium exploration, development and operations as well as industry
leading capital markets expertise including M&A and
finance.
- Enhanced Capital Markets
Profile with Strong Shareholder Base: With a pro forma
market cap of $903.5 million, the Company will rank among the top
10 publicly traded uranium focused companies in the world, allowing
for greater access to capital and trading liquidity, strengthened
position for future M&A and increased attractiveness among
investors and utilities. Additionally, the Company will be backed
by corporate and institutional investors including, NexGen Energy
Ltd., Energy Fuels Inc., Mega Uranium Ltd., and uranium ETFs.
- Growing Uranium Market
Presence: Scale and expertise creates opportunity to
increase commercial participation in the nuclear fuel market.
President and CEO of IsoEnergy, Tim Gabruch,
commented:
“We are very excited by this transaction as it
creates a new, diversified, industry leading uranium development
and exploration company of greater scale that is focused on growth
in Canada, the United States and Australia, the world’s premier
uranium jurisdictions. This Merger provides our existing
shareholders and new investors with an even greater opportunity to
participate in the tremendous upside potential of our asset
portfolio at a time when sentiment and support around the nuclear
sector and the uranium industry in particular are increasingly
positive. Together, our exceptional teams have the technical,
capital markets, and uranium industry expertise to create
significant shareholder value by growing the combined entity into
the uranium company of choice.”
Chairman and CEO of Consolidated Uranium, Philip
Williams, commented:
“There is a great deal of common ground between
IsoEnergy and Consolidated Uranium. The asset portfolios and
culture of our two companies are complementary and, together,
provides our respective shareholders with exposure to a larger
company that consists of a proven leadership team, a strong
pipeline of development and exploration growth prospects as well as
an enhanced position within capital markets. We look forward to
partnering with IsoEnergy to work towards the successful growth of
the Company and its robust asset portfolio.”
Benefits to Consolidated Uranium
Shareholders
- Consistent with CUR’s growth
strategy of diversification across the best projects in the best
jurisdictions.
- Entry to the Athabasca Basin, a
leading uranium jurisdiction, with the high-grade Hurricane deposit
and a portfolio of high-quality exploration-stage projects.
- Complimentary management and
technical teams with a focus on production, development, and
exploration.
- Addition of NexGen Energy Ltd. as a
cornerstone shareholder of the Company brings market awareness and
the potential to provide ongoing financial and technical
support.
- Increased scale creates a stronger
platform for future M&A.
- Participation in a larger company
with greater access to capital, enhanced liquidity, and expanded
research coverage.
- Significant and proportional
Management and Board representation in pro forma company.
Benefits to IsoEnergy
Shareholders
- Accretive to net asset value
(NAV).
- Adds a substantial historical
mineral resource base with significant upside potential1 including
the largest undeveloped uranium resource in the United States.
- Exposure to high-quality, near-term
producing uranium mines in Utah and a strategic portfolio of highly
prospective uranium exploration properties in tier-one
jurisdictions.
- Potential re-rating from near-term
production, increased scale, asset and geographic diversification,
as well as additional exploration upside.
- Better positioned for growth
through M&A.
- Increased scale will position the
company for greater access to capital and added liquidity.
Management Team & Board of
Directors
The Company’s board of directors (the
“Company Board”) will consist of six directors,
four of whom were selected by IsoEnergy from the existing IsoEnergy
directors, consisting of Richard Patricio (who will be appointed
Chair), Leigh Curyer (who will be appointed Vice Chair), Chris
McFadden and Peter Netupsky, and two of whom will be selected by
Consolidated Uranium, consisting of Philip Williams and one other
director from the existing CUR directors.
The senior management team of the Company will
include Philip Williams as Chief Executive Officer, Tim Gabruch as
President, Darryl Clark as Executive Vice President Exploration
& Development, Graham du Preez as Chief Financial Officer,
Marty Tunney as Chief Operating Officer and Dan Brisbin as Vice
President, Exploration.
Board of Directors’
Recommendations
Recommendation of the Consolidated Uranium
Special Committee and Board
The Consolidated Uranium board of directors (the
“Consolidated Uranium Board”) appointed a special
committee (the “Consolidated Uranium Special
Committee”) to consider and make a recommendation to the
Consolidated Uranium Board with respect to the Arrangement. After
consultation with its financial and legal advisors, and on the
unanimous recommendation of the Consolidated Uranium Special
Committee, the Consolidated Uranium Board unanimously determined
that the Arrangement is in the best interests of Consolidated
Uranium and approved the Arrangement Agreement. Accordingly, the
Consolidated Uranium Board unanimously recommends that Consolidated
Uranium Shareholders vote in favour of the resolution (the
“Arrangement Resolution”) to approve the
Arrangement.
TD Securities Inc. and Eight Capital each
provided a fairness opinion to the Consolidated Uranium Board and
Consolidated Uranium Special Committee, respectively, stating that,
as of the date of such opinion, and based upon and subject to the
assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated in each such
opinion, the consideration to be received by the Consolidated
Uranium Shareholders (other than IsoEnergy) pursuant to the Merger
is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Consolidated
Uranium Shareholders (other than IsoEnergy) (the
“Consolidated Uranium Fairness Opinions”).
The full text of the Consolidated Uranium
Fairness Opinions, which describe, among other things, the
assumptions made, procedures followed, factors considered and
limitations and qualifications on the review undertaken, and the
terms and conditions of the Arrangement, will be included in the
management information circular of Consolidated Uranium (the
“Consolidated Uranium Circular”), to be delivered
to Consolidated Uranium Shareholders in respect of a special
meeting of the Consolidated Uranium Shareholders to be held to
consider the Arrangement (the “Consolidated Uranium
Meeting”), which is expected to take place in November
2023.
Recommendation of the IsoEnergy Board
After consultation with its financial and legal
advisors, the IsoEnergy board of directors (“IsoEnergy
Board”) unanimously determined that the Arrangement is in
the best interests of IsoEnergy and approved the Arrangement
Agreement.
Canaccord Genuity Corp. provided a fairness
opinion to the IsoEnergy Board stating that, as of the date of such
opinion, and based upon and subject to the considerations,
assumptions, limitations and qualifications set out therein, the
consideration to be provided under the Arrangement is fair, from a
financial point of view, to IsoEnergy (the “IsoEnergy
Fairness Opinion”).
Merger Summary
The Arrangement will be effected by way of a
court-approved plan of arrangement pursuant to the Business
Corporations Act (Ontario), requiring (i) the approval of the
Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List), and (ii) the
approval of (A) 66 2/3% of the votes cast on the Arrangement
Resolution by the Consolidated Uranium Shareholders; and (B) if
required a simple majority of the votes cast on the Arrangement
Resolution by Consolidated Uranium Shareholders, excluding CUR
Shares held or controlled by persons described in terms (a) through
(d) of Section 8.1(2) of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 –
Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions, at
the Consolidated Uranium Meeting.
Each of the directors and executive officers of
Consolidated Uranium, together with Energy Fuels Inc. and Mega
Uranium Ltd., representing an aggregate of approximately ~24% of
the issued and outstanding CUR Shares, have entered into voting
support agreements with IsoEnergy, pursuant to which they have
agreed, among other things, to vote their CUR Shares in favour of
the Arrangement Resolution at the Consolidated Uranium Meeting.
The Arrangement Agreement includes customary
representations and warranties for a transaction of this nature as
well as customary interim period covenants regarding the operation
of IsoEnergy and Consolidated Uranium’s respective businesses. The
Arrangement Agreement also provides for customary deal-protection
measures, including a $10.8 million termination fee payable by CUR
in certain circumstances. In addition to shareholder and court
approvals, closing of the Merger is subject to applicable
regulatory approvals, including, but not limited to, the TSX
Venture Exchange (the “TSXV”) approval and the
satisfaction of certain other closing conditions customary for
transactions of this nature. Subject to the satisfaction of these
conditions, IsoEnergy and Consolidated Uranium expect that the
Merger will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Following completion of the Merger, the
IsoEnergy Shares will continue to trade on the TSXV, subject to
approval of the TSXV in respect of the IsoEnergy Shares being
issued pursuant to the Arrangement. The CUR Shares will be
de-listed from the TSXV following closing of the Merger.
Details regarding these and other terms of the
Merger are set out in the Arrangement Agreement, which will be
available under the SEDAR+ profiles of IsoEnergy and Consolidated
Uranium at www.sedarplus.ca. Full details of the Merger will also
be included in the Consolidated Uranium Circular which will be
available under Consolidated Uranium’s SEDAR+ profile.
Concurrent Private
Placement
In connection with the Arrangement, IsoEnergy
has entered into an agreement with Canaccord Genuity Corp., TD
Securities Inc. and Eight Capital on behalf of a syndicate of
agents (collectively, the “Agents”) in connection
with a “best efforts” private placement of 4,667,000 subscription
receipts of IsoEnergy (the “Subscription
Receipts”) at an issue price of $4.50 per Subscription
Receipt (the “Offering Price”) for gross proceeds
of $21,001,500 (the “Offering”). In connection
with the Offering, each of NexGen Energy Ltd., Mega Uranium Ltd.
and Energy Fuels Inc. (collectively, the “Cornerstone
Investors”), have indicated their intention of subscribing
for up to $21,001,500 of the Offering, subject to customary
conditions, and satisfaction with the terms of the Offering.
The Agents will have an option (the
“Agents’ Option”) to increase the size of the
Offering by up to $3,150,225 through the sale of 700,050 additional
Subscription Receipts at the Offering Price, which Agents’ Option
is exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time up to 48 hours
prior to closing of the Offering.
Each Subscription Receipt will entitle the
holder thereof to receive, for no additional consideration and
without further action on part of the holder thereof, on or about
the date the Merger is completed, one IsoEnergy Share.
The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to
advance exploration and development of the Company’s uranium
assets, as well as for working capital and general corporate
purposes.
The Offering is expected to close on or about
October 19, 2023, with the gross proceeds of the Offering to be
held in escrow pending the satisfaction of the escrow release
conditions, including the satisfaction of the conditions to the
closing of the Merger, and certain other customary conditions.
Advisors
Canaccord Genuity Corp. is acting as financial
advisor to IsoEnergy. Stikeman Elliott LLP is acting as legal
advisor to IsoEnergy.
TD Securities Inc. is acting as financial
advisor to Consolidated Uranium. Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
is acting as legal advisor to Consolidated Uranium. Eight Capital
has provided a fairness opinion to the Consolidated Uranium Special
Committee.
Conference Call / Webinar
Details
IsoEnergy and Consolidated Uranium will host a
joint conference call / webinar today at 11:00 AM Eastern Standard
Time (“EST”) / 8:00 AM Pacific Standard Time
(“PST”) to discuss the Merger. Participants are
advised to dial in five minutes prior to the scheduled start time
of the call. A presentation will be made available on both
IsoEnergy and Consolidated Uranium’s websites prior to the
conference call / webinar.
Webinar Details
Presenters: IsoEnergy President and CEO, Tim
Gabruch, and Consolidated Uranium Chairman and CEO, Philip
Williams.
Date / Time: September 27, 2023 at 11:00AM EST /
8:00AM PST.
Webinar Access: Participants may join the
webinar by registering using the link
below.https://www.c-meeting.com/web3/joinTo/3WYDHYDEHKKUTR/trXssXc3TObhKIIBpsV8fg
Phone Access: Please use one of the following
numbers.
Canada/US Toll
Free
Toronto Toll
A recording of the conference call will be
available on both IsoEnergy and Consolidated Uranium’s websites
following the call.
Qualified Person Statement
The scientific and technical information
contained in this news release with respect to IsoEnergy was
prepared by Dr Darryl Clark, P.Geo., IsoEnergy Vice President,
Exploration, who is a “Qualified Person” (as defined in NI 43-101
– Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). Dr Clark has
verified the data disclosed. For additional information regarding
the Company’s Larocque East Project, including its quality
assurance, quality control procedures and other details of the
mineral resource estimate contained herein, please see the
Technical Report dated effective July 8, 2022, on the Company’s
profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
About IsoEnergy
IsoEnergy Ltd. (TSXV: ISO) (OTCQX: ISENF) is a
well-funded uranium exploration and development company with a
portfolio of prospective projects in the infrastructure-rich
eastern Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada. In 2018, IsoEnergy
discovered the high-grade Hurricane Deposit on its 100% owned
Larocque East property in the eastern Athabasca Basin. The
Hurricane Deposit has indicated mineral resources of 48.61 M lbs
U3O8 based on 63,800 tonnes grading 34.5% U3O8 and inferred mineral
resources of 2.66 M lbs U3O8 based on 54,300 tonnes grading 2.2%
U3O8 (July 8, 2022). The Hurricane Deposit is 100% owned by
IsoEnergy and is unencumbered from any royalties. IsoEnergy is led
by a board and management team with a track record of success in
uranium exploration, development, and operations. IsoEnergy was
founded and is supported by the team at its major shareholder,
NexGen Energy Ltd.
About Consolidated Uranium
Consolidated Uranium Inc. (TSXV: CUR) (OTCQX:
CURUF) was created in early 2020 to capitalize on an anticipated
uranium market resurgence using the proven model of diversified
project consolidation. To date, Consolidated Uranium has acquired
or has the right to acquire uranium projects in Australia, Canada,
Argentina, and the United States each with significant past
expenditures and attractive characteristics for development.
Consolidated Uranium is currently advancing its
portfolio of permitted, past-producing conventional uranium and
vanadium mines in Utah and Colorado, with a toll milling
arrangement in place with Energy Fuels Inc., a leading U.S.-based
uranium mining company. These mines are currently on stand-by,
ready for rapid restart as market conditions permit, positioning
CUR as a near-term uranium producer.
Further Information & Investor
Relations Inquiries
IsoEnergy Ltd. |
Consolidated Uranium Inc. |
Tim Gabruch |
Philip Williams |
President & CEO |
Chairman & CEO |
Email: tgabruch@isoenergy.ca |
Email: pwilliams@consolidateduranium.com |
Phone: 306-261-6284 |
Phone: 416-569-9964 |
Website: www.isoenergy.ca |
Website: www.consolidateduranium.com |
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV)
accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news
release. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or
disapproved of the contents of this news release.
None of the securities to be issued pursuant to
the Arrangement have been or will be registered under the United
States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S.
Securities Act”), or any state securities laws, and any
securities issuable in the Arrangement are anticipated to be issued
in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration
requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities
Act and applicable exemptions under state securities laws. This
press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the
solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities.
Cautionary Statement Regarding
Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains “forward-looking
information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as
“plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”,
“scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or
“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” or “be
achieved”. These forward-looking statements or information may
relate to the Arrangement, including statements with respect to the
expected benefits of the Arrangement to the Company, the
Consolidated Uranium Shareholders and IsoEnergy shareholders, the
anticipated composition of the Company Board and management team,
the anticipated mailing of the Consolidated Uranium Circular and
the date of the Consolidated Uranium Meeting, timing for closing of
the Arrangement and receiving the required regulatory, Consolidated
Uranium Shareholders and court approvals, stock exchange (including
the TSXV) and other approvals, the ability of Consolidated Uranium
and IsoEnergy to successfully close the Arrangement on the timing
and terms described herein, or at all, the filing of materials on
SEDAR+, the successful integration of the businesses of
Consolidated Uranium and IsoEnergy, the prospects of each
companies’ respective projects, including mineral resources
estimates and mineralization of each project, and any expectations
with respect to defining mineral resources or mineral reserves on
any of IsoEnergy’s or Consolidated Uranium’s projects, the
anticipated makeup of the Company Board and management, and any
expectation with respect to any permitting, development or other
work that may be required to bring any of the projects into
development or production.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based
upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by
management at the time, are inherently subject to business, market
and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause
actual results, performance or achievements to be materially
different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking
statements. Such assumptions include, but are not limited to,
assumptions regarding the Company following completion of the
Arrangement, that the anticipated benefits of the Arrangement will
be realized, completion of the Arrangement, including receipt of
required shareholder, regulatory, court and stock exchange
approvals, the ability of Consolidated Uranium and IsoEnergy to
satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the closing of
the Arrangement, other expectations and assumptions concerning the
Arrangement, and that general business and economic conditions will
not change in a material adverse manner. Although each of IsoEnergy
and Consolidated Uranium have attempted to identify important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other
factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or
intended. There can be 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.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking information.
Such statements represent the current views of
IsoEnergy and Consolidated Uranium with respect to future events
and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and
estimates that, while considered reasonable by IsoEnergy and
Consolidated Uranium, are inherently subject to significant
business, economic, competitive, political and social risks,
contingencies and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties include,
but are not limited to the following: inability of IsoEnergy and
Consolidated Uranium to complete the Arrangement, a material
adverse change in the timing of any completion and the terms and
conditions upon which the Arrangement is completed; inability to
satisfy or waive all conditions to closing the Arrangement as set
out in the Arrangement Agreement; Consolidated Uranium Shareholders
not approving the Arrangement; the TSXV not providing approval to
the Arrangement and all required matters related thereto; the
inability of the consolidated entity to realize the benefits
anticipated from the Arrangement and the timing to realize such
benefits, including the exploration and drilling targets described
herein and the completion of a resource estimate and updated PEA;
any updated PEA not having the anticipated positive results;
unanticipated changes in market price for CUR Shares and/or
IsoEnergy Shares; changes to IsoEnergy’s and/or Consolidated
Uranium’s current and future business plans and the strategic
alternatives available thereto; growth prospects and outlook of
IsoEnergy’s business, including commencing commercial production at
the Larocque East Project; treatment of the Arrangement under
applicable competition laws and the Investment Canada Act;
regulatory determinations and delays; any impacts of COVID-19 on
the business of the consolidated entity and the ability to advance
the Company projects; stock market conditions generally; demand,
supply and pricing for uranium; and general economic and political
conditions in Canada and other jurisdictions where the applicable
party conducts business. Other factors which could materially
affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk
factors in each of IsoEnergy’s and Consolidated Uranium’s most
recent annual management’s discussion and analyses and Consolidated
Uranium’s most recent annual information form and IsoEnergy and
Consolidated Uranium’s other filings with the Canadian securities
regulators which are available, respectively, on each Company’s
profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. IsoEnergy and Consolidated
Uranium do not undertake to update any forward-looking information,
except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
_______________________________________
1 A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify
the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral
reserves and neither IsoEnergy nor CUR is treating the historical
estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves.
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