NASDAQ:EU
TSXV:EU
www.encoreuranium.com
DALLAS, March 18,
2025 /PRNewswire/ - enCore Energy Corp.
(NASDAQ: EU) (TSXV: EU) (the "Company" or "enCore"), America's
Clean Energy Company™, announced today that it has entered into a
share purchase agreement (the "Agreement") with Verdera
Energy Corp. ("Verdera") pursuant to which Verdera will
acquire an enCore subsidiary that holds the Crownpoint, Hosta Butte, Nose Rock, West
Largo, and Ambrosia Lake – Treeline
uranium projects located in New
Mexico (the "Properties") in exchange for 50,000,000
non-voting preferred shares (the "Consideration Shares") of
Verdera representing approximately 73% of the current issued and
outstanding shares of Verdera on a fully diluted basis,; a 2% net
proceeds royalty on uranium, and a 2% net smelter returns royalty
on other minerals, extracted and sold from the Properties, and a
non-refundable cash payment of US $350,000. The transaction with Verdera represents
the fourth and largest transaction to date in enCore's ongoing
program of divesting uranium assets that are not in its production
pipeline.

Pursuant to the Agreement, following closing, Verdera will
pursue a listing on a Canadian stock exchange by December 10, 2025, which may be extended by
mutual agreement of the parties to January
31, 2026. Concurrent with Verdera listing on a Canadian
stock exchange, 15,000,000 Consideration Shares will convert into
common shares of the resulting listed company (the "Resulting
Issuer") and be retained by enCore. The remaining 35,000,000
Consideration Shares will convert into common shares of the
Resulting Issuer in connection with the planned distribution by
enCore of the shares to its shareholders by way of a stock dividend
or similar distribution.
Executive Chairman, William M.
Sheriff stated: "As enCore pushes forward on its aggressive
uranium extraction plans in South
Texas, we continue to execute on our stated non-core asset
disposition strategy to create additional value for shareholders.
We believe that our New Mexico
projects deserve a dedicated focus, which they do not currently
receive inside enCore's broader portfolio of producing and
near-term producing assets. With Verdera, we hope to surface
additional value, and to eventually transfer a majority of that
additional value directly to shareholders though the distribution
of Verdera shares. We look forward to working with Verdera and its
Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tim
Gabruch, to see a greater focus on the essential steps to
modernize resources and develop long term relationships with local
communities to secure a social license for development of the
assets. This requires a dedicated effort on the legislative and
social fronts over a number of years, important work beyond
enCore's focus, scope and timelines."
Please join us on March 20th at
11:00AM ET for an enCore Corporate
Update Webcast with Executive Chairman William Sheriff, Director Dr. Dennis Stover, and Acting CEO Robert Willette to discuss recent developments
and future plans for the Company. Attendees can register for the
webcast with this
link: https://app.webinar.net/qYj1XqMXgQm.
To view a map of the New Mexico
assets please visit: https://rb.gy/rs1g74.
The Transaction
Pursuant to the Agreement, enCore will
sell a subsidiary company that holds the Properties to Verdera in
exchange for the Consideration Shares, royalties and cash payment
described above. The closing of the sale of the subsidiary is
anticipated to occur by March 31,
2025, subject to customary closing conditions set forth in
the Agreement.
The Agreement provides that the Consideration Shares will be
entitled to vote together with the Verdera common shares in
connection with any shareholder vote held for the purpose of
approving a transaction to be listed on a Canadian stock exchange,
as well as in certain other circumstances. In the event Verdera
does not complete a listing and concurrent financing, enCore will
have the right to repurchase the subsidiary holding the Properties
in exchange for the return of the Consideration Shares and
cancellation of the royalties.
Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement enCore has a
right to participate in any financing by Verdera in order to
maintain up to its initial equity interest in Verdera, until
Verdera completes a listing on a Canadian stock exchange.
The New Mexico Properties
The Properties are located in the historic Grants
Uranium District in New Mexico and
include control of mineral rights over more than 400 square miles.
Several different known uranium resources lie within this large
area of mineral rights along with very good exploration potential
to increase these resources and/or discover additional uranium
resources. New Mexico's Grants
Uranium District has produced ~350 million pounds
U3O8, or nearly 40% of all uranium mined in
the US and is one of the largest uranium districts in the world.
Highlights of the most significant projects are shown below:
Crownpoint
and Hosta Butte Project1
Project Highlights:
- Crownpoint is permitted under
Laramide Resources Ltd.'s Nuclear Regulatory Commission License to
recover up to 3 million pounds of uranium per year;
- Located within 5 miles of a licensed processing site and
mineralization amenable to In-Situ Recovery;
- Three existing shafts for underground production were developed
by Conoco in the 1980s.
Crownpoint and Hosta Butte Current Mineral Resource
Estimate 20221
|
|
|
|
|
|
Resource
|
Million
|
Grade
|
Attributable
|
|
|
|
|
Category
|
Tons
|
eU3O8%
|
eU3O8%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(M lbs.)
|
Crownpoint
|
|
|
Indicated
|
7.32
|
0.111
|
16.22
|
Hosta Butte
|
|
|
Indicated
|
3.64
|
0.13
|
9.48
|
Total Indicated Mineral
Resource
|
|
10.96
|
0.117
|
25.70
|
Crownpoint
|
|
|
Inferred
|
0.68
|
0.103
|
1.39
|
Hosta Butte
|
|
|
Inferred
|
1.71
|
0.131
|
4.48
|
Total Inferred Mineral Resource
|
|
|
2.39
|
0.121
|
5.87
|
Historic Mineral Resources - Significant
Projects
Historic
Resources2,3,4
|
|
|
|
Project
|
Million Tons
|
Grade eU3O8%
|
Attributable
|
|
|
|
U3O8 (M
lbs.)
|
Nose Rock
|
11.8
|
0.148
|
35.0
|
West Largo
|
2.9
|
0.30
|
17.2
|
Ambrosia
Lake
|
2.0
|
0.176
|
7.1
|
Total Historic Mineral
Resources
|
|
|
59.3
|
A Qualified Person (as defined in NI 43-101) has
not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as a
current mineral resource. The Company believes the historical
results are relevant and reliable for the purposes of defining
areas for further exploration work. Additional work will be
required to verify and update historical estimates, including a
review of assumptions, parameters, methods and testing. The
historical estimate does not use the current mineral resources
categories prescribed under NI 43-101. The Company is not treating
the historical estimate as a current mineral resource.
John M. Seeley, Ph.D., P.G.,
C.P.G., enCore's Manager of Geology and Exploration, and a
Qualified Person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the
technical disclosure in this news release on behalf of the
Company.
About Verdera Energy Corp.
Verdera Energy Corp. is a
private Canadian corporation focused on the development of advanced
uranium assets in New Mexico, home
to the largest uranium resources in the
United States. Verdera is focused on developing known
uranium projects to meet the growing demand for reliable domestic
uranium, in the United States, to
fuel the nuclear industry. Backed by industry leaders, contributing
a wealth of expertise across all aspects of uranium exploration,
development, and production, Verdera is committed to fostering
strong community relations and promoting environmental stewardship.
Verdera strives to collaborate closely with local communities and
exclusively advance projects that can utilize the environmentally
friendly ISR uranium extraction technology.
Verdera is led by Chief Executive Officer and Director, Mr.
Tim Gabruch, who brings more than 30
years of experience within the uranium and nuclear industry. Mr.
Gabruch previously served as Chief Executive Officer and Director
of IsoEnergy Ltd., Vice President Commercial for Denison Mines Ltd.
and as Chief Commercial Officer for Uranium Participation Corp.
(now the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust). Mr. Gabruch also
previously worked at Cameco Corporation for more than 20 years,
including seven years as Vice-President, Marketing, where he led a
team tasked with selling and delivering more than 30 million lbs of
uranium annually.
About enCore Energy Corp.
enCore Energy Corp.,
America's Clean Energy Company™, is committed to providing clean,
reliable, and affordable fuel for nuclear energy as the only
United States uranium company with
multiple Central Processing Plants in operation. The enCore team is
led by industry experts with extensive knowledge and experience in
all aspects of In-Situ Recovery ("ISR") uranium operations and the
nuclear fuel cycle. enCore solely utilizes ISR for uranium
extraction, a well-known and proven technology co-developed by the
leaders at enCore Energy.
Following upon enCore's demonstrated success in South Texas, future projects in enCore's
planned project pipeline include the Dewey-Burdock project in
South Dakota and the Gas Hills
project in Wyoming. The Company
holds other assets including non-core assets and proprietary
databases. enCore is committed to working with local communities
and indigenous governments to create positive impact from corporate
developments.
www.encoreuranium.com
- NI-43-101 Technical Report, Crownpoint and Hosta Bute Uranium Project,
McKinley County, New Mexico, USA
completed by BRS Inc. and enCore Energy Corp. (effective
February 25, 2022).
- McLemore, Virginia T., Prin. Senior Economic Geologist,
"Uranium Resources in New Mexico",
New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources" which
incorporates a table entitled: Estimated uranium resources in
New Mexico, 2017 (updated from
McLemore, et al., 2011, 2013.
- Hassan Alief, Technical Report on Section 1, T18N, R12W,
Nose Rock Uranium Property, McKinley
County, New Mexico, reported an effective February 9, 2009 for Strathmore Minerals
Corp.
- Behre Dolbear & Company
(USA) Inc., 2011, Technical Report
on the Nose Rock Project of Uranium Resources Inc., prepared by
Robert D. Maxwell, CPG.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking
Statements:
Neither 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.
The securities referenced herein have not been and will not
be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not
be offered or sold within the United
States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as
defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under
the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption
from such registration requirements is available.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995 and Canadian securities laws that are based on management's
current expectations, assumptions and beliefs. Forward-looking
statements can often be identified by such words as "anticipates",
"expects", "plans", "believes", "intends", "estimates",
"potential", and similar expressions or variations (including
negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements that
certain actions, events or results "may", "could", or "will" be
taken.
Forward-looking statements and information that are not
statements of historical fact include, but are not limited to, any
information relating to statements regarding future or potential
extraction, statements regarding ability to complete, and the
timing of completion of the transactions contemplated by the
Agreement, including the parties' ability to satisfy the conditions
set forth in the Agreement and the possibility of any termination
of the Agreement, ability to complete, and the timing of completion
of a stock exchange listing by Verdera, ability to complete, and
the timing of completion of a distribution of common shares of the
Resulting Issuer to shareholders of the Company, conversion of the
Consideration Shares, and the Company's ongoing program of
divesting uranium assets that are not in the Company's production
pipeline, and any other statements regarding future expectations,
beliefs, goals or prospect. . All such forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future results and forward-looking
statements are subject to important risk factors and uncertainties,
many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or
predict, that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed in any forward-looking statement. A number of
important factors could cause actual results or events to differ
materially from those indicated or implied by such forward-looking
statements, including without limitation the risk that the proposed
transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, the
possibility that any or all of the conditions to the completion of
the share sale may not be satisfied or waived, the occurrence of
any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the
termination of the Agreement, the risk that a stock exchange
listing by Verdera may not be completed in a timely manner or at
all, including that a governmental entity may prohibit, delay or
refuse to grant approval for such listing, the risk that a
distribution of common shares of the Resulting Issuer may not be
completed in a timely manner or at all, including that a
governmental entity may prohibit, delay or refuse to grant approval
for such distribution, Verdera's ability to realize the synergies
contemplated by the proposed transaction, exploration and
development risks, changes in commodity prices, access to skilled
personnel, the results of exploration and development activities;
extraction risks; uninsured risks; regulatory risks; defects in
title; the availability of materials and equipment, timeliness of
government approvals and unanticipated environmental impacts on
operations; litigation risks; risks posed by the economic and
political environments in which the Company operates and intends to
operate; increased competition; assumptions regarding market trends
and the expected demand and desires for the Company's products and
proposed products; reliance on industry equipment manufacturers,
suppliers and others; the failure to adequately protect
intellectual property; the failure to adequately manage future
growth; adverse market conditions, the failure to satisfy ongoing
regulatory requirements and factors relating to forward looking
statements listed above which include risks as disclosed in the
Company's filings on SEDAR+ and with the SEC, including its Annual
Report on Form 10-K, management discussion and analysis and annual
information form. Should one or more of these risks materialize, or
should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described
herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or
expected. The Company assumes no obligation to update the
information in this communication, except as required by law.
Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is
contained in filings by the Company with the respective securities
commissions which are available online at
www.sec.gov and www.sedarplus.ca.
Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of
providing information about the current expectations, beliefs and
plans of management. Such statements may not be appropriate for
other purposes and readers should not place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, that speak only as of the date hereof,
as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or
expectations upon which they are based will occur. Such
information, although considered reasonable by management at the
time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results
may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking
statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified
by this cautionary statement.
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SOURCE enCore Energy Corp.