Macusani Yellowcake and Azincourt Uranium Sign Letter of Intent to
Consolidate Properties Creating Pre-eminent Uranium Developer
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Apr 17, 2014) - Macusani
Yellowcake Inc. (TSX-VENTURE:YEL)(FRANKFURT:QG1) ("Macusani") and
Azincourt Uranium Inc. (TSX-VENTURE:AAZ) ("Azincourt") are pleased
to announce that they have signed a non-binding letter of intent
which contemplates the acquisition by Macusani of all of
Azincourt's adjacent uranium properties located on the Macusani
Plateau in south-eastern Peru in exchange for 68,350,000 common
shares of Macusani (the "Transaction").
Synergies and Transaction Rationale
Completion of the Transaction is expected to result in
substantial synergies, creating significant value for both Macusani
and Azincourt shareholders, including:
- On a pro-forma basis, after the acquisition, Macusani would
control one of the largest undeveloped uranium projects in the
world containing very large measured, indicated and inferred
uranium resources, comprising the following:
- Macusani's 31.47 M lbs of measured and indicated (M&I)
contained U3O8 and 30.09 M lbs of inferred contained U3O8 (refer to
Macusani preliminary economic assessment filed on SEDAR on January
15, 2014 for details, including tonnage and grade, Footnote 1 and
Table, below) and
- Azincourt's historical 18.2 M lbs of M&I contained U3O8 and
17.4 M lbs of inferred contained U3O8 (refer to Azincourt News
Release November 22, 2013 filed on SEDAR for details including
tonnage and grade, Footnote 2 and Table, below)
- For a total combined resource of 49.67 M lbs of M&I
contained U3O8 and 47.49 M lbs of inferred contained U3O8.
- Macusani expects that Azincourt's adjacent uranium resources
can be easily incorporated into its existing mine plan as
contemplated in its January 15, 2014 Preliminary Economic
Assessment completed by GBM Minerals Engineering Consultants (the
"PEA"), which could result in substantial development and operating
efficiencies and economies of scale. See Map below.
- The PEA's base case evaluation shows attractive project
economics, including a Pre-Tax Net Present Value of US $708 million
($417 million Post-Tax), a Pre-Tax IRR of 47.5% (32.4% Post-Tax)
using an 8% discount rate and $65lb uranium price. Following the
closing of the Transaction, it is anticipated that a new
Preliminary Economic Assessment will be undertaken on the combined
property portfolio, and Macusani and Azincourt currently believe
that economic returns will be even stronger as a result of the
operational synergies noted above.1
- By combining adjacent mineral property claims totalling over
949 km2 in one of the largest, most highly prospective uranium
districts in the world, Macusani's position as the dominant
landholder in the region would be further solidified. Macusani
believes that the district offers exceptional exploration
prospects.
- Combined Management team and Board of Directors following
completion of the Transaction would be complementary, providing
Macusani with deep expertise across key competencies including
local operations management in Peru, uranium project development
and exploration, relationship management with strategic investors
and end-users as well as global finance and capital markets.
- The proposed Macusani Board will be closely aligned with
shareholders through substantial equity ownership.
- Positions Azincourt shareholders to own two distinct uranium
investments with different risk/return characteristics: Macusani, a
pure-play, dominant uranium development company focused in Peru;
and Azincourt, an Athabasca-focused uranium exploration
company.
1. Readers are cautioned that a PEA should not be considered to
be a pre-feasibility or feasibility study. The PEA is preliminary
in nature and uses inferred resources which are considered too
speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to
them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves.
Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have
demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that the
results predicted by this PEA will be realized. The mineral
resource estimates, upon which the PEA is based, could be
materially affected by environmental, geotechnical, permitting,
legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other
relevant factors.
2. The historical estimate was prepared and reported under NI
43-101 by Henkle & Associates entitled "Updated Technical
Report of the Macusani Uranium Exploration Project", dated October
25, 2011. The resource estimate was prepared using polygon-area
method cross-checked by inverse distance squared method, both
current industry standard methods. Azincourt will be filing an
updated 43-101 report on the Minergia projects in May 2014. A
qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the
historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral
reserves and neither Azincourt nor Macusani is treating the
historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral
reserves.
To view the Map of the Macusani Plateau, please visit the
following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/940352a.pdf
Dr. Laurence Stefan, President and CEO of Macusani, stated:
"This transaction is a natural step in Macusani's evolution of
becoming a developer of one of the largest and most prospective
uranium projects in the world. The synergies from this transaction
are obvious and offer the potential for substantial value creation
for both Macusani and Azincourt shareholders. Macusani over the
years has developed an exceptional uranium project and this
transaction enhances our project in a very significant manner. I
look forward to the completion of this transaction and working with
Ted O'Connor in not only advancing our world-class uranium project
through feasibility and ultimately into production, but also in
raising the market's awareness about this unique and valuable
asset."
Mr. Ted O'Connor, current President and CEO of Azincourt,
stated: "From our initial approach to Macusani it has been my
opinion that this transaction represents an inflection point for
both Macusani and Azincourt from which a pre-eminent uranium
development company will emerge. As a former Director with Cameco,
I've had the opportunity to evaluate uranium projects all over the
world and I believe that the investment community will be very
hard-pressed to identify an investment opportunity in the uranium
sector that is more attractive in the context of the current market
than Macusani. Once combined, Macusani will offer one of the
largest contiguous uranium resource bases, the potential for
substantial synergies from a combined mine plan and exploration
upside which is very rare to find. I look forward to joining the
Macusani team and helping them realize the value of this unique
project in the marketplace over time."
Proposed Transaction Details
Under the proposed Transaction, it is currently contemplated
that Macusani would acquire 100% of Azincourt's subsidiary Minergia
SAC in consideration for the issuance to Azincourt of 68,350,000
common shares (the "Acquisition Shares"), representing
approximately 30% of the outstanding shares of Macusani
post-Transaction. The final structure of the Transaction is still
to be determined. It is expected that Azincourt would distribute
the Acquisition Shares to its shareholders on a tax efficient,
pro rata basis (the "Distribution") following the receipt
of all necessary regulatory and shareholder approvals and within
five months of the closing of the proposed Transaction. The
Acquisition Shares would be restricted to exercising no more than
19.9% of the voting rights attached to all common shares of
Macusani until the Distribution is completed.
The letter of intent contemplates that Ted O'Connor, current
President and CEO of Azincourt, would be appointed as Chief
Executive Officer of Macusani following completion of the
Transaction, and Laurence Stefan, current President and CEO of
Macusani, would serve as President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr.
O'Connor and Ian Stalker, Chairman of Azincourt, would also join a
six member board of directors of Macusani.
Pursuant to the letter of intent, each party has granted the
other an exclusivity period until May 30, 2014 in which to complete
due diligence and has agreed not to solicit other proposals subject
to the exercise by its board of the board's fiduciary duties. The
letter of intent permits either party to terminate the letter of
intent and enter into or pursue another transaction with a third
party that is deemed superior (after providing the other party with
an opportunity to match), upon payment of an expense reimbursement
fee of $100,000. The exclusivity period and expense reimbursement
fee provisions in the letter of intent are binding on the
parties.
The companies have agreed to work towards the signing of
definitive documentation by May 30, 2014, and the proposed
Transaction is expected to be completed in June 2014, following all
necessary approvals.
The proposed Transaction remains subject to satisfactory due
diligence investigations by both parties, the entering into of a
definitive agreement and the satisfaction of customary closing
conditions, including any necessary regulatory approvals. There is
no assurance that the proposed Transaction will be completed, or if
completed, that the terms may not change.
Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Corporation is acting as financial
advisor to Macusani and its board of directors and Haywood
Securities Inc. is acting as financial advisor to Azincourt and its
board of directors.
Qualified Person
Mr. David Young, B.Sc. (Hons), FGSSA, FSAIMM, FAusIMM, Pr Sci
Nat (No 400989/83) of The Mineral Corporation, South Africa, an
independent geological consulting firm, is a Qualified Person as
defined under National Instrument 43-101, and has reviewed and
approved the scientific and technical data contained in this press
release relating to Macusani.
Mr. Ted O'Connor, P.Geo., President and CEO of Azincourt and a
qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has
reviewed and approved Azincourt's scientific and technical
information contained in this press release.
About Macusani Yellowcake Inc.
Macusani Yellowcake Inc. is a Canadian uranium exploration and
development company focused on the exploration of its properties on
the Macusani Plateau in southeastern Peru. The company owns a 99.5%
interest in concessions that cover over 90,000 hectares (900 km2)
and are situated near significant infrastructure. Macusani is
listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol 'YEL' and the
Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol 'QG1'. The company has
159,473,613 shares outstanding. For more information please visit
www.macyel.com.
About Azincourt Uranium Inc.
Azincourt Uranium Inc. is a Canadian based resource company
specializing in the strategic acquisition, exploration and
development of uranium properties and is headquartered in
Vancouver, British Columbia. Azincourt has advanced exploration
projects and compliant uranium resources in southeastern Peru and
the PLN exploration project joint venture with Fission 3.0 in
northern Saskatchewan.
Cautionary 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.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release includes certain forward-looking
statements concerning the future performance of Macusani's and
Azincourt's business, operations and financial performance and
condition, as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs
and intentions. Forward-looking statements are frequently
identified by such words as "would", "may", "will", "plan",
"expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend" and similar words
referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements
are based on the current opinions and expectations of management.
All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject
to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the
speculative nature of mineral exploration and development,
fluctuating commodity prices, competitive risks and the
availability of financing, as described in more detail in the both
companies recent securities filings available at www.sedar.com.
Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected
in the forward-looking statements and Macusani and Azincourt
caution against placing undue reliance thereon. Specifically, there
is no assurance that (i) the proposed Transaction between Macusani
and Azincourt will be completed on the terms outlined, or at all;
(ii) that any of the anticipated synergies pertaining to combining
their respective Peruvian properties will be realized in the manner
outlined above, or at all; or (iii) the values forecasted in the
PEA will be realized. Neither the companies nor their management
assume any obligation to revise or update these forward-looking
statements.
To view the Resource Estimate tables associated with this
release, please visit the following link:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/940352_T1-2.pdf
Macusani Yellowcake Inc.Laurence Stefan, President &
CEO416-628-9600laurence@macyel.comwww.macyel.com / Facebook:
www.macyel.com/facebook/Twitter: www.twitter.com/macusani/Azincourt
Uranium Inc.Ted O'ConnorPresident &
CEO604-662-4955ted@azincourturanium.comAzincourt Uranium Inc.Mario
VetroCorporate Development and Investor
Relations604-662-4955mario@azincourturanium.comwww.azincourturanium.com