
August 14, 2024
Aura Energy Limited (ASX: AEE, AIM: AURA) (“Aura” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce the completion of the previously announced restructure of the uranium offtake agreement with Curzon Uranium Ltd.1 (“Curzon”) which materially increased the price receivable for planned uranium production at the flagship Tiris Uranium Project (the “Project”), while releasing significant value for the Project.
KEY POINTS:
- The restructured offtake agreement improves the Project NPV8 by US$22M to US$388M and increases the IRR by 2% to 36% compared with Front End Engineering Design (“FEED”) study economics delivered in February 20242
- The final restructure agreement and new offtake agreement are on the same terms as previously announced1 to the market and were signed on 15/08/2024
- Consistent with its previous election, Curzon will receive the US$3.5M (A$5.4M) restructuring fee in 29,914,530 Aura shares priced at A$0.18 per share (“Restructuring Fee Shares”), expected to be issued on or around 18/08/2024
- Restructuring Fee Shares will be escrowed until first production from the Project
- Aura will make a private placement to Curzon of 29,914,530 Aura shares, valued at US$3.5M (A$5.4M) in aggregate (“Placement Shares”), expected to be issued on or around 18/08/24
- 50% of the Placement Shares will be escrowed until the earlier of 30 June 2025 or Final Investment Decision (“FID”) is made on the Project
- In addition to the previously disclosed terms for the Curzon placement1, the parties have agreed that Aura will issue 5,982,906 unlisted options (“Options”) priced at A$0.20 per option and expiring 1 September 2025, to Curzon. The terms of the Options are set out in Annexure 1.
- In aggregate, Curzon will be issued 59,829,060 new shares in Aura and 5,982,906 Options. Following completion of the share issues, Curzon will hold approximately 7.2% of the undiluted issued shares in the Aura.
- With the additional funds, Aura is well funded to progress the Project through to FID by Q1 2025
Aura MD and CEO, Andrew Grove commented:
“We are pleased to conclude the value accretive offtake restructure and we welcome Curzon – a leading global trader in uranium – as a new significant long term Aura shareholder and partner for the development of the Tiris Uranium Project. Curzon’s deep market insights and extensive networks will be of significant benefit to the development and successful operation of the Tiris Uranium Mine and will therefore be of enormous benefit to all Aura shareholders and stakeholders.”
Application for Admission and Total Voting Rights
Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange for the 59,829,060 new shares to be admitted to trading (“Admission”). It is expected that Admission will become effective on or around 20 August 2024.
Following the issue of the 59,829,060 shares to Curzon, the total issued share capital of the Company will consist of 848,462,427 ordinary shares of no par value each ("Ordinary Shares"). The Company does not hold any Ordinary Shares in Treasury. Therefore, the total current voting rights in the Company following Admission will be 848,462,427 and this figure may be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change in their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Aura Energy, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
AEE:AU
The Conversation (0)
02 June 2023
Aura Energy
Overview
With a mission to responsibly produce low-cost uranium to meet the growing demand for decarbonized energy, Aura Energy (ASX:AEE, AIM:AURA) is focused on rapidly advancing its Tiris Uranium Project in Mauritania, as it continues to transition from explorer to producer.
Uranium is the essential fuel for nuclear power, a sustainable, low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels. Nuclear Power is one of the only scalable providers of baseload electrical supply as the world moves toward decarbonization, and will be vital in the future. In fact, growing support for nuclear power and diminishing uranium supply prompted the Bank of America to forecast spot prices to rise to US$70 per pound by 2023, adding that a loss of Russian supplies would make its forecast even more bullish. Additionally, the European Union has stated that nuclear power now qualifies as a green investment.
Aura Energy’s flagship Tiris Uranium Project in Mauritania is well-positioned to achieve near-term production and has continued to meet development milestones. Supported by a stable jurisdiction and a mining-friendly government, the company recently released an updated enhanced feasibility study (EFS). The EFS confirmed that increased steady-state production to 2.0 million pounds (Mlbs) per annum U3O8 is possible based on upgraded mineral resource estimates. This increased production strengthens the financial metrics and demonstrates robust returns for shareholders over the life of the project. The exceptional economics of the Tiris Project deliver a post-tax NPV of US$226 million and a post-tax IRR of 28 percent.
The updated mineral resource estimate includes 113.0 Mt @ 236 ppm containing 58.9 Mlbs U3O8. The asset’s shallow, flat-lying surface mineralization and simple extraction method allow for low capital and operational costs.
In Europe, the company’s 100-per cent-owned Häggån Vanadium Project aims to support Sweden’s and Europe’s green energy transition. The asset has an inferred resource estimate of 15.1 billion lbs of vanadium and 800 Mlbs of uranium. Vanadium is primarily used in the steel industry, as an additive to make steel stronger and wear-resistant, and also plays a key role in an emerging new energy storage technology called vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB), which are typically used in grid-scale storage systems.
An experienced management team leads Aura Energy with expertise throughout the natural resources sector, including uranium project development, business development, international corporate finance and metallurgy. The team’s expertise supports the company’s near-term production and long-term growth goals.
Company Highlights
- Aura Energy aims to be a responsible global producer of commodities supporting a clean, decarbonised energy future.
- The flagship Tiris Uranium Project in Mauritania is poised for near-term production, with a recently released enhanced feasibility study (EFS) outlining low capital and operating costs, supported by a stable and mining-friendly jurisdiction.
- The EFS confirms an increase in forecast steady-state production to 2.0 million pounds (Mlbs) per annum U3O8 and strong financial metrics and robust returns for shareholders over the life of the project.
- The exceptional economics of the Tiris Project deliver post-tax net present value (NPV) of US$226 million and post-tax internal rate of return (IRR) of 28 percent
- Tiris mineralization occurs at surface, can be accessed with free-digging open pit mining and simple beneficiation feed grade upgrades the ore to greater than 2,000 ppm U3O8 prior to leaching. All these characteristics contribute to the low capital and operating costs.
- The Company has a strong relationship with the Government of Mauritania who hold a 15 percent shareholding) and has been granted a 30-year mining convention to operate.
- Management plans have been submitted to the Mauritanian authorities as an important step towards the production and export of uranium oxide concentrates from Mauritania.
- Updated mineral resource estimate of 113 Mt @ 236 parts per million (ppm) containing 58.9 Mlbs U3O8
- This mineral resource estimate supports an initial 16-year project life
- Initial capital cost of US$87.9 million, and cost-efficient scalability for additional capital of US$90.3 million can deliver a 150-percent increase in production to 2.0 Mlbs per annum U3O8.
- Aura Energy’s 100-percent-owned Häggån Vanadium Project contains significant vanadium deposits, an essential mineral for the steel industry as well as for the development of vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) to support renewable energy technologies.
- An experienced management team with expertise throughout the mining industry is leading Aura toward its goals.
Get access to more exclusive Uranium Investing Stock profiles here
Keep reading...Show less
Fast-tracking the Tiris Uranium Project to support a clean, decarbonized future
Latest News
Latest Press Releases
Related News
TOP STOCKS
American Battery4.030.24
Aion Therapeutic0.10-0.01
Cybin Corp2.140.00