Cameco Acquires Uranium Exploration Interest in Niger

August 23, 2008 Filed Under: Uranium Mining  

Cameco Corporation announced it has formed a strategic alliance with Govi High Power Exploration Inc. (GoviEx) and acquired an approximate 11% interest in the company for $28 million (US).

GoviEx is a closely held exploration company formed in 2006 with uranium exploration assets in Niger, Africa. The company holds about 2,300 square kilometres of exploration property in the region around Arlit, Niger, which has been extensively explored since the 1960s. GoviEx field teams are analyzing historical data and have begun a drilling program to confirm and expand historical resource estimates and to provide data that conforms to current Canadian standards. GoviEx also holds about 2,400 square kilometres near Agadez, Niger. This area is in the early stages of exploration. The strategic alliance will also effectively provide Cameco with access to all of GoviEx’s initiatives in other African countries.

“This acquisition further diversifies Cameco’s impressive uranium exploration portfolio worldwide,” said Jerry Grandey, Cameco’s president and CEO. “GoviEx has promising exploration property in a region with a long history of uranium mining, and has assembled an exceptional technical team with decades of experience in Niger.”

GoviEx is led by president and CEO Govind Friedland and the company’s technical team has decades of combined uranium experience. This strategic alliance will provide Cameco, GoviEx and Niger an opportunity to expedite the development of the Madaouela uranium properties near Arlit.

Under the strategic alliance, Cameco can acquire another approximate 10% interest in GoviEx for $31 million (US) following completion of a due diligence review expected by year end. The arrangement stipulates that most of the proceeds received from Cameco to acquire its ownership interests in GoviEx will be used for uranium exploration.

If Cameco decides to increase its ownership in GoviEx after completion of due diligence, it secures additional ownership and governance rights. These include the right for Cameco to increase its ownership interest up to a maximum of about 48% over the next four years by exercise of warrants issued by GoviEx and options granted on shares held by the principal shareholders of GoviEx. Increasing ownership to 48% would cost Cameco between $145 million (US) and $212 million (US) depending upon timing of the purchase. Future decisions by Cameco to increase its ownership in GoviEx will be guided by achievement of certain technical milestones agreed to by the parties.

Cameco’s other rights include appointment of one member to the GoviEx board of directors and two of five members of a technical committee that will oversee exploration activities. GoviEx will be the operator of its projects.

“This acquisition builds on our African presence which began last year with a joint venture in Gabon,” Grandey added noting Cameco is involved in uranium exploration on five continents.

Cameco, with its head office in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is the world’s largest uranium producer. The company’s uranium products are used to generate electricity in nuclear energy plants around the world, providing one of the cleanest sources of energy available today. Cameco’s shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges.