Underground tunnels at Cameco's Cigar Lake. On Friday, Cameco and Vena Resources said they are selling their 50-50 partnership in a Peruvian uranium company to Canadian venture company Azincourt Uranium.
Cameco Corp. (TSX:CCO) and Vena Resources (TSX:VEM) are selling their 50-50 partnership in a Peruvian uranium company to Canadian venture company Azincourt Uranium Inc. (TSXV:AAZ)
Azincourt CEO and president Ted O'Connor, a former director of Cameco's corporate development group, says the acquisition of Minergia SAC will provide Azincourt with two exploration projects in a region of Peru with potential for low-cost uranium mining.
Minergia SAC, which owns the advanced stage Macusani and early-stage Munani uranium exploration projects, spent more than $12-million on exploration between 2007 and 2011.
Minergia's mineral resources are estimated at 18 million pounds of U3O8 – a uranium oxide sometimes called yellowcake.
To acquire Minergia SAC, Azincourt will issue a total of $2-million in cash and stock to Cameco and Vena.
Vena said in separate release that it will receive three-quarters of its $1-million payment in stock, and $250,000 in cash. Juan Vegarra, Vena's chairman and CEO will become a director of Azincourt.
Vena said it has also negotiated rights to acquire the Azincourt shares that Cameco Global Exploration Ltd. receives as part of the sale.
"The divestment of Minergia is part of our strategy to spin off our uranium assets and combine them with other assets in other countries with significant upside," Vegarra said in a statement.
He said O'Connor responsible for overseeing Cameco's significant investment in Minergia and he's well-regarded in the uranium industry.
"Vena believes that its stake in Azincourt will result in significant upside to Vena shareholders in the coming years," Vegarra said.