AngloGold Ashanti to Acquire Interest in First Uranium from Village Main Reef
TORONTO AND JOHANNESBURG, July 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - First Uranium Corporation (TSX:FIU), (JSE:FUM) (ISIN:CA33744R1029) ("First Uranium" or "the Company") today announced that AngloGold Ashanti Limited ("AngloGold") reported that it has entered into an agreement to acquire 47,065,916 shares (the "FIU Shares") in First Uranium held by Village Main Reef Limited ("Village"), for CAD$0.60 per share. This equates to a 19.79% interest in First Uranium. Village has also granted to AngloGold lock-up rights and rights of first refusal in respect of Village's remaining 5.7% equity stake in the Company and approximately ZAR392.8 million principal amount of secured convertible notes issued by Mine Waste Solutions (Proprietary) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
Following the announcement by Village that it intended to sell its 26% interest, the Company on July 12, 2011 announced that the board of directors of First Uranium constituted a special committee (the "Special Committee") of directors to monitor developments and undertake a strategic review of the Company and its capital structure and to advise on any strategic alternatives that may be in the best interests of First Uranium and its stakeholders. In light of these developments, the Special Committee will be considering the effects on the Company and reviewing regulatory considerations, including in relation to its BEE status.
About First Uranium Corporation
First Uranium Corporation (TSX:FIU, JSE:FUM) is focused on the
development and operation of gold and uranium projects in South
Africa. The Company's goal is to become a significant low-cost
producer of gold and uranium from its Ezulwini underground mine (the
"Ezulwini Mine") and the Mine Waste Solutions tailings recovery
facility ("MWS"). To expand it production profile, First Uranium has
expanded the capacity of MWS and it is ramping up production at the
Ezulwini Mine and plans to pursue other value-enhancing opportunities
in South Africa.
Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains and refers to forward-looking information
based on current expectations. All other statements other than
statements of historical fact included in this release are
forward-looking statements (or forward-looking information). The
Company's plans involve various estimates and assumptions and its
business and operations are subject to various risks and uncertainties.
For more details on these estimates, assumptions, risks and
uncertainties, see the Company's most recent Annual Information Form
and most recent Management Discussion and Analysis on file with the
Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and
there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be
accurate, such statements are subject to significant risks and
uncertainties, and actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements
that are included herein, except in accordance with applicable
securities laws.
SOURCE First Uranium Corporation
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