UNITED STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March
9, 2012
URANIUM
RESOURCES, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
0-17171 |
75-2212772 |
||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
|
|
405 State Highway 121 Bypass, Building A, Suite 110 Lewisville, Texas |
75067 |
|
(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) |
(972) 219-3330
(Registrant's telephone number,
including area code)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report) |
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
⊠
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
⃞
Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
⃞
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
⃞
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
Item 8.01. Other Events
On March 9, 2012, the Registrant issued a press release to review the Company’s 2011 activities and financials, provide its project plans for 2012 and update on its strategy and outlook.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibit 99.1 Press Release dated March 9, 2012
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
URANIUM RESOURCES, INC. |
|||
Dated: |
March 9, 2012 |
|
/s/ Thomas H. Ehrlich |
Thomas H. Ehrlich |
|||
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit Index
Exhibit Number |
Description |
|
Exhibit 99.1 | Press Release dated March 9, 2012 |
Exhibit 99.1
Uranium Resources, Inc. Reviews 2011 Results and Provides Project Plans for 2012
LEWISVILLE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 9, 2012--Uranium Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: URRE) (“URI” or the “Company”), today provided an update on the Company’s activities and financials, as well as its strategy and outlook.
Don Ewigleben, President and CEO of URI, commented, “We achieved several objectives during 2011, and we have continued to make excellent strides as we move into 2012. Over the last 14 months:
Texas Exploration Progressing at Los Finados; Reclamation, Permitting and Process Facility Preparation Activities Moving Forward
URI has through its history produced over 8 million pounds of uranium from its South Texas properties. Although not currently in production due to the pricing environment, the Company has been developing and executing on plans to be in a ready position for production when economically feasible. At this time, URI expects 2012 to be focused on a variety of development activities, but does not anticipate producing from its Texas properties during the year.
Los Finados Exploration Project Update
Mr. Ewigleben noted, “We have a full slate of activities for our South Texas region in 2012 with the ultimate goal being to develop sufficient in place mineralized uranium material to support long-term production and capture the economics available with in situ recovery mining to capitalize on the processing assets we have at Kingsville Dome and Rosita.”
Feasibility Study for Churchrock Section 8 in Review; Neutron Acquisition Announced
One of URI’s primary focuses in 2011 in New Mexico was on the advancement of its Churchrock Section 8 toward production in the latter half of 2013. This area contains 6.5 million pounds of in-place mineralized uranium material and is covered by the Company’s underground injection control permit and reactivated NRC license which covers 27.4 million pounds of in-place mineralized uranium material for the Company’s Churchrock/Crownpoint Project.
URI’s strategy includes the consolidation of assets in New Mexico in order to gain greater economies of scale for production. On March 1, 2012, the Company announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the equity capital of Neutron in a stock-for-stock transaction. This was the first major consolidation move in New Mexico in over 20 years and positions URI as one of the largest uranium development companies in the U.S. It also executed a financing agreement in conjunction with the transaction. The acquisition requires URI’s and Neutron’s shareholder approval and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2012.
Strengthened Liquidity Position
Cash at December 31, 2011, was $2.9 million compared with $5.4 million at September 30, 2011. The decrease from the sequential third quarter reflects ongoing reclamation activities in Texas, the costs associated with the feasibility study and Neutron acquisition, and $500,000 for collateralizing URI’s financial surety obligations. URI expects to receive by March 15, 2012, $10 million in cash associated with the financing and merger transaction. In addition, the Company can, at its option, receive an additional $5 million at the closing of the merger.
On October 28, 2011, URI entered into an At-The-Market Sales Agreement (“ATM”) with BTIG, LLC, allowing it to sell from time to time, its common shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $15.0 million, through an “at-the-market” equity offering program. During November and December, URI sold 476,644 shares of common stock which resulted in net proceeds of approximately $325,000. During January 2012, 1,815,073 shares of common stock were sold for approximately $1,519,000. The Company has a total of $12.9 million available for future sales under the ATM.
Mr. Ewigleben concluded, “We have made significant strides in our efforts to advance our New Mexico and Texas properties and consolidate a larger asset base in New Mexico. We believe that we are positioning the Company to capitalize on the long-term solid fundamentals of the uranium industry. Despite the tragic tsunami in Japan last year that led to the events at the Fukushima nuclear power facility, we believe that global plans for nuclear power expansion to meet the demands of emerging economies will support a strengthened price environment for uranium to support the needed development of uranium projects. We expect that we will be able to gain from these macro economic factors as we develop our projects and move toward production in 2013.”
Teleconference and Webcast
URI will host a conference call and webcast today at 11:00 a.m. ET. During the call, management will provide an update on URI’s strategies, outlook, and progress in advancing its Texas and New Mexico properties. A question-and-answer session will follow.
The URI conference call can be accessed by dialling (201) 689-8471. The live listen-only audio webcast can be monitored on the Company’s website at www.uraniumresources.com, where it will be archived afterwards.
A telephonic replay will be available from 2:00 p.m. ET the day of the teleconference until Friday, March 16, 2012. To listen to the archived call, dial (858) 384-5517 and enter replay pin number 387136. A transcript will also be placed on the Company’s website, once available.
About Uranium Resources, Inc.
Uranium Resources Inc. explores for, develops and mines uranium. Since its incorporation in 1977, URI has produced over 8 million pounds of uranium by in-situ recovery (ISR) methods in the state of Texas. URI also has 183,000 acres of uranium mineral holdings and 101.4 million pounds of in-place mineralized uranium material in New Mexico and an NRC license to produce up to 1 million pounds of uranium per year. The Company acquired these properties over the past 20 years along with an extensive information database of historic mining logs and analysis. None of URI’s properties is currently in production.
URI’s strategy is to fully develop its resource base in New Mexico and Texas, expand its asset base both within and outside of New Mexico and Texas, partner with larger mining companies that have undeveloped uranium assets or with junior mining companies that do not have the mining experience of URI, as well as provide restoration expertise to those that require the capability or lack the proficiency.
Uranium Resources routinely posts news and other information about the Company on its website at www.uraniumresources.com.
Additional Information
Uranium Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“URI”) entered into, among other transaction documents, a definitive merger agreement on March 1, 2012, by and among URI, URI Merger Corporation, a Nevada corporation and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of URI (“Merger Sub”), and Neutron Energy, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“Neutron”) under which Merger Sub will be merged with and into Neutron, with Neutron continuing as the surviving corporation and becoming an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of URI (the “Transaction”). In connection with the proposed Transaction, URI will file a registration statement on Form S-4, a joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Stockholders are urged to read the registration statement and joint proxy statement/prospectus when they become available, and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information. The registration statement and joint proxy statement/prospectus, once available, as well as other filings containing information about URI and Neutron, can be obtained without charge at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) or by directing a request to URI: Deborah K. Pawlowski, 716.843.3908, dpawlowski@keiadvisors.com.
URI and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of URI in connection with the proposed Transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of URI is set forth in the proxy statement for URI’s 2011 annual meeting of stockholders, as filed with the SEC on April 29, 2011. Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the proposed Transaction may be obtained by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed Transaction when it becomes available. Investors may obtain free copies of these documents as described above.
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are identified by words such as “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” and other similar words. All statements addressing operating performance, events, or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including but not limited to statements relating to the Company’s mineralized uranium materials, access to properties, timing of receipt of mining permits, production capacity of mining operations planned for properties in South Texas and New Mexico, planned dates for commencement of production at such properties, revenue, cash generation and profits are forward-looking statements. Because they are forward-looking, they should be evaluated in light of important risk factors and uncertainties. These risk factors and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, receiving shareholder approval of the Neutron transaction, realizing the benefits of the merger and resource development synergies, the exploration upside of the acquired properties, the Company’s ability to acquire other properties, the benefit of permitting on private lands, the effect of additional major investors with mining investment experience, the spot price and long-term contract price of uranium, weather conditions, operating conditions at the Company’s mining projects, government regulation of the mining industry and the nuclear power industry, world-wide uranium supply and demand, availability of capital, timely receipt of mining and other permits from regulatory agents and other factors which are more fully described in the Company’s documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the Company’s underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those currently anticipated. In addition, undue reliance should not be placed on the Company’s forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update or publicly announce any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release.
URANIUM RESOURCES, INC. |
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December 31, | ||||||||||||
2011 |
2010 |
|||||||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 2,890,263 | $ | 15,386,472 | ||||||||
Receivables, net | 123,336 | 46,244 | ||||||||||
Prepaid and other current assets | 165,509 | 179,231 | ||||||||||
Total current assets | 3,179,108 | 15,611,947 | ||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, at cost: | ||||||||||||
Uranium properties | 82,768,867 | 82,989,579 | ||||||||||
Other property, plant and equipment | 868,454 | 905,511 | ||||||||||
Less—accumulated depreciation, depletion and impairment | (64,791,294 |
) |
(64,282,888 |
) |
||||||||
Net property, plant and equipment | 18,846,027 | 19,612,202 | ||||||||||
Long-term investment: | ||||||||||||
Restricted cash | 9,379,794 | 7,337,366 | ||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 31,404,929 | $ | 42,561,515 | ||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||||||
Accounts and short term notes payable |
$ |
1,148,812 |
$ |
602,190 | ||||||||
Current portion of restoration reserve | 1,227,125 | 1,239,588 | ||||||||||
Royalties and commissions payable | 665,745 | 665,745 | ||||||||||
Deferred compensation | — | 697,028 | ||||||||||
Accrued legal settlement | — | 1,375,000 | ||||||||||
Accrued interest and other accrued liabilities | 374,088 | 348,269 | ||||||||||
Current portion of capital leases | 65,161 | 83,183 | ||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
|
3,480,931 |
5,011,003 | |||||||||
Other long-term liabilities and deferred credits | 4,008,634 | 4,304,057 | ||||||||||
Long-term capital leases, less current portion | 54,071 | 119,588 | ||||||||||
Other long-term debt | 450,000 | 450,000 | ||||||||||
Total liabilities | 7,993,636 | 9,884,648 | ||||||||||
Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||||||
Shareholders' equity: | ||||||||||||
Common stock, $0.001 par value, shares authorized: 200,000,000;
shares issued and |
|
94,043 |
92,468 |
|||||||||
Paid-in capital |
|
169,904,203 |
167,971,955 |
|||||||||
Accumulated deficit |
|
(146,577,535 |
) |
(135,378,138 |
) |
|||||||
Less: Treasury stock (38,125 shares), at cost |
|
(9,418 |
) |
(9,418 |
) |
|||||||
Total shareholders' equity |
|
23,411,293 |
|
32,676,867 |
||||||||
$ | 31,404,929 |
$ |
42,561,515 | |||||||||
URANIUM RESOURCES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS |
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|
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Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
2011 |
2010 |
|||||||||||
Revenue: | ||||||||||||
Uranium sales | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||||
Total revenue | — | — | ||||||||||
Costs and expenses: | ||||||||||||
Cost of uranium sales: | ||||||||||||
Royalties and commissions | — | — | ||||||||||
Operating expenses | 648,278 | 394,763 | ||||||||||
Accretion/amortization of restoration reserve | 121,183 | 155,943 | ||||||||||
Depreciation and depletion | 599,504 | 756,377 | ||||||||||
Writedown of uranium properties | 1,460,170 | 961,278 | ||||||||||
Exploration expenses | 17,918 | 1,646 | ||||||||||
Total cost of uranium sales | 2,847,053 | 2,270,007 | ||||||||||
Loss from operations before corporate expenses | (2,847,053 | ) | (2,270,007 | ) | ||||||||
Corporate expenses: | ||||||||||||
General and administrative (includes stock compensation expense of
$884,000 and |
8,400,955 | 6,911,672 | ||||||||||
Provision for legal settlement | — | 1,375,000 | ||||||||||
Depreciation | 127,741 | 143,361 | ||||||||||
Total corporate expenses | 8,528,696 | 8,430,033 | ||||||||||
Loss from operations | (11,375,749 | ) | (10,700,040 | ) | ||||||||
Other income (expense): | ||||||||||||
Interest expense | (18,968 | ) | (25,362 | ) | ||||||||
Interest and other income, net | 195,320 | 370,835 | ||||||||||
Total other income, net | 176,352 | 345,473 | ||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (11,199,397 | ) | $ | (10,354,567 | ) | ||||||
Net loss per common share: | ||||||||||||
Basic | $ | (0.12 | ) | $ | (0.14 | ) | ||||||
Diluted | $ | (0.12 | ) | $ | (0.14 | ) | ||||||
URANIUM RESOURCES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||
2011 |
2010 |
|||||||||||
Cash flows from operations: | ||||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (11,199,397 | ) | $ | (10,354,567 | ) | ||||||
Reconciliation of net loss to cash used in operations— | ||||||||||||
Accretion/amortization of restoration reserve | 121,183 |
155,943 |
||||||||||
Depreciation and depletion | 727,245 | 899,738 | ||||||||||
Writedown of uranium properties and exploration expenses | 1,460,170 | 961,278 | ||||||||||
Decrease in restoration and reclamation accrual | (1,530,303 | ) | (1,373,228 | ) | ||||||||
Stock compensation expense | 883,941 | 1,032,308 | ||||||||||
Other non-cash items, net |
2,289 |
19,700 | ||||||||||
Effect of changes in operating working capital items— | ||||||||||||
(Increase) decrease in receivables | (77,092 | ) | 17,646 | |||||||||
Decrease in inventories | — | — | ||||||||||
(Increase) decrease in prepaid and other current assets | 13,722 | (53,831 | ) | |||||||||
Increase (decrease) in payables and accrued liabilities and |
(802,560 | ) | 1,334,939 | |||||||||
Net cash used in operations | (10,400,802 | ) | (7,360,074 | ) | ||||||||
Investing activities: | ||||||||||||
Increase in certificate of deposit, restricted | (2,042,428 | ) | (551,366 | ) | ||||||||
Additions to property, plant and equipment— | ||||||||||||
Kingsville Dome | (141,137 | ) | (149,652 | ) | ||||||||
Rosita | (125,693 | ) | (58,504 | ) | ||||||||
Vasquez | (97,200 | ) | (77,500 | ) | ||||||||
Rosita South | (40,959 | ) | (78,813 | ) | ||||||||
Los Finados project | (88,236 | ) | (1,168,780 | ) | ||||||||
Churchrock | (58,838 | ) | (138,541 | ) | ||||||||
Crownpoint/Section 13 Drilling | (34,921 | ) | (119,624 | ) | ||||||||
Proceeds from Joint Venture agreement | 300,000 | — | ||||||||||
Other property | (35,311 | ) | (23,123 | ) | ||||||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (2,364,723 | ) | (2,365,903 | ) | ||||||||
Financing activities: | ||||||||||||
Payments of borrowings | (83,539 | ) | (117,710 | ) | ||||||||
Issuance of common stock, net | 352,855 | 19,138,091 | ||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 269,316 | 19,020,381 | ||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (12,496,209 | ) | 9,294,404 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year | 15,386,472 | 6,092,068 | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year | $ | 2,890,263 | $ | 15,386,472 |
CONTACT:
Uranium Resources, Inc.
Don Ewigleben, 972.219.3330
President
& Chief Executive Officer
or
Investors:
Kei Advisors
LLC
Deborah K. Pawlowski, 716.843.3908
dpawlowski@keiadvisors.com
or
Media:
Mat
Lueras, 505.269.8317
Vice President, Corporate Development
mlueras@uraniumresources.com