Westwater Resources Announces Update on Debt Financing and Feasibility Results for Phase II of Its Kellyton Graphite Processing Plant
January 28 2025 - 5:30AM
Business Wire
Westwater Resources, Inc. (NYSE American: WWR), an energy
technology and battery-grade natural graphite development company
(“Westwater” or the “Company”), announces that it has received
final investment committee approval from the lead lender (a global
financial institution), and the Company is working with Cantor
Fitzgerald to finalize the overall syndication and closing of the
debt financing for the Kellyton Plant. As a result, the estimated
timing to close a debt financing transaction has been delayed.
“Given the ‘first of its kind’ nature of the Kellyton Plant, the
due diligence process undertaken by the lead lender has been
significant, and we are pleased to have approval from the lead
lender,” said Steve Cates, Westwater’s SVP-Finance and CFO. “We are
focused on getting the other interested lenders through their
diligence and approval process and will provide further updates on
timing once we have a better line of sight to closing.”
Westwater notes the closing of the debt transaction is also
subject to customary agreement on final terms, completion of the
syndication, final due diligence, and loan conditions.
Kellyton Graphite Processing Plant - Phase II Definitive
Feasibility Study
The Company is also announcing the results of its completed
Definitive Feasibility Study (“DFS”) for Phase II and reminds
investors that a portion of the Phase II capacity is already
committed via the previously announced offtake agreements.
The estimated Phase II amounts below exclude contribution from
Phase I of the Kellyton Graphite Processing Plant.
- Estimated capital costs for Phase II is $453 million, including
a 20% contingency.
- Estimated pre-tax NPV of $1.4 billion (at an 8% discount
rate).
- Total estimated cumulative pre-tax cash flows of $6.3 billion
over an estimated operating life of 35-years.
- Estimated pre-tax IRR of approximately 31.8%.
- Estimated annual pre-tax, cash flow of $192.6 million.
- Planned annual production of CSPG to 37,500 metric tons (Total
Kellyton capacity projected as 50,000 MT including Phase I and
II).
Note the above amounts do not include any potential cost savings
or synergies from the Company’s Coosa Graphite Deposit. As
previously disclosed, the Coosa Graphite Deposit Initial Assessment
has a stand-alone estimated pre-tax NPV-8% of $229 million and an
estimated pre-tax free cash flow of $714 million.
About Westwater Resources, Inc.
Westwater Resources, Inc. (NYSE American: WWR), an energy
technology company, is focused on developing battery-grade natural
graphite. The Company’s primary project is the Kellyton Graphite
Processing Plant that is under construction in east-central
Alabama. In addition, the Company’s Coosa Graphite Deposit is the
most advanced natural flake graphite deposit in the contiguous
United States and located across 41,965 acres (~17,000 hectares) in
Coosa County, Alabama. For more information, visit
www.westwaterresources.net.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
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 “working to
finalize,” “estimated timing,” “due diligence,” “line of sight,”
“estimated,” “planned,” “projected,” “potential,” “update” or
“further updates,” and other similar words or phrases. Forward
looking statements include, among other things, statements
concerning: off-take agreements with customers; Westwater’s future
sales of CSPG products to customers, including the amounts, timing,
and types of products included within those sales; possible
off-take agreements with other customers; potential debt financing
arrangements, including due diligence, the amount and type of debt,
its syndication, and the schedule for closing; the anticipated
annual production from Phase I and Phase II of Kellyton Graphite
Plan; the construction and operation of the Kellyton Graphite Plant
and its qualification line; the Company’s Coosa Graphite Deposit;
potential synergies or cost savings attendant to the Kellyton Plant
and the Coosa Deposit; and the costs, schedules, production and
economic projections associated with them. The Company cautions
that there are factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the forward-looking information that has been
provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this
forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future
performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other
factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company;
accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results
will be realized. Those uncertainties and other factors are
discussed in Westwater’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2023, and subsequent securities filings, and
they could cause actual results to differ materially from
management expectations.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250128178065/en/
Westwater Resources, Inc. Email:
Info@WestwaterResources.net
Investor Relations Email:
Investorrelations@westwaterresources.net
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