Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE: UUUU) announced plans to acquire Australian Strategic Materials Limited (ASX: ASM) in a move that will create what the company touts as the largest fully integrated rare-earth element (REE) producer outside of China. The transaction, valued at approximately US$299 million (A$447 million), positions Energy Fuels as a vertically integrated “mine-to-metal & alloy” REE champion, addressing critical gaps in global supply chains for magnets used in automotive, robotics, energy, and defense applications.
The acquisition will combine ASM’s operating Korean Metals Plant (KMP) and its planned American Metals Plant (AMP) with Energy Fuels’ existing REE oxide production at the White Mesa Mill in Utah, the only U.S. facility capable of separating monazite concentrates into both light and heavy REE oxides. ASM’s KMP is one of the few facilities outside China producing REE metals and alloys, including neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr), dysprosium (Dy), and terbium (Tb), along with neodymium-iron (NdFeB) and dysprosium-iron (DyFe) alloys.
By combining low-cost REE separation with downstream metal and alloy conversion, Energy Fuels expects to enhance vertical integration, margin capture, and market share across the rare-earth value chain. The acquisition addresses one of the most persistent vulnerabilities in ex-China REE supply chains: limited downstream refining and alloy production capacity.
Energy Fuels will also gain access to ASM’s Dubbo REE Project in New South Wales, Australia, further expanding its pipeline of REE development projects. These include the Donald project in Victoria, Australia, the Vara Mada project in Madagascar, and the Bahia project in Brazil, all aimed at supplying feed materials for the White Mesa Mill expansion. Post-expansion, White Mesa is planned to produce 6,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of NdPr oxides, 240 tpa of Dy, and 66 tpa of Tb oxides, while the planned AMP in the U.S. is expected to produce 2,000 tpa of REE alloys.
Mark S. Chalmers, CEO of Energy Fuels, emphasized the strategic rationale, stating, “The proposed acquisition of Australian Strategic Materials brings us much closer to our goal of creating the largest fully integrated producer of REE materials outside of China. This transaction expands our suite of REE products, strengthens our ex-China supply chain position, and provides increased margins, cashflows, and market share for our shareholders.”
ASM shareholders will receive 0.053 Energy Fuels shares or CHESS Depository Interests per ASM share, plus a special dividend of up to A$0.13, representing a total implied value of A$1.60 per share. Post-closing, ASM shareholders will own roughly 5.8% of Energy Fuels’ outstanding shares. The transaction remains subject to ASM shareholder approval, regulatory approvals in Australia, and customary closing conditions, with implementation expected by late June 2026.
For small-cap investors, this acquisition highlights the potential value of vertically integrated rare-earth companies in securing strategic market positions. By combining production of REE oxides, metals, and alloys, Energy Fuels not only reduces reliance on China but also enhances its long-term growth potential in a high-demand sector crucial to green energy, electronics, and defense applications.