Exhibit 99.1
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Denison Mines
Corp.
1100 – 40
University Ave
Toronto, ON M5J
1T1
www.denisonmines.com
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PRESS RELEASE
Denison Reports Financial and Operational Results for 2025
and
Final Investment Decision to Construct the Phoenix ISR Uranium
Mine
Toronto, ON – March 10,
2026. Denison Mines Corp. (“Denison” or the
“Company”) (TSX: DML, NYSE American: DNN) today filed
its Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and
Management’s Discussion & Analysis
(‘MD&A’) for the year ended December 31, 2025. Both
documents will be available on the Company’s website
(at www.denisonmines.com),
SEDAR+ (at www.sedarplus.ca)
and EDGAR (at www.sec.gov/edgar).
The highlights provided below are derived from these documents and
should be read in conjunction with them. All amounts in this
release are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise
stated.
David Cates,
President and CEO of Denison commented, “Over the past twelve months, Denison continued
to make significant investments in its assets, including its
flagship Phoenix project. With receipt of all regulatory approvals
necessary to start construction, significant advancement of
construction planning and procurement efforts, appointment of Wood
Plc as construction manager, and a strong balance sheet, we are
ready to commence site preparation for and construction of the
Phoenix ISR uranium mine later this month, which positions Phoenix
to become one of the few new sizeable sources of uranium production
expected to come to the market before the end of the
decade.
Getting to this stage has taken the determined effort of our
talented teams in 2025, and the achievement of many significant
project milestones for Phoenix including, advancing total
engineering to nearly 90%, updating our estimated initial capital
costs to a Class 2 level, continuing procurement of long lead items
and entering into key construction contracts, obtaining support
from numerous additional First Nations, Métis organizations,
Indigenous groups and northern communities, plus securing US$345
million in financing through the completion of an industry-leading
placement of U.S. style senior convertible notes together with a
capped call overlay.
During 2025 we also celebrated the successful start-up of mining
activities at the McClean North uranium deposit, where we are
deploying the McClean Lake Joint Venture’s patented SABRE
mining method. The mine is operated by our joint venture partner
Orano Canada Inc. (“Orano Canada”) and produced, on a
100% basis, nearly 650,000 pounds U3O8 in finished goods
during the year – making McClean one of the most productive
operating uranium mines in North America. We applaud and thank
Orano Canada for achieving the safe and successful start-up of this
new mine.
We were also active across our development and exploration
portfolio during 2025, highlighted by the success of our
delineation drilling program at the Gryphon deposit, and the
discovery of additional high-grade mineralization proximal to the
Gryphon deposit’s D-series lenses. Additionally, several
geophysical surveys were completed across our property portfolio,
which generated targets for follow up drilling in 2026 and beyond.
Our ‘Team Denison’ investments also continue to thrive,
with Cosa Resources and Foremost Clean Energy generating positive
results on our joint venture properties, and the notable formation
of four new joint ventures with Skyharbour Resources to increase
exploration activity on a group of properties adjacent to Wheeler
River. We are pleased to have built an attractive exploration and
investment portfolio that provides us with significant exposure to
potential uranium discoveries in the Athabasca Basin
region.
Taken together, Denison is well positioned to capitalize on the
improving fundamentals in the uranium market and nuclear energy
sector, which suggest a significant and growing need for new
sources of uranium production. Uranium consumers and producers are
continuing to engage in constructive price discovery through
on-market and off-market negotiations, which has resulted in a
sustained increase in the long-term price of U3O8.
Looking ahead, we are entering a critical and exciting phase of
growth, with a focus on the commencement and advancement of Phoenix
construction, and an objective of achieving first production by
mid-2028. We believe Phoenix is a unique ‘nation
building’ project that has the potential to generate
significant benefits for our shareholders, employees, contractors,
Indigenous partners, and the public through our sustainable
development of the project and its contribution of much needed
nuclear fuel supply for a growing global fleet of nuclear
reactors.”
Highlights
■
Final
Investment Decision to Construct the Phoenix ISR Uranium
Mine
In February 2026,
Denison announced approval by its Board of Directors to proceed
with the construction of the Phoenix In-Situ Recovery
(“ISR”) uranium mine (“Phoenix” or the
“Project”) at the Wheeler River property
(“Wheeler River”), and that site preparation and
construction activities are planned to commence in March 2026. With
construction anticipated to take approximately two years, Phoenix
remains on track for first production by mid-2028, and Denison is
positioned as one of the few uranium suppliers globally who will be
able to provide a sizeable new source of uranium production before
the end of the decade.
■
Final
Regulatory Approval Received to Construct the Phoenix ISR Uranium
Mine
In February 2026,
the Company announced the decision of the administrative tribunal
(the “Commission”) of the Canadian Nuclear Safety
Commission (“CNSC”) to approve the Environmental
Assessment (“EA”) and issue the Licence to Prepare a
Site & Construct (the “Construction Licence”) for
Phoenix, which is the first uranium mine in Canada to receive
federal approval for construction in over 20 years. With the EA
having previously been approved by the Province
of Saskatchewan, and other provincial approvals necessary to
commence construction already received, federal approval of the EA
and the issuance of the Construction Licence represented the final
regulatory approvals required to commence construction of
Phoenix.
■
Construction
Management Contract Awarded for Phoenix
Additionally, in
February 2026, Denison announced that, following a competitive
tender process, it awarded Wood Canada Limited
(“Wood”), a global leader in consulting and
engineering, with the construction management contract (the
“CM Contract”) to oversee the building of the Phoenix
mine. The CM Contract currently contemplates procurement and
construction management scopes, whereby Wood will be responsible
for (i) construction management of the full processing plant scope,
(ii) installation of certain site infrastructure, and (iii)
integrated project controls, ongoing procurement support, on-site
safety oversight, as well as maintaining reporting and performance
management standards. Such services will be provided by Wood in
close consultation with Denison, with members of Wood's team
and Denison's team holding complementary roles in an integrated
project management team.
■
Readiness
to Commence Construction and Capital Cost Update for
Phoenix
In January 2026,
the Company reported that significant regulatory, engineering, and
construction planning progress was made throughout 2025,
positioning Phoenix in a construction-ready state and confirming an
expected 2-year construction timeline. Approximately 87% of
total engineering was completed at end of 2025 and 92% of primary
engineering deliverables were issued for construction. The
remaining engineering, which is related to the latter phases of
project construction, is forecasted to be completed by mid-year
2026.
Based on the
substantial completion of project engineering and execution of
significant procurement activities since the effective date of the
2023 feasibility study for Phoenix (the “Phoenix FS”),
an updated initial capital cost estimate for the Project was
released in January 2026. Accounting for increases in inflation,
cost increases, and project refinements, the Company now estimates
the total post-Final Investment Decision (“FID”)
initial capital estimate for the Project to be
approximately $600 million at a Class 2 cost
estimate level of precision.
■
Impact Benefit
Agreement and Exploration Agreement with Métis
Nation-Saskatchewan
In December 2025,
the Company announced execution of an Impact Benefit Agreement
(“IBA”) with the Métis
Nation–Saskatchewan (“MN–S”), 13
MN–S Locals, MN-S Northern Region 1, and MN–S Northern
Region 3 (collectively, the “Métis
Parties”). The IBA confirms the Métis Parties'
consent to and support for the development and operation of Wheeler
River. In addition, the parties have also entered into an
Exploration Agreement covering Denison's exploration and evaluation
activities.
■
Nuhenéné
Benefit Agreement with Ya'thi Néné Lands and Resources,
Three First Nations, and Four Municipalities
In December 2025,
the Company and the Ya'thi Néné Land and Resource
Office (“YNLR”) announced the signing of the
Nuhenéné Benefit Agreement, which is a regional mutual
benefits agreement between Denison, YNLR, and each of the Hatchet
Lake Denesułiné First Nation, Black Lake
Denesułiné First Nation, Fond du Lac
Denesułiné First Nation, the Northern Hamlet
of Stony Rapids, the Northern Settlement of Uranium City,
the Northern Settlement of Wollaston Lake, the Northern
Settlement of Camsell Portage (collectively, the "Athabasca
Communities"). The Agreement provides the Athabasca Communities'
consent to and support for the development and operation in
northern Saskatchewan of Denison's majority owned and operated
Wheeler River and Waterbury Lake projects, plus Denison's minority
interests in the Midwest Project (25.17% Denison owned) and
operating McClean Lake Project (22.5% Denison owned).
■
Formation
of Four Prospective Exploration Joint Ventures with
Skyharbour
In December 2025,
the Company completed a transaction with Skyharbour Resources Ltd.
(“Skyharbour”) whereby Denison acquiree initial
interests in claims comprising Skyharbour’s Russell Lake
Uranium Project (“Russell”), which is located directly
adjacent to Denison’s flagship Wheeler River property.
Following Skyharbour’s consolidation of Rio Tinto’s
minority ownership interest in Russell, the property was divided
into four new property joint ventures known as Russell Lake or RL,
Getty East, Wheeler North, and Wheeler River Inliers, of which
Denison has acquired initial ownership interests of 20%, 30%, 49%,
and 70%, respectively. In addition, Denison acquired an
option to increase its ownership interest up to 70% in the new
Wheeler North and Getty East joint ventures. Denison paid total
initial consideration of $18.0 million to Skyharbour in a
combination of cash and stock.
■
Uranium
Production at McClean Lake North SABRE Mine
In July 2025, the
McClean Lake Joint Venture (“MLJV”) announced the
successful start of uranium mining operations at the McClean North
deposit using the joint venture’s patented Surface Access
Borehole Resource Extraction (“SABRE”) mining method.
Since the start of commercial production, on a 100% basis, 2,690
tonnes of high-grade ore has been extracted (Denison’s share:
605 tonnes). During 2025, 648,558 pounds of U3O8 (Denison’s
share: 145,926 pounds of U3O8) were produced at
an average operating cash cost of finished goods of approximately
$36 per pound U3O8 (approximately
US$26 per pound U3O8).
■
Completed
US$345 Million Convertible Senior Notes Offering
In August 2025,
the Company completed its offering (the “Offering”) of
‘US-Style’ convertible senior unsecured notes due
September 15, 2031 (the “Convertible Notes”) for an
aggregate principal amount of US$345 million. The Convertible Notes
bear a cash interest coupon rate of 4.25% per annum payable
semi-annually in arrears on March 15th and September 15th of each
year, beginning March 15, 2026. The initial conversion rate for the
Convertible Notes is 342.9355 Denison common shares per US$1,000
principal amount of Convertible Notes, equivalent to an initial
conversion price of approximately US$2.92 per share (approximately
35% premium to the closing price of the common shares at the time
of pricing on August 12, 2025). The effective conversion price of
the Convertible Notes is increased up to US$4.32 per share (~100%
premium to the closing price of the shares at the time of pricing)
after giving effect to the capped call overlay option strategy
deployed by the Company, whereby Denison purchased cash-settled
call options with a strike price equal to the initial conversion
price of the Convertible Notes (US$2.92) and a cap price of US$4.32
(the “Capped Calls”). The purchase price for the Capped
Calls was ~US$35.4 million.
Conversions of
the Convertible Notes may be settled in shares, cash, or a
combination of shares and cash, at Denison's election.
Additionally, Denison will have the right to redeem the Convertible
Notes in certain circumstances and will be required to repurchase
the Convertible Notes upon the occurrence of certain events. Prior
to June 15, 2031, holders of the Convertible Notes may only elect
to convert in certain circumstances. The Convertible Notes will
mature on September 15, 2031. Any Convertible Notes not converted,
repurchased or redeemed prior to the maturity date will have their
principal amount repaid by Denison in cash at
maturity.
The Company
intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for expenditures
to support the evaluation and development of the Company's uranium
development projects, including to fund the construction of
Phoenix, and for general corporate purposes.
■
Discovery
of Additional High-Grade Mineralization at Wheeler River Gryphon
Deposit
Additional
high-grade uranium mineralization, located approximately 40 metres
outside of the previously estimated mineralized domain associated
with the D1 lens, was discovered as part of a delineation drill
program carried out at the Gryphon uranium deposit
(“Gryphon”) during the first half of 2025. Drill hole
WR-837AD2 intersected 2.3 metres at 1.69% eU3O8 including 0.5
metres at 5.48% eU3O8 in the down
plunge direction from the previously defined D1 lens. This area
remains open for further expansion down-plunge and along strike to
the northeast.
Gryphon is
situated approximately 3 km northwest of Phoenix on the Wheeler
River property. In addition to the discovery of additional
mineralization, the results from the delineation drilling program
are expected to add confidence to the previously estimated mineral
resources for Gryphon, having confirmed the geological
interpretation of the deposit by intersecting uranium
mineralization and grades in line with expectations.
■
Midwest
Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) Showcases
Robust Potential of ISR Mining
The PEA outlines
total potential ISR mine production from the Midwest Main deposit
(100% basis) of 37.4 million pounds U3O8 over an
approximately 6-year mine life with processing at the nearby
McClean Lake mill, resulting in annual average production of nearly
6.1 million pounds U3O8, an after-tax
base-case NPV of $965 million, and after-tax base-case IRR of
82.7%. Initial capital costs are estimated at $254 million, with
average life of mine cash operating costs estimated to be USD$11.69
per pound U3O8 and all-in costs
(including initial capital, sustaining capital, operating and
decommissioning costs) estimated to be USD$25.78 per pound
U3O8.
Midwest is a
joint venture owned by Denison (25.17%) and Orano Canada (74.83%,
operator), and is located approximately 25 kilometers, by existing
roads, from the Denison (22.5%) and Orano Canada (77.5%) owned
McClean Lake uranium mill.
The PEA is
preliminary in nature, includes mineral resources that are
considered too speculative geologically to have the economic
considerations applied to them that would allow them to be
categorized as mineral reserves, mineral resources that are not
mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. In
parallel to the continued evaluation of the potential use of ISR
mining at Midwest, the joint venture is also advancing the
assessment of the use of the SABRE mining method for extraction of
the Midwest Main deposit. While the PEA shows the potential for the
use of ISR mining method at Midwest Main, there can be no assurance
that the joint venture will ultimately advance the development of
the Midwest Main deposit, that future development of the deposit
will occur using the ISR mining method or, if ISR is chosen, that
the results of the PEA can or will be realized.
■
Appointment
of New Board Members
In March 2025,
Denison announced the appointment of Ken Hartwick, who previously
served as the CEO of Ontario Power Generation (“OPG”),
to its Board of Directors (the “Board”).
Mr. Hartwick's appointment comes following the retirement
of Brian Edgar from the Board, after having served as a
Director of Denison and its predecessors for over 20 years. Denison
also reported the appointment of Mr. Jinsu Baik to the
Board, replacing Mr. Jong Ho Hong as KHNP Canada Energy
Ltd.’s (“KHNP Canada”) nominated
director.
Mr. Wes
Carson, Vice President, Mining Operations at Wheaton Precious
Metals Corp., was appointed to the Board at the Company’s
annual and special shareholder meeting held on May 12,
2025.
■
Formation
of Exploration Joint Ventures with Cosa Resources
Corp.
In January 2025,
Denison executed an agreement with Cosa Resources Corp.
(“Cosa”), whereby Cosa acquired a 70% interest in three
of Denison’s properties in the eastern portion of the
Athabasca Basin region in northern Saskatchewan in exchange for
approximately 14.2 million Cosa common shares, $2.25 million
in deferred equity consideration, and a commitment to spend $6.5
million in exploration expenditures on the properties. As a result
of the transaction, Denison became Cosa’s largest shareholder
(representing ~19.95% ownership interest in Cosa at that time) and
Denison and Cosa formed three uranium exploration joint
ventures.
About Denison
Denison Mines Corp. was formed under the laws of Ontario and is a
reporting issuer in all Canadian provinces and territories.
Denison’s common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock
Exchange (the “TSX”) under the symbol ‘DML’
and on the NYSE American exchange under the symbol
‘DNN’.
Denison is a uranium mining, exploration and development company
with interests focused in the Athabasca Basin region of northern
Saskatchewan, Canada. The Company has an effective 95% interest in
its flagship Wheeler River Uranium Project, which is the largest
undeveloped uranium project in the infrastructure rich eastern
portion of the Athabasca Basin region of northern Saskatchewan. In
mid-2023, the Phoenix FS was completed for the Phoenix ISR mining
operation, and an update to the 2018 Pre-Feasibility Study
(“2018 PFS”) was completed for the Gryphon deposit as a
conventional underground mining operation (the “Gryphon
Update”). Based on the respective studies, both deposits have
the potential to be competitive with the lowest cost uranium mining
operations in the world.
Permitting efforts for Phoenix commenced in 2019 and the required
permits have been obtained to commence construction –
including the July 2025 approval of the project’s EA by the
Province of Saskatchewan and the February 2026 federal approval of
the EA and issuance of the Construction Licence.
Denison’s interests in Saskatchewan also include a 22.5%
ownership interest in the MLJV, which restarted mining with SABRE
in 2025) and the McClean Lake uranium mill (currently utilizing a
portion of its licensed capacity to process the ore from the Cigar
Lake mine under a toll milling agreement), plus a 25.17% interest
in the Midwest Main and Midwest A deposits held by the Midwest
Joint Venture (“MWJV”), and a 70.55% interest in the
Tthe Heldeth Túé (“THT”) and Huskie deposits
on the Waterbury Lake Property (“Waterbury”). The
Midwest Main, Midwest A, THT and Huskie deposits are located within
20 kilometres of the McClean Lake mill. Taken together, the Company
has direct ownership interests in properties covering ~457,000
hectares in the Athabasca Basin region.
Additionally, through its 50% ownership of JCU (Canada) Exploration
Company, Limited (“JCU”), Denison holds further
interests in various uranium project joint ventures in Canada,
including the Millennium project (JCU, 30.099%), the Kiggavik
project (JCU, 33.8118%) and Christie Lake (JCU,
34.4508%).
In 2024, Denison celebrated its 70th year in uranium mining,
exploration, and development, which began in 1954 with
Denison’s first acquisition of mining claims in the Elliot
Lake region of northern Ontario.
Technical Disclosure and Qualified Person
The technical
information contained in this press release has been reviewed and
approved by Chad Sorba, P.Geo., Denison’s Vice President
Technical Services & Project Evaluation, who is a Qualified
Persons in accordance with the requirements of NI
43-101.
For more information, please contact
David
Cates
(416) 979-1991 ext.
362
President and
Chief Executive Officer
Geoff
Smith
(416) 979-1991 ext.
358
Vice President
Corporate Development & Commercial
Follow Denison on
Twitter
@DenisonMinesCo
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain
information contained in this press release constitutes
‘forward-looking information’, within the meaning of
the applicable United States and Canadian legislation concerning
the business, operations, and financial performance and condition
of Denison. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as
‘plans’, ‘expects’, ‘budget’,
‘scheduled’, ‘estimates’,
‘forecasts’, ‘intends’,
‘anticipates’, or ‘believes’, or the
negatives and/or variations of such words and phrases, or state
that certain actions, events or results ‘may’,
‘could’, ‘would’, ‘might’ or
‘will be taken’, ‘occur’, ‘be
achieved’ or ‘has the potential to’.
In particular,
this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining
to the following: the results of, and estimates and assumptions
within, the Phoenix FS and the Gryphon PFS Update, including the
estimates of Denison's mineral reserves and mineral resources, and
statements regarding anticipated budgets, fees, expenditures and
timelines; the results of, and estimates and assumptions used to
prepare, the capital cost update for Phoenix; Denison’s
outlook, plans and objectives for 2025 and beyond; exploration,
development and expansion programs, plans and objectives, including
detailed design engineering, long lead procurement, field program
optimization studies, and other project planning programs;
statements regarding Denison’s EA approvals, expectations
with respect to Denison’s project licensing and permitting;
expectations regarding Denison’s community engagement
activities and related agreements with interested parties;
expectations regarding uranium mining on the McClean Lake property,
including anticipated timing and budgets; results of, and estimates
and assumptions within, the Midwest PEA, the interpretations
thereof and expectations therefor therefore; expectations regarding
the toll milling of Cigar Lake ores, including projected annual
production volumes; Denison’s land position; expectations
regarding Denison’s joint venture ownership interests and the
continuity of its agreements with its partners; expectations
regarding agreements with third parties, including Foremost, Cosa,
and Skyharbour; Denison’s plans with respect to its
commercial activities, including its physical uranium holdings and
other uranium sales transactions and the expected benefits thereof;
and the annual operating budget and capital expenditure programs,
estimated exploration, development and construction expenditures
and reclamation costs and Denison's share of same. Statements
relating to ‘mineral reserves’ or ‘mineral
resources’ are deemed to be forward-looking information, as
they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and
assumptions that the mineral reserves and mineral resources
described can be profitably produced in the future.
Forward looking
statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as
of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements
of Denison to be materially different from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. For example, the
results of the Denison’s studies, including the Phoenix FS,
and field work, may not be maintained after further testing or be
representative of actual mining plans for the Phoenix deposit after
further design and studies are completed. In addition, Denison may
decide or otherwise be required to discontinue testing, evaluation
and development work at Wheeler River or other projects, or its
exploration plans if it is unable to maintain or otherwise secure
the necessary resources (such as testing facilities, capital
funding, regulatory approvals, etc.) or operations are otherwise
affected by regulatory restrictions or requirements.
Denison believes
that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information
are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these
expectations will prove to be accurate, and results may differ
materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking
information. For a discussion in respect of risks and other factors
that could influence forward-looking events, please refer to the
factors discussed under the heading ‘Risk Factors’ in
this MD&A. These factors are not, and should not be construed
as being, exhaustive. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking
information contained in this press release is expressly qualified
by this cautionary statement. Any forward-looking information and
the assumptions made with respect thereto speaks only as of the
date of this press release. Denison does not undertake any
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
information after the date of this press release to conform such
information to actual results or to changes in Denison's
expectations except as otherwise required by applicable
legislation.