Paladin's $846M Fission Uranium Deal Draws Scrutiny As Canadian Regulators Flag Foreign Investments

Canadian regulators put Paladin Energy‘s PALAD acquisition of Fission Uranium FCUUF under review, citing national security concerns.

What Happened: Paladin Energy agreed in June to acquire Fission Uranium for CAD 1.14 billion ($846 million). The Subiaco, Australia-based miner looked to capitalize on rising uranium prices by consolidating assets.

However, Canada's Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, flagged the acquisition for review under section 25.3 of the Investment Canada Act (ICA), which assesses foreign investments for potential national security risks.

Why It Happened: The Canadian government's decision to review the takeover stems from ongoing tensions surrounding Chinese investments in national resources.

The matter escalated earlier this year when parliament clashes prompted Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson to explicitly state that "the answer (to capital issues) cannot be investment from Chinese state-owned industries.

Recent cases of blocked transactions include Yintai Gold‘s agreement to buy Canadian gold explorer Osino Resources OSIIF, Zijin Mining's unsuccessful bid for a 15% stake in Vancouver-based Solaris Resources SLSSF

In this case, CGN Mining Company, a subsidiary of China General Nuclear Power, holds an 11.26% stake in Fission Uranium. Meanwhile, China National Nuclear Corporation owns a 25% interest in Paladin's flagship Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia and is one of the company's major lenders.

Paladin stated, “there can be no certainty that the court will grant the final order, or that ICA clearance will be forthcoming, or that the arrangement will be successfully completed."

Why It Matters: The proposed acquisition would transform Paladin into a major player in the uranium market. The combined market cap would equal approximately $3.1 billion with control of 10% of global uranium output.

This consolidation could significantly influence the uranium supply chain. This impacts global energy markets and national security, especially for countries reliant on uranium for nuclear power and defense purposes.

Market Reaction: Fission Uranium stock dropped 1.98% in the trading session, closing at $CA 0.99.

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