Energy Fuels strikes $1bn deal for German magnet maker to build mine-to-magnet supply chain
Colorado-based Energy Fuels said on Tuesday it would acquire German magnet manufacturer Vacuumschmelze for about $1.9-billion in cash and stock, building an integrated supply chain from rare earth mine to finished magnet for defense, automotive and technology customers.
Under the agreement, Energy Fuels will acquire 100% of Vacuumschmelze, known as VAC, from US-based private equity firm Ara Partners for $718-million in cash and 65.853-million newly issued Energy Fuels common shares.
Energy Fuels said the deal would combine its rare earth mining and processing operations with VAC's magnet manufacturing capabilities, creating a supply chain it controls from mine to finished magnet.
Last week, Energy Fuels received a conditional commitment for up to $725-million from the US Office of Strategic Capital, a 20-year loan aimed at accelerating the planned expansion of the White Mesa Mill in Utah and the construction of the American Metals Plant.
"Together with VAC, we will strengthen global rare earth and magnet supply chains, providing a reliable, secure and diversified source of critical materials from mines to highly valued permanent magnets," said Energy Fuels CEO Ross Bhappu.
Following completion of the transaction, which is expected to close in early 2027, VAC will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Fuels.
Shares of Energy Fuels fell 6.2% in premarket trading.
The US and Europe are working to secure supplies of critical minerals and reduce dependence on China, which dominates global rare earth mining, processing and magnet manufacturing.
Rare earth magnets are used in electric vehicles, defense systems, robotics, semiconductors and data centers.
Article Enquiry
Email Article
Save Article
Feedback
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation

















