dmc-pr20251204mnsagreemen
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
Announces Signing of
Impact
Benefit Agreement and Exploration Agreement
with
Métis Nation–Saskatchewan,
MN–S NR-1, and MN–S NR-3
Toronto,
ON – December 4, 2025. Denison Mines Corp.
(“Denison”, “DML” or “Company”) (TSX: DML, NYSE American: DNN) is pleased
to announce the signing of an Impact Benefit Agreement
(“IBA”) between Denison and the
Métis
Nation–Saskatchewan (“MN–S”), 13 MN–S Locals, MN-S Northern
Region 1 (“MN–S
NR-1”), and
MN–S Northern Region 3 (“MN–S
NR-3”) (collectively, the
“Métis
Parties”). The IBA
confirms the Métis Parties’ consent to and support for
the development and operation of Denison’s flagship Wheeler
River Project (the “Project”) in northern Saskatchewan. In addition,
the parties have also entered into an Exploration Agreement (the
“Exploration
Agreement”) covering
Denison’s exploration and evaluation activities within
MN–S NR-1 and MN–S NR-3 of the Métis Homeland (see Figure
1).
MN–S President Glen McCallum said,
“Denison Mines recognized its duty to consult with MN- S
Regions, MN–S Locals, and communities on the Wheeler River
Project early in the planning stages. All parties have been
negotiating since 2019. The MN–S commends
Denison’s commitment to environmental reclamation
post-project and stability for citizens into the future.
Today’s IBA not only represents enormous economic
opportunities for Métis families, but a milestone in our
government’s relationship with Denison and other industry
partners.”
David Cates,
President and CEO of Denison, commented, “We
extend our sincere appreciation to the leadership of the
MN–S,
MN–S NR-1,
MN–S NR-3, and
the 13 MN–S Locals
for trusting Denison to advance the Wheeler River Project within
the Métis Homeland. Since the
beginning of our engagement with the MN–S, our team
has remained deeply committed to building a long-lasting
relationship grounded in trust, transparency, and mutual respect.
Formalizing both the IBA and the Exploration Agreement reflects the
progress we have made together, and also our shared commitment to
ensuring that the interests, knowledge, and voices of Métis
citizens in Saskatchewan are meaningfully incorporated into the
construction and future operation of the Project and
Denison’s exploration and evaluation activities in
MN–S NR-1 and
MN–S
NR-3.”
Laura Burnouf,
Regional Director of MN–S NR-1 said, “Northern
Saskatchewan is not only rich in natural resources, it is vibrant
with the culture, tradition, and language of a distinct people.
Denison’s engagement with our Métis communities and its
focus on local talent brings economic and employment opportunities
to our Region and surrounding communities at a time when we face
challenges with homelessness and addictions. The strong partnership
between all of our impacted Métis Regions and Locals,
MN–S, and
Denison Mines is a reflection of how we believe in progress and are
more than willing to collaborate with industry to better the
outlook for our citizens.”
Regional
Director of MN–S NR3, Minister Brennan Merasty,
remarked, “Respecting
our inherent and constitutionally protected rights as Métis
citizens, our communities in the north have been engaged with
Denison for six years. Today’s signing means our Region, and
surrounding communities will see significant cultural, economic,
and employment benefits to be provided through this partnership.
Our citizens’ voices deserved to be at the negotiating table,
and we will continue to work alongside Denison as the Wheeler River
Project advances forward.”
The IBA was
entered into by Denison (on its own behalf and as operator on
behalf of the Wheeler River Joint Venture), the
MN–S, MN–S NR-1, MN–S NR-3 and each of the following
MN–S Locals within MN–S NR-1 or MN–S NR-3, which are comprised of citizens who live
and practice traditional activities in the vicinity of the Wheeler
River Project: Uranium City Local 50, Stony Rapids Local 80, La
Ronge Local 19, Weyakwin Local 16, Timber Bay Local 20, Patuanak
Local 82, Île-à-la-Crosse Local 21, Canoe River Local
174, Jans Bay Local 38, Beauval Local 37, Cole Bay Local 41,
Dore/Sled Lake Local 67, and Green Lake Local 5 (collectively, the
“Métis
Locals”).
Impact
Benefit Agreement
The IBA
acknowledges that the Project is located within the
Métis Homeland and emphasizes a shared commitment to
ensuring that the successful execution of the Project meaningfully
supports the Métis Parties’ broader social and economic
priorities. This agreement sets out a framework for a long-term
cooperative relationship grounded in openness, environmental
stewardship, and respect for Métis interests. The IBA affirms
that Project development can contribute to long-term community
well-being while also reinforcing the joint responsibility to
protect the surrounding lands, waters, and wildlife. The parties
commit to reducing environmental risks while upholding the values
central to the Métis Parties.
The IBA also includes
specific commitments for sharing the benefits generated by the
Project, including community investment initiatives, contracting
and business development opportunities, training and employment
pathways, designated forms of financial participation, and
opportunities for the Métis Parties and their citizens to
participate in environmental monitoring.
Together the commitments
in the IBA reflect a joint vision for collaboration and establish a
framework through which Denison and the Métis Parties can work
side by side to ensure that the Project contributes to a
sustainable and resilient future for Métis citizens in
Saskatchewan.
Exploration
Agreement
The Exploration
Agreement extends the cooperative and mutually beneficial
relationship between Denison and the Métis Parties beyond the
Project and covers all of Denison’s other majority owned and
operated exploration and evaluation projects within
MN–S NR-1 and MN–S NR-3. The Métis Parties consent to
Denison’s exploration and evaluation activities in the region
and Denison commits to support the Métis Parties’
interests in community development, benefits sharing, environmental
protection and monitoring, and sustainable and predictable
consultation and engagement processes.
Through this cooperative
approach, the parties aim to ensure Denison’s future projects
are positively advanced through the exploration and evaluation
phases in a manner that is informed by and is fully respectful of
the rights, knowledge, and interests of the Métis
Parties.
About Denison
Denison
is a leading uranium mining, development, and exploration company
with interests focused in the Athabasca Basin region of northern
Saskatchewan, Canada. Denison 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 feasibility study was completed for the
Phoenix deposit as an ISR mining operation, and an update to the
previously prepared 2018 Pre-Feasibility Study was completed for
Wheeler River’s Gryphon deposit as a conventional underground
mining operation. 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 the planned
Phoenix ISR operation commenced in 2019 and are nearing completion
with approval in July 2025 of the Project’s EA by the
Province of Saskatchewan and commencement in October 2025 of the
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Hearings for Federal approval of
the EA and project construction license. The Hearing is scheduled
to continue and be concluded during the week of December 8,
2025.
Denison’s
interests in Saskatchewan also include a 22.5% ownership interest
in the McClean Lake Joint Venture (“MLJV”), which
includes unmined uranium deposits (with mining at McClean North
deposit via the MLJV’s SABRE mining method having commenced
in July 2025 using the MLJV’s SABRE mining method) 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
Joint Venture Midwest Main and Midwest A deposits, and a 70.55%
interest in the Tthe Heldeth Túé (“THT”) and
Huskie deposits on the Waterbury Lake Property. The Midwest Main,
Midwest A, THT and Huskie deposits are located within 20 kilometres
of the McClean Lake mill. Taken together, Denison has direct
ownership interests in properties covering ~384,000 hectares in the
Athabasca Basin region.
Additionally,
through its 50% ownership of JCU (Canada) Exploration Company,
Limited (“JCU”), Denison holds 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.
For
more information about Denison, 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 X
@DenisonMinesCo
About Métis Nation–Saskatchewan
Métis
Nation
–Saskatchewanis
built on a foundation of Métis identity, culture, values and
language. Empowered by the Métis citizens of Saskatchewan,
MN–S works to advance Métis rights and
strengthen capacity. MN–S represents the political, socioeconomic,
cultural and educational interests of Métis in the
province through an elected representative system at
local, regional and provincial
levels.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
Certain information contained in this news 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
‘potential’, ‘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’ or
‘be achieved’.
In particular, this news release contains forward-looking
information pertaining to Denison’s current intentions and
objectives with respect to, and commitments set forth in the IBA
and Exploration Agreement; development and expansion plans and
objectives for the Project; and expectations regarding its joint
venture ownership interests and the continuity of its agreements
with its partners and third parties.
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. 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 in Denison’s Annual Information Form dated
March 28, 2025 or subsequent quarterly financial reports under the
heading ‘Risk Factors’. 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 news 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 news release. Denison does not undertake any obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking information after the
date of this news release to conform such information to actual
results or to changes in Denison’s expectations except as
otherwise required by applicable legislation.