In one of the most strategically significant critical minerals deals of the year, Energy Fuels (NYSE American: UUUU) (TSX: EFR) announced Tuesday it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co. KG and its affiliated entities — collectively known as VAC — from private equity firm Ara Partners in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately $1.9 billion. The deal is designed to create a fully integrated rare earth supply chain spanning everything from mining through finished permanent magnet manufacturing, reducing Western dependence on China for materials that are essential to defense, automotive, robotics, and data center applications.