VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - May 10, 2017) - Lithium Americas Corp. ("Lithium Americas" or the "Company") (TSX:LAC)(OTCQX:LACDF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Gabriel Rubacha as the Company's President, South American Operations.
Mr. Rubacha was previously the Commercial Director of Techint Engineering and Construction S.A. ("Techint"). Prior to this position, Mr. Rubacha served as the Managing Director of the Southern Cone Region (Argentina, Chile and Uruguay), General Manager at Techint Chile, Techint's Project Director for the Pascua Lama Project, Business and Contract Manager at Veladero Project and Business Development, and Commercial Manager for Techint. Mr. Rubacha has an MBA from the Universidad de Belgrano/Ecole des Ponts et Chaussees, Paris, France, graduated from the Executive Program at the Darden School of Business of the University of Virginia, and has an Aeronautical Engineering degree from the Universidad Tecnologica Nacional, Argentina.
Tom Hodgson, Lithium Americas' CEO, commented: "Gabriel has the ideal background and vast experience in advancing world-class construction projects. For the past year, he has been a director of Lithium Americas and a director of the joint venture company, Minera Exar S.A. ("Minera Exar"). We are delighted that he is joining Lithium Americas' management team to work together with Franco Mignacco and our team in Argentina at this exciting time on the eve of the commencement of construction at the Cauchari-Olaroz project."
In addition, Lithium Americas is pleased to announce that it has settled all documentation for the closing of the investment agreement (the "Investment Agreement") with GFL International Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd. ("Ganfeng Lithium"). As announced on January 17, 2017, the Investment Agreement comprises an equity financing (the "Private Placement"), a debt facility (the "Debt Facility") and an off-take agreement, whereby Ganfeng Lithium has agreed to provide Lithium Americas an aggregate of approximately US$171 million in financing, primarily to fund the Company's share of construction costs for the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium project ("Cauchari-Olaroz") in Jujuy province, Argentina. The transaction will close following receipt of formal acceptance by Chinese authorities.
The Private Placement will result in the issuance of 63,750,000 common shares of the Company to Ganfeng Lithium at a price of C$0.85 per common share for gross proceeds of approximately C$54 million (US$39 million). Combined with the 11,250,000 common shares (C$9.6 million) previously issued pursuant to an initial equity instalment under the Investment Agreement, Ganfeng Lithium will hold 75,000,000 common shares of the Company or approximately 19.7% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares at the time of closing.
Pursuant to the Debt Facility, Ganfeng Lithium has agreed to loan to Lithium Americas US$125 million, to fund the Company's share of Cauchari-Olaroz' construction costs. The Debt Facility has a six-year term, carries an 8.0% interest rate for the first three years, 8.5% in year four, 9.0% in year five and 9.5% in year six on the principal amount drawn. Lithium Americas has agreed to grant to Ganfeng Lithium a security interest in its corporate assets other than its stake in Cauchari-Olaroz, as a condition to first draw-down on the Debt Facility and in addition to other customary conditions.
Under the off-take agreement, Ganfeng Lithium has agreed to acquire up to 80% of Lithium Americas' share of the first stage of production ("Stage 1") from Cauchari-Olaroz for a period of 20 years following the commencement of commercial production at market prices. Stage 1 of Cauchari-Olaroz is expected to produce 25,000 tonnes per annum of battery-grade lithium carbonate for a period of 40 years.
Pursuant to the Company's announcement on January 19, 2017, Lithium Americas anticipates closing the financing with BCP Innovation Pte Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bangchak Corporation Public Company Ltd., ("Bangchak") subsequent to the closing of the Ganfeng Lithium transaction.
About Lithium Americas
Lithium Americas, together with Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A ("SQM"), is developing Cauchari-Olaroz, located in Jujuy, Argentina, through its 50% interest in Minera Exar. In addition, Lithium Americas owns 100% of the Lithium Nevada project (formerly Kings Valley project), and RheoMinerals Inc., a supplier of rheology modifiers for oil-based drilling fluids, coatings, and specialty chemicals.
