Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC)
(“
Lithium Americas” or the
“
Company”) today announced the retirement of
Eduard Epshtein and the appointment of Pablo Mercado as Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (“
CFO”)
to succeed Eduard as CFO of Lithium Americas.
Upon completion of the planned separation of the
Company’s Argentine and North American businesses into two
independent public companies (the “Separation”),
Pablo would become CFO of the North American business. Eduard will
continue to work with Lithium Americas as an advisor supporting the
Separation and the financial reporting needs of both
businesses.
“Eduard has been the CFO of Lithium Americas
since 2007, and has made significant contributions to the success
of our business,” said George Ireland, Chairman. “On behalf of the
Company, I would like to thank Eduard for his contributions and
wish him every success in his retirement. Eduard is leaving a
business that is in a strong financial position and well on track
to deliver on our long-term vision. We welcome Pablo to the Lithium
Americas team.”
“I am excited to announce Pablo’s appointment as
Lithium Americas’ new CFO,” said Jonathan Evans, President and CEO
of Lithium Americas. “Pablo is a seasoned CFO who brings a wealth
of experience in strategy, M&A and capital markets.”
Pablo Mercado has over 23 years of experience in
finance and corporate development in the energy industry. Most
recently he served as CFO of EnLink Midstream, LLC, and prior to
that, as CFO of Forum Energy Technologies, Inc., both US public
companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Pablo started his
professional career in 1998 as an investment banker at Bank of
America, UBS and Credit Suisse, until joining Forum in 2011. Pablo
holds a BBA from the Cox School of Business and a BA in Economics
from the Dedman College, both of Southern Methodist University, and
an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
ABOUT LITHIUM AMERICAS
Lithium Americas is focused on advancing lithium
projects in Argentina and the United States to production. In
Argentina, Caucharí-Olaroz is advancing towards first production
and Pastos Grandes represents regional growth. In the U.S., Thacker
Pass has received its Record of Decision and has commenced
construction. The Company trades on both the Toronto Stock Exchange
and on the New York Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol
“LAC.”
For further information contact:Investor
RelationsTelephone: 778-656-5820Email:
ir@lithiumamericas.comWebsite: www.lithiumamericas.com
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Certain statements in this release constitute
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable
United States securities legislation and “forward-looking
information” under applicable Canadian securities legislation
(collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Such forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause the actual results, events, performance or
achievements of the proposed Separation and of the Company (Lithium
Americas (NewCo)’s / Lithium International’s), its projects, or
industry results, to be materially different from any future
results, events, performance or achievements expressed or implied
by such forward-looking statements. Such statements can be
identified by the use of words such as “may,” “would,” “could,”
“will,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “plan,” “anticipate,”
“estimate,” “schedule,” “forecast,” “predict” and other similar
terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results
“may,” “could,” “would,” “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be
achieved. These statements reflect the Company’s current
expectations regarding future events, financial or operating
performance and results, and speak only as of the date of this
release. Such statements include without limitation, statements
with respect to the proposed Separation, the expected timetable for
completing the Separation (including timing of the CRA
application), the ability of the Company to complete the Separation
on the terms described herein, or at all, the receipt of Board of
Directors, shareholder and required third party, court, tax, stock
exchange and regulatory approvals required for the Separation
(including obtaining a CRA advance income tax ruling in respect
thereof), the expected holdings and assets of the entities
resulting from the Separation, the expected benefits of the
Separation for each business and to the Company’s shareholders and
other stakeholders, the strategic advantages, future opportunities
and focus of each business, expectations regarding the status of
development of the Company’s projects, the expected potential
benefits of the Thacker Pass project for creation of a battery
supply chain in the United States, the expected timing for a
decision by the court concerning the appeal of the ROD, and
expectations regarding the process of building the teams of Lithium
Americas (NewCo) and Lithium International and regarding the
intentions of Jonathan Evans and Pablo Mercado to remain as the CEO
and CFO, respectively, of Lithium Americas (NewCo).
Forward-looking statements involve significant
risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future
performance, events or results and will not necessarily be accurate
indicators of whether or not such events or results will be
achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking
statements or information, including, but not limited to,
uncertainties with obtaining required approvals, rulings, court
orders and consents, or satisfying other requirements, necessary or
desirable to permit or facilitate completion of the Separation
(including CRA, regulatory and shareholder approvals); future
factors or events that may arise making it inadvisable to proceed
with, or advisable to delay or alter the structure of the
Separation; the performance, the operations and financial condition
of Lithium Americas (NewCo) and Lithium International as separately
traded public companies, including the reduced geographical and
property portfolio diversification resulting from the Separation;
the impact of the Separation on the trading prices for, and market
for trading in, the shares of the Company, Lithium Americas (NewCo)
and Lithium International (collectively the “Entities” and
individually, an “Entity”); the potential for significant tax
liability for a violation of the tax-deferred spinoff rules
applicable in Canada and the United States; uncertainties with
realizing the potential benefits of the Separation; risks
associated with mining project development, achieving anticipated
milestones and budgets as planned, and meeting expected timelines;
risks inherent in litigation that could result in additional
unanticipated delays or rulings that are adverse for an Entity or
its projects; maintaining local community support in the regions
where an Entity’s projects are located; changing social perceptions
and their impact on project development and litigation; ongoing
global supply chain disruptions and their impact on developing an
Entity’s projects; availability of personnel, supplies and
equipment; the impact of inflation or changing economic conditions
on an Entity, its projects and their feasibility; any impacts of
COVID-19 or an escalation thereof on the business of an Entity;
unanticipated changes in market price for an Entity’s shares;
changes to an Entity’s current and future business plans and the
strategic alternatives available to the Entity; industry and stock
market conditions generally; demand, supply and pricing for
lithium; and general economic and political conditions in Canada,
the United States, Argentina and other jurisdictions where an
Entity conducts business. Additional information about certain of
these assumptions and risks and uncertainties is contained in the
Company’s filings with securities regulators, including the
Company’s most recent annual information form and most recent
management’s discussion and analysis for the Company’s most
recently completed financial year and interim financial period,
which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at
www.sec.gov.
Although the forward-looking statements
contained in this release are based upon what management of the
Company believes are reasonable assumptions as of the date hereof,
there can be no assurance that actual results will be consistent
with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are made as of the date of this release and are
expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume
any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements
contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after
the date of this release.
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