Lithium Americas Prices Offering of US$225 Million Convertible Senior Notes Due 2027

Rhea-AI Summary

Lithium Americas Corp. (LAC) has announced the pricing of a US$225 million offering of convertible senior notes due in 2027. An over-allotment option for an additional US$33.75 million is also available. The notes will accrue interest at 1.75% per annum, with a conversion rate starting at 21.2307 shares per US$1,000 principal amount. The company plans to use the proceeds to repay existing debt and for general corporate purposes. The offering is expected to close around December 6, 2021, pending regulatory approvals.

Positive

• Successfully priced offering of US$225 million in convertible senior notes.
• Initial conversion price of approximately US$47.10 per share represents a 35% premium over the last reported sale price.

Negative

• The company is increasing debt levels through this convertible note offering.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC) (“Lithium Americas” or the “Company”) today announced that it has priced its previously announced offering of US$225,000,000 aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2027 (the “Notes” and the “Offering”). The Company has granted the initial purchasers an over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional US$33,750,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, exercisable in whole or in part at any time until 30 days after the pricing of the Offering.

The Notes will be unsecured and will accrue interest payable semi-annually in arrears at a rate of 1.75% per annum on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning on July 15, 2022. Prior to October 15, 2026, the Notes will be convertible at the option of the holders during certain periods, upon satisfaction of certain conditions. Thereafter, the Notes will be convertible at any time until the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the maturity date. Upon conversion, the Notes may be settled, at the Company’s election, in common shares of the Company (the “Shares”), cash or a combination thereof. The initial conversion rate for the Notes will be 21.2307 Shares per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes, equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately US$47.10 per Share. The initial conversion price of the Notes represents a premium of approximately 35% to the last reported sale price of the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”).

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to repay its indebtedness, including the US$205 million senior secured credit facility, and for general corporate purposes.

The Notes will mature on January 15, 2027, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. The Company may not redeem the Notes prior to December 6, 2024, except upon the occurrence of certain changes to the laws governing Canadian withholding taxes. After December 6, 2024, the Company will have the right to redeem the Notes as its option in certain circumstances. Holders of Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase their Notes upon the occurrence of certain events.

The Offering is expected to close on or about December 6, 2021, subject to various closing conditions, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) and the NYSE. For the purposes of TSX approvals in connection with the Offering, the Company intends to rely on the exemption set forth in Section 602.1 of the TSX Company Manual, which provides that the TSX will not apply its standards to certain transactions involving eligible interlisted issuers on a recognized exchange, such as the NYSE.

The Notes will be offered on a private placement basis and will not be offered by way of a prospectus in Canada, the U.S., or any other jurisdiction. The Notes and the distribution of Shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and the rules promulgated thereunder and applicable state securities laws. The Notes will be offered (i) to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act and (ii) outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, and, in the case of offers in Canada, to persons who are “accredited investors” and “permitted clients” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes or any other securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration and qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. The Offering may be made only by means of an offering memorandum.

ABOUT LITHIUM AMERICAS

Lithium Americas is a development-stage company with projects in Jujuy, Argentina and Nevada, United States. Lithium Americas trades on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol “LAC”.

For further information contact:

Investor Relations
Telephone: 778-656-5820
Email: ir@lithiumamericas.com
Website: www.lithiumamericas.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON 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, performance or achievements of the Company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, 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”, “scheduled”, “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, the Company’s expectations with respect to the completion of the Offering and the timing thereof, and the expected use of proceeds therefrom.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such 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, risks related to the Company’s ability to consummate the Offering on the terms described or at all; the fact that the Company’s management will have broad discretion in the use of certain of the proceeds from the Offering; uncertainty regarding the stable and supportive legislative, regulatory and community environment in the jurisdictions where the Company operates, or the enforcement of such laws and regulations by the applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the Company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; risks relating to general economic conditions; changes in commodity prices, including the market price of lithium; the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s business; anticipated timing and results of exploration, development and construction activities; and the Company’s ability to develop and achieve production at any of the Company’s mineral exploration and development properties, and to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations. Additional information about 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, 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.

FAQ

What is the purpose of Lithium Americas' recent convertible note offering?

Lithium Americas intends to use the proceeds from the US$225 million offering to repay existing debt and for general corporate purposes.

What are the key terms of Lithium Americas' convertible senior notes?

The notes are due in 2027, have an interest rate of 1.75%, and an initial conversion price of approximately US$47.10 per share.

When is the closing date for the Lithium Americas convertible notes offering?

The offering is expected to close on or about December 6, 2021, subject to regulatory approvals.

What is the total amount of the convertible note offering announced by Lithium Americas?

Lithium Americas announced a convertible note offering of US$225 million, with a potential over-allotment of US$33.75 million.

What are the risks associated with the new convertible note issuance by Lithium Americas?

Issuing convertible notes increases the company's debt levels, which may affect future financial stability and flexibility.