NOVONIX and Harper International Enter Licensing Agreement for Graphitization Furnace Technology
NOVONIX (NASDAQ: NVX) has secured a licensing agreement with Harper International for exclusive rights to their continuous, induction-based graphitization furnace technology. The agreement builds upon their December 2020 strategic partnership for developing synthetic graphite anode material production technology.
The deal requires NOVONIX to make an initial payment by December 2025 for internal use rights, with additional fees due within two years to expand rights for building equipment. The license will be exclusive for seven years after full payment, becoming non-exclusive thereafter.
NOVONIX's Riverside facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is set to begin commercial production this year, targeting 20,000 tonnes annual output. The company has secured significant government support, including a US$100 million DOE grant, a US$103 million investment tax credit, and a conditional US$754.8 million DOE loan commitment for its proposed NOVONIX Enterprise South facility.
NOVONIX (NASDAQ: NVX) ha ottenuto un contratto di licenza con Harper International per i diritti esclusivi sulla loro tecnologia di forno di grafitizzazione continua a induzione. L'accordo si basa sulla partnership strategica del dicembre 2020 per lo sviluppo della tecnologia di produzione di materiali anodi di grafite sintetica.
Il contratto richiede a NOVONIX di effettuare un pagamento iniziale entro dicembre 2025 per i diritti d'uso interno, con ulteriori spese da corrispondere entro due anni per ampliare i diritti di costruzione dell'attrezzatura. La licenza sarà esclusiva per sette anni dopo il pagamento completo, diventando non esclusiva successivamente.
Il stabilimento Riverside di NOVONIX a Chattanooga, Tennessee, è previsto che inizi la produzione commerciale quest'anno, puntando a un output annuale di 20.000 tonnellate. L'azienda ha ottenuto un significativo supporto governativo, tra cui un contributo di 100 milioni di dollari del DOE, un credito d'imposta per investimenti di 103 milioni di dollari, e un impegno di prestito condizionato di 754,8 milioni di dollari del DOE per il suo proposto stabilimento NOVONIX Enterprise South.
NOVONIX (NASDAQ: NVX) ha conseguido un acuerdo de licencia con Harper International para obtener derechos exclusivos sobre su tecnología de horno de grafitización continua basada en inducción. El acuerdo se basa en su asociación estratégica de diciembre de 2020 para desarrollar tecnología de producción de material de ánodo de grafito sintético.
El acuerdo requiere que NOVONIX realice un pago inicial antes de diciembre de 2025 para derechos de uso interno, con tarifas adicionales que se deben pagar dentro de dos años para ampliar los derechos de construcción de equipos. La licencia será exclusiva durante siete años tras el pago completo, convirtiéndose en no exclusiva posteriormente.
La instalación Riverside de NOVONIX en Chattanooga, Tennessee, comenzará la producción comercial este año, con un objetivo de producción anual de 20,000 toneladas. La empresa ha asegurado un apoyo gubernamental significativo, incluyendo una subvención de 100 millones de dólares del DOE, un crédito fiscal de inversión de 103 millones de dólares, y un compromiso de préstamo condicional de 754.8 millones de dólares del DOE para su propuesta instalación NOVONIX Enterprise South.
NOVONIX (NASDAQ: NVX)는 Harper International과의 독점적 권리를 위한 라이선스 계약을 체결하여 연속 유도 기반 그래파이타이제이션 용광로 기술을 확보했습니다. 이 계약은 합성 그래파이트 양극 재료 생산 기술 개발을 위한 2020년 12월의 전략적 파트너십을 기반으로 합니다.
계약에 따르면 NOVONIX는 내부 사용 권리를 위한 초기 지급금을 2025년 12월까지 지불해야 하며, 장비 구축 권리를 확대하기 위해 2년 이내에 추가 비용이 발생하게 됩니다. 라이선스는 전체 지급 후 7년 동안 독점적이며, 이후에는 비독점적으로 전환됩니다.
테네시주 채터누가에 위치한 NOVONIX의 Riverside 시설은 올해 상업 생산을 시작할 예정이며, 연간 20,000톤의 생산량을 목표로 하고 있습니다. 이 회사는 1억 달러의 DOE 보조금, 1억 3백만 달러의 투자 세액 공제, 그리고 제안된 NOVONIX Enterprise South 시설을 위한 7억 5480만 달러의 DOE 대출 약속을 포함한 상당한 정부 지원을 확보했습니다.
NOVONIX (NASDAQ: NVX) a sécurisé un accord de licence avec Harper International pour les droits exclusifs sur leur technologie de four de graphitisation continue par induction. Cet accord s'appuie sur leur partenariat stratégique de décembre 2020 pour le développement de la technologie de production de matériaux d'anode en graphite synthétique.
Le contrat exige que NOVONIX effectue un paiement initial d'ici décembre 2025 pour des droits d'utilisation interne, avec des frais supplémentaires dus dans les deux ans pour étendre les droits de construction de l'équipement. La licence sera exclusive pendant sept ans après le paiement complet, devenant non exclusive par la suite.
La installation Riverside de NOVONIX à Chattanooga, Tennessee, est censée commencer la production commerciale cette année, visant une production annuelle de 20 000 tonnes. L'entreprise a obtenu un soutien gouvernemental significatif, y compris une subvention de 100 millions de dollars du DOE, un crédit d'impôt sur les investissements de 103 millions de dollars, et un engagement de prêt conditionnel de 754,8 millions de dollars du DOE pour sa proposition d'installation NOVONIX Enterprise South.
NOVONIX (NASDAQ: NVX) hat eine Lizenzvereinbarung mit Harper International über exklusive Rechte an ihrer kontinuierlichen induktionsbasierten Grafitierungsöfen-Technologie gesichert. Die Vereinbarung baut auf der strategischen Partnerschaft von Dezember 2020 zur Entwicklung der Technologie zur Produktion von synthetischem Grafit-Anodenmaterial auf.
Der Vertrag erfordert, dass NOVONIX bis Dezember 2025 eine einmalige Zahlung für interne Nutzungsrechte leistet, mit zusätzlichen Gebühren innerhalb von zwei Jahren zur Erweiterung der Rechte für den Bau von Anlagen. Die Lizenz wird nach vollständiger Zahlung für sieben Jahre exklusiv sein und danach nicht-exklusiv werden.
Die Riverside-Anlage von NOVONIX in Chattanooga, Tennessee, wird in diesem Jahr mit der kommerziellen Produktion beginnen, mit einem Ziel von 20.000 Tonnen Jahresproduktion. Das Unternehmen hat erhebliche staatliche Unterstützung gesichert, darunter einen Förderbetrag von 100 Millionen USD vom DOE, einen Investitionssteuergutschrift von 103 Millionen USD und ein bedingtes Darlehensverpflichtung von 754,8 Millionen USD des DOE für seine vorgeschlagene NOVONIX Enterprise South-Anlage.
- Secured exclusive rights to advanced graphitization furnace technology
- Riverside facility starting commercial production in 2024 with 20,000 tonnes annual capacity
- Received US$100 million DOE grant
- Secured US$103 million investment tax credit
- Obtained conditional US$754.8 million DOE loan commitment
- Requires significant licensing payments within strict timeframes
- License terminates if fees aren't paid within two years of initial grant
- Exclusivity to seven years after full payment
Insights
The licensing agreement between NOVONIX and Harper International represents a strategic advancement in battery anode material production technology. The continuous, induction-based graphitization furnace technology is important for scaling up synthetic graphite production efficiently. The deal's structure, with its initial licensing phase followed by potential manufacturing rights, provides NOVONIX significant technological advantages in the rapidly growing EV battery supply chain.
The technology's exclusive license in the battery anode market, particularly for synthetic graphite production, positions NOVONIX to potentially achieve superior cost efficiencies and quality control. The 20,000 tonnes per annum production target at the Riverside facility could be more achievable with this proprietary technology, potentially reducing production bottlenecks common in traditional batch processing methods.
This licensing agreement strengthens NOVONIX's competitive position in the North American battery materials market. With secured funding of
The timing is particularly strategic given the increasing demand for domestic battery material production capacity in North America. This technology could help NOVONIX achieve better margins through improved production efficiency, while the potential for sublicensing creates additional revenue opportunities. The deal's structure, requiring performance objectives to be met before full rights are granted, helps mitigate technological risk.
The licensing agreement's structure includes several notable provisions that protect both parties' interests. The staged payment approach, with specific deadlines for initial and additional license fees, creates clear milestones for technology transfer while protecting Harper's IP rights. The seven-year exclusivity period, followed by a perpetual non-exclusive license, balances NOVONIX's need for market protection with Harper's long-term interests.
The sublicensing provisions, requiring Harper's approval, maintain quality control while allowing for potential market expansion. The technology ownership structure, particularly regarding improvements made by NOVONIX, provides incentives for continued innovation while preserving the base technology's value. The December 2025 deadline for initial payment and two-year window for additional fees creates a clear timeline for commercialization.
BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NOVONIX Limited (NASDAQ: NVX, ASX: NVX) (“NOVONIX” or the “Company”), a leading battery materials and technology company, announced today that it has entered into a licensing agreement with its long-time technology partner, Harper International Corporation (“Harper”), for the rights and use of its continuous, induction-based graphitization furnace technology.
In December 2020, NOVONIX and Harper announced a strategic partnership to develop innovative graphitization furnace technology to be used to produce synthetic graphite anode material for the lithium-ion battery sector. This partnership provided for commitments from NOVONIX to purchase from Harper, and from Harper to develop and exclusively supply NOVONIX with proprietary systems for thermal processing material for the battery anode market.
Alongside this exclusive use agreement, the licensing agreement provides NOVONIX the right to an exclusive license to Harper’s technology on which its continuous graphitization furnaces operate. Upon making an initial payment within 12 months of the effective date of the agreement, NOVONIX will have the exclusive license to use the technology to further develop the furnaces used for the thermal production of graphite material for use in the battery anode market. Upon equipment meeting certain performance objectives, and NOVONIX’s payment of additional licensing fees, the license will expand to include NOVONIX’s right to build equipment using the licensed technology, either internally or through other permitted sublicensees.
NOVONIX’s Riverside facility, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is poised to become the first large-scale production site dedicated to high-performance synthetic graphite for the battery sector in North America. It is slated to begin commercial production later this year with plans to grow output to 20,000 tonnes per annum to meet current customer commitments. Previously, the Company announced that the U.S. Department of Energy’s (“DOE”) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (“MESC”) awarded NOVONIX a US
Key Deal Terms
- No later than December 2025, NOVONIX must make an initial payment to gain a license to design and develop the graphitization furnace technology for its internal use. NOVONIX will own improvements to the technology it makes solely or jointly with Harper.
- Upon NOVONIX’s payment of additional license fees, which must occur no later than two years from the commencement of the initial license term, the license will expand to include the right to build equipment based on the licensed technology internally or through approved sublicensees, who may also sell NOVONIX the products manufactured using the licensed technology.
- The license will be exclusive in the field of thermal production of synthetic graphite meeting certain specifications for use in the battery anode market, with certain limited use exceptions, for up to seven years from the date that all of the additional license fees have been paid and may be sublicensed to third parties with Harper’s approval.
- At the expiration of this seven-year period, NOVONIX will have a perpetual, irrevocable, and non-exclusive license to the technology for use only by NOVONIX or any sublicensee approved by Harper.
- If all of the license fees are not paid within two years of the initial license grant, the license will terminate.
This announcement has been authorised for release by Admiral Robert J Natter, USN Ret., Chairman.
About NOVONIX
NOVONIX is a leading battery technology company revolutionizing the global lithium-ion battery industry with innovative, sustainable technologies, high-performance materials, and more efficient production methods. The Company manufactures industry-leading battery cell testing equipment, is growing its high-performance synthetic graphite material manufacturing operations, and has developed a patented all-dry, zero-waste cathode synthesis process. Through advanced R&D capabilities, proprietary technology, and strategic partnerships, NOVONIX has gained a prominent position in the electric vehicle and energy storage systems battery industry and is powering a cleaner energy future.
To learn more, visit us at www.novonixgroup.com or on LinkedIn and X.
For NOVONIX Limited
Scott Espenshade, ir@novonixgroup.com (investors)
Stephanie Reid, media@novonixgroup.com (media)
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains forward-looking statements about the Company and the industry in which we operate. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” or “would,” or other similar expressions. Examples of forward-looking statements in this communication include, among others, statements we make regarding our plans to commence commercial production and meet our production target at our Riverside facility and our plans to build a new production facility and our efforts to finance this new production facility with a loan from the LPO.
We have based such statements on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Such forward-looking statements involve and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the timely deployment and scaling of our furnace technology, our ability to meet the technical specifications and demand of our existing and future customers, the accuracy of our estimates regarding market size, expenses, future revenue, capital requirements, needs and access for additional financing, the availability and impact and our compliance with the applicable terms of government support, including the DOE MESC grant and, if obtained, the LPO loan, our ability to obtain patent rights effective to protect our technologies and processes and successfully defend any challenges to such rights and prevent others from commercializing such technologies and processes, and regulatory developments in the United States, Australia and other jurisdictions. These and other factors that could affect our business and results are included in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 20-F. Copies of these filings may be obtained by visiting our Investor Relations website at www.novonixgroup.com or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or outcomes, and actual performance and outcomes may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement in this communication is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.
1 NOVONIX Finalizes US
2 U.S. Government Selects NOVONIX to Receive US
3 NOVONIX Offered Conditional Commitment for US
FAQ
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