LG Chem joins U.S. supply chain investing USD 75 million in Piedmont Lithium

Piedmont Lithium, a global developer of lithium resources critical to the U.S. electric vehicle (“EV”) supply chain, announced that it has signed agreements with LG Chem, (“LG Chem”), under which LG Chem will make a $75 million equity investment in Piedmont (“Subscription Agreement”) and commit to the offtake of 200,000 metric tons of spodumene concentrate (“SC6”) from Piedmont’s jointly-owned North American Lithium (“NAL”) over a four-year term (“Offtake Agreement”).

LG Chem will purchase 1,096,535 newly-issued shares of Piedmont common stock at an approximate price of $68.40 per share for a total consideration of $75 million. Closing of the Subscription Agreement is expected, and will result in LG Chem holding approximately 5.7% of Piedmont common shares. Transaction details are described in the table at the end of this announcement.

Piedmont has agreed to supply LG Chem with 50,000 metric tons per year of SC6 for four years with planned shipments beginning in Q3 2023. SC6 pricing will be determined by a formula-based mechanism linked to SC6 market prices at the time of each shipment. LG Chem will utilize the material to support its plans to produce cathode materials for key North American customers as well as the intentions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”). Piedmont has also agreed to provide LG Chem priority negotiation rights for 10,000 metric tons per year of lithium hydroxide produced by the Company at either of its proposed facilities in Tennessee or North Carolina.

“We welcome LG Chem as a shareholder in Piedmont and are excited to partner with them to supply North American lithium that will meet the requirements of the IRA and support the development of the U.S. battery supply chain,” said Piedmont President and CEO Keith Phillips. “LG Chem is a global leader with a commitment to U.S. EV battery manufacturing and plans to build one of the world’s largest cathode plants in Clarksville, Tennessee. We look forward to working with LG Chem as NAL comes online as an important source of lithium in North America.”

“This agreement allows LG Chem to provide differentiated values to North American customers with products that satisfy IRA standards by preemptively securing raw materials in the U.S., our key market,” said Mr. Hak-Cheol Shin, Vice Chairman and CEO of LG Chem. “As we work to build various partnerships, including joint metal investments with automotive OEMs and battery makers, we’re pleased that our partnership with and commitment of funds to Piedmont will help support its development of U.S. lithium projects.”

NAL is a project of Sayona Quebec, a joint venture between Piedmont and Sayona Mining Limited (ASX:SYA). SC6 production at NAL is expected to restart in H1 2023, with commercial shipments expected to begin in Q3 2023. Piedmont’s offtake agreement with Sayona Quebec entitles Piedmont to purchase the greater of 113,000 metric tons per year or 50% of the joint venture’s SC6 production. The Company’s purchases of SC6 from Sayona Quebec are subject to a floor price of $500/ton and a ceiling price of $900/ton for the life-of-mine term.

Piedmont intends to utilize the funding from LG Chem to advance its portfolio of projects, including its planned 30,000 metric-tons-per-year lithium hydroxide project at Tennessee Lithium, the Ewoyaa Lithium Project in Ghana in partnership with Atlantic Lithium, and the fully integrated Carolina Lithium project in development in North Carolina, as well as for general corporate purposes.

JPMorgan and Evercore acted as financial advisors, and Gibson Dunn and Thomson Geer served as legal counsel to Piedmont. Allen & Overy acted as legal counsel to LG Chem.