Lithium Americas Announces New Chief Financial Officer
Lithium Americas Announces New Chief Financial Officer
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 26, 2023 -- 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 Relations
Telephone: 778-656-5820
Email: [email protected]
Website: 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.