VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - March 30, 2016) - Lithium Americas Corp. (the "Company") (TSX:LAC)(OTCQX:LACDF) is pleased to announce that 141,994,161 common shares representing 48.78% of the total number of shares issued and outstanding were voted at its Annual General Meeting held on March 30, 2016 (the "Meeting"). At the Meeting, the shareholders appointed the auditor for the Company for the coming year and approved a new equity incentive plan.
In addition, the following proposed nominees to the Board have been elected by the shareholders:
| Thomas Hodgson | Votes for 91,252,599 (97.72%) |
| Votes withheld 2,131,402 (2.28%) | |
| George Ireland | Votes for 91,299,868 (97.77%) |
| Votes withheld 2,084,133 (2.23%) | |
| John Kanellitsas | Votes for 91,159,478 (97.62%) |
| Votes withheld 2,224,523 (2.38%) | |
| John Macken | Votes for 58,269,115 (62.40%) |
| Votes withheld 35,114,886 (37.60%) | |
| Franco Mignacco | Votes for 91,180,854 (97.64%) |
| Votes withheld 2,203,147 (2.36%) |
Prior to commencement of the Meeting, Jay Chmelauskas, William Haldane, B. Matthew Hornor and Terry Krepiakevich resigned from the board and withdrew their names as nominees for election as director at the Meeting. As a result, they were not re-elected to the board and there were four vacancies on the board of directors as at the conclusion of the Meeting.
Appointment of New Directors and New Chairman of the Board
Subsequent to the Meeting, the Directors of the Company filled 3 of the 4 board vacancies with the following directors: Nicole Adshead-Bell, Gabriel Marcelo Rubacha and Lenard F. Boggio.
Dr. Adshead-Bell is a geologist with over 20 years experience in the mining sector and capital markets. For the last 13 years Dr. Adshead-Bell has focused on evaluating and advising mining sector companies, most recently as Director of Mining Research at Sun Valley Gold LLC (an SEC-registered investment advisor), prior to that as Managing Director Investment Banking at Haywood Securities and sell-side Mining Analyst at Dundee Securities. In addition, she has consulted to exploration, development and mining companies in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Canada. Dr. Adshead-Bell is also a director of several publicly listed mining companies. She has a Ph.D. in Geology, First Class Honours Degree in Geology and a Bachelor of Science Degree, majoring in Geology and Archaeology, all from James Cook University in North Queensland, Australia.
Mr. Rubacha has 25 years of professional Engineering and Construction experience, most recently working for Techint Engineering & Construction since 1991. Techint provides engineering, procurement, construction, operation, and management services for large-scale projects globally. Mr. Rubacha holds an International MBA, Joint Program Ecole des Ponts et Chaussees, Paris, France and Universidad de Belgrano; a Masters in Strategic Management, Universidad de Belgrano, Business and Economy School; and Aeronautical Engineering degree from Universidad Tecnológica Nacional.
Mr. Boggio is a retired audit practitioner who for 30 years worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers, British Columbia ("PwC"), as leader and audit partner of PwC's minerals resource sector practice focused on serving publicly listed mineral resource and energy companies. He is a director of several publicly traded companies and has many years of public sector regulatory and processional experience. Mr. Boggio has been the Chair of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants ("CICA"), since September, 2014. The CICA is a founding member of CPA Canada and is the national professional body representing legacy provincial Chartered Accountant bodies and members during the interim period until the finalization of unification of all provincial CA, CGA and CMA bodies.
Mr. George Ireland has been appointed the Company's new Chairman of the Board effective immediately. Mr. Ireland commented, "First, I would like to thank the directors that are leaving the board including Jay Chmelauskas, the Company's outgoing President, and also thank John Macken, the Company's past Chairman. Secondly, I am delighted to welcome to the Board, Nicole Adshead-Bell, Gabriel Rubacha and Lenard Boggio, who are each very talented and experienced professionals. It is a new dawn for Lithium Americas. We have a 50% interest in what we believe will be a world-class, low-cost lithium mine in Jujuy province, Argentina. Our partner provides substantial technical and operating expertise and is eager to move the project forward. We, and our new partner, SQM, will each have the right to take our share of the Joint Venture product output. We have a second lithium project in Nevada, a state which is poised become a leader in lithium production. We are developing a niche industrial clay business that is starting to grow nicely. And lastly, we have a restructured board of directors with a very strong expertise in corporate governance, mining, project development, finance and government and community relations and a talented management team with the background and capabilities to make the new Lithium Americas a great success."
TSX and OTCQX
Effective market opening today, the Company's shares began trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") and OTCQX under the name Lithium Americas Corp. and under the symbols TSX:LAC and OTCQX:LACDF, respectively.
Conference Call
Lithium Americas will host a conference call with CEO Tom Hodgson and new President John Kanellitsas on Friday, April 1, 2016 at 10am Eastern time. The company will provide an update on progress of its Cauchari-Olaroz lithium project, Lithium Nevada project, and Hectatone Inc. organoclay business. A Q&A session with shareholders will follow the update. Dial in details are as follows:
| Toll Free Dial-In: | 1-888-231-8191 |
| International Dial-In: | 1-647-427-7450 |
A recorded "Encore" version of the conference call will be available shortly after the event until April 29, 2016. The Encore dial in details are as follows:
| Toll Free Dial-In: | 1-855-859-2056 |
| Encore Password: | 82175788 |
About the Company
Lithium Americas is developing the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium project, located in Jujuy province, Argentina, and the Lithium Nevada project (formerly Kings Valley project) in Nevada, U.S.A, with the intent to become a major supplier of lithium products. In addition, Lithium Americas is a supplier of specialty drilling additives, Hectatone™ and other organoclay products for the oil and gas and other industries.
Contact Information:
Investor Relations
778-656-5820
ir@lithiumamericas.com
www.lithiumamericas.com