Lithium Americas Closes US$113 Million Strategic Financing with Bangchak Corporation

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - July 17, 2017) - Lithium Americas Corp. ("Lithium Americas" or the "Company") (TSX:LAC)(OTCQX:LACDF) is pleased to announce that it has closed the investment agreement (the "Investment Agreement") with BCP Innovation Pte Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bangchak Corporation Public Company Ltd. ("Bangchak"). Pursuant to the Investment Agreement, Bangchak has agreed to provide Lithium Americas with an aggregate of US$113 million in financing primarily to fund a portion of the Company's share of construction costs for the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium project ("Cauchari-Olaroz") in Jujuy Province, Argentina.

Tom Hodgson, Lithium Americas' CEO, commented: "We are very pleased to complete this important financing with Bangchak and to welcome Bangchak's CEO, Chaiwat Kovavisarach, onto the Lithium Americas' Board of Directors. Together with the recent Ganfeng investment, Lithium Americas has raised US$285 million in debt and equity and is in a strong financial position to fund our remaining share of Cauchari-Olaroz' capital costs alongside our joint venture partner, SQM. With development now well underway, we remain on track to reach production by 2019 with the objective of becoming the next low-cost lithium producer from brine."

As announced on January 19, 2017, the Investment Agreement comprises a private placement equity financing, a debt facility and an offtake agreement.

Under the terms of the private placement, Lithium Americas has issued 50,000,000 common shares to Bangchak at a price of C$0.85 per common share for gross proceeds of C$42.5 million (US$33 million). Combined with the 20,300,000 common shares previously owned, Bangchak holds 70,300,000 common shares of the Company or approximately 16.4% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares.

Pursuant to the debt facility, Bangchak has agreed to loan Lithium Americas US$80 million to fund a portion of the Company's share of Cauchari-Olaroz' construction costs. The debt facility has a six-year term, carries an 8.0% interest rate for the first three years, 8.5% in year four, 9.0% in year five and 9.5% in year six on the principal amount drawn. Lithium Americas has agreed to grant to Bangchak a security interest in its corporate assets, other than its stake in Cauchari-Olaroz, as a condition to first draw-down on the debt facility and in addition to other customary conditions.