LG Energy Solution to supply Li-Cycle with battery manufacturing scrap and lithium-ion batteries for recycling, $50 million strategic investment.

Li-Cycle Holdings Corp. (NYSE: LICY) (“Li-Cycle” or “the Company”), an industry leader in lithium-ion battery resource recovery and the leading lithium-ion battery recycler in North America, announced that it has entered into a manufacturing scrap supply and nickel sulphate off-take agreement non-binding letter of intent with LG Chem, Ltd. (“LGC”) and LG Energy Solution, Ltd. (“LGES”).

Upon execution of the definitive commercial agreement related to the proposed supply and off-take arrangements, LGC and LGES will together make a $50 million investment to purchase common shares (“Common Shares”) of Li-Cycle, (each making a $25 million investment), pursuant to the terms of definitive subscription agreements effective.

LG Chem is Korea’s largest diversified chemical company. LGC offers robust chemical expertise, which includes high-tech areas such as active battery materials manufacturing. LG Energy Solution is a global leader delivering advanced lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), mobility & IT applications, and energy storage systems (ESS).

With 30 years of experience in advanced battery technology, LGES continues to solidify its position as one of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery manufacturers. With battery production sites in the United States, Poland, South Korea, and China, LGES is more committed than ever to developing innovative technologies that will bring the future of energy a step closer.

Upon the execution of the definitive agreement, Li-Cycle, through its  end-product off-take partner for the Rochester Hub, Traxys North America LLC, will sell 20,000 tonnes of nickel contained in nickel sulphate produced by Li-Cycle to LGC and LGES over 10 years, beginning in 2023.

Additionally, LGES and Li-Cycle intend to cooperate on recycling nickel-bearing lithium-ion battery scrap and certain other lithium-ion battery materials to create a closed loop ecosystem. Nickel is essential for producing many types of EV batteries.

Li-Cycle estimates that the amount of nickel that LGC and LGES plan to procure from Li-Cycle will be enough to produce lithium-ion batteries to power approximately 300,000 high-performing EVs.

Ajay Kochhar, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Li-Cycle.

     ”This proposed commercial arrangement with LGES and LGC and related strategic investment further enhance our global growth strategy as we continue to scale our safe, efficient, and sustainable lithium-ion recycling technologies.

“We are excited to collaborate with industry leaders LGES and LGC on a closed loop arrangement to recycle nickel-bearing lithium-ion battery materials and supply their battery manufacturing plants with recycled nickel battery-grade product. We look forward to continuing to collaborate closely as we transform lithium-ion batteries into a truly circular and sustainable product.” 

Byungchul Choi, department leader of LGC battery materials development.

    ”Sustainable recycling for lithium-ion batteries is critical to the electrification revolution.

“Li-Cycle is making economically and environmentally sustainable lithium-ion battery recycling a commercial reality through its innovate technologies.”

“As a leading global battery materials manufacturer, LGC looks forward to executing on this strategic arrangement with Li-Cycle, including the supply of recycled nickel from Li-Cycle to LGC. This exciting investment and commercial arrangement demonstrate LGC’s strong commitment to ESG principles.”

      ”We believe LG Energy Solution’s commitment to bringing more sustainable solutions for a greener world can be realized through this collaboration with Li-Cycle.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Li-Cycle on the supply of nickel-bearing lithium-ion battery materials that require recycling and off-take for use in new battery cells for EVs. LGES and Li-Cycle are truly making the circular economy a reality for lithium-ion batteries.”

Terms of the Transaction

Under the terms of the proposed investment, LG Chem and LG Energy Solution will each subscribe for 2,208,480 Common Shares at a price of $11.32 per share, for  an aggregate investment in the Company of $50 million (the “Investment”).

The subscription price per Common Share is based on a 30-day volume-weighted average price of the Common Shares prior to LGES’ investment committee approval of LGES’ participation in the Investment on October 28th, 2021.

The closing of the Investment is conditional on the parties entering into mutually acceptable definitive commercial agreements regarding the supply of nickel-bearing lithium-ion battery scrap from LGES to Li-Cycle and nickel sulphate off-take from Li-Cycle to LGES and LGC.

Additional information regarding this announcement may be found in a Form 6-K that will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Ontario Securities Commission.

This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale is unlawful.

The Common Shares to be issued in connection with the Investment have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements.

About Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.

Li-Cycle (NYSE: LICY) is on a mission to leverage its innovative Spoke & Hub Technologies™ to provide a customer-centric, end-of-life solution for lithium-ion batteries, while creating a secondary supply of critical battery materials. Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are increasingly powering our world in automotive, energy storage, consumer electronics, and other industrial and household applications.

The world needs improved technology and supply chain innovations to better manage battery manufacturing waste and end-of-life batteries and to meet the rapidly growing demand for critical and scarce battery-grade raw materials through a closed-loop solution. For more information, visit https://li-cycle.com/.

About LG Chem

LG Chem, Ltd. is Korea’s largest diversified chemical company which operates three main business units: Petrochemicals, Advanced Materials, Life Sciences. The chemical business manufactures a wide range of products, from petrochemical goods to high-value added plastics. It also extends its chemical expertise into high-tech areas such as electronic & battery materials and drugs & vaccines.

Throughout multiple production facilities and an extensive distribution network, LG Chem strives to become a leading global company. For more information, please visit the LG Chem website at www.lgchem.com.

• LG Energy Solution to Supply Li-Cycle with Battery Manufacturing Scrap and Lithium-ion Batteries for Recycling;
• Li-Cycle to Recycle the Battery Materials from LGES and Supply LG Chem and LG Energy Solution with 20,000 Tonnes of Nickel over 10 Years, Enough to Power Approximately 300,000 High-Performing EVs;
• Volume Commitments and $50 Million Investment from LG Chem and LG Energy Solution to Facilitate Li-Cycle’s Rapid Scaling to Keep Pace with Accelerating Demand;