Graphene 3D Lab, Inc TSX-V:GGG; QTCQB: GPHBF
 
 
 
 
 
 
Letter to Shareholders   Overview of 2016 and Objectives for 2017
 
Summary:
In 2017 the Company plans to grow on the solid foundation built in 2016 and continue to establish itself as a prominent advanced materials company and a leading graphene provider. The primary goal for 2017 is to take advantage of the Company’s cutting-edge IP portfolio and expand the offerings in industrial-grade graphene materials, coatings, and composites.  The Company will continue to expand  its commercial product offering and build strategic relationships with research institutions and partners from high-tech industries; including energy storage, automotive, robotics, aerospace, oil & gas, water purification, as well as protective coatings and defense.
One of the key focus areas of 2017 will be to develop the next generation graphene-enhanced Lithium-Ion batteries. This ambitious project, if successful, will result in the creation of a battery that will produce significantly higher power with similar energy density when compared to current Lithium-Ion batteries. These high-performance batteries are critical for the future progress in mobile robotics, power tools, electrical vehicles and drones. 
 
Highlights of 2016
 
In 2016, the Company set out to expand and diversify its presence in the advanced materials space. Key achievements in the year towards this goal included: adding to its production and R&D capabilities, establishing a new division, expanding its IP portfolio, developing new materials, strengthening its team with industry experts, and forming valuable business partnerships.
 
Industrial Materials Division: While the Company has primarily focused on 3D Printing and research grade materials as initial market entry points, the Company now is aggressively seeking an opportunity to lower the production cost of graphene and address larger market opportunities. There is a strong level of interest in graphene products with exceptional properties across a broad spectrum of industries. To take advantage of this market opportunity, the Company established its Industrial Materials Division on March 26, 2016. Since its inception, several new materials have been developed such as an ultra-light graphene foam (potential uses in oils and solvents absorption) and a graphene composite material “G6-IMPACTTM”. 
 
Graphene 3D Lab, Inc TSX-V:GGG; QTCQB: GPHBF
 
 
 
2016 Collaborations and Partnerships:   A substantial milestone achieved in the year of 2016 was signing an MOU with Stony Brook University. This partnership will provide the Company with access to the University’s state of the art research facilities to develop a next generation Lithium-Ion battery. 
The Company also formed a joint production collaboration with Toner Plastics Inc. (“Toner Plastics”) to expand its manufacturing capabilities for larger volumes and size ranges of 3D printing filaments. The arrangement has also allowed for changes at the Company’s own facility which has expanded its production capabilities for graphene nanoplatelets and has ensured that it now has sufficient production capacity to meet internal requirements for graphene for the Company’s complete product line. 
In 2016 the Company completed the integration of the operations of Graphene Laboratories Inc. (Acquisition completed in December 2015). Through this transaction, the Company gained access to an impressive customer base and a consistent revenue stream through sales of high-profit margin R&D graphene and other advanced materials. 
The Company also continued working with its Fortune 500 Partner as announced on November 24, 2015. (Confidentiality agreement prevents disclosure the name of the Partner.) The goal of the collaborative project is to develop a novel graphene-based product using the resources and expertise of the Company.  
According to this Agreement, all R&D expenses were to be handled by the Fortune 500 Partner, as well as a first-right-of-refusal granted to the Company for supply of any graphene related materials in future manufacturing and royalty obligations pertaining to any goods sold relating to Intellectual Property developed under the agreement.  All IP developed under the scope of the Agreement will be jointly held by both parties. At the moment, the Company completed the first stage of the project and is waiting on the internal evaluation of the Fortune 500 Partner for the next stage. 
The revenue stream from this project can only be realized after commercialization of the new product and approval by the US Food and Drug Administration, which is not guaranteed and could take an unspecified amount of time. Nevertheless, the Company considers the Research Agreement as an important development because it allows the Company to build a long lasting relationship with industry leaders. The management of the company considers establishing such partnerships as an imperative for the company’s strategic growth and will continue to look for similar rewarding opportunities.
New Products
In 2016 the Company introduced several unique graphene products such as Graphene Aerogel, which is in the class of ultralight materials and has the density of approximately 20 mg/cm3 (which is only about 17 times heavier than air). This new material can remarkably hold up to 3,500%-8,000% of their own weight of organic solvents and oils, while being unaffected by water. A potential application for this product could be in minimizing the damage caused by oil spills.
The Company also continued to expand its portfolio of 3D printing materials. Several new products have been introduced, such as the Scorpion Flexible Nylon, which was brought to market in March 2016. This material offers outstanding mechanical performance of the 3D printed parts. The Flexible Nylon Filament was well received by the 3D printing community. In the independent review of emerging 3D printing
Graphene 3D Lab, Inc TSX-V:GGG; QTCQB: GPHBF
 
 
 
materials done by re3d.com, the material received an excellent evaluation (https://re3d.org/filament-testingscorpion-flexible-nylon-by-black-magic-3d/).
Another addition to the family of 3D printing materials with improved mechanical performance was graphene-carbon fiber composite (G6-IMPACTTM). This material exhibits outstanding vibration damping performance. The need for vibration damping manifests itself when 3D printing is used for manufacturing. The mechanical components are assembled from multiple parts and held together by  fasteners, which also play a role in damping unwanted vibration. 3D printing offers an effective way of manufacturing the mechanical parts as a single piece thereby reducing the labor costs. However, the structural component built in this way would suffer from the destructive power of undesirable vibration. The purpose of the G6IMPACTTM material is to resolve this issue. The Company filed a provisional patent application summarizing the recipe and method of preparation of the material.
The Company also expanded its line of conductive composites in response to the multiple requests from its customers who were looking for flexible 3D printing materials by developing, “Flexible Conductive TPU”. This highly flexible product is ideal for applications involving flexible sensors, electromagnetic/ radiofrequency shielding, flexible conductive traces and electrodes to be used in wearable electronics.
3D Printer Hardware
On December 3, 2015 the Company announced Romulus III, the prototype of functional 3D printer capable of printing working OLED device. The motivation for this development was to demonstrate the benefits of Functional 3D printing and the capabilities of Graphene 3D’s research team in the development of novel 3D printing materials. Upon careful consideration, the Management decided not to pursue further internal development of the functional 3D printer hardware and stayed focused within the Company’s core expertise in advanced materials. The Company is currently seeking partnerships with manufacturers of specialty 3D printers suitable for Functional 3D printing and will keep shareholders informed on the progress made on this front.
Changes in Management: 
The Company also underwent significant board and management changes in 2016 by bringing onboard industry experts. While it received valuable contributions from those who moved on during the year, the Company believes that the new members of the board and management will be important components of its long term vision. The following changes had occurred:
 John (Gary) Dyal and Paul Gill joined the Board. Mr. Dyal was appointed as the Board Chairman.   Ian Klassen and Robert Coultura who were the members of the Board in Matnic. Resources Inc., the company that was acquired in Reverse Take Over, left the Board.   Rob Scott and Jeff Dare joined the management team in the capacity of CFO and Corporate Secretary. These appointments come with the departure of Robert Randall from the role of Graphene 3D CFO and Ian Klassen as COO and Corporate Secretary. 
New Chairman of the Board: Mr. Dyal, is a recognized leader in the commercialization of nanotechnology and graphene related products. He brings over 35 years of manufacturing and technology experience to the Company. Mr. Dyal currently serves as Vice-President of Cryo Pure Corp. an international company that
Graphene 3D Lab, Inc TSX-V:GGG; QTCQB: GPHBF
 
 
 
packages and distributes industrial/ultra-high purity specialty gases, chemicals, cryogenics and cryogenic chemical delivery equipment. Prior to his co-founding of Cryo Pure Corp, Mr. Dyal was the Director of Marketing & Sales for CVD Equipment Corporation (NASDAQ: CVV) a company that designs, develops, and manufactures a broad range of state-of-the-art graphene manufacturing equipment and process solutions for research and industrial applications. Mr. Dyal was responsible for global sales of R&D products related to graphene, carbon nanotubes, semiconducting nanowires, 2D materials and thin films for research laboratories.
New CFO: Robert Scott, being CPA, CA, and CFA, brings more than 20 years of professional experience in corporate finance, accounting and merchant and commercial banking. Mr. Scott earned his CFA in 2001, his CA designation in 1998 and has a B.Sc. from the University of British Columbia. He is a Founder and President of Corex Management Inc., a private company that provides accounting, administration, and corporate compliance services to both privately held and publicly traded companies. Mr. Scott has a strong track record of running cost effective operations as he has served on the management teams and boards of numerous Canadian publicly traded companies. Mr. Scott has also listed several companies on the TSX Venture Exchange, gaining extensive IPO, RTO, regulatory and reporting experience. He currently serves as the CFO of Riverside Resources Inc. (TSXV: RRI) and Nickel One Resources Inc. (TSXV: NNN) as well as being a board member of Genesis Metals Corp. (TSXV: GIS) and Mongolia Growth Group Ltd (TSXV: YAK).
New Corporate Secretary: Jeffrey Dare has over 8 years of professional experience with respect to managing external reporting and corporate compliance for TSX Venture Exchange listed issuers. He currently serves as the Corporate Secretary for Riverside Resources Inc. (TSX-V: RRI), Kivalliq Energy Corporation (TSX-V: KIV), Nickel One Resources Inc. (TSX-V: NNN), Bluestone Resources Inc. (TSX-V: BSR), and Corex Management Inc., a private administration company. At Corex Management Inc., he also advises a number of private companies that span through different industries and jurisdictions. Mr. Dare works closely with external partners and service providers in the areas of legal, compliance, transfer agency, audit, banking and insurance. Mr. Dare earned a BA from Simon Fraser University and has completed the Canadian Securities Course.
New Director: Mr. A. Paul Gill has extensive experience in restructuring organizations. He currently holds titles as the CEO of Lomiko Metals (TSXV: LMR), CEO of Lomiko Technologies and a Director of Graphene ESD. Until October 2006, Mr. Gill was heavily involved in the dynamic growth stage of Norsemont Mining, where he helped take the market capitalization from $1M to $50M. Mr. Gill held various roles throughout his tenure with Norsemont Mining, where he served as the Vice President of Business Development, as well as the director, president and CEO, CFO, and corporate secretary.   2017 Objectives:
 
In 2017, the Company intends to focus on advancing graphene materials towards commercialization. Management strongly believes that the Company is at the turning point and has the potential for rapid growth in the near future. More specific objectives include:  Accelerate R&D in energy storage sector and develop a prototype of Lithium-Ion battery and prove its superiority to the commercial counterparts.
Graphene 3D Lab, Inc TSX-V:GGG; QTCQB: GPHBF
 
 
 
 Expand production capacity and lower price of graphene materials.  Grow our business development team and establish collaboration with a number of large industrial organizations.  Expand product line in 3D Printing space.  Offer new innovative materials by incorporating graphene into polymers and resins with focus applications in defense, aerospace, transportation, energy and construction.   Expand the Company’s IP portfolio.
The Company’s team is highly motivated and ready to implement the long term vision for success. The Company’s management strives for excellence and is committed to increasing the long term shareholder value.
 
About Graphene 3D Lab, Inc.
Graphene 3D Lab, Inc. is a world leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of proprietary composites and coatings based on graphene and other advanced materials.  These diverse materials have a wide spectrum of commercial, research and military applications. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Graphene Laboratories Inc., currently offers over 100 graphene and related products to a client list comprised of more than 11,000 customers worldwide, including nearly every Fortune 500 tech company and major research university.  Some notable clients are: NASA, Ford Motor Co., GE, Apple, Xerox, Samsung, Harvard University, IBM and Stanford University. The Company’s suite of products are available online at the company’s e-commerce platform Graphene Supermarket (www.graphene-supermarket.com).
The 3D printing division of the Company offers a portfolio of specialty fused filament fabrication filaments. These materials can be purchased through multiple distribution networks worldwide or directly online at www.blackmagic3D.com. Graphene 3D also holds a new proprietary technology encompassing the preparation and separation of atomic layers of graphene. This technological breakthrough represents a new, energy efficient process to manufacture, sort and classify graphene nanoparticles resulting in the potential for large scale production of high grade graphene at lower costs than exist in today’s marketplace.  
 
The Graphene 3D facility is located in Calverton, NY and is equipped with material processing and analytical equipment. The company has seven US patent applications pending for its technology. For more information on Graphene 3D Lab Inc., visit www.graphene3dlab.com.
 
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD   Daniel Stolyarov, President & Co-CEO

This is the second huge investment and buy in of stock by another company into Lithium Americas in the last two days.  This one includes and anti Dilution clause.... I like THAT!

MarketwiredJanuary 19, 2017

Comment

Transaction Highlights

• 
  Private Placement: BCPI has agreed to purchase, by way of a private placement, 50,000,000 common shares at a price of C$0.85 per common share for gross proceeds of C$42.5 million (US$32 million). The Private Placement will be subject to Lithium Americas shareholder approval, with certain pre-existing Lithium Americas shareholders, including Geologic Resource Partners, LAC management and directors, and GFL Lithium Co., Ltd. ("Ganfeng") delivering undertakings to vote in favour of the deal. Following the close of the Private Placement, BCPI will own approximately 16.4% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares;
  
  
  


• 
  Project Debt Facility: BCPI and the Company have agreed to terms by which BCPI will provide to Lithium Americas a US$80 million Project Debt Facility to be used for the funding of Lithium Americas' share of Cauchari-Olaroz construction costs. The Project Debt Facility has a term of six years, with an interest rate of 8.0% for the first three years that increases to 8.5% in year four, 9.0% in year five and 9.5% in year six;
  
  
  


• 
  Offtake Entitlement: BCPI and the Company have agreed to terms for an Offtake Entitlement in favour of BCPI for the purchase of 15% of Lithium Americas' share of Cauchari-Olaroz Stage 1 lithium carbonate production at market prices; and
  
  
  


• 
  Investor Rights: BCPI will be entitled to one nominee on Lithium Americas' board of directors and anti-dilution protection to maintain its proportionate interest in Lithium Americas for a two-year term.

John Kanellitsas, Vice Chairman and President of Lithium Americas, commented: "Upon the completion of the Ganfeng transaction announced two days ago and this BCPI transaction announced today on virtually identical terms, Lithium Americas will have raised US$286 million, which we believe will satisfy the financing requirements for Lithium America's 50% share of Stage 1 of the Cauchari-Olaroz joint venture. The terms and size of the debt facilities provide Lithium Americas increased financial flexibility, limit dilution to existing shareholders, and avoid onerous covenants, prepayment penalties or costs other than interest on the amount drawn. BCPI has been a committed and supportive shareholder and we very much welcome this additional investment."

Chaiwat Kovavisarach, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Bangchak commented: "Bangchak is pleased to make this significant investment in Lithium Americas and deepen our partnership with Lithium Americas. This is a landmark milestone for both Bangchak in extending its green initiative and Lithium Americas to be a leading lithium producer. We look forward to working with Lithium Americas management and supporting the construction of the Cauchari-Olaroz joint venture and the development of Lithium Americas for the benefit of all stakeholders of both Lithium Americas and Bangchak."

Bangchak is a global emerging leader in the green energy industry. The company is headquartered in Bangkok and is publicly listed on the Thailand Stock Exchange (ticker:ticker::BCP) with a current equity market capitalization of approximately THB 46.5 billion (US$ 1.3 billion). The company's core business - petroleum refining - spans procurement of crude oil from domestic and overseas sources and refining it into various standard products. The company's strategy is to grow its green energy business, including solar power and biofuel production and distribution, and create value for investors in a manner that enhances national energy security and promotes social and environmental stewardship.

Private Placement

BCPI has agreed to purchase, by way of a private placement, 50,000,000 common shares of the Company at a price of C$0.85 per common share for gross proceeds of C$42.5 million (US$32 million).

Following the close of Private Placement and the private placement contemplated in the recently announced transaction with Ganfeng, BCPI will own approximately 16.4% of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares. The common shares issued under the Private Placement will be subject to Lithium Americas shareholder approval and a four month hold period from the closing date. Certain pre-existing Lithium Americas shareholders, including Geologic Resource Partners ("Geologic"), LAC management and directors, as well as Ganfeng, will be providing voting support agreements to vote in favour of the transaction. Geologic and management and directors currently own or control approximately 17% of Lithium America's common shares outstanding. The proceeds of the Private Placement will be used to further advance the Company's Cauchari-Olaroz lithium project and for general corporate and working capital purposes.

Offtake Entitlement

As disclosed in Lithium Americas' press release dated November 3, 2016, Lithium Americas' and Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. ("SQM") are proceeding with development planning for 50,000 tonnes per annum of lithium carbonate production from the Cauchari-Olaroz project, to be built in two stages, with initial work modelling a first stage of production of 25,000 tonnes per annum of lithium carbonate ("Stage I") on a two-year construction and commissioning timeline. As part of the Investment Agreement, the parties have agreed to terms of the Offtake Entitlement whereby BCPI has the right to acquire 15% of Lithium Americas' share of Stage I production from Cauchari-Olaroz for a period of 20 years following the commencement of commercial production.

Pricing and payment terms of the Offtake Entitlement will be the same as that applicable to SQM for its purchase of lithium carbonate production from the Cauchari-Olaroz project, which is required to be equivalent to market prices and terms.

Transaction Details & Timing

The Investment Agreement and the terms of the transactions contemplated thereunder has received requisite Board approvals. Completion of the transaction remains subject to approval of TSX, completion of definitive agreements for the Investor Rights, the Offtake Entitlement and Project Debt Facility, closing of the previously announced equity investment by Ganfeng and other customary closing conditions. As part of the TSX approval, Lithium Americas also expects that it will need to obtain shareholder approval for the Private Placement. Closing is expected to occur on or about March 31, 2017.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lithium-americas-announces-us-112-163259208.html

Two MAJOR investments by other companies in a short time, the first was for $174 Million Dollars (Lithium Americas Announces US$174 Million Strategic Investment by Ganfeng Lithium on 17 January 2017) so all together you are looking at more than a quarter of a Billion Dollars invested.  These companies would not be spending that kind of money on Lithium Americas stock and investing in the company if they didn't expect an eventual significant return.  As I have said before many of the Lithium mining company "Juniors" will fall by the way side.  Lithium Americas now has over $250 Million reasons  to be successful  with their Argentina lithium mining operation.  None of these recent investments have targeted the former Smith Valley (name changed) operation in Northern Nevada of Lithium Americas.  All of that remains to be tapped later.  I am more excited about Lithium Americas now than ever before.

Thanks for posting that announcemenet, cantjustread.  Below is an article from Invesing  News describing the same thing but with some additional information:

• Technology

<a href='http://ox.mequoda.com/openx/www/delivery/ck.php?n=a347192&cb=900151347' target='_blank'><img src='http://ox.mequoda.com/openx/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=315&cb=2006194677&n=a347192' border='0' alt='' /></a>

 

Lithium Investing

 

Lithium Americas Announces $174 Million Strategic Investment

Pursuant to an investment agreement, GFL International will fund the advancement of Lithium Americas' Cauchari-Olaroz project in Argentina.

…

 

Jocelyn Aspa • January 17, 2017              

0

 

2017 is poised to be a big year for Lithium Americas (TSX:LAC). The company announced on Jan. 17 that it had signed an investment agreement with GFL International (Ganfeng) for funding to advance construction of its Cauchari-Olaroz project in Argentina.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ganfeng will finance an aggregate amount of $174 million for 19.9 percent of Lithium Americas’ outstanding shares and the right to buy a fixed portion of the lithium carbonate production from the above-noted project and a $125 million project debt facility.

In the company’s press release, Tom Hodgson, CEO of Lithium Americas, said the company is “delighted” to add Gangfeng as a partner, who is also now its biggest shareholder.

“We have long believed that the right partnerships bring important benefits to the Cauchari-Olaroz project, the local communities in Jujuy, and to our shareholders,” he said.

 

 

 

With the investment, Hodgson continued, Lithium Americas–together with its joint venture partner SQM (NYSE:SQM)–will be able to begin construction of the project.

Li Liang Bin, chairman and president of Gangfeng, expressed similar sentiments regarding the partnership, and believes this will be “one of the world’s largest and lowest cost lithium projects.”

“This investment is fully in line with our resource development strategy,” he said. “We also look forward to working with Lithium Americas on further collaboration in the lithium industry.”

In a research note from Dundee Capital Partners, it states that SQM will maintain the remaining 50 percent interest in the project, and that the investment includes equity and debt portions with an associated off-take. Ganfeng’s 19.9 percent interest will be in effect upon closing on Mar. 31, 2017.

Further, Ganfeng will provide a $125 million six year project debt at eight percent for the first three years. In the fourth year, it will go up to 8.5 percent, nine percent in year five, and 9.5 percent in the sixth year.

No doubt, the partnership is indeed exciting for the lithium space, and for Argentina who is third top lithium-producing country in the world.

Following the announcement, shares of Lithium Americas were unsurprisingly on the upward trend: at the close on Jan. 17, the company’s share price had increased 7.87 over the one-day period to $0.96. Year-to-date, shares of Lithium Americas have gone up by 20 percent.

http://www.nextbigfuture.com/2017/01/in-2020-tesla-gigafactory-will-produce.html

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/b/3abb52e4-ea59-4ed9-8525-80e5765c701c