(Adds statement from environmental group and industry context)

By Ernest Scheyder

July 24 (Reuters) – A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Lithium Americas Corp may conduct excavation work at its Thacker Pass lithium mine site in Nevada, denying a request from environmentalists who said the digging could harm sage grouse and other wildlife.

The ruling marked a rare win for a U.S. critical minerals project as environmental groups increasingly pressure courts and regulators to block mining projects, even if they produce metals key to building electric vehicles.

Chief Judge Miranda Du of the federal court in Reno, Nevada, said late on Friday that the digging – needed to determine whether the land holds historical import for Native Americans – may proceed while she determines the broader question of whether former President Donald Trump's administration erred when it approved the project in January. Du said she will try to publish her decision by early 2022.

Vancouver, Canada-based Lithium Americas had agreed not to dig before July 29 while Du deliberated. It was not immediately clear if the company now intends to start digging on that date. Company representatives could not be reached for comment.

The land that would be affected amounts to less than a quarter of an acre on a project roughly 18,000 acres in size, a factor which Du said affected her decision.

Additionally, Du said, environmental groups could not prove what specific damage would be caused by the digging, only hypothetical guesses. Environmentalists "failed to meet their burden to show they will be irreparably harmed," Du said.

"We are disappointed in the court's ruling allowing the company to dig up and remove cultural and historical artifacts," said Kelly Fuller of the Western Watersheds Project, one of the environmental groups that sued to block the project.

Fuller said the group looks forward to a hearing with Du in the future to argue the entire project should be canceled. (Reporting by Ernest Scheyder in Houston; editing by Matthew Lewis and Leslie Adler)

By Ernest Scheyder

(Reuters) -A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Lithium Americas Corp may conduct excavation work at its Thacker Pass lithium mine site in Nevada, denying a request from environmentalists who said the digging could harm sage grouse and other wildlife.

The ruling marked a rare win for a U.S. critical minerals project as environmental groups increasingly pressure courts and regulators to block mining projects, even if they produce metals key to building electric vehicles.

Chief Judge Miranda Du of the federal court in Reno, Nevada, said late on Friday that the digging – needed to determine whether the land holds historical import for Native Americans – may proceed while she determines the broader question of whether former President Donald Trump's administration erred when it approved the project in January. Du said she will try to publish her decision by early 2022.

Vancouver, Canada-based Lithium Americas had agreed not to dig before July 29 while Du deliberated. It was not immediately clear if the company now intends to start digging on that date. Company representatives could not be reached for comment.

The land that would be affected amounts to less than a quarter of an acre on a project roughly 18,000 acres in size, a factor which Du said affected her decision.

Additionally, Du said, environmental groups could not prove what specific damage would be caused by the digging, only hypothetical guesses. Environmentalists "failed to meet their burden to show they will be irreparably harmed," Du said.

"We are disappointed in the court's ruling allowing the company to dig up and remove cultural and historical artifacts," said Kelly Fuller of the Western Watersheds Project, one of the environmental groups that sued to block the project.

Fuller said the group looks forward to a hearing with Du in the future to argue the entire project should be canceled.

(Reporting by Ernest Scheyder in Houston; editing by Matthew Lewis and Leslie Adler)

(Bloomberg) — South African stocks advanced for a fourth consecutive session, the longest winning streak since June 2, joining gains in global peers amid earnings optimism that helped Wall Street edge toward an all-time high despite mixed economic data. Telkom SA SOC Ltd. dragged on the market on news its chief executive officer will step down.

The FTSE/JSE Africa All Share Index was up 0.7% by 9:35 a.m. in Johannesburg, trading at its highest level in more than a week, as a broad rally led by miners and banks countered losses in index giant Naspers Ltd. as well as telecommunications providers.

Friday’s gains set the index on track for a fifth consecutive weekly advance, the longest winning streak since May 2020. The index is 2% higher since Monday, its best weekly performance since May 7.

“Local equities in are positive territory, having taken their lead from stronger global markets, which have risen on the back of corporate earnings, among other factors,” said Lester Davids, a strategist at Unum Capital. “Stock leadership appears to be broad-based with Sasol, MTN and Anglo American among the biggest gainers so far in the session.”

The gains come after the South African Reserve Bank left interest rates unchanged at 3.5% and signaled a more dovish policy path.

South Africa Turns Less Hawkish on Key Rate After Riots

“Our house view is dovish; SARB to begin hiking rates in mid-2022,” Matete Thulare, an analyst at Rand Merchant Bank, said in a client note.

Global stocks are on course for a modest weekly gain, bolstered by robust corporate profits and stimulus support. At the same time, July’s decline in 10-year U.S. Treasury yields may signal concern over a possible peak in economic growth, in part as the delta coronavirus strain curbs mobility in some nations.

Anglo American Plc and BHP Group Plc led the index for industrial miners up 1.1%, providing the biggest boost to the index.Anglo American +1.5%, BHP +0.9%, Glencore Plc +1%, African Rainbow Minerals Ltd. +1%Luxury goods retailer and popular rand hedge Richemont advanced 0.7% as the South African currency slides.Precious-metals miners rise for a fourth day, up 1% to a one-week high as gold and palladium prices advanced.NOTE: Gold Steadies on ECB’s Support Pledge, Mixed U.S. Economic DataImpala Platinum Holdings Ltd. +1.3%, Sibanye Stillwater Ltd. +0.9%, AngloGold Ltd. +0.8%, Gold Fields Ltd. +0.7%, Northam Platinum Ltd. +1%, Harmony Gold Mining Co. +1%, Anglo American Platinum Ltd. +0.3%, Royal Bafokeng Platinum Ltd. +1%, Pan African Resources Plc +0.9%Bank stocks extends gains for a fourth day, the longest winning streak since June 2. the sub-index is up 1% as market cheers decision to keep benchmark rate unchanged.FirstRand Ltd. +0.7%, Standard Bank Group Ltd. +0.9%, Absa Group Ltd. +1.5%, Capitec Bank Holdings Ltd. +1.1%, Nedbank Group Ltd. +1.4%, Investec Plc +1.7%Naspers, with a 15% weighting on the index, falls for the first day in three, down 0.4% to provide the biggest drag to the index. Weakness comes as partly owned online gaming giant Tencent Holdings Ltd. retreats in Hong Kong. Naspers holds a 29% stake in Tencent through its subsidiary Prosus NV, which retreated 0.3%NOTE: China’s Tech Crackdown Is Buying Opportunity, Loop Capital SaysTelkom drops 3.1%, dragging the index for telecommunication providers lower, after CEO Sipho Maseko says he is stepping down after more than eight years at the helm of South Africa’s biggest fixed-line operator.NOTE: Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko to Leave Top JobBlue Label Telecoms Ltd. -1.7%Peers MTN Group +1.8%, MultiChoice Group +0.7%, Vodacom Group Ltd. +0.1%Foreign investors remained net sellers of South African stocks for a fourth day Thursday, disposing of 962 million rand ($65 million) of equities, according to data from exchange operator JSE Ltd.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.

Los Angeles, California–(Newsfile Corp. – July 23, 2021) – The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Piedmont Lithium Inc. ("Piedmont" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: PLL) for violations of the securities laws.

The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Reuters published an article on July 20, 2021, titled: "In push to supply Tesla, Piedmont Lithium irks North Carolina neighbors." According to the article, the Company "has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so." The article continues, "five of the seven members of the county's board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, say they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected," and quotes the chair of the board of commissioners as stating that "Piedmont has sort of put the proverbial cart before the horse." According to Reuters, "state officials added their review process could stretch for more than a year as they solicit comments from at least six other state and federal agencies," and quoted the director of Gaston County's planning and zoning office stating that "I'm not even going to accept an application from Piedmont for rezoning until they have their state permit in hand." Based on this news, shares of Piedmont traded down by almost 20% on the same day.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at brian@schallfirm.com.

The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

CONTACT:

The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.
310-301-3335
info@schallfirm.com
www.schallfirm.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/91044

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, July 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canada Carbon Inc. (the "Company" or “Canada Carbon”) (TSX-V:CCB), (FF:U7N1) announces it has received a notification of a change in preliminary orientation from La Commission de Protection du territoire Agricole du Quebec (“CPTAQ”) . The decision allows for a further 30 day period for any interested parties to make written submissions.

In its decision rendered July 21, 2021, the CPTAQ indicated that it is prepared to authorize the exploration on 57.88 hectares of the Miller Project for a period of two years. The two year exploration period is intended to allow CCB the opportunity to gather additional information and resubmit its application. This preliminary orientation explicitly approves the reactivation of exploration work on the Miller Property. Accordingly, Canada Carbon will be moving forward with the additional drilling required to finalize the pit design.

In addition to satisfying CPTAQ requirements, the additional information to be obtained from the exploration program will enable Canada Carbon to gather the detailed data required by Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Environment as part of their review processes, and will form part of the Miller Project Feasibility Study.

For further information:

Olga Nikitovic
Interim CEO
Canada Carbon Inc.
info@canadacarbon.com

Valerie Pomerleau
Director Public Affairs and Communications
Canada Carbon Inc.
valerie@ryanap.com
(819) 856-5678

“Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.”

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management’s current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com).

Investors interested in stocks from the Chemical – Diversified sector have probably already heard of Dow Inc. (DOW) and Albemarle (ALB). But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.

There are plenty of strategies for discovering value stocks, but we have found that pairing a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system produces the best returns. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings estimate revision trends, and our Style Scores highlight companies with specific traits.

Dow Inc. has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), while Albemarle has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) right now. This system places an emphasis on companies that have seen positive earnings estimate revisions, so investors should feel comfortable knowing that DOW is likely seeing its earnings outlook improve to a greater extent. But this is just one piece of the puzzle for value investors.

Value investors also try to analyze a wide range of traditional figures and metrics to help determine whether a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.

The Value category of the Style Scores system identifies undervalued companies by looking at a number of key metrics. These include the long-favored P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, cash flow per share, and a variety of other fundamentals that help us determine a company's fair value.

DOW currently has a forward P/E ratio of 7.82, while ALB has a forward P/E of 53.31. We also note that DOW has a PEG ratio of 0.28. This figure is similar to the commonly-used P/E ratio, with the PEG ratio also factoring in a company's expected earnings growth rate. ALB currently has a PEG ratio of 2.68.

Another notable valuation metric for DOW is its P/B ratio of 2.80. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, ALB has a P/B of 3.79.

These metrics, and several others, help DOW earn a Value grade of A, while ALB has been given a Value grade of F.

DOW sticks out from ALB in both our Zacks Rank and Style Scores models, so value investors will likely feel that DOW is the better option right now.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
 
Dow Inc. (DOW) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
Albemarle Corporation (ALB) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

NEW YORK, July 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ —

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Piedmont Lithium Inc. (NASDAQ: PLL) resulting from allegations that Piedmont may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Piedmont securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2124.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On July 20, 2021, Reuters published an article entitled "In push to supply Tesla, Piedmont Lithium irks North Carolina neighbors" which reported that Piedmont "has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so." The article also reported that "[f]ive of the seven members of the county's board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, say they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected[,]" and quoted the chair of the board of commissioners stating that "Piedmont has sort of put the proverbial cart before the horse[.]"

The article further reported that "[s]tate officials added their review process could stretch for more than a year as they solicit comments from at least six other state and federal agencies[,]" and quoted the director of Gaston County's planning and zoning office stating that "I'm not even going to accept an application from Piedmont for rezoning until they have their state permit in hand[.]"

On this news, Piedmont shares fell $12.56 per share over the trading day, or nearly 20%, to close at $50.52 per share on July 20, 2021, damaging investors.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rosen-leading-trial-attorneys-encourages-piedmont-lithium-inc-investors-with-losses-to-inquire-about-class-action-investigation–pll-301340507.html

SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 23, 2021 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Piedmont Lithium Inc. ('Piedmont' or 'the Company') (NASDAQ: PLL) for violations of the securities laws.

The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Reuters published an article on July 20, 2021, titled: 'In push to supply Tesla, Piedmont Lithium irks North Carolina neighbors.' According to the article, the Company 'has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so.' The article continues, 'five of the seven members of the county's board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, say they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected,' and quotes the chair of the board of commissioners as stating that 'Piedmont has sort of put the proverbial cart before the horse.' According to Reuters, 'state officials added their review process could stretch for more than a year as they solicit comments from at least six other state and federal agencies,' and quoted the director of Gaston County's planning and zoning office stating that 'I'm not even going to accept an application from Piedmont for rezoning until they have their state permit in hand.' Based on this news, shares of Piedmont traded down by almost 20% on the same day.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at brian@schallfirm.com.

The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

CONTACT:
The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.
310-301-3335
info@schallfirm.com
www.schallfirm.com

SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/656870/SHAREHOLDER-ACTION-ALERT-The-Schall-Law-Firm-Announces-it-is-Investigating-Claims-Against-Piedmont-Lithium-Inc-and-Encourages-Investors-with-Losses-to-Contact-the-Firm

NEW YORK, July 22, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized stockholder rights law firm, is investigating potential claims against Piedmont Lithium Inc. ("Piedmont Lithium" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: PLL) on behalf of Piedmont Lithium stockholders. Our investigation concerns whether Piedmont Lithium has violated the federal securities laws and/or engaged in other unlawful business practices.

Click here to participate in the action.

The investigation focuses on Piedmont Lithium’s public disclosures concerning its plan to build a large lithium mine in Gaston County, North Carolina.

In past years, Piedmont Lithium has repeatedly assured investors it would be imminently applying for permits and zoning variances to build the mine. The Company further assured investors it was "not aware" of any reason why Gaston County would not approve zoning changes.

Recently, in late September 2020, Piedmont Lithium announced it signed a deal to supply lithium ore sourced from its deposits in North Carolina to electric auto maker Tesla, reportedly conditional upon both companies to start deliveries between July 2022 and July 2023. This news sent the price of the company’s American Depositary Shares up over 200% on Sept. 28, 2020.

However, Piedmont Lithium's ability to perform on the Tesla deal came into question on July 20, 2021, when Reuters reported that Piedmont Lithium had not even applied for the necessary mining permit or zoning variances. According to the article, five of the seven members of the Gaston County’s board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, say they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected.

On this news, the Company’s stock price fell $12.56, or nearly 20%, to close at $50.52 per share on July 20, 2021.

If you purchased or otherwise acquired Piedmont Lithium shares and suffered a loss, are a long-term stockholder, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Brandon Walker, Melissa Fortunato, or Marion Passmore by email at investigations@bespc.com, telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you.

About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.:

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York, California, and South Carolina. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210721005981/en/

Contacts

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.
Brandon Walker, Esq.
Melissa Fortunato, Esq.
Marion Passmore, Esq.
(212) 355-4648
investigations@bespc.com
www.bespc.com

For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it completely lacks a track record of revenue and profit. But the reality is that when a company loses money each year, for long enough, its investors will usually take their share of those losses.

So if you're like me, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like Red River Resources (ASX:RVR). Now, I'm not saying that the stock is necessarily undervalued today; but I can't shake an appreciation for the profitability of the business itself. In comparison, loss making companies act like a sponge for capital – but unlike such a sponge they do not always produce something when squeezed.

See our latest analysis for Red River Resources

How Fast Is Red River Resources Growing?

As one of my mentors once told me, share price follows earnings per share (EPS). Therefore, there are plenty of investors who like to buy shares in companies that are growing EPS. Impressively, Red River Resources has grown EPS by 24% per year, compound, in the last three years. If the company can sustain that sort of growth, we'd expect shareholders to come away winners.

Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. Red River Resources shareholders can take confidence from the fact that EBIT margins are up from 2.3% to 11%, and revenue is growing. That's great to see, on both counts.

You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.

Red River Resources isn't a huge company, given its market capitalization of AU$109m. That makes it extra important to check on its balance sheet strength.

Are Red River Resources Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Like the kids in the streets standing up for their beliefs, insider share purchases give me reason to believe in a brighter future. This view is based on the possibility that stock purchases signal bullishness on behalf of the buyer. However, small purchases are not always indicative of conviction, and insiders don't always get it right.

We haven't seen any insiders selling Red River Resources shares, in the last year. With that in mind, it's heartening that Timothy Stephen Hanlon, the Independent Non-Executive Director of the company, paid AU$35k for shares at around AU$0.24 each.

Should You Add Red River Resources To Your Watchlist?

You can't deny that Red River Resources has grown its earnings per share at a very impressive rate. That's attractive. Not only is that growth rate rather juicy, but the insider buying makes my mouth water. So on this analysis I believe Red River Resources is probably worth spending some time on. However, before you get too excited we've discovered 1 warning sign for Red River Resources that you should be aware of.

The good news is that Red River Resources is not the only growth stock with insider buying. Here's a list of them… with insider buying in the last three months!

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – July 22, 2021) – Great Atlantic Resources (TSXV: GR) (FSE: PH02) has completed the second hole of its 2021 diamond drill program at its Golden Promise Gold property in Central Newfoundland, with visible gold evident in two quartz veins. The 100% owned Golden Promise Property is 1 of the company's 8 properties, which cover an area of 25,700 hectares, located within the central Newfoundland gold belt. This is a resumption of Phase 2 diamond drilling at the gold bearing Jaclyn Zone, located within the northern region of the Golden Promise Property, which hosts five gold bearing quartz veins systems, being the Jaclyn Main, Jaclyn North, Jaclyn South, Jaclyn East and Jaclyn West Zones.

For more information, please view the InvestmentPitch Media "video" which provides additional information about this news and the company. If this link is not enabled, please visit www.InvestmentPitch.com and enter "Great Atlantic" in the search box.

Cannot view this video? Visit:
http://www.investmentpitch.com/video/1_90veehyw/Great-Atlantic-completes-2nd-drill-hole-intersecting-2-veins-containing-visible-gold

The current Phase 2 drilling will include up to 33 drill holes, totalling approximately 5,000 metres, at the gold bearing Jaclyn Zone with holes planned at the Jaclyn Main Zone and Jaclyn North Zone.

Drill hole GP-21-150, a definition hole, was drilled to a length of 111 metres, within the west region of the Jaclyn Main Zone between 2019 drill holes 138 and 143B, both of which had intersected high grade gold mineralization. Multiple quartz veins were intersected in GP-21-150. Visible gold is evident in a 0.30-meter long (core length) quartz vein intersected between 30.18 and 30.48 metres.

Drill core from GP-21-150 is currently being geologically logged and sampled at the company's secure facility in central Newfoundland prior to being submitted to a certified laboratory for gold assay and multi-element analysis.

Drilling is underway on the third hole GP-21-151, which also a definition hole in the western part of the Jaclyn Main Zone.

The objective of these holes and subsequent holes is to further define the zone and provide information for an updated resource estimate. Most of these holes are planned within the central to west region of the zone, testing above 200 metres vertical depth, with two holes planned in the east part of the Jaclyn Main Zone to test the zone at 200 to 350 metres vertical depth.

Great Atlantic confirmed high-grade gold at the Jaclyn Main Zone during 2019 drilling, including near surface intercepts of 113.07 g/t gold over 0.55 metres and 61.35 g/t gold over 2.04 metres, and 15.8 g/t gold over 2.70 metres, plus an interval of multiple gold bearing veins in one drill hole averaging 2.30 grams per tonne gold over 25.25 metres. The planned drilling at the Jaclyn North Zone will further test the area east of historic drill holes including the area of an approximate 300-metre long zone of gold-bearing quartz vein boulders.

Three drill holes completed by the company during 2020 in this area intersected gold bearing quartz veins and extended the Jaclyn North quartz vein system approximately 260 metres east of historic drilling. The company collected gold bearing quartz boulder samples in this area during 2017, including samples returning 163, 208 and 332 g/t tonne and again in 2020 including samples returning 17.4, 26.7 and 157.6 grams per tonne gold.

The company reported a NI 43-101 compliant inferred resource estimate during late 2018 for the Jaclyn Main Zone of 357,500 tonnes at 10.4 grams per tonne gold for 119,000 ounces uncapped.

The Golden Promise Property is located within a region of recent significant gold discoveries. The property is located within the Exploits Subzone of the Newfoundland Dunnage Zone. Within the Exploits Subzone, the property lies along the north-northwestern fringe of the Victoria Lake Supergroup, a volcano-sedimentary terrane. Recent significant gold discoveries within the Exploits Subzone include those of Marathon Gold Corp. at the Valentine Gold Project, Sokoman Minerals Corp. at the Moosehead Gold Project and New Found Gold Corp. at the Queensway Project.

Viewers are warned that mineralization at the Valentine Gold Project, the Moosehead Gold Project, the Queensway Project, and elsewhere within the Exploits Subzone is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the company's Golden Promise Property.

Great Atlantic, with a number of properties in the Atlantic provinces, is utilizing a Project Generation model, with a special focus on critical elements which are prominent in Atlantic Canada, such as Antimony, Tungsten and Gold.

For more information, please visit the company's website www.GreatAtlanticResources.com, contact Christopher R. Anderson, President & CEO, at 604-488-3900 or email office@GreatAtlanticResources.com. For Investor Relations contact Andrew Job at 416-628-1560 or IR@GreatAtlanticResources.com.

About InvestmentPitch Media

InvestmentPitch Media leverages the power of video, which together with its extensive distribution, positions a company's story ahead of the 1,000's of companies seeking awareness and funding from the financial community. The company specializes in producing short videos based on significant news releases, research reports and other content of interest to investors.

CONTACT:
InvestmentPitch Media
Barry Morgan, CFO
bmorgan@investmentpitch.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/90957

Lithium Americas shows rising price performance, earning an upgrade to its IBD Relative Strength Rating from 70 to 82.

LOS ANGELES, July 22, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM"), a national investor rights law firm, continues its investigation on behalf of Piedmont Lithium Inc. ("Piedmont" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: PLL) investors concerning the Company and its officers’ possible violations of the federal securities laws.

If you suffered a loss on your Piedmont investments or would like to inquire about potentially pursuing claims to recover your loss under the federal securities laws, you can submit your contact information at https://www.glancylaw.com/cases/piedmont-lithium-inc/. You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at shareholders@glancylaw.com to learn more about your rights.

On July 20, 2021, Reuters reported that Piedmont "has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so." According to the article, a majority of the board of commissioners said, "they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected."

On this news, the Company’s stock price fell $12.56, or nearly 20%, to close at $50.52 per share on July 20, 2021, thereby injuring investors.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

Whistleblower Notice: Persons with non-public information regarding Piedmont should consider their options to aid the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower Program. Under the program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Charles H. Linehan at 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224 or email shareholders@glancylaw.com.

About GPM

Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP is a premier law firm representing investors and consumers in securities litigation and other complex class action litigation. ISS Securities Class Action Services has consistently ranked GPM in its annual SCAS Top 50 Report. In 2018, GPM was ranked a top five law firm in number of securities class action settlements, and a top six law firm for total dollar size of settlements. With four offices across the country, GPM’s nearly 40 attorneys have won groundbreaking rulings and recovered billions of dollars for investors and consumers in securities, antitrust, consumer, and employment class actions. GPM’s lawyers have handled cases covering a wide spectrum of corporate misconduct including cases involving financial restatements, internal control weaknesses, earnings management, fraudulent earnings guidance and forward looking statements, auditor misconduct, insider trading, violations of FDA regulations, actions resulting in FDA and DOJ investigations, and many other forms of corporate misconduct. GPM’s attorneys have worked on securities cases relating to nearly all industries and sectors in the financial markets, including, energy, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, real estate and REITs, financial, insurance, information technology, health care, biotech, cryptocurrency, medical devices, and many more. GPM’s past successes have been widely covered by leading news and industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, Reuters, the Associated Press, Barron’s, Investor’s Business Daily, Forbes, and Money.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210722005868/en/

Contacts

Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, Los Angeles
Charles H. Linehan, 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224
1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100
Los Angeles, CA 90067
www.glancylaw.com
shareholders@glancylaw.com

BENSALEM, Pa., July 22, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Law Offices of Howard G. Smith continues its investigation on behalf of Piedmont Lithium Inc. ("Piedmont" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: PLL) investors concerning the Company and its officers’ possible violations of federal securities laws.

On July 20, 2021, Reuters reported that Piedmont "has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so." According to the article, a majority of the board of commissioners said, "they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected."

On this news, the Company’s stock price fell $12.56, or nearly 20%, to close at $50.52 per share on July 20, 2021, thereby injuring investors.

If you purchased Piedmont securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020 by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com, or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210722005867/en/

Contacts

Law Offices of Howard G. Smith
Howard G. Smith, Esquire
215-638-4847
888-638-4847
howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com
www.howardsmithlaw.com

SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 22, 2021 / Hagens Berman urges Piedmont Lithium Inc. (NASDAQ:PLL) investors with significant losses to submit your losses now. The firm is investigating possible securities law violations at Piedmont Lithium and certain investors may have valuable claims.

Visit:www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/PLL
Contact An Attorney Now:PLL@hbsslaw.com
844-916-0895

Piedmont Lithium Inc. (PLL) Investigation:

The investigation focuses on Piedmont Lithium's public disclosures concerning its plan to build a large lithium mine in Gaston County, North Carolina.

In past years, Piedmont Lithium has repeatedly assured investors it would be imminently applying for permits and zoning variances to build the mine. The Company further assured investors it was "not aware" of any reason why Gaston County would not approve zoning changes.

Recently, in late September 2020, Piedmont Lithium announced it signed a deal to supply lithium ore sourced from its deposits in North Carolina to electric auto maker Tesla, reportedly conditional upon both companies to start deliveries between July 2022 and July 2023. This news sent the price of the company's American Depositary Shares up over 200% on Sept. 28, 2020.

However, Piedmont Lithium's ability to perform on the Tesla deal came into question on July 20, 2021, when Reuters reported that Piedmont Lithium had not even applied for the necessary mining permit or zoning variances. According to the article, five of the seven members of the Gaston County's board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, say they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected.

This news sent the price of Piedmont ADSs crashing lower on July 20, 2021.

"We're focused on investors' losses and whether Piedmont concealed known building permit and zoning risks posed by the Gaston County mine," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.

If you invested in Piedmont Lithium and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Piedmont Lithium should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email PLL@hbsslaw.com.

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a national law firm with eight offices in eight cities around the country and over eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com. For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw.

CONTACT:

Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895

SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/656563/PLL-INVESTOR-ALERT-Hagens-Berman-Encourages-Piedmont-Lithium-NASDAQPLL-Investors-to-Contact-Firms-Attorneys-Now-Firm-Investigating-Possible-Securities-Law-Violations

OAKLAND, Calif., July 21, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Piedmont Lithium Inc. shares plunged nearly 20% on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 after Reuters reported it has repeatedly delayed seeking county approval for its proposed lithium mine, despite years of promising investors that it would do so. Five out of seven county officials now say they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has failed to inform them about the mine's potential environmental impacts. Gibbs Law Group is investigating a potential Piedmont Lithium Class Action Lawsuit on behalf of investors who lost money in Piedmont Lithium Inc. (NASDAQ: PLL).

To speak with an attorney regarding this class action lawsuit investigation, click here or call (888) 410-2925.

On Tuesday July 20, 2021, Reuters reported that a majority of county officials in Gaston County, North Carolina say they may block or delay Piedmont’s plan to build the largest lithium mine in the U.S., because the company has failed to inform them of any potential environmental impacts, including effects on noise, dust, vibrations, water and air quality.

Despite promising investors as early as 2018 that it would obtain permits by 2019, Piedmont has repeatedly delayed the process. In March 2021, Piedmont cancelled a planned meeting with county commissioners with three days’ notice, leading one commissioner to say, "This has been the worst rollout of a project from a company I’ve ever seen." Previously, Piedmont has told investors it was "not aware" of any potential roadblocks to receiving permitting, despite the fact that they had not yet presented any information to the county government.

Piedmont signed a deal with Tesla in 2020, causing its stock to skyrocket, and its proposed mine would be the largest lithium mine in the US.

Following news of trouble with its planned mine, Piedmont’s stock price plummeted nearly 20% at the close of July 20, 2021, causing significant harm to investors.

What Should Piedmont Investors Do?

If you invested in Piedmont, visit our website or contact our securities team directly at (888) 410-2925 to discuss how you may be able to recover your losses. Our investigation concerns whether Piedmont Lithium Inc. has violated federal securities laws by providing false or misleading statements to investors.

About Gibbs Law Group

Gibbs Law Group represents investors throughout the country in securities litigation to correct abusive corporate governance practices, breaches of fiduciary duty, and proxy violations. The firm has recovered over a billion dollars for its clients against some of the world’s largest corporations, and our attorneys have received numerous honors for their work, including "Best Lawyers in America," "Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California," "California Lawyer Attorney of the Year," "Class Action Practice Group of the Year," "Consumer Protection MVP," and "Top Women Lawyers in California."

This press release may constitute Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210720006285/en/

Contacts

EILEEN EPSTEIN
PHONE: 510.350.9728
EMAIL: EJE@CLASSLAWGROUP.COM

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 21, 2021 / GREAT ATLANTIC RESOURCES CORP. (TSXV:GR) (the "Company" or "Great Atlantic") is pleased to announce it has completed the second hole (GP-21-150) of the 2021 diamond drilling program at its Golden Promise Gold Property, located in the central Newfoundland gold belt. The hole was completed at the Jaclyn Main Zone. Visible gold is evident in two quartz veins.

Quartz Vein with Visible Gold in GP-21-150

Drill hole GP-21-150 is a definition hole, drilled between drill holes GP-19-138 and GP-19-143B, both of which intersected high grade gold mineralization. GP-21-150 was drilled within the west region of the Jaclyn Main Zone (JMZ). It was drilled to a length of 111 meters. The current drilling is part of the Company's Phase 2 diamond drilling program at the gold bearing Jaclyn Zone. Drill core from GP-21-150 is currently being geologically logged and sampled at the Company's secure facility in central Newfoundland.

Multiple quartz veins were intersected in GP-21-150. Visible gold is evident in a 0.30-meter long (core length) quartz vein intersected at 30.18-30.48 meters and within quartz veined zone intersected at 75.75-76.58 meters (core length). Drill core samples from GP-21-150 will be submitted to a certified laboratory for gold assay and multi-element analysis.

Drilling is underway on the third hole GP-21-151, which also a definition hole in the western part of the JMZ.

The current Phase 2 drilling will include up to 33 drill holes at the gold bearing Jaclyn Zone with holes planned at the JMZ and Jaclyn North Zone with total planned drilling of approximately 5,000 meters. The objective of drilling at the JMZ is to further define the zone and provide information for an updated resource estimate of the JMZ. The Company is continuing the drill hole numbering system from previous drilling programs. Most of the planned holes at the JMZ are within the central to west region of the zone, testing above 200 meters vertical depth. Two holes are planned in the east part of the JMZ to test the zone at 200-350 meters vertical depth.

Great Atlantic reported a National Instrument 43-101 compliant inferred resource estimate during late 2018 for the JMZ of 357,500 tonnes at 10.4 g/t gold (119,900 ounces of gold – uncapped).

The Company confirmed high-grade gold at the JMZ during 2019 drilling, including near surface intercepts (core length) of 113.07 grams / tonne (g/t) gold over 0.55 meters, 61.35 g/t gold over 2.04 meters and 15.8 g/t gold over 2.70 meters plus an interval of multiple gold bearing veins in one drill hole averaging 2.30 g/t gold over 25.25 meters.

Quartz Vein with Visible Gold in GP-21-149

The Golden Promise Property is located within a region of recent significant gold discoveries. The property is located within the Exploits Subzone of the Newfoundland Dunnage Zone. Within the Exploits Subzone, the property lies along the north-northwestern fringe of the Victoria Lake Supergroup (VLSG), a volcano-sedimentary terrane. The northwestern margin of the Golden Promise Property occurs proximal to, and, in part, contiguous with a major (Appalachian-scale) collisional boundary, and suture zone, known as the RIL. The RIL forms the western boundary of the Exploits Subzone. Recent significant gold discoveries within the Exploits Subzone include those of Marathon Gold Corp. (TSX.MOZ) at the Valentine Gold Project, Sokoman Minerals Corp. (TSXV:SIC) at the Moosehead Gold Project and New Found Gold Corp. (TSXV:NFG) at the Queensway Project. Readers are warned that mineralization at the Valentine Gold Project, Moosehead Gold Project, and Queensway Project is not necessarily indicative of mineralization the Golden Promise Property.

David Martin, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and VP Exploration for Great Atlantic, is responsible for the technical information contained in this News Release.

On Behalf of the board of directors
"Christopher R Anderson"
Mr. Christopher R. Anderson "Always be positive, strive for solutions, and never give up"
President CEO Director

Investor Relations:
Andrew Job
1-416-628-1560
IR@GreatAtlanticResources.com
Office Line: 604-488-3900

About Great Atlantic Resources Corp.: Great Atlantic Resources Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on the discovery and development of mineral assets in the resource-rich and sovereign risk-free realm of Atlantic Canada, one of the number one mining regions of the world. Great Atlantic is currently surging forward building the company utilizing a Project Generation model, with a special focus on the most critical elements on the planet that are prominent in Atlantic Canada, Antimony, Tungsten and Gold.

This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future exploration drilling, exploration activities and events or developments that the Company expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of financing, and general economic, market or business conditions.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Great Atlantic Resource Corp
888 Dunsmuir Street – Suite 888, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3K4

SOURCE: Great Atlantic Resources Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/656386/Great-Atlantic-Second-Drill-Hole-Completed-Two-Veins-Intersected-Both-Contained-Visible-Gold

LOS ANGELES, July 21, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces an investigation of Piedmont Lithium Inc. ("Piedmont" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: PLL) on behalf of investors concerning the Company’s possible violations of federal securities laws.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

On July 20, 2021, Reuters reported that Piedmont "has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so." According to the article, a majority of the board of commissioners said, "they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected."

On this news, the Company’s stock price fell $12.56, or nearly 20%, to close at $50.52 per share on July 20, 2021, thereby injuring investors.

Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW.

If you purchased Piedmont Lithium Inc. securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to info@frankcruzlaw.com, or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210720006287/en/

Contacts

The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, Los Angeles
Frank R. Cruz, 310-914-5007
fcruz@frankcruzlaw.com
www.frankcruzlaw.com

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 21, 2021 /The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Piedmont Lithium Inc. ('Piedmont' or 'the Company') (NASDAQ:PLL) for violations of the securities laws.

The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Reuters published an article on July 20, 2021, titled: 'In push to supply Tesla, Piedmont Lithium irks North Carolina neighbors.' According to the article, the Company 'has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so.' The article continues, 'five of the seven members of the county's board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, say they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected,' and quotes the chair of the board of commissioners as stating that 'Piedmont has sort of put the proverbial cart before the horse.' According to Reuters, 'state officials added their review process could stretch for more than a year as they solicit comments from at least six other state and federal agencies,' and quoted the director of Gaston County's planning and zoning office stating that 'I'm not even going to accept an application from Piedmont for rezoning until they have their state permit in hand.' Based on this news, shares of Piedmont traded down by almost 20% on the same day.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at brian@schallfirm.com.

The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.

Contacts

The Schall Law Firm
Brian Schall, Esq.
310-301-3335
info@schallfirm.com
www.schallfirm.com

SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/656527/INVESTOR-ACTION-ALERT-The-Schall-Law-Firm-Announces-it-is-Investigating-Claims-Against-Piedmont-Lithium-Inc-and-Encourages-Investors-with-Losses-to-Contact-the-Firm

NEW YORK, July 21, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The law firm of Kirby McInerney LLP is investigating potential claims against Piedmont Lithium Inc. ("Piedmont" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: PLL). The investigation concerns whether Piedmont has violated the federal securities laws and/or engaged in other unlawful business practices.

On July 20, 2021, Reuters reported that Piedmont "has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so." According to the article, a majority of the board of commissioners said, "they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected." On this news, the Company’s stock price declined by $12.56 per share, or approximately 20%, from $63.08 per share to close at $50.52 per share on July 20, 2021.

If you purchased or otherwise acquired Piedmont securities, have information, or would like to learn more about these claims, please contact Thomas W. Elrod of Kirby McInerney LLP at 212-371-6600, by email at investigations@kmllp.com, or by filling out this contact form, to discuss your rights or interests with respect to these matters without any cost to you.

Kirby McInerney LLP is a New York-based plaintiffs’ law firm concentrating in securities, antitrust, whistleblower, and consumer litigation. The firm’s efforts on behalf of shareholders in securities litigation have resulted in recoveries totaling billions of dollars. Additional information about the firm can be found at Kirby McInerney LLP’s website: http://www.kmllp.com.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210721005969/en/

Contacts

Kirby McInerney LLP
Thomas W. Elrod, Esq.
212-371-6600
https://www.kmllp.com
investigations@kmllp.com

READING, Pa., July 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EnerSys (NYSE: ENS) the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications will host a conference call to discuss the Company’s first quarter of fiscal 2022 financial results and to provide an overview of the business. The call will conclude with a question and answer session.

The call, scheduled for Thursday, August 12, 2021 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, will be hosted by David M. Shaffer, Chief Executive Officer, and Michael J. Schmidtlein, Chief Financial Officer.

A live webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website at http://www.enersys.com under the "Investor Relations" link. Presentation materials to be used in conjunction with the conference call will become available under the aforementioned link the evening before the conference call. There will be a free download of a compatible media player on the company’s website at http://www.enersys.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available from 12:00 p.m. on August 12, 2021 through 12:00 p.m. on September 11, 2021.

For more information, contact Michael J. Schmidtlein, Chief Financial Officer, EnerSys, P.O. Box 14145, Reading, PA 19612-4145, USA. Tel: 610-236-4040 or by emailing investorrelations@enersys.com.

About EnerSys:

EDITOR'S NOTE: EnerSys, the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, manufactures and distributes energy systems solutions and motive power batteries, specialty batteries, battery chargers, power equipment, battery accessories and outdoor equipment enclosure solutions to customers worldwide. Energy Systems, which combine enclosures, power conversion, power distribution and energy storage, are used in the telecommunication, broadband and utility industries, uninterruptible power supplies, and numerous applications requiring stored energy solutions. Motive power batteries and chargers are utilized in electric forklift trucks and other industrial electric powered vehicles. Specialty batteries are used in aerospace and defense applications, large over-the-road trucks, premium automotive, medical and security systems applications. EnerSys also provides aftermarket and customer support services to its customers in over 100 countries through its sales and manufacturing locations around the world. With the NorthStar acquisition, EnerSys has solidified its position as the market leader for premium Thin Plate Pure Lead batteries which are sold across all three lines of business.

More information regarding EnerSys can be found at www.enersys.com.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, July 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canada Carbon Inc. (the "Company" or “Canada Carbon” or “CCB”) (TSX-V:CCB), (FF:U7N1) announces that it has acquired 20 additional mining claims, surrounding its two existing claims on the former Asbury Mine site. The total 22 claims (“Asbury claims”) cover 1,205.9 hectares. All the claims are located in zones where exploration and extraction activities are permitted. The Asbury claims are located about 8 kilometers northeast of the municipality of Notre-Dame-du-Laus in the Laurentides Region of southern Quebec.

The Company’s original two claims, totaling 119 hectares, are the location of the former Asbury Graphite Mine, a past producing property. Historical exploration by various companies and subsequent resource evaluations lead to historical production from 1974 to 1988. Open pit mining allowed the historical production of 875,000 metric tons of graphite ore at a cut-off grade of 6% Cg.

Canada Carbon management met with the Mayor of Notre-Dame-du-Laus and the Company was given approval to commence exploration. CCB will begin exploring the Asbury claims thoroughly in the coming months to assess quantity and quality of graphite and potential markets. Canada Carbon will work closely with the municipality to ensure that they are aware of our exploration plans and results. CCB is committed to communicating transparently and proactively with the citizens of the municipality to inform them of the company's actions and answer their questions.

The Asbury claims will be subject to two exploration phases located in two distinct areas.

1. The former Asbury Graphite Mine pit area: Previous exploration work in the vicinity of the historical pit area shows the presence of additional graphite mineralization both along strike and down dip. Of interest is an electromagnetic (“EM”) conductor located southwest from the current pit where up to 2.3% carbon over 40.5 meters (including 4.03% carbon over 11.7 meters) was identified in a diamond drilling program This conductor is defined over 500 meters in a north-south direction. Another parallel conductor exists in the vicinity of the pit and extends over 600 meters (Charbonneau, 2012¹).

2. Regional Electromagnetic (“EM”) conductor anomalies: An airborne EM survey was completed on the northeast area from the Asbury pit in 2013 by Focus Graphite Inc. The survey covered possible extensions from the Asbury deposit and shows multiple conductor anomalies extending northward for more than 4 kilometers (Dubé, 2013²). The southwestern area of the conductor includes the Asbury historical pit while the northeastern area of the conductor includes a graphite showing named MC-8805 which included 8.14% Cg over 18.9 meters in a drill hole. Both ends of the conductors show significant mineralization.

“Graphite has been designated as a critical and strategic mineral by many countries as it is a building block for a greener future. Canada Carbon is very fortunate to have two graphite properties. While we are firmly committed to advancing the Miller Project, the Asbury claims may provide us with flexibility, synergies between the projects and an opportunity to expand our product offerings,” said Olga Nikitovic, Interim CEO.

Steven Lauzier, P.Geo. OGQ, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 guidelines, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release.

For further information:

Olga Nikitovic
Interim CEO
Canada Carbon Inc.
info@canadacarbon.com

Valerie Pomerleau
Director Public Affairs and Communications
Canada Carbon Inc.
valerie@ryanap.com
(819) 856-5678

Notes :

1. Charbonneau, Rémi. 2012. Technical Report on the Asbury Graphite Property, In Accordance with National Instrument 43-101, MCGill Township, Quebec, Canada. Submitted to Canada Carbon Inc. Online on the SIGEOM database of the MERN. GM67673. 62 pages.

2. Dubé, Joel. 2013. Heliborne Magnetic and TDEM Survey. Island and Asbury Properties, Laurentides region, Québec, 2013. Submitted to Focus Graphite Inc. Online on the SIGEOM database of the MERN. GM67561. 47 pages. Dubé & Desaulniers Geoscience.

“Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.”

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management’s current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com).

By Ernest Scheyder

July 21 (Reuters) – A U.S. federal judge said on Wednesday she will rule by July 29 on whether to temporarily block Lithium Americas Corp from excavating its Thacker Pass site in Nevada, which could become one of the country's biggest lithium mines.

Environmentalists sued earlier this year to block the proposed lithium mine, arguing that it could threaten sage grouse habitats and that the former President Donald Trump's administration erred when it approved it in January.

Chief Judge Miranda Du of the federal court in Reno held a Wednesday hearing to determine whether excavation work at the mine site should first be blocked while she considers the broader question of whether approval should have been issued in the first place.

After a nearly three-hour hearing, Du said she will rule by next Thursday. The company had previously agreed to pause digging through that date, pending the court review.

Environmentalists hope to stop Lithium Americas from minor excavation work needed to determine whether the land holds historical import for Native Americans and others. The project cannot move forward until that work is complete.

Du, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, gave little hint as to which way she may rule and asked probing questions of attorneys for the Vancouver-based company, environmental groups, and the Bureau of Land Management, which is supporting Lithium Americas.

Thacker Pass would be one of the largest lithium mines in the United States if completed, producing 30,000 tonnes of lithium.

Laura Granier, an attorney for Lithium Americas, argued that temporarily blocking the project would harm President Joe Biden's efforts to address climate change, including promoting a switch to cleaner electric vehicles which use lithium-based batteries.

Talasi Brooks, who represented the environmental groups, told Du that any excavation – even if small – could cause irreparable harm to the area's wildlife.

Rival projects from ioneer Ltd and Piedmont Lithium also face opposition.

(Reporting by Ernest Scheyder Editing by Marguerita Choy)

BRISBANE, Australia, July 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Orocobre Limited (TSX: ORL) (ASX: ORE) –

Olaroz Lithium Facility (Olaroz) operations continue to deliver improving cashflows with a Gross Cash Margin of $4,371/tonne following further improvement in the sales price of lithium chemicals and a continued focus on costs.¹ Realised average price was US$8,476/tonne up 45% quarter on quarter (QoQ) on a free on board basis (FOB²) with prices up 170% over the past nine months. Costs were US$4,105/t³. The proportion of battery grade production reached a record level at 66%. Market conditions continue to improve which is reflected in increasing price forecasts by analysts and industry commentators.

OLAROZ LITHIUM FACILITY (ORE 66.5%)⁴

• Activities continue to focus on the health and well-being of our staff, contractors and communities while maintaining production and expansion works with no COVID-19 related stoppages during the period. Approximately 60% of the operational workforce has now had their first dose of a vaccine

• Production of 3,300 tonnes was up 31% on the previous corresponding period (PCP) and up 2% QoQ, despite the proportion of battery grade production increasing to 66% from 55% QoQ

• Sales volume of 2,549 tonnes was up 59% on PCP, but down 16% QoQ due to global shipping delays and the requirement to hold additional stock in Japan to guarantee smooth delivery into the Prime Planet Energy and Solutions (PPES) contract

• Sales revenue was up 22% QoQ to US$21.6 million with the realised average price achieved up 45% QoQ to US$8,476/tonne FOB². Prices have now increased by nearly 170% over the last nine months

• Cash costs (on a cost of goods sold basis)³ were up 5% to US$4,105/tonne on PCP excluding the export tax of US$407/tonne with proportional sales of battery grade material nearly doubling over that period

• Gross cash margin was up materially to US$4,371/t, generating a gross margin of 52%

• In the upcoming half, a proportion of sales will be into contracts that were agreed in December 2020 reflecting prices of that time. The average price in the December half will reflect improved market conditions partially offset by lagged pricing and will be approximately US$9,000/tonne FOB² subject to shipping and delivery schedules

LITHIUM GROWTH PROJECTS

• During the June quarter work at Olaroz Stage 2 continued with strong adherence to the COVID-19 Bio-Security Protocol. At the end of June, most infrastructure is complete, nearly 80% of ponds are built and soda ash and carbonation plants are 10% and 14% complete respectively. Additional accommodation facilities were completed in the quarter with over 650 personnel on site

• Stage 2 is expected to be complete in H1 CY22 and to commence production the following half. Production will ramp up over two years to full capacity of 25,000 tonnes per annum (ktpa) of primary grade lithium carbonate by H2 CY24

• Naraha site operations have continued throughout the period with construction now mostly complete and pre-commissioning works underway. Commissioning will be delayed until Q1 CY22 due to COVID-19 related delays of travel to site by Veolia’s international commissioning engineers and technicians

• A scoping study into a further expansion at Olaroz (Stage 3) has commenced. The study will investigate options for additional production of 25-50ktpa from Olaroz, Cauchari or a combination of both, leveraging existing Stage 1 and 2 infrastructure

• Discussions continue with Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) regarding an expansion of lithium hydroxide production to meet forecast growth in demand

_______________
¹ All figures presented in this report are unaudited
² Orocobre report price as “FOB” (Free On Board) which excludes insurance and freight charges included in “CIF” (Cost, Insurance, Freight) pricing. Therefore, the Company’s reported prices are net of freight (shipping), insurance and sales commission. FOB prices are reported by the Company to provide clarity on the sales revenue that is recognized by SDJ, the joint venture company in Argentina
³ Excludes royalties, export tax and corporate costs
⁴ All figures 100% Olaroz Project basis

BORAX ARGENTINA

• Overall sales volume for the June quarter was 11,188 tonnes, up 9% QoQ and down 9% on PCP

• Sales revenue was down 5% QoQ due to lower average prices that were down 13% QoQ due to sales mix

CORPORATE

• On 19 April 2021, Orocobre and Galaxy Resources (ASX:GXY, “Galaxy”) announced that they entered into a binding Merger Implementation Deed (MID) under which the two companies will merge via a Galaxy Scheme of Arrangement (Scheme) pursuant to which Orocobre will acquire 100% of the shares in Galaxy

• Galaxy shareholders will receive 0.569 Orocobre shares for each Galaxy share held at the Scheme record date. Upon implementation of the Scheme, Orocobre shareholders will own 54.3% of the fully diluted share capital of the combined entity and Galaxy shareholders will own the remaining 45.7%

• The Scheme booklet was dispatched to Galaxy shareholders on 7 July 2021 and the Scheme meeting for Galaxy shareholders will be held on 6 August with Scheme implementation expected on 25 August

• At 30 June 2021, Orocobre corporate had available cash of ~US$238.3 million of which US$11.1 million and US$109.5 million have been set aside as pre-completion guarantees for the Naraha debt facility and Olaroz Expansion debt facility respectively

• Including Sales de Jujuy (SDJ) and Borax cash and project debt, net group cash at 30 June 2021 was US$68.1 million, down from US$97.7 million at 31 March 2021

OLAROZ LITHIUM FACILITY

Click here for more information on Olaroz

SAFETY AND COVID-19

During the June quarter the team continued preventive actions to manage any impact from ongoing infections across the country with our first and most effective barrier remaining a strong Bio-Security Protocol. Local communities and including our employees are currently being vaccinated in cooperation with the local Susques hospital. Approximately 60% of the workforce (including contractors) have now been vaccinated with their first dose.

Daily monitoring of the workforce health continues throughout 14 day rosters that apply to all personnel and include those employees who would normally reside in local communities.

Additional accommodation facilities have been installed to enable the growing construction workforce to operate within the COVID-19 Bio-Security Protocol.

Improved safety performance was achieved during FY21 with a TRIFR of 2.3 (FY20: 3.0). By 30 June Olaroz Lithium Facility achieved 124 days without an LTI.

OPERATIONAL UPDATE

QUALITY

Product quality remains a key focus of the operational team. Key metrics such as brine concentration, magnetic particles and product consistency continue to show positive results.

PRODUCTION

Production for the June quarter was 3,300 tonnes, up 31% from 2,511 tonnes in the PCP with 66% of production being battery grade lithium carbonate. Brine concentration remains at higher levels than in recent years resulting in high daily production rates, higher plant recovery and continued low costs.

SALES AND COMMERCIAL

Product sales were 2,549 tonnes of lithium carbonate up 59% on PCP but down 16% QoQ due to global shipping delays and the requirement to hold additional stock in Japan to guarantee smooth delivery into the PPES contract.

Total sales revenue was up 22% QoQ to US$21.6 million and up 245% on PCP which was affected by initial COVID-19 disruptions. The average price received was up 45% QoQ to US$8,476/tonne on an FOB³ basis and up 117% on PCP with significantly stronger pricing relative to a year ago.

In the upcoming half, a proportion of sales will be into contracts that were agreed in December 2020 reflecting prices of that time. The average price in the December half will reflect improved market conditions partially offset by lagged pricing and will be approximately US$9,000/tonne FOB² subject to shipping and delivery schedules.

More than 50% of forecast sales for the September 2021 quarter are expected to be allocated to long term battery grade contracts. The percentage of battery grade product sales is expected to remain above 50% during FY22.

COSTS/MARGINS

Cash cost of goods sold for the quarter (including COVID-19 related costs) increased by only 5% on PCP to US$4,105/tonne³ despite the proportion of battery grade sales nearly doubling. This excludes export duties for the quarter of US$407/tonne. Costs increased by 6% QoQ with the proportion of battery grade sales increasing from 47% to 57% QoQ.

Total cost of sales has been maintained at low levels demonstrating the significant focus and reduction of fixed cost within the operating business. Lower reagent usage due to improved process efficiency and an increase in the export incentive refund with higher product prices have also contributed to the strong cost performance.

Gross cash margins for the quarter returned to being strongly positive at US$4,371/tonne, this is expected to remain positive with supportive pricing in Q1 FY22.

STAGE 2 EXPANSION AT OLAROZ

PROJECT STATUS

During the June quarter work at Olaroz Stage 2 continued with strong adherence to the COVID-19 Bio-Security Protocol. Additional accommodation facilities were completed with more than 650 personnel on site. Most infrastructure is now complete, nearly 80% of ponds are built and the soda ash and carbonation plants are 10% and 14% complete respectively.

Stage 2 is expected to be complete in H1 CY22 and to commence production the following half. Production will ramp up over two years to full capacity of 25ktpa of primary grade lithium carbonate by H2 CY24.

CARBONATION, LIME AND SODA ASH FACILITIES
Carbonate plant soda ash handling facilities construction continued during the quarter with some delays due to COVID-19, bad weather and high winds. Mitigation actions have been identified to minimise any disruption to the schedule. Foundations for the soda ash and carbonation buildings are 91% and 65% complete respectively. All of the steel structure for the carbonation and soda ash plants is on site including cladding, roofing and overhead cranes.

Planning for liming plant #3 is well underway and contracts have been awarded. This additional liming capacity is expected to be available by the end of the year.

FUTURE MILESTONES

Work in H2 CY21 will focus on delivery of additional gas fired power generators, completion of ponds and construction of liming plant #3. In the first half of CY22 all new production wells, soda ash facilities and the carbonation plant will be completed.

NARAHA LITHIUM HYDROXIDE PLANT

PROGRESS TO DATE
The Naraha Plant, the first of its kind to be built in Japan, is designed to convert primary grade lithium carbonate feedstock into battery grade lithium hydroxide. Feedstock for the 10 ktpa Naraha Plant will be sourced from the Olaroz Lithium Facility’s Stage 2 Expansion that will produce primary grade (>99.0% Li₂CO₃) lithium carbonate.

Since construction commenced at the Naraha Plant there have been no LTIs recorded with nearly 250,000 hours worked on the project.

At 30 June, approximately US$56.7 million has been spent on engineering, civil works, electrical, instrumentation, fabrication and procurement at the Naraha Plant. Capex spend has remained relatively static due to the agreed payment schedule with Veolia, the EPC contractor.

Site operations have continued throughout the period with construction now mostly complete and pre-commissioning works underway. Commissioning will be delayed until Q1 CY22 due to COVID-19 related delays of travel to site by Veolia’s international commissioning engineers and technicians.

SHARED VALUE PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY

The Shared Value team built on their knowledge of local communities and sustainability with a combination of remote work and a number of visits to communities that are directly and indirectly influenced by the company’s operations. Key actions during the quarter included:

Community Relations

• Management of work rosters within COVID-19 limitations: Communication with Community Coordinators, local government contacts and local suppliers to manage and confirm the date and location of PCR sample collection (COVID-19 tests) and the transfer schedules for rostered employees

• The Shared Value team accompanied provincial officials in the re-commissioning of the Autonomous Photovoltaic Power Plant in Olaroz Chico, which supplies solar electricity to the town. The system capacity has tripled from 50 Kw to 150 Kw. The Shared Value team also participated in the inauguration ceremony of a modular community health centre. The hospital unit has an inpatient ward, pharmacy, laboratory, cardiology area and consulting rooms

• During the month of June, on-site monitoring and follow-up of activities were carried out with local suppliers of laundry services with the aim of strengthening links and encouraging open dialogue

• Construction of Liming Plant N° 3 has been awarded to a local joint venture. It has also been determined that external civil works and HDPE pipe laying will be quoted only with suppliers from the local community

Community development programs

Program to Support Food Independence: Family Food Production Units UPAF
During the quarter, the communities continued harvesting vegetables for the spring-summer season with very good yields; information on production and temperature data continues being collected. The families began preparing the land for sowing of autumn-winter vegetables. The community of Olaroz Chico has completed the construction of their greenhouses and will start planting seedlings. In Coranzulí, the work of the families extended to school greenhouses managing cultural work and planting. The programme was expanded to the production of laying hens to provide animal protein for the families' diets.

Community Investment Programme
The work planned for this period with the Coranzuli Community Hall is 80% complete with an investment of US$25,000. The community values the delivery of the commitment considering the COVID19 context made it difficult to manage the implementation of this initiative.

MARKET

Demand

Demand for lithium chemicals remained strong across all key geographies and customer segments (industrial applications and battery materials) in response to improved business confidence levels.

Customers’ concerns for securing supply also intensified during the June quarter as evidenced by enquires for delivery of volumes in 2021 being higher than originally requested. Existing and prospective customers have also engaged earlier than usual to secure product volumes for future years.

Lithium chemical prices continued to grow during the quarter with strong demand from the Electric Vehicle (“EV”) sector where sales in the period January to May reached two million vehicles (compared to 750k in 2020 and 850k in 2019 over the same months).

Whilst lithium carbonate prices stabilised in China, global weighted average prices reported by Benchmark Minerals increased by 15.6% during the quarter from US$10,752/tonne in March to US$12,432/tonne in June as prices ex- China continued rising and narrowing the gap with China. Lithium Hydroxide prices once again established a premium over carbonate prices during the June quarter with weighted average prices of US$13,873/tonne as reported by Benchmark Minerals.

The commitment from Government, OEMs, and the Energy Sector to accelerate the development of the lithium battery supply chain grew firmly during the June quarter. Planned global capacity of Gigafactory’s increased by ~ 460 GWh (12%) to approximately 4,200 GWh by 2030 based on committed investments announced during the June quarter. Such indicators continue to put pressure on development of lithium chemical supply and widen the estimated supply deficit.

Supply

Estimated lithium chemical production and conversion in China increased to ~20,500 tonnes of lithium carbonate per month during the June quarter from ~14,500 tonnes per month during the preceding nine months. Lithium hydroxide capacity over the same periods increased to ~14,500 tonnes per month from ~12,300 tonnes per month. The overall increase in production of lithium chemicals was in response to the accelerated demand from the EV sector and was partially achieved with incremental supply from Chinese brines during the spring period which assisted in stabilising lithium carbonate domestic prices. Australian spodumene producers also lifted utilisation rates and exports to China benefitting from a significant increase in prices during the period.

New partnerships were established between lithium chemical producers and lithium mineral explorers with the purpose of developing additional supply of lithium chemicals in response to growing demand. Supply forecasts of lithium chemicals have been revised up during the quarter considering recent announcements, however, it continues to fall short of meeting the revised estimates of demand.

BORAX ARGENTINA S.A.

SAFETY

Following a major focus on safety, TRIFR for FY21 has improved to 2.6 from 8.8 in FY20.

Since the safety review last year there have not been any LTI or Environmental incidents at the three operational Borax sites. As at 30 June, Sijes celebrated one year without recordable incidents, Tincalayu achieved 350 days and Campo Quijano has had 309 days without an LTI.

Good progress has been achieved with recycling waste where a new agreement with an external company was signed to utilise some of this material. The first shipment occurred in May with 23 tons of scrap metal and one tonne of batteries. A further shipment occurred in June with five tonnes of plastic material.

The COVID-19 Bio-Security Protocol remains in place at Borax and approximately 40% of employees are now vaccinated with at least one dose.

Intelex is currently being implemented in Borax which will improve reporting, investigation and tracking of corrective actions related to adverse events. The Management team has been trained in leading indicators and KPI objectives were set for FY22. Some of the Dupont initiatives implemented in SDJ are being considered for implementation at Borax.

PRODUCTION, SALES AND OPERATIONAL UPDATE

June quarter sales were 11,188 tonnes, up 9% QoQ and down approximately 9% from the PCP. Total sales revenue was down 5% QoQ with the average price received down 13% QoQ due to lower sales of chemicals and higher sales of lower priced mineral products. Operations have continued under the Orocobre Bio-Security Protocol.

CORPORATE AND ADMINISTRATION

MERGER WITH GALAXY RESOURCES

On 19 April 2021, Orocobre and Galaxy Resources (ASX:GXY, “Galaxy”) announced that they entered into a binding Merger Implementation Deed (MID) under which the two companies will merge via a Galaxy Scheme of Arrangement (Scheme) pursuant to which Orocobre will acquire 100% of the shares in Galaxy.

Galaxy shareholders will receive 0.569 Orocobre shares for each Galaxy share held at the Scheme record date. Upon implementation of the Scheme, Orocobre shareholders will own 54.3% of the fully diluted share capital of the combined entity and Galaxy shareholders will own the remaining 45.7%.

The Scheme is unanimously recommended by the Board of Galaxy and each Galaxy Director intends to vote all the shares that they hold in Galaxy in favour of the Scheme (in both cases, subject to no superior proposal emerging and the Independent Expert continuing to conclude that the Scheme is “fair and reasonable” and in the best interests of Galaxy shareholders).

The Scheme is endorsed and supported by the Board of Orocobre, subject to no proposal for Orocobre emerging.

As part of the proposed Scheme, Martin Rowley will become Non-Executive Chairman, Robert Hubbard will become Deputy Chairman, and Martín Pérez de Solay will remain CEO and Managing Director of the merged group, with a highly experienced and complementary Board and management team drawn from the combined group.

The First Hearing in the Supreme Court of Western Australia was conducted on 2 July 2021 and the Court made orders to convene a meeting of Galaxy shareholders to consider and vote on the Scheme and to dispatch an explanatory statement along with the Scheme booklet.

Subsequently, the Scheme booklet was dispatched to Galaxy shareholders on 7 July 2021 and the Scheme meeting for Galaxy shareholders will be held on 6 August.

FINANCE

CASH BALANCE

At 30 June 2021, Orocobre corporate had available cash of ~US$238.3 million of which US$11.1 million and US$109.5 million have been set aside as pre-completion guarantees for the Naraha debt facility and Olaroz Expansion debt facility respectively.

The US$3.3 million corporate net cash reduction from the previous quarter was the result of US$0.7 million advanced to SDJ Joint Venture as a shareholder loan to largely fund finance payments, US$2.5 million corporate costs and US$0.2 million other project payments partially offset by US$ 0.1 million of net interest income and forex.

Including SDJ and Borax cash and project debt, net group cash at 30 June 2021 was US$68.1 million, down from US$97.7 million at 31 March 2021 due to drawdown of project finance for the Olaroz Stage 2 expansion and Naraha project payments.

ARGENTINA ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

Currency: The official foreign exchange rate depreciated by 4% in the June quarter from AR$92 at 31 March 2021, to AR$95.72 at 30 June 2021. The accumulated 12-month period from 1 July 2020 to 30 Jun 2021 resulted in a ~36% devaluation of the AR$ against the US$.

Inflation: June inflation was 3.2% and accumulated ~11% in the quarter. The accumulated 12-month period from 1 July 2020 to 30 Jun 2021 resulted in inflation of approximately ~50%.

Authorised by:

Rick Anthon
Joint Company Secretary

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Andrew Barber
Chief Investor Relations Officer
Orocobre Limited
P: +61 7 3720 9088
M: +61 418 783 701
E: abarber@orocobre.com
W: www.orocobre.com

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 21, 2021 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims on behalf of purchasers of Piedmont Lithium Inc. ("Piedmont" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:PLL). Investors who purchased Piedmont shares are encouraged to obtain additional information and assist the investigation by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/pll.

The investigation concerns whether Piedmont and certain of its officers and/or directors have violated federal securities laws.

In 2020, Piedmont signed a deal to supply Tesla Inc. with lithium sourced from its deposits in North Carolina. Then, on July 20, 2021, Reuters reported that Piedmont "has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so." Reuters further reported that "[f]ive of the seven members of the county's board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, say they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected." On this news, Piedmont's stock price fell $12.56 per share, or 19.91%, to close at $50.52 per share on July 20, 2021.

If you are aware of any facts relating to this investigation, or purchased Piedmont shares, you can assist this investigation by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/pll. You can also contact Peretz Bronstein or his Investor Relations Analyst, Yael Hurwitz of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC: 212-697-6484.

Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a corporate litigation boutique. Our primary expertise is the aggressive pursuit of litigation claims on behalf of our clients. In addition to representing institutions and other investor plaintiffs in class action security litigation, the firm's expertise includes general corporate and commercial litigation, as well as securities arbitration. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:
Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
Peretz Bronstein or Yael Hurwitz
212-697-6484 | info@bgandg.com

SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz and Grossman, LLC

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/656538/Bronstein-Gewirtz-Grossman-LLC-Notifies-Shareholders-of-Piedmont-Lithium-Inc-PLL-Investigation

By Ernest Scheyder

GASTON COUNTY, N.C., July 20 (Reuters) – In its quest to build one of the largest lithium mines in the United States, Piedmont Lithium Inc has overlooked one crucial constituency: its North Carolina neighbors.

Piedmont last autumn signed a deal https://www.reuters.com/article/us-piedmont-lithium-deal-tesla-idUSKBN26J03H to supply U.S. electric automaker Tesla Inc with lithium sourced from its deposits in North Carolina, sending the company's stock up tenfold.

Piedmont has also hired investment banks to find investors for its $840 million project, which would include an open-air pit more than 500 feet (152 m) deep and facilities to produce lithium-based electric vehicle (EV) battery chemicals.

The company, however, has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so.

Five of the seven members of the county's board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, say they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected.

"Piedmont has sort of put the proverbial cart before the horse," said Tom Keigher, chair of the board of commissioners. "Why in the world would they make this deal with Tesla before they even have approval for the mine?"

Piedmont said it waited to approach officials in order to refine its plans – it published a third iteration last month – and to secure a customer to show that the mine could stay open for its projected 20-year lifespan.

"We finally have a project to debut and really talk about," said Keith Phillips, Piedmont's chief executive officer.

"Maybe it would have been better had (commissioners) been in the loop constantly. We didn't really have the time or resources to do it and we didn't even know what to tell them, until now."

The deteriorating relationship between Piedmont and county leaders reflects broader tension in the United States as resistance to living near a mine clashes with the potential of EVs to mitigate climate change.

Piedmont has already spent $58 million on the project, which would produce about 30,000 tonnes of lithium annually, enough to make about 3 million EVs.

The company originally planned to put its chemical plant in a neighboring county, but now intends to build it near the mine, a step that should reduce truck traffic. Piedmont also plans to crush rock in the mine pit, alleviating dust, and incorporate solar power.

TUESDAY MEETING

In September 2018, Piedmont told investors it expected to obtain permits by the end of 2019. In August 2019, executives said they would apply for permits and rezoning "in the coming months."

Piedmont said both times it was "not aware" of any reason why the county would not approve zoning changes, even though it had yet to present any information to commissioners. In December, Piedmont said it expected to receive local zoning approval before the end of June.

The company said the delays were due in part to weak lithium prices in recent years.

Piedmont had been set to meet with commissioners in March, but canceled with three days' notice, further straining the relationship. Piedmont said it canceled that meeting in order to further refine its plans.

"This has been the worst rollout of a project from a company I've ever seen," said Chad Brown, a commissioner who opposes the mine.

Phillips, Piedmont's CEO, is slated to give a 15-minute presentation to commissioners on Tuesday night, though no vote will be held.

Phillips said he will tell commissioners Piedmont expects to apply for a state mining permit this summer, begin construction in April 2022 and be in production by the second half of 2023.

Piedmont's deal with Tesla involves supplying roughly 53,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate to the automaker's planned lithium hydroxide chemical plant in Texas starting sometime between July 2022 and July 2023.

Piedmont declined to discuss the Tesla arrangement, but hinted the automaker may not need supply by 2023.

"We're confident in the relationship we have with our customer to be able to manage the supply of lithium when they need it," said David Klanecky, Piedmont's chief operating officer.

Tesla, which has other lithium suppliers, did not respond to requests for comment.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, which issues mining permits, said it expects an application "in the near future."

State officials added their review process could stretch for more than a year as they solicit comments from at least six other state and federal agencies.

"I'm not even going to accept an application from Piedmont for rezoning until they have their state permit in hand," said Brian Sciba, director of Gaston County's planning and zoning office.

'MINE AROUND MY PROPERTY'

Piedmont, whose stock trades in Australia and began trading on the Nasdaq in the United States earlier this year, owns or controls more than 3,000 acres (12 sq km) in the western corner of rural Gaston County.

While some landowners are prepared to sell if the offer is enticing enough, others say Piedmont has bullied them.

"They told me that if I don't sell, they'll just mine around my property," said Emilie Nelson, whose 14 acres Piedmont has tried to buy since 2017.

Piedmont said it was unaware if one of its contractors made the alleged threat, but did not authorize or condone it.

"We always deal respectfully with folks," said Patrick Brindle, Piedmont's vice president of project management. "And if we weren't those kind of operators, I don't think we would be successful in entering into the number of agreements with landowners that we have."

Landowners said they would prefer Piedmont only build a processing plant and rely on a foreign mine for lithium supply. Livent Corp and Albemarle Corp operate lithium processing plants in the county that source the metal from South America.

Piedmont, which recently bought stakes in Quebec and Ghana lithium projects, said it prefers to mine and process the metal at the Gaston County site.

Piedmont's arrangement with Tesla has done little to impress locals. More than 1,500 have signed a petition asking officials to block the mine.

"There's no doubt the mine would benefit our country and the green energy industry," said Tracy Philbeck, a commissioner. "But it would have a negative impact on our community." (Reporting by Ernest Scheyder; Editing by Amran Abocar and Marguerita Choy)

SAN DIEGO, July 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Shareholder rights law firm Johnson Fistel, LLP is investigating potential violations of the federal securities laws by Piedmont Lithium Inc. ("Piedmont" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: PLL).

On July 20, 2021, Reuters reported that Piedmont hired investment banks to find investors for an $840 million project in Gaston County, North Carolina, including an open-air pit to produce lithium-based electric vehicle battery chemicals. According to the news release, the Company has not applied for a state mining permit or a required zoning variance in Gaston County, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so.

If you have information that could assist in this investigation, including past employees and others, or if you are a Piedmont shareholder and are interested in learning more about the investigation, please contact Jim Baker (jimb@johnsonfistel.com) by email or phone at 619-814-4471. If emailing, please include a phone number.

Additionally, you can [click here to join this action]. There is no cost or obligation to you.

About Johnson Fistel, LLP:
Johnson Fistel, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York and Georgia. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.johnsonfistel.com. Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Contact:
Johnson Fistel, LLP
Jim Baker, 619-814-4471
jimb@johnsonfistel.com

[click here to join this action]

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pll-alert-johnson-fistel-investigates-piedmont-lithium-did-you-lose-money-on-your-investment-301337808.html

SOURCE Johnson Fistel, LLP

TORONTO, July 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Noront Resources Ltd. (TSXV: NOT) (“Noront” or the “Company”) announces that payment of interest in the amount of $371,700 for the second quarter of 2021 pursuant to a loan agreement between Noront and Wyloo Canada Holdings Pty Ltd. (“Wyloo”) dated February 26, 2013 (the “Loan Agreement”) will be satisfied by delivery of 1,111,945 common shares of the Company (the “Interest Shares”) at an effective price of $0.3343 per Interest Share. The Interest Shares will be subject to a four month hold period, expiring on November 21, 2021, and are subject to receipt of the final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

The calculation of the number of Interest Shares issued was based on the volume weighted average trading price of the common shares of the Company during the 20 trading days prior to June 30, 2021.

After giving effect to the issuance of the Interest Shares, there will be 458,268,304 common shares of the Company issued and outstanding.

About Noront Resources
Noront Resources Ltd. is focused on the development of its high-grade Eagle’s Nest nickel, copper, platinum and palladium deposit and the world class chromite deposits including Blackbird, Black Thor, and Big Daddy, all of which are located in the James Bay Lowlands of Ontario in an emerging metals camp known as the Ring of Fire. www.norontresources.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information:

Greg Rieveley
greg.rieveley@norontresources.com
(416) 367-1444

By Ernest Scheyder

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. (Reuters) – In its quest to build one of the largest lithium mines in the United States, Piedmont Lithium Inc has overlooked one crucial constituency: its North Carolina neighbors.

Piedmont last autumn signed a deal https://www.reuters.com/article/us-piedmont-lithium-deal-tesla-idUSKBN26J03H to supply U.S. electric automaker Tesla Inc with lithium sourced from its deposits in North Carolina, sending the company's stock up tenfold.

Piedmont has also hired investment banks to find investors for its $840 million project, which would include an open-air pit more than 500 feet (152 m) deep and facilities to produce lithium-based electric vehicle (EV) battery chemicals.

The company, however, has not applied for a state mining permit or a necessary zoning variance in Gaston County, just west of Charlotte, despite telling investors since 2018 that it was on the verge of doing so.

Five of the seven members of the county's board of commissioners, who control zoning changes, say they may block or delay the project because Piedmont has not told them what levels of dust, noise and vibrations will occur, nor how water and air quality would be affected. "Piedmont has sort of put the proverbial cart before the horse," said Tom Keigher, chair of the board of commissioners. "Why in the world would they make this deal with Tesla before they even have approval for the mine?"

Piedmont said it waited to approach officials in order to refine its plans – it published a third iteration last month – and to secure a customer to show that the mine could stay open for its projected 20-year lifespan.

"We finally have a project to debut and really talk about," said Keith Phillips, Piedmont's chief executive officer.

"Maybe it would have been better had (commissioners) been in the loop constantly. We didn't really have the time or resources to do it and we didn't even know what to tell them, until now."

The deteriorating relationship between Piedmont and county leaders reflects broader tension in the United States as resistance to living near a mine clashes with the potential of EVs to mitigate climate change.

Piedmont has already spent $58 million on the project, which would produce about 30,000 tonnes of lithium annually, enough to make about 3 million EVs.

The company originally planned to put its chemical plant in a neighboring county, but now intends to build it near the mine, a step that should reduce truck traffic. Piedmont also plans to crush rock in the mine pit, alleviating dust, and incorporate solar power.

TUESDAY MEETING

In September 2018, Piedmont told investors it expected to obtain permits by the end of 2019. In August 2019, executives said they would apply for permits and rezoning "in the coming months."

Piedmont said both times it was "not aware" of any reason why the county would not approve zoning changes, even though it had yet to present any information to commissioners. In December, Piedmont said it expected to receive local zoning approval before the end of June.

The company said the delays were due in part to weak lithium prices in recent years.Piedmont had been set to meet with commissioners in March, but canceled with three days' notice, further straining the relationship. Piedmont said it canceled that meeting in order to further refine its plans.

"This has been the worst rollout of a project from a company I've ever seen," said Chad Brown, a commissioner who opposes the mine.

Phillips, Piedmont's CEO, is slated to give a 15-minute presentation to commissioners on Tuesday night, though no vote will be held.

Phillips said he will tell commissioners Piedmont expects to apply for a state mining permit this summer, begin construction in April 2022 and be in production by the second half of 2023.Piedmont's deal with Tesla involves supplying roughly 53,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate to the automaker's planned lithium hydroxide chemical plant in Texas starting sometime between July 2022 and July 2023.

Piedmont declined to discuss the Tesla arrangement, but hinted the automaker may not need supply by 2023.

"We're confident in the relationship we have with our customer to be able to manage the supply of lithium when they need it," said David Klanecky, Piedmont's chief operating officer.

Tesla, which has other lithium suppliers, did not respond to requests for comment.The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, which issues mining permits, said it expects an application "in the near future."

State officials added their review process could stretch for more than a year as they solicit comments from at least six other state and federal agencies.

"I'm not even going to accept an application from Piedmont for rezoning until they have their state permit in hand," said Brian Sciba, director of Gaston County's planning and zoning office.

'MINE AROUND MY PROPERTY'

Piedmont, whose stock trades in Australia and began trading on the Nasdaq in the United States earlier this year, owns or controls more than 3,000 acres (12 sq km) in the western corner of rural Gaston County.

While some landowners are prepared to sell if the offer is enticing enough, others say Piedmont has bullied them.

"They told me that if I don't sell, they'll just mine around my property," said Emilie Nelson, whose 14 acres Piedmont has tried to buy since 2017.

Piedmont said it was unaware if one of its contractors made the alleged threat, but did not authorize or condone it.

"We always deal respectfully with folks," said Patrick Brindle, Piedmont's vice president of project management. "And if we weren't those kind of operators, I don't think we would be successful in entering into the number of agreements with landowners that we have."

Landowners said they would prefer Piedmont only build a processing plant and rely on a foreign mine for lithium supply. Livent Corp and Albemarle Corp operate lithium processing plants in the county that source the metal from South America.

Piedmont, which recently bought stakes in Quebec and Ghana lithium projects, said it prefers to mine and process the metal at the Gaston County site.

Piedmont's arrangement with Tesla has done little to impress locals. More than 1,500 have signed a petition asking officials to block the mine.

"There's no doubt the mine would benefit our country and the green energy industry," said Tracy Philbeck, a commissioner. "But it would have a negative impact on our community."

(Reporting by Ernest Scheyder; Editing by Amran Abocar and Marguerita Choy)

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Board of Directors of Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) announces that it has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.39 per share. The dividend, which has an annualized rate of $1.56, is payable Oct. 1, 2021, to shareholders of record at the close of business as of Sept. 17, 2021.

About Albemarle Corporation
Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) is a global specialty chemicals company with leading positions in lithium, bromine and catalysts. We think beyond business-as-usual to power the potential of companies in many of the world's largest and most critical industries, such as energy, electronics, and transportation. We actively pursue a sustainable approach to managing our diverse global footprint of world-class resources. In conjunction with our highly experienced and talented global teams, our deep-seated values, and our collaborative customer relationships, we create value-added and performance-based solutions that enable a safer and more sustainable future.

We regularly post information to www.albemarle.com, including notification of events, news, financial performance, investor presentations and webcasts, non-GAAP reconciliations, SEC filings and other information regarding our company, its businesses and the markets it serves.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the information presented in this press release, including, without limitation, information related to future dividends and results, and all other information relating to matters that are not historical facts may constitute forward- looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from the views expressed. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the outlook expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include, without limitation: changes in economic and business conditions; adverse changes in liquidity or financial or operating performance; changes in the demand for our products or the end-user markets in which our products are sold and the other factors detailed from time to time in the reports we file with the SEC, including those described under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. We assume no obligation to provide any revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/albemarle-corporation-announces-dividend-301337838.html

SOURCE Albemarle Corporation