mark2017's Commodities to Watch

Panasonic: Tesla Continues to Drive Growth
By
Adam Routh
Oct. 23, 2017 11:06 p.m. ET

Tesla (TSLA) is firmly in the driving seat of growth for Japanese electronics giant Panasonic (6752.JP), according to Jefferies.
Panasonic Corp. lithium-ion batteries manufactured for Tesla Motors Inc. Model S electric vehicles.
Panasonic Corp. lithium-ion batteries manufactured for Tesla Motors Inc. Model S electric vehicles. Illustration: Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg

Shares in Panasonic have charged up 55% over the last 12 months, fueled by demand for lithium-ion batteries used to power electric cars. Panasonic is the sole supplier of lithium-ion batteries to Tesla. It also supplies batters to Toyota, Audi, Ford and Mazda. Jefferies analyst Atul Goyal believes demand for Tesla electric vehicle batteries will continue to drive growth for Panasonic's battery business:

We assume most of the growth will come from Tesla’s Model 3 production ramp. Elon Musk has a track record of achieving nigh-impossible targets. But the optimistic time-frames can slip, so for reasons of prudence we assume 500K Model 3 cars by 2019 rather than 2018....

We forecast group operating growth of c. 84% over 3 years (c. 23% CAGR) from JPY277b in FY3/17 to JPY509b in FY3/20. Of this ¥232b increase, JPY197b (or 85% of the total increase) is being driven by AIS (Auto, Industrial segment), and of that c.JPY53b is driven by Tesla.

The analyst expects revenues and profits of its non-Auto business to sustain at current levels.

Goyal maintains his buy rating on the stock but hikes his price target from JPY1,280 a share to JPY1,950, implying 17% upside. Panasonic share recently traded at JPY1,671.5 a share.

Meanwhile, Panasonic on Monday announced the acquisition of Arimo Inc., a Mountain View, California-based leader in deep learning and behavioral artificial intelligence (AI). Through this acquisition, Panasonic plans to leverage Arimo's data science expertise in solutions it provides to its B2B customers (including manufacturers) as well as in the housing business, the company said in a statement:

"The acquisition of Arimo provides Panasonic with a much-needed core data science element that will greatly reinforce our efforts to continue developing further sophisticated AI-based solutions for our B2B customers," said Yoshiyuki Miyabe, Panasonic Corporation Chief Technology Officer. "We are very pleased to have Arimo founder Christopher Nguyen and his team of data scientists join us in this mission."

Japan
 
Lithium Australia, +16%

Lithium Australia enters product off-take negotiations
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Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Email Print Download PDF version 13:38 27 Oct 2017
The LSPP is currently in the final stages of design optimisation.

Lithium Australia is well-funded with $10 million in cash and equivalents
Lithium Australia NL (ASX:LIT) is seeking expressions of interest for product off-take agreements for the SiLeach® Large-Scale Pilot Plant (LSPP) program.

The LSPP is designed to produce about 2,500 tonnes per annum of lithium carbonate equivalent suited for the rapidly expanding global lithium-ion battery market.

It is anticipated that the pilot plant will initially produce lithium carbonate as the primary lithium chemical, with a longer-term option of nano-powders for application in direct production of Li-ion battery cathodes.

The production of these high-value powders will use the Very Small Particle Company (VSPC) technology, which Lithium Australia is acquiring.

READ NOW: Lithium Australia to acquire battery cathode company
Adrian Griffin, managing director, commented: "Global interest in the pilot plant has been significant.

"Development has now moved to the product offtake negotiations and structuring finance options – both with a completion objective of early in the New Year.

"The commercial opportunity for new battery-focused lithium technologies and products is now well enunciated and a pilot plant of this large-scale is the prelude to a full-scale production plant."

How will the LSPP work
The LSPP will employ Lithium Australia's wholly-owned SiLeach® lithium processing technology which eliminates the expensive roasting step otherwise utilised in conventional lithium processing, and can treat all lithium silicates including micas and contaminated spodumene concentrates.

These are currently being disposed of as waste from mining operations around the world.

READ NOW: Lithium Australia attracts a Speculative Buy from Perth-broker

Lithium Australia NL enters product off-take negotiations
 
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09/27 NEOMETALS : Appendix 4G & Corporate Governance Statement
09/22 NEOMETALS : Daily share buy-back notice - Appendix 3E
09/21 NEOMETALS LTD : - Appointment of Chief Development Officer to drive titanium
09/21 NEOMETALS : Appointment of Chief Development Officer to drive titanium
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09/13 NEOMETALS : First sub-licence of the Neomet Process
08/31 NEOMETALS : Share Cancellation
08/21 NEOMETALS LTD : - Mount Marion Lithium Project
08/17 NEOMETALS : Mount Marion Lithium Project - Financial Update
08/16 NEOMETALS : Daily share buy-back notice - Appendix 3E
08/14 NEOMETALS : Diggers and Dealers Investor Presentation
08/04 NEOMETALS : Daily share buy-back notice - Appendix 3E







http://www.4-traders.com/NEOMETALS-LTD-19344222/news/
 
Lithium Australia confirms VSPC process

Lithium Australia has confirmed the Very Small Particle Company process was capable of producing quality lithium iron phosphate cathode material.

Newsbites FinanceNOVEMBER 2, 20174:20PM

Lithium Australia (ASX: LIT) has confirmed the Very Small Particle Company process was capable of producing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode material that is equivalent to or better than the LFP standard reference cathode material.

LFP is a safe cathode material that is used in lithium ion batteries for grid and off-grid energy storage (solar and wind power storage) and e-bus applications. The electrical energy storage sector is rapidly expanding, driven by the need to increase baseload capacity of networks which are being increasingly supplied from renewable sources.

The material was produced in 2012 at its pilot facility in Brisbane Australia and was recently tested for electrochemical properties by an independent laboratory in Germany (Custom Cells Itzehoe GmbH).

Testing was performed on coin cells manufactured from the VSPC LFP product and on a standard reference LFP material. The VSPC product performed well compared with the laboratory standard reference material, demonstrating good cycling stability, as well as higher potentials and higher discharge capacities compared to the standard reference material.

The company last week completed due diligence for the acquisition of advanced cathode material producer, VSPC. The acquisition provides LIT with proprietary processes for the production of lithium ion battery cathode material, a comprehensive pilot plant and advanced laboratory and testing facilities.

Applying the technology to the direct production of cathode materials would potentially remove two process steps involved in the manufacture of cathode materials, resulting in a process which would capitalise on the value add generated by progressing from lithium chemicals to cathode materials.



http://www.news.com.au/finance/busi...s/news-story/9ff78d08a0d10763832ba9fae1ca5230

Shares in LIT have responded positively to these recent developments, increasing more than 50 percent in October to hit a 12 month high of 21.5 cents.
 

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