Nouveau Monde Announces Appointment of Leading Global Advanced Graphite Materials Expert, Dr. Jürgen Köhler, to its Board of Directors as it Advances its Lithium-Ion Battery Anode Material Production Strategy


  • Dr. Köhler, a leading global industry expert and the former CEO of a world-leading advanced graphite materials company, has joined Nouveau Monde’s Board
  • Dr. Köhler’s comes with more than 25 years of experience and will be a very valuable asset for Nouveau Monde, as the company advances its lithium-ion battery anode material facilities, using exclusively green hydropower as energy source
  • As a Director, Dr. Köhler brings a unique combination of the highest technical expertise, as well as know how in respect to building and operating advanced graphite materials plants, like the ones Nouveau Monde has commenced building at Bécancour, Quebec

MONTRÉAL, April 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nouveau Monde Graphite (“Nouveau Monde” or the “Company”) (TSXV: NOU; OTCQX: NMGRF; Frankfurt: NM9) is proud to announce the appointment to its Board of Dr. Jürgen Köhler effective April 1, 2021.  

Dr. Köhler was formerly the CEO of SGL Carbon, one of the world's leading advanced graphite materials companies. Based in Wiesbaden, Germany, he was responsible for approximately 5,000 employees and over 30 operating plants globally. SGL Carbon is a supplier of graphite and composite materials for the automotive, aerospace, solar, wind energy industries, as well as for manufacturers of semiconductors, LEDs, and lithium-ion batteries. Before becoming the CEO of SGL Carbon, he worked for more than a decade as a senior chemical engineer and Department Leader for the company. Among his many roles, he was responsible for building and operating advanced graphite materials plants in Europe, North America and Asia.

Before his time at SGL Carbon, Dr. Köhler worked in the United States for Celanese Corporation as the Director for Manufacturing & Technology. Before that, he worked as a chemical engineer at Hoechst AG, in Frankfurt.

Dr. Köhler earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with “summa cum laude” from the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

Arne H. Frandsen, Chairman of Nouveau Monde commented: “On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to welcome Jürgen to the Nouveau Monde team. He is one of the world’s foremost experts in advanced graphite based materials. To have his experience in building and operating advanced materials plants, will be an important addition to our team. He has been on the forefront of our sector for many years. Jürgen’s knowledge of the graphite and battery anode material supply chains, as well as his familiarity with the senior management of the world’s leading auto makers - our potential future customers – will be of great value for Nouveau Monde, as we execute on our strategy to become the Western World’s largest fully-integrated producer of lithium-ion battery anode material for the clean energy transition.”

Eric Desaulniers, the Company’s CEO, stated: “I am very pleased to welcome Dr. Köhler to the team. As we advance with the construction of our Phase 1 battery anode material facility, targeted to be commissioned in Q1-2022, Jürgen’s experience in building and operating similar projects and commercializing advanced graphite material will be invaluable for Nouveau Monde. I am very excited about the prospects of Jürgen also providing executive expertise to the team”.

About Nouveau Monde

Nouveau Monde is striving to become a key contributor to the sustainable energy revolution. The Company is working towards developing a fully-integrated source of green battery anode material in Québec, Canada. Targeting commercial operations by 2023, the Company is developing advanced carbon-neutral graphite-based material solutions for the growing lithium-ion and fuel cell markets. With low-cost operations and enviable ESG standards, Nouveau Monde aspires to become a strategic supplier to the world’s leading battery and automobile manufacturers, providing high performing and reliable advanced materials while promoting sustainability and supply chain traceability.

Media Investors 
Julie Paquet 
Director, Communications 
Nouveau Monde
+1-450-757-8905 #140 
jpaquet@nouveaumonde.ca  
Christina Lalli 
Director, Investor Relations 
Nouveau Monde
+1-438-399-8665 
clalli@nouveaumonde.ca  

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information 
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release including, but not limited to (i) the positive impact of the foregoing on project economics, (ii) the Company’s strategy and future business plans, and (iii) the “About Nouveau Monde” paragraph which essentially describe the Company’s outlook and objectives, constitute “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of certain securities laws, and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect.  Moreover, these forward-looking statements were based upon various underlying factors and assumptions, including the timely delivery and installation of the referenced equipment and machinery, the Company’s business prospects and opportunities and estimates of the operational performance of the referenced equipment and machinery, and are not guarantees of future performance.  

Forward-looking information and statements are subject to known or unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking information and statements. Risk factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, delays in the scheduled delivery times of the equipment and machinery, the ability of the Company to successfully implement its strategic initiatives and whether such strategic initiatives will yield the expected benefits, the operating performance of the Company’s assets and businesses, competitive factors in the graphite mining and production industry, changes in laws and regulations affecting the Company’s businesses, technological developments, the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the governments responses thereto, and general economic conditions. Unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this Cautionary Disclaimer could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements.

Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management’s expectations and plans relating to the future. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.   

Neither the 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.  

Further information regarding Company is available in the SEDAR database (www.sedar.com) and on the Company’s website at: www.NouveauMonde.group