Leclanché S.A.

Capital/Financing Update • May 21, 2013

News Details

Ad-hoc | 21 May 2013 07:07

Leclanché SA obtains an increase of its bridge loan

Leclanché SA / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

21.05.2013 07:07

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 KR

Leclanché SA obtains an increase of its bridge loan

• Bruellan to increase its current bridge loan by EUR 1.5m

• Loan extension will cover short term needs until the end of June 2013
  and allow Leclanché SA additional time to pursue its fund raising
  efforts

Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, 21 May 2013 - Leclanché S.A. (SIX Swiss
Exchange: LECN), specialized in the production of large-format lithium-ion
cells and energy storage solutions, announced today that Bruellan Corporate
Governance Action Fund ('Bruellan') has agreed to increase the current
bridge loan of EUR 5 million granted to Leclanché GmbH by an additional EUR
1.5 million to provide for additional time to the Company to pursue its
fund raising efforts. The maturity date of the entire bridge loan is June
30, 2013, or such earlier date as to coincide with a refinancing of the
Group.

Leclanché had announced on November 23, 2012 that its German subsidiary,
Leclanché GmbH, had obtained a EUR 5 million bridge loan from Bruellan to
cover its short term funding needs. The loan is secured with assets of
Leclanché GmbH. Upon a capital increase to raise further funds for
Leclanché SA the lender has the right to convert the loan into shares of
Leclanché SA and receive warrants to purchase shares of Leclanché SA. The
additional EUR1.5 million shall, however, not be capable of being converted
into shares, but shall be repayable in full on maturity.

This bridge loan increase is expected to allow Leclanché to cover its short
term financial needs until the end of June 2013. The Company is currently
reviewing a number of funding options but no definitive solution has been
secured as yet.

About Leclanché

Leclanché's strategy is to expand its position as one of the leading
lithium-ion cell producers and solution providers for renewable energy
storage systems in Europe. Its strategic priorities are stationary home
electrical energy storage applications and expansion into the stationary
industrial and grid electricity storage markets. Through participation in
research consortia focusing on hybrid and E-mobility applications,
Leclanché is positioned to take advantage of new market opportunities.

Through a unique, patented ceramic separator technology and focus on
lithium-titanate technology, Leclanché manufactures large-format
lithium-ion cells, optimized for safety and cycle-life, in a fully
automated production process. The newly installed production line will have
an annual capacity of 1 million cells or 76 MWh.

Leclanché was founded in 1909 in Yverdon-les-Bains. Through the integration
of a spin-off from the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in 2006, the company evolved
from a traditional battery manufacturer to become a leading developer and
manufacturer of lithium-ion cells in Europe. Leclanché currently employs
120 staff and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LECN). The company has
its headquarters in Yverdon-les-Bains (Switzerland) and production
facilities in Willstätt (Germany).

www.leclanche.eu

Media contact:

Christophe Lamps, Dynamics Group S.A.: Telephone: +41 79 476 26 87,
cla@dynamicsgroup.chcla@dynamicsgroup.ch

Disclaimer

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to
Leclanché's business, which can be identified by terminology such as
'strategic', 'proposes', 'to introduce', 'will', 'planned', 'expected',
'commitment', 'expects', 'set', 'preparing', 'plans', 'estimates', 'aims',
'would', 'potential', 'awaiting', 'estimated', 'proposal', or similar
expressions, or by expressed or implied discussions regarding the ramp up
of Leclanché's production capacity, potential applications for existing
products, or regarding potential future revenues from any such products, or
potential future sales or earnings of Leclanché or any of its business
units. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such
forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Leclanché regarding
future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
statements. There can be no guarantee that Leclanché's products will
achieve any particular revenue levels. Nor can there be any guarantee that
Leclanché, or any of the business units, will achieve any particular
financial results.

+++++

Additional features:21.05.2013 News transmitted by EquityStory AG.
The issuer is responsible for the contents of the release.

EquityStory publishes regulatory releases, media releases on the capital
market and press releases.
The EquityStory Group distributes authentic and real-time financial news
for over 1'300 listed companies.
The Swiss news archive can be found at www.equitystory.ch/news

---

Language: English
Company: Leclanché SA
Av. des Sports 42
1400 Yverdon-les-Bains
Switzerland
Phone: +41 (24) 424 65-00
Fax: +41 (24) 424 65-20
E-mail: investors@leclanche.com
Internet: www.leclanche.com
ISIN: CH0110303119, CH0016271550
Swiss Security Number: A1CUUB, 812950
Listed: SIX

End of Announcement EquityStory News-Service

---