Leclanché S.A.

Earnings Release • Jul 6, 2012

News Details

Ad-hoc | 6 July 2012 07:14

Leclanché begins operations of its new production line in Willstätt and reports increased revenues

Leclanché SA / Key word(s): Product Launch/Development of Sales

06.07.2012 07:14

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

Press release

Leclanché begins operations of its new production line in Willstätt and
reports increased revenues

• Expansion of production capacity allows to address growing market
  needs for efficient energy storage solutions

• Total consolidated revenues increased by 25% to CHF 8.4 million in H1,
  2012

• Lithium-ion technology business more than doubled

Yverdon-les-Bains, July 6, 2012 - Leclanché S.A. (SIX Swiss Exchange :
LECN), specialized in the production of large-format lithium-ion cells and
energy storage solutions, announced today the start of operations of its
new production line, one of the largest and most advanced industrial
facilities for the production of large-format lithium-ion cells in Europe.
On the occasion of its investor day taking place today in Willstätt,
Germany, Leclanché also announced a 25% increase of its half year revenues
2012 to CHF 8.4 million and provided an overview of its product offering,
ranging from large industrial storage systems housed in containers to
high-end home storage systems and entry-level solutions for homeowners.

'The start of operations of our new production unit in Willstätt marks the
achievement of an important milestone for Leclanché, as our fully
automatized state-of-the art production facility is one of very few units
in Europe able to mass produce large-format lithium-ion cells for the
European market,' said Pierre Blanc, Chief Technological Officer of
Leclanché SA. 'We can be really proud of our accomplishment, as the
installation of such a state-of-the art mass production unit is
particularly complex, and because it was achieved within the timeframe we
had defined 18 months ago.'

The new unit, encompassing a total surface of 6000 m2, comprises several
production halls for coating, assembling and formation. It will allow the
production of about 1 million large format 35 Ah cells with an installed
annual storage capacity of up to 76 MWh in lithium-ion-titanate cells,
compared with a capacity of 4 MWh for the current production plant. Its
completion required 7 months and an investment of CHF 20 million, largely
for the purchase of state-of-the art machines from Japan, Italy and the
United States. The start of operations will lead to a further increase of
Leclanché's employees to about 130 persons by the end of Q3.

Leclanché announced that total consolidated revenues for the first half
2012 reached CHF 8.4 million, a 25% increase compared to CHF 6.7 million
recorded during the same period in 2011. While revenues generated by the
distribution business declined, those of the business with large format
Lithium Ion technology more than doubled to CHF 1.7 million in the first
half of 2012. Revenues of the portable batteries systems business increased
as well. The publication of the company's half year financial results is
scheduled on August 20, 2012.

'Our half year results develop as planned as they indicate an increase in
revenues from our lithium-ion business, a strategic business unit, which is
based upon our large format lithium-ion technology', added Dr Ulrich Ehmes,
CEO of Leclanché S.A. 'Our increased production capacity could allow us to
take advantage of the current shift towards an increased use of renewable
energies and the need for efficient and customized energy storage
solutions'.

In this respect, Leclanché announced last week, together with ads-tec, a
German developer and manufacturer of high-performance lithium-ion battery
and storage systems, to have entered the industrial wind farm market with
the delivery of an industrial storage solution to a German wind project
developer. The system will be used for the efficient storage and shifting
of intermittent wind energy from the moment of generation to the time when
it is actually needed. The four racks have a total storage capacity of 100
kWh and will be delivered in Q3.

About Leclanché

Leclanché specializes in the production of tailor-made energy storage
solutions. 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 initial strategic priority is
stationary home electric energy storage applications and expansion into the
stationary industrial and grid electricity storage markets. Through
participation in research consortia focusing on off-road and automotive
applications, Leclanché is positioned to take advantage of new market
opportunities.

Through a licensed 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. At the end of the second quarter 2012, Leclanché
started operations of its first production line with an installed annual
capacity of up to 76 MWh in lithium-titanate cells.

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

Contact for Swiss media:

Christophe Lamps, Dynamics Group S.A.: Telephone: +41 22 308 62 22,
cla@dynamicsgroup.ch

Contact for International media:

Markus Wieser, CNC AG: Telephone: +49 89 599 458 114,
markus.wieser@cnc-communications.com

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.

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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

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