Leclanché S.A.

M&A Activity • Dec 23, 2011

News Details

Ad-hoc | 23 December 2011 07:10

Leclanché SA: Leclanché to enter collaboration with Unipower to strengthen supply chain for Lithium Ion batteries

Leclanché SA / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

23.12.2011 07:10

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

/

Press Release

Not for release, publication or distribution in the United States of
America, Canada, Japan or Australia

Leclanché to enter collaboration with Unipower to strengthen supply chain
for Lithium Ion batteries

• Unipower, one of the leading Chinese manufacturer of high end large
  format Lithium Ion batteries to give access to local sourcing to
  Leclanché

• Swiss based Leclanché, one of the leading European Lithium Ion cell
  manufacturer, to provide storage solutions adapted to the growing
  Chinese market for renewable energies

• Collaboration shall enable smart sourcing in Asia and therefore
  increasing the competitiveness of energy storage solutions

Yverdon-les-Bains, 23 December 2011 - Leclanché S.A. (SIX Swiss Exchange :
LECN), specialized in the production of large-format lithium ion cells and
energy storage solutions, today announced its intention to collaborate with
Beijing based Unipower, one of the leading manufacturers of large format
Lithium Ion cells in Asia to strengthen its supply chain in the field of
raw material sourcing for large-format Lithium Ion production. The
agreement, to be finalized during the first half of 2012, will further
evaluate opportunities to offer state-of-the-art and competitive energy
storage solutions in China and Asia.

Under the term of the planned collaboration, Leclanché will gain access to
cost efficient, locally sourced raw materials for large format Lithium
cells production, thus allowing an improvement of the cost of stored energy
per kWh.

'This planned collaboration with a leading and well established large
format Lithium Ion battery manufacturer in China, will allow Leclanché to
significantly strengthen its supply chain management and thus to reduce its
production costs and the cost of stored energy, while allowing us to
evaluate a collaboration to address energy storage market needs in China
and Asia with an competitive and state-of the art solution,' said Dr.
Ulrich Ehmes, CEO of Leclanché.

The company plans, as decided at its Extraordinary shareholders meeting of
November 8, 2011, to raise new capital, early 2012.

About Unipower Battery
Unipower is a new joint venture by Universal Group, a leading battery
manufacturer in China, and Origo Partners Plc. Building on Universal's long
history in China's battery industry and tapping on Origo's access into the
capital markets, Unipower is well positioned to catch the surge in China's
clean technology wave. Well-established as a battery producer, it is also
one of the leading large format Lithium Ion manufacturers worldwide.

Unipower focuses on producing high-quality batteries for electric vehicles
(EVs) and power storage systems for wind and solar power stations and grid
stabilization. The company has a solid client base of both local and
international corporations for EV batteries, including Nissan, ShaoLin Bus,
Haima and Zhengzhou Yutong (the largest bus maker in China). It also
possesses a highly skilled and experienced R&D team with more than 20 years
of experience, which is supported by world-class battery equipment and
laboratories. Strong and established networks with academia and industry,
coupled with the head start that research teams enjoy have significantly
improved the performance and safety of products, boosting competitiveness
within the sector.

About Leclanché
Leclanché specializes in the production of tailor-made energy storage
solutions and is a leading manufacturer of large-format lithium ion cells
in Europe. Through a unique, licensed separator technology, the core
element of lithium ion cells, Leclanché is capable of manufacturing cells
with above-average safety features and a significantly increased life in an
automated production process. The company's core markets are industries
which have highest demands on energy storage systems. They include energy
storage solutions, which allow better utilization of the power supply
system, large hybrid diesel engines and electric vehicles.

Leclanché currently operates a fully automated pilot production line for
large format lithium-ion cells with a theoretical annual maximum capacity
of up to 4 MWh. To prepare for an increase in demand, Leclanché is
currently in the process of expanding its production capacity by setting up
a new production line for large format lithium-ion cells with a theoretical
annual maximum capacity of up to 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
developed from being a traditional battery manufacturer to becoming a
leading developer and manufacturer of lithium ion cells in Europe.
Leclanché currently employs 110 staff and recorded revenues of CHF 15.05
million in 2010. The company has its headquarters in Yverdon-les-Bains
(Switzerland) and has production facilities in Willstätt (Germany).
Leclanché is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LECN).
Leclanche has been advised in this project by Gracia Partners and Augus
Partners.

Media contact:

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

Contact for German 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.

This document constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to
buy any securities. It does not constitute a prospectus pursuant to art.
652a and/or 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or art. 27 et seq. of the
SIX Swiss Exchange Listing Rules. A decision to invest in shares of
LECLANCHE S.A. 12 should be based exclusively on the issue and listing
prospectus published by the company for such purpose. This press release
and the information contained herein are not for distribution in or into
the United States of America and must not be distributed to U.S. persons
(as defined in Regulation S of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended
('Securities Act')) or to publications with a general circulation in the
United States. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities in the United States.
The securities of LECLANCHE S.A. have not been and will not be registered
under the Securities Act and may not be offered, sold or delivered within
the United States or to U.S. persons absent registration under or an
applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act. There will be no public offer of securities of LECLANCHE S.A. in the
United States.

This press release is directed only to persons (i) who are outside the
United Kingdom or (ii) who have professional experience in matters relating
to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and
Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2001 (as amended) (the
'Order') or (iii) who fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ('high net worth
companies, unincorporated associations, etc.') of the Order (all such
persons together being referred to as 'Relevant Persons'). Any person who
is not a Relevant Person must not act or rely on this communication or any
of its contents. Any investment or investment activity to which this
communication relates is available only to relevant persons and will be
engaged in only with Relevant Persons.

A copy of the offering and listing prospectus can be obtained free of
charge at Bank am Bellevue AG, Seestrasse 16, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland
(telephone number: +41 44 267 67 70; fax: +41 44 267 67 50; email:
prospectus@bellevue.ch).

Not for release, publication or distribution in the United States of
America, Canada, Japan or Australia

23.12.2011 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: CH0016271550, CH0110303119
Swiss Security Number: 812950 , A1CUUB
Listed: SIX

End of Announcement EquityStory News-Service

---