DGAP-Adhoc: Leclanché appoints Jim Atack as Chairman of the Board
26.08.2013 – 19:06
Leclanché SA / Key word(s): Change of Personnel 26.08.2013 18:58 Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 KR --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Press Release Leclanché appoints Jim Atack as Chairman of the Board Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, 26 August 2013 - Leclanché S.A. (SIX Swiss Exchange: LECN), specializing in the production of large-format lithium-ion cells and energy storage solutions, announced today the appointment of Jim Atack as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Earlier today, shareholders approved all the resolutions relating to the CHF17 million financing of the company through a Senior Secured Convertible Loan Agreement from Precept Fund Management SPC at an extraordinary general meeting held in Yverdon-les-Bains. 'On behalf of Leclanché and my colleagues, I am delighted to welcome both Jim Atack and Bryan Urban as new Board members of Leclanché. Their in-depth expertise in the energy sector and as strategic advisors will prove to be invaluable to support the turnaround of the company and its expansion over the next few years,' commented the Stefan A. Müller, member of the Board and former interim Chairman. Mr. Steve Barber, Principal of Precept Fund Management SPC on behalf of Precept Fund Segregated Portfolio added: 'Today represents a new beginning for Leclanché..The company is now financed and has all the assets - including an outstanding technology and state-of the art production unit - to become a key player and one of the first movers in Europe in the stationary storage market. Our intention is to create a solid platform for future growth in all business sectors of the company at a time when the market for energy storage technologies is evolving rapidly.' Jim Atack, a British citizen, was born in 1950. Until recently, he was a director of strategic development of Petrofac Plc., a UK international oil services company. For six years, up to August 2006, he was the managing director of the Petrofac Facilities Management subsidiary, worldwide, establishing it as the sole Service Operator of North Sea platforms and terminals. He was also engaged in the successful rehabilitation of the Ramform Banff FPSO. Mr. Atack's prior experience spans some seventeen years of oil and gas field production and development projects with BP in the North Sea, Onshore UK, and Alaska. He has a long history throughout his career of troubleshooting and optimizing operational aspects of production facilities, and developing workable strategies to successfully implement optimization plans. Mr. Atack holds degrees in Civil Engineering (Loughborough University of Technology, B.Sc Hons.) and Offshore Structures (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, M.Sc). About Leclanché Leclanché's strategy is to become 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 one 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.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. 26.08.2013 News transmitted by EQS Schweiz 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 Valor: A1CUUB, 812950 Listed: SIX End of Announcement EQS Group News-Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------