DGAP-Adhoc: Leclanché appoints Jim Atack as Chairman of the Board
Leclanché SA / Key word(s): Change of Personnel
26.08.2013 18:58
Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 KR
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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.
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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
Valor: A1CUUB, 812950
Listed: SIX
End of Announcement EQS Group News-Service
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