16.10.2017 – 08:28

Leclanché SA

EQS-Adhoc: Leclanché SA: Leclanché announces interim results for 2017 and reports an 84% increase in revenue during the first half of the year

EQS Group-Ad-hoc: Leclanché SA / Key word(s): Interim Report/Half Year Results
Leclanché SA: Leclanché announces interim results for 2017 and reports an 84%
increase in revenue during the first half of the year

16-Oct-2017 / 08:23 CET/CEST
Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 KR
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Leclanché announces interim results for 2017 and reports an 84% increase in
revenue during the first half of the year

-Full year 2017 revenues forecast to be in line with or slightly above 2016

- EBITDA breakeven anticipated in late 2018/ H12019

- Launching Rights Offering to raise CHF 40 million to finance growth plan

- The business outlook remains solid

 

YVERDON LES BAINS, Switzerland, 13th October 2017:Leclanché SA (SIX: LECN), one
of the world's leading energy storage solution companies, today announced its
interim results for the half year ending 30 June 2017.

Leclanché's revenue grew by 84% year-on-year to CHF 10.6 million (from CHF 5.7
million) in the six months to 30 June of 2017.

The Company's loss for the period reduced by 31% to CHF 11.9 million from CHF
17.3 million. Personnel costs declined by 10% year-on-year reflecting the
restructuring and cost reduction measures taken in late 2016 and early 2017.
Other operating expenses increased by 21% due to due diligence costs associated
with the implementation of a debt facility.

Leclanché reduced its convertible debt to CHF 17 million from CHF 23 million
thanks to conversions completed in September and October 2017. A further CHF 5
million reduction is expected upon completion of a Rights Offering, intended to
raise CHF 40 million. The Company's major shareholders have agreed to subscribe
amounts proportional with their current shareholdings amounting to some 65%. The
fund raising is due to be finalised by the end of December 2017.

The funding delay in the first half of the year will have an adverse impact on
revenue recognition in the second half. However, the Company still expects its
full year 2017 revenues to be equivalent or slightly above its 2016 results, and
it is on track to achieve EBITDA breakeven in late 2018/ H12019.

Anil Srivastava, Leclanché CEO, said:"In spite of the funding delay at the start
of 2017, we are delighted to report the Company's strong performance in the
first half of the year and to provide a positive outlook. Energy storage is one
of the most dynamic, high growth industries in the world, driven by the shift
from fossil fuels to clean energy sources, and we are proud to be at the
forefront of innovation in our market."

"As stated at our AGM in July, our confirmed orderbook grew from 95 MWh to 115
MWh, and in the coming weeks we expect to announce some significant customer
project wins. We are delivering on some of the world's largest stationary
storage projects, in particular in North America; and in the last six months we
have agreed very exciting deals in the electric vehicle space, including a Joint
Development Agreement and a Framework Purchase Contract to supply Skoda
Electric's buses with battery solutions, agreements to develop storage solutions
for fast charging stations solutions across Canada and in the Netherlands, and
the delivery of our technology into the world's first fully electric ferry, in
Denmark."
Business highlights

The Company has more than 70 MW / 55 MWh of projects under construction and has
a pipeline of more than 700 MWh of awarded and expected projects, with a 110 MWh
backlog through 2018.

Leclanché's transformational eTransport contracts of H12017 should lead to an
annual business unit volume of more than 200 MWh by 2019, contributing over USD
45 million per annum.

Funding and growth strategy

Leclanché's growth plan is fully supported by its strategic investors. In July,
Golden Partner invested CHF 27.5 million and Bruellan invested CHF 3.0 million,
and in April, Baring Asset Management invested CHF 2.7 million and Bruellan CHF
1.0 million.

In addition to its planned rights issue, Leclanché is reviewing a potential
second listing in Q22018, in a fast-growing energy storage market.

Leclanché is also negotiating an off-balance sheet project finance facility of
more than USD 200 million.

In line with its growth strategy, Leclanché appointed three new directors to its
Board at its AGM: Mr. Pierre-Alain Graf, a well-known industry leader in
Switzerland and Europe; and Mr. Tianyi Fan and Ms. Cathy Wang from Golden
Partner, both experienced finance professionals.

The Company is undergoing further internal reorganisation to realise its plans,
including new structures for its Stationary Storage and eTransport businesses,
and plans to make an announcement in Q42017. Leclanché is also reviewing the
acquisition of an energy management software company, which is expected to add
3.5% points to the gross margin of the stationary storage business.

Jim Atack, Chairman of Leclanché, said:"The board of directors wish to thank
Anil Srivastava and his team for the continued success of Leclanché. The
Company's financial results are very encouraging and we are excited about the
huge opportunities ahead for Leclanché as it consolidates its leading position
in global energy storage, a market which is set for long-term high growth."

Srivastava added:"We are very grateful for the ongoing support and dedication of
all our stakeholders and look forward to continuing to deliver on our growth
plan."

# # #

 

Publication of results
Leclanché SA published today its 2017 interim report which is available in pdf
format on the Company Web site:
http://www.leclanche.com/investor-relations/financial-reports-publications/inter
im-reports/

About Leclanché

Leclanché is one of the world's leading fully vertically integrated energy
storage solution providers. It delivers a wide range of energy storage solutions
for homes, small offices, large industries, electricity grids, as well as
hybridization for mass transport systems such as bus fleets and ferries.
Established in 1909, Leclanché has been a trusted provider of battery energy
storage solutions for over 100 years. Founded in the tradition of Georges
Leclanché, the inventor of the dry cell battery, Leclanché today has a rich
portfolio of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) that include bespoke battery
systems from industry leading lithium-ion solutions.

Leclanché is listed on the Swiss stock exchange, and is the only listed
pure-play energy storage company in the world.

SIX Swiss Exchange: ticker symbol LECN | ISIN CH 011 030 311 9

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.

* * * * *
Europe/global:
Désirée Maghoo
T: +44 (0) 7775 522740
E-mail:dmaghoo@questorconsulting.com

Simon Barker
T: +44 (0)7866 314331
E-mail:sbarker@questorconsulting.com

US and Canada:
Rick Anderson
T: +1 (718) 986 1596

Henry Feintuch
T: +1 (212) 808 4901
E-mail:leclanche@feintuchpr.com

Investor Contacts
Anil Srivastava / Hubert Angleys
Tel.: +41 (0) 24 424 65 00
E-Mail:invest.leclanche@leclanche.com

# # #

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End of ad hoc announcement------------------------------------------------------

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 Swiss Exchange



 

End of Announcement EQS Group News Service

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619013  16-Oct-2017 CET/CEST