Ad-hoc | 10 April 2013 15:52
Leclanché SA / Key word(s): AGM/EGM
10.04.2013 15:52
Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 KR
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Release
Leclanché Shareholders Approve All Board Proposals at Annual General
Meeting
- Shareholders approved the financial restructuring of the company
providing for a capital reduction and subsequent capital increases
Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, 10 April 2013 - Leclanché S.A. (SIX Swiss
Exchange: LECN), specialized in the production of large-format lithium-ion
cells and energy storage solutions, announced today that its shareholders
approved all the proposals of the Board of Directors at its 2013 annual
general meeting held today in Yverdon-les-Bains. Shareholders approved the
2012 Annual Report and financial statements as well as the financial
restructuring of the company providing for a capital reduction and
subsequent capital increases. Both Mr Rolf Eckrodt and Mr Stefan Müller
were re-elected as board members for a period of one year and three years.
'We sincerely thank our shareholders for approving all proposed
resolutions, which provide Leclanché with the means and the flexibility to
implement its financial restructuring plan,' commented Rolf Eckrodt,
Chairman of the Board. 'The Board of directors and the management is fully
engaged in seeking to secure the mid-term funding of the company and
implement the turnaround plan for the company. The successful
implementation of these various measures, should allow Leclanché to
overcome its current difficulties and take advantage of the upcoming market
opportunities.'
Summary of the financial restructuring
Shareholders of Leclanché S.A. approved:
- A capital reduction through nominal value reduction
- The nominal value of all outstanding 5,630,145 registered shares
will be reduced from the current nominal value of CHF 5 to CHF 2.
The reduction amount of CHF 3 per share (in total CHF 16,890,435)
will be allocated to the general reserves.
- An ordinary capital increase in three separate tranches
- a share issue with pre-emptive rights preserved for existing
shareholders. The share capital can be increased through the
issuance of a maximum of 8,445,218 shares with a nominal value of
CHF 2 each, by a maximum amount of CHF 16,890,436.
- a private placement reserved for new investors. The share capital
can be increased through the issuance of a maximum of 10,000,000
shares with a nominal value of CHF 2 each, by a maximum amount of
CHF 20,000,000.
- a private placement for the potential conversion of the loan that
was granted to Leclanché GmbH by Bruellan Corporate Governance
Action Fund ('Bruellan Loan') - The share capital can be increased
through the issuance of a maximum of 3,500,000 shares with a
nominal value of CHF 2 each, by a maximum amount of CHF 7,000,000.
- The creation of authorized capital to a maximum amount of CHF
14,075,362 and the creation of a conditional share capital in the
maximum amount of CHF 4,000,000.
- An 'Opting -up' clause regarding the duty to make a public tender
offer, pursuant to the relevant legislation, only when the threshold of
49% is exceeded.
- The resulting amendments to the Articles of Association:
About Leclanché
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 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.chcla@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.
10.04.2013 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: CH0110303119, CH0016271550
Swiss Security Number: A1CUUB, 812950
Listed: SIX
End of Announcement EquityStory News-Service
---------------------------------------------------------------------------