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Leclanché Provides A Business Update, to Carve-out of its Etransport Business and to Merge it with Special Purpose Acquisition Company

Leclanché etransport business

Leclanché provides a business update, to carve-out of its eTransport Business and to merge it with Special Purpose Acquisition Company.

 Leclanché SA (SIX: LECN), one of the world’s leading energy storage solutions companies, provides a significant business update.

The carveout of the eTransport Business and its intended merger with a U.S.-listed Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC):

The Company is at a transformational stage with its advancement in business and the implementation of the strategic reorganization that was announced on 15th September 2020.

Following this announcement, and the recent update on 29th September 2021, we are pleased to report that an important milestone has been achieved with the incorporation of a new wholly owned Swiss entity, Leclanché E-Mobility S.A., on 16th December 2021. The Company intends to merge this entity with a U.S.-listed SPAC.

  • The due process of completing the carve-out and performing the respective actions for transferring assets and liabilities, contracts, etc. is in the final stage with the close of the transaction on 24th December 2021 and legal effectiveness of the transfer on 1st January 2022 at 00:05 a.m. CET.
  • The SPAC has around USD 140 million in its trust account which shall be complemented with the funds from a Private Investor in Public Equity (PIPE) to fully fund the five-year business plan of the merged entity. Currently, the parties and the banks appointed by the SPAC are conducting joint marketing for the PIPE.
  • If the process to raise capital through the PIPE is deemed satisfactory by the Board of Directors of Leclanché and the SPAC, the parties aim to announce a definitive merger agreement around mid-February 2022. That shall be followed by completion of the due process and documentation filing required under the Stock Exchange Regulations in the USA. The parties expect the merger to be completed in 2Q 2022.

The Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of Leclanché are convinced that a successful completion of this exciting merger would be good for all Leclanché shareholders, all Leclanché employees, and all other stakeholders such as our customers and suppliers. Further details shall be provided at the time of the announcement of a definitive merger, expected by mid-February 2022.

The business operations temporarily affected by tight liquidity and the disruption of the global supply chain:

  • The Company’s management is working with SEFAM and its investment advisors to secure funding to run its operation in 2022 until completion of the intended merger of Leclanché E-Mobility with the SPAC, as announced on 29th September 2021. The Company remains confident that a new funding agreement shall be reached by mid-January 2022. The Company is working in parallel with other investors to secure fresh funding. Until such time as funding may be secured, the liquidity position remains tight.
  • On 29th September 2021, the Company informed the market that the outlook for the second half of 2021 remained uncertain due to ongoing worldwide supply chain issues. Worsening factory gate prices, the cost at which wholesalers buy materials from producers, transportation choke points and increased shipping times are causing delays across a wide range of businesses worldwide.
  • Leclanché has reviewed the current worldwide supply chain situation and its impact on its production capacity including longer lead-times for raw materials; shortage of high-grade plastics parts, such as sensors and connectors; and continued requests from some customers, who are facing the same supply chain issues, to defer their 2022 deliveries. The Company estimates that the current intermittent production will probably last through the end of the first quarter of 2022.
  • Consequently, the revenue outlook for 2021 will be essentially flat to small growth over 2020. Guidance for 2022 will be provided in due course.

Continued customer wins and strong growth momentum:

Notwithstanding the ongoing supply chain issues, the Company has recently been selected as a strategic supplier, from several Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), in the fields of specialized mining, agriculture and defense vehicles.

The cumulative business from these customers is expected to add more than CHF 150 million of revenue over a period of five years, with engineering services and pilot systems delivery expected from the second half of 2022. These exciting wins further solidify the significant Contracted Revenue Pipeline reported by the Company during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 30th June 2021.

Highlights:

  • The Company has reached an important milestone with the carve-out of its eTransport Business into a wholly owned Swiss entity, Leclanché E-Mobility S.A., following due process.
  • The Company now confirms that it has signed a mutually exclusive Letter of Intent with a U.S.-listed Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) for merging with Leclanché E-Mobility S.A.
  • The Company is working with its largest shareholder, SEFAM[1], and its investment advisors, to secure funding to run its operations in 2022 until completion of the intended merger of Leclanché eTransport business with the SPAC.
  • The combination of tight liquidity and global supply chain disruption is resulting in intermittent cell production at Leclanché’s German cell plant in Willstätt.
  • There are continued positive commercial developments in the field of specialized mining, agriculture and defence vehicles.

READ the latest Batteries News shaping the battery market

Leclanché provides a business update, YVERDON-LES-BAINS, Switzerland, December 23, 2021

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