Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, April 9, 2014 – Leclanché S.A. (SIX Swiss Exchange: LECN), specialized in the production of large-format lithium-ion cells and energy storage solutions, announced today that it has signed a joint development and marketing agreement with Oak Ridge Energy Technologies Inc., (Ticker: OKME) (“Oak Ridge”) to evaluate the US market and how the two companies can co-operate together going forward.

An agreement to address the fast growing US energy storage market

On March 5, 2014 the Company announced that it had commenced discussions with Oak Ridge, Precept’s US battery industry portfolio company, regarding a strategic alliance and technology exchange agreement, in particular regarding the US application by Oak Ridge of the Company’s safety separator technology and the grid storage units.
Leclanché has now entered into a joint development and marketing agreement with Oak Ridge to evaluate the US market, define a market entry strategy, undertake US certification, identify any further alliances that might be appropriate and determine what elements of Leclanché’s products could be assembled in Oak Ridge’s facilities in Melbourne, Florida. The US energy storage market is developing rapidly. According to a recent study undertaken by on behalf of the Company by Navigant Research, an independent specialist research organisation belonging to Navigant Consulting Inc., more than 750 Megawatt of battery-based frequency regulation systems are expected to be built in North America by 2023.
Under the Joint Development Agreement, Oak Ridge will dedicate specific marketing and technical resources to promote Leclanché’s Stationary and Portable products and services. Precept holds a majority stake in Oak Ridge and, on a pro forma basis, 50.1% in Leclanche, which will be confirmed once the resolutions adopted at the company’s recent Annual General Meeting are fully implemented.

About Leclanché

Headquartered in Switzerland, Leclanché SA is a leading provider of high-quality energy storage solutions designed to accelerate our progress towards a clean energy future. Leclanché’s history and heritage is rooted in over 100 years of battery and energy storage innovation and the Company is a trusted provider of energy storage solutions globally. This coupled with the Company’s culture of German engineering and Swiss precision and quality, continues to make Leclanché the partner of choice for both disruptors, established companies and governments who are pioneering positive changes in how energy is produced, distributed and consumed around the world. The energy transition is being driven primarily by changes in the management of our electricity networks and the electrification of transport, and these two end markets form the backbone of our strategy and business model. Leclanché is at the heart of the convergence of the electrification of transport and the changes in the distribution network. Leclanché is the only listed pure play energy storage company in the world, organised along three business units: stationary storage solutions, e-Transport solutions and specialty batteries systems. Leclanché is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX: LECN).

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.

Contacts

Media Switzerland /Europe:

Thierry Meyer

T: +41 (0) 79 785 35 81

E-mail: tme@dynamicsgroup.ch

Media North America:

Henry Feintuch / Ashley Blas

T: +1-914-548-6924 / +1-509-494-4053

E-mail: leclanche@feintuchpr.com

Media Germany:

Christoph Miller

T: +49 (0) 711 947 670

E-mail: leclanche@sympra.de

Investor Contacts:

Anil Srivastava / Hubert Angleys

T: +41 (0) 24 424 65 00

E-mail: invest.leclanche@leclanche.com