Trading Update and Directorate Change

    RNS Number : 3299J
  Axeon Holdings Plc
  02 December 2008
   

    2 December 2008
    AXEON HOLDINGS PLC
    ("Axeon" or the "Company")


    Trading Update

    Resignation of Chief Executive Officer


    Axeon, the supplier of lithium-ion battery solutions, announces that it is experiencing a further deterioration in its markets since the
time of its last update to shareholders announced on 24 September 2008. The unprecedented change in the general economic environment has
severely impacted customer demand in our small battery division, which supplies into the European handheld power tool market. Mobile power
has been growing strongly over this year, but from a small base. While the longer-term outlook for Automotive remains encouraging, this year
has seen slower demand than anticipated. This deterioration and the continued uncertain outlook through December will result in a full year
outturn considerably below current management expectations.


    The Company has already reduced headcount and overhead; these, together with cash conservation, prioritisation of engineering resource
and a focus on securing a higher margin sales mix, remain key objectives. The Company will give a trading update for the year to 31 December
2008 in January 2009.


    Hamish Grant has today resigned as a Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Non Executive Chairman Charles Matthews and
Non Executive Director Lawrence Berns have assumed executive roles supporting Chief Operating Officer Jim Ferguson.


    Charles Matthews said: "I would like to thank Hamish for his contribution to the Company over its formative years. I am pleased that
Lawrence has agreed to move to an executive position with the Company. His general and strategic management knowledge and experience in the
automotive sector gained internationally with ArvinMeritor, ITW, Hella and GM will be of great help to Axeon as we re-structure the business
through this difficult economic climate. In addition, the recent appointment of Jim Ferguson brings important and valuable expertise in
electronic contract manufacturing to the management team."


    CONTACT

    Axeon Holdings plc
    Charles Matthews, Executive Chairman                                                                  Tel: [phone]
    Lawrence Berns, Executive Director                                                                       Tel: [phone]
    David Campbell, CFO                                                                                            Tel: [phone]
    Rebecca Trengove, Group Marketing Manager                                                         Tel: [phone]
    www.axeon.com   

    Gavin Anderson & Co
    Ken Cronin / Robert Speed / Janine Brewis                                                             Tel: [phone]

    Arbuthnot Securities 
    Antonio Bossi / John Prior                                                                                     Tel: [phone]


    NOTES TO EDITORS

About Axeon Holdings

    Axeon Holdings plc is Europe's largest independent supplier of lithium-ion battery solutions, manufacturing over 5 million battery
packs.

    Axeon designs and manufactures batteries and battery management systems for three main sectors: automotive, powering the clean electric
vehicles of the future; power tools, enabling new cordless tools that deliver more power with less weight; and mobile power solutions,
delivering energy for innovative new products.     

    Axeon's Battery Management System is a market-leading technology for managing lithium-ion batteries, delivering safe, durable
performance.

    Axeon has been listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange (LSE: AXE) since 2005 and is headquartered
in the UK, with operations in the UK, Switzerland, Germany and Poland. 

    For more information, please see www.axeon.com


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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