DGAP-News: GRENKELEASING AG / Key word(s): AGM/EGM GRENKELEASING AG: GRENKE Board of Directors reports the successful execution of its corporate strategy - Shareholders resolve a dividend increase to EUR 1.50 per share 03.05.2016 / 17:14 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not for distribution, publication, or dissemination in the USA, Canada, Australia, or Japan, or in any other countries in which such a publication may be unlawful. GRENKE Board of Directors reports the successful execution of its corporate strategy - Shareholders resolve a dividend increase to EUR 1.50 per share * GRENKE shareholders resolve a dividend of EUR 1.50 per share * Renewed option to receive the dividend in cash or shares * Board of Directors and Supervisory Board granted a discharge * Resolution passed to change name to GRENKE AG Baden-Baden, May 3, 2016: At today's Annual General Meeting of GRENKELEASING AG, shareholders resolved a dividend for the 2015 fiscal year in the amount of EUR 1.50 per share (previous year: EUR 1.10). GRENKE shareholders were given the renewed option to choose to receive the dividend exclusively in cash or partly in cash and partly in the form of shares of GRENKELEASING AG (Scrip Dividend). Shareholders can submit their decision for or against the Scrip Dividend in the period from May 4 to May 23, 2016. Those who decide against the Scrip Dividend or who do not submit a reply will receive the customary cash dividend presumably on June 1, 2016. The new shares are scheduled for delivery on June 6, 2016. The Annual General Meeting granted the members of the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Board a discharge for the 2015 fiscal year. The Annual General Meeting followed the management's recommendation in selecting the auditor for the year 2016. The shareholders in attendance passed the agenda item proposing a change in the Company's name to "GRENKE AG". Today's resolution to change the name will take effect with the recording of the resolution in the commercial register. "Through our many years of experience and diversified product range we have created the strong GRENKE brand and consider the change in the Company's name as a natural consequence of this evolution", said Mr. Wolfgang Grenke in his comments on the forthcoming name change. Variable remuneration, which can amount up to 200 percent of the fixed salary, was also approved for GRENKE's Board of Directors and employees. These variable components are governed by a wide range of measurable indicators, without creating any false incentives to enter into inappropriate risks. To be able to strengthen the Company's capital base through the issue of participation rights and other hybrid financial instruments, the Annual General Meeting resolved a new authorisation to issue such instruments and cancelled the previous authorisation of May 10, 2011. In his comments, Mr. Wolfgang Grenke, Chairman of the Board of Directors, summarised the successful 2015 fiscal year and provided an outlook for the current year: "We are very pleased with the past fiscal year's performance. We have increased the new business of GRENKE Group Leasing by 20%. The new business in the Factoring segment grew a vigorous 55%. We intend to maintain this trend going forward. For 2016, we expect growth in the range of 16% to 20% in the Leasing segment and 30% to 35% in the Factoring segment while maintaining profitable and risk-adequate margins. These forecasts reaffirm our view of ourselves as a growth company. GRENKE Consolidated Group's net profit is expected to reach a range of EUR 93 to 98 million." The Company's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Jörg Eicker, added: "The past fiscal year was a year of tremendous success. As a result of our profitable new business and increasing income coupled with a comparatively lower rise in expenses, GRENKE Consolidated Group's net profit reached EUR 80.8 million. This even slightly exceeded the forecast range that was raised to EUR 78 to 80 million. We are once again offering shareholders the opportunity to increase their commitment to our long-term growth strategy and with their choice of a Scrip Dividend strengthen the Company's financial position and equity. Shareholders have until May 23, 2016 to make their decision for or against a Scrip Dividend." Around 330 shareholders took part in the Annual General Meeting. Shareholder presence at the time of voting was 83%. The Company invited several pupils to its Annual General Meeting: the winners of Sparkasse Baden-Baden-Gaggenau's stock exchange planning game, as well as pupils from the Markgraf-Ludwig High School, Baden-Baden; Pädagogium, Baden-Baden; and the Goethe High School Gaggenau. The Board of Directors For further information, please contact: GRENKELEASING AG Corporate Communications / Investor Relations Renate Hauss Neuer Markt 2 76532 Baden-Baden, Germany Phone: +49 7221 5007-204 Email: [email protected] Internet: http://www.grenke.de The GRENKE Group The GRENKE Group is a broadly diversified provider of IT-based services in Small-Ticket-IT-Leasing, Factoring and Banking for small and medium-sized companies. In addition, the GRENKE Bank offers its classic online services also to private customers. The GRENKE Group is independent of vendors and banks and holds a leading market position in Europe in the field of small-ticket IT leasing for products such as PCs, notebooks, copiers, printers, or software of relatively low asset value. The GRENKE Group operates in 30 countries and employs more than 1,100 staff. GRENKELEASING AG is listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and is included in the SDAX. GRENKELEASING AG shares are listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange with the code GLJ, ISIN DE000A161N30. Information on the GRENKE Group and its products is available at http://www.grenke.de This document is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States. This document does not constitute or form part of an offer of securities or subscription rights for sale or solicitation of an offer to purchase securities or subscription rights in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan or in any other jurisdiction where such offer may be restricted of unlawful. Securities and subscription rights may not be offered or sold in the United States, unless they are registered or exempted from the registration obligation under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), The securities and subscription rights referred to in this document have not been, and will not be, registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may and will not be offered or sold in the United States or to or for the account or benefit of US persons (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act), except on the basis of an applicable exemption from registration. There will be no public offering of securities and subscription rights in the United States or anywhere else, except for Germany. For the purposes of a public offering in Germany, a document was published on the website of GRENKELEASING AG on March 18, 2016 in lieu of a prospectus. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 03.05.2016 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: GRENKELEASING AG Neuer Markt 2 76532 Baden-Baden Germany Phone: +49 (0)7221 50 07-204 Fax: +49 (0)7221 50 07-4218 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.grenke.de ISIN: DE000A161N30 WKN: A161N3 Indices: SDAX Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart; Terminbörse EUREX End of News DGAP News Service --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 460427 03.05.2016