DGAP-News: Weng Fine Art AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous Weng Fine Art AG plans significantly higher dividend: General Meeting on 9 September 2013 08.07.2013 / 08:30 --------------------------------------------------------------------- PRESS RELEASE | 8 JULY 2013 Weng Fine Art AG plans significantly higher dividend: General Meeting on 9 September 2013 Weng Fine Art AG (WFA) has announced plans to pay a dividend of EUR 0.10 for the 2012/2013 financial year - an increase of 67% compared to the previous year. This represents the continuation of a flawless record for paying dividends by the art dealing company whose shares are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Entry Standard). Since its formation, the company has gradually raised dividends from EUR 0.01 at the outset (for the 2004/2005 financial year) to their most recent level of EUR 0.06 per share. 'The proposed dividend reflects not only a tremendously successful 2012/13 financial year, but also our position as a growth company,' explained WFA CEO Rüdiger K. Weng, mentioning a payout ratio of only about 15% despite the large increase: 'There is a reason for our decision to invest the majority of our profits back into operations, which is also what we have done in previous years - namely positioning ourselves in the art market. This has opened up numerous opportunities to generate double-digit profits by re-investing the retaining earnings.' At the same time, WFA has the ability to borrow additional funds. The company just recently obtained an additional credit facility with an effective interest rate of 1.77%. This very low interest rate is a reflection of WFA's excellent position and healthy balance sheet. 'We expect to be able to utilize these funds during the current financial year for an initial equity investment or acquisition,' signaled Rüdiger K. Weng and mentioned the General Meeting scheduled for 9 September 2013 in Krefeld: 'We will present the outline of our expansion strategy by then.' Even though the company's primary focus is currently on mapping the way for the transformation from a pure B2B dealership into an integrated art business - which will result in temporary dips in revenue and profits in the pure art dealing business - the company was nevertheless able to make several remarkable sales during the just-ended spring season. WFA sold more than 400 works of art up to the end of June - of which six were in the six-digit price range - in an art market that tended to be weaker than the prior year. On the whole, the company was able to exceed internal targets for its core business. Likewise, the company is ahead of plan in establishing and developing the new business segments. The figures for the first half of the financial year 2013/14, which ends July 31, will most likely be presented at the annual general meeting. ABOUT WENG FINE ART AG Weng Fine Art AG (www.wengfineart.com) is one of the most financially strong and fastest-growing art dealerships on the European continent. The company focuses on works of internationally renowned artists from the 20th century and, in its core business, exclusively supplies commercial addresses (B2B), beside others, the internationally leading auction houses as well as art dealers and galleries. Furthermore, the expertise and market positioning gained over more than 18 years serves as a basis for new business segments such as e-commerce and editions. Weng Fine Art AG shares are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Entry Standard) since 2 January 2012. INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT DETAILS Weng Fine Art AG c/o edicto GmbH, Axel Mühlhaus Eschersheimer Landstr. 42 | 60322 Frankfurt a.M. Telefon +49 (0)69 905505-52 | Telefax +49 (0)69 905505-77 E-mail [email protected] End of Corporate News --------------------------------------------------------------------- 08.07.2013 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. DGAP's 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: Weng Fine Art AG Kimplerstraße 294 47807 Krefeld Germany Phone: 02151 937130 Fax: 02151 93713-29 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.wengfineart.com ISIN: DE0005181606 WKN: 518160 Listed: Frankfurt in Open Market (Entry Standard) End of News DGAP News-Service --------------------------------------------------------------------- 220142 08.07.2013