DGAP-News: Aragon Aktiengesellschaft / Key word(s): Strategic Company Decision Aragon Aktiengesellschaft: Aragon AG becomes JDC Group AG 28.07.2015 / 08:05 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Aragon AG becomes JDC Group AG - The "new" JDC Group will focus on its two subsidiaries Jung, DMS & Cie. and FiNUM as well as on Advisortech solutions for IFAs (Independent Financial Advisors). - As a result, JDC Group will be a synonym for intelligent financial services coupled with new technologies. The new claim "Best Advice. Better Technology" emphasizes this realignment. - The change in name shall reflect this new strategy. In the last few months the Aragon AG has noticeably streamlined and focused its business structure by concentrating on its IFA-Pool Jung, DMS & Cie. and the FiNUM Group. By starting the new, additional business field "Advisortech", the company has now achieved its target structure. In order to reflect that new strategy, last Friday's Annual General Meeting decided by unanimous vote to rename the company to "JDC Group AG". Starting today the JDC Group can be found online with a completely updated, modern and user-friendly homepage: www.jdcgroup.de . Beginning in the middle of August, JDC Group will offer its complete reporting and website in English as well to meet the increasing interest of international investors. The realignment is also reflected in the JDC Group's new claim "Best Advice. Better Technology": In the future the JDC Group AG will focus on the two segments: "Advisory" and "Advisortech". In the classical sector "Advisory" the JDC group will mediate financial products with its subsidiaries Jung, DMS & Cie and FiNUM to private customers through independent financial advisors, tied agents and other sales organizations. Growth in that segment will be achieved through an ongoing consolidation of the sector. The driving forces of consolidation are an increased regulation and constantly increasing consumer demands for more quality. Because of such increased complexity, many lone wolves but also smaller pools and financial distribution businesses see themselves compelled to join Jung, DMS & Cie., one of the leading German IFA- pools in order to enjoy best conditions, leading technology and excellent service. An important growth driver in the in "Advisory" segment will be the "DMR Deutsche Makler Rente" (www.deutsche-makler-rente.de): Jung DMS & Cie. is acquiring the business (assets under management and client base) of retiring IFAs and will either serve those clients directly or match them up with qualified successors. The "DMR Deutsche Makler Rente" is the best way for IFAs and other sales people to secure their life's work and for Jung, DMS & Cie. to increase the marginal return after the acquisition. In order to finance future acquisitions Jung, DMS & Cie. has issued a bond with a volume 15 million Euros several weeks ago. In the "Advisortech" business line, the JDC Group is developing state of the art advisory technology for IFAs and financial consultants as well as for their clients. While many financial sales companies and IFAs see technological change as a problem and young fintech companies as competitors, the JDC Group sees "technology" as a major opportunity. Solutions coming from the "Advisortech" business will help IFAs serve their customers even better and as a result increase sales. The JDC Group will, therefore, immediately start developing their own technology-based tools as well as become active as a strategic investor in fintech and advisortech companies on the market. Even the acquisition of already established technology businesses is an imaginable part of this strategy. Human people, though, will still play the most important role in the group. JDC-CEO Dr. Sebastian Grabmaier commented on the new strategy: "With impressive numbers we want to position ourselves with our new business segment "Advisortech" quickly as one of the leading fintech companies in Europe. While many fintech start-ups are starting from scratch and are forced to spend a lot of money acquiring retail customers, our new technology branch is already based on more than 16,000 sales partners, more than 900,000 customers, more than 4.0 billion Euros of assets under administration and more than 1 billion Euros in new business each year." CFO Ralph Konrad adds: "Our focus on the segments "Advisory" and "Advisortech" will have a positive effect on our subsidiaries, their IFAs and consultants and the served retail customers, which in turn will have a positive effect on the JDC Group's earnings. While the year 2015 will be a year of transformation and investment in new technology with only slight profitability expected, the JDC Group's profits should clearly increase from 2016 on. In 2016 we expect sales to be between 90 and 100 million Euros and to have an EBITDA of at least 5 million Euros." About the Aragon AG/JDC Group AG The JDC Group AG (ISIN: DE000A0B9N37) stands for intelligent financial services coupled with new technologies. In the "Advisory" segment our subsidiaries Jung, DMS & Cie and FiNUM act as brokers of financial products to private customers through independent consultants, agents and financial businesses. With more than 16,000 sales partners, more than 900,000 customers, more than 4.0 billion Euros assets under administration and more than 1 billion Euros in new business done each year, we are one of the market leaders in the German speaking region. In the "Advisortech" segment we are developing modern technologies for our consultants and their retail customers. While many financial sales businesses and IFAs see technological change as a problem and the young fintech firms as new competitors, we see technology as a major opportunity. Solutions coming from the Advisortech segment will help our consultants provide better service for their customers and as a result increase their sales. More information about our company and our subsidiaries can be found at www.jdcgroup.de. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 28.07.2015 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. 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