Leasing, banking, factoring: Spotlight on mid-sized companies

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1 Leasing, banking, factoring: Spotlight on mid-sized companies

2 Wolfgang Grenke Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of GRENKELEASING AG

3 Founder and Chairman When I founded GRENKE as a sole proprietorship in 1978, my objective was to also extend to small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in Germany the opportunity to lease office communications equipment at optimal costs. An internationally operating group of companies providing a wide range of financing services When I founded the company in 1978, I wanted to give small and mid-sized has emerged from this vision. enterprises an opportunity to lease office equipment at affordable rates. This vision grew into an internationally successful venture. Our progress has shown us two things: First, we cannot afford to stand still but must instead constantly develop our services on a requirements-led basis. Second, while demonstrating the willingness to change, Over 35 years of experience and the combination of expertise and knowledge it is important to remain true to our values. Our services are still geared toward SMEs. We value and foster have made GRENKE a highly regarded international financing specialist. personal relationships with our customers, partners, and shareholders, despite the size of our company. We have established a presence throughout Europe in small-ticket IT leasing. We continue to base our approach on the values of transparency, fairness, and sincerity. Now, we intend to expand further afield. Over 30 years of experience and the combination of expertise and knowledge have made GRENKE a highly Our progress has shown us two things: first, we cannot afford to stand still, regarded international financing specialist. We have remained the market leader in small-ticket IT leasing but must instead constantly develop our services on a requirements-led basis. for many years. In line with this rising success, I also believe that we must assume greater social responsibility. Social and cultural commitment is an integral part of the GRENKE Group s approach. Second, while demonstrating the willingness to change, it is important to remain true to our values. I would be delighted if you took the opportunity to find out more about us by reading this brochure. Our services are still aimed at small and mid-sized enterprises. Past and future expansion does not change our lasting commitment to personal relationships Yours sincerely with our customers, partners and shareholders. Our business will continue to be built on transparency, fairness and sincerity. I believe that with great success comes great corporate social responsibility. Against this background, the GRENKE Group is passionate about supporting Wolfgang Grenke communities and contributing to cultural life. I would be delighted if you take this opportunity to learn more about us. Sincerely, Wolfgang Grenke

4 A vision becomes business reality Our headquarters in Baden-Baden, Germany Entrepreneurs are visionaries. In 1978, Wolfgang Grenke realised that there was a market for leasing office communications equipment that was completely untapped. This prompted him to found the company as a sole proprietor ship in Baden-Baden. It was the beginning of a success story with many exciting chapters to follow. The first branch opened in 1990, and the Group has been growing ever since. GRENKE passed another significant milestone in 1997, when it was converted into a public limited company before its initial public offering three years later. GRENKELEASING AG has been listed on the SDAX index since GRENKE has since introduced two new lines of business. In 2005, factoring was added to the service portfolio. The privately owned bank Hesse Newman was acquired in 2009 and renamed GRENKE BANK AG, further expan d- ing the range of services.

5 4 :: 5 With over 35 years experience, GRENKE established a presence throughout Europe in small-ticket IT leasing. It has experienced consistent healthy growth as an international organisation. This is because GRENKE is a reliable partner who understands the special requirements of small and mid-sized enterprises in terms of financing. Therefore, we have developed tailored solutions that can only be found at GRENKE. Against this backdrop, GRENKE offers the following: :: :: Straightforward approach and rapid results :: :: Local and personal advice and assistance :: :: Pricing and products tailored to customer needs A regional presence and personal service for customers and partners remain key aspects of our business. We believe it is crucial that all transactions are mutually beneficial for all stakeholders. This provides the platform for successful and enduring partnerships.

6 Global operations, local service GRENKE s strong relationships with partners and customers are not the result of chance: they are built on our corporate philosophy and the driving force behind our international success. GRENKE offers a comprehensive, responsive service expert advice and assistance is never far away.

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8 Structure of leasing portfolio in 2014 General office technology 3.8 % Share of IT products in portfolio (based on new business): 85.1 % Other 0.1 % Security equipment 4.4 % Medical equipment 3.3 % Photocopying 33.6 % Machinery and office equipment 7 % Telecommunications equipment 13.1 % Notebooks 3.6 % IT equipment (not including notebooks) 31.1 %

9 8 :: 9 Our customers are our partners In every respect The GRENKE Group s core business is leasing office communications equipment. We have established a strong market position by efficiently processing smaller contracts combined with personal advice and support and have distinctly set ourselves apart from our compe titors. In the future, we will continue to transfer our experiences from our success to our new lines of business: banking and factoring. Value-added leasing Not all leasing solutions are alike. Innovative financing concepts are required for long-term market success. Therefore, we have developed a series of innovative offerings that go well beyond the traditional leasing contract. We have specialised in not just supporting our specialist resellers with standard transactions, but also with offering them optimal solutions to the individual requirements of their customers. This allows us to strengthen our partnerships and ensures the long-term loyalty of specialist resellers to our company. At the same time, we safeguard the satisfaction of our common customers. As a long-term partner, we aim to offer both specialist resellers and customers with more than just cost benefits. Through expert advice, rapid, uncomplicated processing, and online-based support, we make the handling of leasing financing extremely easy, which allows our specialist resellers and customers to focus on their own core business.

10 A bank for SMEs and start-ups GRENKE BANK AG s services have enhanced the GRENKE Group s product range, allowing us to now meet the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises with even more tailored solutions. In collaboration with GRENKELEASING AG, for example, we have succeeded in incorporating leasing services into the programmes of the German state development banks. We offer support to start-ups and young entrepreneurs. Via GRENKE Bank, these businesses can quickly and easily apply for subsidised loans from KfW Mittelstandsbank or L-BANK Baden- Württemberg. GRENKE Bank offers attractive interest rates for fixed-term deposits of private and institutional investors. Factoring fast and easy liquidity More and more companies are realising that they can achieve major competitive advantages with factoring by securing liquidity at any time and without using credit lines from their bank. The assignment of outgoing claims to GRENKE and their immediate payment eliminate waiting times for invoice settlement as well as follow-up costs when payments are not made. Default risk is no longer a cause for concern as it is borne by GRENKE Factoring for all purchased receivables. By focusing on small-ticket factoring, we are also systematically implementing the GRENKE Group s strategy in this area of business: namely the provision of financial services for small-scale entrepreneurs and SMEs. There are good reasons for SMEs to choose factoring, particularly during periods of growth when funds are required for new projects and investment. While it is often difficult for these companies to access lines of credit, factoring can give instant liquidity, protection against insolvency, and provide the security needed in order to focus on new tasks and challenges.

11 10 :: 11 Success is measured in figures And in satisfied customers The GRENKE Group was not just exceptionally successful in 2014, but will continue to be successful in the future. The traditional line of business has seen a development that is just as attractive as factoring and the GRENKE Bank. All good reasons to expect further positive developments in the next few years to come. GRENKE Group s new business (in million euros), including franchisees* * The total cost of newly acquired leased assets, factoring volumes and business start-up financing ,000 1,100 1,200 1,300 We have expanded new business by 14% to EUR 1,352.9 million. This underlines yet again the GRENKE Group s potential for strong growth. This can be attributed to our presence in established European markets, but also in areas that we have tapped through global expansion. Our factoring business is posting similar growth rates, with the volume of receivables rising by 16% to EUR million. This is yet more proof that our business model is fit for the future, not only in the traditional small-ticket IT leasing business but also in factoring and GRENKE Bank, too. After all, we do not avoid risk, but instead perform realistic risk assessment on the basis of an opportunity/ risk profile. These developments have received a very special seal of approval. The credit rating agency Standard & Poor s has reaffirmed our good rating, and in its very first analysis the credit rating organisation Gesellschaft für Bonitätsbeurteilung (GBB) certified our high creditworthiness. This provides us with further motivation to continue building on active, growth-led value management in the future. We therefore remain extremely optimistic for 2015.

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13 12 :: 13 Knowledge strengthens competitiveness and market position We expect the very best from our employees. They strongly identify with their core tasks: recognising our customers needs and developing effective solutions. And they tackle every challenge with great enthusiasm. Their skills and dedication are our greatest asset, and have always formed the foundation of our success. Without their commitment and expertise, GRENKE would not be the highly competitive and growing enterprise it is today. GRENKE is committed to developing the skills of our employees and providing a variety of skills development opportunities. We are a certified partner to the German education system, providing opportunities ranging from apprenticeships to participation in cooperative education courses at university level. By training young people and offering them employment upon completion of their programmes, we ensure we have highly skilled staff. GRENKE Akademie, founded several years ago, helps employees of the GRENKE Group perform their day-today tasks more efficiently. Its portfolio of high-quality courses is tailored to the unique needs of the target group. The classes and seminars address changes in the way we work and do business, and familiarise participants with the latest legislation and regulations. The programme is clearly structured and is based on proven teaching methods. Courses are taught by GRENKE employees or third-party experts, and are always tailored to individual needs and areas of specialisation. All of these factors make GRENKE Akademie a highly effective up-skilling resource. To ensure knowledge transfer across multiple sites, we leverage e-learning software with great success. Regular evaluations ensure that our courses and workshops fulfil the same high expectations we have for the rest of our company, and support continuous improvement.

14 Good corporate citizenship All of those who live in or from a society should also make a contribution to its general good. GRENKE embraces this challenge and assumes social responsibility in many areas. We demonstrate our commitment within and outside of our company, in particular to young people and their professional and cultural development. Chess GRENKE promotes a diverse range of chess activities. We have supported two local Baden-Baden chess clubs for over a decade. In 2013, GRENKE became the main sponsor of the world-class GRENKE Chess Classic in Baden-Baden. The biennial event there attracts the chess elite: in 2013 the then world champion Vishwanathan Anand won the tournament, and in 2015 the Norwegian player Magnus Carlsen was victorious. He has held the title of world champion since the end of School GRENKE collaborates with a number of schools within the scope of initiatives launched by local chambers of commerce. The aim is to give pupils a better understanding of the business world. They receive information on our company and the job opportunities we offer in specific fields. This helps young people choose a suitable profession and teachers to provide better career counselling. Music GRENKE is a sponsor of the Columbus education programme at Festspielhaus in Baden-Baden, introducing schoolchildren to the world of classical music. In recent years, thanks to our support, over 30,000 pupils have received discounted entrance to events. School classes discuss the concerts, share the concert evening experience and often have the opportunity to meet performers such as Hilary Hahn and Lang Lang in person.

15 Responsible for content and design GRENKELEASING AG Neuer Markt Baden-Baden Germany Phone: Fax: [email protected]

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