DGAP-News: GRENKELEASING AG: Successful start - New business growth of 12.8% in the first quarter of 2014


DGAP-News: GRENKELEASING AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous
GRENKELEASING AG: Successful start - New business growth of 12.8% in
the first quarter of 2014

02.04.2014 / 07:27

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Successful start - New business growth of 12.8% in the first quarter of
2014

- New business in the GRENKE Group in the first quarter of 2014 totalled
  EUR 310.8 million for a year-on-year increase of 12.8%.

- The contribution margin (CM) 2 of GRENKE Group's new business reached
  EUR 50.0 million in the first quarter of 2014. The CM2 margin amounted
  to 18.7% (leasing segment)

Baden-Baden, April 2, 2014: In the first quarter of 2014, the new business
volume of the GRENKE Group (including franchise partners) - i.e. the total
of the acquisition costs of newly purchased lease assets, factoring volume,
and business start-up financing - amounted to EUR 310.8 million (Q1-2013:
EUR 275.6 million), and corresponded to growth of 12.8%. Hence, we are
within our expectation for the full year with a range of 13 to 16%.

In the first quarter of 2014, the contribution margin 2 of GRENKE Group's
new business reached EUR 50.0 million (Q1-2013: EUR 47.5 million). The CM2
margin in the leasing business attained 18.7% in the first quarter of 2014
(Q1-2013: 19.6%). The CM1 margin (contribution margin 1 at acquisition
values) amounted to 13.0% in the first quarter of 2014 and reached EUR 34.5
million (Q1-2013: EUR 33.2 million).
These attractive contribution margins can be attributed to efficient sales
management and a favourable interest rate climate. Thus, the trend of the
previous quarters continued.

For the first time in the history of the GRENKE Group, the international
share of our new business came to 70% (Q1-2014: 70.2% compared to Q1-2013:
66.7%). In our key markets of France, the United Kingdom, and Italy, we
were able to record positive growth in new business. In France, our largest
market, the growth trend of the past year continued ahead undeterred. Spain
developed very positively and grew 28.6%.

In the other regions, which comprise the countries of Brazil, Dubai,
Canada, and Turkey, we continue to act in a careful manner. This resulted
in a decline in new business growth in those markets compared to the
previous year, which reflected our intentions in terms of sales management.

In the first quarter of 2014, the GRENKE Group recorded 83,975 lease
applications (67,433 thereof were international), which generated 33,229
new lease contracts (25,727 thereof were international). The mean term per
lease contract continued at a low level of EUR 7,958 and was almost
unchanged compared to the previous year (Q1-2013: EUR 7,980).

The GRENKE Group's (Leasing segment) conversion rate (applications into
contracts) in the first quarter of 2014 totalled 40%. The conversion rate
in our international markets was 38%, and was lower than in the German
market (45%).

The income margin on the factoring volume of EUR 43.5 million amounted to
2.35% (Q1-2013: 2.28%). This margin is based on the average period for a
factoring transaction of around 35 days (Q1-2013: approx. 29 days).

All amounts in EUR million

<pre>

New business                                    Q1-2014   Q1-2013  % change
GRENKE Group leasing + factoring + business       310.8     275.6      12.8
start-up financing including franchise
partners
- of which: Germany                                92.6      91.7       1.0
- of which: International                         218.2     183.9      18.6


</pre>

<pre>

New business                             Q1-2014     Q1-2013     % change
GRENKE Group leasing                       264.4       239.4         10.4
- of which: International                  193.2       163.2         18.4
- of which: Franchise international          4.4         6.7        -35.1
- of which: Germany                         66.9        69.5         -3.7
Western Europe* (without Germany)           90.2        79.8         13.1
Southern Europe*                            62.1        50.8         22.4
Northern/Eastern Europe*                    42.9        34.2         25.4
Other regions*                               2.3         5.2        -55.4


</pre>

<pre>

New business                             Q1-2014     Q1-2013     % change
GRENKE Group factoring                      43.5        35.3         23.3
- of which: Germany                         22.8        21.3          7.4
- of which: Franchise international         20.6        14.0         47.6


</pre>

<pre>

GRENKE Bank                             Q1-2014      Q1-2013      % change
Deposits                                  252.7        241.0           4.9
Business start-up financing volume          2.9          1.0         201.1


</pre>

Development of contribution margin 2 in EUR million 

<pre>

                                         Q1-2014      Q1-2013      % change
GRENKE Group leasing                        49.4         46.8           5.5
- of which: International                   39.1         35.4          10.2
- of which: Franchise international          1.0          2.6         -61.9
- of which: Germany                          9.3          8.8           6.6
Western Europe* (without Germany)           17.6         17.3           1.7
Southern Europe*                            13.7         11.6          18.8
Northern/Eastern Europe*                     8.2          7.0          17.3
Other regions*                               0.5          2.2         -76.7


</pre>

*Regions:
Western Europe (without Germany): Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, The
Netherlands, Switzerland
Southern Europe: Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain 
Northern/Eastern Europe: Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, UK /
Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia
Other regions: Brazil, Canada, Dubai, Turkey 

"The international business continues to be our focus and the growth trends
in our most important markets are intact. In the first quarter of 2014, the
international share of our new business reached 70% for the first time in
GRENKE Group's history and substantiated our strategy. With new business
growth of 12.8% in the first quarter, we have embarked on a successful
start in the year 2014 and are within our forecast range for the full year
of 13 to 16%", commented Wolfgang Grenke, Chairman of the Board of
Directors of GRENKELEASING AG, on the new business figures.
 
"Regional growth and the diversification of our product range are integral
components of our growth strategy. GRENKE Bank plays an important role in
this regard by offering attractive products such as business start-up
financing, among others. The volume of EUR 2.9 million achieved in the
first quarter of 2014 demonstrates that the positive trend of 2013 has
continued. In Germany, and now in three further European countries, GRENKE
Factoring offers small and medium-sized customers additional financing
alternatives. Our international factoring business grew 48%", stated Jörg
Eicker, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of GRENKELEASING AG.

On April 29, 2014 the company is to publish the Financial Report for the
1st Quarter 2014.

Should you have any queries, please contact:

Renate Hauss
Tel.:  +49 7221 5007-204
Fax:  +49 7221 5007-4218
E-mail: investor@grenke.de
Internet: http://www.grenke.de, http://www.grenkeleasing.de,
http://www.grenkebank.de, http://www.grenkefactoring.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 27 countries and
employs more than 800 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 in
the SDAX on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange with the code GLJ, ISIN
DE0005865901.

Information on the GRENKE Group and its products is available at
http://www.grenke.de


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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:      investor@grenke.de                                    
Internet:    www.grenke.de                                         
ISIN:        DE0005865901                                          
WKN:         586590                                                
Indices:     SDAX                                                  
Listed:      Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);      
             Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München,  
             Stuttgart                                             
 
 
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