SIGNA Prime Increases Equity Capital by 1 Billion Euro

VIENNA, Austria, October 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

- SIGNA Prime increases shareholders capital by 1 billion Euro

- Capital increase sustains impetus of corporate growth strategy

When SIGNA Prime Selection AG ("SIGNA Prime") was established in 2010 the company had six properties worth 750 million Euro; since then it has developed into one of the largest real estate stock companies in Europe, with a current portfolio of 19 trophy properties and a gross asset value of some 8.5 billion Euro.

SIGNA Prime Selection AG represents the largest real estate company within the SIGNA Group, and for years has pursued the highly successful strategy of developing the portfolio of exceptional properties in prime inner city locations in Germany, Austria, and Northern Italy, as well as continuing to acquire and develop specific properties in central retail settings. The portfolio held by SIGNA Prime Selection AG includes iconic properties such as KaDeWe in Berlin, the Golden Quarter in Vienna, with the Park Hyatt Vienna, Oberpollinger in Munich, Kaufhaus Tyrol in Innsbruck, or Alsterhaus in Hamburg.

The significant properties are retained in ownership in the long term and, thanks to their locations, enjoy comprehensive value stability, are fully let, and, in addition, catch people's eye. SIGNA Prime is one of the largest real estate owners in major cities such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Vienna, and pursues the aim of possessing its own properties over generations and developing them further.

The successful business development of SIGNA Prime over the past years has led to an ongoing expansion of its group of big name shareholders, who have strategically acquired participations in SIGNA Prime. In order to sustain the successful growth strategy adopted by the company, and in order to be able to enlarge the portfolio of exceptional properties still further, on 3 October 2017, SIGNA Prime accordingly implemented an increase in the shareholders capital by a further 1 billion Euro. The whole equity capital of SIGNA Prime according is more than 4 billion Euro.

The majority shareholder in SIGNA Prime Selection AG is SIGNA Holding, with its founding and main shareholder, the Benko family private foundation, which at present jointly holds more than 60 % of the shares issued. With the RAG Foundation from Essen, the LVM insurance corporation from Muenster, and Longbow from Geneva, this year has seen three new top name investors join the shareholder group. Other shareholders include the Haselsteiner Private Foundation, Novo Invest, owned by the famous Austrian entrepreneur Prof. Johann Graf, corporate consultancy legend Prof. Roland Berger, and the Family Office of ex-Formula One world champion Niki Lauda.

"The scale of the increase demonstrates the clear commitment of the shareholders to SIGNA. This step makes it possible for SIGNA Prime to consolidate its the market position among the leading European real estate companies and to further position itself as one of the largest real estate stock companies in Europe," says Christoph Stadlhuber, CEO of SIGNA Prime Selection AG.

About SIGNA 

SIGNA is a completely privately managed and entrepreneurially active industrial group in the areas of retail and real estate. The company is one of the leading real estate developers in Europe and manages large retail companies in Germany. The group comprises two central core businesses: SIGNA Real Estate and SIGNA Retail.

SIGNA Real Estate employs around 200 people at nine sites in Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. The gross asset value of the entire real estate group is more than 10 billion euros and its development volume amounts to further 5 billion euros. SIGNA Real Estate is divided into four independent business areas: these include SIGNA Development Selection, SIGNA Luxury Hotels, SIGNA Funds and SIGNA Prime Selection, which focuses on investment and long-term real estate holdings in prime city centre locations in Europe.

The SIGNA Retail Group includes the four independent retail platforms SIGNA Department Store Group, SIGNA Premium Group, SIGNA Sports Group and SIGNA Food & Restaurants Group, which have a total of more than 125 locations in the best city centres and more than 70 online store in 18 countries, contributing to the strong growth of the SIGNA Retail Group in Europe. The focus is on the consistent further development of the omni-channel strategies of the individual commercial platforms. The SIGNA Retail Group presently employs some 20,000 people, and achieves a Group-wide turnover of approx. 3.8 billion EUR annually. More info athttp://www.signa.at.

Further inquiries:
SIGNA
Robert Leingruber
Head of PR & Communications
E-mail: r.leingruber@signa.at
Phone: +43-1-5329848 - 2534