Back

FinLab AG: FinLab AG invests in Deposit Solutions GmbH

08-09-15
DGAP-News: FinLab AG: FinLab AG invests in Deposit Solutions GmbH


DGAP-News: FinLab AG / Key word(s): Investment

2015-09-08 / 08:48


/

* FinLab and other investors support Deposit Solutions GmbH / COMONEA with EUR5.5 million of growth capital
* Creation of a new, disruptive infrastructure for the European retial savings deposits market with decisive advantages for savers and banks

Frankfurt am Main / Hamburg, 08.09.2015 - FinLab AG (ISIN: DE0001218063) invests in Deposit Solutions GmbH

FinLab AG (WKN 121806, ISIN DE0001218063, Ticker A7A.GR), a publicly traded company builder specialised in financial technology ("fintech") companies, invests EUR5.5 million in Hamburg-based Deposit Solutions GmbH to allow it to expand its retail savings deposits platform COMONEA. FinLab AG will provide EUR3.0 million directly, and the additional EUR2.5 million will be provided by investors associated with FinLab and existing shareholders of Deposit Solutions GmbH. The existing shareholders of Deposit Solutions GmbH include e.ventures and the founders of the former ricardo.de, Dr Stefan Wiskemann, Stefan Glänzer, and Christoph Linkwitz. Deposit Solutions GmbH's founder, Dr Tim Sievers, remains the largest single shareholder.

Since 2011, Deposit Solutions GmbH has developed and operated software solutions for the management of retail bank accounts for the real estate and financial services industries. COMONEA is Deposit Solutions' innovative full-service solution to allow banks to gather cross-border European retail deposits without the need to operate their own retail banking infrastructure. The interest rates offered by banks seeking deposits (so called "Product Banks") are marketed directly to German savers via a network of local banks and investment advisors ("Client Banks"). In addition, COMONEA also offers comprehensive direct marketing of interest rate offers via its in-house website ZINSPILOT.

COMONEA's unique concept is that retail clients no longer need to open an account at each Product Bank. This distinguishes COMONEA from other platforms that function only as lead generators and, in the end, only place clients with other banks. COMONEA, on the other hand, allows savers the convenience of ordering savings rates directly via their local Client Banks. The respective Client Bank then executes the order for its client as fiduciary and continues to act as liaison for all matters regarding the investments. At the Product Banks, the clients' funds are classified as retail deposits and, so, benefit from the respective deposit insurance protection. Product Banks thus gain easy access to deposits by retail clients without the considerable expense usually associated with such direct client relationships. Importantly, COMONEA allows Client Banks to retain control of their own clients and score points in the areas of client service and diversity of instant-access-deposits and fixed-deposits products. This win-win situation is all to the clients' advantage.

COMONEA thus introduces the retail savings deposits business to what has long been a standard for other bank products such as mutual funds and mortgages: an open architecture for instant-access-deposits and fixed-deposits product offers. In addition, COMONEA helps realise the uniform, cross-border European banking market called for by politicians and regulators. The deposits of German savers, who traditionally keep a very high percentage of their total assets in savings deposits accounts, are now also easily and conveniently available to banks throughout Europe.

With its unique approach, COMONEA is revolutionising the value chain in the retail bank-deposit business by creating significant advantages for savers and banks, and offering a clear, distinct competitive alternative secured by proprietary technology. The savings deposits market, which is approximately EUR9 trillion (EUR9.000 billion) in size and represents one-third of total European retail assets, is one of the main pillars of the European Monetary System.

Founder Tim Sievers: "FinLab AG is the best imaginable partner for Deposit Solutions GmbH and our platform COMONEA. FinLab's international network, both in the traditional financial industry and the financial technology industry, will allow us to implement our B2B-focussed strategy with significantly greater speed. We are impressed with FinLab's promptness and business commitment. Only four weeks passed between preliminary contact and signing, and in the interim FinLab has already brokered initial business contacts for us."

Kai Panitzki, member of the FinLab AG Management Board: "Many so-called fintech companies are only marketing front-ends for standard financial products. Unfortunately, in Germany in particular, only a few current fintech start-ups are truly innovative, revolutionary, and capable of disrupting the banking landscape from the ground up. Deposit Solutions GmbH is one of those companies. We look forward to working with them in the future."

About Deposit Solutions GmbH:

Deposit Solutions GmbH is an innovative financial technology company based in Hamburg. Since 2011, Deposit Solutions GmbH has developed and operated software solutions in the area of account management for the real estate and financial services industries. In 2014, the company launched its new retail savings deposits platform COMONEA. Since it was founded, the cornerstone of the company has been its rental-security-deposit platform Deutsche Kautionspartner. Via its money-market platform COMONEA.pro, it has so far processed over EUR1 billion in orders. The processes inherent to COMONEA's retail savings deposits platform are based on these secure and proven foundations.

Media contact:
Deposit Solutions GmbH
Andreas Wiethölter
andreas.wiethoelter@comonea.de
Tel.: +49 (0) 40 432 7620 - 111

About FinLab AG:
Stock market listed company FinLab AG (WKN 121806 / ISIN DE0001218063 / ticker symbol: A7A) is one of the first and one of the largest company builders and investors focused on the Financial Services Technologies ("fintech") sector. FinLab focuses on developing German fintech start-ups and providing venture capital for their financial needs, whereas in each case the aim is a long-term participation and ongoing support of the investment. FinLab also invests globally, as part of venture rounds, in fintech companies, primarily in the USA and Asia.

Media contact:
FinLab AG
Kai Panitzki
investor-relations@finlab.de
Telefon: +49 (0) 69 719 12 80 - 0




Contact:
FinLab AG
Tel: +49 69 719 12 80 0
E-Mail: investor-relations@finlab.de




2015-09-08 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.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de



393047  2015-09-08