Press release

creditshelf cooperates with finleap and plans to extend its activities through the acquisition of Valendo GmbH via capital increase by means of contribution in kind in creditshelf Aktiengesellschaft

- Planned cooperation fits to all three pillars of creditshelf‘s strategy

- Goals are expansion of cooperations network with Europe’s leading fintech ecosystem, extended product offering for creditshelf customers with the specialist for secured financings Valendo GmbH and extension of risk analysis and monitoring tools

- finleap new shareholder after closing of transaction

- Significant growth potential for Valendo GmbH under the roof of creditshelf

Frankfurt am Main/ Berlin, 19 June 2019 – creditshelf Aktiengesellschaft, a pioneer in the field of digital SME financing in Germany, has laid the foundation for a cooperation with finleap, Europe’s leading fintech ecosystem. With today’s signing of a legally nonbinding letter of intent, creditshelf envisages the acquisition of Valendo GmbH, a specialist of technology-based secured financing for small and medium sized companies (SMEs) from the finleap portfolio. This acquisition allows creditshelf to extend its financing options and risk analysis tools with smart secured financing solutions, while Valendo has significant growth potential under the roof of creditshelf.

The planned acquisition of the Valendo GmbH allows creditshelf to extend its risk analysis and monitoring tools and to expand its SME product offering, in particular to secured products. To date, creditshelf focusses on predominantly unsecured loans between 100.000 and 5 million EUR and a tenor of up to 5 years. Valendo is the smart secured financing solution for growing SMEs. Trade focussed companies, which require liquidity for further growth, can use their collateral with Valendo to receive a loan between 500.000 and 5 million EUR. Valendo offers financing partners technology-based services in the areas of risk management and loan servicing.

The parties envisage to finalise the acquisition of the Valendo GmbH in the second half of 2019. The purchase price becomes due in 2 tranches, whereas tranche 2 is subject to certain milestones to be met. creditshelf Aktiengesellschaft has the option to settle the purchase price via two share capital increases in kind against issuances of new shares. The two capital increases by means of contribution in kind shall be issued by creditshelf Aktiengesellschaft making use of its existing authorized share capital excluding any subscription rights of creditshelf's existing shareholders.

Dr. Tim Thabe, CEO of creditshelf, comments on the cooperation: “We are very happy to extend our product offering in SME financing with Valendo. Valendo and creditshelf have a lot in common: Both have similar target groups, have technology-based business models and offer fast and customer-oriented services. Valendo’s offerings for secured financing solutions and risk management services are a very good addition to our existing product portfolio. I am also looking forward to having a new shareholder with finleap.”

John v. Berenberg-Consbruch, Director Valendo, adds: “With creditshelf, we have found a partner who shares our understanding and believe in technology for financing SME´s. Together, we can further expand our technology and financing product and offer it to a broader range of customers. On top of that, we will develop further offerings in close cooperation with the finleap ecosystem from our Base in Berlin.”

About creditshelf – www.creditshelf.com

creditshelf is a pioneer in the field of digital SME financing in Germany that arranges loans via its easy-to-use online platform www.creditshelf.com. creditshelf, which was founded in 2014 and is based in Frankfurt/Main, sees itself as a market and technology leader in the fast-growing business of digital SME financing in Germany. As a provider of SME financing, creditshelf has developed its platform to meet the financing needs of German SME borrowers through loans from investors interested in this asset class. In this process, creditshelf offers to arrange corporate loans and thus enables small and medium-sized companies to access highly attractive financing alternatives. At the same time, creditshelf offers professional investors looking for attractive investment opportunities access to SME financing. The core competencies of creditshelf include the selection of suitable credit projects, analysis of the creditworthiness of potential borrowers, the provision of credit scoring and risk-adequate pricing. creditshelf receives fees for its services from both SME borrowers and investors.

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About Valendo – www.valendo.de

Valendo was founded in February 2015 and is part of the finleap fintech ecosystem in Berlin. As a reliable partner of German SMEs, Valendo offers innovative, digital-based financing solutions for growing SMEs and acts as a service provider for refinancing partners. The offering ranges from warehouse financing to factoring and tailor-made liquidity solutions for a broad range of companies, with a particular focus on fast-growing e-commerce companies. The experienced team, consisting of specialists in the areas of asset-backed lending, corporate finance and IT, contributes to the success of German mid-sized companies on a daily basis.

About finleap – www.finleap.com

finleap is Europe’s leading fintech ecosystem, based in Berlin and with an office in Milan. Founded in 2014 by IONIQ Group and Ramin Niroumand, finleap has already developed 16 ventures with its infrastructure and added others by acquisition to its ecosystem. These include companies such as solarisBank, the first banking platform with a full banking license, ELEMENT, a fully digital insurer, PAIR Finance, a provider of data-based debt collection management, and the fintech platforms, finreach solutions and infinitec solutions, for contextual finance. finleap provides access to seed capital, a network of investors and experienced entrepreneurs as well as customers and top talents. The finleap group employs more than 800 people from over 60 countries.

Contact:

creditshelf Aktiengesellschaft:

Further Information:

creditshelf Aktiengesellschaft

Birgit Hass

Head of Marketing & Communications

Mainzer Landstraße 33a

60329 Frankfurt

Phone: +49 (69) 348 77 24-13

birgit.hass@creditshelf.com

www.creditshelf.com

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