Bene General Meeting Approves Takeover by Austrian Investors

BENE AG PUBLIC RELATIONS
NEUTORGASSE 4-8, A-1010 VIENNA
E-MAIL WWW.BENE.COM / /

PRESS RELEASE

Bene General Meeting approves takeover by Austrian investors

Vienna/Waidhofen an der Ybbs, 8 June 2015: The Extraordinary General Meeting of Bene AG, held today in Waidhofen an der Ybbs, passed resolutions on all of the items on the agenda by majority votes. These included a resolution on a reduction in the share capital to around EUR 1.9 million (m), whereby two new shares will be issued for every 25 existing shares. The Meeting also approved a capital increase of EUR 18.0m, excluding shareholders’ statutory subscription rights. The new shares will be subscribed by BGO Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH, which after entry of the agenda items in the register of companies will hold more than 90 % of the shares in Bene AG, subject to approval from the Federal Competition Authority. From this point, the Group’s share capital will amount to EUR 19.9m. Objections by shareholders were taken as expected on record.

As all of the current members of the Supervisory Board resigned their positions, a new Board was elected. Martin Bartenstein, Peter Funder, Alexander Isola and Michael Schur, were all elected in the course of implementing the cut in the company’s nominal capital.

“The entry of BGO Beteiligungsverwaltung GmbH brings the financial restructuring programme to a conclusion. Together with our new partner we will put Bene on course for sustainable growth, which will allow us to concentrate on our core business: making a long-term contribution to the success of our customers with innovative concepts and solutions for the world of work,” commented Rudolf Payer, Executive Board Member for Finance & Production at Bene AG, following the Extraordinary General Meeting.

Erhard F. Grossnigg, co-owner of BGO Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH added: “The approval of the shareholders represents another important step in the acquisition of Bene, and we expect to secure the agreement of the competition authorities soon.”

About Bene

Bene is a leading international specialist in the design and furnishing of inspiring office and working environments. Bene defines the office as a living space and its concepts, products and services turn this philosophy into reality. It combines a tradition of quality stretching back 225 years with innovation and award-winning design. The corporate group is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange, has its head office and production facilities in Waidhofen an der Ybbs, Austria, and is active in more than 40 countries. As a full-service provider, Bene implements forward-looking office concepts that contribute to the commercial success of its customers.

For further information, contact:

Belinda Ableitinger

Bene AG Public Relations

Neutorgasse 4-8, 1010 Vienna, Austria, tel. +43 (0)1 53426 1239

E-mail: , www.bene.com

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FIRMA: BENE AG RECHTSFORM: AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT SITZ: WAIDHOFEN/YBBS FIRMENBUCHNUMMER: 89102 H FIRMENBUCHGERICHT: LANDESGERICHT ST. PÖLTEN DVR: 0006203
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BENE AG PUBLIC RELATIONS
NEUTORGASSE 4-8, A-1010 VIENNA
E-MAIL WWW.BENE.COM / /

PRESS RELEASE

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FIRMA: BENE AG RECHTSFORM: AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT SITZ: WAIDHOFEN/YBBS FIRMENBUCHNUMMER: 89102 H FIRMENBUCHGERICHT: LANDESGERICHT ST. PÖLTEN DVR: 0006203
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