Hawesko Holding AG: New strategy for increased growth

The core of the new corporate strategy presented by Hermelink today is an even clearer and more rigorous focus on the customer. To facilitate this, the established and successful brands of the Hawesko Group will be systematically strengthened still further, and aligned even more closely to the requirements of contemporary omni-channel retailing.

Supported by the Group, brands like Hawesko.de, Jacques' Wein-Depot and Wein & Vinos in the end customer segment (B2C) as well as Wein Wolf, Ariane Abayan and CWD Champagner- und Wein-Distributionsgesellschaft in the corporate customer segment (B2B) will be able to develop and optimise their individual strengths even better than before. The structures required for this are currently being established, corporate functions merged in a targeted fashion and synergies created. The goal is to establish powerful platforms that efficiently support the existing brands and improve the company's ability to integrate new ones.

In Hamburg today, Hermelink said, "Up to now, the Hawesko Group has been very successful with the strong, close customer relationships of its subsidiaries. Naturally, we aren't going to change this customer orientation. On the contrary - we are going to intensify it still further! And with the sales volume of nearly half a billion euros that we've achieved in the meantime, we have the financial strength needed to grow profitably in the future. Our medium-term goal is to become Europe's largest, most innovative and most profitable premium wine trading company."

2016 - a year of re-orientation

For the Hawesko Group 2016 will be a year of transformation. Thus, the management board forecast consolidated sales at the level of the previous year in the 2015 annual report, which was also published today, as care is being taken to ensure the long-term profitability of sales. The stronger focus on a premium strategy in the wholesale segment led to changes in the supplier portfolio and thus to an adjustment in sales. The management board therefore expects that the result of operations (EBIT) will rise significantly to € 28-29 million (previous year: € 20.1 million; adjusted for non-recurring items: € 26.9 million). A dividend of € 1.30 per share, unchanged from the previous year, will be proposed to the annual shareholders' meeting on 13 June 2016. On an adjusted basis, the distribution ratio will decline from 75% to 67%.

Group sales in Germany rose by 2.0% in 2015

The 2015 annual report published today confirmed the previously announced figures: Consolidated sales rose in the past year by 0.8% to € 477 million. Sales in Germany rose by 2.0% compared to the same period of the previous year, while a decline of 1.0% was registered for the German wine market overall in 2015. The result from operations (EBIT) amounted to € 26.9 million on an adjusted basis, (previous year, adjusted: € 24.6 million). Consolidated net income after deductions for taxes and non-controlling interests amounted to € 12.2 million and € 1.36 per share in 2015 (previous year: € 14.8 million and € 1.65 per share).

Hawesko Holding AG is a leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes. In fiscal year 2015, the Group achieved sales of € 477 million and employed 933 persons in the company's sales channels (including Jacques' Wein-Depot, Hawesko.de, Wein & Vinos, Wein Wolf and CWD Champagner- und Wein-Distributionsgesellschaft, among others). The shares of Hawesko Holding AG are listed on the Hanseatic Stock Exchange in Hamburg as well as in the prime standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

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Publisher:

Hawesko Holding AG, Elbkaihaus, 22767 Hamburg

Internet: http://www.hawesko-holding.com (Company information)

http://www.hawesko.de (Online shop)

http://www.jacques.de (Jacques' Wein-Depot information and online shop)

http://www.vinos.de (Spanish wines sold through Wein & Vinos)

Press/Media Contact and Investor Relations:

Thomas Hutchinson, Hawesko Holding AG

Phone: +49 (0)40 30 39 21 00

Fax +49 (0)40 30 39 21 05

E-mail: ir@hawesko-holding.com

HAW DE, HAWG.DE

ISIN: DE000604270