Hawesko Group posts record figures for sales and earnings

– Consolidated sales in 2017 grew by 5.5%, exceeding half a billion euros for the first time

– Good progress in digitalisation: online sales up by 15%.

– Improved efficiency in the core business forms basis for further growth

Hamburg, 31 January 2018. Today the wine-trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAW GR, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) announced that, based on preliminary figures, it set new records in fiscal year 2017. At EUR 507 million, consolidated sales exceeded half a billion euros for the first time, and the operating result (EBIT), just over EUR 30 million, reached another new high.

CEO Thorsten Hermelink put the group’s success into concrete terms: “We achieved our goals for 2017. We have significantly accelerated growth compared to the previous years as well as increased efficiency and profitability in our core business, so that we are able to finance additional growth initiatives from our own resources. With the sales increase of 5.5% we once again outperformed the wine market, which was stagnant taken as a whole. As in the past two years, we have been working successfully on our efficiency, achieved proportionally higher growth in EBIT in our core business and used the resulting financial latitude to invest in growth. Our online sales – an important driver of growth in the group – rose by 15% compared to the previous year. We will continue to invest consistently in this area – for example in the expansion of WirWinzer or in Enzo, our new concept for Italian wines.” Hermelink added, “In the current fiscal year, we want to make further progress on our path of profitable growth, expand our existing concepts and test promising new ones. We will also keep an eye out for appropriate acquisition targets.”

Consolidated sales in 2017 rose by 5.5% from EUR 480.9 million in the previous year to EUR 507.5 million. Excluding the acquisitions of WirWinzer, WeinArt and Grand Cru Select, consolidated sales rose by 2.5%. According to preliminary calculations, the consolidated operating result (EBIT) of the Hawesko Group is just over EUR 30 million, as planned (previous year, adjusted for special effects – with a positive overall result -: EUR 29.1 million).

# # #

Hawesko Holding AG is a leading seller of premium wines and champagnes. In fiscal year 2016, the group achieved sales of EUR 481 million and employed 940 persons in the company’s three sales channels: omnichannel (Jacques’ Wein-Depot), B2B (Wein Wolf and CWD Champagner- und Wein-Distributionsgesellschaft) and digital (especially Hawesko.de and Vinos.de).
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.

The complete 2017 annual report and accounts will be presented at the annual press conference on 19 April 2018.

Publisher: Hawesko Holding AG
Elbkaihaus
Grosse Elbstrasse 145d
22767 Hamburg

hawesko-holding.com (Company information)
hawesko.de (Online shop)
jacques.de (Jacques’ Wein-Depot information and online shop)
vinos.de (Spanish wines sold through Wein & Vinos)
wirwinzer.de (German wines directly from the producers)

Press and Investor Relations:
Thomas Hutchinson
Phone: +49 (0)40 30 39 21 00
Fax +49 (0)40 30 39 21 05
E-mail: ir@hawesko-holding.com

Hamburg, 1 December 2017. The wine trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAW GR, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) announced today that Dr. Jörg Haas has been appointed as a member of the supervisory board. He succeeds Gunnar Heinemann, who resigned his seat as of 30 November 2017. Dr. Haas was appointed via Hamburg Municipal Court with effect from 1 December 2017.

Jörg Haas (54) studied social sciences and economics at the University of Trier, graduating with a degree in business administration. He completed his doctorate in business informatics in 1995. He is the founder and partner of several corporate groups that focus on cloud-B2B technology (software), real estate development and premium hotels and restaurants/catering. Dr. Jörg Haas is the chief executive officer of HW Partners AG (technology group) as well as the managing partner of the BonnVisio Group (real estate) and the Invite Group (hotels and restaurants/catering), all domiciled in Bonn.

Detlev Meyer, chairman of the supervisory board of the Hawesko Group, said, “We are delighted that Dr. Jörg Haas, who is not only a distinguished figure in business and industry, but also a proven expert in digitalisation with a wide range of experience particularly in technology as well as the hotel, restaurant and catering industry, has joined the Hawesko Group. With his expertise, drive and creativity he will support us in strengthening the Hawesko Group even more for the future.”

# # #
Hawesko Holding AG is a leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes. In fiscal year 2016, the Group achieved sales of EUR 481 million and employed 940 persons in the company’s three sales channels: omnichannel (Jacques’ Wein-Depot), B2B (Wein Wolf and CWD Champagner- und Wein-Distributionsgesellschaft) and digital (especially Hawesko.de and Vinos.de). 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.

Publisher: Hawesko Holding AG
Elbkaihaus
Grosse Elbstrasse 145d
22767 Hamburg

hawesko-holding.com (Company information)
hawesko.de (Online shop)
jacques.de (Jacques’ Wein-Depot information and online shop)
vinos.de (Spanish wines sold through Wein & Vinos)
wirwinzer.de (German wines directly from the producers)

Press and Investor Relations:
Thomas Hutchinson
Phone: +49 (0)40 30 39 21 00
Fax +49 (0)40 30 39 21 05
E-mail: ir@hawesko-holding.com

Hawesko Holding keeps up its pace in third quarter 2017

– Increase of 6 % in quarterly sales and EBIT
– Management confirms forecast for 2017
– Structural conversion to digital business model continues

Hamburg, 7 November 2017. Today the wine-trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAW GR, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) published its report on the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 as well as the figures for the third quarter. Thorsten Hermelink, CEO of the Hawesko Group, gave a positive appraisal, saying: “We have continued our successful course and are growing at a consistently good rate. The 6% increase in sales is noticeably higher than in recent years. Our latest acquisitions as well as the gratifyingly high rate of organic growth contributed to this development. Most importantly, we are in the ongoing progress of converting the Hawesko Group structures toward a comprehensively digital business model and will maintain profitability at the high level of the previous year. EBIT rose proportionately to sales in the third quarter.”

In the third quarter (1 July to 30 September) 2017, consolidated sales rose to EUR 110.7 million, corresponding to sales growth of 6.1% compared to the same quarter in the previous year (EUR 104.3 million). Excluding acquisitions, the Group grew by 2.7%. The consolidated operating result (EBIT) in the third quarter of 2017 was EUR 4.1 million; previous year was EUR 3.9 million. The EBIT margin of 3.7% was maintained at the previous year’s level (3.8%).

In the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 (1 January to 30 September), sales rose by 6.1% to EUR 341.9 million (comparable period in 2016: EUR 322.1 million). The operating result (EBIT) amounted to EUR 15.6 million, corresponding to 4.6% of sales; in the previous year these figures were EUR 14.9 million and 4.6% of sales respectively on a comparable basis.

The Group’s management board confirmed its forecast and continues to expect sales growth of approximately 5% in fiscal year 2017, with consolidated EBIT of just over EUR 30 million and an unchanged EBIT margin of approximately 6 % despite the ongoing conversion of the Hawesko Group toward a comprehensively digital business model. With regard to the other important financial indicators such as the net result and return on capital employed, figures for 2017 are likewise expected at the respective levels of the previous year. With regard to free cash flow, the management board expects it to be in a range of roughly EUR 3-5 million below the previously expected range of EUR 16-18 million due to a higher inventory buildup for the time being.

Thorsten Hermelink commented: “We want to and will develop our brand portfolio, continuously and consistently, organically and via acquisitions in line with our strategy, and adapt it to the demands of the digital era. As we do so, we will by no means lose sight of achieving average of 5% growth per year and an EBIT return of 7% in the medium term.”

# # #

The complete quarterly financial report to 30 September 2017 is available at www.hawesko-holding.com/en/press/interim-reports-2017/.

Hawesko Holding AG is a leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes. In fiscal year 2016, the Group achieved sales of EUR 481 million and employed 940 persons in the company’s three sales channels: omnichannel (Jacques’ Wein-Depot), B2B (Wein Wolf and CWD Champagner- und Wein-Distributionsgesellschaft) and digital (especially Hawesko.de and Vinos.de). 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.

Publisher:
Hawesko Holding AG
Elbkaihaus
Grosse Elbstrasse 145d
22767 Hamburg

hawesko-holding.com (Company information)
hawesko.de (Online shop)
jacques.de (Jacques’ Wein-Depot information and online shop)
vinos.de (Spanish wines sold through Wein & Vinos)
wirwinzer.de (German wines directly from the producers)

Press and Investor Relations:
Thomas Hutchinson
Phone: +49 (0)40 30 39 21 00
Fax +49 (0)40 30 39 21 05
E-mail: ir@hawesko-holding.com

– Payment of a dividend of EUR 1.30 per share

– Wilhelm Weil succeeds Wolfgang Reitzle on the supervisory board

– Well-positioned for future growth

Hamburg, 19 June 2017. After the first five months of the current fiscal year 2017 (1.1.-31.5.), the wine trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAW, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) is well on its way to achieving its full-year targets, as Chief Financial Officer Raimund Hackenberger reported at the company’s annual general shareholders’ meeting today. CEO Thorsten Hermelink gave a positive summary of his first eighteen months in office, saying that over the past year the management board had focused on improving profitability and met important prerequisites for sustainable growth in the future. “Our new team has already accomplished a great deal and initiated new developments, yet we’re only at the beginning of the tasks we’ve set for ourselves!”

In addition to the formalities, the agenda included the election of a new member of the supervisory board. Wilhelm Weil, the director of the Robert Weil Winery in the Rheingau region, is one of the most renowned German winegrowers, and will succeed Dr. Wolfgang Reitzle, who resigned his seat on the advisory board at the end of the shareholders’ meeting.

Moreover, the annual general shareholders’ meeting decided that a dividend of EUR 1.30 per share would be paid for fiscal year 2016, which is payable as of 22 June 2017. Thus, the shareholders will receive a dividend unchanged from the previous year.

# # #

Hawesko Holding AG is a leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes. In fiscal year 2016, the Group achieved sales of EUR 481 million and employed 940 persons in the company’s three brand units: omnichannel (Jacques’ Wein-Depot), B2B (Wein Wolf and CWD) and digital (especially Hawesko.de and Vinos.de). 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.

Publisher: Hawesko Holding AG
Elbkaihaus
Grosse Elbstrasse 145d
22767 Hamburg

Internet: hawesko-holding.com (Company information)
hawesko.de (Online shop)
jacques.de (Jacques’ Wein-Depot information and online shop)
vinos.de (Spanish wines sold through Wein & Vinos)
wirwinzer.de (German wines directly from the producers)

Press and Investor Relations:
Thomas Hutchinson
Phone: +49 (0)40 30 39 21 00
Fax +49 (0)40 30 39 21 05
E-mail: ir@hawesko-holding.com

Hamburg, 11 May 2017. Today the wine-trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAW GR, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) published its report on the first quarter of fiscal year 2017. CEO Thorsten Hermelink commented in Hamburg, “My colleagues on the management board and I are satisfied with the first-quarter results. Although the Easter business falls in the second quarter this year, we succeeded in increasing sales and keeping profitability stable.”

In the quarter under review, consolidated sales rose to EUR 109.7 million, an increase of 4.7% over the same quarter of the previous year (EUR 104.8 million). At EUR 31.9 million, the omnichannel brand unit (Jacques’ Wein-Depot) achieved quarterly sales at the level of the previous year. Sales at the digital brand unit (distance selling) amounted to EUR 37.0 million, corresponding to an increase of 1.6% over the same quarter of the previous year (EUR 36.5 million). The B2B brand unit (wholesale) had a strong quarter, posting sales of EUR 40.7 million, an increase of 11.8% over the same quarter of the previous year (EUR 36.4 million).

The consolidated operating result (EBIT) in the first quarter of 2017 amounted to EUR 4.9 million (previous year: EUR 4.8 million). Despite the investments in digitalisation and the accelerated expansion of the Group as well as the seasonal shift of the Easter business to the second quarter, a very high figure was again achieved in a long-term comparison. For the aforementioned reasons, the EBIT margin declined slightly to 4.4% (previous year: 4.6%).

Hermelink stated that the Hawesko Group is on the right course, saying “The measures we implemented are taking effect. We will continue to pursue our current strategy and want to achieve sustainable growth throughout the entire group – organic as well as acquisitional – over the long term.”

The Hawesko management board expects sales growth of approximately 5% in fiscal year 2017, with consolidated EBIT of just over EUR 30 million and an unchanged EBIT margin. With regard to the other important financial indicators such as the net result, return on capital employed and free cash flow, we likewise expect figures at the respective levels of the previous year for 2017.

# # #

Hawesko Holding AG is a leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes. In fiscal year 2016, the Group achieved sales of EUR 481 million and employed 940 persons in the company’s three sales channels: omnichannel (Jacques’ Wein-Depot), B2B (Wein Wolf and CWD Champagner- und Wein-Distributionsgesellschaft) and digital (especially Hawesko.de and Vinos.de). 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.

Publisher: Hawesko Holding AG
Elbkaihaus
Grosse Elbstrasse 145d
22767 Hamburg

Internet: hawesko-holding.com (Company information)
hawesko.de (Online shop)
jacques.de (Jacques’ Wein-Depot information and online shop)
vinos.de (Spanish wines sold through Wein & Vinos)
wirwinzer.de (German wines directly from the producers)

Press and Investor Relations:
Thomas Hutchinson
Phone: +49 (0)40 30 39 21 00
Fax: +49 (0)40 30 39 21 05
E-mail: ir@hawesko-holding.com

– Preliminary figures confirmed (sales: EUR 481 million)

– All signs point to growth in 2017

Hamburg, 20 April 2017. At today’s annual press conference in Hamburg, Hawesko Holding AG (HAW, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) stated that it is on the right course after implementing its new strategy. One and a half years after Thorsten Hermelink took over as chief executive officer, the new management team is now complete with the appointment of the new chief financial officer Raimund Hackenberger. During this period, Hawesko’s transformation from a very decentralised structure to an integrated group was begun. In Hamburg today Hermelink elaborated, saying, “We have sustainably strengthened the structures of Hawesko Holding and developed it into a holding company with clout that actively manages its brand portfolio. Thanks to the focus on more profitable sales and the improvement of the EBIT margin to 6%, we now have sufficient leeway for external as well as organic growth. We have already added the first components of the new Group architecture with the latest acquisitions. More is to come!”

The management board is satisfied with the figures for 2016 published today; the audited consolidated financial statements confirm the preliminary figures reported in January. Despite some challenges, sales rose from EUR 477 million to EUR 481 million. At EUR 29.1 million (adjusted for positive special effects), EBIT set a record in the company’s history. The balance sheet shows a net liquidity position; the Hawesko Group is debt-free. Free-cash-flow generation before investments in acquisitions covered both the investments in further growth as well as the planned dividend distribution of EUR 1.30 per share.

All signs point to growth in the Hawesko Group. For 2017, the management board expects an increase in sales of 5% over 2016 that will be achieved both by the existing companies as well as with the newest acquisitions WirWinzer and WeinArt. With regard to the result from operations (EBIT), a proportional rise to just over EUR 30 million is expected, while investments will be made in the accelerated expansion at Jacques’ Wein-Depot and in the digital transformation of the traditional mail-order companies (particularly Hawesko.de).

With a combination of organic and external growth, the Hawesko Group wants to grow by an average 5% yearly. The achievement of an EBIT margin of 7% is targeted step by step in the next three years. The new group structure has created good conditions for this: with its portfolio approach the Hawesko Group has developed an effective set of instruments with which the existing retail brands in the Group can be improved and strategic gaps closed with the company’s own innovative concepts or with acquisitions. Hermelink added, “The pace of innovation in the wine business, which has long been considered less than agile, is currently tremendous in the online sector. We have now created the conditions for the entire Hawesko Group and equipped it not only to keep up with this speed, but to set the pace as well. Moreover, we have a unique portfolio of retail brands that enables us to benefit from the transformation in the wine business in numerous ways!”

# # #

Hawesko Holding AG is a leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes. In fiscal year 2016, the Group achieved sales of EUR 481 million and employed 940 persons in the company’s three sales channels: specialty retail (Jacques’ Wein-Depot), wholesale operations/distribution (Wein Wolf and CWD Champagner- und Wein-Distributionsgesellschaft) and distance selling (especially Hawesko.de and Vinos.de). 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.

Publisher: Hawesko Holding AG
Elbkaihaus
Grosse Elbstrasse 145d
22767 Hamburg
Germany

Internet: hawesko-holding.com (Company information)
hawesko.de (online shop)
jacques.de (Jacques’ Wein-Depot information and online shop)
vinos.de (Spanish wines sold through Wein & Vinos)
wirwinzer.de (German wines directly from the producers)

Press and Investor Relations:
Thomas Hutchinson
Phone: +49 (0)40 30 39 21 00
Fax: +49 (0)40 30 39 21 05
E-mail: ir@hawesko-holding.com