(July 04, 2005)
Hamburg, 4 July 2005. The wine trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAW GR, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) announced today that Tocos Beteiligung GmbH has acquired a shareholding of
9.7 % in Hawesko Holding AG. Together with shares it had acquired earlier, Tocos Beteiligung GmbH holds now a total stake of 13.3 % in Hawesko. The newly-acquired shares were sold at a price close to the current market value and come from the shareholding of Hawesko Chief Executive Alexander Margaritoff. Behind Tocos Beteiligung GmbH is Mr Detlev Meyer. Mr Meyer has many years' experience in wholesale and retail and regards his stake in Hawesko as an attractive investment with a long-term perspective. The transaction reduces Mr Margaritoff's shareholding from approximately 40 % to just over 30 %. Mr Margaritoff is not seeking to reduce his shareholding any further and will naturally continue to direct the business of the wine group as chief executive.
Mr Margaritoff commented on his decision: "My father founded Hawesko 40 years ago, and I have worked over 20 years to build it up into the leading trading group for high-quality wines in Germany. My ties to the company are as strong as ever. The sale of shares is taking place only within the context of my private financial planning. With the inclusion of Tocos Beteiligung GmbH - respectively, of Mr Meyer - we are achieving a wider shareholder basis and its continued stability. We are also gaining a major shareholder who is convinced of the Hawesko Group's potential and who would like to accompany its further development."
9.7 % in Hawesko Holding AG. Together with shares it had acquired earlier, Tocos Beteiligung GmbH holds now a total stake of 13.3 % in Hawesko. The newly-acquired shares were sold at a price close to the current market value and come from the shareholding of Hawesko Chief Executive Alexander Margaritoff. Behind Tocos Beteiligung GmbH is Mr Detlev Meyer. Mr Meyer has many years' experience in wholesale and retail and regards his stake in Hawesko as an attractive investment with a long-term perspective. The transaction reduces Mr Margaritoff's shareholding from approximately 40 % to just over 30 %. Mr Margaritoff is not seeking to reduce his shareholding any further and will naturally continue to direct the business of the wine group as chief executive.
Mr Margaritoff commented on his decision: "My father founded Hawesko 40 years ago, and I have worked over 20 years to build it up into the leading trading group for high-quality wines in Germany. My ties to the company are as strong as ever. The sale of shares is taking place only within the context of my private financial planning. With the inclusion of Tocos Beteiligung GmbH - respectively, of Mr Meyer - we are achieving a wider shareholder basis and its continued stability. We are also gaining a major shareholder who is convinced of the Hawesko Group's potential and who would like to accompany its further development."
Hawesko Holding AG is the leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes in Germany. In fiscal year 2004 the Group achieved sales of Euro 286 million through their three sales channels - specialist wine retail (Jacques' Wein-Depot), wholesale (Wein Wolf and CWD Champagner und Wein Distributionsgesellschaft) and mail order (in particular Hanseatisches Wein- und Sekt-Kontor). The Group employs 580 people. The shares of Hawesko Holding AG are listed on the Hanseatic Stock Exchange in Hamburg as well as in the SDAX and GEX segments of the Frankfurt Stock
Exchange.
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Published by:
Hawesko Holding AG
Postfach 20 15 52
20205 Hamburg, Germany
Hawesko Holding AG
Postfach 20 15 52
20205 Hamburg, Germany
Internet:
http://www.hawesko.com
(Company information)
http://www.hawesko.de
(Online shop)
http://www.jacques-wein-depot.de
(Information about Jacques' Wein-Depot)
http://www.hawesko.com
(Company information)
http://www.hawesko.de
(Online shop)
http://www.jacques-wein-depot.de
(Information about Jacques' Wein-Depot)
Press/Media:
Vera Maria Bau,VMB Consulting
Tel. +49 (0)228 4496 -240
Fax +49 (0)228 4496 - 298
E-mail: vmb.pr@t-online.de
Investor Relations:
Thomas Hutchinson, Hawesko Holding AG
Tel. +49 (0)40 30 39 21 00
Fax +49 (0)40 30 39 21 05
E-mail: ir@hawesko.com