Hamburg, 28 March 2007. The wine trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAW GR, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) will raise its regular dividend for the past 2006 fiscal year to EUR 0.85 per share (previous year, adjusted for the 2-for-1 share split: EUR 0.70; plus a non-recurring bonus of EUR 0.30 per share). At its meeting today, the supervisory board of the company approved the corresponding dividend proposal of the management board, on which the annual general meeting will vote on 18 June 2007. The proposed increase in the ordinary dividend corresponds to a rise of 21%. The bonus dividend from the previous year was based on a non-recurring large reduction in tax expenditure resulting from a profit and loss transfer agreement between the subsidiary Jacques' Wein-Depot and the parent company. For fiscal year 2006 a total of EUR 7.5 million will be paid out to the shareholders (previous year including bonus: EUR 8.8 million).

 

Furthermore, the supervisory board discussed and ratified the annual and consolidated group financial statements for fiscal year 2006; the parent company's annual financial statements were approved. As already reported, Group sales in 2006 rose by 5.4% to EUR 302.6 million (previous year: EUR 287.0 million). The Group's operating result (EBIT) was slightly higher than originally reported based on preliminary figures, amounting to EUR 18.6 million (previous year: EUR 18.9 million). Consolidated earnings after taxes and minority interests rose to EUR 10.8 million in 2006 (previous year: EUR 10.7 million). This corresponds to a profit per share of EUR 1.23 (previous year, comparable: EUR 1.22). The consolidated balance sheet total amounted to EUR 171.9 million (previous year: EUR 162.6 million). The free cash flow (cash flow from ongoing business activities minus investments and interest paid out) in 2006 amounted to EUR 5.6 million (previous year: EUR 17.1 million).

The management board will give a detailed presentation of the results of fiscal year 2006 as well as the outlook for fiscal year 2007 on 9 May 2007 at the balance sheet press conference of Hawesko Holding AG.

Hawesko Holding AG is a leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes. In fiscal year 2006 the Group achieved sales of EUR 303 million through its 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 551 people.  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
Postfach 20 15 52    
20205 Hamburg, Germany

 

Web site:
http://www.hawesko.com
(Company information)
http://www.hawesko.de   
(Online shop)
http://www.jacques.de  
(Information Jacques' Wein-Depot)

 

Press/Media:     
Vera Maria Bau,VMB Public Relations                              
Phone: +49 (0)228 44 96 240                                              
Fax:   +49 (0)228 8 44 96                                 
E-mail: vmb-pr@t-online.de          

                                      

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.com