Hamburg, 29 April 2008. At today's annual results press conference in Hamburg, the wine trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAW DE, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) presented its annual report for 2007 with the complete year-end financial accounts as well as its three-month report for 2008 (for the period January to March). In the first three months of the current fiscal year, the Group increased its sales by 10.2% to 80.7 million euros (first three months of the previous year: 73.3 million euros); in the same period the German wine market overall declined by 1.4% in terms of value according to data of the Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung (GfK). In the first quarter of 2008, the result from operations (EBIT) amounted to 4.6 million euros (previous: 2.0 million euros), while the Group's net result after deductions for taxes and minority interests amounted to 2.7 million euros (previous year: 0.9 million euros). The sharp rise compared to the previous year resulted from the delivery of wines of the much sought-after 2005 Bordeaux vintage and from the increased profitability of the individual business segments. Profit per share amounted to 0.31 euros, up from 0.11 euros in the comparable quarter of the previous year.

The Hawesko management board has based its planning for the year on a good first quarter and expects an increase in sales in the moderate single-digit percent range for the year 2008 overall. The result from operations (EBIT) is expected to rise significantly, namely in the double-digit percent range, due to the non-recurrence of several charges (2007: 18.3 million euros). Based on the anticipated reduction in tax expense, the net result should nearly double (2007: 6.7 million euros). For 2009 the management board expects further increases in sales as well as EBIT. The free cash flow for 2008 is generally expected to reach the level of 2007 (13.6 million euros).

Chief executive officer Alexander Margaritoff stated: "In 2007, Hawesko consciously spent more to expand its customer base and still maintained operating profits at the level of the previous year. In the current fiscal year 2008, we will benefit from our enhanced market position and drive our profitable growth forward, for example via e-commerce, or - if a suitable opportunity arises - by means of external growth abroad."

The annual report presented for 2007 confirms the previously announced figures for the reporting period: Net Group sales (excluding VAT) increased by 10.3% to 333.7 million euros, while a rise of only 1% was posted for the wine market overall in 2007 (including VAT, according to GfK data). Hawesko thus once again gained market share. At 18.3 million euros, the operating result (EBIT) was at the level of the previous year (18.6 million euros), although several special factors pressured EBIT. Thus the costs for the test of the discontinued specialist store concept amounted to 1.3 million euros, while the closure of a subsidiary in Poland and the merger of the wholesale and mail order logistics each cost 0.5 million euros. The German company tax reform approved in 2007 made a write-down of tax assets necessary with an additional extraordinary tax expense of just under 3 million euros. Thus consolidated earnings after deductions for taxes and minority interests declined to 6.7 million euros (previous year: 10.8 million euros), and the profit per share in 2007 to 0.76 euros - on a comparable basis, ie, adjusted for the additional tax expense, to 1.07 euros (previous year: 1.23 euros). The return on capital employed (ROCE) for 2007 reached the sustainable minimum level defined by the management board of 16% (previous year: 18%), while the free cash flow amounted to 13.6 million euros (previous year: 5.6 million euros). The annual shareholders' meeting on 16 June 2008 will be proposed an increase in the dividend to 1.00 euro (previous year: 0.85 euros).

Hawesko Holding AG is a leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes. In fiscal year 2007 the Group achieved sales of 334 million euros 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 609 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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The full annual report for 2007 as well as the three-month report for 2008 can be found at http://www.hawesko.com, "Investor Relations"--> "Financial Data"--> "Financial Reports".

Published by:
Hawesko Holding AG
Postfach 20 15 52
20205 Hamburg, Germany

Internet:
http://www.hawesko.com
(Company profile)
http://www.hawesko.de
(Online shop)
http://www.jacques.de
(Information about Jacques' Wein-Depot)

Press/Media:
Vera Maria Bau, VMB Consulting
Phone: +49 (0)228 4496 240
Fax +49 (0)228 4496 298
E-mail: vmb@veramariabau-pr.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