Hamburg, 16 June 2008. The wine-trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAW, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) is continuing to post strong growth in sales and EBIT in the current 2008 fiscal year. At the company's annual general meeting of shareholders in Hamburg today, CEO Alexander Margaritoff reported that by the end of May (1 January - 31 May 2008) Hawesko had increased sales by 10 % and more than doubled its operating profit (EBIT). As a result, this year's path to growth has been maintained: As previously reported, Hawesko had posted a sales increase of 10 % and a more-than-doubled EBIT for the first three months of the current year (1 January - 31 March 2008) as well. For the full 2008 fiscal year the Board of Management expects an increase in sales of 5 %, percentage growth in EBIT well in the double-digit range and a doubling of net income (after taxes and minority interests). The Board of Management is assuming a further increase in sales as well as in EBIT for 2009. In fiscal year 2007 the Hawesko Group had achieved sales of € 334 million, EBIT of € 18.3 million and earnings per share of € 0.76 (adjusted for one-off additional tax expense, € 1.07).

 

The annual shareholders' meeting of the company approved, among other things, the proposed dividend of € 1.00 per share (previous year: € 0.85). This will be paid out to German-domiciled shareholders without deduction of investment income tax and solidarity surcharge.

 

Hawesko Holding AG is a leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes. Its three sales channels are 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.

 

 

Published by:
Hawesko Holding AG,

P.O. Box 20 15 52,

20205 Hamburg

 

Internet:

http://www.hawesko.com 

(Company profile)

http://www.hawesko.de    

(Online shop)

http://www.jacques.de      

(Locations of and information about Jacques' Wein-Depot)

 

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