Hawesko Hawesko : lets shareholders participate in its success with unchanged dividend of € 1.30 per share (Hawesko )

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Hawesko Holding AG: Hawesko Holding lets shareholders participate in its success with unchanged dividend of € 1.30 per share

Hamburg, 6 April 2016. The wine trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAW GR, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) expects to pay a dividend of € 1.30 per share for fiscal year 2015, thus maintaining the level of the previous year. At its meeting on 5 April 2016, the supervisory board of the company approved the corresponding dividend proposal of the management board, on which the annual general meeting will vote 13 June 2016. A total of € 11.7 million will be paid out to the shareholders - the same amount as last year. Based on the consolidated net income, adjusted for extraordinary items in conjunction with the change of control, the payout ratio is 67% (previous year, adjusted: 75%).

Furthermore, the supervisory board reviewed, discussed and approved the annual and consolidated financial statements for fiscal year 2015; the annual financial statement was approved. The final consolidated accounts reveal that Group sales in 2015 (1 January to 31 December) rose by 0.8% to € 476.8 million (previous year: € 472.8 million). The result from operations (EBIT), adjusted for extraordinary items in conjunction with the takeover, amounted to € 26.9 million (previous year, adjusted: € 24.6 million). Unadjusted, the reported EBIT amounted to € 20.1 million, unchanged from the previous year. Consolidated net income after deductions for taxes and non-controlling interests amounted to € 12.2 million and € 1.36 per share in 2015 (previous year: € 14.8 million and € 1.65 per share). Adjusted for extraordinary items, earnings per share amounted to € 1.95; the corresponding value in the previous year was € 1.73 per share. The consolidated balance sheet total amounted to € 219.8 million, compared to € 217.2 million on the reference date in the previous year. The free cash flow (cash flow from ongoing business activities minus investments and interest paid out) amounted to € 19.7 million and € 2.19 per share, compared to € 13.1 million and € 1.46 per share in the previous year.

Speaking about the proposed dividend today, CEO Thorsten Hermelink said, 'As we announced previously, we initiated a new orientation of the Hawesko Group in 2015. Despite sometimes challenging market conditions, we wanted to share the company's success with our shareholders, who can look forward to the same dividend as last year.' Hermelink stated that he would not only report in detail on the situation of the Hawesko Group at the annual press conference on 21 April 2016, but would also present the newly developed corporate strategy for the coming years.

Hawesko Holding AG is a leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes. In fiscal year 2015, the Group achieved sales of € 477 million and employed 933 persons in the company's three sales channels: specialty retail (Jacques' Wein-Depot), wholesale operations (Wein Wolf and CWD Champagner- und Wein-Distributionsgesellschaft) and distance selling (especially Hanseatisches Wein- and Sekt-Kontor and Wein & Vinos). 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 complete 2015 annual report will be published on 21 April 2016.

Publisher:
Hawesko Holding AG, 20247 Hamburg

Internet:
http://www.hawesko-holding.com (Company information)
http://www.hawesko.de (Online shop)
http://www.jacques.de (Jacques' Wein-Depot information and online shop)
http://www.vinos.de (Spanish wines sold through Wein & Vinos)

Press/Media Contact and Investor Relations:
Thomas Hutchinson, Hawesko Holding AG
Phone: [phone]
Fax [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]