DGAP-News: Hawesko Holding AG / Key word(s): Final Results Hawesko Holding AG: Best EBIT ever in 2017 19.04.2018 / 11:00 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Sales rose by 5.4% to EUR 507 million, passing the half-billion mark for the first time - All segments contributed to growth - online growth very strong - At EUR 30.4 million, EBIT reached record levels for two consecutive years - profitability in the core business improved once again Hamburg, 19 April 2018. The management board of Hawesko Holding AG (HAW, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) pronounced itself very satisfied with the growth in sales and earnings in fiscal year 2017 at today's balance sheet press conference. Sales rose by 5.4% to EUR 507 million, slightly exceeding expectations and rising above the half-billion mark for the first time. The result from operations in the Hawesko Group was also pleasing: for the second year in a row, the company achieved the best result in its history with an EBIT of EUR 30.4 million (+4.6% compared to the adjusted figure for the previous year). The consolidated EBIT margin remained practically unchanged at 6%. In the core business, this figure even increased to 6.4% (previous year: 6.1%). WirWinzer.de and Enzo.de, which are currently under development and still in the start-up phase, made a negative contribution to the result. Overall, the result from operations was in line with expectations. The balance sheet revealed a good equity ratio of 40.3%, while net indebtedness amounted to EUR 11.0 million (previous year: EUR -0.5 million). As in the previous year, payment of a dividend of EUR 1.30 per share is planned. Chief Executive Officer Thorsten Hermelink commented on the highlights, saying, "The Hawesko Group grew significantly in 2017, while the overall market shrank by 5%, so that we continued to expand our market leadership. Moreover, we once again accelerated our organic growth compared to the previous years, enhancing this growth still further with acquisitions. Most importantly, all three segments (specialist retail, distance selling and wholesale/distribution) contributed to this growth. Across all segments, the higher number of customers and online sales were once again the primary growth drivers in the Hawesko Group. Online sales rose by 15% over the previous year to just under EUR 100 million. The wholesale/distribution segment achieved the strongest growth in the Hawesko Group, with sales rising by 7.2% to EUR 184.2 million. The specialist retail segment (Jacques' Wein-Depot) grew by 4.1% to EUR152.3 million, while sales in the distance selling segment (particularly Hawesko.de and Vinos.de) rose by 4.8% to EUR 170.5 million. The trend in the individual segment results was also positive. In the specialist retail segment (Jacques' Wein-Depot), EBIT rose by 15.3% to EUR 9.0 million. EBIT in the distance selling segment rose by 8.9% to EUR 10.2 million. Particularly in recent years, the increased investment in digital resources and the repeated rise in online sales to 55% bore fruit in the year under review. Despite high preliminary costs in the wake of accelerated expansion as well as higher investment in the upgrading of IT systems, EBIT was maintained at the previous year's level at EUR 16.4 million. The Hawesko Group remains on course for continued growth: For 2018, the management board anticipates an organic increase in sales of approximately 3% compared to 2017. Consolidated EBIT is expected to be around EUR 32-33 million in 2018, corresponding to an EBIT margin of approximately 6.2%, with continuing investment in growth-related activities. Thorsten Hermelink expressed his opinion that the Hawesko Group is well-equipped for the future, commenting, "Two and a half years ago, we decided on and implemented a strategic reorganization of the Hawesko Group, which despite its focus on digitalization did not lose sight of the customers or of the fact that we are retailers. After our success in 2016 and 2017, we believe that this strategy of centralized platforms and decentralized execution has proven itself extraordinarily well and that we are on the right course. Enthusiastic customers are our top priority - even in the digital age." # # # Hawesko Holding AG is a leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes. In fiscal year 2017, the Group achieved sales of EUR 507 million and employed 954 persons in the company's three sales channels: omnichannel (Jacques' Wein-Depot), B2B (Wein Wolf and CWD Champagner- und Wein-Distributionsgesellschaft) and digital (particularly HAWESKO and 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. The complete 2017 annual report and accounts will be presented at the annual press conference on 19 April 2018. Publisher: Hawesko Holding AG Elbkaihaus Grosse Elbstrasse 145d 22767 Hamburg Germany Internet: hawesko-holding.com (Company information) hawesko.de (Online shop) jacques.de (Jacques' Wein-Depot information and online shop) vinos.de (Spanish wines sold through Vinos) wirwinzer.de (German wines directly from the producers) Press and Investor Relations: Thomas Hutchinson Phone: +49 (0)40 30 39 21 00 Fax +49 (0)40 30 39 21 05 E-mail: [email protected] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19.04.2018 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Hawesko Holding AG Große Elbstraße 145 d 22767 Hamburg Germany Phone: +49 40 30 39 2100 Fax: +49 40 30 39 2105 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.hawesko-holding.com ISIN: DE0006042708 WKN: 604270 Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hamburg; Regulated Unofficial Market in Tradegate Exchange End of News DGAP News Service --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 676077 19.04.2018