DGAP-News: HAWESKO Holding AG

Hawesko Holding keeps up its pace in third quarter 2017

- Increase of 6 % in quarterly sales and EBIT
- Management confirms forecast for 2017
- Structural conversion to digital business model continues

Hamburg, 7 November 2017. Today the wine-trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAW GR, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) published its report on the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 as well as the figures for the third quarter. Thorsten Hermelink, CEO of the Hawesko Group, gave a positive appraisal, saying: "We have continued our successful course and are growing at a consistently good rate. The 6% increase in sales is noticeably higher than in recent years. Our latest acquisitions as well as the gratifyingly high rate of organic growth contributed to this development. Most importantly, we are in the ongoing progress of converting the Hawesko Group structures toward a comprehensively digital business model and will maintain profitability at the high level of the previous year. EBIT rose proportionately to sales in the third quarter."

In the third quarter (1 July to 30 September) 2017, consolidated sales rose to EUR 110.7 million, corresponding to sales growth of 6.1% compared to the same quarter in the previous year (EUR 104.3 million). Excluding acquisitions, the Group grew by 2.7%. The consolidated operating result (EBIT) in the third quarter of 2017 was EUR 4.1 million; previous year was EUR 3.9 million. The EBIT margin of 3.7% was maintained at the previous year's level (3.8%).

In the first nine months of fiscal year 2017 (1 January to 30 September), sales rose by 6.1% to EUR 341.9 million (comparable period in 2016: EUR 322.1 million). The operating result (EBIT) amounted to EUR 15.6 million, corresponding to 4.6% of sales; in the previous year these figures were EUR 14.9 million and 4.6% of sales respectively on a comparable basis.

The Group's management board confirmed its forecast and continues to expect sales growth of approximately 5% in fiscal year 2017, with consolidated EBIT of just over EUR 30 million and an unchanged EBIT margin of approximately 6 % despite the ongoing conversion of the Hawesko Group toward a comprehensively digital business model. With regard to the other important financial indicators such as the net result and return on capital employed, figures for 2017 are likewise expected at the respective levels of the previous year. With regard to free cash flow, the management board expects it to be in a range of roughly EUR 3-5 million below the previously expected range of EUR 16-18 million due to a higher inventory buildup for the time being.

Thorsten Hermelink commented: "We want to and will develop our brand portfolio, continuously and consistently, organically and via acquisitions in line with our strategy, and adapt it to the demands of the digital era. As we do so, we will by no means lose sight of achieving average of 5% growth per year and an EBIT return of 7% in the medium term."

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The complete quarterly financial report to 30 September 2017 is available at www.hawesko-holding.com/en/press/interim-reports-2017/.

Hawesko Holding AG is a leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes. In fiscal year 2016, the Group achieved sales of EUR 481 million and employed 940 persons in the company's three sales channels: omnichannel (Jacques' Wein-Depot), B2B (Wein Wolf and CWD Champagner- und Wein-Distributionsgesellschaft) and digital (especially Hawesko.de and Vinos.de). 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.

Publisher:
Hawesko Holding AG
Elbkaihaus
Grosse Elbstrasse 145d
22767 Hamburg

hawesko-holding.com (Company information)
hawesko.de (Online shop)
jacques.de (Jacques' Wein-Depot information and online shop)
vinos.de (Spanish wines sold through Wein & 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: ir@hawesko-holding.com