PRESS RELEASE: Hawesko: On target after the first six months of 2013

Hawesko Holding AG / Hawesko: On target after the first six months of 2013 . Ad hoc announcement according to -- 15 WpHG. Processed and transmitted by Thomson Reuters ONE. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

- Growth in the second quarter

- Operating result (EBIT) below that of the previous year, but in line with expectations

- Positive outlook confirmed

Hamburg, 7 August 2013. Today the wine-trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAW GR, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) published its report for the first six months of fiscal year 2013 as well as the figures for the second quarter. During the quarterly period from 1 April to 30 June the Group increased its sales compared to the same quarter in the previous year (EUR 109.0 million) by 4.3% to EUR 113.7 million before VAT. All three business segments experienced growth. With an increase of 7.6%, the wholesale segment posted the strongest growth in sales, due primarily to the initial consolidation of the wine trader Vogel Vins in western Switzerland. In the specialist retail segment, Jacques' Wein-Depot grew by 3.4% (adjusted for new openings by 3.0%). Sales in the mail order segment increased by 0.9%. The unusually cold, wet weather in June had an adverse effect on business performance. The consolidated operating result (EBIT) in the second quarter of 2013 amounted to EUR 6.8 million, down by 7.6% from the previous year (EUR 7.4 million). The financial result was EUR -0.4 million (previous year: EUR -0.2 million). Consolidated net income after deductions for taxes and non-controlling interests for the quarter amounted to EUR 4.2 million and EUR 0.46 per share (same quarter in the previous year: EUR 4.8 million and EUR 0.54 per share).

In the first six months of fiscal year 2013 (1 January to 30 June), sales rose by 2.2% to EUR 217.0 million (comparable period in the previous year: EUR 212.4 million). The operating result (EBIT) declined by EUR 1.7 million or 14.0% to EUR 10.3 million (previous year: EUR 12.0 million). Consolidated net income after deductions for taxes and non-controlling interests amounted to EUR 6.4 million and EUR 0.71 per share; the figures for the same period in the previous year were EUR 7.7 million and EUR 0.85 per share.

The Hawesko management board notes that the financial figures for the first half of 2013 are within expectations, and still considers the general economic and business conditions in Germany to be good. Thus the board reaffirms its forecast for the full fiscal year 2013: overall, it anticipates sales growth in the order of magnitude of 6% compared to the previous year (EUR 449 million). A proportionately higher increase in EBIT to approximately EUR 28 million is forecast for 2013 (previous year: EUR 26.1 million).

CEO Alexander Margaritoff: "On the whole we are satisfied with our business performance in the first six months: our figures are lower than those of the previous year, but fully in line with our planning. Business for the vast majority of the group is progressing positively as expected, so that we are optimistic about the second half of 2013. Moreover, the low comparable basis from the second half of 2012 - at that time diminished by one-off effects - will work in our favour during the further course of this year, especially in the fourth quarter."

Hawesko Holding AG is a leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes. In fiscal year 2012, the Group achieved sales of EUR 449 million and employed 847 persons in the company's three sales channels: specialty retail (Jacques' Wein-Depot), wholesale operations (Wein Wolf and CWD Champagner- und Wein-Distributionsgesellschaft) and mail order (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 SDAX small-cap index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

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The full six-month financial report to 30 June 2013 is available as a download at http://www.hawesko-holding.com, --> "Press" or "Investors" --> "Downloads".

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)

http://www.chateauclassic.com (Online shop with outstanding Bordeaux wines of older vintages)

Press Contact and 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-holding.com

This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients.

The owner of this announcement warrants that:

(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and

(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the

information contained therein.

Source: HAWESKO Holding AG via Thomson Reuters ONE

HUG#1721514

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HAWESKO Holding AG

Plan 5 Hamburg Germany

WKN: 604270;ISIN: DE0006042708;Index:GEX,CLASSIC All Share,SDAX,Prime All Share,CDAX;

Listed: Freiverkehr in Börse Stuttgart,

Freiverkehr in Börse Berlin,

Freiverkehr in Börse Düsseldorf,

Freiverkehr in Bayerische Börse München,

Freiverkehr in Niedersächsische Börse zu Hannover,

Prime Standard in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse,

Regulierter Markt in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse,

Regulierter Markt in Hanseatische Wertpapierbörse zu Hamburg;

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

   August 07, 2013 02:05 ET (06:05 GMT)- - 02 05 AM EDT 08-07-13