Press Release: Hawesko Holding AG: Dividend continuity

HAWESKO Holding AG / Hawesko Holding AG: Dividend continuity . Processed and transmitted by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

* Management and supervisory boards propose dividend of EUR 1.30 per share

* Preliminary results confirmed

Hamburg, 29 March 2017. The wine trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAW GR, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) expects to pay a dividend of EUR 1.30 per share for fiscal year 2016 and maintain the level of the previous year. At its meeting on 29 March 2017 the supervisory board of the company approved the corresponding dividend proposal of the management board. This proposal will be voted by the annual general meeting on 19 June 2017. A total of EUR 11.7 million will be paid out to the shareholders, the same amount as last year. In terms of group net income and adjusted for non-recurring items, the payout ratio is 60% (previous year, adjusted: 67%).

Furthermore, the supervisory board reviewed, discussed and approved the consolidated financial statements for fiscal year 2016; the financial statements of the parent company were adopted. The final consolidated accounts show consolidated sales in 2016 (1 January to 31 December) rose by 0.9% to EUR 480.9 million (previous year: EUR 476.8 million). The result from operations (EBIT), adjusted for non-recurring items, amounted to EUR 29.1 million (previous year, adjusted: EUR 26.9 million). Unadjusted reported EBIT amounted to EUR 29.6 million (previous year: EUR 20.1 million). Consolidated net income after deductions for taxes and non-controlling interests, adjusted for non-recurring items, amounted to EUR 19.5 million and EUR 2.17 per share (2015: EUR 17.5 million and EUR 1.95 per share). Unadjusted for non-recurring items, consolidated net income amounted to EUR 18.5 million (previous year: EUR 12.2 million). The consolidated balance sheet total amounted to EUR 231.3 million, compared to EUR 219.8 million at the previous year-end. The balance sheet shows a net cash position. The free cash flow (cash flow from ongoing business activities minus investments and interest paid out) amounted to EUR 13.1 million and EUR 1.45 per share. Before investments totalling EUR 8.2 million in growth-related acquisitions, free cash flow would have amounted to EUR 21.3 million, which is comparable to the free cash flow of EUR 19.7 million and EUR 2.19 per share achieved in the previous year.

Speaking about the proposed dividend today, CEO Thorsten Hermelink said, "2016 was a very good year and we made good progress in the development of all segments in the Hawesko Group. With the cash flow we generated, we were able not only to finance attractive acquisitions which will make significant contributions to growth in the coming years. Keeping to our long-standing tradition, we can also maintain the dividend and its continuity for our shareholders: We are proposing a payout of EUR 1.30 per share again this year."

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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: specialty retail (Jacques' Wein-Depot), wholesale operations/distribution (Wein Wolf and CWD Champagner- und Wein-Distributionsgesellschaft) and distance selling (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.

The complete 2016 annual report and accounts will be presented at the annual press conference on 20 April 2017.

Publisher:

Hawesko Holding AG

Elbkaihaus

Grosse Elbstrasse 145d

22767 Hamburg

Press and Investor Relations:

Thomas Hutchinson

Phone +49 (0)40 30 39 21 00

Fax +49 (0)40 30 39 21 05

Internet:

hawesko-holding.com (Company information)

hawesko.de (online shop)

jacques.de (Jacques' Wein-Depot information and

wirwinzer.de (German wines directly from the producers)

vinos.de (Spanish wines sold through Wein & Vinos)

E-mail: ir@hawesko-holding.com

This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: Hawesko Holding AG via Globenewswire

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Hawesko Holding AG

Große Elbstraße 145 d Hamburg Germany

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

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

   March 29, 2017 14:34 ET (18:34 GMT)- - 02 34 PM EDT 03-29-17