Hawesko enters the Swiss market

Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin AS.
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announcement.
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* Majority shareholding acquired in Global Wine AG, Zürich
* Exclusive distribution of Champagne Taittinger begins immediately

Hamburg, 1 July 2009. Hawesko Holding AG (HAW GR, HAWG.DE,
DE0006042708) announces that it has, with effect from today,
acquired a majority shareholding in Global Wine AG, Zürich, to
strengthen further its wholesale segment. By taking this step the
Hawesko Group expands its business activities into the Swiss wine
market. With a volume of approximately 1 billion euros nearly
exclusively in the high-end above 4 euros per bottle the Swiss
market offers interesting potential. Global Wine is
well-established in the German-speaking part of Switzerland;
Hawesko's new shareholding is a conduit first to enter and then to
tap further into the potential of the entire Swiss market. Thus
Hawesko Holding AG systematically continues its dynamic and
growth-oriented strategy outside Germany after already having
expanded into Austria, the Czech Republic, and France - the latter
serving Asian markets with Bordeaux wines.

Global Wine AG was founded in 1998 by its current executive
director Daniel Caro. It specialises in the import of wines to the
German-speaking part of Switzerland, especially those from Spain
and Portugal. The company made sales of approximately
5 million euros (approximately 7 million Swiss francs) in 2008. The
greatest portion of its customers is in the wholesale and
specialised retail trade; beyond this, restaurants and some private
clients are also served. Hawesko Holding AG will take at first an
84 % shareholding, whilst the management of Global Wine AG will
retain a substantial shareholding in the company.

Furthermore Bernd G. Siebdrat, Management Board member responsible
for the wholesale segment of Hawesko Holding AG, stated that the
distribution of Champagne Taittinger would begin immediately, as
the renowned Champagne producer has already transferred the
exclusive rights for Switzerland to the Hawesko Group, respectively
to Global Wine. Subsequently, the exclusive distribution of further
products shall follow and the trading basis of Global Wine AG be
progressively built up.

Alexander Margaritoff, chief executive of Hawesko Holding AG, is
convinced that the Hawesko Group's business model can be
successfully realised in Switzerland following the acquisition of
Global Wine: "The wine market in Switzerland shows significant
potential for expansion, and both companies have a similar
philosophy. Good opportunities present themselves often -
especially, one could say - in difficult times!"

Hawesko Holding AG is a leading supplier of premium wines and
champagnes. In fiscal year 2008 the Group achieved sales of 339
million euros through its three sales channels - specialist wine
retail (Jacques' Wein-Depot), wholesale (Wein Wolf and CWD
Champagner- und Wein- Distributionsgesellschaft) and mail order (in
particular Hanseatisches Wein- und Sekt-Kontor). The Group employs
614 people. Hawesko Holding AG has been ranked as one of the top 6
German public companies with the best market orientation in a 2009
study by the international consultancy BBDO and the chair for
innovative brand management of Bremen University, the "Best
Marketing Company Award". 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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Further information about Global Wine can be found at
http://www.globalwine.com .

Published by:
Hawesko Holding AG, Postfach, 20247 Hamburg
Internet:
http://www.hawesko.com (Konzerninformationen)
http://www.hawesko.de (Online-Shop)
http://www.jacques.de (Standorte von und
Informationen über Jacques' Wein-Depot)

Press/Media:
Vera Maria Bau, VMB Consulting
Phone: +49 (0)228 4496 406
Fax +49 (0)228 4496 9406
E-mail: vmb@veramariabau-pr.de

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.com

--- End of Message ---

HAWESKO Holding AG
Postfach 201552 Hamburg Germany

WKN: 604270;
ISIN: DE0006042708; Index: CDAX, Prime All Share, SDAX, CLASSIC All
Share, GEX;
Listed: Prime Standard in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse, Freiverkehr in
Börse Berlin,
Freiverkehr in Bayerische Börse München, Freiverkehr in Börse
Düsseldorf,
Freiverkehr in Börse Stuttgart, Freiverkehr in Niedersächsische Börse
zu Hannover,
Regulierter Markt in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse, Regulierter Markt
in Hanseatische Wertpapierbörse zu Hamburg;
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