Hawesko: Manfred Middendorff leaves supervisory board

Chairman Manfred Middendorff has resigned his office in the supervisory board of the wine trading group Hawesko Holding AG with immediate effect.

In a letter last Friday to the management board of Hawesko Holding AG Mr Middendorff gave the impending financial reorganisation of his company Brauerei Herrenhausen KG, Hannover, as the reason: the time necessary to devote himself to that task would no longer allow him to continue his responsibilities as member and chairman of the Hawesko supervisory board. Mr Middendorff belonged to the body since 1999. From 2004 he was chairman of the supervisory board.

As presiding deputy chairman of the supervisory board, Prof. Dr. iur. Dr. rer. pol. Dr. h.c. Franz Jürgen Säcker will provisionally take over the responsibilities of Mr Middendorff. Mr Middendorff carried out the duties of his office in the past years competently and in an engaged manner; in particular as chairman of the supervisory board he supported the management board with consultation and advice. He ensured that the board was able exercise its role as a supervisory body of senior management with the necessary care and intensity. The management and supervisory boards appreciate that Mr Middendorff wants now to concentrate fully on the reorganisation of his own company.

Hawesko Holding AG is a leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes. In fiscal year 2009 the Group achieved sales of € 339 million 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), and employed 657 people. The shares of Hawesko Holding AG are listed on the Hanseatic Stock Exchange in Hamburg as well as in the GEX of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

SOURCE Hawesko Holding AG