On Thursday, September 26, the winners of the world's largest photo contest for 2019 were recognised at the Museum of Natural History in Vienna, Austria. The photo from the winner, Ina Schieferdecker, was chosen from 448,152 photo submissions. Schieferdecker accepted the CEWE Photo Award as part of a festive gala.

CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA (SDAX, ISIN: DE 0005403901) sees itself right on track to reach all its scheduled annual targets for 2019 after a positive first half year. Group turnover, at 272.0 million euros, is 7.6 % higher than turnover generated in the same period of the previous year (HY1 2018: 252.7 million euros). In spite of the transaction costs incurred as a result of taking over wall art specialist WhiteWall, EBIT improved clearly by 2.2 million euros to round off at - 0.9 million euros (HY1 2018: - 3.0 million euros) in what is traditionally a negative first half year for seasonal reasons. The mid-year figures confirm the forecast made by the Board of Management for the current financial year: Group turnover is to increase to an amount in the range of 675 to 710 million euros in 2019 (2018: 653.3 million euros), Group EBIT is to be in a corridor of 51 to 58 million euros, EBT in the range of 50.5 to 57.5 million euros, and after-tax earnings in the range of 35 to 39 million euros. Important indicators thus all exceed those of the previous year.

The regular Annual General Meeting of CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA (SDAX, ISIN: DE 0005403901), with attendance at 65.9 %, approved all the agenda items proposed in Oldenburg today. At 1.95 euros per share, the dividend increases by 10 euro cents over that of the previous year – the Group's tenth consecutive dividend increase. The dividend yield is thus 3.1 % on the basis of the 2018 year-end share price. "Our consistent growth and the fact that our financial position is sound in every respect mean that our shareholders have been able to rely on increasing dividends for a whole decade," explains CEWE CEO Dr. Christian Friege.

The deadline for entries has barely come to a close and the CEWE Photo Award is already setting new standards. Over the course of the past year, the “Our world is beautiful” theme has attracted 448,152 photo submissions, making it the most popular international photography competition of its kind. The jury, led by renowned photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, is eagerly looking forward to selecting the best entries in a task that is sure to be both fun and challenging. The decisions will be announced on 26 September at a grand awards ceremony in Vienna.

The transition from nursery to school is one of the most challenging experiences a family will face. After all, the adventure of starting school can often disrupt even the most established daily routine. Fortunately, CEWE offers a whole host of organisational products designed to allow adults and children alike to stay on top of everything.

CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA (SDAX, ISIN: DE 0005403901) achieved or exceeded all of its corporate targets in the 2018 financial year with turnover of 653.3 million euros (2017: 599.4 million euros) and EBIT of 53.7 million euros (2017: 49.2 million euros). On the basis of this positive development and the extremely sound financial position of the Group, the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board will be proposing the tenth consecutive dividend increase to shareholders: 1.95 euros per share (dividend for the previous year: 1.85 euros) at the Annual General Meeting. CEWE intends to continue to grow in the 2019 financial year as well: turnover is to increase to between 655 and 690 million euros, and EBIT to between 52 and 58 million euros. In 2019, the EBIT earnings corridor is thus to exceed the target for the previous year by around 4 million euros. "We are seeing the result of a simple yet effective strategy: the value of our company is enhanced by satisfied customers who place renewed orders and recommend us. We will resolutely maintain our pursuit of this basic idea in future, and plan to see it continuing to increase the value of our company and its dividends," says Dr. Christian Friege, Chairman of the CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA Board of Management, in the CEWE Annual Report and analysts' press conference held today in Frankfurt.

CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA (SDAX, ISIN: DE 0005403901) reached its turnover and profit targets for the financial year of 2018. Preliminary calculations show a 9.0% increase in turnover, to 653.3 million euros (2017: 599.4 million euros, turnover target for 2018: 630-665 million euros). CEWE achieved this through positive growth in the CEWE PHOTOBOOK and other photo gifts in the Christmas season. This enabled CEWE to withstand the general weakness in retailing in 2018, which was most affected by the weak summer months. The trend towards mobile devices and apps backs up CEWE's success: an increasing number of people are taking photos with their smartphone and placing orders, including mobile orders, for more and more photo products showing their personal photos. Operative earnings (EBIT) thus improved in total by 9.2%, to 53.7 million euros (2017: 49.2 million euros), coming very close to the 2018 EBIT target corridor of 48-54 million euros. The fourth quarter of 2018 considerably boosted growth and income: with turnover at 261.6 million euros (+11.6%) and EBIT at 55.7 million euros (+20.8%), CEWE once again clearly exceeded the strong figures of the previous year.

CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA (SDAX, ISIN: DE 0005403901) reaffirms its income forecast for 2018 against a background of sound development in turnover and earnings: Group turnover in the third quarter rose by 6.9 million to 137.2 million euros, with the EBIT at 1.4 million euros, falling short of the figure for the previous year (Q3 2017: 3.6 million euros). "In the first three quarters of the year, we not only handled the continued seasonal shift to the fourth quarter. At the same time we also assimilated anticipated negative effects resulting from the acquisitions and increases in costs for commercial online printing. With this good development, in particular in the photofinishing segment, we created a sound basis in Q3 2018 to be able to achieve our targets for the year as a whole. We are perfectly equipped for the expected peaks in demand in the fourth quarter," emphasises CEO Dr. Christian Friege.

As Europe's leading photo service provider and partner for online printing, CEWE wants to remain a technological pioneer and advance new opportunities of digitisation for this purpose. At photokina through this Saturday, the publicly traded company from Oldenburg is exhibiting several project studies utilising new technologies for creating photo products.

At this year's photokina CEWE is making its first presentation of an entirely new form of wall décor: hexxas. The hexagonal photo tiles from CEWE are perfect for anyone who wants to make an impression not only with unusual motifs, but also with distinctive shapes. With hexxas, your personal favourite moments can be arranged together to form a stylish and individual work of art. The selected photos can be combined flexibly and displayed either as a collage or as multi-section images. Hexxas are now available through www.cewe.de.

People who design a CEWE PHOTOBOOK generally put some of their most valuable memories into it. The cover itself ought to honour these accordingly and rouse interest in the contents. You can create a powerful effect with the TIPA-award-winning hardcover highlights from CEWE. These draw appreciable attention to selected elements in gold, silver or gloss highlights. At photokina, visitors to the CEWE trade fair stand can gain a first-hand impression of the diverse opportunities. The market leader is presenting new, highlighted design elements and backgrounds.

The popular CEWE PHOTOBOOK now provides even more freedom of design thanks to a number of new styles, book templates and highlights. CEWE PHOTOBOOK hardcover highlights are now also available for the XXL landscape format. Over 50 new backgrounds with all-over gloss highlights and over 150 new, highlighted design elements are available for all variants. For its innovation of the hardcover highlights in gold, silver or with elegant gloss highlights, CEWE is receiving the coveted TIPA World Award (which is regarded as the world's most coveted award for photo and imaging products) from the Technical Image Press Association at photokina.

From 26 to 29 September photokina is showcasing itself in Cologne as the leading trade fair in the photo industry. As a market leader in photofinishing, CEWE is again one of the largest exhibitors and present with a stand in Hall 4.2, where numerous new products and innovations are on display.

Quite a few people have difficulties finding a personalized gift for their beloved ones. Something that tells the recipient that you put thought into it. In this age of abundance and fast change, many people rely on WhatsApp for communication and on anonymous online mail order retailers. But there's another way to do it. Shared memories and experiences are particularly precious these days. Photo service provider CEWE gives you tips on how to turn them into a present that will create special moments under the Christmas tree.

Eye-catching, radiant and unique— CEWE fulfils all of these wishes, offering the hand-made Advent Calendar Deluxe this year for the first time ever. Limited to 1,111 items. The 24 sweet surprises almost fade into the background here. The stylish head-turner with folding doors can be designed with personal photos and messages, featuring gold elements that shine with Christmas spirit. Folded open, it displays a personalised panorama that stretches out more than one half meter.

Small, charming, simple and quick – these are the properties with which the CEWE PHOTOBOOK Pure has convinced not only customers but also the international jury of the EISA Award in recent months. Reason enough for the European photo service provider to expand its latest version of the CEWE PHOTOBOOK. Seven new styles in black or white are now available for selection, with the same simple design process. Moreover, as each copy is produced within one working day, customers receive their CEWE PHOTOBOOK Pure even more quickly.

CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA (SDAX, ISIN: DE 0005403901) sees itself well on track to reaching its scheduled annual targets for 2018 after the first half of the year. Group turnover, at 254.5 million euros, is 8.5 % higher than that of the same period of the previous year (HY1 2017: 234.6 million euros). Due to the expected negative effects from the most recent acquisitions of Cheerz and LASERLINE, EBIT amounted to -3.4 million euros (HY1 2017: -0.4 million euros). If these effects are not taken into consideration, the EBIT for the first half of 2018 is almost exactly at the same level as in the previous year. The totalled mid-year figures confirm the forecast made by the Board of Management for the current financial year: Group turnover is to increase to an amount in the range of 630 to 665 million euros in 2018 (2017: 599.4 million euros), Group EBIT is to be in a corridor of 48 to 54 million euros, EBT in the range of 47.5 to 53.5 million euros, and after tax earnings in the range of 33 to 37 million euros. The important performance indicators thus all increased over those of the previous year.

Christmas time without the traditional fir tree? If you are not spending the holiday season at home, want to set a sustainable example or simply do not have much space, this DIY idea from CEWE offers a real alternative to the classic Christmas tree.

For children and grown-ups alike, Advent calendars are one of the most important highlights of the pre-holiday season. The more individualised it is to the recipient, the greater their daily delight.

Square photos are on trend, and not just on Instagram. Even beyond the digital realm, more and more photo products are following this simple but nonetheless noteworthy format. Clear structures direct the viewer's focus to what is important and give the image a certain exciting, artistic "je ne sais quoi". And at CEWE, too, the square trend is being requested more and more frequently. This includes everything from wall décor to the square format of the CEWE PHOTOBOOK to Retro and Square Prints.

From panoramic landscapes and portraits to extreme close-ups—for those that are open to new perspectives, the beauty of our world can be found anywhere. It is no wonder, then, that the "Our world is beautiful" CEWE Photo Award competition advanced to the rank of largest photo competition in the world last year. In May 2018, the new competition – the third overall – is set to begin. Photo enthusiasts from all over the world have about a year to submit their photos to ten different categories. And the eventual award winners are not the only ones who will benefit from the rematch: For every photo submitted, CEWE donates 10 cents to SOS Children's Villages International.

CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA (SDAX, ISIN: DE 0005403901) continues to grow in the first quarter of 2018: turnover increased by 10.1 % to 130.6 million euros (Q1 2017: 118.6 million euros). More than acquisitions, it was mainly the core business of photofinishing that accounted for growth: with the highest sales, this business segment generated strong organic growth, even by as much 10.4 % overall on the inclusion of acquired photo app specialist "Cheerz". At 0.6 million euros, the EBIT for the first quarter of 2018 is at exactly the same level as that of the previous year in spite of extraordinary expenditure for the integration of acquisitions (Q1 2017: 0.6 million euros). "Even if the fourth quarter, as is now traditionally a standard, will also contribute most to turnover and in particular to earnings in 2018, we have created a good initial basis for the year as a whole with our organic growth and the extra boost through our acquisitions. We are particularly pleased about the comeback of the CEWE PHOTOBOOK, as this could not grow in 2017 due to the VAT increase in volume," says Dr. Christian Friege, Chairman of the Board of Management of CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA.

29 publishers of renowned photographic magazines from all over the world chose the winners of the 2018 TIPA World Awards in April. In the "Best Photo Print Service" category, Europe's leading photo company CEWE won with its CEWE PHOTOBOOK Hardcover enhancements.

CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA (SDAX, ISIN: DE 0005403901) once again achieved all its corporate targets in the 2017 financial year. Thanks to the company's strong earnings and sound financial position, the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board are able to propose the ninth consecutive increase in dividends at the Annual General Meeting. CEWE is aiming for another increase in turnover and earnings in 2018, with the earning power in photofinishing business in particular contributing to this rise, in addition to positive earnings in commercial online printing and retailing once again. This was announced by CEWE during the Annual Report and Analysts' Press Conference held today in Frankfurt am Main. "Our goal is to continue to enhance customer satisfaction as the focus of our activities, thus steadily raising our corporate value and enabling our shareholders to be a part of this growth," says Dr. Christian Friege, Chairman of the Board of Management of CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA.

The "Natural Wedding" motto will be just right for couples who like things rustic, country-style and natural. And because plants and elements of nature are first choices, the motto could also be "Wood meets Green". CEWE, Europe's leading photo service, has some suggestions for putting this motto into practice, from invitations to decorations and photo documentations of the Big Day.

CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA (SDAX, ISIN: DE 0005403901) is proposing the ninth consecutive dividend increase to its shareholders. After a business year 2017, which saw the Group achieving all its corporate targets, the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board are to propose a dividend of 1.85 euros per share for the business year of 2017 at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 6 June 2018 (dividend of previous year: 1.80 euros). "Our earning power and our sound balance sheet allow us to positively increase our dividend for the ninth consecutive year," explains Dr. Olaf Holzkämper, CFO of the CEWE-Group. On the basis 2017 year-end share price, shareholders are getting a dividend yield of 2.1 % with the dividend now proposed.

The kick-off is soon – from 14 June, football fans all over the world will once again be holding thumbs for their favourite teams. About time that fans of the popular grass sport get busy with preparations. CEWE has suggestions on how to turn watching the football matches on television into a special experience with a few smart decoration ideas.

CEWE is now offering its new Retro Prints refined with an effect finish for anyone wishing to make creative highlights out of their best photos. This glossy coating gives those personal moments a particularly high-quality look. As a modern decoration element, a creative handicraft idea or an individual gift for your family and friends – CEWE retro prints are just right as a framework for your favourite motif in the true sense of the word, lending them a nostalgic flair.

CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA (SDAX, ISIN: DE 0005403901) reached its turnover and profit targets for the financial year of 2017. Preliminary calculations show a 1.1 % increase in turnover, to 599.4 million euros (2016: 593.1 million euros, turnover target for 2017: 585 million to 615 million euros). Operative earnings (EBIT) improved by 4.7 % to 49.2 million euros (2016: 47.0 million euros) and is thus in the 2017 EBIT target corridor of 45 million to 51 million euros. As a one-off effect, the EBIT also includes impair-related depreciation on intangible assets in the amount of 3.5 million euros. "Christmas business in 2017 was further proof of the strength of the CEWE brand. In spite of the increase in value added tax on photo books, particularly in Germany, we were even able to slightly raise the volume of CEWE PHOTO BOOKS sold in the second half of the year. Our climate-neutral product groups of CEWE CALENDARS, CEWE WALL ART, CEWE CARDS and other photo gifts are also proving to be success factors," says Dr. Christian Friege, Chairman of the Board of Management of CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA.

High-growth French market leader for photofinishing apps becomes part of the European market leader in photofinishing: CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA (SDAX, ISIN: DE 0005403901) has agreed on an acquisition of shares with the owners of the Cheerz Group (Paris). The Cheerz Group is growing dynamically in France, Spain and Italy with its "Cheerz" premium brand, targeted mainly at smartphone users. CEWE is initially acquiring around 80 % of the shares in the Cheerz Group for 36 million euros. The transaction estimates the company at around slightly more than one-and-a-half times the expected turnover for 2018. For the time being, the CEWE Board of Management expects the takeover – including the purchase price allocation and the transaction costs – to still have a negative impact on EBIT in an amount of around 4 million euros.

The second Sunday in May is dedicated especially to loving mums. This is when they are traditionally spoilt by their big and little children with candy, flowers and/or a scrumptious breakfast. Mother's Day gifts that are more personalised are especially popular, since they are a special expression of affection. CEWE, Europe's leading photo service company, provides tips for personally designed, creative surprises that can be quickly implemented to delight much-loved mums.