Please find attached the press release.
Summary:
| Bekaert announced today the leadership succession plans of its Chairman and CEO. Baron Buysse, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bekaert, will retire in May 2014 after 14 years in the chair of the company's Board. Bert De Graeve, CEO of Bekaert since 2006, will become Chairman of the Board in succession of Baron Buysse as from May 2014. The Board of Directors of Bekaert has appointed Matthew Taylor as CEO designate. He will take up this position as of 1 September 2013 and become a member of the Bekaert Group Executive. Matthew Taylor will assume the position of CEO of Bekaert in May 2014. His nomination as a member of the Board of Directors will then be subject to approval by the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Board's decision to initiate these leadership changes was made in consideration of a thorough succession planning process which aims at ensuring continuity of direction at the level of the Board and of the Executive Management. |