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PRESS RELEASE

Acquisition of Berkhout Verssnijlijn in the Netherlands closed

Waarschoot, 30 October 2007


On 17 September 2007, TerBeke-Pluma, the processed meats division of the Ter Beke group, announced it had acquired Dutch company BERKHOUT VERSSNIJLIJN ("Berkhout") under a number of conditions precedent. These conditions have now been met and the transaction was closed on 29 October 2007.

Berkhout is one of the largest processed meats slicing and prepacking firms in the Netherlands. This transaction further strengthens Ter Beke's Benelux position in processed meat products, one of its two core businesses (besides fresh ready meals). The acquisition is strategically important for various reasons:

• The market for prepacked meat products in the self-service channel continues to grow strongly in all European countries. Prepacked meat products have acquired a dominant position in the self-service channel compared with over-the-counter products;
• In the Netherlands, where prepacked meat products account for 92% of the total market, there is a fast-growing trend for supermarkets to switch from their own slicing and packaging at the point of sale to sourcing from specialist companies, which offer high quality technical fresh food concepts within an extensive and innovative product range.
• Berkhout is largely complementary to Langeveld/Sleegers (Nijmegen), which was taken over in 2005, in terms of customers and technology, which means that an even more comprehensive service can be offered to retailers;
• Through the acquisition of a service specialist without own meat production, Ter Beke strengthens its position in a growth segment of the processed meats market in a way that further reduces its relative dependence on raw materials prices;
• The acquisition of Berkhout makes TerBeke-Pluma the 2nd largest supplier of sliced and prepacked meat products in Europe, which means that synergies can be expected in the procurement of capital goods.

All conditions precedent with regard to the acquisition have been met, the most important being the approval by the Dutch competition authorities on 22 October 2007. The transaction was formally closed on 29 October 2007.

As result of the acquisition of Langeveld/Sleegers in 2005, the merger with Pluma in 2006 and the take-over of Berkhout in 2007, the Netherlands has become one of the largest markets for the group's processed meat products.

Berkhout's profitability is comparable with that of Ter Beke, which means that the acquisition will contribute immediately to the consolidated results. The effect on the net result for 2007 can remain limited due to a number of one-off IFRS modifications. Further financial information will be provided when Ter Beke announces its annual results for 2007. Berkhout will be included in the consolidation circle of Ter Beke with effect from 1 September 2007.

For further information, please contact:
 

Media Luc De Bruyckere Chairman Telephone: +32 (0)9 370 13 00 E-mail: luc.debruyckere@terbeke.be

Investor Relations René Stevens CFO Telephone: +32 (0)9 370 13 45 E-mail: rene.stevens@terbeke.be

TER BEKE IN BRIEF

Ter Beke (Euronext Brussels: TERB) is an innovative Belgian fresh food group which markets its assortment in 10 European countries. The group has 2 core businesses: processed meats and fresh ready meals, possesses 11 industrial establishments in Belgium, the Netherlands and France and counts about 1,850 people. In 2006, Ter Beke recorded a turnover of 326 million Euro.

Processed Meats Division: Ter Beke-Pluma

• producer of processed meats for the Benelux, Germany and the United Kingdom
• 5 production sites in Belgium (Wommelgem, Waarschoot, Marche-en-Famenne, Herstal and Ruiselede) and 5 centres for slicing and packaging of processed meats, including 2 in Belgium (Wommelgem and Veurne) and 3 in the Netherlands (Milsbeek, Ridderkerk and Hendrik Ido Ambacht)
• innovative in the segment of pre-packed processed meats
• distribution brands and own brand names L´Ardennaise, Daniël Coopman and Pluma
• about 1050 employees

Ready Meals Division: FreshMeals

• producer of fresh ready meals for the European market
• Europe market leader in fresh lasagne
• 3 production sites, including 2 in Belgium (Wanze and Marche-en-Famenne) and 1 in France (Alby-sur-Chéran)
• brand names Come a Casa, Pronto and Vamos along distribution brands
• approximately 800 employees