Capital Market Event 2009 17 April 2009

Capital market event 2009

Address by Baron Buysse

Chairman of the Board of Directors

3

Capital Market Event April 2009

Bekaert continues its sustainable profitable growth strategy No change in strategy, but even more focused in this troubled economic environment -

Focused top line growth • • •

-

Ensuring profitability • • • •

-

Prudent and healthy financial management ROIC > WACC remains key Margin management and a continuous evaluation of all business lines Cash generation and control of working capital are crucial

Sustained growth •

4

Bekaert is well positioned to grow on a global base Growth by further investing in emerging countries Investigate opportunities

Increase investments in technology and innovation

Capital Market Event April 2009

Bekaert continues its sustainable profitable growth strategy Important Board activities and decisions -

Continuous follow-up of the Bekaert strategy

-

Continuation of important investment programs • • •

-

Adapting international footprint • •

-

Capital investments 2008: €m 239 Set-up and integration of the Bekaert Ideal holding in Latin America Continuation of investments in emerging markets, China in particular

Restructuring in Belgium (Hemiksem, Lanklaar) Confirmation of management judgment calls regarding non-recurring items

Introduction of a new business segmentation in 2009 •

Major topic of this capital market day

-

Speed up reporting: results 2009 available 26 February 2010

-

Financials: bond issue of €m 300 and dividend appropriation of € 2.80

-

Nomination of a new Board member: Manfred Wennemer

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Capital Market Event April 2009

Manfred Wennemer The Board proposed the nomination of Mr. Manfred Wennemer as Director, subject to approval by the General Meeting of Shareholders on 13 May 2009. Manfred Wennemer was Chief Executive Officer of Continental AG from 2001 until August 2008. He started his career at Procter & Gamble Schwalbach, Germany. After a short period at Arthur D. Little Wiesbaden, Mr. Wennemer took up several management positions in companies and business units belonging to the Freudenberg Group in Germany, South Africa and North America. In 1994 he moved to the Continental Group where he started as CEO of a ContiTech division in Hannover, Germany. Manfred Wennemer (°1947) holds a Masters Degree in Mathematics from the University of Münster, Germany and an MBA from INSEAD Fontainebleau, France.

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Capital Market Event April 2009

Dividend proposal 2008 - 2009

-

Investors are looking at international businesses with cash-flows which support dividends even in a recessionary scenario.

-

Some investors are looking for a steady income stream, equity income funds buy shares in companies that are expected to pay a reliable dividend.

-

Highest number of companies suspending dividend pay-out in 50 years.

-

Dividend pay-out is a signal of trust for investors In the light of the company’s strong performance in 2008 and its confidence in the future, the Board will propose a gross dividend of € 2.80 at the next General Meeting of Shareholders

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Capital Market Event April 2009

Dividend proposal 2008 - 2009

3.50 3.00

3.00

2.80 2.76

2.50

2.50

2.00

2.00

1.88

1.50

2.00

1.00 0.50 0.00 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Gross dividend (basis)

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Capital Market Event April 2009

Gross dividend (incl extra)

Dividend proposal 2008 - 2009

7.00% 5.80%

6.00% 5.00%

4.72%

4.00% 3.00%

3.16%

2.00% 1.00% 0.00%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Dividend yield 31/12

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Capital Market Event April 2009

Dividend yield average

Dividend yield equity value

Bekaert share in 2008

-

Highly unusual year

-

Good results 2007, basis of a rise in share price in 1H08, peak of € 109 in May.

-

Excellent results 1H08, historic high of €121 in September.

-

Credit crisis followed by a huge slow-down in the real economy, share price plummet and traded at € 48 in December, well below equity value.

-

Bekaert confirmed its membership in the BEL20.

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Capital Market Event April 2009

Bekaert share

% 140 130 120 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 J

F

M

A

M

J

J

Bekaert

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Capital Market Event April 2009

A

S

O

N Bel20

D

J

F

M

A

Bekaert share got a cardiac arrest …… The spread of the daily high and low of the Bekaert share increases in difficult economic times 15% 10% 5% 0% -5% -10% -15% 99

00

01

02

03

04 High

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Capital Market Event April 2009

05

06 Low

07

08

09

Bekaert share recovers from the cardiac arrest …… Euro per share 200

ROIC > WACC Growth emerging countries

180

Innovation product mix

160 140 120

Crisis

100

Sales per share

80

Share Price

60 40

Equity per share

20

IFRS (Pensions), Unisolar, $/euro September 11

0 92

93

94

95

96

97

98

Sales

13

Capital Market Event April 2009

99

00

01

02

Share price

03

04

05

06

Equity value

07

Sept Dec 08 08

April 09

Bekaert share target price

In euro

140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 2002

2003

2004

2005 Target

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Capital Market Event April 2009

2006

2007 Share price

2008

2009

Internationalized shareholder structure 2002

2008

Principal shareholder Institutional shareholdings Public (unidentified)

40.1% 15.1% 43.9%

39.1% 44.2% 16.3%

Institutional (Belgium) Institutional (International)

82% 18%

12% 88%

-

3.0%

Declaration AXA S.A.

100%

Rest

90%

Canada

80% 70% 60%

USA

0% 2002

80%

Ireland

60%

Belgium

10%

Japan

Luxembourg

France

20%

90% 70%

Germany

30%

Rest

Switzerland

50% 40%

100%

Scandinavia Switzerland

50%

Netherlands Germany

40%

Luxembourg

30%

Belgium

20%

UK

10%

France USA

0% 2008

Principal shareholder disclosed holding more than 30% in line with the Act on Public Take Over Bids. AXA declared holding more than 3% in line with the Transparency Act

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Capital Market Event April 2009

Bekaert Corporate Social Responsibility

Conclusions of a recent Vigeo rating on Bekaert • Human resources

high rating

“Bekaert positively addressed the main human resources challenges such as labor relations, even in countries with restrictive legislation; health and safety, etc.”

• Environment

high rating

“Bekaert has taken up all environmental challenges, based on ISO 14001 principles.”

• Business Behavior

high rating

“Bekaert has addressed most of the issues at stake and product safety is ensured via ISO9001 certifications”

• Corporate Governance

average rating

“Bekaert Board and Committees seem solid, but low level of independence is a concern”

• Community Involvement

average rating

“Promotion of social and economic development is ensured via local initiatives.”

• Human Rights

highest rating

”As one of the few companies Bekaert is mentioning the development of measures to promote diversity.”

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Capital Market Event April 2009

better together

www.bekaert.com

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Capital Market Event April 2009

Capital market event 2009

Address by Bert De Graeve, CEO

Strategy review and Business update

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Capital Market Event April 2009

2008 Troubled economic waters 2008 was characterized by the impact of the credit crisis…. -

The deterioration of the housing market started in the summer 2007 in the US

-

Mortgages as CDO’s appear to be worthless and lead to write-downs

-

Banks with a too low equity fail or are nationalized

-

The financial crisis spreads over the world and impacts the real economy

-

Fear for deflation and global recession

-

Financing becomes difficult and expensive, increasing (temporary) unemployment, plant closures, etc.

-

The financial structure becomes crucial and companies switch to “survival mode”

-

The economic activities decrease fast and emerging markets come under stress

Market value: a lot of wealth evaporated ……

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Capital Market Event April 2009

Highlights Bekaert performance 2008 Vigorous sales growth record results and continuing high dividend + 59% : EPS before non-recurring : € 13.08 compared with €8.22 + 58% : EBIT before non-recurring of € 294 million + 38% : EBITDA of € 412 million + 23% : Consolidated sales of €2.66 billion + 17% : Combined sales of €4.0 billion + 16% : EPS €8.33 compared with €7.63 Dividend of € 2.80 per share, dividend yield of 5.8% based Dec 31

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Capital Market Event April 2009

Highlights 2008 -

Expansion, acquisitions and joint ventures • • • •

-

Lanklaar (Belgium) Waregem (Belgium) Hemiksem (Belgium) Stainless, burner systems, carding Receivables Inventories

Restructuring steel cord activities Restructuring steel cord activities Restructuring advanced wire activities Impairments on goodwill and assets Increased provision Exceptional write down

Other • • • • •

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Greenfield operation Full ownership Strategic collaboration Strategic positioning in northern Latin America

Restructuring, impairments, provisions and write-downs • • • • • •

-

Lipetsk (Russia) Beksa (Turkey) J.V. with Ansteel Holding Latin America

High capital investment program of €m239 January 2008: 5-year retail bond of €m 100 (2008 – 2013) Dividend of 2.80 euro Bekaert share reaches a historic high of € 121.24 in September Renovated visitors center and website

Capital Market Event April 2009

Bekaert at a glance: a strong financial structure

Growth ROIC > WACC Cash flow generation (EBITDA on sales) EBIT Recurring EBIT

L/T guidance

2008

2007

2006

GDP +

22.5%

8.2%

5.0%

>

13.0 > 8.7

11.1 > 8.3

10.3 > 8.0

15%

15.5%

14%

13%

7% - 9%

7.9% 11.1%

8.0% 8.6%

7.3% 8.1%

Working capital (on sales)

20%

22%

22%

22%

Dividend pay out

40%

32%

36%

36%

Tax

25%

16%

14%

16%

Debt Financial autonomy (equity / total assets) Gearing (net debt / equity) Financing (net debt / EBITDA)

40% 50%