Imagine what we can achieve together ...

Would you like to learn more about the solutions we offer? Are you interested in any of our products or services? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We would be delighted to talk about how we can work together.

www.bekaert.com

NV Bekaert SAPresident Kennedypark 188500 Kortrijk, BelgiumT +32 56 23 05 11F +32 56 23 05 43

Bekaert Corporation3200 West-Market Street, Suite 303Akron, Ohio 44333-3326 USAT +1 330 867 3325F +1 330 873 3424

Bekaert Corporation1395 South Marietta ParkwayBuilding 700, Suite 708Marietta, Georgia 30067-4440, USAT +1 770 421 8520F +1 770 421 8521

Bekaert Management(Shanghai) Co., Ltd17 F, Block E, Waterfront PlaceNo. 31, Lane 168, Daduhe Road200062 Shanghai, ChinaT +86 21 2219 7000F +86 21 2219 7399

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Putting better together into practiceWhat does customer focus mean in everyday practice? We’ll tell you about some product solutions that were the result of fruitful co-development partnerships. Bekaert and its customers have a long tradition of working in close collaboration around the world. By becoming part of local economies, Bekaert learned that particular circumstances require a particular approach. Our case stories are illustrative of the remarkable successes built on better together, in very diverse industries.

Supporting your business worldwide

Contents PLEASED TO MEET YOU

WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER 4 Introducing Bekaert 6 Global presence to support your business 10 Developing for tomorrow 13 Expanding our horizons since 1880

YOUR BUSINESS, OUR BUSINESS 16 The automotive sector 18 The construction sector 20 The energy & utilities sector 22 Consumer goods 23 The equipment sector 24 The agricultural sector 25 The basic materials sector

THE WORLD AROUND US, OUR SHARED CONCERN 26 Sustainability is in our DNA 28 Part of your life

BETTER TOGETHER 30 better together stories

The combination of Bekaert steel cord and our Glass Matt Reinforced Thermoplastic was essential for Polynorm in order to introduce a solution compliant with the latest automotive safety and impacttests.”

Kees van Koert, Director Product Development at voestalpine Polynorm Plastics Solutions

Ducab considers Bekaert an important partner in supply chain management. Prestigious projects such as the Dubai Metro and Burj Dubai can only be supported by world players like Bekaert. Ducab and Bekaert believe in ‘Total Quality Excellence’; our partnership perfectlyillustrates the baseline, better together.”

Ali Al Nahdi, Purchasing Manager, Supply chain department Ducab

The Bekaert team was highly committed, diligent and knowledgeable and they have deployed all the available resources, including world-class laboratory facilities, for the successful completion of our technology partnership which will, no doubt, be highly beneficial to both parties.”

PK Mohamed, Chief Adviser, Research & Technology, Apollo Tyres

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Introducing Bekaert

Who We Are- Founded in 1880- A world market and technology leader in steel wire transformation and coatings- The world's largest independent manufacturer of drawn steel wire products- Customers in over 120 countries and in diverse markets and sectors- 27 000 employees worldwide- Headquarters in Belgium- Combined sales in 2012: € 4.4 billion- Consolidated sales in 2012: € 3.5 billion- Listed on Euronext® Brussels (BEKB) - Reporting under IFRS- Chairman of the Board of Directors: Baron Buysse- ChiefExecutiveOfficer:BertDeGraeve

www.bekaert.com

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Bekaert is unique for its combination of metal transformation and coating technologies, which has brought forth a wide variety of products, tailored to our customers’ needs.

Our primary raw material is wire rod, purchased fromsteelsuppliersallovertheworldin250differentcompositions to produce wire products that meet the highest expectations.

Bekaert employs unique metal treatment technologies to deliver a quality portfolio of drawn steel wire products and coating solutions on a global scale. We are passionate about finding the next market trend so we can help you strengthen your market position.

Strength through synergyTransforming steel wire and applying coating technologies, that is our core business. We have over 130 years of experience in creating wire products of the form, quality and composition best suited toyour needs. Working together, we draw on this expertise to develop the right solutions for you.

Our primary raw material is wire rod – we purchase more than 2.7 million tons annually. Depending on your requirements, we draw wire from it in different strengths and diameters, even as thin as ultrafine fibers of 1 micron. We group the wires into cords, weave or knit them into fabric, or process them into an end-product. Our market-oriented innovation guarantees an up-to-date product portfolio with new products and new functionalities that are better, stronger, faster, longer-lasting, and ever more materially-efficient.

Depending on the application, we apply high-tech coatings which reduce friction, improve corrosion resistance, or enhance wear resistance. Together, our core technological competences give you an edge in your market.

Focus on two core competences

Strength through synergy. This applies not only to our customer relationships, but also to the way we combine our core technological competences. Bekaert’s entire product portfolio is centered around two major technology axes: steel wire transformation and coatings.

Steel wire transformation focuses on the bulk properties of our products: finding the right metal composition, using the appropriate thermal treat-ments, and implementing different forming and joining techniques to obtain the properties needed. Strength, ductility, fatigue-resistance, shape and dimensions, conductivity, magnetic permeability … our processes provide you with the wire product you need.

Coating technologies focus on the surface proper-ties of our products: selecting the right surface treatments for the material and depositing the right amount (from nanometers to micrometers) of just about any material (metals, polymers, ceramics) onto the base. Adhesion, corrosion or wear resistance, aesthetic appearance, anti-fouling behavior … coating the product properly can optimize its performance.

Our customers not only benefit from innovative products and solutions, they can rely on Bekaert’s proprietary manufacturing processes: we make our quality products efficiently and on an industrial scale.

better together: the core of our corporate philosophy

Throughout its long history, Bekaert has believed in the value of strong partnerships and sustainable customer relationships. better together sums up the unique cooperative approach for Bekaert and its business partners.

We want to help you grow your business. We want to know what challenges you face, how you view new developments, how you plan to grow, and where you need greater efficiency. We want to meet your needs and offer you added value for both now and in the longer term.

What we have to offer

better together is built on over 130 years of expertise, a tradition of operational excellence, openness to the wider world, and responsiveness to new trends and developments – the same factors that make Bekaert world market and technology leader.

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Global presence to support your business

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Being part of your solution means being part of your business. Backed by our global presence we can respond quickly to your needs, wherever you are located.

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You can rely on our worldwide production and sales network to meet your needs quickly and effectively.

Our sales network is close at handEuropean by origin, Bekaert has grown into a global player active on every continent. You can rely on a worldwide sales network that is responsive to market changes. Bekaert believes that its performance is directly related to the skills and motivation of its people. You will be working with highly trained and result-driven professionals whose constant aim is to create added value for your business. This way, you get the most from our global reach: our expertise, our efficiency, our proximity.

Our production network strengthens yoursBecause the success of your business is important to us, we work constantly to strengthen our global manufacturing footprint. With production facilities worldwide, we are able to meet the needs of our customers and our markets quickly and effectively. We align our facilities with local requirements while ensuring they conform to our international standards of quality and safety.

Bekaert is present wherever you do business. Our Latin American investments date back to the 1950s and we continue to strengthen our strategic position still further there. In Asia, we were one of the first companies to recognize the vast opportunities the Chinese market has to offer. Today we operate more than 20 sites at 10 locations there. Our Indian, Indonesian and Malaysian plants are ideally positioned to serve both the domestic and the broader Asian and Pacific markets. When demand grew in Central and Eastern Europe, we directed our focus to that region too.

Bekaert obviously also maintains strong positions in North America and Western Europe. But for Bekaert, ’close to the customer’ is about more than geography. We are guided by your plans, your priorities, and your approach.

Committed in products and approachOur commitment to you is not just about product quality. We also demonstrate this commitment in the way we meet your needs and desires. We talk to you about what you want in terms of product quality, production methods, and processes. Then, products, planning, delivery performance, and inventory management are all based around that dialogue.Our high flexibility enables us to match production capacity to market demand, working tirelessly to ensure that our products and our approach are just what you need.

Driven to excelAnyone who has worked with Bekaert knows how committed we are to total quality. We have spent many decades refining our total quality management program and expanding it into new areas. Through benchmarking across locations, divisions, continents, and teams, we select the best practices and spread them throughout our worldwide organization. Total quality management is the springboard from which we pursue our constant drive for excellence.After all, operational excellence is what ensures that our customers are satisfied.

Combined sales are sales generated by consolidated companies plus 100% of sales of joint ventures and associates after intercompany eliminations.

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We are present wherever you are. Backed by Bekaert's global presence and technological support, customers canbenefitfromourcommitmenttolocalservice.Youcanrelyonourworldwideproductionandsalesnetworktomeetyourneedsquicklyandeffectively.

● plants ■ offices and distribution centers

Financial figures 2012

Latin America7 900 personnel

Combined sales: € 1 690 million

38%

North America1 600 personnel

Combined sales: € 659 million

15%

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9EMEA6 000 personnelCombined sales: € 1 040 million

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Asia-Pacific11 500 personnelCombined sales: € 998 million

23%Combined sales are sales generated by consolidated companies plus 100% of sales of joint ventures and associates after intercompany eliminations.

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Adapting to change

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Developing for tomorrow

Innovation profile

- High investments in R&D- An international team of 400 R&D specialists- R&D centers in Belgium and China and development labs worldwide- Dedicatedpilotlinesforspecificproductandprocessdevelopment- A portfolio of close to 2 000 patents rights- Market-driven R&D to better serve current and new customer needs - Open innovation at work: a majority of projects are run in close cooperation with

external partners such as customers, universities, or research centers

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How we work closely with youInnovation is a key driver of Bekaert’s technological leadership. We invest highly in technology and innovation. Our R&D activities are aimed at creating value for our customers with new products and applications as well as with innovative production processes that limit environmental impact and offer reliable solutions at competitive prices. We team up with customers and suppliers around the globe to develop, implement, upgrade and protect both current and future technologies.

Leadership in technologyAt our main Technology Center in Deerlijk (Belgium) and the Bekaert Asia R&D Center in Jiangyin (China), teams of highly qualified scientists and engineers work closely with lead customers. We regularly engage in joint R&D projects with our customers and suppliers as part of our consistent endeavor to leverage ideas and knowledge, expertise and resources to increase our skills and know-how. Our cooperative projects have resulted in various successful applications, such as coated elevator cords for higher fatigue resistance and steel cord with increased tensile strength for lighter, more durable tires.

We also maximize the synergy across our two core competences. For example, we apply unique coatings to impart specific properties to our wire products, like corrosion-resistance, anti-fouling or aesthetic appearance. This results in steady growth in our product offering, in both mature and emerging markets.

Open innovation on a global scaleWe also seek international partners for our cooperation with universities and research institutes. Bekaert continues to cooperate with academic institutes, technology clusters as well as research partners from different countries in order to bring an outside-in approach. We also consider corporate venturing by

investing in companies and venture capital funds worldwide. But above all, we team up with customers and suppliers around the world to develop innovations that matter.

Production processes re-engineeredAt Bekaert we have an own engineering department, which designs, assembles, installs and maintains the critical equipment for our various production plants around the world, and which globalizes spare parts asset management. Thanks to Bekaert’s in-house expertise and thorough knowledge of our own manufacturing needs, our production plants are equipped with the most advanced machines and infrastructure. This, in turn, enables us to match our production methods to your company’s practices.We do our utmost to remove hazardous materials from our production processes, we implement proactive measures and use equipment with lower energy consumption and reduced environmental impact. R&D that spans the globe At Bekaert, we have the opportunity to perform extensive R&D because we have built an extended and truly global R&D organization. Our customers can rely on us for business or customer-specific projects. The multi-disciplinary teams working in our technology platform consist of highly qualified scientists and engineers from different nationalities, academic backgrounds and genders. Together with their colleagues in the engineering department and our worldwide plants, they tackle technology projects across different locations. The proximity to our customers allows us to serve them more efficiently. Next to our two Technology Centers, business or customer-specific projects are further supported by various development labs worldwide.

One of the elements that differentiate Bekaert from the competition is the fact that we have our own engineering department that designs and develops total plant layouts and production lines.

Our state-of-the-art mechanical, chemical and materialslabs supply fast and accurate test results to support customer-driven research projects.

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OPEN INNOVATIONOVERVIEW

SCALED10%

Visual Identity_Bekaert Visitor Centre

Open innovationin practice

Strategicguidance

Idea evaluation& selection

Conceptassessment

Projectassessment

MarketIntroduction

TechnicalAssistance

Ideageneration

Feasabilitystudy

Researchproject

Developmentproject

Market-driven R&D is based on a structured, multi-phase innovation process.

R&D is key for Bekaert as it offers our customers the most innovative solutions and secures our technological leadership position. We attach particular importance to co-development, starting from highly specific problems or business situations.

They work together on cutting edge projects in countries across the globe and consist of top class engineers from all over the world.

Supporting customers with enhanced product performanceDeveloping new products is important. But improving products or providing green alternatives is equally key for providing our customers a competitive edge in their market.

Some examples: - Steel cord reinforced plastics combine excellent

energy-absorption and structural-integrity characteristics with low manufacturing complexity and cost. The automotive application opportunities of these crash resistant, weight reduced components include bumper beams and body-in-white parts.

- We expanded our portfolio of Dramix® fibers for concrete reinforcement with new steel fibers. The existing product portfolio was re-branded as the 3D series. The addition of the new steel fibers in the 4D and 5D series takes concrete reinforcement to the next performance class: previously unknown levels of

anchorage, tensile strength and ductility guarantee the best possible solution for an ever wider range of applications.

- Bekaert heating cord, made from extremely thin and strong plastic-coated wire, is an alternative approach

to reducing emissions from truck diesel engines.- Cushion Ultra™ ropes were developed to serve the

mining industry’s dragline equipment. This new, plastic-enhanced rope ensures a long service life and reduced equipment maintenance.

- Ecobind® is a colored eco-friendly coating for bookbinding wire. This plant-based coating features the same properties as petroleum-based coatings but is 100% compostable in an industrial composting environment and CO2 neutral.

From emerging idea to the automated production lineInnovation is a key process at Bekaert. It is a vital part of our endeavor to ensure that our product portfolio meets the changing needs of our customers and is ready to respond to shifts in societal and market trends.

Finding the right idea and then cultivating it into a product tailored to our customers’ needs requires a specific approach. Our innovation methodology comprises several steps to ensure that customers benefit from a dedicated and efficient process. Once an idea gets to the prototype stage, both our extensive lab facilities and our pilot lines support the further refinement of the new product.

Speeding up our time to marketDevelopment can also be done via modeling. Using computer simulation, our developments are designed and undergo extensive virtual testing. Only when a development is tried and tested via simulation, a real life model is produced on pilot lines at the technology centers, in line with customer requirements. This results in a faster development process, a significant decrease in cost and improved customer focus.

Innovation matters, more than ever.

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2012: PartnershipsBekaert and Southern Steel (Malaysia) establish a joint venture to combine their steel wire and ropes activities in South-East Asia. Bekaert and Xinsteel break ground for a new production plant in Xinyu, Jiangxi Province, China.

2011: Continued consolidationBekaert and its Chilean partners restructure their

shareholding, making Bekaert the principal shareholder. Bekaert acquires the Qingdao Hansun

steel wire plant from Hankuk Steel Wire Co. Ltd. (South Korea).

2010: Strategic growth Bekaert opens its newly built steel cord plant in Lipetsk, Russia and completes the acquisition of two Bridgestone tire cord plants.

2008: Inland ChinaBekaert concludes a strategic partnership with Ansteel,

a leader in the Chinese steel industry. They invest in a joint-venture plant in Chongqing in inland China.

2003: Central EuropeBekaert expands its manufacturing capacity in Central Europe by acquiring two steel wire plants in Slovakia.

1997: BrazilIn 1997, Bekaert acquires a 45% share in Belgo-

Mineira Bekaert Trefilarias S.A. in Brazil, significantly strengthening our presence in Latin America.

1996: India and IndonesiaIn 1996, Bekaert announces plans to build two plants in Pune (India) and Karawang (Indonesia), establishing bases in these growth markets.

1993: ChinaIn 1993, Bekaert takes a significant step in China:

having served customers there for many years, Bekaert decides to set up a production platform in

conjunction with a Chinese partner.

1988: United StatesIn 1988, Bekaert builds new manufacturing plants in Shelbyville (Kentucky) and Rogers (Arkansas), United States.

1972: Stock ExchangeIn 1972, Bekaert goes public and the Bekaert family

opens up the company to new shareholders. In just a little over two minutes, all available

Bekaert shares are sold.

1950: Latin AmericaIn 1950, Bekaert sets up its first plant in Chile with local partners.

1880: Leo Leander BekaertLeo Leander Bekaert starts a business in Belgium making barbed wire. Later that year, he develops his own star-shaped ’crowns’ that can be woven

in with the wire. He patents his invention.

Expanding our horizons since 1880

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Your business, our business

Did you know?

- The length of our daily production of tire cord worldwide, is the distance from the earth to the moon and back.

- Every year, 5 million m³ concrete is being reinforced with Dramix®steelfibers invented by Bekaert.

- Wetransforma4meterpieceofwirerodtoafiberthatspansallaroundtheworld.- SiroLock®cardingwirecancatchupto50%morefiberscomparedtotraditionalwires,

which leads to improved carding performance and an increased card productivity. - Worldwide1outof2PUtimingbeltsarereinforcedwithBekaertfinesteelcords.- The strongest conveyor belt in the world is reinforced with Bekaert steel cord and has

an actual breaking strength of 7800 N/mm.- Bekaert's customers annually use 3.5 million kilometer of bookbinding wire.

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AutomotiveDriving tomorrow’s growth

Energy & utilitiesExploring new limits

Equipment Pushing performance

Basic materialsSupporting your industry

ConstructionBuilding new opportunities

Consumer goodsEnhancing comfort and convenience

Agriculture Cultivating excellence

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The automotive sector

A passenger car can contain up to 30 kg of Bekaert wire products.

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The automotive sector is the largest user of Bekaert products, accounting for 34% of our sales. We set ourselves apart from the competition with consistent high quality products and innovations tailored to our customers’ needs. We supply steel cord and wire for reinforcing radial tires to nearly all tire manufacturers in the world: one in four tires worldwide is reinforced with Bekaert steel cord. We also supply specialized wire products that meet the highest quality standards. These include spring wires, fine cable wires, wires for airbags, wires and cables for window elevator systems, wires for windshield wiper arms and blades, and welding wires.

In this sector, we are constantly striving to make products of higher quality and doing so without inflating costs. Bumper reinforcement based on steel cord and glass fiber is an example of this commitment. It is an innovative Bekaert application that combines the strength of steel with a lower weight, outperforming the existing solutions at a competitive price. Moreover, it allows for a higher level of functional integration and offers greater design possibilities.

Environmental protection and sustainability are driving forces of innovation in the automotive sector. Bekaert sees growth opportunities in products which ensure that solutions last longer or that cars consume less. We also produce metal fibers for filtering particulates from diesel exhausts and heating cord for selective catalytic reduction systems used to cut emissions.

Helping tire manufacturers in meeting new regulatory requirements

According to the European new tire regulatory framework for 2012-2020, tires for cars, vans and trucks produced for this marketafterJuly2012havetobeclassifiedand labeled for wet grip, rolling resistance and noise performance. The objectives of this new tire labeling system are twofold: make products’ performance more transparent and reduce the CO2 bill through lower rolling resistance.

This new regulation poses technological challenges and opportunities for tire makers. Bekaert helps its customers meet these challengesbyofferingadedicatedsolutionthat contributes to weight and rolling resistance reduction.

Tire cord

Power spring wire (seat recliner)

Bead wire

Clutch spring wire Wire for pierce nuts in chassis

Steering column profiles

Hybrid reinforcement fabric for bumper beams

Suspension spring wire

Diesel particulate filter media

Wire for wheel weights

Wiper component wire Heating cord

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The construction sector

Customers in the construction sector choose Bekaert for a wide range of products. In concrete reinforcement, we supply both heavy welded mesh, as well as Dramix®steelfibers,offeringcustomersacompleteproductportfoliotailoredtotheirneeds.

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Fencing

Wire and gabions for rock protection

Dramix® steel fibers for concrete reinforcement

Bekaert Mesh Track® Wire for guiderails

Bekaert Murfor® and Murfor®+

Wire for window mesh

Bekaert Bekinox® Color for architectural applications

Hoisting cables for elevators

Environmentally friendly gas burners & heat exchangers

Welded mesh Rope wire, ropes & PC strand for bridges

Civil, residential and industrial construction sectors put their faith in Bekaert. Our wire, mesh, and fiber products find applications in construction: in lifts and burners, fencing and reinforcement, tunnels, roads and bridges; in architectural solutions and concrete reinforcement. We are driven by our quest for more environmentally friendly solutions with a focus on better materials, greater safety, and lower energy consumption. We strive for sustainable, cost-efficient applications with a minimum impact on the environment. For example, Bekaert supports the need for greater efficiency in energy consumption with energy-efficient burners.

We offer customers in the construction sector nails and nail wire, pre-stressed concrete strands and wire, and plaster laths and corner protectors, as well as solutions for erosion protection. Our strong presence in local markets has triggered a number of new product developments for specific applications, including mining. A large share of our sales in Latin American construction projects is generated by products that are specifically tuned to local demand.

In mature markets, we are seeing a different pattern of demand and one that is characterized by higher quality requirements with, for instance, a trend toward materials with a high resistance to corrosion or ones which allow for faster, simpler project completion, such as Dramix® steel fibers. In addition, we support our customers with a wide range of services, from consulting to the supply of fiber dosing equipment.

A spectacular example of civil engineering, the 3 595 meter long Rio Negro bridge in Amazônia, Brazil, the second largest river bridge in the world, is tensioned by stay cable and prestressed strands from Bekaert’s joint venture plants.

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The energy & utilities sector

Oil and gas remain the biggest resources for energy. The circumstances for oil recovery are increasingly challenging and demand ever-improved methods and materials. We are perfectly suited to supply energy companies and their contractors with high-quality solutionslikewiresandcablesforoffshoreoilexploration,andflatandprofiledwirestoreinforceoffshorepipes.

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Armoring wire for Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV)

Bekaert Armofor® strips for injection pipes

Shaped wires for flexible pipes

Profiled wires

Wires for cores for overhead power lines

Sawing wire to cut polysilicon

Strands and ropes for mooring lines

Wedge wires for oil and water filtration

Armoring wire for subsea cables

Wire for armoring cables

Armoring wire for subsea telecom cables

Armoring wire for umbilicals

In the oil & gas industry all over the world, Bekaert products play a key role. Whether it concerns onshore or offshore oil extraction, gas mining or power transmission, Bekaert products contribute to sustainable, safer and more cost-effective operations. In addition to its contributions to the production and distribution of energy, Bekaert is also active in facilities for telecommunications. Our solutions include cable reinforcement, wires and cables for oil and gas drilling and sawing wire to cut solar wafers.In 2012 we invested in state-of-the art equipment and further product innovation in high precision wedge wires. These triangular shaped steel wires are used to produce wedge screens and filters.Thanks to their high precision tolerance and mechanical stability, these complex wires can be integrated in fine filtration processes for oil & gas as well as for drinking water.

The higher demand on the part of both consumers and industry for energy, along with the gradual depletion of energy reserves, open the door to the use of advanced technologies for the extraction of energy sources under increasingly difficult circumstances. Our customers rely on Bekaert’s extensive knowledge of mechanical strengths, coatings, specific wire forms, and applications to assist in this domain. Bekaert Armofor® composite strips for example, make a significant contribution to maintain the output of existing oil sources at the current level. High pressure flexible thermoplastic pipes form a cost effective, long lasting solution when compared to steel pipes in water injection.

Bekaert's products give our customers access to innovative technologies and solutions that allow them to extract, convey, produce and distribute energy and other resources in an efficient and safe way.

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Consumer goods

Bookbinding wireBedding and seating spring wire

Medical and dental wire

Colored champagne cork wire

Hook and eye wire for clothing

Bycombininghighstrengthwithspecificcharacteristics,Bekaertwireoffersexcellentresultsinsituationsasvariedaswire for cable ways such as ski lifts and spoke wire.

The wide range of applications for Bekaert wire attest to our success in satisfying diverse customer requirements. End users discover our wires in a variety of coatings, colors and applications including champagne cork muselets, paper clips, fishhooks, staples and spokes, as well as industrial applications like ski lift cables, inkjet cartridges, heat resistant textiles, and much more. Besides heatable clothing yarns and upholstery spring wires, our products are needed for springs in electronics and toys. In hospitals wire is used, for example, in monitoring devices, catheters and

diabetes sampling strips. The consumption of these applications thrives on the increased concern for wellness and health. Global consumerism is the present trend. As higher quality and comfort standards and functionalities are required, the demand for more advanced coated steel wire products evolves accordingly.To sum it up: often unseen, but always there: Bekaert is a part of the products we all use every day. That is why we listen to our end consumers. What they want is essential, for our customers’ business and for ours.

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Brush wire Carding solutions for the textile industry

Syncrocord® steel cords rein-forcing synchronous belts

High strength wire and ropes used for straddle carriers and hoisting cranes.

The equipment sector

Hose reinforcement wire

For heavy equipment makers and operators, we supply a range of specialized wire product components. These include: fine cord, spring wire and profiled wire, high-pressure hose armoring wire, hydraulic filter media, and steel wire and ropes for cranes. Bekaert offers customers in the textile industry wires for carding. We also produce high-grade steel wire for the heddles and springs of Jacquard looms.Bekaert produces an extensive range of high carbon rope wire and ropes for hoisting applications, providing

an excellent ductility on wire level leading to optimal fatigue properties on rope level.Our solutions are used both in the machines themselves and in their assembly. As Bekaert builds its own proprietary machinery, we know exactly what it means to make high-performance equipment allowing a manufacturing company to produce goods with a focus on operational excellence.

Wire for retainer rings

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Wire for oyster breeding cages

Bekaert Horseman®

horse fence Vineyard wire Bekaert Solidlock®

fixed knotAuger wire for animal feed systems

The agricultural sector

At Bekaert, we have been providing the highest quality fencing products to the agricultural industry for over 130 years. We listen to our customers and develop innovative fencing solutions so you can build a better fence.

Across the agricultural sector, Bekaert provides innovative solutions that facilitate the growing of crops, the raising of cattle, and the farming of fish and oysters, and that make day-to-day work easier. We offer a broad range of wires in terms of diameters and grades for industrial fishing. Our wires offer excellent corrosion resistance thanks to Bezinal® and other advanced coatings. We offer traditional wire products, such as barbed wire, as well as fences with specific tensile strength and corrosion resistance requirements, like Solidlock® fixed knot fences.

Through our global footprint and our mix of trading and manufacture, we can offer total packages to our customers. Vineyards and other fruit and vegetable growers around the world rely on our wire for training their vines. We provide more than just wire: we want to answer all of the sector’s requirements: wires, posts, fencing, tools, shading, joining and tensioning devices. This has turned the one-stop-shop service approach to our customers into reality.

25To keep belt rips to a minimum Bekaert has been working with several conveyor belt manufacturers to develop and integrate a ‘self-protecting conveyor belt’: a belt which is reinforced from its inside core, using steel cord.

The basic materials sector

Non-contact drying systems

Fleximat®

for conveyor beltsPulp baling wireFiltration media

and applicationsWire and ropes for mining

Many Bekaert products are used in exploring and producing raw materials, from coal and metals to pulp and paper, to chemicals and textiles. Paper is an outstanding example of an industry in which Bekaert products play a crucial role. From the pre-treatment of wood pulp to the printing, bundling and recycling of paper: Bekaert’s presence spans the entire value chain of the paper industry. We make cable and wefts for conveyor belts that are used across many industries.

Our stainless steel fibers and media are used in filtration elements and systems for the manufacturing of synthetic fibers. Bekaert supplies all manner of wire-based products to mines the world over and to almost every step in the value chain. Mining is the starting-point for any natural resource-related process where value is created.

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Sustainability is in our DNA

Beliefs and missionBekaert believes that, as a company, we derive our strength from the lasting relationships we forge with our customers, suppliers, and other business partners, andourclearfocusoncreatingwin-winsolutions.Ourpeoplemakethedifference. We believe that the resilience, trust, and integrity they demonstrate in their daily work generatesthepowerweneedtofulfillourmission.

Our mission is: -Tosafeguardthefutureofthecompanythroughsustainableprofitablegrowthwhile

consistently generating adequate returns. -Toberecognizedasaworldleaderinourselectedbusinesssegments,offeringour

customers – as their preferred supplier – innovative and high-quality products and services.

- To maintain our position as an employer of choice for the best talent by providing professionalgrowthopportunitiesandcompetitiverewards,therebyreflectingthevalue we place on global diversity.

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The world around us, our shared concern

Sustainability

Basedonthecompany’sbeliefsandmission,wedefinedsustainabilityasfollows:Weacknowledgethatourpursuitforsustainableprofitablegrowthmusttakeintoconsiderationthebroader economic, ambient and social impact of our activities. Thatiswhyweintegratetheinterestsofcustomers,staff,shareholders,communitiesandother stakeholders into all aspects of our activities. Bekaert strives for operational excellence in a manner that is friendly to the surroundings, safe, healthy andsociallyresponsible.Bekaertinvestsincleanandenergy-efficientinfrastructure,production processes and products. Bekaert always complies with local standards and regulations.

Bekaert’s global Corporate Social Responsibilitystrategy is centered on four main pillars, namely ourresponsibility in the workplace, in the marketplace,towards the environment and towards society.

Our responsibility in the workplaceBecause our people are our most important asset, safety comes first, always. Providing a safe working environment for all employees is key to us. In 2012 we introduced an assessment system that aims for improved safety attitude and awareness. We continued safety audits in a substantial number of plants. In other plants, we implemented action plans based on the 2011 audits.

Our responsibility in the community and in our marketsBekaert strives to be a loyal, responsible partner within the communities where we operate. We make a point of interacting with local governments in a transparent, constructive way and we are firmly committed to complying with national legislation and collective labor agreements. Bekaert adheres to the Universal Declara-tion of Human Rights and the treaties and recommen-dations of the International Labor Organization. At Bekaert, we deal openly and honestly with our business partners. We comply with generally accepted business standards, laws and regulations, and we conduct our operations in accordance with the principles of fair competition.

Our responsibility towards the environmentbetter together for a cleaner world is one of Bekaert’s ambitions: we continuously strive to use fewer materials, bring down our energy consumption and reduce waste.

Bekaert’s concern for the environment is three-fold: on the one hand we develop new, eco-friendlier production processes for our plants worldwide. Secondly, Bekaert invests in product innovations that allow for process improvements at the production sites of our customers. Special wire coatings can, for example, eliminate certain process steps for our customers and hence improve the

environmental impact as well as the production cost for them. And thirdly, Bekaert also develops products that contribute to a cleaner environment. To name a few, we manufacture super and ultra-tensile steel cord that answers the need for light-weight materials in cars, stainless steel wedge wires used for oil and water filtration, cable armoring solutions for green power transmission, and substitutes for solvent-based coatings.

Our responsability towards societyEducation projects form the backbone of funding and other community-building activities. Additionally we support local activities and projects for social, cultural and economic developments. We believe that education and learning form the key to a sustainable future. With a global reach, we support community initiatives that work to improve societal conditions where we are active.

Bekaert’sCSRreport2012isbasedontheGRIG3GuidelinesregardingtheGRISustainabilityReportingFramework.GlobalReportingInitiative(GRI)isanon-profitorganizationthatpromotes economic sustainability. Other CSR relatedcertificatesandreferencesvalidforthereporting year 2012 regard Vigeo, Ethibel Excellence & Pioneer Index and Kempen SRI.

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the ATM positions your bank card perfectly thanks to a timing belt reinforced with Bekaert fine cord, and its housing contains Bekaert conductive plastics to avoid electro-magnetic interference.

the woolen carpet of the airplane you fly on resists static discharge of electricity with Bekaert Bekinox® spun yarns.

Bekaert Murfor® and Murfor®+ reinforce your masonry with a crack-free solution.The timing belt in the garage door is reinforced with Bekaert fine steel cord.

Bekaert's strong, ductile wires and ropes are used for hoisting applications, such as the cranes you see every morning.

one out of four tires is reinforced with Bekaert steel cord.Your car can contain up to 30 kg of Bekaert wire products.

06:30your toaster contains Bekaert Bekanickel® wire, for a safe and healthy breakfast.

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Part of your life

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the spokes of your bike are made of Bekaert wire.

the polymer wrap around your bouquet of flowers is manufactured with a filter based on Bekaert porous metal media.

the wire holding the cork of your sparkling wines is made by Bekaert. Cheers!

08:00 08:30 09:00the road you take every day is reinforced with Bekaert Dramix®

and Bekaert Mesh Track®.

the elevator in your office may be equipped with (flat belts reinforced with) Bekaert cables.

your office has flawless electricity supply thanks to Bekaert armoring wire. The stationery materials you are using contain Bekaert bookbinding wire and staples.

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Part of your life

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better together stories

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Contents PLEASED TO MEET YOU

WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER 4 Introducing Bekaert 6 Global presence to support your business 10 Developing for tomorrow 13 Expanding our horizons since 1880

YOUR BUSINESS, OUR BUSINESS 16 The automotive sector 18 The construction sector 20 The energy & utilities sector 22 Consumer goods 23 The equipment sector 24 The agricultural sector 25 The basic materials sector

THE WORLD AROUND US, OUR SHARED CONCERN 26 Sustainability is in our DNA 28 Part of your life

BETTER TOGETHER 30 better together stories

The combination of Bekaert steel cord and our Glass Matt Reinforced Thermoplastic was essential for Polynorm in order to introduce a solution compliant with the latest automotive safety and impacttests.”

Kees van Koert, Director Product Development at voestalpine Polynorm Plastics Solutions

Ducab considers Bekaert an important partner in supply chain management. Prestigious projects such as the Dubai Metro and Burj Dubai can only be supported by world players like Bekaert. Ducab and Bekaert believe in ‘Total Quality Excellence’; our partnership perfectlyillustrates the baseline, better together.”

Mohamed Yousif Al Ahmedi, Designation - Purchase Manager - Supply chain Ducab

The Bekaert team was highly committed, diligent and knowledgeable and they have deployed all the available resources, including world-class laboratory facilities, for the successful completion of our technology partnership which will, no doubt, be highly beneficial to both parties.”

PK Mohamed, Chief Adviser, Research & Technology, Apollo Tyres

Imagine what we can achieve together ...

Would you like to learn more about the solutions we offer? Are you interested in any of our products or services? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We would be delighted to talk about how we can work together.

www.bekaert.com

NV Bekaert SAPresident Kennedypark 188500 Kortrijk, BelgiumT +32 56 23 05 11F +32 56 23 05 43

Bekaert Corporation3200 West-Market Street, Suite 303Akron, Ohio 44333-3326 USAT +1 330 867 3325F +1 330 873 3424

Bekaert Corporation1395 South Marietta ParkwayBuilding 500, Suite 100Marietta, Georgia 30067-4440, USAT +1 770 421 8520F +1 770 421 8521

Bekaert Management(Shanghai) Co., Ltd17 F, Block E, Waterfront PlaceNo. 31, Lane 168, Daduhe Road200062 Shanghai, ChinaT +86 21 2219 7000F +86 21 2219 7399

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Putting better together into practiceWhat does customer focus mean in everyday practice? We’ll tell you about some product solutions that were the result of fruitful co-development partnerships. Bekaert and its customers have a long tradition of working in close collaboration around the world. By becoming part of local economies, Bekaert learned that particular circumstances require a particular approach. Our case stories are illustrative of the remarkable successes built on better together, in very diverse industries.

Supporting your business worldwide