Press Release

Gate Gourmet Offers to Purchase Aviapartner Catering

ZURICH, November 20, 2007 – Gate Gourmet, the world's largest independent airline caterer and logistics provider, announced today that it has made an offer to purchase the Brussels, Belgium-based Aviapartner Catering business from Aviapartner Group, the leading independent ground handler in Continental Europe.

"We are delighted to grow our suite of services in Brussels through the integration of Aviapartner Catering, which offers airlines superior catering there," said Gate Gourmet Chairman and CEO David N. Siegel. "The addition of this first-rate company with its excellent reputation, combined with the sophisticated capabilities of our recently added partners deSter and Supplair, means a more robust network catering offering for our customers. Together with our acquisition of IAS/Fernley, we will be able to further strengthen our position in Brussels, a market that Gate Gourmet sees as key in our long-term growth strategy."

Terms of the proposed transaction, which will be finalized by the end of the year, were not disclosed. The terms of transfer of Aviapartner Catering to Gate Gourmet will, as required by previous agreements, be discussed with the social partners in the coming weeks. Philippe Op de Beeck, Gate Gourmet's Senior Vice President of the Central European region, will oversee the transition and future development of Aviapartner Catering.

Aviapartner Catering Brussels offers the complete range of catering services, including meal production, logistics, dry stores, and catering loading. It currently serves 80 different menu types per day for 30 airlines. In its 11,000 m² facilities, 300 staff prepare some 3.5 million meals a year (i.e. an average of 10,000 meals a day) for some 25,000 flights, according to the most stringent quality standards, such as BRC (British Retail Consortium). Aviapartner has been awarded 'A' status in this BRC standard, which incorporates a HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) food safety system, specific operating procedures and good manufacturing practices. Aviapartner Catering in Brussels is part of the Aviapartner Group, the leading independent ground handler in Continental Europe, with headquarters in Brussels.

Founded in 1992, Gate Gourmet is the world's largest independent airline catering, hospitality and logistics company with dual headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, and Reston, VA, USA. The company has substantially expanded its products and services recently through acquisitions and strategic investments. The portfolio now includes cabin service ware (deSter); comfort/entertainment items (Harmony); packaged food components assembled in central production units (Supplair); design and delivery of brand-linked customer environments (Performa); service staff recruitment and training and crew leasing (Elan); aviation services such as cabin cleaning, aircraft washing and deicing and passenger services (Fernley/IAS); catering security (Gate Safe); business applications (eGate Solutions); and supply chain optimization (partnership with Pourshins).