Press Release

Gate Gourmet, Western Group Form JV for Middle East Business

ZURICH, June 15, 2008 – Gate Gourmet, the world’s largest independent airline catering and logistics provider and a member of gategroup, has formed a joint venture with the Western Group of the United Arab Emirates to develop business in the Middle East.

The new company will be called Gate Gourmet Middle East. The joint venture, along with co-investor Sultan International Group, will focus on opportunities for strategic investments and flight kitchen development in the Gulf region. Offices will be established in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

“The Middle East is experiencing spectacular growth in aviation and we are excited to plant the Gate Gourmet flag in the region,” said Guy Dubois, President and CEO Designate of gategroup. “Other gategroup companies, such as deSter, eGate Solutions, Harmony, Performa and Elan already are doing business in the Gulf, and we look forward to new opportunities for Gate Gourmet, our core company,” he said.

Dubois noted that Gate Gourmet has successfully built relationships with Middle Eastern carriers, such as Qatar, Etihad, Emirates, Gulf Air and Royal Jet, in other parts of the world and is pleased to bring its expertise into their home territory. “Our reputation for best-in-class performance in airline catering and related aviation services, combined with the regional business expertise of Western Group and Sultan International Holding, will give the venture a solid foundation in which to participate in that booming market,” he added.

About Gate Gourmet:
Gate Gourmet, the world’s largest independent airline catering and logistics provider, was founded in 1992 and has dual headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, and Reston, VA, USA. The company has substantially expanded through acquisitions, leading to the creation of gategroup, the leading global provider of above-the-wing services representing 11 brands. gategroup’s portfolio integrates the world-class competencies of partner companies in three areas – catering and hospitality, aircraft provisioning and logistics, and in-flight solutions. Visit www.gategroup.com for more information.

About Western Group / Sultan International Group:
Western Group, which was founded in 1981 by Messrs. Hamad Mohammad Bin Brook and Mohammed Ahmed Khalifa Al Suwaidi, is a locally owned UAE company with its head office in Abu Dhabi. It is the parent company of various subsidiaries and ventures involved in a variety of fields including telecommunications, information technology, security and communications, distribution and oil and gas. Sultan International Group is owned by H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan al Nahyan. Its primary activity is in establishing joint ventures with international firms, and it also is actively involved in direct investments in local projects through public and private holding companies.