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LME ehf. a company, owned by Landsbanki Íslands, Marel Food Systems and Eyrir Invest has now acquired about 19,5% of shares in Stork NV. located in Naarden, Netherlands. Because of this acquisition, LME is now the largest singleshareholder in Stork NV. The market value of the shares is as of nowapproximately 300 million Euros and thereof, Marel Food Systems share is 60million Euros.

Both Stork NV and Marel Food Systems hf. are listed companies, which,influences how informations are made to shareholders, investors and publicly.On one hand, there is the duty to disclose and other hand the duty fordiscretion. The benefits of listing are numerous. The support of shareholdersand the financial market has Marel Food Systems to grow annually about 20-25%for the last ten years.

Marel Food Systems is the only listed company, which focuses solely on themanufacturing of high tech equipment for the food processing industry. Withinthe industry there is not one single leader, the largest companies have about10% market share. The companies are either family owned, owned by unlistedcompanies or are a part of conglomerates. Stork Food Systems is a part of theconglomerate owned by Stork NV., which also owns companies in the printing-,aviation- and oil-industry. LME is of the opinion that synergies between thoseindustries are either small or even negative.

Marel Food Systems and Stork Food Systems have enjoyed successful co-operationin the development and marketing of high-tech equipment for the food processingindustry for the last eight years. This co-operation has brought customers andshareholders of both companies' added value and offered employees theopportunity to undertake challenges within a market area that is constantlyexpanding.

The biggest markets for both of the companies are at present in Northern-Europeand North America, but in the near future focus will be on new markets inEastern- Europe, South America and Asia. Combined, Stork Food Systems and MarelFood Systems can become the global leader in manufacturing and development ofhigh tech equipment with estimated 15-20% share of the market in foodprocessing industry.

With that vision in mind, Marel Food Systems made a conditional offer to StorkNV. for acquisition of all shares in Stork Food Systems in December 2005. Fromthat time, Marel Food Systems has intermittently re-affirmed it is willingnessto merge its efforts with Stork Food Systems. At the same time, Marel FoodSystems has doubled its size with the acquisition of AEW Delford in Britain andScanvaegt in Denmark.

In February 2006, LME reported to AFM (The Netherlands Authority for theFinancial Markets) that it was the owner of 5% shares in Stork NV and that thepurpose of this investment was to ensure continued good co-operation betweenMarel Food Systems and Stork Food Systems. At that time, the management ofStork NV. was discussing with investors the possible delisting of the company.Those discussions resulted in the conclusion that delisting Stork NV. would notbe realized.

Recently, LME reported to AFM, that LME had acquired almost 11%.of shares inStork NV. Shortly afterwards, the management of Stork NV. published a statementconcerning the intention of Candover to make a take-over bid for Stork NV. atthe price of 47 per share, with the support of the management. During the lastweeks, LME has acquired more shares in Stork NV. and reported accordingly toAFM of ownership about 17%. As of today, LME owns approximately 19, 5% ofshares in Stork NV.

LME as the single largest shareholder in Stork NV will not accept offer at 47per share. The owners of LME deem that there is more room for value creationwithin Stork NV. This opinion has been shared with other large shareholders ofStork NV.

LME will in the forthcoming weeks confer with all interested parties on how thebest interests of Marel Food Systems and Stork Food Systems are secured.

Árni Oddur Þórðarson, Chairman of the Board of Marel Food Systems hf.