Net sales 2004 up 47.7% versus 2003 *

* Net loss decreases from Eur 13.5 million in 2003 to Eur 5.4 million in 2004, including after-tax restructuring charges of Eur 3.7 million *

Drunen, The Netherlands, February 8, 2005, BE Semiconductor Industries N.V. ("the Company" or "Besi") (Nasdaq: BESI; Euronext: BESI), a leading manufacturer of assembly equipment for the semiconductor industry, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2004.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2004 were Eur 30.9 million, a decrease of 23.3% as compared to net sales of Eur 40.3 million in the third quarter of 2004, and an increase of 32.1% as compared to Eur 23.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2003. The Company’s net loss for the fourth quarter of 2004 amounted to Eur 5.7 million, or Eur 0.19 per share, as compared to net income of Eur 0.9 million or Eur 0.03 per share in the third quarter of 2004 and a net loss of Eur 5.2 million, or Eur 0.17 per share in the fourth quarter of 2003.

The Company’s net loss for the fourth quarter of 2004 included pre-tax restructuring charges of Eur 5.6 million (after-tax Eur 3.7 million, or Eur 0.12 per share). On December 14, 2004, as part of a plan to address the current downturn in the semiconductor industry, the Company announced a restructuring of its operations focused principally on a workforce reduction at its Dutch packaging and tooling manufacturing operations in Duiven and Brunssum of 81 employees, or approximately 10% of the Company’s total fixed headcount worldwide. In addition, Besi will phase out the use of approximately 50 temporary workers at the Duiven facility and close its tooling facility in Brunssum, the Netherlands in the first half of 2005. The social plan related to the restructuring program required by applicable labour regulations was approved.

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2004 amounted to Eur 126.3 million and increased 47.7% as compared to net sales of Eur 85.5 million in 2003. The Company’s net loss in 2004 was Eur 5.4 million, or Eur 0.18 per share, as compared to a net loss of Eur 13.5 million, or Eur 0.44 per share, in 2003.