Frutarom Acquires the U.S. Company Abaco

05/07/07 Frutarom’s wholly owned subsidiary, Frutarom U.S.A. Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the ownership of Abaco, a privately owned American company located in Georgia, in consideration for US$4 million (and assumption of the company’s debt of $1.1 million). Abaco’s sales in 2006 totaled approximately US$3.2 million.

Abaco develops, produces and markets unique ingredients for the flavor and fragrance industry and has synergetic activities with those of Frutarom’s Fine Ingredients Division, whose main development laboratories and production facilities are located in the U.S., the U.K. and Israel. The acquisition is expected to enhance Frutarom’s activities in the U.S., which is a strategic market for the Frutarom Group, and to expand the product line offered by the Fine Ingredients Division to its customers in the U.S.A. and globally.  Abaco has hundreds of customers, both multinational and local, with whom it enjoys long term relationships. Frutarom intends to utilize the multiple cross selling opportunities arising from the acquisition and to offer Frutarom’s products to Abaco’s many customers in the U.S.A. and throughout the world, as well as offering Abaco’s products to Frutarom’s existing customer base. The acquisition will strengthen Frutarom’s capabilities and expertise in the field of unique ingredients for the flavor and fragrance industry and improve the service and quality that Frutarom provides to its customers, particularly in the U.S.A.

Abaco was founded in 1989 and its principals have decades of accumulated knowledge and experience in the field of ingredients for the flavor and fragrance industry. With the merging of the two companies’ activities, Frutarom will benefit from the addition of excellent, high quality employees, especially in the realm of development, marketing and sales. Abaco’s management will be integrated with that of Frutarom U.S.A., contributing its experience and network.

According to Ori Yehudai, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Frutarom Group, “The acquisition of Abaco, the fifth acquisition Frutarom has made this year, demonstrates the continued implementation of the rapid growth strategy of the Frutarom Group, which is already one of the ten largest companies in the world in the flavor and fragrance field. The acquisition supports Frutarom’s continued strengthening and positioning, especially in the American market, which is an extremely important goal for us. Frutarom will immediately integrate Abaco’s activities with that of Frutarom U.S.A. while realizing and utilizing the extensive commercial and operational synergy that exists between Frutarom’s and Abaco’s operations in order to take maximum advantage of the cross selling possibilities while achieving maximum cost savings.” Yehudai added, “Thanks to Frutarom’s proven experience in acquisitions and synergy realization, we are certain that this acquisition will also contribute to Frutarom’s continued rapid and profitable growth and that it will create high value for our customers, our employees and our investors.”

According to Yehudai, Frutarom continues to implement its rapid growth strategy. which integrates organic growth in core activities at rates above those of the industry, with strategic acquisitions. Frutarom continues working to identify and implement additional strategic acquisitions of companies and operations within its fields of operation.