Frutarom Sales in the Second Quarter Reached US$ 106.7 M, with Net Profit of US$ 10.1 M

Frutarom maintains the operating margin rates in the quarter which reached 12.7% compared to 12.8% in the same quarter last year,excluding non-recurring expenses, and even improves net margin, which reached 10.0% compared to 8.5% in the same quarter in 2008.

27 Aug 2009 --- Frutarom Industries Ltd., a producer of flavors and specialty fine ingredients, the seventh largest company in the field of flavors and specialty fine ingredients, reports sales of US$ 106.7 M in the first quarter of 2009 and of US$ 205.1 M in the first half of the year - a decrease of approximately 5.5% in local currency terms compared to the second quarter of 2008 and the first half of 2008, in which Frutarom achieved record results.

The sales in the second quarter and in the first half are mainly affected by a material revaluation in the dollar rate against European currencies and the NIS, in which most of the Company's sales are made, and from the continued effects of the global economic crisis. The strengthening of the US$ against the European currencies and the NIS at sharp rates of 7% to 22% reduced the sales in the second quarter and in the first half, in dollar terms, at approximately 14% In dollar terms, the sales in the quarter decreased by 19.5% compared to the same periods last year and in the first half by 19.4% compared to the same half last year.

The sales are affected by the continuation of the global crisis and the economic slowdown in the world, which materially changed the growth trend that characterized most of the global markets in recent years and the business environment in which Frutarom operates. The aforementioned economic slowdown significantly affected the North American economy as from last year's fourth quarter and was noticed more intensely in Europe during the first half this year. As a result of the crisis, many customers vigorously act to reduce their inventory levels - a trend which undergoes a moderation process and is expected to significantly decrease during the second half of the year. Frutarom estimates that it maintained its market share among its customers and with the stabilization of the global markets, the moderation of the fluctuations in currencies, the discontinuation of the inventory reduction trend and the gradual improvement in consumption, mainly in countries significantly affected by the devaluation in their currency rate, the Company will return to growth rates similar to those characterizing its activities in the past. Indeed, Frutarom results in the second quarter already reflect an improvement compared to the first quarter of the year.

In accordance with its strategic plan, after Frutarom focused during 2008 on the integration and utilization of the many synergies from the seven acquisitions made in 2007, Frutarom resumed its acquisitions strategy in 2009 and has already implemented three successful strategic acquisitions: Oxford in the UK, FSI in the US and the Savory activities of Christian Hansen (CH) in Germany. The three acquisitions contributed to the sales in the quarter approximately US$ 5.6 M and approximately US$ 9.1 M to the sales of the first half of the year. CH's Savory activities marginally contributed to the sales in the quarter, as the acquisition was implemented only in the second half of June. Frutarom estimates that its solid capital structure and strong support from leading financial institutions will enable it to exploit opportunities created and which will be created as a result of the global economic crisis and to execute strategic acquisitions in addition to the acquisitions already made this year.

In the second quarter of 2009, non-recurring expenses were recorded mainly for the restructuring plan of the Company's activities in Germany as a result of the acquisition of CH Savory activities in the amount of approximately US$ 0.8 M compared to non-recurring income recorded in the same quarter of 2008 in the amount of approximately US$ 0.9 M net for income from the realization of real estate in Switzerland, which was set-off by expenses for the completion of the restructuring activities in UK. In the first half of 2009, non-recurring expenses for the restructuring plan of the Company's activities in Germany and in UK were recorded as a result of the acquisition of CH's Savory activities and Oxford in the amount of approximately US$ 1.2 M compared to non-recurring expenses recorded in the same half in 2008 in the amount of approximately 0.9 M net, as mentioned above.

Gross profit in the quarter totaled US$ 39.4 M, compared to US$ 49.7 M in the same quarter last year. Excluding non-recurring effects, gross margin in the quarter reached 37.2% compared to 37.5% in the same period last year. The gross margin in the quarter including non-recurring effects reached 37%.

Gross profit in the first half totaled US$ 74.7 M, compared to US$ 94.5 M in the same half last year. Excluding non-recurring effects, gross margin in the first half reached 36.5%, compared to 37.1% in the same period last year. The gross margin in the half including the non-recurring effects reached 36.4%.

Operating profit in the second quarter of 2009, excluding non-recurring effects, totaled US$ 13.6 M, compared to US$ 17.0 M in the same period last year and the operating margin is similar to that achieved by Frutarom in the same period of 2008 and reached 12.7%, compared to 12.8% in the second quarter of 2008. The aforementioned margin was achieved in spite of the decline in sales. Maintaining the operating margin rates was achieved as a result of the actions taken by Frutarom regularly and in a more focused and profound way in recent months for further reduction of expenses and achieving maximum efficiencies. Concurrently, Frutarom continues to strengthen its R&D and sales infrastructures in order to ensure the continuation of its profitable growth. Including non-recurring effects, operating profit totaled US$ 12.8 M compared to US$ 17.9 M in the same quarter last year, which was a record quarter for Frutarom, and operating margin reached 12.0% compared to 13.5% last year.

Operating profit in the first half of 2009, excluding non-recurring effects, reached US$ 24.1 M, compared to US$ 32.3 M in the same half of 2008 and operating margin reached 11.8% of sales, compared to 12.7% in the same half in 2008. Including the non-recurring effects, operating margin in the first half of 2009 reached US$ 23.0 M, compared to US$ 33.2 M in the same half of 2008 and operating margin reached 11.2%, compared to 13.0% last year.

The EBITDA achieved by Frutarom in the second quarter of 2009, excluding non-recurring effects, totaled US$ 18.2 M, which comprise 17.1% of sales compared to an EBITDA of US$ 22.9 M which comprise 17.3% of sales in the second quarter of 2008. Including non-recurring effects, the EBITDA achieved by Frutarom in the second quarter of 2009 totaled US$ 17.4 M, compared to US$ 23.8 M in the same quarter of 2008 - an EBITDA rate of 16.3%, compared to 17.9% in the same quarter last year.

The EBITDA achieved by Frutarom in the first half of 2009, excluding non-recurring effects, totaled US$ 33.0 M, which comprise 16.1% of sales compared to an EBITDA of US$ 43.1 M which comprise 16.9% of sales in the first half of 2008. Including non-recurring effects, the EBITDA achieved by Frutarom in the first half of 2009 totaled US$ 31.9M, compared to US$ 44.0 M in the same quarter of 2008 - an EBITDA rate of 15.5% compared to 17.3% in the same period last year.

Net profit in the second quarter of 2009, excluding non-recurring effects, totaled US$ 10.7 M compared to US$ 11.2 M in the same period. Net margin improved and reached 10.0% compared to 8.5% in the same period. Including non-recurring effects, net profit reached US$ 10.1 M, compared to US$ 12.0 M in the second quarter of 2008 and net margin improved and reached 9.5%, compared to 9.1% in the same quarter last year.

Net profit in the first half of 2009, excluding non -recurring effects, totaled US$ 16.5 M, compared to US$ 21.0 M in the same period last year. In spite of the decrease in sales the achieved net margin of 8.1% is similar to the net margin achieved in the first half of 2008, which was 8.2%. Net profit in the first half of 2009, excluding non-recurring effects, reached US$ 15.7 M, compared to US$ 21.8 M in the first half of 2008. Net margin reached 7.6%, compared to 8.5% in the same period last year.

During the second quarter of 2009, Frutarom continued to improve its cash flow from current activities which reached US$ 19.7 M, compared to a cash flow of US$ 14.9 M achieved during the second quarter of 2008. In the first half of 2009, Frutarom generated a positive cash flow from current activities of US$ 30.4 M, compared to US$ 8.6 M in the same period last year. The solid cash flow achieved by Frutarom from and strong bank support will enable it to continue and implement acquisitions in addition to the three acquisitions already implemented this year.