WILD Adopts New Global Structure

The new company was formed at the end of July 2010 by the contribution of Rudolf Wild GmbH & Co. KG, Eppelheim, Germany, WILD Affiliated Holdings Inc., Erlanger, Kentucky (USA) and the Swiss assets owned by Dr. Wild into the Swiss holding company, WILD Flavors GmbH.

Aug 2 2010 --- On July 29, 2010, a global structure was created for the companies which were owned by Dr. Hans-Peter Wild and were part of the WILD Flavor’s affiliated businesses. The newly established company, WILD Flavors GmbH, headquartered in Zug, Switzerland is one of the world’s leading suppliers of natural ingredients to the food and beverage industry.

The new company was formed at the end of July 2010 by the contribution of Rudolf Wild GmbH & Co. KG, Eppelheim, Germany, WILD Affiliated Holdings Inc., Erlanger, Kentucky (USA) and the Swiss assets owned by Dr. Wild into the Swiss holding company, WILD Flavors GmbH.

Dr. Wild has now implemented the strategy that was announced jointly in January 2010, when Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) entered into a partnership with the company.

“I am very excited and enthused that together with our partner KKR, we have been able to create the new structure within half a year”, says Dr. Hans-Peter Wild. “However, there is still a long way to go. During the next months we will bring together the new global organization and integrate the processes. We expect that we will benefit from KKR’s extensive experience here as well.”

The Swiss company’s management offices and production sites are located in Eppelheim (Germany) and Erlanger (Kentucky, USA). The production locations in Berlin (Germany), Valencia (Spain), Sisseln (Switzerland), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Toronto (Canada), Beloit (Wisconsin, USA), Beijing (China), and Dubai are part of WILD Flavors GmbH as well.

“With the new organizational structure of WILD Flavors GmbH, we have achieved a milestone in our strategic partnership with WILD in a short time. On this base, we will continue to implement our joint growth strategy”, said Johannes Huth, European head of KKR.

Dr. Hans-Peter Wild feels certain that WILD’s customers in the food and beverage industries will benefit from the new organization. “Thanks to our internationally applied consumer trend research, we recognize how our customer needs are changing at an early stage. As a globally operating producer and supplier of ingredients, we have direct access to all essential raw material sources and distribution channels. This allows us to offer our customers the best products for the respective markets, worldwide.”

The newly created company will be led by Michael H. Ponder as Global Chief Executive Officer. He will be supported by a management team formed by Dr. Erik Donhowe, Chief Operating Officer of WILD Affiliated Holdings, Christoph Schmitz, Global Chief Financial officer as of 1 October 2010, and a to-be-named Chief Operating Officer for WILD Flavors Europe/Middle East/Africa.

Deutsche SiSi Werke GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG Eppelheim with its leading brand Capri-Sonne/Capri-Sun and INDAG, the technology center of WILD, and the fruit preparation businesses of WILD Dairy Ingredients (WDI) Nauen, Germany are not part of the new structure. They are not affected by the new company organization and continue to be 100 % owned by Dr. Hans-Peter Wild.