Frutarom's Sales in the Fourth Quarter Increased by 9.9%; Profit Before Tax Increased by 86.7% and Net Profit Increased by 24.1%

By Frutarom Industries Ltd, PRNE
Tuesday, March 16, 2010

HAIFA, Israel, March 17, 2010 -

    - Net Profit Excluding non Recurring Effects Increased by 38.5%

    - Operating Profit Increased by 30.1% to US$ 11 m

    - EBITDA Increased by 29.2% to US$ 16 m

    - Profit Before tax Increased by 86.7% to US$ 10.1 m

    - Net Profit Excluding non Recurring Effects Increased by 38.5% to US$
      7.5 m

    - Record in the Cash Flow in the Quarter and From the Beginning of the
      Year: in 2009 Cash Flow of US$ 84.9 m compared to US$ 37 m in 2008

    - Earning per share Excluding non Recurring Effects Increased by 37.5%
      to US$ 0.13

    - Will Distribute Dividends in the Amount of NIS 0.18 per share for an
      Overall Amount of NIS 10.4 m (US$ 2.8 m)

     Frutarom (LSE: FRUT, TASE: FRUT, FRUTF.PK) today presented its 2009
full year and fourth quarter results.

    Frutarom, one of the ten largest companies in the world in the
field of flavors and specialty fine ingredients, continues to
successfully implement its rapid and profitable growth strategy, combining
organic growth and the execution strategic acquisitions.

    Frutarom achieved an increase of 9.9% in its sales in the
forth quarter of 2009, to US$ 108.5 M. In local currency terms, sales
increased by 3.1% compared to the forth quarter of 2008. The strengthening of
the European currencies and the NIS in which most of Frutarom's sales are
implemented, against the US$, contributed approximately 6.8% to the increase
in the Company's sales in US$ terms.

    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 implemented during the first half of 2009 three successful
strategic acquisitions: Oxford in UK, FSI in the US and the Savory activities
of Christian Hansen (CH) in Germany. The three acquisitions contributed to
the sales in the fourth quarter US$ 8.1 M and US$ 25.3 M to the sales in
2009. Frutarom estimates that its strong cash flow, its solid capital
structure and the support it has from leading financial institutions will
enable it to further realize its acquisition strategy and to execute
additional strategic acquisitions.

    The global economic crisis made 2009 a challenging year to the
global economy and to Frutarom as a leading player in the fields of Flavors
and Specialty Fine Ingredients. Frutarom estimates that it maintained its
market share with its customers and the stabilization of the global economy
in recent months, the moderation in currencies fluctuations, the halt of the
destocking trend and the signs of gradual improvement in consumption,
including in countries significantly affected by the devaluation in their
currency, will contribute to an improvement in its sales level and to future
return to a growth trend at rates similar to those characterizing its
activities in the past.

    Gross profit in the fourth quarter of 2009 increased by 8.6%
and reached US$ 39.6 M compared to US$ 36.5 M in the same quarter in 2008;
gross margin reached 36.5%. Operating profit increased by 30.1% to US$ 11 M
compared to US$ 8.4 M last year and operating margin increased and reached
10.1% compared to 8.5% in the same period in 2008.

    EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2009 increased by 29.2% to US$
16 M compared to US$ 12.4 M in the same quarter in 2008. EBITDA margin
improved and reached 14.8% compared to 12.6% in the same period last year.
Profit before taxes in the fourth quarter of 2009 increase at a sharp rate of
86.7% and totaled US$ 10.1 M (9.3% of sales) compared to US$ 5.4 M (5.5% of
sales) in the same quarter last year.

    Net profit in the period, excluding non-recurring effects for
tax gains in 2008 compared to 2009, increased by 38.5% and totaled US$ 7.5 M
compared to US$ 5.4 M in the same period last year and net margin improved
and reached 6.9% compared to 5.5%. Including the non-recurring effects net
profit in the period increased by 24.1% and totaled US$ 7.5 M compared to US$
6 M in the same period last year and net margin improved and reached 6.9%
compared to 6.1%.

    In the fourth quarter 2009, Frutarom further improved its cash
flow from current activities, which reached US$ 27 M compared to a cash flow
of US$ 15.8 M in the fourth quarter of 2008. In 2009 Frutarom generated a
record cash flow from current activities in the amount of US$ 84.9 M compared
to US$ 37.0 M in the same period last year. The strong cash flow achieved by
Frutarom enables the reduction in the scope of its bank debt in spite of the
three acquisitions made this year. Frutarom's strong cash flow, together with
financial institutes' support, will enable Frutarom to implement additional
strategic acquisitions.

    Earning per share in the fourth quarter of 2009 excluding the
non-recurring effects increased by 37.5% and totaled US$ 0.13 compared to US$
0.09 per share in the same period last year. Including the non-recurring
effects earning per share in the period increased and totaled US$0.13
compared to US$ 0.10 in the same period last year.

    In 2009, Frutarom's sales totaled US$ 425.2 M - a decrease of
2.7% in local currency terms compared to 2008, where Frutarom achieved record
results. The strengthening of the US$ against the European currencies and the
NIS, where most of the Company's sales are implemented, in sharp rates of up
to 16% during the three first quarters of the year caused a decrease in sales
in 2009 at a rate of approximately 7.5%. In US$ terms, sales decreased in
2009 by 10.2% compared to 2008.

    Frutarom's sales in 2009 were also affected from the ongoing
effects of the economic crisis and the global slowdown trend, which
temporarily changed the growth trend characterizing most of the global market
in recent years and the business environment in which Frutarom operates. As a
result of the crisis, many of Frutarom's customers in the world vigorously
acted to reduce their inventory levels. The destocking trend became moderate
and the Company's estimates that it ended during the fourth quarter of 2009.
In addition, a decrease in the Trade and Marketing activity in Israel (an
activity which is not of Frutarom's core activities) partially arising from
the focus on products with higher profit margins, contributed approximately
1.3% to the decrease in sales.

    Annual gross profit reached US$ 155.5 M compared to US$ 176.3
M in 2008. The decrease in gross profit arises from the decrease in sales.
The actions taken by Frutarom to improve its compatibility and to reduce its
expenses, moderated the effect of the decrease in sales on the gross profit
and enabled the Company to maintain the gross margin level in the period
which reached 36.6% compared to 37.2% in 2008.

    During 2009 non-recurring costs of US$ 1.4 M for the
restructuring plan of the Company's activities in Germany and UK, mainly for
the acquisition of the Savory activity of CH and of Oxford were recorded.
Excluding these non-recurring effects, the operating profit achieved by
Frutarom in 2009 totaled US$ 48.7 M compared to US$ 56.6 M in 2008; operating
margin reached 11.4% compared to 12% in the same period last year; and the
EBITDA achieved by Frutarom in 2009 totaled US$ 67.6 M which comprise 15.9%
of sales, compared to US$ 76.3 M which comprise 16.1% of sales in 2008.
Including the non-recurring effects, the operating profit in 2009 totaled US$
47.3 M; operating margin reached 11.1%; and the EBITDA totaled US$ 66.2 M
which comprise 15.6% of the sales.

    Operating profit and EBITDA in 2009 were affected by the
strengthening of the US$ against the European currencies at a rate of 7.5%
and reduced the US$ translation of the sales and the profits arising from
Frutarom's activities in Europe (which comprise approximately 70% of
Frutarom's activities).

    Profit before taxes in 2009 excluding the non recurring
effects totaled US$ 44.3 M compared to US$ 46.1 M in 2008 and the profit
before tax margin improved and reached 10.4% compared to 9.7% in 2008.
Including the non-recurring effects, profit before tax totaled US$ 42.9 M
(10.1% of sales) compared to US$ 46.1 M (9.7% of sales) in 2008.

    Excluding the net non-recurring effects in the total amount of
US$ 2.4 M, for the restructuring plan of the acquired activities and for the
excess tax benefits in 2008, the net profit in 2009 totaled US$ 33.4 M
compared to US$ 34.9 M in the same period. Net margin in 2009 improved and
reached 7.8% compared to 7.4% in 2008. Including the non-recurring effects
the net profit reached US$ 33.2 M compared to US$ 37.2 M in 2008 which
reflect net margin rate of 7.8%, similar to the net margin of 7.9% reached in
2008.

    Frutarom's shareholders equity as at December 31, 2009 totaled
US$ 318.5 M (60.5% from the total balance sheet) compared to US$ 278.3 M
(54.5% of the total balance sheet) as at December 31, 2008. The main increase
in shareholders' equity arises from the profit in the period.

    Ori Yehudai, Frutarom's President and Chief Executive Officer,
summed up and stated: "2009 was characterized by a relative slowdown in the
markets, whose origin is in the global economic crisis. We entered this
challenging and crisis-related period as a leading and strong global company,
with a solid capital structure and an experienced global management. During
the year, we acted to strengthen our competitiveness and improve our
operational efficiency while tightly reducing and controlling our expense
level and while continuing to strengthen our R&D and sales infrastructures to
ensure the continuation of our rapid profitable growth. Our quick response to
the conditions created by the global economic situation contributed to the
improvement achieved in our results from quarter to quarter and enabled us to
maintain our operating and EBITDA margins and to improve our net margin in
spite of the slowdown in the markets. We estimate that the stabilization of
the global economy in recent months, the moderation in currencies
fluctuations, the halt of the destocking trend and the signs of gradual
improvement in consumption, including in countries significantly affected by
the devaluation in their currency rate, will contribute to an improvement in
our sales level and to future return to a growth trend at rates similar to
those characterizing our activities in the past. We will continue decisively
to act to implement our rapid growth strategy, combining organic growth and
strategic acquisitions. In 2009 we implemented three successful strategic
acquisitions which support the further expansion of our global presence, our
customer base throughout the world and the product portfolio we offer. The
excellent cash flow we achieve, our solid capital structure and support we
receive from leading financial institutions, will enable us to continue our
rapid profitable growth strategy and again double our sales turnover within
the next 4 years, to approximately US$ 1 billion".

    About the Company

    Frutarom is a multinational company operating in the global
flavor and fine ingredients markets. Frutarom has significant production and
development centers in three continents and it markets its products in five
continents to over 10,000 customers in more than 120 countries. Frutarom's
products are intended mainly for the food, beverage, flavor, fragrance,
pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, health food, functional food, food additive,
and cosmetic industries.

    Frutarom, which employs approximately 1,450 people worldwide,
operates through two Divisions:

    - The Flavors Division, which develops, produces and markets
      flavor compounds and food systems.

    - The Fine Ingredients Division, which develops, produces and
      markets natural flavor extracts, natural functional food ingredients,
      natural pharma/nutraceutical extracts, specialty essential oils and
      citrus products, and aroma chemicals.

Frutarom's products are produced at its plants in the US, UK,
Switzerland, Germany, Israel, China, and Turkey. The Company's global
marketing organization includes branches in Israel, the US, UK, Switzerland,
Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Hungary, Romania, Russia,
Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, China, Japan, Hong
Kong
, India and Indonesia. The Company also works through local agents and
distributors worldwide.

For further information, visit our website: www.frutarom.com.

                            FRUTAROM INDUSTRIES LTD.
                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

                                                    As of 31 December
                                                    2009      2008     2007
                                                  U.S. dollars in thousands
                  A s s e t s
    CURRENT ASSETS:
    Cash and cash equivalents                     42,940    37,229   31,942
    Financial assets at fair value through
    Profit or loss                                              52    1,279
    Accounts receivable:
    Trade                                         65,194    68,204   78,006
    Other                                         13,380    11,573   11,995
    Prepaid expenses and advances to               3,018     2,564    3,637
    suppliers
    Inventories                                   79,113    94,916   90,452
                                                 203,645   214,538  217,311

    NON-CURRENT ASSETS :
    Property, plant and equipment - net          126,113   125,705  135,607
    Intangible assets - net                      191,145   166,083  190,150
    Deferred income tax assets                     3,653     2,990    3,745
    Prepaid expenses in respect of
    operating lease                                1,557     1,476    1,898
                                                 322,468   296,254  331,400
    T o t a l assets                             526,113   510,792  548,711
                                                   As of 31 December
                                                    2009      2008     2007
                                                 U.S. dollars in thousands
    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
    CURRENT LIABILITIES:
    Credit and short term loans and current
    maturities of long-term loans                 46,911    42,784    44,221
    Accounts payable:
    Trade                                         28,290    26,705    38,797
    Other                                         25,788    27,801    96,412
    Provisions                                       407     1,028       440
                                                 101,396    98,318   179,870

    NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:
    Long-term loans net of current
    maturities                                    70,204    99,383    82,579
    Liability for employee rights upon
    retirement - net                              11,605    11,269    11,518
    Deferred income taxes                         24,433    22,142    22,209
    Provisions in respect of other
    liabilities
    net of current maturities                                1,420     1,420
                                                 106,242   134,214   117,726
    COMMITMENTS AND
    CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
    T o t a l liabilities                        207,638   232,532   297,596

    SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
    Ordinary shares                               16,597    16,490    16,466
    Capital surplus                               96,995    95,802    94,392
    Translation differences                       18,063     9,836    17,638
    Retained earnings                            190,237   159,502   125,279
    Net of - cost of Company shares held
    by subsidiary                                 (3,417)   (3,370)   (2,660)
    T o t a l equity                             318,475   278,260   251,115

    T o t a l equity and liabilities             526,113   510,792   548,711

                            FRUTAROM INDUSTRIES LTD.
          CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
                            COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
                                               Year ended 31 December
                                                 2009      2008      2007
                                              U.S. dollars in thousands,
                                             (except for per share data)

    SALES                                     425,179   473,286   368,261
    COST OF SALES                             269,677   297,015   237,506
    GROSS PROFIT                              155,502   176,271   130,755

    SELLING AND MARKETING, RESEARCH AND
    DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES - net                 75,408    85,003    66,898
    GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES        33,004    35,206    29,525
    OTHER INCOME - net                           (195)     (549)     (194)
    OPERATING PROFIT                           47,285    56,611    34,526
    FINANCIAL EXPENSES - net                    4,344    10,550     2,923
    PROFIT BEFORE TAXES ON INCOME              42,941    46,061    31,603
    TAXES ON INCOME                             9,721     8,832     7,410
    NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR                    33,220    37,229    24,193

                                                     U.S dollars
    EARNINGS PER SHARE:
    BASIC                                        0.58      0.65      0.42
    FULLY DILUTED                                0.58      0.64      0.41

                                              U.S. dollars in thousands
    INCOME FOR THE YEAR                        33,220    37,229    24,193
    OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME -
    translation differences                     8,227    (7,802)   11,922
    TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR    41,447    29,427    36,115
    Company Contact
    Ori Yehudai, President & CEO
    Frutarom Ltd.
    Tel: +97299603800
    Email: oyehudai@frutarom.com
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