Symrise begins IPO roadshow

Offer period and price range
“We have made intensive preparations and are very well positioned for an IPO. This is confirmed by our current growth too, which is considerably higher than the industry as a whole. Feedback from investors on our business model has been very positive.”, says Dr Gerold Linzbach, Chairman of the Management Board of Symrise AG.

The management is holding presentations to German and international investors in a roadshow from today onwards. The offer period within which private and institutional investors can subscribe will start no earlier than December 1, 2006 and no later than December 8, 2006. It will end no earlier than December 8, 2006 and no later than December 15, 2006. The price range will be published before the beginning of the offer period in the form of a supplement to the German prospectus for the offering. Trading in the shares is scheduled to commence no earlier than December 11, 2006.

Offer to private and institutional investors
The Symrise AG shares are being made available in the form of a public offering in Germany and Switzerland as well as to institutional investors in other countries through an international private placement.

The price range and the exact number of shares being offered will be set in the context of a decoupled process in the course of the investor roadshow. The offer consists of new shares from a capital increase and shares currently held by the EQT III Fund and its co-investors, Gerberding Vermögensverwaltung and Braunschweig GmbH. The management of Symrise AG will not be selling any shares. The company is aiming to achieve net proceeds of about EUR 650 million with the issue and a free float of well above 50%.
 
Successful company development to be continued with the IPO
The company intends to use the net proceeds of the issue to further improve its financial structure and thus to create additional scope for growth.

Strong market position
Symrise has global operations in the areas of fragrances and flavors as well as cosmetic ingredients. With an estimated current market share of nine per cent by sales value, the Group considers itself to be one of the four biggest suppliers in the world market for flavors and fragrances, which had a total volume of EUR 12.6 billion in 2005, according to expert estimates. Symrise manufactures about 30,000 products in 19 countries on five continents and sells these products in more than 160 different countries.

Positive business development
In the first nine months of the 2006 financial year, Symrise's consolidated sales (IFRS) increased by 9.1 per cent compared to the prior year period, from EUR 865.3 million to EUR 944.4 million. Adjusted EBITDA* improved by 34.4 per cent over the same period, from EUR 143.0 million to EUR 192.2 million. This corresponds to an EBITDA* margin of 20.3 per cent. Symrise had 4,819 employees on September 30, 2006.

Current Symrise AG shareholders are the EQT III Fund (52.04%), a group of co-investors (26.02%), Gerberding Vermögensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG and Gerberding Zweite Vermögensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG (collectively 18.32%), Braunschweig GmbH (2.1%) and a management investment vehicle (1.52%).

* Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation; adjusted to eliminate integration and restructuring expenses

About Symrise:
Symrise AG is one of the world's leading suppliers of fragrances and flavourings and has roots that go back to 1874. Our products are essential features of everyday life today. They are used by perfume, cosmetics and food manufacturers. We focus on the development of innovative trend and lifestyle products with a specific additional benefit for the consumer. They include flavourings in which advantage is taken of modern technologies to reduce the sugar, salt and fat content of food considerably. Thanks to the use of selected active substances from Symrise, cosmetic products can be manufactured without any preservatives in future.

Press inquiries:
Kirchhoff Consult AG
Division Manager
Dr Kay Baden
Tel. +49 40 60 91 86 50

Disclaimer
These materials are not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. Any securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the Securities Act), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Any public offering of securities of Symrise AG to be made in the United States would have to be made by means of a prospectus that could be obtained from Symrise AG and that would contain detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements. Neither Symrise AG nor EQT III fund intends to register any securities referred to herein in the United States.