Frutarom Acquires Acatris Health

HAIFA, Israel—Frutarom Industries Ltd. (www.frutarom.com) acquired 100 percent of the share capital of Acatris Health for a cash payment of US$13.3 million from the Dutch Royal Schouten Group N.V. Acatris markets a range of botanical ingredients to the dietary supplement and functional food markets, including the LinumLife, FenuLife and SoyLife brands; sales hit $14.7 million in 2005.

Ori Yehudai, president and chief executive officer (CEO) at Frutarom, noted the strategic acquisition is a key part of the company’s rapid growth strategy. “The acquisition of Acatris Health will significantly strengthen our unique, natural product portfolio that we offer our customers—particularly in the dietary supplement and functional food markets that are enjoying rapid growth—and strengthen Frutarom’s leadership position in these markets,” he said.

The Acatris (www.acatris.com) business will be merged into Frutarom’s Fine Ingredients Division, which includes the Flachsmann Switzerland operations, acquired by Frutarom in 2003. The acquisition will provide synergistic sales opportunities for the Acatris and Frutarom marketing teams in the United States and Western Europe, and provide entrance for Acatris into the Asian market, which had previously limited penetration.