Symrise: Good Performance in Difficult Times

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9M / 2008 sales developed as planned

  * Flavor & Nutrition achieved very good growth
  * Scent & Care faced lower demand in the luxury segments

EBIT 9M / 2008 maintained last year's high level / Q3 lower compared
to strong Q3 in 2007

  * Sales fluctuated due to economic uncertainties in ordering
    environment
  * Lower growth in luxury segments impacted product/margin mix
  * Margin affected by integration and new acquisitions

Underlying earnings per share remain unchanged on high level
Forecast 2008

  * Sales on target
  * EBITA at local currency - despite adverse product mix and high
    raw material costs - expected at last year's high level

Holzminden/Frankfurt.  Despite the turmoil on the world's financial
markets Symrise succeeded during the first nine months of 2008 in
growing sales by 6.1 % at local currency to ¤ 1,009.5 Million (+ 2.0
% at actual rates).

The EBIT for the first nine months of 2008 was lower by 2 % at ¤
158.5 million (2007: ¤ 161.6 million), largely due to increased cost
of sales. Despite the increase in sales the resulting EBIT margin was
down by 0.6 percentage points to 15.7 % due to the greater increase
in cost of sales. The EBITDA was lower by 3 % at ¤ 211.5 million,
corresponding to an EBITDA margin of 21.0 %.

Net profit for the first nine months of 2008 amounted to ¤ 85
million, compared to ¤ 84 million for the same period last year.
Accordingly, earnings per share are ¤ 0.72 (2007: ¤ 0.71).

Despite the current uncertainties on the world's markets Symrise
still expects sales growth of 6 % to 7 % at local currency for the
year as a whole. The company is confident that it will be able to
achieve an EBITA at local currency on the same high level as last
year and correspondingly expects an EBITDA margin of approximately 20
%.

"Our good numbers in this difficult year confirm our corporate
strategy and we will heighten our focus on it as we move ahead," said
Dr. Gerold Linzbach, CEO of Symrise. "We are confident that we can
continue to grow stronger than the market next year. Our market
position is excellent, especially in emerging markets. We have the
people, products, process and technologies to be successful even in
difficult times."

The Symrise portfolio includes flavorings, fragrances and cosmetic
active ingredients. To a large extent Symrise products focus on
satisfying basic human needs, to a lesser extent on luxury items. For
this reason the company expects that the current economic downturn
will only have a limited effect on the greater portion of its product
portfolio.

In the first nine months Flavor & Nutrition sales grew by 10.9 % at
local currency to ¤ 499.8 million (6.9 % at actual rates) including
Chr. Hansen Flavors. Excluding Chr. Hansen Flavors, sales increased
by 2.9 % to ¤ 480.8 million, corresponding to an increase of 6.4 % at
local currency. All regions and application areas contributed to the
overall sales growth. In particular, we enjoyed continued double
digit growth rates in emerging markets, where growth at local
currency increased overall by 11% on last year. We also had
double-digit growth in sales of 12 % at local currency with our top
10 customers. The share of our AND products (products with added
features) rose by 3.3 % at local currency.

Chr. Hansen Flavors, acquired in the second quarter of 2008,
contributed ¤ 19 million in sales. Due to integration costs Chr.
Hansen Flavors did not significantly contribute to the results.

Sales growth for the first nine months 2008 in Scent & Care was 1.7 %
at local currency (down 2.3 % at actual rates). Sales in the areas
Life Essentials, Household and Aroma Molecules developed according to
plan. Fine Fragrances and the luxury end of Personal Care confronted
weaker demand, especially in Western markets. In emerging markets we
succeeded in growing sales at local currency by 5 % in the first nine
months. Sales with Top 10 Customers increased at local currency by 6
%. Sales for AND products increased by 3.1 % at local currency for
the first nine months.

For the Group as a whole, the third quarter of 2008 must be
understood in comparison to the extraordinarily strong third quarter
in 2007. In addition, sales in August 2008 were temporarily affected
by the uncertainty of customers concerning the financial crisis.
Despite the strong comparator and the temporary change in orders in
August the group was able to increase sales at local currency by 4.9
% to ¤ 333.5 million (+ 1.6 % at actual rates). Flavor & Nutrition
succeeded in growing sales by 10.1 % at local currency; sales for
Scent & Care remained on last year's level. Compared to last year's
strong third quarter, results for the third quarter in 2008 were
lower. Seen in the context of the first nine months the year 2008 as
a whole continues to develop positively and is expected to close on a
level comparable to 2007.

For a more detailed discussion please refer to the Management Report
for the Period of January 1 to September 30 on our website at:


http://investor.symrise.com


Key financials for the first 9 months of 2008


                                               Change in  Change in %
                                                       %    (in local
                           9M / 2007 9M / 2008       (at  currencies)
                                In ¤      In ¤    actual
                             million   million    rates)
Sales                          989.2   1,009.5     + 2.0        + 6.1
 - Scent & Care                521.8     509.7      -2.3         +1.7
 - Flavor & Nutrition          467.4     499.8      +6.9        +10.9
EBITDA                         219.0     211.5        -3           -2
EBITDA margin in %              22.1      21.0  - 1.1ppt
EBITA                          188.1     182.1        -3           -2
EBITA margin in %               19.0      18.0 - 1.0 ppt
EBIT                           161.6     158.5       - 2           -1
EBIT margin in %                16.3      15.7 - 0.6 ppt
Net income for the period       84.3      84.9        +1          N/A
Earnings per share            0.71ct    0.72ct        +1          N/A
Underlying earnings per                                            +2
share*                        0.85ct    0.86ct        +1
No. of employees (on the
qualifying date; not
including trainees and
apprentices)                   4,926     5,096     + 3.5


* adjusting for recipe amortization as well as exchange movements on
loans, movements in the valuation of swaps, and applying the
underlying tax rate


About Symrise
Symrise is a global supplier of fragrances, flavorings and cosmetic
active ingredients for the perfume, cosmetics and food industry.

Its sales of ¤1.27 billion in 2007 place the company among the top
four in the international flavors and fragrances market.
Headquartered in Holzminden, Germany, Symrise is represented in more
than 30 countries in Europe, Asia, the United States and South
America.

With more than 40 patent applications per year, Symrise is one of the
most innovative manufacturers on the market. Used by manufacturers of
perfumes, cosmetics and foods, our products are an inseparable part
of daily life. At Symrise we combine an awareness of consumer trends
with cutting-edge technologies, focusing on innovative fashion and
lifestyle products that have additional practical value for the
consumer. Symrise - always inspiring more.

www.symrise.com

Contact: red roses communications, Katja Derow, phone: +49 40
4696770-10, e-mail: [e-mail]


 
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Symrise AG
Mühlenfeldstraße 1 Holzminden Germany

WKN: SYM999; ISIN: 
DE000SYM9999; Index: MDAX, TecDAX;
Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse, Freiverkehr 
in Bayerische Börse München, 
Freiverkehr in Hanseatische Wertpapierbörse zu Hamburg, Freiverkehr 
in Börse Berlin, 
Freiverkehr in Börse Düsseldorf, Freiverkehr in Börse Stuttgart, 
Prime Standard in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse;