Sensient Technologies Corporation announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its fragrance business to Symrise AG. As part of the transaction, Symrise will be acquiring Sensient’s aroma chemical and fragrance compound production facility and headquarters in Granada, Spain. Both parties agreed to keep the purchase price confidential and the transaction is subject to satisfaction of antitrust and regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Sensient previously announced the divestiture of its inks, yogurt fruit preparations, and fragrances businesses.The company completed the divestiture of the inks and yogurt fruit preparation businesses earlier this year. Upon completion of the sale of the fragrances business, Sensient will operate with a more focused portfolio of food and pharmaceutical colors, personal care, flavors, extracts and flavor ingredients, and natural ingredients for the food, pharmaceutical, and personal care markets.

“I am pleased that we have been able to execute on our plans to focus our portfolio, and strengthen our position as an advanced solutions provider of specialty ingredients for the food, pharmaceutical, and personal care markets. Our product portfolio provides significant opportunities for Sensient to grow, both organically and inorganically,” said Paul Manning, Sensient’s Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. “We are pleased to be able to transition this business to an industry leading company that is committed to growing and investing in its future. We will lend our full support to Symrise to ensure a successful transition of our employees and customers.”

“We constantly screen strategic opportunities in continuation of our ambitions in certain growth segments and also make bold steps in challenging times. With the Sensient activities, Symrise is expanding its range of fragrance ingredients and will thus boost its competitiveness in the creation of fragrance compositions. In view of the increasing importance of natural and renewable raw materials for the fragrance industry, the new product range ideally complements our current portfolio. We are convinced that we will once more fully deliver on our strategic priorities with this acquisition. We drive growth while at the same time strengthening our leadership position in fragrance ingredients and green chemistry,” said Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Bertram, CEO of Symrise AG.

The Sensient fragrances and aroma chemicals business unit has been part of Sensient’s Flavors & Extracts group. The unit holds longstanding business relationships with local, regional and global customers from the consumer goods industry. It supplies out of manufacturing sites in Spain and Mexico. The Sensient aroma molecules and fragrance solutions are mainly derived from renewable raw materials such as pine oil and citrus by-products amongst others. The portfolio will strengthen the Symrise products line with unique fragrance ingredients used in application such as perfumes, shampoos, soaps, detergents and antiperspirants. Through the acquisition, Symrise will not only be able to significantly expand its renewable ingredients portfolio, but to also increase its green chemistry value chain which includes various downstream products coming from sustainable cultivated sources.

Symrise plans to combine the R&D competencies and manufacturing capacities of Sensient’s fragrance and aroma chemicals activities with parts of its own at the site in Granada. Over a period of three years, targeted investments will be made to grow the Granada site and make it the second largest compounding facility in EAME for fragrance ingredients and compounds.