Cooperation agreement between Naturex and Scalime Nutrition

Avignon, FRANCE May 5th, 2008 - Naturex announced today a partnership agreement with Scalime Nutrition, a French company also based in Avignon. The purpose of this agreement is to accelerate the marketing, commercial and technical development of Scalime Nutrition’s polyphenolic extracts. This range includes extracts of onion and lettuce standardized to polyphenols, with high antioxidant activity, for the nutraceutical, cosmetic and food industries. These innovative extracts will be sold in Europe, the Americas and Asia through the Naturex worldwide sales network. A complete acquisition by Naturex is expected in the near future. Scalime Nutrition’s current clients, suppliers and industrial partners will keep their usual contacts, notably Julien Cases who is already in charge of this activity, currently operates within the Naturex environment.

The partnership between Naturex and Scalime Nutrition offers synergies with Naturex from both a technical and a commercial point of view, while the Scalime products perfectly fit with Naturex core activities:

• They are in line with the new active ingredients developed by the NAT’Life™ division for the nutraceutical industry. Developed according to a patented process, they demonstrate scientifically proven benefits to health.
• They will be also integrated into the new Naturex cosmetic ingredients division, established earlier this year. Approved as ingredients that can be used into cosmetic products labeled natural and organic by Ecocert*, the Scalime extracts provide anti UV-A and anti UV-B properties and provide protection to surface and deep layers of skin.
• These extracts will also enhance the NAT’Stabil™ line of natural food preservatives. Polyphenols enhance the flavor and aroma characteristics of food, and their antioxidant power increases shelf life.

Jacques DIKANSKY, President and C.E.O. of Naturex, declared “The Scalime polyphenolic extracts complement our innovative ingredients portfolio, and therefore strengthen our offerings to the nutraceutical, cosmetic and food industries”.

Bernard RIVIERE, President of Scalime Nutrition, added “Naturex is the perfect partner as it owns all the required means to boost this product line”.

Naturex is a dynamic player in the natural plant extracts scene. Most recently, the company acquired Berkems "Actifs Innovants" division, which develops clinically tested and trademarked plant extracts for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic and food industries. Naturex expects to expand its global network in 2008 by establishing a subsidiary in China and opening sales offices in Japan and one in Germany, to cover the Benelux countries.

*Ecocert is an independent French inspection and certification organization for organic products.

About our companies:

Naturex develops,manufactures and markets natural ingredients for the food, dietary supplement and nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Headquartered in Avignon, France, the group employs 550 people and has an international reach, with over 90% of its sales generated in 30 different countries outside France, 60% of which in North America. Naturex has production facilities in France, Morocco, the United States and Italy, a subsidiary in the United Kingdom, and a representative office in Singapore.
Scalime Nutrition is also based in Avignon, France. Since its creation, Scalime Nutrition succeeded in transferring internationally its proprietary technologies and know-how on the fresh-cut and ready to eat salads and vegetables markets. Scalime Nutrition has enlarged its range of exclusive technologies thanks to academic and industrial partnerships. Its customers are located in Europe, North America, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.