NEWS RELEASE
New York, N.Y., May 11, 2004 — The Board of
Directors of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., today voted to increase the regular quarterly
cash dividend by 9.4%, from 16 cents to 17.5 cents per share, on the common stock of the Corporation.
The cash dividend is payable July 8, 2004 to shareholders of record June 24, 2004.
Richard A. Goldstein, IFF’s Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer stated, “I am pleased the Board has taken this action. We have made substantial progress in
growing both our topline and our earnings, and in paying down debt; this increase reflects our confidence
in the Company’s long-term growth and our commitment to building shareholder value. The increased payout,
on an annualized basis, represents approximately 30% of current year forecast earnings per share and
is consistent with the Company’s long-term plan to pay dividends approximating 30-35% of yearly earnings.”
About IFF
IFF is the world’s leading creator and manufacturer of flavors and fragrances used in a wide variety
of consumer products—from fine fragrances and toiletries, to soaps, detergents and other household products,
to beverages and food products. IFF is dedicated to The Pursuit of Excellence in every area of its business,
using knowledge, creativity, innovation and technology to continually provide customers with the highest
quality products and service and superior consumer understanding.
IFF has sales, manufacturing and creative facilities
in 34 countries worldwide and annual sales exceeding $1.9 billion. For more information, please visit
our Web site at www.iff.com.
Cautionary Statement Under The Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Statements
in this press release, which are not historical facts or information, are “forward-looking statements”
within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements
are based on management’s reasonable current assumptions and expectations. Such forward-looking statements,
which may be identified by such words as “expect”, “anticipate”, “outlook”, “guidance”, “may” and similar
forward-looking terminology, involve significant risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause
the actual results of the Company to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied
by such forward-looking statements, and there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ
materially from management’s expectations. Such factors include, among others, the following: general
economic and business conditions in the Company’s markets, including economic, population health and
political uncertainties; interest rates; the price and availability of raw materials; the Company’s
ability to implement its business strategy, including the achievement of anticipated cost savings, profitability
and growth targets; the impact of currency fluctuation or devaluation in the Company’s principal foreign
markets and the success of the Company’s hedging and risk management strategies; the impact of possible
pension funding obligations and increased pension expense on the Company’s cash flow and results of
operations; the effect of legal and regulatory proceedings, as well as restrictions imposed on the Company,
its operations or its representatives by foreign governments; and the fact that the outcome of litigation
is highly uncertain and unpredictable and there can be no assurance that the triers of fact or law,
at either the trial level or at any appellate level, will accept the factual assertions, factual defenses
or legal positions of the Company or its factual or expert witnesses in any such litigation. The Company
intends its forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time of such statements and does not
undertake to update or revise them as more information becomes available or to reflect changes in expectations,
assumptions or results.
