May 15, 2004 INVISTA, the world's largest integrated fibers company, and International Flavors and Fragrances Inc. (IFF), a leading creator and manufacturer of flavors and fragrances, have announced a non-equity alliance. The goal of the alliance is to jointly develop and exploit their respective technologies to enhance consumer textiles. One immediate focus is the continuing development of cosmetic and well-being benefits in clothes. The agreement is the latest in a series of cross-industry alliances that INVISTA Apparel president, Bill Ghitis, believes will be of particular importance in shaping future consumer demand. "We're entering a new era of apparel creativity in which fashion and the functional benefits of textile science are combining to make clothes better in every conventional respect -- comfort, fit, performance and easy care. By converging textile science with other technologies, we will be able to offer consumers significant new benefits." The new alliance will take full advantage of INVISTA’s market knowledge, its strong consumer brands and its worldwide presence to drive innovation in apparel. In particular, it will seek to build on the success of the Body Care initiative from INVISTA's flagship Lycra® -- a range of fibers and fabrics launched in 2003 that enable garment manufacturers to incorporate freshness, moisturizing and massaging benefits in clothes worn next to the body. IFF Chairman and CEO Richard A. Goldstein agrees that there is great potential benefit in working together to develop new market spaces. Goldstein asserts, "Some of the most successful new products today are the result of collaboration between leaders from different industry sectors. Combining IFF's capabilities with those of INVISTA has enormous potential and we're already making rapid progress in the direction of commercial concepts." IFF is a leading creator and manufacturer of flavors and fragrances with sales, manufacturing and creative facilities in 34 countries and annual revenues exceeding $1.9 billion. It supplies key ingredients to a wide variety of consumer products' from soaps, detergents and other household products, to fine fragrances and toiletries and 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 the highest quality products and service and superior consumer understanding.
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