Universal Foods Announces Two Acquisitions for its Color Division.

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 21, 1999--Universal Foods Corporation (NYSE:UFC) announced today agreements to acquire two companies, Les Colorants Wackherr, Paris, France, and Quimica Universal, Lima, Peru. Revenue for the two companies totaled approximately $18 million in 1998. Both transactions are for cash and will be completed during the second quarter ending March 31, 1999.

Les Colorants Wackherr formulates and produces colors for major cosmetic houses throughout Europe, Asia and North America. This acquisition will make Universal Foods the leading supplier of colors to the cosmetic industry. Quimica Universal specializes in the production of carminic acid and annatto, natural colors used in food and other applications. Quimica's technology and customer base will provide new opportunities for growth in natural colors.

"These two new additions emphasize our determined efforts to expand and strengthen our businesses through acquisitions," said Kenneth P. Manning, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We will continue to seek companies that will allow us to grow in our current markets and provide us with the ability to enter new markets with altogether new products."

Universal Foods is an industrial marketer of high-performance ingredients and ingredient systems that add functionality to foods and other applications, giving distinction to customers' products worldwide. The company's products include flavors, flavor enhancers and other bioproducts, colors, yeast, and dehydrated seasonings and vegetables.