Probiotic Product by AB-Biotics, Group Company of Kaneka Nominated as a Finalist for Best Product of the Year

Probiotic product for infants (AB Kolicare™) by AB-Biotics SA (Headquarters: Spain; hereafter “ABB”), group company of Kaneka Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Mamoru Kadokura), was selected as a finalist in the Probiotic Product of the Year Awards at VitaFoods *1, Europe’s largest health food exhibition, held from May 7th to 9th.

This product contains unique probiotics*2 derived from healthy human origin samples and has been observed to reduce excessive crying due to infant colic*3. Currently, they are sold in more than 25 countries mainly in Europe and has earned a high reputation in the market.

Kaneka possesses more than 1,000 strains including those held by ABB. We are expanding the business in the U.S., the world’s largest market, by using Floradapt™ as our trademark, and taking full advantage of our probiotic products, which improve intestinal environment and have clear effects to decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases, periodontal diseases, infectious diseases, etc. We also plan to grow functional food business by launching probiotic products in Japan in near future.

Kaneka has been developing functional food business globally with the scientifically proved products such as active form of coenzyme Q10 (Kaneka QH™) etc. regarding its safety and effectiveness to human. We have newly started dairy product business like milk, butter and yoghurt etc. under technical cooperation with Pur Natur Invest BVBA (Headquarters: Kruishoutem, Belgium, President: Marc Verhamme).

Kaneka is committed to promoting business development to provide solutions that support healthy and energetic lives.

1. Europe’s largest health food exhibition held every May in Geneva, Switzerland.
   More than 1,200 companies not only in Europe but from around the world exhibited, and more than 22,000 visitors participated.
2. Live microbial community and foods which contains live microbial community, giving beneficial effects to human body by improving intestinal environment, controlling intestinal function and immune system
3. A state of hypersensitivity, excitement and excessive crying that can be found in healthy infants up to 5 months of age, for no reason such as fever or illness

＜AB-Biotics SA＞
Headquarters ： Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Business description ： Development and sales of acid lactic bacteria for functional foods

＜Pur Natur Invest BVBA (Pure Nature)＞
Headquarters ：The Kingdom of Belgium Kruishoutem
Business description ： Manufacture and sales of dairy products, jams, fruit spreads,
Distributes organic dairy products across European countries.