Single A ratings affirmed

The doors of the world exhibition in Zaragoza, northern Spain, remain open until September 14, 2008. Henkel is an official sponsor of Expo 2008, the theme of which is “Water and Sustainable Development”.

Successful public offering of Ecolab stake

Selling process to be started

• Strong sales growth of 12.0 percent
• Growth regions: sales plus 24.1 percent
• Organic sales growth: 3.5 percent
• Adjusted operating profit (EBIT): plus 6.3 percent
• Adjusted earnings per preferred share: plus 3.5 percent

Coinciding with the start of the new academic year, the second ‘Henkel Innovation Challenge’, Henkel’s international student competition, is being launched. The challenge this time: competing students will be expected to act as creative business development managers and prepare a concept for a Henkel product from the company’s Cosmetics/Toiletries or Laundry & Home Care business sectors capable of generating success in the year 2050. The competition is open to students of all disciplines in eleven European countries, who are now invited to register at www.henkelchallenge.com. The closing date for enrolment is January 12, 2009. Among the prizes awaiting the winning team is an exciting trip.

Committing to sustainable development and corporate social responsibility includes tackling the issue of where the raw materials for production originate and how they themselves are produced. Palm kernel oil, a renewable raw material used in the manufacture of surfactants (surface-active substances used in laundry and home care and also cosmetic products) is a case in point. Together with independent partners, Henkel has helped to achieve recognition of certificates for sustainable palm kernel oil as issued for official trading by the ‘Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil’ – and bought the certificates for the new Terra Activ cleaners. The certificates serve to confirm sustainable palm cultivation in the countries of origin and contribute to protecting the rain forests. The process for trading these certificates, known as ‘Book & Claim’, functions in a manner similar to that applied to eco-electricity.

The fourth Henkel Innovation Letter in 2008 informs concisely about the different innovations made in the business sectors Laundry & Home Care, Cosmetics/Toiletries and Adhesive Technologies.

At the Drupa 2008, the world biggest printing fair in Duesseldorf, Henkel once again presents innovative solutions for the packaging industry.  All press releases and images are available here for download.

For the second time in as many years, Henkel will be on show and prominent at the world’s premier annual ice hockey event. Following its successful involvement in the 2007 “world cup” in Russia, the company is again stepping up as an official sponsor of the 72nd IIHF World Championship, scheduled to take place in Canada from May 2 to 18, 2008. For Henkel, this showcase in the home of ice hockey offers not only the advantages of association with an international sport event but also the possibility of significantly increasing the company’s awareness ratings in North America. During the competition, Henkel will be permanently present through its corporate brand supported by the product brands Purex (Laundry Care), Right Guard (Cosmetics) and Le Page (Adhesives).

Over the next ten days, the attention of Europe’s sports fans is likely to turn toward northern Europe. Following the ladies’ world handball championship in France at the end of last year, the best men’s European national teams are now due to meet head to head in Norway. The matches making up the European Handball Championship will be taking place in five Norwegian cities from 17 to 27 January. Federal coach Heiner Brand’s German national team counts among the favorites after their victory in the World Handball Championship of 2007. Henkel’s involvement in the sport of handball has a certain tradition and the company will again be present and visible in Norway.