Henkel Has Signed Exclusivity Agreement With Akzo Nobel

Enhancement of global market position planned




DUSSELDORF, Germany and GULPH MILLS, Penn., July 30  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Henkel KGaA and Akzo Nobel N.V., Arnhem, The Netherlands, have signed an exclusivity agreement on July 26, 2007. At the same time Henkel and Akzo Nobel have negotiated an agreement about a back-to-back transaction, the signing of which is still pending. This agreement allows Henkel to acquire the adhesives and electronic materials businesses of National Starch and Chemical Company, Bridgewater, NJ, a subsidiary company of ICI, in the case that Akzo Nobel can acquire ICI. It is intended -- subject to approval by the Henkel Shareholders' Committee -- to execute the back-to-back agreement immediately prior to the formal announcement of an offer by Akzo Nobel for ICI.  The businesses to be acquired from National Starch realized sales of about 1.26 billion GBP (about 1.85 billion euros) in 2006.

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  Complementary businesses


The businesses of Henkel and the businesses to be acquired from National Starch would be highly complementary with respect to market segments. Within adhesives, National Starch holds very strong positions in non-wovens and athletic footwear, while Henkel is particularly strong in the automotive and aerospace industries. With regard to electronic materials, comprising adhesives for the semiconductor and electronics industry, the combined businesses would be of a size that would allow Henkel to serve the different submarkets more efficiently. In addition, the new businesses would further provide Henkel with additional technological capabilities in attractive application areas where Henkel so far has been active only to a limited extent. These include adhesives for various medical applications and pressure- sensitive adhesives. The two businesses would also enjoy complementary geographic fit. With the businesses to be acquired from National Starch, Henkel could significantly strengthen its Asian business and in some countries of this region, such as Japan, would achieve market entry. The transaction would also enhance Henkel's presence in other fast growing markets such as Eastern Europe and Latin America.

Closing of such a back-to-back agreement is conditional upon a successful takeover of ICI by Akzo Nobel. If however Akzo Nobel will make a formal offer and if this will then be successfully concluded, is uncertain.

For more than 130 years, Henkel has been a leader with brands and technologies that make people's lives easier, better and more beautiful. Henkel operates in three business areas -- Home Care, Personal Care, and Adhesives Technologies -- and ranks among the Fortune Global 500 companies. In fiscal 2006, Henkel generated sales of 12.740 billion euros and operating profit of 1,298 million euros. Our 52,000 employees worldwide are dedicated to fulfilling our corporate claim, "A Brand like a Friend," and ensuring that people in more than 125 countries can trust in brands and technologies from Henkel.

This document contains forward-looking statements which are based on the current estimates and assumptions made by the corporate management of Henkel KGaA. Forward-looking statements are characterized by the use of words such as expect, intend, plan, predict, assume, believe, estimate, anticipate, etc. Such statements are not to be understood as in any way guaranteeing that those expectations will turn out to be accurate. Future performance and the results actually achieved by Henkel KGaA and its affiliated companies depend on a number of risks and uncertainties and may therefore differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are outside Henkel's control and cannot be accurately estimated in advance, such as the future economic environment and the actions of competitors and others involved in the marketplace. Henkel neither plans nor undertakes to update any forward-looking statements.

  Contact:
  Henkel Corporate Communications

  Cindy Demers (North America)
  Phone: [phone]
  

  Lars Witteck (Germany)
  Phone: [phone]
  Fax: [phone]

  Wulf Kluppelholz (Germany)
  Phone: [phone]
  Fax: [phone]
  
  http://www.henkelna.com/

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DATASOURCE: Henkel



CONTACT:  Cindy Demers (North America), Phone: [phone],

, or Lars Witteck (Germany),

Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone], or Wulf Kluppelholz (Germany),

Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone], , all of

Henkel Corporate Communications



Web site:  http://www.henkelna.com/ 

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