Henkel signs back-to-back agreement with Akzo Nobel

Important step towards acquisition of National Starch businesses

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companies/Akzo Nobel

Düsseldorf (euro adhoc) - Düsseldorf, August 13, 2007

Important step towards acquisition of National Starch businesses

Henkel signs back-to-back agreement with Akzo Nobel

Following approval of the Shareholders' Committee of Henkel KGaA,
Henkel and Akzo Nobel N.V., Arnhem, The Netherlands, have signed an
agreement on a back-to- back transaction on August 13, 2007. Under
the terms of this agreement, Henkel will acquire the adhesives and
electronic materials businesses of National Starch and Chemical
Company, Bridgewater, N.J., USA. National Starch is a
subsidiary company of ICI plc, London, UK. The back-to-back
transaction is conditional on the takeover of ICI by Akzo Nobel.
If this takeover will be accomplished, is still uncertain.

The transaction value of these businesses is 2.7 billion GBP
(close to 4 billion euros). The National Starch businesses to be
acquired realized sales of about 1.26 billion GBP (about 1.85
billion euros) in 2006.

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.

Under the provisions of Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code"),
if any person is, or becomes, "interested" (directly or indirectly)
in one per cent or more of any class of "relevant securities" of ICI,
all "dealings" in any "relevant securities" of that company
(including by means of an option in respect of, or a derivative
referenced to, any such "relevant securities") must be publicly
disclosed by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the London
business day following the date of the relevant transaction. This
requirement will continue until the date on which the offer becomes,
or is declared, unconditional as to acceptances, lapses or is
otherwise withdrawn or on which the "offer period" otherwise ends.
If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or
understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire an "interest"
in "relevant securities" of ICI, they will be deemed to be a single
person for the purposes of Rule 8.3 of the Code. Under the provisions
of Rule 8.1 of the Code, all "dealings" in "relevant securities" of
ICI by Akzo Nobel or ICI, or by any of their respective "associates",
must be disclosed by no later than 12.00 noon (London time) on the
London business day following the date of the relevant transaction. A
disclosure table, giving details of the companies in whose "relevant
securities" "dealings" should be disclosed, and the number of such
securities in issue, can be found on the Takeover Panel's website at
www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. "Interests in securities" arise, in
summary, when a person has long economic exposure, whether
conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of securities. In
particular, a person will be treated as having an "interest" by
virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any
option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities. Terms
in quotation marks are defined in the Code, which can also be found
on the Takeover Panel's website. If you are in any doubt as to
whether or not you are required to disclose a "dealing" under Rule 8
of the Code, you should consult the Panel.

end of announcement euro adhoc 13.08.2007 08:29:49
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ots Originaltext: Henkel KGaA
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:
Kontakt:
Henkel Unternehmenskommunikation

Ernst Primosch
Telefon: +49-211-797-3533
Telefax: +49-211-798-2484

Lars Witteck
Telefon: +49-211-797-2606
Telefax: +49-211-798-9208

Wulf Klüppelholz
Telefon: +49-211-797-1875
Telefax: +49-211-798-9208

press@henkel.com

http://henkel.de/presse

Branche: Consumer Goods
ISIN: DE0006048408
WKN: 604840
Index: DAX, HDAX, Prime All Share, CDAX
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