SPECIAL EVENT (DUSSELDORF, GDR) - Henkel Expands Dakar Rally Sponsorship

Sandy dunes, stony ground and rapid rivers -- more than 500 competitors from all over the world will step up on January 5, 2008 for the starting signal of the world's toughest off-road race, the Euromilhoes Dakar Rally. Extending its commitment for the fourth year with the Dakar, Henkel is sending its Loctite brand as Official Partner and the Teroson and Pattex brands as Official Suppliers to this spectacular event. Over the past three years, Henkel's Loctite and Teroson brands have established an excellent track record in the most demanding race in the world, with products that have supplied ample proof of their capability to win -- and keep the competitors' confidence. For the first time, Henkel's Pattex brand of consumer adhesives will support the teams as an official supplier during their 16-day tour across six countries.

The Dakar provides an ideal testing ground for new product development and confirms the superior quality of Henkel products even under the most extreme racing conditions. By traveling with the rally all the way to Dakar, Henkel will also support the competitors with hands-on expertise for emergency repairs and overnight maintenance work at the teams' camps. All competing teams will receive a Mechanical Emergency kit of selected Henkel products and will get competent help with any urgent technical problems that may arise.

A true service to the competitors

A team of Henkel specialists will be traveling with the rally all the way to Dakar. Known as the Henkel "Charlies" to most of the competitors, they will be available during scrutineering and throughout the rally to provide advice and hands-on support. Over the years, a strong relationship of trust and understanding has resulted from the high-quality products offered for fast and efficient repairs, helping many drivers to make it to the finish line. The Dakar participants rank the Loctite brand the highest among the sponsors.

The Henkel portfolio offers products to prevent loose bolts, worn bearings and leaking seals, replace broken windshields, repair gaping holes in plastic components, tape up all sorts of broken parts - to mention a few of the many successful applications. Used by almost all the drivers competing on bikes, cars and trucks, Loctite anaerobic threadlockers exemplify those small yet very important items that can make the difference between victory and defeat. They perform reliably where mechanical devices fail.

In North America, Henkel markets a wide range of well-known consumer and industrial brands, including Dial(R) soap, Purex(R) laundry detergent, Right Guard(R) antiperspirants, got2b(R) hair gels, Duck(R) brand duct tape, and Loctite(R) adhesives.

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 53,000 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.