Good start for Henkel in a challenging environment

At 320 million euros, operating profit (EBIT) was roughly at the high level of the previous year (-0.9 percent). After adjusting for foreign exchange, EBIT growth amounted to 2.5 percent.

 In the first quarter of 2008, Henkel
increased sales adjusted for foreign exchange by 1.7 percent. Organic
sales, i.e. adjusted for foreign exchange and acquisitions/
divestments, increased by 3.3 percent and was within the 3 to 4
percentage range of Henkel’s guidance given at the beginning of the
year. All business sectors contributed to this performance. Overall,
sales fell slightly to 3,162 million euros in the first quarter of
2008, mainly as a result of unfavorable movements in foreign
exchange.

The substantial increase in raw
material costs, which Henkel was unable to completely offset, had a
particularly negative influence.