Ad-hoc | 15 December 2003 05:00

Henkel to acquire Dial

Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– Henkel KGaA, Düsseldorf (Germany), and The Dial Corporation, Scottsdale (Arizona/USA), have entered into an agreement under which Henkel KGaA will acquire through a subsidiary all of the shares of The Dial Corporation. According to the agreed provisions Dial’s shareholders will be offered a cash payment of US $ 28.75 per share, amounting in total to approx. US $ 2.9 billion. The acquisition is subject to the approval of Dial’s shareholders and the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals and to other customary conditions. The transaction shall initially be financed by available liquid funds and debt. Later Henkel expects to sell a significant portion of Henkel’s minority investments in The Clorox Company, Oakland (California/USA) or in Ecolab Inc., St. Paul (Minnesota/USA), or a combination of both. end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 15.12.2003 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 604840; ISIN: DE0006048408; Index: DAX Listed: Amtlicher Markt in Berlin-Bremen, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 150500 Dez 03