Vienna/Düsseldorf- In line with its global strategy to focus on its core businesses and phase out marginal positions Henkel has sold its industrial water treatment business to BK Giulini, Ludwigshafen, Germany, an affiliate of Israel Chemical Ltd. (ICL).

In 2006, the water treatment business which was part of the Adhesives Technologies business sector generated sales of around 52 million euros and employed around 180 employees.

Henkel Central Eastern Europe (Henkel CEE) with its headquarters in Vienna coordinates the company's business operations in 30 countries throughout Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Central Asia. Henkel CEE is a top provider of detergents, cleaners and cosmetics products. It is also market leader for hair cosmetics and adhesives as well as in the surface treatment segment. In the year 2006, Henkel CEE employed a work force of over 8,760 people, posting revenues of 1.881 billion Euro. Henkel products have been available in Austria for 120 years. The company has been manufacturing at its business location in Vienna since 1927.

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.