Today Rilken S.A. publishes the nine months results of 2004. The Company realized net sales of 20.412 T Euro and profit before taxes of 1.776 T Euro.

Rilken sales in the first nine months of 2004 were 20.412 T EURO, decreased by 4,7% vs the corresponding period of 2003. In an environment of declining core hair Cosmetics markets, the domestic sales decline slightly versus the first nine months of previous year. The export sales showed a decrease of 20,5%, mainly due to the change of the distribution channels and high stock levels in some countries in the first months of the year. The exchange rate of USD against Euro was also a determinant in this reduction.

The profit before taxes of the Company decreased to 1.776T Euro vs 1.987 T Euro of the corresponding period of last year. This change is the combined result of sales reduction, extraordinary expenses increase and the improvement of cost of sales. The increase of extraordinary expenses is mainly due to the provisions for bad debt because of the implementation of the IAS. The improvement of the cost of sales is mainly caused by the discontinuation of the prior year mark-up incorporated in the cost of goods s old.

The operating expenses of the Company remained almost at the same level of the corresponding period of previous year due to the implementation of a restrictive expenses policy offsetting inflationary pressure.

The Rilken Group, consisting of Rilken S.A. and its retail distribution company Schwarzkopf & Rilken Hellas S.A., recorded consolidated net sales of 23.033 T Euro, decreased by 5,3% vs the corresponding period of 2003 mainly due to the above-mentioned reasons. Operating profits of the Group decreased by 572 T EURO to 2.757 T Euro. Consolidated profits before taxes also decrease by 27% vs last year and reached the amount of 2.120 T Euro.

Rilken S.Α. is an Athens based manufacturer and marketer of cosmetics, specialized in hair care products. The Company is a member of the Henkel Group which is the majority shareholder of Rilken S.A. via its subsidiary Henkel Hellas S.A. The Financial Statements of Rilken S.A. for the nine months of 2004, including the Consolidated Financial Statement, will be published on 30th November 2004.