DUSSELDORF, GERMANY -- Henkel reported fourth-quarter sales of 3.35 million euros, down 5.5% from a year ago. Organic sales increased 0.6% versus the prior-year quarter.The operating profit was 293 million euros, including one-time charges and gains of 121 million euros. The Adhesive Technologies business sector performed noticeably better than expected, the company said.

For the year, sales were 13.6 billion euros, down 3.9% year-over-year. The net loss for the year was 195 million euros, while the gross margin was 8%.

Operating profit (EBIT) rose 38.6% to 1.08 billion euros.Adjusted for one-time gains and charges of 284 million euros, operating profit fell 6.6% to 1.36 billion euros, on slower Adhesive Technologies sales.

During 2009, Henkel lowered its net debt 26.3% to 2.8 billion euros.

For the year, the Adhesive Technologies unit's sales fell 10.2% organically to 6.2 million euros. Adjusted operating profit was down 25.6% to 506 million euros percent lower due to considerable volume decreases and a resulting lower level of capacity utilization.The company said its electronics business was heavily affected by the semiconductor downturn.

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