PCI Global Leaders 2005 - Paint and Coatings Industry

Akzo Nobel Coatings nv

Arnhem,
Phone:+31 26 3664433
Web Address: http://www.akzonobel.com

Estimated Sales: $6.366 billion

CEO: Hans Wijers
Akzo Nobel is a multicultural company and the largest coatings company in the world, with about 8% share. It is active in all sectors of the coatings industry. Sales in 2004 totaled 12.7 billion euros, with 25% in pharma products, 41% in coatings and 34% in chemicals. Marine & Protective Coatings led growth. Decorative Coatings delivered satisfactory performance despite sluggish European market conditions. The Industrial Activities segment bore the brunt of the steep rise in raw material costs during the second half of 2004, while Car Refinishes, which had been under pressure for the first nine months of 2004, began to see the benefits of its restructuring program towards the end of the year. Net sales in the United States and Canada in 2004 were 15% of total sales, for an estimated $955 million.
Parent Company: Akzo Nobel, Arnhem, the Netherlands
Source: 2004 annual report, Web site and press releases
Notes: In 2004, Akzo Nobel opened two new multipurpose industrial finishes sites in China and a new, non-stick coatings facility in Brazil. Marine & Protective Coatings established International Paint Japan to serve Japanese and worldwide marine coatings customers directly. Furthermore, the company completed investments in two new powder coatings sites in China and a new decorative coatings facility in Vietnam. Recently, Akzo Nobel announced the acquisition of ALTANA Chemie AG’s Rhenacoat S.A. coil-coatings business in France. In addition, Akzo Nobel and BASF announced a swap of coatings businesses in transactions that will send BASF’s Glasurit Construction coatings business to Akzo Nobel, and transfer parts of Akzo Nobel’s Car Refinishes business in Europe to BASF. Akzo Nobel’s Decorative Coatings business has also initiated the latest phase of its competitive European expansion strategy by signing an agreement to acquire Swiss Lack, Switzerland’s leading paint company.