Akzo Nobel N.V. is an international producer of health care products, coatings and chemicals that operates in over 80 countries. The pharmaceuticals division provides products for the human health care market through Diosynth, Inc. and Organon Teknika Corporation and for the animal health care market through Intervet, Inc. (the third-largest animal health care company in the world). Its products include contraceptives, fertility drugs, antipsychotics, over-the-counter drugs, antidepressants and veterinary medicines. The firm has been labeled Europe’s fastest-growing pharmaceutical company. Akzo Nobel is also the world leader in the coatings business. It manufactures the Sikkens, International, Crown and Interpon coating brands. These coating products have been used on London’s Millennium Wheel, La Scala Opera House in Milan, the Oresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden and Stadium Australia in Sydney. In addition, the company is the world’s leading salt specialist, producing chemicals found in everyday items such as ice cream, toothpaste, bakery goods, cosmetics, plastics and glass. Subsidiaries of the firm include Advanced BioScience Laboratories; Colbond Geosynthetics; Akzo Nobel, Inc.; and Rosemont Pharmaceutical Corporation. Recently, Akzo's pulp and paper division, Eka Chemicals, has been investigating nanotechnologies and how they will change the industry, publishing several papers on the topic. In other news, the company acquired the ATLANTA Group’s Rhenacoat coil coatings business in France. It also acquired Timpe & Mock, the second-largest decorative paint wholesaler in Germany. The firm sold its French industrial resins business to Spanish company Derivados Forestales SA. It also sold its mirror coatings business to the Italian Group Fenzi. Akzo’s Nobilas Claims & Fleet solutions business acquired the U.K.-based Aon Motor Accident Management Company. In March 2005, the company released Alpha Tacto, a tactile-effect paint that mimics the feel of leather or woven fabric, depending on the application method.

Stock Ticker:
Foreign