Akzo Nobel is a multinational company, active in the fields of healthcare products, coating and chemicals. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company has activities in more than 80 countries, and employs approximately 64,000 people. Sales in 2004 were EUR 12.7 billion, of which 25% in Pharma products, 41$ in Coatings, and 34 in Chemicals products.

The three groups of business

Pharma

The Pharma group manufactures products for both the human and animal healthcare markets. Products developed by the Pharma business include contraceptives (e.g., NuvaRing(R)), antidepressants (e.g., Remeron SolTab(R)), infertility treatments (e.g., Puregon(R)/Follistim(R)) and veterinary vaccines.

Coatings

Akzo Nobel is world's leading coatings company. The brands it manufactures include Sikkens(R), International(R), Crown(R) and Interpon(R). These products were used on London's Millennium Wheel, La Scala Opera House in Milan, the Öresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden, and Stadium Australia in Sydney.

Chemicals

Also as a chemicals producer, Akzo Nobel is a world's leading salt specialist, chlor-alkali products, and other industrial chemicals. Ultimately, Akzo Nobel products are found in everyday items such as ice cream, bakery goods, cosmetics, plastics and glass.

History

Akzo Nobel was formed in 1994 when the Dutch company Akzo acquired the Swedish company Nobel Industries . Akzo itself is the result of a merger of 1969 of Algemene Kunstzijde Unie (AKU) und Koninklijke Zout Organon (KZO). Various branches of the companies trace their traditons back to the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Swedish weapons manufacturer Bofors once a part of Nobel Industries, is no longer a part of the company. The pharmaceutical division of the company consists of Organon International and Intervet, an animal health company specializing in veterinary vaccines.

See also

• List of Dutch companies
• List of Swedish companies

External links

• Akzo Nobel - Official site
• Intervet - Official site