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 Friday December 14 2001
Akzo: Organon and Sanofi-Synthelabo received positive opinion from CPMP
Organon and Sanofi-Synth‚labo have received a positive opinion from the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP) concerning their new antitrombotic drug Arixtraƒ (fondaparinux sodium). The CPMP recommends to grant a marketing authorisation for Arixtra in the European Union, for the following indication: "Prevention of Venous Thromboembolic Events (VTE) in patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery of the lower limbs such as for hip fracture, and major knee or hip replacement surgery".

Monday December 10 2001
Akzo Nobel opens second China coatings site within a year
Akzo Nobel has strengthened its position in the Chinese Coatings market with the opening of a wood coatings plant in Dongguan City. The new site is part of the EUR 25 mln investment that Akzo Nobel Coatings has made in China in the last year and will produce coatings for the rapidly growing furniture industry in China.

Akzo Nobel: Arixtra approved by the FDA in the US
Akzo Nobel's business unit Organon and Sanofl-Synth‚labo announced on Monday that Arixtra (fondaparlnux sodlum) has been approved in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Arixtra is indicated for the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis, which may lead to pulmonary embolism, in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery, hip replacement surgery, and knee replacement surgery.

Thursday November 15 2001
Akzo Nobel plans to divest its printing Inks business
Akzo Nobel Coatings intends to divest its Printing Inks business to the private equity company NeSBIC Buy Out Fund and the management of the Printing Inks business for an undisclosed amount. The transaction is expected to be concluded by the end of this year. "We are very pleased to announce that the Printing Inks business plans to join NeSBIC, and that the management will take an equity stake", commented Rudy van der Meer, member of Akzo Nobel's Board of Management responsible for Coatings.

Tuesday October 30 2001
Akzo invests in impregnated paper facility in Brazil
Akzo Nobel is investing in a production facility for melamine impregnated papers in Brazil. The unit will be situated in Curitiba, the capital of the federal state of Paran . The Brazilian market for melamine impregnated papers, which are used as a surface material for furniture, is growing rapidly.

Wednesday October 24 2001
Net income Akzo Q3 2001 EUR 239 mln
Akzo Nobel achieved third quarter net income of EUR 239 mln (USD 213 mln; GBP 148 mln), 1% below last year's record EUR 242 mln. Total sales for the Company were on a par with previous year. Fritz Fr”hlich, Akzo Nobel's CFO, commented: "I am pleased that the Company continued its solid performance, especially when you consider the generally depressed economic climate.

Tuesday October 16 2001
Akzo Nobel and Shell to jointly develop low cost solar panels
Akzo Nobel and Shell Renewables have signed a joint development agreement to pilot a low-cost process of mass-producing flexible solar cell panels. If the pilot project proves successful, it could help to overcome one of the main hurdles to widespread application of solar photovoltaics: its high cost.

Friday October 12 2001
Akzo Nobel invests Eur 35 mln in Asian surfactants
Akzo Nobel's Business Unit Surface Chemistry is investing in a new facility for the production of surfactants on Jurong Island, Singapore. The plant will support growing demand for Surface Chemistry's product line of quaternary ammonium compounds and speciality surfactants. This represents an Investment of EUR 23 mln (SGD 37 million), with start-up scheduled for 2003.

Tuesday October 9 2001
Akzo Nobel's Pharma on course for double-digit growth
Akzo Nobel's recently restructured Pharma Group is primed to deliver double-digit growth this year on a like-business basis. The restructuring has strengthened the Group's strategic focus on prescription pharmaceuticals, animal healthcare and complex active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), providing a solid basis for continuing the earnings growth established over the past five years.

Friday October 5 2001
Akzo Nobel expands Diosynth's position in biotechnology
Akzo Nobel has announced a new - EUR 18 mln - investment for its Pharma business unit Diosynth to increase its biopharmaceutical upstream manufacturing capacity in Oss, the Netherlands. "Through this new investment we will realize part of the synergy potential between a recent US acquisition and our biotechnology business in the Netherlands", said Johan Evers, General Manager of Diosynth.

Tuesday October 2 2001
Akzo Nobel Coatings strengthens its position in South America
Akzo Nobel Coatings has acquired Qu¡mica Borden Ecuatoriana S.A., the leading producer of adhesives and resins for the wood working industry in Ecuador, from Borden Chemical Holding., United States. "From a strategic point of view, this acquisition is the next logical step following the successful integration of Interqu¡m S.A.

Thursday August 16 2001
Akzo Nobel's Arixtra Drug receives approvable letter from FDA
Akzo Nobel's business unit Organon and Sanofi-Synth‚labo have received an 'approvable letter' from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their new antithrombotic drug Arixtra (fondaparinux sodium). This opens the door for final approval for Arixtra in the United States for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events following major orthopedic surgery.

Tuesday July 10 2001
Akzo Nobel to rationalize and improve packaged salt business
Akzo Nobel's business unit Salt intends to replace part of the production of packaged salt in the Netherlands with bulk salt for the chemical industry. This is dictated by a combination of overcapacity and weak prices for packaged salt. Production in this segment will be concentrated on existing production and packaging locations in Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands (Kloek Salt, Dordrecht), while in Hengelo ( Overijssel, the Netherlands) 200 jobs will be affected.

Tuesday July 3 2001
Akzo Nobel transfers Organon Teknika's diagnostics business to bioMerieux
Akzo Nobel has transferred Organon Teknika's in vitro diagnostics business to bioM‚rieux. In certain countries, however, the transfer will only come into force as soon as merger-control clearance has been obtained. bioM‚rieux will pay Akzo Nobel EUR 311 mln for the diagnostics business on a cash and debt-free basis.

Thursday June 28 2001
Akzo Nobel agrees to pay USD 12 mln for violation us antitrust
Akzo Nobel Chemicals B.V., based in The Netherlands, on Thursday agreed to plead quilty and pay a USD 12 mln fine for participating in a price-fixing and market-allocation conspiracy in the United States monochloroacetic acid (MCAA) industry from September 1995 through August 1999. In addition, the executive responsible for Akzo Nobel's MCAA business agreed to plead quilty, pay a USD 20,000 fine and serve ninety days in prison for his role in the conspiracy.

Monday June 18 2001
Akzo Nobel completes acquisition of Biotech Bridgehead in the US
Akzo Nobel announced on Monday that its Pharma business unit Diosynth has finalized the process of acquiring Covance Biotechnology Services. (CBSI). As of on Monday, CBSI will become an integral part of the business unit and will perform its activities under the name Diosynth. This new biotech bridgehead in the US develops and manufactures innovative biopharmaceutical ingredients.

Tuesday June 5 2001
Akzo Nobel in talks to sell 50% stake in Flexsys joint venture
Akzo Nobel said it is in talks with several possible buyers for its 50% stake in Flexsys, its joint venture with Solutia. The stake in no longer considered a core activity, said Akzo spokeswoman Patricia Janssen. She could not say when the company expects to complete the divestment or how Akzo plans to use proceeds from a sale.

Friday May 11 2001
Akzo Nobel showing muscle and visibility
Akzo Nobel confirms its main strategic approach during the Spring Analyst Meeting on Friday in Amsterdam: being a focussed hybrid with muscle and visibility in worldwide Pharma, Coatings and Chemicals businesses, Cees van Lede, CEO of Akzo Nobel, in his summary: "Pharma will be keeping up double digit growth, based on 3 strong pillars Organon, Intervet and Diosynth.

Wednesday March 14 2001
Akzo invests in resin production for TBT-free antifoulings
Akzo Nobel announced on Wednesday that it will invest EUR 4 mln to expand tin-free resin production at its Felling facility in the UK. The Felling site, a major location within Akzo Nobel's Marine and Protective Coatings business unit, produces Marine, Yacht and Protective Coatings, under the International brandname, for European, African and Middle Eastern markets.

Wednesday March 7 2001
Intervet (Akzo Nobel) to streamline US Animal Healthcare operations
Intervet has chosen its site in DeSoto, Kansas, for the construction of a state-of-the-art facility that will serve as the regional R&D, production and administrative center in the Mid-west of the USA. The total investment will amount to EUR 40 mln (USD 37 mln). Following its recent acquisitions of Hoechst Roussel Vet, Bio-Trends International and Bayer's North American biologicals business, Intervet currently operates 12 locations in the USA..

Friday February 23 2001
Akzo lets CVC do the dirty work
Acordis, the former fibre subsidiary of Dutch chemicals group Akzo Nobel, will be sold in parts, to the great indignation of staff. Unions are very concerned about developments, because UK investment company CVC, which took over Acordis in December 1999, promised that it would invest in and not split the company for sale.

Akzo: net income '00 EUR 966 mln
This was the first year of operation of the new Akzo Nobel after the divestment of Fibers. It has made us a more balanced company. Our company was clearly reaping the benefits of its improved portfolio. 2000 was the best year ever for Akzo Nobel. By organic growth and also through a number of acquisitions and divestments, we were able to further strengthen our industrial base.

Monday February 19 2001
French co's offer to Akzo may impact Infar's business
INFAR India Ltd's diagnostic business may witness some crucial changes during the next few months because the French pharma major, bioMerieux SA, has made a global offer to Akzo Nobel, Infar's Dutch parent, to acquire the diagnostic activity of Organon Teknika, a wing of Akzo Nobel. Industry sources said that both the companies were seriously considering the options.

Wednesday February 14 2001
Akzo receives offer for Organon Teknika's diagnotics business
Akzo Nobel announces that it has received an offer from bioMerieux S.A. for Organon Teknika's in vitro diagnostics business. Organon Teknika's diagnostics business has successfully developed a strong worldwide position for specific diagnostic product lines and services, based on its own, specialized R&D capabilities.

Akzo invests in resins for the French wood based panel industry
Akzo Nobel announced on Wednesday that it will invest EUR 12 mln to expand its production facility in AmbarŠs in the southwest of France. At the site, Akzo Nobel's Business Unit Industrial Products, which trades under the name of Casco Products, produces industrial resins and wood adhesives for the French and Spanish markets.

Wednesday February 7 2001
Organon (Akzo) and Solvay announce co-promotion of Remeron SolTab
Organon., the US human healtcare business of Akzo Nobel, announces that its new drug formulation for treating depression, Remeron SolTab, is now available in pharmacies throughout the US Concurrently, Organon. and Solvay Pharmaceuticals. have contracted to co-promote Remeron SolTab (mirtazapine) orally disintegrating tablet, which is the first and only orally disintegrating antidepressant on the market.

Friday January 19 2001
Akzo's Organon, Chiron close deal
Chemical group Akzo Nobel said on Friday its Organon Teknika unit had agreed to continue producing and selling US biotechnology firm Chiron Corp's HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) diagnostic products. No financial details of the license agreement between the firms were disclosed. Chiron will receive royalty revenues based on a percentage of Organon's net sales of both current and future products, Akzo Nobel said in a statement.

Friday January 12 2001
Akzo wants to exceed the results of 2000
Akzo Nobel wants to exceed the results of its record year 2000 despite less favourable circumstances this year, chairman Mr C. van Lede said on Thursday in his New Year address. Mr Van Lede repeated the prognosis that net profit over the year 2000 will increase by over 20%. Consolidated turnover will amount to about EUR 14 bn. The final annual results will be released on 23 February.

Thursday January 11 2001
Akzo:'We have the ambition to beat record year 2000'
"Looking ahead to 2001, we are sticking to our basic themes of coherence and value. We have created expectations both internally and externally. We now have to live up to them" said Cees J.A. van Lede, CEO of Akzo Nobel in his New Year's Address to the 68,000 employees of his company. "After the divestment of Fibers, we had an excellent year 2000.

Friday December 15 2000
Akzo Nobel: Negotiations on the sale of Chefao completed
Akzo Nobel announces that it has completed the negotiations on the sale of its over-the-counter pharmaceuticals business Chefaro. Per January 1, 2001 Chefaro will be consolidated into the Belgium-based pharmaceutical Group Omega Pharma. Omega Pharma will pay Eur 105.7 million in cash for Chefaro and will assume Eur 35 million of debt as part of the agreement.

Thursday December 7 2000
Dutch chemical sector sales soars
Dutch chemical sector sales in 2000 are expected to rise by 18% from last year to a record level of EUR 32 bn (USD 28.67 bn), the Association of the Dutch Chemical Industry (VNCI) said on Thursday. That increase is a result of a 6% rise in output levels and an 11% hike in sales prices, VNCI said in a statement.

Tuesday December 5 2000
Akzo: new anti-thrombotic product demonstrates superior benefits
Results of major international VTE prevention phase III program show superior benefits of the pentasaccharide Org31540/SR90107A The results of four Phase III clinical triais show that the pentasaccharide Org31540/SR90107A provides a superior benefit over a low molecular weight heparin (comparator) in preventing deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in major orthopedic surgery patients, with an overall relative risk reduction of 50% and a similar safety profile.

Monday December 4 2000
Akzo to acquire French paint wholesaler Vachon
Akzo Nobel is expected to acquire the French paint wholesaler Vachon S.A. Lyon early January 2001. A letter of intent to this end has been signed by the two parties. Vachon is the largest Independent Sikkens wholesaler in France, with 13outlets in the Rh“ne-Alpes area. Vachon, a family owned business, has been involved in Sikkens activities since 1950.

Tuesday November 21 2000
Akzo: Internet acquires new R&D facilities in the UK
Purchase will further strengthen Intervet's animal vaccine R&D in Europe Intervet, the veterinary business unit of Akzo Nobel, on Tuesday announced that it has agreed to purchase research and development facilities from Aventis in the UK. The newly-acquired laboratories occupy a position adjacent to Intervet's existing site in Milton Keynes.

Wednesday November 15 2000
Akzo: Invests in expansion of its building adhesives business
Akzo Nobel will invest in the construction of a new factory for powder-based building adhesives in Rosendahl, Germany. The investment in an integral part of an ambitious business plan for the company's building adhesive activities. Trading mainly under the name of SCHONOX, the site in Rosendahl produces a specialized range of tile and floor adhesives, as well as leveling compounds for customers all over Europe.

Tuesday October 31 2000
Akzo receives offer of EUR 140.7 mln for Chefaro
Akzo Nobel announces it has received a cash offer of EUR 105.7 mln for Chefaro, its over-the-counter pharmaceuticals business unit from Omega Pharma. In addition, Omega Pharma will assume EUR 35 mln of debt as part of its offer. Chefaro is engaged in the development, manufacturing and marketing of OTC pharmaceuticals and diagnostics products, principally in Europe.

Wednesday October 25 2000
Akzo up on pharma sales
Akzo Nobel, the diversified chemicals group, has ridden high on the strength of its pharmaceuticals business unit in the third quarter, recording a 25% increase in net profits. The Dutch chemical, coatings and pharmaceutical group reported E242m (USD 203 mln) in net profit, against E193m for the previous year, slightly exceeding analysts' expectations of E238m.

Wednesday October 11 2000
Philip James has been appointed as one of Akzo's top men in the UK and Ireland
In his new position-managing director of Akzo Nobel Coatings Ltd-he has taken over responsibility for Akzo Nobel Car Refinishes Ireland and Akzo Nobel Coatings in the UK. Philip joined the company in 1990 as marketing manager for Car Refinishes UK before taking over the helm at Akzo Nobel Car Refinishes France in 1993.

Friday October 6 2000
Akzo: New Organon facility makes the most of the fine Scottish blend
Organon, Akzo Nobel's human healthcare business, officially opened a new research facility on Friday to strengthen its unique position as a pharmaceutical company performing drug discovery activities in Scotland. In this facility, after a second investment of EUR 17 mln, around 280 people will be employed in the year 2001, with further growth foreseen for the years to follow.

Wednesday October 4 2000
Akzo prepared to spin drugs division
Akzo Nobel is prepared to spin off its drugs division if that became necessary to complete a pharmaceuticals transaction, Fritz Froehlich, Akzo's chief financial officer, said yesterday, according to the Financial Times. Azko, which comprises chemicals, coatings and pharmaceuticals businesses, is content with its "hybrid status", Froehlich was quoted as saying.

Friday September 29 2000
Akzo labeled Europe's fastest growing pharmaceutical company
Akzo Nobel's worldwide Pharma operations are flourishing. Sales and earnings of the pharmaceutical businesses more than doubled in the past five years. The recent acceleration of growth resulted in Akzo Nobel being labeled as Europe's fastest growing pharmaceutical company. The company is striving for continued double-digit growth in Pharma, based on its excellent pipeline, strategic acquisitions and collaborations.

Akzo opens new manufacturing facilities at Lima
Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals has strengthened its well-established position in the North American market for chelating agents and micronutrients with the opening of its new chelates manufacturing facility at Lima (OH). With an investment of EUR 55 mln (USD 50 mln) and more than doubled staffing, the Lima site has been developed into a state-of-the-art, world-scale plant with sufficient capacity to meet expected future demand for intermediate and finished chelated products.

Wednesday September 13 2000
Akzo opens new production line
Akzo Nobel said on Wednesday it had invested USD 50 mln to open a new production line at Lima, Ohio, more than doubling staffing at the site. The new chelating agent manufacturing unit has sufficient capacity to meet expeted future demand for intermediate and finished chelated products such as its Dissolvine brand, Akzo said in a statement.

Wednesday September 6 2000
AF Group wins Akzo Nobel assignment
The AF Group has prevailed over fierce competition to secure the assignment to plan a new production line for Akzo Nobel's operations in Ornskoldsvik, in the north-east of Sweden. The project will extend to 12,000 consulting hours and will require the skills and expertise of around 15 AF Group consultants within the fields of process technology, IT, and electrical, mechanical and HVAC engineering.

Tuesday September 5 2000
Akzo says has better drag than enoxaparin
Akzo Nobel said on Tuesday its anti-clotting pentasacharide drug performed better than enoxaparin in four separate phase three clinical studies. The new studies, which will be presented in December at the American Society for Hematology Annual Meeting in San Francisco, showed the pentasacharides prevented more venous thromboembolic events (VTE) than enoxaparin, with an overall relative risk reduction of more than 50% than the popular drug in hip and knee surgery.

Friday August 25 2000
Akzo Nobel acquires part of Mason Coatings ops
Akzo Nobel announced on Thursday that it has agreed to acquire the Commercial Vehicle Coatings activities of Mason Coatings in the UK. Akzo Nobel said the move will make it the clear market leader in this market segment in the UK. The agreement with McLeod Russel Holdings plc, owner of Mason Coatings plc, includes the Mason Transport Coatings Division and the Mason Graphics Division.

Friday August 18 2000
Akzo Nobel to divest Chefaro
Akzo Nobel said the company will divest its over-the-counter drugs unit Chefaro. The unit, which sells such products as hay fever medicine and vitamins, does not offer enough synergies with Akzo's other pharmaceutical activities, Akzo Nobel said. In Akzo Nobel's internal newsletter, board member Paul Brons said the unit also lacks the critical mass necessary to sustain the heavy costs of product development and marketing.

Monday July 31 2000
Akzo Nobel buys Dexter's coatings business
Akzo Nobel said on Monday it would double the size of its aerospace coatings operations by buying the coatings business of Dexter Corporation for an undisclosed sum. The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, also strengthens the company's position in transportation and speciality coatings in the United States, Akzo Nobel said.

Wednesday July 26 2000
Akzo Nobel lifts earnings
Akzo Nobel's net income rose 24% to E265m in the second quarter, largely as a result of strong performances in coatings and pharmaceuticals. Net income for the first six months was up 27% to E484m. The Dutch chemicals group said the results, which were in line with analysts' forecasts, put the company on track to make its target of double-digit earnings growth for the full year, despite an expected slow-down in the second half.

Wednesday July 19 2000
Organon trials male contraceptive
Akzo Nobel's pharmaceutical unit Organon is to begin full-scale clinical trials of a potential male contraceptive following successful study results reported Monday by researchers in Scotland. Organon said the Scottish team's results were "very encouraging" as they showed the contraceptive can completely inhibit sperm production.

Tuesday July 18 2000
Akzo Nobel to divest German pharma unit
Akzo Nobel said on Tuesday its pharmaceuticals unit Organon would divest one of its German affiliates. Thiemann Arzneimittel GmbH will be transferred to Global Health Care Partners and DLJ Merchant Banking II, LP based in New York. No financial details of the transaction were disclosed. "It is Organon's strategy to concentrate its core production on a few main sites in Europe", Akzo Nobel said in a statement, adding the transfer would not result in any redundancies.

Friday July 7 2000
Akzo Nobel invests in China coatings sites
Akzo Nobel said on Friday it had begun work on two new coatings plants in China, investing around EUR 25 mln. Akzo said in a statement that the investments would strengthen its position in China and serve us a platform for further expansion of its activities in the region. One site, in Suzhou, near Shanghai, would house car refinishes, powder coatings and transportation coatings, Akzo Nobel said.

Tuesday June 27 2000
Akzo Nobel to buy Bayer unit
Intervet, the animal health unit of Akzo Nobel, the Dutch chemicals group, has agreed to buy Bayer's animal vaccines business in a move that will make it number three in the veterinary sector. Financial details were not disclosed. Bayer's animal health unit had sales of E900m (USD 864 mln) last year.

Wednesday June 14 2000
Akzo Nobel buys livestock vaccines unit from Bayer
German chemicals group Bayer said on Wednesday it had agreed to sell its US livestock vaccines business to Intervet International, a subsidiary of Dutch group Akzo Nobel. Bayer said in a statement that the deal would come into force on August 1, 2000, subject to regulatory approval. It did not disclose the terms of the agreement or the deal's value.

Tuesday April 25 2000
Akzo Nobel 1Q earnings up 30%
Akzo Nobel on Tuesday posted a 30% rise in first-quarter earnings to EUR 219 mln, and said it was still on track to record double-digit profit growth for the whole of 2000. Akzo unveiled 37% growth in operating earnings at its pharmaceuticals division to EUR 171 mln, while the chemicals business posted a record operating profit of EUR 126 mln, a rise of 33%.

Akzo Nobel plays down net strategy
Akzo Nobel took a swipe Tuesday at companies it said were trying to deflect attention from poor earnings by resorting to internet strategy "gimmicks". Fritz Frohlich, chief financial officer, said: "We don't buy into hype. We don't like gimmicks. We are taking a more solid approach." Speaking after the company unveiled a 30% gain in first-quarter net earnings, Mr Frohlich said that while analysts were probing for detail of its net strategy, its decisions would not be dictated by trends.

Thursday April 6 2000
Organon, Aurora in test alliance
Akzo Nobel said on Thursday its Organon pharmaceutical unit had entered a three-year deal with Aurora Biosciences Corp to develop testing systems together. The cooperation, for which no financial details were given, aims to recognise which substances in the body impact receptors and enzymes. Organon says such substances could then be commercially produced.

Friday February 25 2000
Acordis drags Akzo down
Akzo Nobel on Friday said net income fell almost two-thirds, dragged down by charges relating to the sale of its Acordis fibers unit at year-end. The company forcecast a double-digit rise of more than 10% in this year's profit before one-time charges in 2000, however. Profit fell to EUR 204 mln (USD 203 mln) from EUR 574 mln in 1998, a drop of 64%.

Akzo Nobel net profit down 67%
Akzo Nobel reported on Friday net profit for 1999 fell 67% to EUR 204.0 mln, compared with net profit of EUR 609.4 mln the company booked in the comparible period of 1998. Turnover increased 16% from EUR 12,482.1 mln to EUR 14,432.0 mln. Operating income increased 27% from EUR 1,076.8 mln to EUR 1,364.0 mln.

Akzo to boost coatings margins
Akzo Nobel expects its coatings unit to reach sales margin targets of 10% and return on investment margins of 25% in three to four years, Chief Financial Officer Fritz Frohlich said on Friday. The company posted 1999 coatings turnover of EUR 5.5 bn (USD 5.40 bn) and operating income of EUR 466 mln. That put the return on sales at 8.5%, well below its 10% target, and return on invested capital at 20.4%, the company said.

Tuesday February 1 2000
Akzo Nobel cuts 40 jobs at Organon
Akzo Nobel said on Tuesday that it will cut 40 of the 550 jobs at its unit Organon Teknika in Boxtel. Akzo Nobel said that the unit is not profitable enough. The unit, which posted a loss in 1998 and a modest profit last year, specialises in diagnostics such as Aids tests.

Thursday January 13 2000
Akzo Nobel - 2000: building coherence, creating value
The year 2000 will be a year of building more coherence and creating value in a fundamentally refocused Akzo Nobel, according to Cees J.A. van Lede, Chairman of the Board of Management, at the Company's annual New Year's Conference on Thursday. Following a thirty-year involvement in the fibers industry, Akzo Nobel completed the sale of Acordis, its Fibers Group, to CVC Capital partners by year-end 1999 as planned.

Akzo Nobel adopts new accounts
Akzo Nobel said it will begin capitalizing and depreciating the goodwill it pays in acquisitions over a maximum period of 20 years, from its former practice of writing off goodwill against equity. "This change brings our accounting practices more in line with our international competitors", Akzo Nobel's chief executive Cees van Lede said.

Monday January 10 2000
Akzo Nobel, BASF plan Australian j/v
Akzo Nobel said on Monday it had signed a letter of intent with BASF Coatings to study a possible automotive coatings joint venture in Australia. The study, due to be completed by the end of February, could start operation in the first half of 2000 and will be headquartered in Melbourne, Akzo said.

Monday January 3 2000
Strike at Akzo called off
A strike at Akzo Nobel's paint factory in Sneek was called of on Monday after the company decided to postpone a decision on closing the plant until 2003. The strike was called for after Akzo Nobel announced plans in December to shift production elsewhere. A planned strike by Akzo Nobel's PPG glass fibre factory in Groningen was called off after agreement was reached on a 6% pay rise spread over 18 months.

Wednesday December 8 1999
Akzo and provider announce release of Stellix 2.1
ADP Collision Repair Services, a leading provider of information services for the collision repair industry, and Akzo Nobel Coatings. on Wednesday announced the commercial release of Stellix(TM) 2.1, a newly enhanced version of its Windows-based, 32-bit, multi-user collision repair management system.

Thursday December 2 1999
Akzo Nobel builds plant in China
Akzo Nobel announced on Thursday that its Functional Chemicals business unit will build a 25,000 ton per annum monochloracetic acid (MCA) plant in the Taixing Economic Development Area, Jiangsu Province, Republic of China. The investment amounts to EUR 20 mln and the plant will be operated as a wholly owned foreign enterprise.

Wednesday December 1 1999
Akzo Nobel/Intervet number four in animal healthcare
Intervet, the veterinary business unit of Akzo Nobel, moved to the number four position in animal healthcare, after Akzo Nobel signed a contract on Friday to buy Hoechst Roussel Vet, the veterinary business of Hoechst. Closing of the deal follows the European Commission's approval of the transaction last week.

Thursday November 18 1999
Akzo Nobel sells Acordis for EUR 825 mln
Akzo Nobel announced on Thursday that it has signed a contract to sell its Acordis fibers business to a CVC Capital Partners led consortium (CVC) for EUR 825 mln. The business will take along provisions of some EUR 225 mln. Closing of the transaction is expected to take place around year-end. Under the agreement, first announced in August, CVC will take a 64% stake in the equity of Acordis, with Acordis management taking a 15% stake.

Monday November 8 1999
Organon launches implanted contraceptive in UK
Organon, the pharmaceutical division of Akzo Nobel, announced on Monday that Implanon, a three-year implanted contraceptive, will be launched in the UK this week. Implanon is a tiny implant which is the size of a matchstick, will cost GBP 90 and inhibit ovulation for three years or more. The implant is already approved for use in the European Union.

Tuesday November 2 1999
Acordis sells stake in German operations
Akzo Nobel's fibres unit Acordis said on Tuesday it had sold its 49% stake in two German operations to Textilewerke Deggendorf (TWD). No financial details of the transaction were made public. With the deal, the Kuagtextil operations in Oberbruch and Konz and the TWD Polycondensation plant in Oberbruch are now fully owned by TWD, Acordis said.

Thursday October 28 1999
Akzo Nobel to sell its European Sulfur Products business
Akzo Nobel announced on Thursday that it has signed a Letter of Intent with PVS Chemicals Belgium N.V. for the sale of its European Sulfur Products business. Akzo Nobel's European Sulfur Products business, located in Amsterdam, produces SO2 (sulfur dioxide), oleum and H2SO4 (sulfuric acid), recycles sulfur-containing wastes, and trades and resells mainly sulfuric acid.

Wednesday October 27 1999
Akzo Nobel posts flat Q3, repeats outlook
Dutch chemicals group Akzo Nobel unveiled well-nigh flat third-quarter earnings on Wednesday and reiterated its expectations of full-year profits more or less equal to those of the previous year. Akzo, the world's seventh-largest chemical company in terms of sales, posted third-quarter net profits of EUR 197 mln, up two million from the year-earlier period.

Akzo's fibres division hits earnings
Akzo Nobel announced on Thursday flat third-quarter earnings but said it was optimistic that full-year income would match the E739.1m (USD 782.6 mln) of last year. Third-quarter net profit was E197m, 1% up on the same period in 1998, but was undermined by a negative result from Acordis, its fibres division.

Tuesday October 26 1999
Akzo shares gain before Q3 results
Shares in chemical group Akzo Nobel (NasdaqNM:AKZOY - news) sprinted ahead in midday trade on Tuesday, gaining over 5% to an intraday high of EUR 39.49, ahead of third quarter figures due out on Wednesday. Analysts expect third-quarter net earnings of EUR 196-218 mln, up from a year-earlier 195 million (USD 207.7 mln). Sector peer DSM also benefited from the resurgent interest in cyclicals, adding 3.26% to 38.05. DSM reports third-quarter results on Thursday.

Wednesday October 6 1999
Ministry grants Akzo unit subsidy
The Dutch economic affairs ministry has granted Akzo Nobel subsidiary Acordis a NLG 16.7 mln subsidy for its Colbond Vliezen project in Emmen. The ministry said the subsidy was granted because the project, in which Akzo Nobel would invest NLG 175 mln, would create 78 jobs.

Friday October 1 1999
Akzo Nobel shuts down Sneek plant
Akzo Nobel announced on Friday it is closing down its Sneek-based paint plant and would transfer the production activities to its plant in Groot-Ammers. Akzo Nobel said the plant in Groot-Ammers had sufficient room to further expand, while its Sneek-based plant was located in the inner city. Akzo Nobel said it would take at least three years to shut down the plant.

Thursday September 23 1999
Acordis in Chinese joint venture
Acordis, the soon to be spun off fibres unit of chemical group Akzo Nobel said on Thursday it had signed a letter of intent with Wuxi Taiji Company of China to form a joint venture producing and selling industrial polyester. "Acordis will hold a 60% share in the joint venture and maintain effective management control, while Wuxi Taiji Co will hold a 40% share", Acordis said in a statement.

Monday September 20 1999
Acordis sells HIMA tech services unit
Akzo Nobel's fibre subsidiary Acordis said on Monday it was selling its technical services branch HIMA to Germany's Rheinhold & Mahla for an undisclosed sum Acordis said it would transfer a 55% stake in Heinsberger Instandhaltungs-, Maschinen- und Anlagenbaugesellschaft mbH (HIMA) to Rheinhold & Mahla on October 1 and the remaining 45% by the end of 2000.

Tuesday September 14 1999
Acordis resumes Tercel production
Acordis, a subsidiary of Akzo Nobel, will resume manufacture of Tercel fibre in Alabama, the company said on Tuesday. Production at the plant was stopped in January due to low demand and the Asian economic crisis in Asia. The company said demand has since recovered.

Tuesday September 7 1999
Akzo Nobel pension fund sells real estate
Akzo Nobel's pension fund announced on Tuesday that it has sold off its last direct real estate investment. When the pension fund began selling off its direct real estate investments, property accounted for NLG 700 mln, or 10%, of total investments. The fund has taken steaks in property funds instead.

Thursday August 19 1999
Akzo Nobel meets its own environmental targets
Akzo Nobel announced on Thursday that it has achieved the company-wide targets set five years ago for safety, discharges of heavy metals to water, organic compounds to air, and total waste. Akzo Nobel said it reduced its total waste from 300,548 tons in 1994 to 244,679 tons in 1998. Akzo Nobel said it would set new targets, to be achieved by the year 2005, 'based on the changed composition of the company'.

Wednesday August 11 1999
Akzo Nobel to buy Hoechst vet unit
Akzo Nobel said on Wednesday it would buy the veterinary unit of Germany's Hoechst for EUR 665 mln (USD 711.9 mln), doubling the size of its Intervet business at a stroke. The purchase of Hoechst Roussel Vet, which employs 2,400 people worldwide and posted 1998 sales of EUR 450 mln, will hoist Akzo's veterinary unit to world number four from its current tenth place.

Monday August 9 1999
CVC bids for Akzo Nobel's Acordis
Akzo Nobel said on Monday that British venture capital firm CVC Capital had made an 825 million euro (USD 881.9 mln) bid for its struggling fibres unit Acordis. Acordis, which has operated as an independent unit of Akzo since the start of the year, was formed from the group's fibres business after the purchase of Britain's Courtaulds last year.

Wednesday August 4 1999
Ares-Serono takes stake on Vitrolife
Swiss bio-technology group Ares-Serono International SA on Wednesday said it was taking a stake in Sweden's Vitrolife AB to further enhance its position in fertility treatments. Ares-Serono competes in the so-called reproductive health market with Organon of the Netherlands, a unit of Dutch-Swedish chemicals group Akzo Nobel.

Tuesday August 3 1999
Explosion at Akzo unit in Texas
Akzo Nobel said on Tuesday that an explosion occurred at its factory in Pasadena, Texas. There were no injuries, however, one process unit was severely damaged. An investigation to determine the cause of the incident has begun. There was no release of chemicals nor any long term environmental affects. The process upset occurred in one of production units where Peroxydicarbonates are manufactured.

Monday August 2 1999
Akzo Nobel finalises divestment of PRC DeSoto
Akzo Nobel has completed its previously announced divestment of PRC DeSoto International of Glendale, California, to PPG Industries of the US for USD 512 mln. The former Courtaulds unit produces aerospace coatings. Akzo Nobel was required to divest the unit to meet the demands set by the European Commission for its takeover of UK-based Courtaulds. Akzo Nobel said that the proceeds of the sale will be applied against short-term debt.

Friday July 30 1999
Akzo Nobel gets US approval for IVF drug
Chemical group Akzo Nobel said on Friday its pharmaceuticals division Organon had received approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market Antagon in the United States. Antagon is a new drug cutting in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment times and simplifying treatment regimens, Akzo Nobel said in a statement.

Wednesday July 28 1999
Akzo Nobel Q2 net profit down 1%
Akzo Nobel reported on Wednesday net profit for the second-quarter of 1999 decreased 1% to EUR 217 mln, compared with net profit of EUR 219 mln the company booked in the comparible period of 1998. Turnover increased 27% from EUR 2,913 mln to EUR 3,702 mln. Operating income increased 14% from EUR 332.6 mln to EUR 379.0 mln. Earnings per share for the second-quarter of 1999 decreased 1% to EUR 0.76, compared with earnings per share of EUR 0.77 for the second-quarter of 1998.

Akzo Q2 net slips,upbeat on year
Dutch chemicals and pharmaceuticals group Akzo Nobel posted second quarter profits down 1% on Wednesday then gave a surprisingly upbeat outlook for the next six months. Second-quarter earnings came in at EUR 217 mln (USD 230.8 mln, he told. He said a divestment programme linked to the Courtaulds buy -- ordered by competition authorities to prevent significant overlap -- had been completed with the sale to PPG Industries of PRC-De Soto aerospace coatings and sealants for about EUR 550 mln effective end-July.

Akzo Nobel delays pill launch in Japan
Akzo Nobel has postponend the introduction of its contraceptive pill in Japan. The company refused to comply with the demands from the Japanese health ministry to include a warning about an increased risk of thrombisis. Akzo Nobel had expected to launch the pill in Japan by the Autumn.

Tuesday July 27 1999
Akzo's Q2 seen slightly lower
Akzo Nobel's restructuring and acquisitions are likely to help the Dutch chemical group's bottom line, but most analysts expect second quarter profits to fall slightly below last year's mark. Analysts polled by reporters expected Akzo's second quarter net profits to be between 192 and EUR 224 mln, with consensus at 211 million, slightly off the previous year's EUR 219 mln.

Monday July 26 1999
Akzo Nobel's earnings in decline - analysts
Analysts are forecasting that Akzo Nobel will book a marginal decline in earnings per share in the second quarter to around NLG 0.76, compared with NLG 0.77 for the second quarter of 1998. Akzo Nobel is due to present its results on Wednesday, July 28. Earnings over the last three months have been pressured by higher financing charges and a weak market for the chemicals and fibres divisions.

Friday July 23 1999
Akzo Nobel spins off information services
Dutch chemicals and pharmaceutical group Akzo Nobel said on Friday it had agreed to sell its Information Service unit AIS to IT services company Origin. AIS will become part of the Origin global industry sector Process Industries and Life Sciences, Akzo said in a statement. No financial details of the deal were disclosed.

Monday July 19 1999
Akzo unit buys Korean paper chemicals
Dutch chemicals group Akzo Nobel said on Monday its Swedish unit Eka Chemicals had agreed to acquire the Paper Chemicals business of Dongsung Chemical. The acquisition will include the paper chemicals and resins business, a production unit in Kunsan, South Korea, as well as Donsungs's 70% interest in the gum resin producer Fengai Dongsung Chemical, China.

Thursday July 8 1999
Akzo Nobel, Coin to form peroxide j/v
Akzo Nobel said on Thursday it was forming a worldwide joint venture with Taiwan's Coin Chemical Industrial for the production, marketing and distribution of peroxide. Akzo will own 60% of the joint venture's capital, while Coin will own 40%. Akzo said that the corporation would strengthen its leading position in organic peroxides.

Wednesday June 30 1999
Akzo Nobel sells Dianol business
Akzo Nobel is selling its Dianol business, which is part of its business unit Polymer Chemicals, to Seppic Belgium with emmediate effect. Seppic Belgium is a subsidiary of Air Liquide Group of France, and is currently constructing a new manufacturing unit for bis-phenol A derivatives in Antwerp. The acquisition of Dianol, under which name Seppic will continue to sell the products, is an important step to strengthen its range of specialty polyols, the company said.

Monday June 14 1999
Akzo invests NLG 500 mln in energy plant
Akzo Nobel said on Monday it had invested NLG 500 mln in a co-generation plant. The plant, a joint venture with Dutch utility firm EDON, is one of the biggest co-generation plants in Europe. It was inaugurated on Monday, Akzo said in a statement. The plant will cut Akzo's energy consumption by 60% compared to the level in 1989 and reduce cut carbon dioxide emmisions.

Friday June 4 1999
Akzo to introduce the pill in Japan
Akzo Nobel's subsidiary Organon is to introduce its contraceptive pills in Japan later this year. On Wednesday Japan decided to allow access to the contraceptive pill after 35 years of deliberation. Analysts and companies said, however, it is unlikely to mean a bonanza for drug makers. Despite a large pool of potential customers in the world's second-biggest pharmaceutical market, lack of familiarity, health scares and cost are all likely to lead to a slow build up.

Wednesday June 2 1999
Akzo sells unit to PPG for USD 512.5 mln
Akzo Nobel said on Wednesday it had agreed to sell its unit PRC DeSoto International to PPG Industries for USD 512.5 mln. The sale of the unit, the former Courtaulds Aerospace coatings and sealants business, was necessary to comply with the European Commission's ruling after Akzo's purchase of Courtaulds and is expected to be concluded by the end of July.

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