Shareholder structure

Broad base of international shareholders

AkzoNobel, which has a 100 percent free float, has a broad base of international shareholders. An analysis of the shareholder structure carried out in January 2011 showed that at 45 percent, the US and Canada make up the largest regional group of investors. Investors from the UK and Ireland held 13 percent. Shareholders from the Netherlands hold 15 percent of AkzoNobel shares, while a further 15 percent are held by investors from the rest of Europe. Around 9 percent of the company’s share capital is held by private investors, most of whom are resident in the Netherlands.

Sustainability is becoming more important for our investors. Around 42 percent of our shares are held by institutions that are signatories of the UN PRI (United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment). The sum of holdings by institutions that focus on ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) issues in some capacity is around 28 percent.

Major shareholders

According to the Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), both Paulson & Co. and Massachussetts Financial Services Company held more than 5 percent of the issued shares in Akzo Nobel N.V. by December 31, 2011. This information was provided in line with the Netherlands Financial Markets Supervision Act (“Wet op het financieel toezicht”). The most recent information can be found on the website of the AFM under notifications substantial holdings. The Financial Markets Supervision Act imposes a duty to disclose percentage holdings in the capital and/or voting rights in the company when such holding reaches, exceeds or falls below 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 75 and 95 percent. Such disclosure must be made to the AFM without delay, who then notify the company.