Shareholders and the Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The Annual General Meeting of shareholders (AGM) is an integral part of the governance of the company and its system of checks and balances. The AGM reviews the annual report and decides on the adoption of the financial statements and the dividend proposal, as well as the discharge of members of the Supervisory Board and Board of Management.

The AGM is convened by public notice and the agenda, notes to the agenda and the procedure for attendance and voting at the meeting are published in advance and posted on our website. Matters proposed for consideration, approval or adoption are tabled as separate agenda items and explained in writing in advance of the meeting.

These proposals include, where relevant:

• Adoption of the financial statements
• Dividend proposal
• Discharge of members of the Supervisory Board and Board of Management
• Re-election of members of the Board of Management and Supervisory Board
• Remuneration of members of the Supervisory Board
• Material changes to the Remuneration Policy of the Board of Management
• Advisory vote on Remuneration report
• Other important matters, such as major acquisitions or the sale or demerger of a substantial part of the company, as required by law
• Authorization of the Board of Management to issue new shares
• Authorization of the Board of Management to repurchase shares
• Amendments to the Articles of Association

The company provides remote voting possibilities to its shareholders. Holding shares in the company on the record date determines the right to exercise voting rights and other rights relating to the AGM. All resolutions are made on the basis of the “one share, one vote” principle (assuming an equal par value for each class of shares). All resolutions are adopted by absolute majority, unless the law or the company’s Articles of Association stipulate otherwise.

Holders of common shares in aggregate representing at least 1% of the total issued capital, or, according to the Official List of Euronext Amsterdam N.V., representing a value of at least €50 million, may submit proposals for the AGM agenda. Such proposals must be adequately substantiated and submitted in writing, or electronically, to the company at least 60 calendar days in advance of the meeting. Draft minutes of the AGM are made available on the company’s website within three months of the meeting date. The final and duly signed minutes are made available online within six months of the meeting date.

Share classes

AkzoNobel has three classes of shares: common shares, cumulative preferred shares and priority shares. Common shares are traded on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange. Common shares are also traded over-the-counter on OTCQX in the US in the form of American Depositary Receipts (each American Depositary Receipt representing one-third of a common share). On December 31, 2019, a total of approximately 200 million common shares and 48 priority shares had been issued. This includes shares held in treasury which cannot be voted on and which are not eligible for dividend. The company has been informed that by December 31, 2019, each of Capital Research and Management Company, BlackRock Inc., and Massachusetts Financial Services Company held more than 5% of the company’s share capital.

The majority of shares in Akzo Nobel N.V. are included in a global certificate and held through the system maintained by the Dutch Central Securities Depository (Euroclear Nederland). In the past, Akzo Nobel N.V. also issued (physical) bearer share certificates (Bearer Certificates). A limited number of Bearer Certificates has not yet been surrendered to Akzo Nobel N.V., although holders of Bearer Certificates are entitled to a corresponding number of shares in Akzo Nobel N.V..

It is noted that, as a result of Dutch legislation which became effective as of July 2019, the relevant shares will be registered in the name of Akzo Nobel N.V. by operation of law as per January 1, 2021. Pursuant to this legislation, owners of Bearer Certificates will continue to be entitled to a corresponding number of shares in Akzo Nobel N.V. until January 2, 2026. On that date, their entitlement will expire by operation of law. For more information, contact Investor Relations (investor.relations@akzonobel.com).

The priority shares are held by the Foundation Akzo Nobel (Stichting Akzo Nobel). The Foundation’s Board consists of members of AkzoNobel’s Supervisory Board who are not members of the Audit Committee. The Meeting of Holders of Priority Shares has the nomination rights for the appointment of members of the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board, as well as the right to approve amendments to the Articles of Association of the company.

No cumulative preferred shares have been issued to date. Cumulative preferred shares merely have a financing function, which means if necessary, and possible, they will be issued at or near the prevailing quoted price for common shares.

The AGM held on April 25, 2019, authorized the Board of Management for a period of 18 months after that date, or, if earlier, until the date on which the AGM again extends the authorization – subject to approval from the Supervisory Board – to issue shares in the capital of the company free from preemptive rights, up to a maximum of 10% of the issued share capital. The Board of Management was also given a mandate to acquire common shares in the company’s share capital. The maximum number of shares that the company will hold in its own share capital at any time shall not exceed 10% of its issued share capital.

Anti-takeover provisions and control

According to the Code, the company is required to provide an overview of its actual or potential anti-takeover measures, and to indicate in what circumstances it is expected that they may be used.

The priority shares may be considered to constitute a form of anti-takeover measure, in relation to the right of the Meeting of Holders of Priority Shares to make binding nominations for appointments to the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board. The Foundation Akzo Nobel has confirmed that it intends to make use of such rights in exceptional circumstances only. These circumstances include situations where, in the opinion of the Board of the Foundation, the continuity of the company’s management and policies is at stake.

This may be the case if a public bid for the common shares of the company has been announced, or has been made, or the justified expectation exists that such a bid will be made, without any agreement having been reached in relation to such a bid with the company. The same shall apply if one shareholder, or more shareholders acting in a concerted way, hold a substantial percentage of the issued common shares of the company without making an offer. Or if, in the opinion of the Board of the Foundation Akzo Nobel, the exercise of the voting rights by one shareholder or more shareholders, acting in a concerted way, is materially in conflict with the interests of the company. In such cases, the Supervisory Board and the Board of Management, in accordance with their statutory responsibility, will evaluate all available options with a view to serving the best interests of the company, its shareholders and other stakeholders.

The Board of the Foundation Akzo Nobel has reserved the right to make use of its binding nomination rights for the appointment of members of the Supervisory Board and of the Board of Management in such circumstances. Although a deviation from provision 4.3.3 of the Code, the Supervisory Board and the Board of Management are of the opinion that these provisions will enhance the continuity of the company’s management and policies.

In the event of a hostile takeover bid, or other action which the Board of Management and Supervisory Board consider adverse to the company’s interests, the two Boards reserve the right to use all available powers (including the right to invoke a response time in accordance with provisions 4.1.6 and 4.1.7 of the Code), while taking into account the relevant interests of the company and its affiliate enterprise and stakeholders.