Creating a Platform for Growth
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CREATING A COMPANY PLATFORM FOR STATEMENT OUR COMPANY GROWTH Akzo Nobel is a multicultural company. Its subsidiaries are market-driven and technology-based, serving customers throughout the world with pharma products, coatings, and chemicals. ANNUAL REPORT 2004 Akzo Nobel conducts its diversified activities through decentralized business units. We maintain a product portfolio with leadership positions in important market segments. OUR PEOPLE Akzo Nobel regards people as its most important resource. We foster leadership, individual accountability, and teamwork. Our employees are professionals whose entrepreneurial behavior is result-oriented and guided by personal integrity. Akzo Nobel Akzo They strive for the success of their own units in the interest of Akzo Nobel as a global company. In return, our employees can count on opportunities for individual and professional development in an international working environment. FOR DEFINITIONS SEE INSIDE COVER PROFILE We offer them rewarding and challenging assignments with room for initiative. Annual Report Akzo Nobel is a multicultural OUR COMMITMENTS company headquartered in the We will focus our efforts on the success of our customers. Netherlands, holding many leading We will provide competitive returns on our shareholders’ investments. positions in pharma products, We will create an attractive working environment for our employees. coatings, and chemicals. Employing We will conduct our activities in a socially responsible manner. 63,600 people in 2004, the 2004 Company conducts its activities OUR AMBITION through 16* business units and has To be the first choice of customers, shareholders, and employees, and to be a subsidiaries in more than respected member of society. 80 countries. Sales in 2004 aggregated EUR 12.7 billion, of which 25% in pharma products, 41% in coatings, and 34% in chemical products. Akzo Nobel’s businesses operate with much operational freedom, based on their entrepreneurial spirit in serving customers, using technology and managing their assets, while benefiting from the Company’s large international scale. * Situation at January 1, 2005 FOR BUSINESS PRINCIPLES SEE INSIDE COVER CREATING A COMPANY PLATFORM FOR STATEMENT OUR COMPANY GROWTH Akzo Nobel is a multicultural company. Its subsidiaries are market-driven and technology-based, serving customers throughout the world with pharma products, coatings, and chemicals. ANNUAL REPORT 2004 Akzo Nobel conducts its diversified activities through decentralized business units. We maintain a product portfolio with leadership positions in important market segments. OUR PEOPLE Akzo Nobel regards people as its most important resource. We foster leadership, individual accountability, and teamwork. Our employees are professionals whose entrepreneurial behavior is result-oriented and guided by personal integrity. Akzo Nobel Akzo They strive for the success of their own units in the interest of Akzo Nobel as a global company. In return, our employees can count on opportunities for individual and professional development in an international working environment. FOR DEFINITIONS SEE INSIDE COVER PROFILE We offer them rewarding and challenging assignments with room for initiative. Annual Report Akzo Nobel is a multicultural OUR COMMITMENTS company headquartered in the We will focus our efforts on the success of our customers. Netherlands, holding many leading We will provide competitive returns on our shareholders’ investments. positions in pharma products, We will create an attractive working environment for our employees. coatings, and chemicals. Employing We will conduct our activities in a socially responsible manner. 63,600 people in 2004, the 2004 Company conducts its activities OUR AMBITION through 16* business units and has To be the first choice of customers, shareholders, and employees, and to be a subsidiaries in more than respected member of society. 80 countries. Sales in 2004 aggregated EUR 12.7 billion, of which 25% in pharma products, 41% in coatings, and 34% in chemical products. Akzo Nobel’s businesses operate with much operational freedom, based on their entrepreneurial spirit in serving customers, using technology and managing their assets, while benefiting from the Company’s large international scale. * Situation at January 1, 2005 FOR BUSINESS PRINCIPLES SEE INSIDE COVER BUSINESS PRINCIPLES Introduction Business Integrity DEFINITIONS As described in the Company Statement, it is Akzo Nobel’s ambition to be the first choice of Akzo Nobel insists on integrity and fairness in all aspects of its business operations. Bribery customers, shareholders, and employees, and to be a respected member of society. and any other form of unethical business practice is prohibited. Akzo Nobel employees are EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes) expected to avoid all situations in which their personal or financial interests may conflict with Operating income before nonrecurring items Our Business Principles set out the core values that should underlie the conduct of all Akzo the Company’s interest. All business transactions shall be accurately and completely recorded Nobel companies in order to fulfill our ambition. The Business Principles apply equally to in accordance with the Company’s accounting principles and local laws and can be subject to EBITDA business transactions throughout the world and to the individual behavior of employees in audit. EBIT before Depreciation and Amortization conducting Akzo Nobel’s business. Community Activities Net income per share Akzo Nobel regards the application of its Business Principles of prime importance in decisions Akzo Nobel companies are encouraged to support community activities. Akzo Nobel companies Net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares to enter into or continue relationships with customers, contractors, and suppliers, and to are to give their employees the opportunity to play an active role in societal matters—for outstanding during the year participate in joint ventures. example, through community or educational programs—unless participation in these activities creates a conflict of interest. Akzo Nobel companies are not to make payments to political Shareholders’ equity per share Core Values parties, or their institutions, agencies, or representatives. Akzo Nobel N.V. shareholders’ equity divided by the number of common shares Akzo Nobel strives to meet high standards of performance and behavior based on the outstanding at December 31 Company’s core values of business conduct. These core values are: Communication • entrepreneurial spirit Akzo Nobel recognizes that, in view of the Company’s scope of activities, the impact they have Invested capital • personal integrity on stakeholders, and the public role the Company fulfills, proper communication is essential. Total assets less cash and cash equivalents, less current liabilities, and exclusive • social responsibility. Subject to any overriding considerations of confidentiality, Akzo Nobel companies endeavor to of amounts related to the minimum pension liability communicate with others in an open, factual, and timely manner. Responsibilities ROI (Return On Investment) Akzo Nobel is committed to creating long-term value for its customers, shareholders, Compliance EBIT divided by 1% of the average of invested capital at the beginning and at employees, and society, recognizing that sustainable profit is essential for the continuity of its The Board of Management will not hold Management accountable for any loss of business the end of the year business. resulting from compliance with Akzo Nobel’s Business Principles, and will see to it that no employee suffers as a consequence of reporting a breach or suspected breach of these Gearing We will focus our efforts on the success of our customers. In this respect it is our responsibility principles. Net interest-bearing borrowings divided by equity to provide customers with products and services that offer value in terms of price and quality and meet high health, safety, and environmental standards. Net interest-bearing borrowings Long-term borrowings plus short-term borrowings less cash and cash We will provide competitive returns on our shareholders’ investments. In this respect it is our equivalents responsibility to take due account of the expectations of our investors. Interest coverage We will create an attractive working environment for our employees. In this respect it is our EBIT divided by financing charges responsibility to recruit, hire, and promote employees on the sole basis of suitability for the job, to stimulate their individual and professional development, and to provide safe and EBITDA coverage healthy working conditions. It is also our responsibility to prohibit harassment of any kind and EBITDA divided by financing charges exploitation of child labor. In the computation of ratios, the amounts used for invested capital and We will conduct our activities in a socially responsible manner. In this respect we observe the shareholders’ equity represent averages of the amounts at the beginning and laws of the countries in which we operate, support fundamental human rights in line with the the end of the year. legitimate role of business, and give proper regard to health, safety, and the environment consistent with our commitment to contribute to sustainable development. Free Enterprise Akzo Nobel supports the principles of free enterprise and fair competition. The Company aims to meet customer’s needs faster, better, and more distinctively