Akzo Nobel to retain Salt Specialties

Arnhem, the Netherlands, May 17, 2006 — Akzo Nobel has decided to withdraw Salt Specialties from its list of Chemicals businesses to be divested. Although several parties expressed a serious interest in acquiring the business, the decision not to sell the Salt Specialties activities was made when it became clear that a satisfactory deal based on the company’s original divestment offer would not be forthcoming. “The main reason for keeping the business is that all potential buyers were interested in expanding the divestment package to include other salt activities which were not for sale,” explained Leif Darner, the Akzo Nobel Board Member responsible for Chemicals. “Despite continued efforts to finalize a satisfactory deal based on the original proposal, we decided to withdraw from the sales process because no commercially acceptable solution to our proposed divestment was going to materialize.” The Salt Specialties business, which has manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands and Denmark, will now remain within Akzo Nobel. Akzo Nobel has already completed three Chemicals divestments during 2006. The Polymerization Catalysts & Components Business in the United States has been sold to Basell Polyolefins, a deal to sell the Electro Magnetic Compatibility business in Japan has been concluded and the company’s 65 percent majority interest in its Malaysian oleochemicals joint venture has also been sold. The company expects to complete all remaining divestments resulting from the strategic realignment of its Chemicals portfolio during 2006. Not for publication – for more information Akzo Nobel nv Corporate Media Relations, tel. +31 26 366 43 43 Contact: Heleen van de Lustgraaf Note for the editor Akzo Nobel is a Global Fortune 500 company and is listed on both the Euronext Amsterdam and NASDAQ stock exchanges. It is also included on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes and the FTSE4Good Index. Based in the Netherlands, we are a multicultural organization serving customers throughout the world with human and animal healthcare products, coatings, and chemicals. We employ around 61,500 people and conduct our activities in four segments − human and animal health, coatings and chemicals − subdivided into 13 business units, with operating subsidiaries in more than 80 countries. Consolidated revenues for 2005 totaled EUR 13.0 billion. The financial results for the second quarter will be published on July 20, 2006. Internet: www.akzonobel.com Safe Harbor Statement* This press release may contain statements which address such key issues as Akzo Nobel’s growth strategy, future financial results, market positions, product development, pharmaceutical products in the pipeline, and product approvals. Such statements should be carefully considered, and it should be understood that many factors could cause forecasted and actual results to differ from these statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, price fluctuations, currency fluctuations, progress of drug development, clinical testing and regulatory approval, developments in raw material and personnel costs, pensions, physical and environmental risks, legal issues, and legislative, fiscal, and other regulatory measures. Stated competitive positions are based on management estimates supported by information provided by specialized external agencies. For a more comprehensive discussion of the risk factors affecting our business please see our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, a copy of which can be found on the company’s corporate website www.akzonobel.com. The 2005 Annual Report on Form 20-F will be available at the end of the second quarter of 2006. * Pursuant to the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 1995.