Filed
by Akzo Nobel N.V.
Pursuant
to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
and
deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12 of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended
Subject
Company: Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.
(Commission
File No.: 001-36733)
Date:
October 21, 2026
| Akzo Nobel N.V. |
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The following is an excerpt from an investor presentation delivered
on October 21, 2026:
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| |
Our
merger is firmly on track, with shareholders overwhelmingly approving the combination during the shareholder votes in August. An EGM
to appoint three additional Axanzo directors will be held on November 30th, thereby finalizing the Board.
Regulatory
clearances are advancing, with two thirds of regulatory approvals secured. A few merger control clearances are in the final stages, including
in the US and the EU. Although final signoff is still pending, we can confirm that we are planning to divest AkzoNobel's European VR
business and Axalta's North American Wood business. We have not been asked to prepare any remedies for any other business, in any jurisdiction.
These two divestitures should allow us to obtain regulatory clearance in phase 1. As such, we remain on track to close in early 2027.
Meanwhile,
the integration work is progressing at pace. The Axanzo Executive Committee has been announced internally, the operating model is being
refined, and the teams remain focused on Day 1 readiness and accelerating synergies.
The
value case is unchanged by the proposed remedies: $600 million of cost synergies, around 90% within three years of closing, and 100 to
200 basis points of revenue synergy uplift. Axanzo now has a name, a leadership team and a clear path to closing. Early next year, we
fully launch.
I'll
now hand over to Jan Willem who will close with information about upcoming events and the Q&A session.
|
Important Information
Regarding the Proposed Axalta Transaction
General Restrictions
This communication
is not for release, publication, or distribution, in whole or in part, in or into, directly or indirectly, any jurisdiction in which
such release, publication, or distribution would be unlawful. This communication is not a prospectus and the information in this communication
is not intended to be complete. This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be and shall not constitute
an offer to buy or sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, any securities, or an invitation or recommendation to subscribe
for, acquire or buy securities of AkzoNobel or Axalta or any other financial products or securities, in any place or jurisdiction, nor
shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful
prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except
by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”). Any decision to purchase, subscribe for, otherwise acquire, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities must be made only
on the basis of the information contained in and incorporated by reference into the prospectus with respect to the shares to be allotted
by AkzoNobel in the proposed transaction, which was published on June 24, 2026. The distribution of this communication may, in some countries,
be restricted by law or regulation. Accordingly, persons who come into possession of this document should inform themselves of and observe
these restrictions. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, AkzoNobel and Axalta disclaim any responsibility or liability
for the violation of any such restrictions by any person. Neither AkzoNobel, nor Axalta, nor any of their advisors assume any responsibility
for any violation by any person of any of these restrictions. Shareholders of AkzoNobel and Axalta, respectively, with any doubt as to
their position should consult an appropriate professional advisor without delay.
This
communication is addressed to and directed only at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom, (ii) persons having professional experience
in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion)
Order 2005 (as amended, the “Order”), (iii) persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or (iv) persons
to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated pursuant to the Order (all such persons together being referred to as, “Relevant
Persons”). This communication is directed only at Relevant Persons and persons who are not Relevant Persons should not act or rely
on this communication or any of its contents. Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is available
only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. Solicitations resulting from this communication will only
be responded to if the person concerned is a Relevant Person.
Additional Information
and Where to Find It
In
connection with the proposed transaction between AkzoNobel and Axalta, AkzoNobel filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form F-4 on May 27, 2026, as amended on June 18, 2026, which included a proxy statement
of Axalta that also constitutes a prospectus with respect to the shares to be offered by AkzoNobel in the proposed transaction. The registration
statement was declared effective by the SEC on June 23, 2026. In connection with the proposed transaction, on June 24, 2026, Axalta filed
with the SEC a definitive proxy statement and, on or about June 24, 2026, Axalta commenced mailing the definitive proxy statement to
its holders of record as of June 11, 2026. On August 5, 2026, shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting of AkzoNobel and Special
General Meeting of Axalta, respectively, voted in favor of all resolutions related to the proposed transaction. Each of AkzoNobel and
Axalta will also file other relevant documents in connection with the proposed transaction. This communication is not a substitute for
any registration statement, proxy statement/prospectus or other documents AkzoNobel and/or Axalta may file with the SEC or any other
competent regulator in connection with the proposed transaction. This communication does not contain all the information that should
be considered concerning the proposed transaction and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision
in respect of the proposed transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY INVESTMENT DECISIONS, INVESTORS, STOCKHOLDERS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF AKZONOBEL
AND AXALTA ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AS APPLICABLE, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS
THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED
TRANSACTION WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AS THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT AKZONOBEL, AXALTA, THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION
AND RELATED MATTERS. The registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed by AkzoNobel and Axalta
with the SEC are available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and shareholders will be
able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC from Axalta’s investor relations
webpage at https://ir.axalta.com/sec-filings/all-sec-filings or from AkzoNobel’s investor relations webpage at https://www.akzonobel.com/en/investors/all-sec-filings.
The contents of this communication should not be construed as financial, legal, business, investment, tax or other professional advice.
Each recipient should consult with its own professional advisors for any such matter and advice.
Cautionary Statement
Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This communication
contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding, among other things, statements about management’s
expectations of AkzoNobel’s and Axalta’s future operating and financial performance, product development, market position,
and business strategy. Such forward-looking statements can sometimes be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believes,”
“expects,” “may,” “will,” “shall,” “should,” “would,” “could,”
“potential,” “seeks,” “aims,” “projects,” “predicts,” “is optimistic,”
“intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “targets,” “anticipates,” “continues”
or other comparable terms or negatives of these terms, but not all forward-looking statements include such identifying words. You are
cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations
that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying
assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements.
We can give no assurance that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved and therefore, actual results may differ materially
from any plans, estimates or expectations in such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include: a condition to the closing of the proposed transaction may not be satisfied;
the occurrence of any event that can give rise to termination of the proposed transaction; a regulatory approval that may be required
for the proposed transaction is delayed, is not obtained or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; AkzoNobel and
Axalta are unable to achieve the synergies and value creation contemplated by the proposed transaction; AkzoNobel and Axalta are unable
to promptly and effectively integrate their businesses; management’s time and attention is diverted on transaction related issues;
the possibility that competing offers or acquisition proposals may be made; disruption from the proposed transaction makes it more difficult
to maintain business, contractual and operational relationships; the credit ratings of AkzoNobel or Axalta decline following the proposed
transaction; legal proceedings are instituted against AkzoNobel or Axalta, including resulting expense or delay; AkzoNobel or Axalta
is unable to retain or hire key personnel; the communication or the consummation of the proposed acquisition has a negative effect on
the market price of the capital stock of AkzoNobel or Axalta or on AkzoNobel’s or Axalta’s operating results; evolving legal,
regulatory and tax regimes; changes in economic, financial, political and regulatory conditions, in the Netherlands, the United States
and elsewhere, and other factors that contribute to uncertainty and volatility, natural and man-made disasters, civil unrest, pandemics
(e.g., the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic), geopolitical uncertainty, and conditions that may result from legislative, regulatory, trade
and policy changes associated with the current or subsequent United States or Netherlands administration; the ability of AkzoNobel or
Axalta to successfully recover from a disaster or other business continuity problem due to a hurricane, flood, earthquake, terrorist
attack, war, pandemic, security breach, cyber-attack, power loss, telecommunications failure or other natural or man-made event, including
the ability to function remotely during long-term disruptions; the impact of public health crises, such as pandemics and epidemics and
any related company or governmental policies and actions to protect the health and safety of individuals or governmental policies or
actions to maintain the functioning of national or global economies and markets, including any quarantine, “shelter in place,”
“stay at home,” workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down or similar actions and policies; actions by third parties,
including government agencies; the risk that disruptions from the proposed transaction will harm AkzoNobel’s or Axalta’s
business, including current plans and operations and/or divert management’s attention from AkzoNobel’s or Axalta’s
ongoing business operations; certain restrictions during the pendency of the acquisition that may impact AkzoNobel’s or Axalta’s
ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; AkzoNobel’s or Axalta’s ability to meet expectations
regarding the accounting and tax treatments of the proposed transaction; the risks and uncertainties discussed in AkzoNobel’s latest
annual report as filed with the AFM, the Dutch trade register and on its website at https://www.akzonobel.com/en/investors/results-center;
and the risks and uncertainties discussed in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections in Axalta’s reports filed with the SEC. These risks, as well as other
risks associated with the proposed transaction, are more fully discussed in the proxy statement/prospectus. Unlisted factors may present
significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any
of these forward-looking statements as they are not guarantees of future performance or outcomes and that actual performance and outcomes,
including, without limitation, our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of new markets
or market segments in which we operate, may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained
in this communication. Except as required by law, neither AkzoNobel nor Axalta assumes any obligation to update or revise the information
contained herein, which speaks only as of the date hereof.
Non-GAAP and Non-IFRS
Financial Measures
This communication
contains certain non-GAAP financial measures and/or non-IFRS financial measures that AkzoNobel and Axalta believe are helpful in understanding
the anticipated strategic and financial benefits of the proposed transaction. AkzoNobel's and Axalta's management regularly use a variety
of financial measures that are not in accordance with GAAP or IFRS for forecasting, budgeting and measuring financial performance. The
non-GAAP financial measures and/or non-IFRS financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable
GAAP or IFRS measures. While AkzoNobel and Axalta believe that these non-GAAP financial measures and/or non-IFRS financial measures provide
meaningful information to help shareholders understand the anticipated strategic and financial benefits of the proposed transaction,
there are limitations associated with the use of these non-GAAP financial measures and/or non-IFRS financial measures. These non-GAAP
financial measures and/or non-IFRS financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP or IFRS, are not reported by all of AkzoNobel’s
or Axalta’s competitors and may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures of AkzoNobel’s or Axalta’s
competitors due to potential differences in the exact method of calculation.