AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS--(Marketwire - Sep 27, 2012) - AkzoNobel has signed an agreement to supply advanced paint technology to McLaren Automotive, building on the success of the existing corporate partnership with the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes (VMM) Formula 1 team.

Through its Sikkens automotive brand, AkzoNobel has been the official supplier of paint solutions to VMM since 2008. The new agreement now extends this relationship to include road cars and will see the company offer technology-led paint solutions for the MP4-12C and MP4-12C Spider, as well as the P1 when it enters production.

"We're proud to have been selected to supply paint for McLaren's road cars," said Keith Nichols, AkzoNobel's CFO. "The extension of our technology partnership to include road cars confirms that our color excellence and advanced coatings meet the most stringent customer requirements. Whether we are perfecting a particular finish or meeting the need for fewer layers of paint, offering a competitive advantage and building strong relationships such as this are vital for our business. We therefore look forward to an ongoing and mutually beneficial cooperation with McLaren."

Vehicles produced by McLaren Automotive have similar characteristics to the VMM F1 cars in that they require coatings which must conform to rigorous technical standards, such as keeping weight to an absolute minimum.

Speaking at the signing of the agreement, Ron Dennis CBE, Executive Chairman of McLaren Automotive, said: "McLaren high performance sports cars take the raw elements of Formula 1 principles, processes and performance and forge them into world-leading road cars. That's why I'm so pleased we have extended our successful, long-term relationship with AkzoNobel.

"For more than four years, they have provided Vodafone McLaren Mercedes with a technological advantage by designing paint solutions which deliver excellence. I am confident that they will continue to offer outstanding paint solutions, to both McLaren Automotive and our customers."

AkzoNobel is the largest global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals. We supply industries and consumers worldwide with innovative products and are passionate about developing sustainable answers for our customers. Our portfolio includes well known brands such as Dulux, Sikkens, International and Eka. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we are consistently ranked as one of the leaders in the area of sustainability. With operations in more than 80 countries, our 55,000 people around the world are committed to excellence and delivering Tomorrow's Answers Today™.

AkzoNobel Automotive & Aerospace Coatings is one of the world's leading suppliers of paints and services for car repair, commercial vehicles, automotive plastics and aerospace coatings markets. It sells coatings for original equipment and refinishing applications to bodyshops, aircraft manufacturers, fleet owners, automotive suppliers and major bus and truck producers.Brands include Sikkens®, Lesonal®, Dynacoat®, Wanda®, Sikkens Autocoat® BT, Aerowave®, Aerobase® and Aerodur®. Operating in more than 60 countries, Automotive & Aerospace Coatings has specialists around the world who understand local markets and can serve local needs. Its state-of-the-art customer services, color and technology solutions include offering technical and logistical support and the delivery of training programs. Internet: www.akzonobel.com/aac

McLaren Automotive has a 20 year heritage in producing landmark sports cars for the road: the McLaren F1 road car, which was launched in 1992, set the world land speed record for a production car, and is regarded as one of the iconic sports cars of the modern age. The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (2003 - 2009) is the most successful supercar ever in its price bracket, having sold twice as many cars as its nearest carbon-based rival.

McLaren Automotive has now moved from these successful automotive projects to launching a new car company that will design, develop, and distribute a range of high performance, highly efficient and technologically innovative sports cars through a global network of highly respected premium car retailers in every major automotive market.

Around 4,000 sports cars will be built annually by the middle of the decade in the advanced new manufacturing facility, the McLaren Production Centre. McLaren Automotive's debut model is the 12C. Drawing on the company's long-standing Formula 1 experience in its concept and development, the 12C is lighter, faster, more powerful, more fuel efficient and more exclusive than its key competition. It supports its performance benchmarks by introducing a unique one-piece moulded carbon chassis into the 'core' sports car segment in a new production method that brings the performance of £500,000 cars to market at a third of the price. All future McLarens will continue the themes presented by the 12C: innovation, integration of Formula 1 technology, and ultimate performance.

In 2011 McLaren Automotive announced the launch of McLaren GT; a new race car manufacturer combining the expertise of McLaren Automotive, McLaren Racing, McLaren Electronic Systems, McLaren Applied Technologies and CRS Racing. McLaren GT is responsible for developing the first racing derivative of the 12C sports car, the MP4-12C GT3. Twenty-five examples of the MP4-12C GT3 are now racing with private teams in Europe in 2012.

Photo of contract signing: http://hugin.info/130660/R/1644043/529619.JPG

Press release PDF file: http://hugin.info/130660/R/1644043/529590.pdf

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Source: Akzo Nobel NV via Thomson Reuters ONE

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