RPM Signs Agreement to Acquire Leading German EIFS Company

MEDINA, Ohio, December 1, 2011 -

RPM International Inc. (NYSE: RPM) announced today that its RPM Building Solutions Group (RPM BSG) has signed an agreement to acquire FEMA Farben + Putze GmbH (FEMA GmbH) of Ettlingen, Germany.  FEMA GmbH, with annual sales of more than USD $40 million, is a leading manufacturer and supplier of External Insulating and Finishing Systems (EIFS) and complementary product lines to the German and French construction markets. Terms of the transaction, which is expected to be accretive to earnings within one year, were not disclosed.

“The addition of FEMA’s EIFS product line immediately enhances our capabilities to address the market for energy efficient and sustainable high-performance buildings in Germany, the current number one marketplace for EIFS in the world, and France, one of the fastest growing markets for EIFS.  It also provides a platform to extend FEMA’s product systems through existing RPM subsidiary companies into other European countries,” stated Frank C. Sullivan, RPM chairman and chief executive officer.

“FEMA’s energy efficient cladding complements our Tremco illbruck building sealing technologies, allowing us to serve a larger portion of the market for energy efficient buildings,” stated Reiner Eisenhut, president and managing director of RPM BSG Europe.  

FEMA GmbH will operate as a stand-alone business within RPM BSG Europe in conjunction with Tremco illbruck and the FEMA GmbH existing management team, which was developed by Heinz Fedder, founder and CEO, who will continue with the company in a consulting capacity.

About RPM

RPM International Inc., a holding company, owns subsidiaries that are world leaders in specialty coatings, sealants, building materials and related services serving both industrial and consumer markets.  RPM’s industrial products include roofing systems, sealants, corrosion control coatings, flooring coatings and specialty chemicals.  Industrial brands include Stonhard, Tremco, illbruck, Carboline, Euco, Flowcrete and Universal Sealants.  RPM’s consumer products are used by professionals and do-it-yourselfers for home maintenance and improvement and by hobbyists.  Consumer brands include Zinsser, Rust-Oleum, DAP, Varathane and Testors.  Additional details are available at www.rpminc.com.

For more information, contact Robert L. Matejka, senior vice president and chief financial officer, at +1-330-273-5090 or rmatejka@rpminc.com.

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” relating to our business.  These forward-looking statements, or other statements made by us, are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting us, and are subject to uncertainties and factors (including those specified below) which are difficult to predict and, in many instances, are beyond our control.  As a result, our actual results could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any such forward-looking statements.  These uncertainties and factors include (a) global markets and general economic conditions, including uncertainties surrounding the volatility in financial markets, the availability of capital and the effect of changes in interest rates, and the viability of banks and other financial institutions; (b) the prices, supply and capacity of raw materials, including assorted pigments, resins, solvents and other natural gas- and oil-based materials; packaging, including plastic containers; and transportation services, including fuel surcharges; (c) continued growth in demand for our products; (d) legal, environmental and litigation risks inherent in our construction and chemicals businesses and risks related to the adequacy of our insurance coverage for such matters; (e) the effect of changes in interest rates; (f) the effect of fluctuations in currency exchange rates upon our foreign operations; (g) the effect of non-currency risks of investing in and conducting operations in foreign countries, including those relating to domestic and international political, social, economic and regulatory factors; (h) risks and uncertainties associated with our ongoing acquisition and divestiture activities; (i) risks related to the adequacy of our contingent liability reserves; (j) risks and uncertainties associated with the SPHC bankruptcy proceedings; and (k) other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2011, as the same may be updated from time to time.  We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.

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