RPM Acquires Full Interest in Chinese Joint Venture

MEDINA, Ohio, May 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- RPM International Inc. (NYSE: RPM) today announced that its Carboline Company subsidiary acquired the remaining 51% interest in its Chinese joint venture, Carboline Dalian Paint Production Co., Ltd. (Carboline Dalian), bringing its total ownership to 100%. Terms of the transaction, which is expected to be accretive to earnings within one year, were not disclosed.

Carboline acquired its initial 49% interest in the company in 2009. UniChemical Company, originally a Carboline licensee, has been Carboline's long-standing partner in the joint venture.

Carboline Dalian, with sales of approximately $11 million, manufactures corrosion control coatings and linings for oil and gas, power and petrochemical related projects. Headquartered in Dalian, China, the company also has operations in Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

"China presents vast growth opportunities, but is also a very dynamic market. Because of these conditions, we chose to enter China in 2009 with a local joint venture partner," stated Frank C. Sullivan, RPM chairman and chief executive officer. "Now, with full ownership of the business, we can accelerate the growth of Carboline in the region and enable it to serve as a platform for our other subsidiaries to increase their penetration throughout the Chinese marketplace."

About RPM
RPM International Inc. owns subsidiaries that are world leaders in specialty coatings, sealants, building materials and related services across three segments. RPM's industrial products include roofing systems, sealants, corrosion control coatings, flooring coatings and other construction chemicals. Industrial companies include Stonhard, Tremco, illbruck, Carboline, Flowcrete, and Euclid Chemical. RPM's consumer products are used by professionals and do-it-yourselfers for home maintenance and improvement and by hobbyists. Consumer brands include Rust-Oleum, DAP, Zinsser, Varathane and Testors. RPM's specialty products include industrial cleaners, colorants, exterior finishes, specialty OEM coatings, edible coatings, restoration services equipment and specialty glazes for the pharmaceutical and food industries. Specialty segment companies include Day-Glo, Dryvit, RPM Wood Finishes, Mantrose-Haeuser, RPM Belgium, Legend Brands, Kop-Coat, and TCI. Additional details can be found at www.rpminc.com and by following RPM on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RPMintl.

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; and (j) 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, 2015, 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.

SOURCE RPM International Inc.

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