RPM Acquires Two Companies with Combined Annual Net Sales of $42 Million

MEDINA, Ohio, Jan. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- RPM International Inc. (NYSE: RPM) today announced that it has acquired two businesses, a manufacturer of commercial floor cleaning equipment and chemicals, and a manufacturer of specialty chemical raw materials. The companies have combined annual net sales of approximately $42 million. Terms of the transactions, which are expected to be accretive to earnings within one year, were not disclosed.

RPM's Legend Brands business has acquired the Prochem business from the Kärcher North America Company, Inc. Prochem is a manufacturer of professional equipment and chemicals for cleaning and restoring carpet, upholstery and hard flooring surfaces. Based in Chandler, Arizona, Prochem has annual net sales of approximately $22 million.

Prochem's equipment line includes truck-mounted and portable carpet, upholstery and hard surface cleaning machines, as well as a complete line of accessories. Prochem also manufactures professional-grade cleaning chemicals, including detergents, shampoos, spot and stain removers, and deodorizers. Its products are sold by distributors to professional cleaning contractors, primarily in North America.

"We expect the addition of Prochem, which will be integrated into Legend Brands' current offering of professional cleaning products, to propel us into the leadership position in the professional cleaning market," stated Frank C. Sullivan, RPM chairman and chief executive officer. "There are a number of efficiencies to be gained by the combined businesses that we can leverage to the bottom line. Plus, we will be able to better serve customers as we now have cleaning chemical blending facilities on both the east and west coasts of the U.S."

In addition, RPM acquired 80 percent of Arnette Polymers, LLC, a manufacturer of specialty chemical raw materials. Excluding sales to the several RPM subsidiaries it currently serves, Arnette Polymers has annual net sales of nearly $20 million. It will operate as part of the RPM Performance Coatings Group.

Located in Richmond, Missouri, Arnette Polymers specializes in resins, hardeners, curing agents and other intermediates for use in epoxy and polyurethane materials. The company is a key supplier to major chemical producers, distributors and end-user formulators. It will continue to be run by company founders Jim and Micky Arnette and the existing management team.

"Arnette's flexibility and ability to produce from pilot to large scale batches of both standard and niche materials has made it a key supplier for RPM subsidiaries over the last several years," stated Sullivan. "With a good working relationship already in place, we intend to leverage this acquisition to further expand advantages in cost, supply and product development within the RPM supply chain."

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, Euclid Chemical and RPM Belgium Vandex. 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, 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.

For more information, contact Barry M. Slifstein, vice president – investor relations, at 330-273-5090 or [email protected].

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, 2016, 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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