Profile: RPM International Inc (RPM.N)

RPM International Inc. (RPM), incorporated on July 29, 2002, through its subsidiaries manufactures, markets and sells various specialty chemical product lines, including specialty paints, protective coatings, roofing systems, sealants and adhesives. The Company’s family of products includes those marketed under brand names, such as Carboline, DAP, EUCO, Fibergrate, Flecto, Flowcrete, Hummervoll, Universal Sealants, illbruck, Rust-Oleum, Stonhard, Tremco, Watco and Zinsser. RPM’s business is divided into two reportable segments: the industrial reportable segment (industrial segment) and the consumer reportable segment (consumer segment). The industrial segment (RPM Building Solutions Group, Performance Coatings Group and RPM2 Group), which comprises approximately 67% of its total net sales, includes maintenance and protection products for roofing and waterproofing systems, flooring, corrosion control and other specialty applications. The consumer segment (Rust-Oleum Group and DAP Group) comprises approximately 33% of its total net sales and includes rust-preventative, special purpose and decorative paints, caulks, sealants, primers and other branded consumer products.

As of May 31, 2012, the Company's subsidiaries marketed products in approximately 150 countries and territories and operated manufacturing facilities in approximately 82 locations in the United States, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Approximately 43% of its sales are generated in international markets through a combination of exports and direct sales in foreign countries.

On May 31, 2010, Bondex International, Inc. (Bondex) and its parent, Specialty Products Holding Corp. (SPHC), filed voluntary petitions in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the Bankruptcy Court) to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the Bankruptcy Code). In March 2010, the Company announced that its subsidiary, Rust-Oleum Corporation, has acquired Chemtec Chemicals BV, a manufacturer of industrial cleaners and specialty coatings based in the Netherlands.

Industrial Segment

The Company’s industrial segment products are sold throughout North America and also account for the majority of its international sales. Its industrial product lines are sold directly to contractors, distributors and end users, such as owners of industrial manufacturing facilities, public institutions and other commercial customers. The RPM Building Solutions Group includes waterproofing and institutional roofing systems used in building protection, maintenance and weatherproofing applications marketed under its Tremco, Republic and Vulkem brand names; sealants, tapes and foams that seal and insulate joints in various construction assemblies marketed under its Tremco, illbruck, Dymeric and Spectrem brand names, and residential home weatherization systems marketed under our Tuff-N-Dri, Watchdog Waterproofing and Enviro-Dri brand names. It also includes specialized roofing and building maintenance and related services marketed by its Weatherproofing Technologies subsidiary; specialty industrial adhesives and sealants marketed under its Pactan brand name, and concrete and masonry additives and related construction chemicals marketed under its EUCO, Increte and Tamms brand names.

The Performance Coatings Group includes polymer flooring systems for industrial, institutional and commercial facilities, as well as offshore and marine structures marketed under its Stonhard, Flowcrete and Hummervoll brand names; industrial and commercial tile systems marketed under its Lock-Tile and Ecoloc brand names; fiberglass reinforced plastic gratings and shapes used for industrial platforms, staircases and walkways marketed under its Fibergrate, Chemgrate, Corgrate and Safe-T-Span brand names; corrosion-control coatings, fireproofing products and containment linings for a variety of industrial infrastructure applications marketed under its Carboline, Nullifire, A/D Fire, Thermo-Lag and Plasite brand names. It also includes specialty construction products including bridge expansion joints, bridge deck and parking deck membranes, curb and channel drains, highway markings, protective coatings and concrete repair marketed under its Universal Sealants, BridgeCare, StructureCare, Pitchmastic, Nufins, Visul, EnviroKerb, EnviroChannel, EnviroDeck, EnviroGrate and Epoplex brand names.

The RPM2 Group includes fluorescent colorants and pigments marketed under its Radiant and Dane Color brand names; waterproofing and flooring products marketed under its RPM Belgium brand names, and waterproofing and concrete repair products marketed under its Vandex brand name. It also includes shellac-based-specialty coatings for industrial and pharmaceutical uses, edible glazes and food coatings marketed under its Mantrose-Haeuser and NatureSeal brand names, and exterior insulating finishing systems marketed in the United Kingdom and Canada under the Dryvit brand name.

Consumer Segment

The Company’s consumer segment manufactures and markets professional use and do-it-yourself (DIY) products for a variety of mainly consumer applications, including home improvement and personal leisure activities. Its consumer segment’s major manufacturing and distribution operations are located primarily in North America, along with a few locations in Europe. Consumer segment products are sold directly to mass merchandisers, home improvement centers, hardware stores, paint stores, craft shops and to other smaller customers through distributors. Rust-Oleum Group includes a line of coating products to protect and decorate a variety of surfaces for the DIY and professional markets which are sold under several key Rust-Oleum brand names, including Stops Rust, American Accents, Painter’s Touch, Specialty, Professional, Universal, Varathane, Watco, Epoxy Shield, Industrial Choice, Labor Saver, Road Warrior, Sierra Performance, Hard Hat, Mathys, CombiColor, Noxyde and Blackfriar. In addition, Rust-Oleum branded products in Canada are marketed under the Tremclad brand name. It also offers a line of specialty products targeted to solve problems for the paint contractor and the DIYer for applications that include surface preparation, mold and mildew prevention, wallpaper removal and application, and waterproofing, under its Zinsser, B-I-N, Bulls Eye 1-2-3, Cover-Stain, DIF, FastPrime, Sealcoat, Jomax, Gardz, Perma White, Shieldz, Watertite, Okon, Parks, Papertiger and Walworks brand names; deck and fence restoration products marketed by its Wolman Wood Care Products business; metallic and faux finish coatings marketed under its Modern Masters brand name, and an assortment of other products, including hobby paints and cements marketed under its Testors brand name.

The DAP Group includes a complete line of caulks, sealants, adhesives, insulating foam, spackling, glazing, and other general patch and repair products for home improvement and construction marketed through a assortment of DAP branded products. It includes 33, 53, 1012, 4000, 7000, Alex, Alex Fast Dry, Alex Plus, Alex Ultra, Beats The Nail, Blend-Stick, Blockade, Butyl-Flex, Caulk-Be-Gone, Crack Shot, Custom-Patch, DAP 3.0 IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW, DAP CAP, DAPtex Plus, DryDex, Dynaflex 230, Dynagrip, Elastopatch, Fast ‘N Final, Kwik Foam, Kwik Seal, Kwik Seal Plus, Mono, Patch Stick, Patch-N-Paint, Plastic Wood, Presto Patch, Quick Plug, Rely-On, Seal ‘N Peel, SIDE Winder, Silicone Plus, StrongStik, Weldwood and Phenoseal, which is a brand of Gloucester Company Inc., which is a subsidiary of DAP Products Inc.