| RPM announces record first quarter!!  Here is the news: 
 Friday October 9, 2:45 pm Eastern Time
 
 Company Press Release
 
 SOURCE: RPM, Inc.
 
 RPM Announces Record First Quarter Sales,
 Earnings and Earnings Per Share
 
 Cash Dividend Increased 5 Percent
 
 Re-Elects Four Directors
 
 MEDINA, Ohio, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- RPM, Inc. (NYSE: RPM - news), at its Annual Meeting today, announced that it
 achieved record sales, earnings and earnings per share for the first quarter of its 1999 fiscal year, which ended August 31,
 1998.
 
 Sales totaled a record $448.1 million, an 8 percent increase over the prior year's record first quarter sales of $415.1 million.
 Record earnings increased 11 percent to $31.2 million, up from the prior year's first quarter record earnings of $28.2 million.
 Record earnings per share totaled $.29, a 7 percent increase over the record $.27 earned in the first quarter last year. Previous
 year per share earnings have been restated for the 25 percent stock dividend issued in December 1997.
 
 RPM stated it was pleased with the record results of its first quarter, which performed as expected, in spite of some slowness
 experienced in certain consumer lines.
 
 RPM expects record levels of sales and earnings throughout the remainder of its 1999 fiscal year -- and anticipates achieving its
 52nd consecutive record year of sales, earnings and earnings per share for the fiscal year ending May 31, 1999.
 
 RPM also announced that its board of directors, at a meeting immediately preceding the Annual Meeting, declared a 5 percent
 increase in the quarterly cash dividend rate to $.1175 per share, payable on October 30, 1998 to shareholders of record
 October 19, 1998.
 
 The dividend increase represents RPM's 25th consecutive yearly increase in the cash dividend. The dividend action was taken
 in recognition of RPM's record first quarter, and the growth anticipated for the remainder of its 1999 fiscal year.
 
 RPM also at its Annual Meeting re-elected the following directors: Edward B. Brandon, retired chairman and chief executive
 officer of National City Corporation [NYSE:NCC - news]; William A. Papenbrock, partner in the law firm of Calfee, Halter &
 Griswold; Thomas C. Sullivan, chairman and chief executive officer of RPM, Inc.; and Frank C. Sullivan, executive vice
 president and chief financial officer of RPM, Inc.
 
 RPM, Inc. is a world leader in specialty coatings, serving both the industrial and consumer markets. Its industrial products
 include roofing systems, sealants, corrosion control coatings, exterior insulation finishing systems (EIFS), floor coatings and
 specialty chemicals. RPM's consumer do-it- yourself products are used for home maintenance and automotive and boat repair.
 The fiscal year ended May 31, 1998 was RPM's 51st consecutive record year in sales, earnings and earnings per share, with
 sales of $1.62 billion, net earnings of $87.8 million and diluted earnings per share of $.84. RPM shares are traded on the New
 York Stock Exchange under the symbol RPM.
 
 CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 In thousands, except per share data
 (Unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended August 31,
 1998            1997
 
 Net Sales                                  $448,132        $415,053
 Cost of Sales                               243,730         230,972
 
 Gross Profit                               $204,402        $184,081
 Selling, General & Administrative
 Expenses                                  141,280         125,218
 
 Interest Expense, Net                         9,748           9,844
 
 Income Before Income Taxes                  $53,374         $49,019
 Provision for Income Taxes                   22,150          20,833
 
 Net Income                                  $31,224         $28,186
 
 Basic Earnings per Share                      $0.30           $0.29
 
 Diluted Earnings per Share                    $0.29           $0.27
 
 Average Shares Outstanding - Basic          103,840          98,077
 Average Shares Outstanding - Diluted        112,864         111,124
 
 CONSOLIDATED  CONDENSED  BALANCE  SHEETS
 In thousands, except per share data
 (Unaudited)
 
 August 31,
 1998           1997
 Assets
 
 Current Assets                             $685,992       $611,041
 Property, Plant & Equipment (net)           310,193        270,483
 Other Assets                                709,365        641,470
 
 Total Assets                           $1,705,550     $1,522,994
 
 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
 
 Current Liabilities                        $274,810       $247,950
 Long-Term Debt                              571,723        647,002
 Other Liabilities                           116,034        120,660
 
 Total Liabilities                        $962,567     $1,015,612
 Shareholders' Equity                        742,983        507,382
 
 Total Liabilities  &
 Shareholders' Equity                 $1,705,550     $1,522,994
 
 Current Ratio                                   2.5:1          2.5:1
 
 Shareholders' Equity per Share                  $7.16          $5.17
 
 Working Capital                              $411,182       $363,091
 
 * Includes interest expense add-back, net of tax, on convertible debt
 securities -- $992 in 1998 and $1,352 in 1997.
 
 SOURCE: RPM, Inc.
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