Acquisitions

Acquisitions are a key element of RPM’s overall growth strategy. The company actively pursues acquisitions of free-standing entrepreneurial companies and product lines that complement its portfolio of specialty coatings and sealants businesses. Over the last 30 years, RPM has completed nearly 175 acquisitions, with over 70 of these transactions being completed during the last decade.

RPM creates shareholder value by attracting successful entrepreneurial companies and applying a disciplined approach to investing in their continued growth.

Recent Acquisition

RPM’s most recent acquisition was announced on June 12, 2019, when its Tremco business acquired Schul International Co., LLC, a manufacturer of joint sealants for commercial construction, and Willseal LLC, a business that markets and sells Schul products. Both companies are headquartered in Hudson, N.H., and have combined annual net sales of approximately $15 million. Sold under the Sealtite and Willseal brands, Schul’s product line primarily consists of pre-compressed, self-expanding foam tapes, which are used to seal joints in applications that include window seals, precast concrete, modular construction and concrete façade restoration. Schul and Willseal will be integrated into RPM’s Tremco Commercial Sealants & Waterproofing business. This acquisition strengthens Tremco’s position as a global market leader and puts RPM in a leading position for impregnated foam tape technology. Schul’s well-recognized brands complement the company’s existing product offering with new solutions, and RPM will drive revenue growth for Schul’s products by leveraging Tremco’s existing sales structure.

The Best Home for Entrepreneurial Companies

RPM’s acquisition philosophy, initiated by Thomas C. Sullivan, who ran RPM from 1971 until 2002 and retired from the board in 2016, is to “Seek good companies. Create an atmosphere where the founders and managers stay with their companies. Then, get out of their way.”

This entrepreneurial culture has been a key attraction to business owners in the industry as demonstrated by the fact that today many of RPM’s operating companies are managed by their founders, second- or third-generation family members or the managers they trusted to lead their companies. For this reason, RPM is considered to be the “best home for entrepreneurial companies” in the industry.