Who Owns RPM International Company?

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Who Owns RPM International?

Understanding a company's ownership is crucial for grasping its strategic direction and accountability. For RPM International, a global leader in specialty coatings and building materials, its ownership journey reflects its growth and evolution since its founding in 1947.

RPM International, with net sales of $7.4 billion as of May 31, 2025, is a significant entity in its sector. Its diverse product range, including brands like Rust-Oleum, serves both industrial and consumer markets worldwide.

Discovering who holds the reins of RPM International involves looking at its public trading status and the influence of its major shareholders. This publicly traded company's ownership is distributed among various investors, including institutional funds and individual shareholders, all contributing to its market capitalization of approximately $15 billion.

RPM International Inc. traces its origins back to May 1947, founded by Frank C. Sullivan as Republic Powdered Metals. The company's initial product, Alumanation, a heavy-duty aluminum roof coating, continues to be produced. In its first year of operation, Republic Powdered Metals generated sales of $90,000.

Founding Vision

Frank C. Sullivan established Republic Powdered Metals with a focus on innovative coatings. His initial product, Alumanation, laid the groundwork for the company's future growth.

Early Financials

In its inaugural year, Republic Powdered Metals achieved sales of $90,000. While specific early ownership details are not public, this revenue marked a strong start.

Succession and Expansion

Frank C. Sullivan's son, Thomas C. Sullivan, joined in 1957 and later played a key role in the company's evolution. The company's first acquisition, The Reardon Company, occurred in 1966 for $2.3 million.

Corporate Restructuring

Following Frank C. Sullivan's passing in 1971, RPM, Inc. was formed as a holding company. This move facilitated a more aggressive acquisition strategy within the consolidating paint and coatings sector.

Public Offering

After over 15 years of private ownership, Republic Powdered Metals conducted its first intrastate public offering in Ohio in 1963. This involved selling 25,000 shares of common stock.

Leadership Transition

Thomas C. Sullivan succeeded his father as chairman and CEO. Alongside James A. Karman, as president and COO, they guided RPM through significant growth, increasing net sales from $11 million to $2 billion.

The company's journey from its founding as Republic Powdered Metals to its current structure as RPM International Inc. is a testament to strategic leadership and growth. The initial public offering in Ohio in 1963 and the subsequent formation of RPM, Inc. as a holding company in 1971 marked pivotal moments in its history, enabling a more ambitious acquisition strategy. The leadership of Thomas C. Sullivan and James A. Karman oversaw a remarkable expansion, transforming the company's financial standing. For a deeper understanding of this evolution, refer to the Brief History of RPM International.

Key Milestones in Early Ownership

The early years of RPM International Inc. were characterized by foundational product development and strategic corporate changes that set the stage for future success.

• Founded as Republic Powdered Metals by Frank C. Sullivan in May 1947.
• Initial product, Alumanation, remains in production.
• First intrastate public offering in Ohio in 1963, selling 25,000 shares.
• Formation of RPM, Inc. holding company in 1971 to pursue acquisitions.
• RPM listed on NASDAQ in 1971 under the symbol RPOW.
• Significant growth under the leadership of Thomas C. Sullivan and James A. Karman.

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RPM International Inc. transitioned from private ownership to a public entity with its initial public offering in 1969, listing on the New York Stock Exchange. This move marked a significant shift in its ownership structure, opening the door for broader investment and public scrutiny of its operations and performance.

The ownership landscape of RPM International Inc. is predominantly shaped by institutional investors, who collectively hold about 85% of the company's shares as of July 2025. This significant concentration means that the trading activities and investment decisions of these large entities can have a substantial impact on RPM International stock. As of July 28, 2025, a total of 1346 institutional owners had filed with the SEC, collectively holding 130,887,064 shares, underscoring the widespread institutional interest in RPM International ownership.

RPM International Inc. Major Stakeholders

Institutional investors are the dominant force in RPM International's ownership structure, influencing its strategic direction. The company's approximately 128 million outstanding shares as of July 22, 2024, are largely held by these entities.

• Vanguard Group Inc. is the largest single shareholder, holding 10.47% of shares as of March 31, 2025.
• BlackRock, Inc., State Street Corp, and Morgan Stanley are also significant institutional holders.
• The top 12 shareholders control 50% of the business, highlighting concentrated institutional influence.
• Individual investors and company insiders hold smaller percentages of RPM International stock.
• The company's focus on growth, including acquisitions, is often influenced by its major shareholders and their strategic outlook, as detailed in the Growth Strategy of RPM International.

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The Board of Directors at RPM International Inc. is comprised of 12 members as of July 2025, including company executives and independent directors. Frank C. Sullivan holds the dual roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, providing a direct link between leadership and oversight. The board's composition aims to bring diverse expertise to guide the company's strategic direction and governance.

In January 2025, the board welcomed three new members: Craig S. Morford, Christopher L. Mapes, and Julie A. Beck. These appointments were intended to bolster the board's collective knowledge in areas such as compliance, risk management, and financial strategy. The voting structure at RPM International Inc. follows a one-share-one-vote principle, meaning shareholders' voting power is directly tied to their equity stake. This system is standard for most publicly traded companies, ensuring that significant ownership translates to significant influence. Institutional investors, who collectively hold approximately 85% of the company's shares, therefore wield considerable power in corporate decisions and director elections.

Understanding RPM International Ownership

RPM International Inc. is a publicly traded company, and its ownership structure is largely dominated by institutional investors. Understanding who owns RPM International is key to grasping the dynamics of its shareholder base and potential influences on its strategic direction. The company's governance framework ensures that voting power aligns with equity holdings.

• Institutional investors hold approximately 85% of RPM International stock.
• The board composition includes a mix of executives and independent directors.
• Voting power is based on a one-share-one-vote system.
• Frank C. Sullivan serves as both Chairman and CEO.
• Recent board additions in 2025 aimed to enhance expertise in governance and finance.

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RPM International Inc. has seen significant activity in its ownership structure over the past few years, driven by strategic acquisitions and consistent capital allocation. The company's financial performance, including record sales and net income in fiscal year 2024, underpins these trends. Understanding who owns RPM International Inc. involves looking at both institutional and individual investor patterns.

RPM International Inc. has actively managed its ownership through share buybacks and strategic acquisitions, aiming to enhance shareholder value and drive growth. As of April 2025, institutional investors held a substantial 83.88% of the company's stock, with mutual funds increasing their stake to 66.95%. This high level of institutional ownership, which reached approximately 85% by July 2, 2025, indicates that large investment funds play a significant role in the company's stock performance. Frank C. Sullivan continues to lead the company as Chairman and CEO, overseeing a strategic shift to three operating segments designed to improve synergies and efficiencies.

Acquisition Strategy

Fiscal year 2025 marked RPM's largest M&A year, with acquisitions like Star Brands Group and Ready Seal Inc. bolstering its market position. These strategic moves are funded by strong cash flow, though they have led to an increase in total debt to $2.10 billion as of February 28, 2025.

Shareholder Returns

RPM International Inc. returned $325.6 million to stockholders in fiscal year 2025 through dividends and share repurchases, a 13.5% increase from the prior year. Share buybacks have been a consistent strategy, totaling $54.978 million in 2024.

Institutional Ownership Trends

Institutional investors maintain a dominant presence, holding 83.88% of RPM International stock as of April 2025. This trend suggests that the company's valuation is heavily influenced by the investment decisions of large funds.

Operational Restructuring for Growth

RPM International Inc. is restructuring into three operating segments to accelerate revenue synergies and SG&A efficiencies. This strategic realignment aims to drive record sales and EBIT in 2026, reflecting a forward-looking approach to business operations and Revenue Streams & Business Model of RPM International.

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