UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

þ		Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

For the Period Ended September 30, 2007

o		Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

For the transition period from                      to                     

THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

OHIO		34-0526850
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
101 Prospect Avenue, N.W., Cleveland, Ohio		44115-1075
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(216) 566-2000
(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ  No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Large accelerated filer þ     Accelerated filer o     Non-accelerated filer o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). o Yes     þ No

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practical date.

Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value — 125,614,552 shares as of September 30, 2007.

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME (UNAUDITED)
Thousands of dollars, except per share data

		Three months ended September 30,								Nine months ended September 30,
		2007				2006				2007				2006
Net sales		$	2,197,042			$	2,116,711			$	6,151,408			$	6,015,209
Cost of goods sold			1,208,654				1,180,933				3,385,083				3,371,432
Gross profit			988,388				935,778				2,766,325				2,643,777
Percent to net sales			45.0	%			44.2	%			45.0	%			44.0	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses			670,433				648,920				1,955,073				1,888,067
Percent to net sales			30.5	%			30.7	%			31.8	%			31.4	%
Other general expense — net			3,185				(488	)			10,209				14,779
Interest expense			17,048				16,437				52,415				50,624
Interest and net investment income			(1,808	)			(6,127	)			(12,591	)			(17,820	)
Other (income) expense — net			5,213				345				239				400
Income before income taxes			294,317				276,691				760,980				707,727
Income taxes			93,968				97,579				246,222				230,352
Net income		$	200,349			$	179,112			$	514,758			$	477,375
Net income per common share:
Basic		$	1.59			$	1.34			$	3.99			$	3.56
Diluted		$	1.55			$	1.30			$	3.88			$	3.46
Average shares outstanding — basic			125,958,878				133,622,166				128,887,107				134,196,870
Average shares and equivalents outstanding — diluted			129,592,682				137,375,111				132,601,488				138,028,873

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
Thousands of dollars

		September 30,				December 31,				September 30,
		2007				2006				2006
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	21,233			$	469,170			$	400,360
Short-term investments							21,200
Accounts receivable, less allowance			1,097,342				864,972				1,015,139
Inventories:
Finished goods			761,340				707,196				742,416
Work in process and raw materials			125,002				117,983				112,985
			886,342				825,179				855,401
Deferred income taxes			123,452				120,101				110,204
Other current assets			191,945				149,659				163,958
Total current assets			2,320,314				2,450,281				2,545,062
Goodwill			1,001,700				916,464				887,175
Intangible assets			350,567				285,922				280,352
Deferred pension assets			399,185				387,668				417,416
Other assets			155,375				125,971				159,007
Property, plant and equipment			2,184,730				2,049,772				2,006,087
Less allowances for depreciation			1,303,986				1,220,991				1,209,290
			880,744				828,781				796,797
Total assets		$	5,107,885			$	4,995,087			$	5,085,809
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings		$	656,379			$	369,778			$	275,730
Accounts payable			837,934				779,369				855,273
Compensation and taxes withheld			208,587				236,930				201,493
Accrued taxes			172,790				61,246				158,493
Current portion of long-term debt			10,338				212,853				208,648
Other accruals			407,999				414,639				412,475
Total current liabilities			2,294,027				2,074,815				2,112,112
Long-term debt			293,971				291,876				298,755
Postretirement benefits other than pensions			305,710				301,408				230,890
Other long-term liabilities			369,381				334,628				381,890
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock — $1.00 par value:
125,614,552, 133,565,287 and 134,822,846 shares outstanding at September 30, 2007, December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006, respectively			225,377				222,985				221,590
Preferred stock — convertible, no par value:
352,460, 433,215, and 460,681 shares outstanding at September 30, 2007, December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006, respectively			352,460				433,215				460,681
Unearned ESOP compensation			(352,460	)			(433,215	)			(460,681	)
Other capital			865,591				748,523				666,433
Retained earnings			3,873,830				3,485,564				3,420,229
Treasury stock, at cost			(2,891,326	)			(2,202,248	)			(2,040,582	)
Cumulative other comprehensive loss			(228,676	)			(262,464	)			(205,508	)
Total shareholders’ equity			1,844,796				1,992,360				2,062,162
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$	5,107,885			$	4,995,087			$	5,085,809

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
Thousands of dollars

		Nine months ended September 30,
		2007				2006
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income		$	514,758			$	477,375
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net operating cash:
Depreciation			100,964				90,714
Amortization of intangibles and other assets			17,311				16,881
Stock-based compensation expense			23,925				17,743
Provisions for environmental-related matters			22,268				17,448
Defined benefit pension plans net credit			(4,323	)			(1,127	)
Net increase in postretirement liability			6,359				4,364
Other			(8,790	)			(3,985	)
Change in working capital accounts — net			(103,274	)			(77,105	)
Costs incurred for environmental — related matters			(6,560	)			(8,283	)
Costs incurred for qualified exit costs			(1,087	)			(1,968	)
Other			2,204				4,809
Net operating cash			563,755				536,866
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital expenditures			(117,206	)			(144,368	)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(248,185	)
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments			21,200
Increase in other investments			(33,357	)			(26,473	)
Proceeds from sale of assets			19,660				6,983
Other			(11,469	)			2,061
Net investing cash			(369,357	)			(161,797	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net increase in short-term borrowings			273,156				150,123
Net (decrease) increase in long-term debt			(201,149	)			9,952
Payments of cash dividends			(123,137	)			(102,009	)
Proceeds from stock options exercised			64,412				61,237
Income tax effect of stock-based compensation			32,146				20,214
Treasury stock purchased			(680,247	)			(149,481	)
Other			(9,594	)			(1,325	)
Net financing cash			(644,413	)			(11,289	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash			2,078				539
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents			(447,937	)			364,319
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			469,170				36,041
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	21,233			$	400,360
Income taxes paid		$	126,587			$	151,300
Interest paid			61,822				58,554

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

Periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006

Note A—BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

The Company uses the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method of valuing inventory. An actual valuation of inventory under the LIFO method can be made only at the end of each year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. Accordingly, interim LIFO calculations are based on management’s estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and costs are subject to the final year-end LIFO inventory valuation. In addition, interim inventory levels include management’s estimates of annual inventory losses due to shrinkage and other factors. The final year-end valuation of inventory is based on an annual physical inventory count performed during the fourth quarter. For further information on inventory valuations and other matters, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.

The consolidated results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007.

Note B—IMPACT OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In June 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) ratified the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) consensus on EITF Issue No. 06-11, “Accounting for Income Tax Benefits on Dividends on Share-Based Payment Awards.” This EITF indicates that tax benefits of dividends on unvested restricted stock are to be recognized in equity as an increase in the pool of excess tax benefits. Should the related awards forfeit or no longer become expected to vest, the benefits are to be reclassified from equity to the income statement. The EITF is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007. The Company will adopt the EITF as required and management does not expect it to have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.

In March 2007, the FASB ratified the EITF consensus on EITF Issue No. 06-10, “Accounting for Collateral Assignment Split Dollar Life Insurance.” This EITF indicates that an employer should recognize a liability for postretirement benefits related to collateral assignment split-dollar life

insurance arrangements. In addition, the EITF provides guidance for the recognition of an asset related to a collateral assignment split-dollar life insurance arrangement. The EITF is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007. The Company will adopt the EITF as required and adoption is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” FAS No. 159 allows companies to elect to measure certain assets and liabilities at fair value and is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. Adoption of this standard is optional. If adopted, the standard is not expected to have any impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

In September 2006, the FASB issued FAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” FAS No. 157 provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities and only applies when other standards require or permit the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities. It does not expand the use of fair value measurement. FAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company will adopt this standard as required and adoption is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

In September 2006, the FASB ratified the EITF consensus on EITF Issue No. 06-4, “Accounting for Deferred Comp./Postretirement Benefit Aspects of Endorsement Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements.” This EITF indicates that an employer should recognize a liability for future post-employment benefits based on the substantive agreement with the employee. The EITF is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2007. The Company will adopt the EITF as required and adoption is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

Note C—DIVIDENDS

Dividends paid on common stock during each of the first three quarters of 2007 and 2006 were $.315 per share and $.25 per share, respectively.

Note D—COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Comprehensive income is summarized as follows:

		Three months ended								Nine months ended
		September 30,								September 30,
(Thousands of dollars)		2007				2006				2007				2006
Net income		$	200,349			$	179,112			$	514,758			$	477,375
Foreign currency translation adjustments			16,970				1,659				29,217				8,067
Amortization of net prior service costs and actuarial losses, net of taxes			1,260								3,872
Adjustments of marketable equity securities and derivative instruments used in cash flow hedges, net of taxes			(376	)			(328	)			700				(35	)
Comprehensive income		$	218,203			$	180,443			$	548,547			$	485,407

Note E—PRODUCT WARRANTIES

Changes in the Company’s accrual for product warranty claims during the first nine months of 2007 and 2006, including customer satisfaction settlements, were as follows:

(Thousands of dollars)		2007				2006
Balance at January 1		$	25,226			$	23,003
Charges to expense			22,228				28,434
Settlements			(26,413	)			(25,571	)
Balance at September 30		$	21,041			$	25,866

For further details on the Company’s accrual for product warranty claims, see Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Note F—EXIT OR DISPOSAL ACTIVITIES

The Company recognizes liabilities associated with exit or disposal activities as incurred in accordance with FAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.” Qualifying exit costs primarily include post-closure rent expenses, incremental post-closure costs and costs of employee terminations. Adjustments may be made to prior provisions for qualified exit costs if information becomes available upon which more accurate amounts can be reasonably estimated. Concurrently, property, plant and equipment is tested for impairment in accordance with FAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” and, if impairment exists, the carrying value of the related assets is reduced to estimated fair value. Additional impairment may be recorded for subsequent revisions in estimated fair value. No significant revisions occurred during the first nine months of 2007.

The following table summarizes the remaining liabilities associated with qualified exit costs at September 30, 2007 and the activity for the nine months then ended:

(Thousands of dollars)						Actual
		Balance at				expenditures				Balance at
		December 31,				charged to				September 30,
Exit Plan		2006				accrual				2007
Consumer Group manufacturing facilities shutdown in 2005:
Other qualified exit costs		$	947			$	(226	)		$	721
Consumer Group manufacturing facility shutdown in 2004:
Other qualified exit costs			130				(35	)			95
Qualified exit costs initiated prior to 2003			12,126				(420	)			11,706
Totals		$	13,203			$	(681	)		$	12,522

For further details on the Company’s exit or disposal activities, see Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Note G—HEALTH CARE, PENSION AND OTHER BENEFITS

Shown below are the components of the Company’s net periodic benefit (credit) cost for domestic defined benefit pension plans, foreign defined benefit pension plans and postretirement benefits other than pensions:

		Domestic Defined								Foreign Defined								Postretirement Benefits
		Benefit Pension Plans								Benefit Pension Plans								Other than Pensions
(Thousands of dollars)		2007				2006				2007				2006				2007				2006
Three months ended September 30:
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost:
Service cost		$	4,610			$	4,722			$	715			$	660			$	1,177			$	1,146
Interest cost			4,030				3,697				927				750				4,231				4,020
Expected return on assets			(12,648	)			(11,335	)			(622	)			(591	)
Recognition of:
Unrecognized prior service cost			305				151				15				15				(159	)			(158	)
Unrecognized actuarial loss			342				1,244				315				340				1,282				860
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost		$	(3,361	)		$	(1,521	)		$	1,350			$	1,174			$	6,531			$	5,868
Nine months ended September 30:
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost:
Service cost		$	13,830			$	14,166			$	2,105			$	1,934			$	3,531			$	3,438
Interest cost			12,090				11,091				2,729				2,194				12,693				12,060
Expected return on assets			(37,944	)			(34,005	)			(1,830	)			(1,729	)
Recognition of:
Unrecognized prior service cost			915				453				45				45				(477	)			(474	)
Unrecognized actuarial loss			1,026				3,732				925				992				3,846				2,580
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost		$	(10,083	)		$	(4,563	)		$	3,974			$	3,436			$	19,593			$	17,604

For further details on the Company’s health care, pension and other benefits, see Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

NOTE H—OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

The Company initially provides for estimated costs of investigation and remediation activities at its currently or formerly owned sites and third-party sites for which commitments or clean-up plans have been developed and when such costs can be reasonably estimated based on industry standards and historical experience. These estimated costs are determined based on currently available facts regarding each site. If the best estimate of costs can only be identified as a range and no specific amount within that range can be determined more likely than any other amount within the range, the minimum of the range is provided. The unaccrued maximum of the estimated range of possible outcomes is $141.4 million higher than the accrued amount at September 30, 2007. The Company continuously assesses its potential liability for investigation and remediation activities and adjusts its environmental-related accruals as information becomes available upon which more accurate costs can be reasonably estimated and as additional accounting guidelines are issued. Actual costs incurred may vary from these estimates due to the inherent uncertainties involved including, among others, the number and financial condition of parties involved with respect to any given site, the volumetric contribution which may be attributed to the Company relative to that attributed to other parties, the nature and magnitude of the wastes involved, the various technologies that can be used for remediation and the determination of acceptable remediation with respect to a particular site.

Included in Other long-term liabilities at September 30, 2007 and 2006 were accruals for extended environmental-related activities of $150.4 million and $135.9 million, respectively. Estimated costs of current investigation and remediation activities of $39.6 million and $33.5 million were included in Other accruals at September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Five of the Company’s currently or formerly owned manufacturing sites account for the majority of the accrual for environmental-related activities and the unaccrued maximum of the estimated range of possible outcomes at September 30, 2007. At September 30, 2007, $137.3 million, or 72.2 percent of the total accrual, related directly to these five sites. In the aggregate unaccrued exposure of $141.4 million at September 30, 2007, $96.9 million, or 68.6 percent, related to the five manufacturing sites. While environmental investigations and remedial actions are in different stages at these sites, additional investigations, remedial actions and monitoring will likely be required at each site.

Management cannot presently estimate the ultimate potential loss contingencies related to these sites or other less significant sites until such time as a substantial portion of the investigation at the sites is completed and remedial action plans are developed. In the event any future loss contingency significantly exceeds the current amount accrued, the recording of the ultimate liability may result in a material impact on net income for the annual or interim period during which the additional costs are accrued. Management does not believe that any potential liability ultimately attributed to the Company for its environmental-related matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, liquidity, or cash flow due to the extended period of time during which environmental investigation and remediation activities take place. An estimate of the potential impact on the Company’s operations cannot be made due to the aforementioned uncertainties.

Management expects these contingent environmental-related liabilities to be resolved over an extended period of time. Management is unable to provide a more specific time frame due to the indefinite amount of time to conduct investigation activities at any site, the indefinite amount of time to obtain environmental agency approval, as necessary, with respect to investigation and remediation activities, and the indefinite amount of time necessary to conduct remediation activities.

For further details on the Company’s Other long-term liabilities, see Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Note I—LITIGATION

In the course of its business, the Company is subject to a variety of claims and lawsuits, including litigation relating to product liability and warranty, personal injury, environmental, intellectual property, commercial, contractual and antitrust claims that are inherently subject to many uncertainties regarding the possibility of a loss to the Company. These uncertainties will ultimately be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur confirming the incurrence of a liability or the reduction of a liability. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” the Company accrues for

these contingencies by a charge to income when it is both probable that one or more future events will occur confirming the fact of a loss and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. In the event that the Company’s loss contingency is ultimately determined to be significantly higher than currently accrued, the recording of the additional liability may result in a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, liquidity or financial condition for the annual or interim period during which such additional liability is accrued. In those cases where no accrual is recorded because it is not probable that a liability has been incurred and cannot be reasonably estimated, any potential liability ultimately determined to be attributable to the Company may result in a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, liquidity or financial condition for the annual or interim period during which such liability is accrued. In those cases where no accrual is recorded or exposure to loss exists in excess of the amount accrued, FAS No. 5 requires disclosure of the contingency when there is a reasonable possibility that a loss or additional loss may have been incurred if even the possibility may be remote.

Lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation

The Company’s past operations included the manufacture and sale of lead pigments and lead-based paints. The Company, along with other companies, is a defendant in a number of legal proceedings, including individual personal injury actions, purported class actions, actions brought by the State of Rhode Island and the State of Ohio, and actions brought by various counties, cities, school districts and other government-related entities, arising from the manufacture and sale of lead pigments and lead-based paints. The plaintiffs are seeking recovery based upon various legal theories, including negligence, strict liability, breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentations and omissions, fraudulent misrepresentations and omissions, concert of action, civil conspiracy, violations of unfair trade practice and consumer protection laws, enterprise liability, market share liability, public nuisance, unjust enrichment and other theories. The plaintiffs seek various damages and relief, including personal injury and property damage, costs relating to the detection and abatement of lead-based paint from buildings, costs associated with a public education campaign, medical monitoring costs and others. The Company is also a defendant in legal proceedings arising from the manufacture and sale of non-lead-based paints which seek recovery based upon various legal theories, including the failure to adequately warn of potential exposure to lead during surface preparation when using non-lead-based paint on surfaces previously painted with lead-based paint. The Company believes that the litigation brought to date is without merit or subject to meritorious defenses and is vigorously defending such litigation. The Company expects that additional lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation may be filed against the Company in the future asserting similar or different legal theories and seeking similar or different types of damages and relief.

Notwithstanding the Company’s views on the merits, litigation is inherently subject to many uncertainties and the Company ultimately may not prevail. Adverse court rulings, such as the judgment against the Company and other defendants in the State of Rhode Island action and the Wisconsin State Supreme Court’s July 2005 determination that Wisconsin’s risk contribution theory may apply in the lead pigment litigation (both discussed in more detail below), or determinations of liability, among other factors, could affect the lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation against the Company and encourage an increase in the number and nature of future claims and proceedings. In addition, from time to time, various legislation and

administrative regulations have been enacted, promulgated or proposed to impose obligations on present and former manufacturers of lead pigments and lead-based paints respecting asserted health concerns associated with such products or to overturn the effect of court decisions in which the Company and other manufacturers have been successful.

Due to the uncertainties involved, management is unable to predict the outcome of the lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation, the number or nature of possible future claims and proceedings, or the effect that any legislation and/or administrative regulations may have on the litigation or against the Company. In addition, management cannot reasonably determine the scope or amount of the potential costs and liabilities related to such litigation, or resulting from any such legislation and regulations. The Company has not accrued any amounts for such litigation. Any potential liability that may result from such litigation or such legislation and regulations cannot reasonably be estimated. In the event any significant liability is determined to be attributable to the Company relating to such litigation, the recording of the liability may result in a material impact on net income for the annual or interim period during which such liability is accrued. Additionally, due to the uncertainties associated with the amount of any such liability and/or the nature of any other remedy which may be imposed in such litigation, any potential liability determined to be attributable to the Company arising out of such litigation may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, liquidity or financial condition. An estimate of the potential impact on the Company’s results of operations, liquidity or financial condition cannot be made due to the aforementioned uncertainties.

Rhode Island lead pigment litigation

During September 2002, a jury trial commenced in the first phase of an action brought by the State of Rhode Island against the Company and the other defendants. The sole issue before the court in this first phase was whether lead pigment in paint constitutes a public nuisance under Rhode Island law. In October 2002, the court declared a mistrial as the jury, which was split four to two in favor of the defendants, was unable to reach a unanimous decision.

The State of Rhode Island retried the case and on February 22, 2006, the jury returned a verdict, finding that (i) the cumulative presence of lead pigment in paints and coatings on buildings in the State of Rhode Island constitutes a public nuisance, (ii) the Company, along with two other defendants, caused or substantially contributed to the creation of the public nuisance, and (iii) the Company and two other defendants should be ordered to abate the public nuisance. On February 28, 2006, the Court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the punitive damages claim, finding insufficient evidence to support the State’s request for punitive damages. On February 26, 2007, the Court issued a decision on the post-trial motions and other matters pending before the Court. Specifically, the Court (i) denied the defendant’s post-trial motions for judgment as a matter of law and for a new trial, (ii) decided to enter a judgment of abatement in favor of the State against the Company and two other defendants, and (iii) decided to appoint a special master for the purpose of assisting the Court in its consideration of a remedial order to implement the judgment of abatement, and if necessary, any monitoring of the implementation of that order. On March 16, 2007, final judgment was entered against the Company and two other defendants. Also on March 16, 2007, the Company filed its notice of appeal to the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Proceedings

relating to a remedial order to implement the judgment of abatement are continuing in the Court during the pending appeal to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

The Company cannot reasonably determine the impact that the State of Rhode Island decision and determination of liability will have on the number or nature of present or future claims and proceedings against the Company or estimate the amount or range of ultimate loss that it may incur.

Other public nuisance claim litigation

The Company and other companies are defendants in other legal proceedings seeking recovery based on public nuisance liability theories including claims brought by the County of Santa Clara, California and other public entities in the State of California, the City of St. Louis, Missouri, the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, various cities and counties in the State of New Jersey, various cities in the State of Ohio and the State of Ohio.

The Santa Clara County, California proceeding was initiated in March 2000. The named plaintiffs are the County of Santa Clara, County of Santa Cruz, County of Solano, County of Alameda, County of Kern, City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Housing Authority, San Francisco Unified School District, City of Oakland, Oakland Housing Authority, Oakland Redevelopment Agency and the Oakland Unified School District. The proceeding purports to be a class action on behalf of all public entities in the State of California except the State and its agencies. The plaintiffs’ second amended complaint asserted claims for fraud and concealment, strict product liability/failure to warn, strict product liability/design defect, negligence, negligent breach of a special duty, public nuisance, private nuisance and violations of California’s Business and Professions Code, and the third amended complaint alleges similar claims including a claim for public nuisance. Various asserted claims were resolved in favor of the defendants through pre-trial demurrers and motions to strike. In October 2003, the trial court granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment against the remaining counts on statute of limitation grounds. The plaintiffs appealed the trial court’s decision and on March 3, 2006, the Court of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District, reversed in part the demurrers and summary judgment entered in favor of the Company and the other defendants. The Court of Appeal reversed the dismissal of the public nuisance claim for abatement brought by the cities of Santa Clara and Oakland and the City and County of San Francisco, and reversed summary judgment on all of the plaintiffs’ fraud claim to the extent that the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants had made fraudulent statements or omissions minimizing the risks of low-level exposure to lead. The Court of Appeal further vacated the summary judgment holding that the statute of limitations barred the plaintiffs’ strict liability and negligence claims, and held that those claims had not yet accrued because physical injury to the plaintiffs’ property had not been alleged. The Court of Appeal affirmed the dismissal of the public nuisance claim for damages to the plaintiffs’ properties, most aspects of the fraud claim, the trespass claim and the unfair business practice claim. The plaintiffs have filed a motion for leave to file a fourth amended complaint. On April 4, 2007, the trial court entered an order granting the defendants’ motion to bar payment of contingent fees to private attorneys. The plaintiffs appealed the trial court’s order and the California Court of Appeal has decided to review the decision.

The City of St. Louis proceeding was initiated in January 2000. The City initially alleged claims for strict liability, negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, concert of action, conspiracy, public nuisance, restitution and indemnity. Following various pre-trial proceedings during which many of the asserted claims were dismissed by the trial court or voluntarily dismissed by the City, on September 10, 2003, the City filed its fourth amended petition alleging a single count of public nuisance. Following further pre-trial proceedings, on January 18, 2006, the trial court granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment based on the City’s lack of product identification evidence. The City has appealed the trial court’s January 18, 2006 decision and a prior trial court decision. On September 12, 2007, the Missouri Supreme Court affirmed summary judgment for the Company and other defendants. This decision concludes the case in favor of the Company and the other defendants.

The City of Milwaukee proceeding was initiated in April 2001 against Mautz Paint Co. and NL Industries, Inc. On November 7, 2001, the Company acquired certain assets of Mautz Paint Co. and agreed (under terms and conditions set forth in the purchase agreement) to defend and indemnify Mautz Paint Co. for its liability, if any, to the City of Milwaukee in this action. The City’s complaint included claims for continuing public nuisance, restitution, conspiracy, negligence, strict liability, failure to warn and violation of Wisconsin’s trade practices statute. Following various pre-trial proceedings during which several of the City’s claims were dismissed by the court or voluntarily dismissed by the City, on August 13, 2003, the trial court granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment on the remaining claims. The City appealed and, on November 9, 2004, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s decision and remanded the claims for public nuisance, conspiracy and restitution to the trial court. On February 13, 2007 the trial court entered an order severing and staying the claims against Mautz Paint Co. The action against NL Industries proceeded to trial and the jury found that the presence of lead paint in Milwaukee is a public nuisance, but that NL Industries was not at fault for the public nuisance.

In December 2001 and early 2002, a number of cities and counties in New Jersey individually initiated proceedings in the Superior Court of New Jersey against the Company and other companies asserting claims for fraud, public nuisance, civil conspiracy, unjust enrichment and indemnity. The New Jersey Supreme Court consolidated all of the cases and assigned them to the Superior Court in Middlesex County. By order dated November 4, 2002, the Superior Court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss all complaints. The plaintiffs appealed and, on August 17, 2005, the Appellate Division affirmed the dismissal of all claims except public nuisance. The Appellate Division reinstated the public nuisance claim in each case. On November 17, 2005, the New Jersey Supreme Court granted defendants’ petition for certification to review the reinstatement of the public nuisance claims. On September 15, 2007, the New Jersey Supreme Court reversed the Appellate Division’s decision and reinstated the dismissal of the public nuisance claims. This decision concludes the case in favor of the Company and the other defendants.

In 2006 and 2007, a number of cities in Ohio individually initiated proceedings in state court against the Company and other companies asserting claims for public nuisance, concert of action,

unjust enrichment, indemnity and punitive damages. Also in September 2006, the Company initiated proceedings in the United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, against certain of the Ohio cities which initiated the state court proceedings referred to in the preceding sentence and John Doe cities and public officials. The Company’s proceeding seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent the violation of the Company’s federal constitutional rights in relation to such state court proceedings.

In April 2007, the State of Ohio filed an action against the Company and other companies asserting a claim for public nuisance. The State of Ohio seeks compensatory and punitive damages. Simultaneously, the State of Ohio filed a motion to consolidate this action with the action previously filed by the City of Columbus (one of the Ohio cities referred to in the preceding paragraph) and a motion to stay this action pending the Ohio Supreme Court’s resolution of the mandamus action in State ex rel. The Ohio General Assembly v. Brunner, Case No. 2007-0209. In September 2007, the trial court entered an order to reinstate these actions due to the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision on the mandamus action in State ex rel. The Ohio General Assembly v. Brunner.

Litigation seeking damages from alleged personal injury

The Company and other companies are defendants in a number of legal proceedings seeking monetary damages and other relief from alleged personal injuries. These proceedings include claims by children allegedly injured from ingestion of lead pigment or lead-containing paint, claims for damages allegedly incurred by the children’s parents or guardians, and claims for damages allegedly incurred by professional painting contractors. These proceedings generally seek compensatory and punitive damages, and seek other relief including medical monitoring costs. These proceedings include purported claims by individuals, groups of individuals and class actions.

The plaintiff in Thomas v. Lead Industries Association, et al., initiated an action against the Company, other alleged former lead pigment manufacturers and the Lead Industries Association in September 1999. The claims against the Company and the other defendants include strict liability, negligence, negligent misrepresentation and omissions, fraudulent misrepresentation and omissions, concert of action, civil conspiracy and enterprise liability. Implicit within these claims is the theory of “risk contribution” liability (Wisconsin’s theory which is similar to market share liability) due to the plaintiff’s inability to identify the manufacturer of any product that allegedly injured the plaintiff. Following various pre-trial proceedings during which certain of the plaintiff’s claims were dismissed by the court, on March 10, 2003, the trial court granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment, dismissing the case with prejudice and awarding costs to each defendant. The plaintiff appealed and on September 14, 2004, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s decision. On July 15, 2005, the Wisconsin Supreme Court reversed in part the trial court’s decision and decided, assuming all of plaintiff’s facts in the summary judgment record to be true, that the risk contribution theory could then apply to excuse the plaintiff’s lack of evidence identifying any of the Company’s or the other defendant’s products as the cause of the alleged injury. The case was remanded to the trial court for further proceedings and a trial commenced on October 1, 2007.

Wisconsin is the first jurisdiction to apply a theory of liability with respect to alleged personal injury (i.e.: risk contribution/market share liability) which does not require the plaintiff to identify the manufacturer of the product that allegedly injured the plaintiff in the lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation.

Insurance coverage litigation

On March 3, 2006, the Company filed a lawsuit in the Common Pleas Court, Cuyahoga County, Ohio against its liability insurers, including certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London. The lawsuit seeks, among other things, (i) a declaration from the court that costs associated with the abatement of lead pigment in the State of Rhode Island, or any other jurisdiction, are covered under certain insurance policies issued to the Company and (ii) monetary damages for breach of contract and bad faith against the Lloyd’s Underwriters for unjustified denial of coverage for the cost of complying with any final judgment requiring the Company to abate any alleged nuisance caused by the presence of lead pigment paint in buildings. This lawsuit was filed in response to a lawsuit filed by the Lloyd’s Underwriters against the Company, two other defendants in the Rhode Island litigation and various insurance companies on February 23, 2006. The Lloyd’s Underwriters’ lawsuit asks a New York state court to determine that there is no indemnity insurance coverage for such abatement related costs, or, in the alternative, if such indemnity coverage is found to exist, the proper allocation of liability among the Lloyd’s Underwriters, the defendants and the defendants’ other insurance companies. An ultimate loss in the insurance coverage litigation would mean that insurance proceeds would be unavailable under the policies at issue to mitigate any ultimate abatement related costs and liabilities in Rhode Island and that insurance proceeds could be unavailable under the policies at issue to mitigate any ultimate abatement related costs and liabilities in other jurisdictions.

For further details on the Company’s litigation, see Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Note J—OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE

Other general expense — net

The Company added the caption Other general expense — net to its Statements of Consolidated Income and reclassified certain amounts that were previously included in Other expense — net to conform with the 2007 presentation. Included in Other general expense — net were the following:

		Three months ended								Nine months ended
		September 30,								September 30,
(Thousands of dollars)		2007				2006				2007				2006
Provisions for environmental matters-net		$	14,551			$	2,002			$	22,268			$	17,448
Net (income) of exit or disposal activities							(528	)							(528	)
Net (gain) on disposition of assets			(11,366	)			(1,962	)			(12,059	)			(2,141	)
Total expense		$	3,185			$	(488	)		$	10,209			$	14,779

Provisions for environmental matters—net represent site-specific increases or decreases to environmental-related accruals as information becomes available upon which more accurate costs can be reasonably estimated and as additional accounting guidelines are issued. Environmental-related accruals are not recorded net of insurance proceeds in accordance with FASB Interpretation (FIN) No. 39, “Offsetting of Amounts Related to Certain Contracts — an Interpretation of APB Opinion No. 10 and FASB Statement No. 105.” See Note H for further details on the Company’s environmental-related activities.

The net (income) of exit or disposal activities represents changes to accrued qualified exit costs as information becomes available upon which more accurate amounts can be reasonably estimated.

The net (gain) on disposition of assets represents realized net gains and losses associated with the disposal of fixed assets previously used in the conduct of the primary business of the Company.

Other (income) expense — net

Included in Other (income) expense — net were the following:

		Three months ended								Nine months ended
		September 30,								September 30,
(Thousands of dollars)		2007				2006				2007				2006
Dividend and royalty income		$	(830	)		$	(900	)		$	(2,768	)		$	(2,676	)
Net expense from financing and investing activities			1,314				1,759				4,215				1,587
Foreign currency related losses (gains)			4,539				(458	)			1,388				2,357
Other income			(1,050	)			(741	)			(6,264	)			(3,291	)
Other expense			1,240				685				3,668				2,423
Total (income) expense		$	5,213			$	345			$	239			$	400

The net expense from financing and investing activities represents the net gain or loss relating to the change in the Company’s investment in certain long-term asset funds and financing fees.

Foreign currency related losses (gains) represents foreign currency transaction gains and losses and realized and unrealized gains and losses from foreign currency option and forward contracts.

The Company had foreign currency option and forward contracts outstanding at September 30, 2007. All of the outstanding contracts had maturity dates of less than twelve months and were undesignated hedges with changes in fair value being recognized in earnings in accordance with FAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activity.” These derivative instrument values were included in either Other current assets or Other accruals and were insignificant at September 30, 2007.

Other income and Other expense included items of revenue, gains, expenses and losses that were unrelated to the primary business purpose of the Company. Each individual item within the Other income or Other expense caption was immaterial; no single category of items exceeded $1,000.

Note K—INCOME TAXES

The effective tax rates were 31.9 percent and 32.4 percent for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, and 35.3 percent and 32.5 percent for the respective periods in 2006. The lower tax rates in 2007 were due to numerous favorable factors including tax benefits relating to foreign operations.

The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state and foreign jurisdictions. Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted FIN No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” In accordance with FIN No. 48, the Company recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment of $3.4 million, increasing its liability for unrecognized tax benefits, interest, and penalties and reducing the January 1, 2007 balance of Retained earnings.

At January 1, 2007, the Company had $37.8 million in unrecognized tax benefits, the recognition of which would have an affect of $32.2 million on the effective tax rate. Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits at January 1, 2007, is $5.2 million related to tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts could significantly change during the next twelve months. This amount represents a decrease in unrecognized tax benefits comprised of items related to assessed state income tax audits, state settlement negotiations currently in progress and expiring statutes in foreign jurisdictions.

The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in Income tax expense. At January 1, 2007, the Company had accrued $11.8 million and $3.4 million for the potential payment of interest and penalties, respectively.

As of January 1, 2007, the Company is subject to U.S. Federal income tax examinations for the tax years 2004 through 2006, and to non-U.S. income tax examinations for the tax years of 2000 through 2006. In addition, the Company is subject to state and local income tax examinations for the tax years 1992 through 2006.

There were no significant changes to any of these amounts during the first nine months of 2007.

Note L— NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE

		Three months ended September 30,								Nine months ended September 30,
(Thousands of dollars except per share data)		2007				2006				2007			2006
Basic
Average common shares outstanding			125,958,878				133,622,166				128,887,107				134,196,870
Net income		$	200,349			$	179,112			$	514,758			$	477,375
Net income per common share		$	1.59			$	1.34			$	3.99			$	3.56
Diluted
Average common shares outstanding			125,958,878				133,622,166				128,887,107				134,196,870
Non-vested restricted stock grants			1,142,600				1,181,100				1,155,351				1,147,385
Stock options and other contingently issuable shares			2,491,204				2,571,845				2,559,030				2,684,618
Average common shares assuming dilution			129,592,682				137,375,111				132,601,488				138,028,873
Net income		$	200,349			$	179,112			$	514,758			$	477,375
Net income per common share		$	1.55			$	1.30			$	3.88			$	3.46

Note M—REPORTABLE SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company reports segment information in the same way that management internally organizes its business for assessing performance and making decisions regarding allocation of resources in accordance with FAS No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information.”

Segment profit is total net sales and intersegment transfers less operating costs and expenses. Domestic intersegment transfers were accounted for at the approximate fully absorbed manufactured cost plus distribution costs. International intersegment transfers were accounted for at values comparable to normal unaffiliated customer sales. Administrative segment loss included administrative expenses of the Company’s corporate headquarters, interest expense which was unrelated to retail real estate leasing activities, investment income, certain foreign currency transaction losses related to dollar-denominated debt, foreign currency option and forward contracts and other financing activities, certain expenses related to closed facilities and environmental-related matters, stock-based compensation expense and other expenses not directly associated with any Reportable Operating Segment.

Net external sales and segment profits of all consolidated foreign subsidiaries were $245.8 million and $31.8 million, respectively, for the third quarter of 2007, and $214.1 million and $21.3 million, respectively, for the third quarter of 2006. Net external sales and segment profits of these subsidiaries were $694.5 million and $71.4 million, respectively, for the first nine months of 2007, and $611.1 million and $50.6 million, respectively, for the first nine months of 2006. Long-lived assets of these subsidiaries totaled $193.3 million and $127.1 million at September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Domestic operations account for the remaining net

external sales, segment profits and long-lived assets. The Administrative segment does not include any significant foreign operations. No single geographic area outside the United States was significant relative to consolidated net external sales or consolidated long-lived assets.

Export sales and sales to any individual customer were each less than 10 percent of consolidated sales to unaffiliated customers during all periods presented.

(Thousands of dollars)

Three months ended September 30, 2007
		Paint Stores Group				Consumer Group				Global Group				Administrative				Consolidated Totals
Net external sales		$	1,400,937			$	349,442			$	444,947			$	1,716			$	2,197,042
Intersegment transfers							463,495				37,458				(500,953	)
Total net sales and intersegment transfers		$	1,400,937			$	812,937			$	482,405			$	(499,237	)		$	2,197,042
Segment profit		$	248,377			$	64,147			$	48,020							$	360,544
Interest expense														$	(17,048	)			(17,048	)
Administrative expenses and other															(49,179	)			(49,179	)
Income before income taxes		$	248,377			$	64,147	*		$	48,020			$	(66,227	)		$	294,317

Three months ended September 30, 2006
		Paint Stores Group				Consumer Group				Global Group				Administrative				Consolidated Totals
Net external sales		$	1,347,720			$	354,967			$	412,049			$	1,975			$	2,116,711
Intersegment transfers							456,869				37,263				(494,132	)
Total net sales and intersegment transfers		$	1,347,720			$	811,836			$	449,312			$	(492,157	)		$	2,116,711
Segment profit		$	226,722			$	60,273			$	42,721							$	329,716
Interest expense														$	(16,437	)			(16,437	)
Administrative expenses and other															(36,588	)			(36,588	)
Income before income taxes		$	226,722			$	60,273	*		$	42,721			$	(53,025	)		$	276,691

(Thousands of dollars)

Nine months ended September 30, 2007
		Paint Stores Group				Consumer Group				Global Group				Administrative				Consolidated Totals
Net external sales		$	3,817,283			$	1,047,295			$	1,281,454			$	5,376			$	6,151,408
Intersegment transfers							1,278,891				104,723				(1,383,614	)
Total net sales and intersegment transfers		$	3,817,283			$	2,326,186			$	1,386,177			$	(1,378,238	)		$	6,151,408
Segment profit		$	608,911			$	202,823			$	132,296							$	944,030
Interest expense														$	(52,415	)			(52,415	)
Administrative expenses and other															(130,635	)			(130,635	)
Income before income taxes		$	608,911			$	202,823	*		$	132,296			$	(183,050	)		$	760,980

Nine months ended September 30, 2006
		Paint Stores Group				Consumer Group				Global Group				Administrative				Consolidated Totals
Net external sales		$	3,732,128			$	1,085,814			$	1,191,402			$	5,865			$	6,015,209
Intersegment transfers							1,286,552				106,963				(1,393,515	)
Total net sales and intersegment transfers		$	3,732,128			$	2,372,366			$	1,298,365			$	(1,387,650	)		$	6,015,209
Segment profit		$	557,208			$	193,270			$	109,226							$	859,704
Interest expense														$	(50,624	)			(50,624	)
Administrative expenses and other															(101,353	)			(101,353	)
Income before income taxes		$	557,208			$	193,270	*		$	109,226			$	(151,977	)		$	707,727

Note N—DEBT

See Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2006 for a complete description of the Company’s borrowing arrangements.

During the second quarter of 2007, the Company extended its accounts receivable securitization borrowing facility to January 27, 2010 from January 28, 2009. There were no borrowings outstanding under this facility at the end of the third quarter.

On April 26, 2007, the Company entered into an additional five-year credit agreement. This additional credit agreement gives the Company the right to borrow and to obtain the issuance, renewal, extension and increase of a letter of credit up to an aggregate availability of $250.0 million.

During the third quarter of 2007, the Company entered into an additional five-year credit agreement. This additional credit agreement gives the Company the right to borrow and to obtain the issuance, renewal, extension and increase of a letter of credit up to an aggregate availability of $250.0 million.

At September 30, 2007 there were $500 million of borrowings outstanding under various five-year agreements entered into prior to the third quarter 2007.

NOTE O — ACQUISITIONS

During the third quarter of 2007, the Company completed its acquisition of 100 percent of the stock of Columbia Paint & Coatings Co. (Columbia), substantially all of the stock of Pinturas Industriales S.A. (PISA), substantially all of the assets and business of Napko, S.A. de C.V. (Napko) and the brand names, formulas and patents of the VHT^â brand paint line (VHT) for an aggregate consideration of $100.8 million, net of cash acquired, including costs of acquisition and the assumption of certain financial obligations. The acquisitions were financed through the use of cash and Short-term borrowings. All four acquisitions were accounted for as purchases, with results of operations included in the consolidated financial statements beginning with the month of July for Napko and September for Columbia, PISA and VHT.

Columbia, included in the Paint Stores Group, is a leading manufacturer and distributor of paints and coatings in the central and northwestern United States. Columbia services the professional painting contractor, builder and do-it-yourself markets through 41 company-operated stores. Columbia was acquired to contribute to the Company’s domestic controlled-distribution growth strategy. VHT brand paint, included in the Consumer Group, is the market leader in High Temperature coatings and premium aerosol products. VHT was acquired to broaden the product offering in Consumer Group and add to its growth strategy. Napko, included in the Global Group, is a leading manufacturer and distributor of industrial maintenance coatings primarily for the government oil and power industries in Mexico primarily through 9 company-operated branches.

PISA, also included in the Global Group, provides industrial paint products in Uruguay to the wood protection and industrial maintenance market. Napko and PISA were acquired to support the Company’s international growth strategy.

During the second quarter of 2007, the Company completed its acquisitions of 100 percent of the stock of M. A. Bruder & Sons Incorporated (MAB) and substantially all of the assets and business of Nitco Paints Private Limited (Nitco) for an aggregate consideration of $147.4 million, net of cash acquired, including costs of acquisition and the assumption of certain financial obligations. The acquisitions were financed through the use of cash and Short-term borrowings. Both acquisitions were accounted for as purchases, with results of operations included in the consolidated financial statements beginning with the month of April for Nitco and June for MAB.

MAB, included in the Paint Stores Group, is a leading manufacturer and distributor of paints and coatings in the eastern and southeastern portions of the United States. MAB services the professional painting contractor, builder and do-it-yourself markets through 131 company-operated stores. MAB was acquired to contribute to the Company’s domestic controlled-distribution growth strategy. Nitco, included in the Global Group, is a leading manufacturer and distributor especially in western India of exterior paints and coatings used in the construction of office buildings, high rise apartments, shopping malls, hospitals and schools. Nitco was acquired to support the Company’s international growth strategy.

Goodwill recognized in the acquisitions amounted to $71.0 million in the Paint Stores Group and $11.6 million in the Global Group. Identifiable intangible assets valued in the acquisitions amounted to $49.7 million in the Paint Stores Group, $2.9 million in the Consumer Group and $20.9 million in the Global Group. The allocations of the purchase prices to specific assets and liabilities during the second and third quarters of 2007 were based on preliminary independent appraisals and internal estimates. The final allocations are not expected to differ significantly from the preliminary amounts allocated.

In October 2006, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets and business of Susannah Dobbs Company LLC (Dobco) for $51.2 million paid in cash. Dobco, included in the Consumer Group, manufactures, distributes and sells thermoplastic pavement marking and related products. Dobco was acquired to contribute to the Company’s growth strategy by expanding its existing product base. The acquisition was accounted for as a purchase, with results of operations included in the consolidated financial statements since the date of acquisition. The Dobco acquisition resulted in the recognition of goodwill of $29.0 million and identifiable intangible assets of $11.0 million.

The following unaudited pro-forma summary presents consolidated financial information as if Columbia, Napko, PISA, VHT, MAB, Nitco and Dobco had been acquired at the beginning of each period presented. The pro-forma consolidated financial information does not necessarily reflect the actual results that would have occurred had the acquisitions taken place on January 1, 2006 or of future results of operations of the combined companies under ownership and operation of the Company.

		Three months ended								Nine months ended
		September 30,								September 30,
(Thousands of dollars except per share data)		2007				2006				2007				2006
Net sales		$	2,223,253			$	2,199,552			$	6,284,507			$	6,241,712
Net income			202,408				183,199				518,968				487,010
Net income per common share:
Basic			1.61				1.37				4.03				3.63
Diluted			1.56				1.33				3.91				3.53

Note P—RECLASSIFICATION

Certain amounts in the 2006 financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the 2007 presentation.

Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

Consolidated net sales increased by 3.8 percent to $2.20 billion in the third quarter of 2007 and 2.3 percent to $6.15 billion in the first nine months of 2007 versus comparable periods in 2006. The net sales increases were due primarily to acquisitions, strong domestic paint sales to commercial contractors, improved industrial maintenance product sales and strong international paint sales. The acquisitions completed during the third quarter of Columbia Paint & Coatings Co., Napko, S.A. de C.V., Pinturas Industriales S.A. and the VHT^â brand of paint and the acquisitions completed during the second quarter of M. A. Bruder & Sons Incorporated and Nitco Paints Private Limited increased consolidated net sales by 2.0 percent in the third quarter and 1.0 percent in the first nine months. Consolidated net income increased 11.9 percent to $200.3 million in the third quarter and 7.8 percent to $514.8 million in the first nine months versus comparable periods in 2006. Consolidated net income improved as a percent to net sales to 9.1 percent from 8.5 percent in the third quarter and to 8.4 percent from 7.9 percent in the first nine months versus the comparable periods in 2006 due to improved profitability of operations. Diluted net income per common share increased 19.2 percent in the third quarter to $1.55 per share from $1.30 per share in 2006 and 12.1 percent in the first nine months to $3.88 per share from $3.46 per share a year ago. The 2007 acquisitions negatively impacted diluted net income per common share in 2007 by $.02 per share in the third quarter and first nine months.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

The consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes included in this report have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States with certain amounts based on management’s best estimates and judgments. To determine appropriate carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily available from other sources, management uses assumptions based on historical results and other factors that they believe are reasonable. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Also, materially different amounts may result under materially different conditions or from using materially different assumptions. However, management currently believes that any materially different amounts resulting from materially different conditions or material changes in facts or circumstances are unlikely.

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted FIN No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.” FIN No. 48 provides guidance for the recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. In accordance with FIN No. 48, the Company recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment of $3.4 million, increasing its liability for unrecognized tax benefits, interest, and penalties and reducing the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings. See Note K for more information on income taxes.

Except for the adoption of FIN No. 48, there have been no significant changes in critical accounting policies or management estimates since the year ended December 31, 2006. A comprehensive discussion of the Company’s critical accounting policies and management estimates is included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CASH FLOW

Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments decreased $469.1 million during the first nine months of 2007 due primarily to cash paid for acquisitions of $248.2 million. Cash requirements for normal seasonal increases in working capital, treasury stock purchases of $680.2 million, the maturity and payment of long-term debt of $201.1 million, payments of cash dividends of $123.1 million and capital expenditures of $117.2 million were funded primarily by a reduction in cash and cash equivalents, net cash from operations of $563.8 million, a net increase in short-term borrowings of $273.2 million and proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $64.4 million.

Short-term borrowings related to the Company’s domestic commercial paper program outstanding were $72.7 million at an average rate of 5.6 percent at September 30, 2007. The Company had unused maximum borrowing availability of $837 million at September 30, 2007 under the commercial paper program that is backed by the Company’s revolving credit agreement. Short-term borrowings under two five-year credit agreements were $500 million at an average rate of 5.5 percent at September 30, 2007. Short-term borrowings outstanding under various foreign programs at September 30, 2007 were $83.7 million with a weighted average interest rate of 10.3 percent.

Since September 30, 2006, cash and cash equivalents decreased $379.1 million due primarily to cash paid for acquisitions of $299.4 million. In the last twelve months, net operating cash of $842.6 million, net increased short-term borrowings of $367.9 million and proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $101.8 million were used primarily to fund treasury stock purchases of $841.9 million, the maturity and payment of long-term debt of $201.1 million, capital expenditures of $182.8 million and payments of cash dividends of $156.5 million.

Capital expenditures during the first nine months of 2007 primarily represented expenditures associated with improvements in manufacturing facilities in the Consumer Group, new store openings and normal equipment replacement in the Paint Stores Group and new branch openings in the Global Group.

During the third quarter of 2007, the Company purchased 5,550,000 shares of its common stock for treasury purposes through open market purchases, which brings the total number of shares purchased during the first nine months of 2007 to 10,200,000. The Company acquires shares of its common stock for general corporate purposes and, depending upon its cash position, financial flexibility requirements and market conditions, the Company may acquire additional shares of its common stock in the future. The Company had remaining authorization at September 30, 2007 to purchase 2,621,070 shares of its common stock. On October 19, 2007, the Board of Directors

of the Company rescinded the previous authorization limit and authorized the Company to purchase, in the aggregate, 30,000,000 shares of its common stock.

At September 30, 2007, the Company’s current ratio was 1.01, a decrease from the current ratio of 1.18 at December 31, 2006. The decrease in the current ratio was primarily due to decreased cash and cash equivalents and increased short-term borrowings used to fund acquisitions and purchase treasury stock.

During the third quarter of 2007, the Company completed its acquisition of 100 percent of the stock of Columbia Paint & Coatings Co. (Columbia), substantially all of the stock of Pinturas Industriales S.A. (PISA), located in Uruguay, substantially all of the assets and business of Napko, S.A. de C.V. (Napko), located in Mexico, and the brand names, formulas and patents of the VHT^â brand paint line (VHT) for aggregate consideration of $100.8 million, net of cash acquired, including acquisition costs and the assumption of certain financial obligations. During the second quarter of 2007, the Company completed its acquisitions of 100 percent of the stock of M. A. Bruder & Sons Incorporated (MAB) and substantially all of the assets and business of Nitco Paints Private Limited (Nitco), located in India, for aggregate consideration of $147.4 million, net of cash acquired, including acquisition costs and the assumption of certain financial obligations. The acquisitions were financed through the use of cash and Short-term borrowings. All the acquisitions were accounted for as purchases, with results of operations included in the consolidated financial statements beginning with the month of April for Nitco, June for MAB, July for Napko and September for Columbia, PISA and VHT.

Contingent Liabilities

Management believes that it properly valued the Company’s assets and recorded all known liabilities that existed as of the balance sheet date for which a value was available or an amount could be reasonably estimated in accordance with all present accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In addition, the Company may be subject to potential liabilities, as described in the following, which cannot be reasonably estimated due to the uncertainties involved.

In October 2005, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company acquired a 25 percent interest in Life Shield Engineered Systems, LLC (Life Shield). That percentage interest in Life Shield continued through September 30, 2007. In October 2007, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary acquired the remaining 75 percent interest in Life Shield. Life Shield is a start-up company that develops and manufactures blast and fragment mitigating systems and ballistic resistant systems. The blast and fragment mitigating systems and ballistic resistant systems create a potentially higher level of product liability for the Company (as the owner of and raw material supplier to Life Shield and as the exclusive distributor of Life Shield’s systems) than is normally associated with coatings and related products currently manufactured, distributed and sold by the Company.

Certain of Life Shield’s technology has been designated as Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology and granted a Designation under the Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002 (SAFETY Act) and the regulations adopted pursuant to the SAFETY Act. Under the

SAFETY Act, the potentially higher level of possible product liability for Life Shield relating to the technology granted the Designation is limited to $6.0 million per occurrence in the event any such liability arises from an Act of Terrorism (as defined in the SAFETY Act). The limitation of liability provided for under the SAFETY Act does not apply to any technology not granted a designation or certification as a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology, nor in the event that any such liability arises from an act or event other than an Act of Terrorism. Life Shield maintains insurance for liabilities up to the $6.0 million per occurrence limitation caused by failure of its products in the event of an Act of Terrorism. This commercial insurance is also expected to cover product liability claims asserted against the Company as the distributor of Life Shield’s systems. The Company expects to seek Designation and Certification under the SAFETY Act for certain products supplied by the Company to Life Shield.

Management of the Company has reviewed the potential increased liabilities associated with Life Shield’s systems and determined that potential liabilities arising from an Act of Terrorism that could ultimately affect the Company will be appropriately insured or limited by current regulations. However, due to the uncertainties involved in the future development, usage and application of Life Shield’s systems, the number or nature of possible future claims and legal proceedings, or the affect that any change in legislation and/or administrative regulations may have on the limitations of potential liabilities, management cannot reasonably determine the scope or amount of any potential costs and liabilities for the Company related to Life Shield or to Life Shield’s systems. Any potential liability for the Company that may result from Life Shield or Life Shield’s systems cannot reasonably be estimated. However, based upon, among other things, the limitation of liability under the SAFETY Act in the event of an Act of Terrorism, management does not currently believe that the costs or potential liability ultimately determined to be attributable to the Company through its ownership of Life Shield, as a supplier to Life Shield or as a distributor of Life Shield’s systems arising from the use of Life Shield’s systems will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, liquidity or financial conditions.

Litigation

In the course of its business, the Company is subject to a variety of claims and lawsuits, including litigation relating to product liability and warranty, personal injury, environmental, intellectual property, commercial, contractual and antitrust claims that are inherently subject to many uncertainties regarding the possibility of a loss to the Company. These uncertainties will ultimately be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur confirming the incurrence of a liability or the reduction of a liability. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” the Company accrues for these contingencies by a charge to income when it is both probable that one or more future events will occur confirming the fact of a loss and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. In the event that the Company’s loss contingency is ultimately determined to be significantly higher than currently accrued, the recording of the additional liability may result in a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, liquidity or financial condition for the annual or interim period during which such additional liability is accrued. In those cases where no accrual is recorded because it is not probable that a liability has been incurred and cannot be reasonably estimated, any potential liability ultimately determined to be attributable to the

Company may result in a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, liquidity or financial condition for the annual or interim period during which such liability is accrued. In those cases where no accrual is recorded or exposure to loss exists in excess of the amount accrued, FAS No. 5 requires disclosure of the contingency when there is a reasonable possibility that a loss or additional loss may have been incurred if even the possibility may be remote.

Lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation

The Company’s past operations included the manufacture and sale of lead pigments and lead-based paints. The Company, along with other companies, is a defendant in a number of legal proceedings, including individual personal injury actions, purported class actions, actions brought by the State of Rhode Island and the State of Ohio, and actions brought by various counties, cities, school districts and other government-related entities, arising from the manufacture and sale of lead pigments and lead-based paints. The plaintiffs are seeking recovery based upon various legal theories, including negligence, strict liability, breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentations and omissions, fraudulent misrepresentations and omissions, concert of action, civil conspiracy, violations of unfair trade practice and consumer protection laws, enterprise liability, market share liability, public nuisance, unjust enrichment and other theories. The plaintiffs seek various damages and relief, including personal injury and property damage, costs relating to the detection and abatement of lead-based paint from buildings, costs associated with a public education campaign, medical monitoring costs and others. The Company is also a defendant in legal proceedings arising from the manufacture and sale of non-lead-based paints which seek recovery based upon various legal theories, including the failure to adequately warn of potential exposure to lead during surface preparation when using non-lead-based paint on surfaces previously painted with lead-based paint. The Company believes that the litigation brought to date is without merit or subject to meritorious defenses and is vigorously defending such litigation. The Company expects that additional lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation may be filed against the Company in the future asserting similar or different legal theories and seeking similar or different types of damages and relief.

Notwithstanding the Company’s views on the merits, litigation is inherently subject to many uncertainties and the Company ultimately may not prevail. Adverse court rulings, such as the judgment against the Company and other defendants in the State of Rhode Island action and the Wisconsin State Supreme Court’s July 2005 determination that Wisconsin’s risk contribution theory may apply in the lead pigment litigation (both discussed in more detail below), or determinations of liability, among other factors, could affect the lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation against the Company and encourage an increase in the number and nature of future claims and proceedings. In addition, from time to time, various legislation and administrative regulations have been enacted, promulgated or proposed to impose obligations on present and former manufacturers of lead pigments and lead-based paints respecting asserted health concerns associated with such products or to overturn the effect of court decisions in which the Company and other manufacturers have been successful.

Due to the uncertainties involved, management is unable to predict the outcome of the lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation, the number or nature of possible future claims and proceedings, or the effect that any legislation and/or administrative regulations may have on the

litigation or against the Company. In addition, management cannot reasonably determine the scope or amount of the potential costs and liabilities related to such litigation, or resulting from any such legislation and regulations. In accordance with FAS No. 5, the Company has not accrued any amounts for such litigation. Any potential liability that may result from such litigation or such legislation and regulations cannot reasonably be estimated. In the event any significant liability is determined to be attributable to the Company relating to such litigation, the recording of the liability may result in a material impact on net income for the annual or interim period during which such liability is accrued. Additionally, due to the uncertainties associated with the amount of any such liability and/or the nature of any other remedy which may be imposed in such litigation, any potential liability determined to be attributable to the Company arising out of such litigation may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, liquidity or financial condition. An estimate of the potential impact on the Company’s results of operations, liquidity or financial condition cannot be made due to the aforementioned uncertainties.

Rhode Island lead pigment litigation

During September 2002, a jury trial commenced in the first phase of an action brought by the State of Rhode Island against the Company and the other defendants. The sole issue before the court in this first phase was whether lead pigment in paint constitutes a public nuisance under Rhode Island law. In October 2002, the court declared a mistrial as the jury, which was split four to two in favor of the defendants, was unable to reach a unanimous decision.

The State of Rhode Island retried the case and on February 22, 2006, the jury returned a verdict, finding that (i) the cumulative presence of lead pigment in paints and coatings on buildings in the State of Rhode Island constitutes a public nuisance, (ii) the Company, along with two other defendants, caused or substantially contributed to the creation of the public nuisance, and (iii) the Company and two other defendants should be ordered to abate the public nuisance. On February 28, 2006, the Court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the punitive damages claim, finding insufficient evidence to support the State’s request for punitive damages. On February 26, 2007, the Court issued a decision on the post-trial motions and other matters pending before the Court. Specifically, the Court (i) denied the defendant’s post-trial motions for judgment as a matter of law and for a new trial, (ii) decided to enter a judgment of abatement in favor of the State against the Company and two other defendants, and (iii) decided to appoint a special master for the purpose of assisting the Court in its consideration of a remedial order to implement the judgment of abatement, and if necessary, any monitoring of the implementation of that order. On March 16, 2007, final judgment was entered against the Company and two other defendants. Also on March 16, 2007, the Company filed its notice of appeal to the Rhode Island Supreme Court. Proceedings relating to a remedial order to implement the judgment of abatement are continuing in the Court during the pending appeal to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

The Company cannot reasonably determine the impact that the State of Rhode Island decision and determination of liability will have on the number or nature of present or future claims and proceedings against the Company or estimate the amount or range of ultimate loss that it may incur.

Other public nuisance claim litigation

The Company and other companies are defendants in other legal proceedings seeking recovery based on public nuisance liability theories including claims brought by the County of Santa Clara, California and other public entities in the State of California, the City of St. Louis, Missouri, the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, various cities and counties in the State of New Jersey, various cities in the State of Ohio and the State of Ohio.

The Santa Clara County, California proceeding was initiated in March 2000. The named plaintiffs are the County of Santa Clara, County of Santa Cruz, County of Solano, County of Alameda, County of Kern, City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Housing Authority, San Francisco Unified School District, City of Oakland, Oakland Housing Authority, Oakland Redevelopment Agency and the Oakland Unified School District. The proceeding purports to be a class action on behalf of all public entities in the State of California except the State and its agencies. The plaintiffs’ second amended complaint asserted claims for fraud and concealment, strict product liability/failure to warn, strict product liability/design defect, negligence, negligent breach of a special duty, public nuisance, private nuisance and violations of California’s Business and Professions Code, and the third amended complaint alleges similar claims including a claim for public nuisance. Various asserted claims were resolved in favor of the defendants through pre-trial demurrers and motions to strike. In October 2003, the trial court granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment against the remaining counts on statute of limitation grounds. The plaintiffs appealed the trial court’s decision and on March 3, 2006, the Court of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District, reversed in part the demurrers and summary judgment entered in favor of the Company and the other defendants. The Court of Appeal reversed the dismissal of the public nuisance claim for abatement brought by the cities of Santa Clara and Oakland and the City and County of San Francisco, and reversed summary judgment on all of the plaintiffs’ fraud claim to the extent that the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants had made fraudulent statements or omissions minimizing the risks of low-level exposure to lead. The Court of Appeal further vacated the summary judgment holding that the statute of limitations barred the plaintiffs’ strict liability and negligence claims, and held that those claims had not yet accrued because physical injury to the plaintiffs’ property had not been alleged. The Court of Appeal affirmed the dismissal of the public nuisance claim for damages to the plaintiffs’ properties, most aspects of the fraud claim, the trespass claim and the unfair business practice claim. The plaintiffs have filed a motion for leave to file a fourth amended complaint. On April 4, 2007, the trial court entered an order granting the defendants’ motion to bar payment of contingent fees to private attorneys. The plaintiffs appealed the trial court’s order and the California Court of Appeal has decided to review the decision.

The City of St. Louis proceeding was initiated in January 2000. The City initially alleged claims for strict liability, negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation, concert of action, conspiracy, public nuisance, restitution and indemnity. Following various pre-trial proceedings during which many of the asserted claims were dismissed by the trial court or voluntarily dismissed by the City, on June 10, 2003, the City filed its fourth amended petition alleging a single count of public nuisance. Following further pre-trial proceedings, on January 18, 2006, the trial court granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment based on the City’s lack of product identification evidence. The City has appealed the trial court’s January 18,

2006 decision and a prior trial court decision. On June 12, 2007, the Missouri Supreme Court affirmed summary judgment for the Company and other defendants. This decision concludes the case in favor of the Company and the other defendants.

The City of Milwaukee proceeding was initiated in April 2001 against Mautz Paint Co. and NL Industries, Inc. On November 7, 2001, the Company acquired certain assets of Mautz Paint Co. and agreed (under terms and conditions set forth in the purchase agreement) to defend and indemnify Mautz Paint Co. for its liability, if any, to the City of Milwaukee in this action. The City’s complaint included claims for continuing public nuisance, restitution, conspiracy, negligence, strict liability, failure to warn and violation of Wisconsin’s trade practices statute. Following various pre-trial proceedings during which several of the City’s claims were dismissed by the court or voluntarily dismissed by the City, on August 13, 2003, the trial court granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment on the remaining claims. The City appealed and, on November 9, 2004, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s decision and remanded the claims for public nuisance, conspiracy and restitution to the trial court. On February 13, 2007 the trial court entered an order severing and staying the claims against Mautz Paint Co. The action against NL Industries proceeded to trial and the jury found that the presence of lead paint in Milwaukee is a public nuisance, but that NL Industries was not at fault for the public nuisance.

In December 2001 and early 2002, a number of cities and counties in New Jersey individually initiated proceedings in the Superior Court of New Jersey against the Company and other companies asserting claims for fraud, public nuisance, civil conspiracy, unjust enrichment and indemnity. The New Jersey Supreme Court consolidated all of the cases and assigned them to the Superior Court in Middlesex County. By order dated November 4, 2002, the Superior Court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss all complaints. The plaintiffs appealed and, on August 17, 2005, the Appellate Division affirmed the dismissal of all claims except public nuisance. The Appellate Division reinstated the public nuisance claim in each case. On November 17, 2005, the New Jersey Supreme Court granted defendants’ petition for certification to review the reinstatement of the public nuisance claims. On June 15, 2007, the New Jersey Supreme Court reversed the Appellate Division’s decision and reinstated the dismissal of the public nuisance claims. This decision concludes the case in favor of the Company and the other defendants.

In 2006 and 2007, a number of cities in Ohio individually initiated proceedings in state court against the Company and other companies asserting claims for public nuisance, concert of action, unjust enrichment, indemnity and punitive damages. Also in September 2006, the Company initiated proceedings in the United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, against certain of the Ohio cities which initiated the state court proceedings referred to in the preceding sentence and John Doe cities and public officials. The Company’s proceeding seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent the violation of the Company’s federal constitutional rights in relation to such state court proceedings.

In April 2007, the State of Ohio filed an action against the Company and other companies asserting a claim for public nuisance. The State of Ohio seeks compensatory and punitive damages. Simultaneously, the State of Ohio filed a motion to consolidate this action with the action previously filed by the City of Columbus (one of the Ohio cities referred to in the

preceding paragraph) and a motion to stay this action pending the Ohio Supreme Court’s resolution of the mandamus action in State ex rel. The Ohio General Assembly v. Brunner, Case No. 2007-0209. In September 2007, the trial court entered an order to reinstate these actions due to the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision on the mandamus action in State ex rel. The Ohio General Assembly v. Brunner.

Litigation seeking damages from alleged personal injury

The Company and other companies are defendants in a number of legal proceedings seeking monetary damages and other relief from alleged personal injuries. These proceedings include claims by children allegedly injured from ingestion of lead pigment or lead-containing paint, claims for damages allegedly incurred by the children’s parents or guardians, and claims for damages allegedly incurred by professional painting contractors. These proceedings generally seek compensatory and punitive damages, and seek other relief including medical monitoring costs. These proceedings include purported claims by individuals, groups of individuals and class actions.

The plaintiff in Thomas v. Lead Industries Association, et al., initiated an action against the Company, other alleged former lead pigment manufacturers and the Lead Industries Association in September 1999. The claims against the Company and the other defendants include strict liability, negligence, negligent misrepresentation and omissions, fraudulent misrepresentation and omissions, concert of action, civil conspiracy and enterprise liability. Implicit within these claims is the theory of “risk contribution” liability (Wisconsin’s theory which is similar to market share liability) due to the plaintiff’s inability to identify the manufacturer of any product that allegedly injured the plaintiff. Following various pre-trial proceedings during which certain of the plaintiff’s claims were dismissed by the court, on March 10, 2003, the trial court granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment, dismissing the case with prejudice and awarding costs to each defendant. The plaintiff appealed and on June 14, 2004, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s decision. On July 15, 2005, the Wisconsin Supreme Court reversed in part the trial court’s decision and decided, assuming all of plaintiff’s facts in the summary judgment record to be true, that the risk contribution theory could then apply to excuse the plaintiff’s lack of evidence identifying any of the Company’s or the other defendant’s products as the cause of the alleged injury. The case was remanded to the trial court for further proceedings and a trial commenced on October 1, 2007.

Wisconsin is the first jurisdiction to apply a theory of liability with respect to alleged personal injury (i.e.: risk contribution/market share liability) which does not require the plaintiff to identify the manufacturer of the product that allegedly injured the plaintiff in the lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation.

Insurance coverage litigation

On March 3, 2006, the Company filed a lawsuit in the Common Pleas Court, Cuyahoga County, Ohio against its liability insurers, including certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London. The lawsuit seeks, among other things, (i) a declaration from the court that costs associated with the abatement of lead pigment in the State of Rhode Island, or any other jurisdiction, are covered

under certain insurance policies issued to the Company and (ii) monetary damages for breach of contract and bad faith against the Lloyd’s Underwriters for unjustified denial of coverage for the cost of complying with any final judgment requiring the Company to abate any alleged nuisance caused by the presence of lead pigment paint in buildings. This lawsuit was filed in response to a lawsuit filed by the Lloyd’s Underwriters against the Company, two other defendants in the Rhode Island litigation and various insurance companies on February 23, 2006. The Lloyd’s Underwriters’ lawsuit asks a New York state court to determine that there is no indemnity insurance coverage for such abatement related costs, or, in the alternative, if such indemnity coverage is found to exist, the proper allocation of liability among the Lloyd’s Underwriters, the defendants and the defendants’ other insurance companies. An ultimate loss in the insurance coverage litigation would mean that insurance proceeds would be unavailable under the policies at issue to mitigate any ultimate abatement related costs and liabilities in Rhode Island and that insurance proceeds could be unavailable under the policies at issue to mitigate any ultimate abatement related costs and liabilities in other jurisdictions.

Environmental-Related Liabilities

The operations of the Company, like those of other companies in the same industry, are subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. These laws and regulations not only govern current operations and products, but also impose potential liability on the Company for past operations. Management expects environmental laws and regulations to impose increasingly stringent requirements upon the Company and the industry in the future. Management believes that the Company conducts its operations in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and has implemented various programs designed to protect the environment and promote continued compliance.

Depreciation of capital expenditures and other expenses related to ongoing environmental compliance measures were included in the normal operating expenses of conducting business. The Company’s capital expenditures, depreciation and other expenses related to ongoing environmental compliance measures were not material to the Company’s financial condition, liquidity, cash flow or results of operations during the first nine months of 2007. Management does not expect that such capital expenditures, depreciation and other expenses will be material to the Company’s financial condition, liquidity, cash flow or results of operations in 2007.

The Company is involved with environmental investigation and remediation activities at some of its currently and formerly owned sites (including sites which were previously owned and/or operated by businesses acquired by the Company). In addition, the Company, together with other parties, has been designated a potentially responsible party under federal and state environmental protection laws for the investigation and remediation of environmental contamination and hazardous waste at a number of third-party sites, primarily Superfund sites. The Company may be similarly designated with respect to additional third-party sites in the future.

The Company accrues for estimated costs of investigation and remediation activities at its currently or formerly owned sites and third party sites for which commitments or clean-up plans have been developed and when such costs can be reasonably estimated based on industry standards and professional judgment. These estimated costs are based on currently available

facts regarding each site. The Company accrues a specific estimated amount when such an amount and a time frame in which the costs will be incurred can be reasonably determined. If the best estimate of costs can only be identified as a range and no specific amount within that range can be determined more likely than any other amount within the range, the minimum of the range is accrued by the Company in accordance with applicable accounting rules and interpretations. The Company continuously assesses its potential liability for investigation and remediation activities and adjusts its environmental-related accruals as information becomes available upon which more accurate costs can be reasonably estimated. At September 30, 2007 and 2006, the Company had accruals for environmental-related activities of $190.0 million and $169.4 million, respectively.

Due to the uncertainties of the scope and magnitude of contamination and the degree of investigation and remediation activities that may be necessary at certain currently or formerly owned sites and third party sites, it is reasonably likely that further extensive investigations may be required and that extensive remedial actions may be necessary not only on such sites but on adjacent properties. Depending on the extent of the additional investigations and remedial actions necessary, the Company’s ultimate liability may result in costs that are significantly higher than currently accrued. If the Company’s future loss contingency is ultimately determined to be at the maximum of the range of possible outcomes for every site for which costs can be reasonably estimated, the Company’s aggregate accruals for environmental-related activities would be $141.4 million higher than the accruals at September 30, 2007.

Five of the Company’s currently and formerly owned sites, described below, accounted for the majority of the accruals for environmental-related activities and the unaccrued maximum of the estimated range of possible outcomes at September 30, 2007. At September 30, 2007, $137.3 million, or 72.2 percent, related directly to these five sites. Of the aggregate unaccrued exposure of $141.4 million at September 30, 2007, $96.9 million, or 68.6 percent, related to the five sites. While environmental investigations and remedial actions are in different stages at these sites, additional investigations, remedial actions and/or monitoring will likely be required at each site.

Two of the five sites are formerly owned manufacturing facilities in New Jersey that are in the early investigative stages of the environmental-related process. Although contamination exists at the sites and adjacent areas, the extent and magnitude of the contamination have not yet been fully quantified. It is reasonably likely that further extensive investigations may be required and that extensive remedial actions may be necessary not only at the former sites but along adjacent waterways. Depending on the extent of the additional investigations and remedial actions necessary, the ultimate liabilities for these sites may exceed the amounts currently accrued and the maximum of the ranges of reasonably possible outcomes currently estimated by management.

Two additional sites are a currently owned facility located in Illinois and a contiguous owned vacant property. The environmental issues at these sites have been determined to be associated with historical manufacturing operations of the Company. The majority of the investigative activities have been completed at these sites and some remedial measures have been taken. Agreement has been obtained from the appropriate governmental agency on a proposed remedial action plan and further development of that plan is currently underway. The majority of the

investigative activities have been completed for the contiguous former property, some remedial actions have been taken and a proposed remedial action plan has been formulated but currently no clean up goals have been approved by the lead governmental agency. Due to the uncertainties of the scope and magnitude of contamination and the degree of remediation that may be necessary relating to this former site, it is reasonably likely that further investigations may be required and that extensive remedial actions may be necessary at this former facility.

The fifth site is a currently owned idle facility located in California. The environmental issues at this site have been determined to be associated with historical manufacturing operations of the Company. The majority of the investigative activities have been completed at this site, some interim remedial actions have been taken and a proposed remedial action plan has been formulated but currently no clean up goals have been approved by the lead governmental agency. Due to the uncertainties of the scope and magnitude of contamination and the degree of remediation that may be required relating to this site, it is reasonably likely that extensive remedial actions may be necessary.

Management cannot presently estimate the ultimate potential loss contingencies related to these five sites or other less significant sites until such time as a substantial portion of the investigation at the sites is completed and remedial action plans are fully developed.

In the event any future loss contingency significantly exceeds the current amount accrued, the recording of the ultimate liability may result in a material impact on net income for the annual or interim period during which the additional costs are accrued. Management does not believe that any potential liability ultimately attributed to the Company for its environmental-related matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, liquidity, or cash flow due to the extended period of time during which environmental investigation and remediation takes place. An estimate of the potential impact on the Company’s operations cannot be made due to the aforementioned uncertainties.

Management expects these contingent environmental-related liabilities to be resolved over an extended period of time. Management is unable to provide a more specific time frame due to the indefinite amount of time to conduct investigation activities at any site, the indefinite amount of time to obtain governmental agency approval, as necessary, with respect to investigation and remediation activities, and the indefinite amount of time necessary to conduct remediation activities.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

Short-term borrowings, including assumed borrowings of acquired companies, increased $286.6 million to $656.4 million at September 30, 2007 from $369.8 million at December 31, 2006. Total long-term debt decreased $200.4 million to $304.3 at September 30, 2007 from $504.7 million at December 31, 2006. See the Financial Condition, Liquidity and Cash Flow section of this report for more information. There have been no other significant changes to the Company’s contractual obligations and commercial commitments in the first nine months of 2007 as summarized in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of

Operations in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Changes to the Company’s accrual for product warranty claims in the first nine months of 2007 are disclosed in Note E.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Shown below are net sales and the percentage change by segment for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007 and 2006:

(thousands of dollars)		2007				Change				2006
Three months ended September 30:
Paint Stores Group		$	1,400,937				3.9	%		$	1,347,720
Consumer Group			349,442				-1.6	%			354,967
Global Group			444,947				8.0	%			412,049
Administrative			1,716				-13.1	%			1,975
		$	2,197,042				3.8	%		$	2,116,711
Nine months ended September 30:
Paint Stores Group		$	3,817,283				2.3	%		$	3,732,128
Consumer Group			1,047,295				-3.5	%			1,085,814
Global Group			1,281,454				7.6	%			1,191,402
Administrative			5,376				-8.3	%			5,865
		$	6,151,408				2.3	%		$	6,015,209

Consolidated net sales increased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2007 due primarily to acquisitions, strong domestic paint sales to commercial contractors, improved industrial maintenance product sales and strong international paint sales. The acquisitions of MAB, Nitco, Columbia, Napko, PISA and VHT increased consolidated net sales by 2.0 percent in the third quarter and by 1.0 percent in the first nine months of 2007.

Net sales of all consolidated foreign subsidiaries were up 14.8 percent to $245.8 million for the third quarter and up 13.6 percent to $694.5 million for the first nine months of 2007 versus $214.1 million and $611.1 million for the respective comparative periods in 2006. Of the increase in net sales for foreign subsidiaries during the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, 7.7 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively, related to favorable foreign currency exchange rates. Net sales of all operations other than consolidated foreign subsidiaries were up 2.6 percent to $1,951.2 million for the third quarter and up 1.0 percent to $5,456.9 million for the first nine months as compared to $1,902.6 million and $5,404.1 million for the respective comparative periods in 2006.

Net sales in the Paint Stores Group during the third quarter and first nine months increased due primarily to the MAB and Columbia acquisitions, improving domestic architectural paint sales to do-it-yourself (DIY) customers and commercial and residential repaint contractors and strong

industrial maintenance product sales. Net sales from stores open for more than twelve calendar months decreased 0.6 percent in the third quarter and 0.9 percent in the first nine months over last year’s comparable periods. The acquisitions of MAB, effective May 31, 2007, and Columbia, effective September 28, 2007, added 172 stores and increased Paint Stores Group net sales by 2.7 percent in the third quarter and 1.3 percent in the first nine months of 2007. Total paint sales volume increased 1.1 percent in the third quarter and decreased 1.7 percent in the first nine months of 2007 as compared to the same periods last year. Sales of products other than paint were down slightly in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2007 over last year’s comparable periods. A discussion of changes in volume versus pricing for sales of products other than paint is not pertinent due to the wide assortment of general merchandise sold.

Net sales of the Consumer Group decreased due primarily to soft DIY demand at most of the segment’s retail customers and, during the first quarter of 2007, the final period in the elimination of a portion of a paint program with a large retail customer. The acquisition of VHT had no impact on Consumer Group net sales.

The Global Group’s third quarter and first nine months of 2007 net sales increased due primarily to a new product introduction in the U.K., architectural and automotive paint volume gains in South America, acquisitions and improved product finishes sales. The acquisitions of Nitco, Napko and PISA increased Global Group’s net sales in the third quarter by 1.6 percent and in the first nine months by 0.7 percent. Favorable currency exchange rates also increased net sales of this Segment by 3.5 percent in the third quarter and 2.6 percent for the first nine months of 2007 over 2006.

Shown below are segment profit and the percent change by segment for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007 and 2006:

(thousands of dollars)		2007				Change				2006
Three months ended September 30:
Paint Stores Group		$	248,377				9.6	%		$	226,722
Consumer Group			64,147				6.4	%			60,273
Global Group			48,020				12.4	%			42,721
Administrative			(66,227	)			-24.9	%			(53,025	)
		$	294,317				6.4	%		$	276,691
Nine months ended September 30:
Paint Stores Group		$	608,911				9.3	%		$	557,208
Consumer Group			202,823				4.9	%			193,270
Global Group			132,296				21.1	%			109,226
Administrative			(183,050	)			-20.4	%			(151,977	)
		$	760,980				7.5	%		$	707,727

Consolidated segment profit was favorably impacted by a change in gross profit, which increased $52.6 million and $122.5 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, as compared to comparable periods in 2006. As a percent of sales, consolidated gross profit increased in the third quarter of 2007 to 45.0 percent from 44.2 percent in 2006 and increased in the first nine months to 45.0 percent from 44.0 percent in 2006. The increase in the consolidated gross profit percentage is primarily due to improved domestic manufacturing direct conversion costs, additional manufacturing volume in international factories, product sales mix and foreign selling price increases. Negatively impacting consolidated segment profit was an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) of $21.5 million in the third quarter and $67.0 million in the first nine months of 2007 as compared to last year. As a percent of sales, consolidated SG&A decreased slightly to 30.5 percent in the third quarter from 30.7 percent in the third quarter of 2006 and increased slightly to 31.8 percent in the first nine months from 31.4 percent in the first nine months of 2006. The increase in SG&A for the first nine months of 2007 over last year was mitigated by an additional reduction of $7.3 million in the first quarter of 2007 in the estimated incentive compensation expense accrued at December 31, 2006. Increases in Other general expense - net and Other expense - net in the third quarter compared to the third quarter of 2006 unfavorably impacted consolidated segment profit by $8.5 million due primarily to an increase in environmental provisions of $12.5 million and increased foreign currency related losses of $5.0 million that were partially offset by an increased net gain on the disposition of assets of $9.4 million. The acquisitions of MAB, Nitco, Columbia, Napko, PISA and VHT had a combined negative impact on consolidated segment profit of 1.6 percent in the third quarter and 0.6 percent in the first nine months.

The Paint Stores Group’s gross profit in the third quarter and first nine months of 2007 increased $38.6 million and $88.6 million, respectively, due primarily to higher selling prices implemented in late 2006 to help return gross profit to a more normal percentage of sales. The Consumer Group’s gross profit in the third quarter increased slightly from last year and decreased slightly in the first nine months due to lower sales that could not be offset by tight spending control and better factory direct conversion costs. The Global Group’s gross profit in the third quarter and first nine months of 2007 increased $8.0 million and $24.7 million, respectively, due to increased sales volume and prices in South America and improved operating efficiencies related to additional manufacturing volume. Foreign exchange fluctuations increased the Global Group’s gross profit by $4.9 million and $10.1 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively.

In the Paint Stores Group, SG&A increased $21.8 million in the third quarter and $42.1 million in the first nine months of 2007 due primarily to increased expenses associated with new stores that were partially offset in the nine months by a first quarter reduction of $5.2 million in a prior accrual related to incentive compensation expense. The Consumer Group’s SG&A decreased $5.4 million in the third quarter and $13.7 million in the first nine months of 2007 due primarily to tight spending control and decreased sales volume. The Global Group’s SG&A increased by $4.2 million in the third quarter and $13.6 million in the first nine months of 2007 relating primarily to sales volume gains, more branch openings and exchange rate fluctuations of $3.1 million for the quarter and $6.8 million for the first nine months of 2007.

A negative impact on the Paint Stores Group segment profit of 1.9 percent in the third quarter and 0.8 percent in the first nine months due to the acquisitions of MAB and Columbia was essentially offset by a third quarter gain on the disposition of an asset of $4.8 million. The acquisition of VHT had no impact on Consumer Group segment profit in the third quarter or nine months. The acquisitions of Nitco, Napko and PISA had no significant impact on Global Group’s segment profit in the third quarter or the first nine months.

The Administrative segment’s loss increased $13.2 million in the third quarter compared to 2006 due primarily to an increase in the provision for environmental-related matters of $12.5 million, an increase in interest expense, net of investment income, of $4.7 million and an increase of $1.8 million in stock-based compensation expense. Partially offsetting these increases was a gain on the sale of an asset of $6.2 million. An inflationary increase in administrative spending was offset by a reduction in compensation and benefit related expenses not directly allocable to the Reportable Operating Segments. In the first nine months, the Administrative loss increased $31.1 million versus 2006 due primarily to an increase of $9.0 million in compensation and benefit related expenses not directly allocable to the Reportable Operating Segments, a net increase of $6.8 million in interest expense and lower investment income, an increase of $6.2 million in stock-based compensation expense and an increase of $4.8 million in the provision for environmental-related matters. A gain on the sale of an asset of $6.2 million was more than offset by inflationary administrative expenses accounting for the majority of the remaining increase of $4.3 million in the first nine months of 2007.

Consolidated segment profit (income before income taxes) improved $17.6 million, or 6.4 percent, during the third quarter and improved $53.3 million, or 7.5 percent, during the first nine months of 2007 due to improved segment profits of the Reportable Operating Segments that more than offset the year-over-year increases in expenses in the Administrative Segment.

The effective tax rates were 31.9 percent and 32.4 percent, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, and 35.3 percent and 32.5 percent in the third quarter and first nine months of 2006, respectively. The lower tax rate in 2007 was due to numerous favorable factors including tax benefits relating to foreign operations.

Net income increased $21.2 million, or 11.9 percent, in the third quarter of 2007 and $37.4 million, or 7.8 percent, in the first nine months of 2007. Diluted net income per common share increased 19.2 percent to $1.55 per share from $1.30 per share in the third quarter of 2007 and 12.1 percent to $3.88 per share from $3.46 per share in the first nine months of 2007 as the diluted average shares and equivalents outstanding declined from 2006 by 7.8 million shares and 5.4 million shares in the third quarter and first nine months, respectively.

Management considers a measurement that is not in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States a useful measurement of the operational profitability of the Company. Some investment professionals also utilize such a measurement as an indicator of the value of profits and cash that are generated strictly from operating activities, putting aside working capital and certain other balance sheet changes. For this measurement, management increases net income for significant non-operating and non-cash expense items to arrive at an amount known as “Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization” (EBITDA). The reader is cautioned that the following value for EBITDA should not be compared to other entities unknowingly. EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to net income or cash flows from operating activities as an indicator of operating performance or as a measure of liquidity. The reader should refer to the determination of net income and cash flows from operating activities in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States disclosed in the Statements of Consolidated Income and the Condensed Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows. EBITDA as used by management is calculated as follows:

(thousands of dollars)
		Three months ended September 30,								Nine months ended September 30,
		2007				2006				2007				2006
Net income		$	200,349			$	179,112			$	514,758			$	477,375
Interest expense			17,048				16,437				52,415				50,624
Income taxes			93,968				97,579				246,222				230,352
Depreciation			35,453				30,875				100,964				90,714
Amortization			5,962				5,622				17,311				16,881
EBITDA		$	352,780			$	329,625			$	931,670			$	865,946

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements contained in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in this report constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events and conditions and may discuss, among other things, anticipated future performance (including sales and earnings), expected growth, future business plans and the costs and potential liability for environmental-related matters and the lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation. Any statement that is not historical in nature is a forward-looking statement and may be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “will,” “will likely result,” “will continue,” “plans to” and similar expressions.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company, that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from the Company’s historical results and experience.

These risks, uncertainties and other factors include such things as: (a) general business conditions, strengths of retail and manufacturing economies and the growth in the coatings industry; (b) competitive factors, including pricing pressures and product innovation and quality; (c) changes in raw material and energy supplies and pricing; (d) changes in the Company’s relationships with customers and suppliers; (e) the ability of the Company to attain cost savings from productivity initiatives; (f) the ability of the Company to successfully integrate past and future acquisitions into its existing operations, as well as the performance of the businesses acquired, including the acquisitions of MAB and Columbia; (g) changes in general domestic economic conditions such as inflation rates, interest rates, tax rates, unemployment rates, higher labor and healthcare costs, recessions, and changing governmental policies, laws and regulations; (h) risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s expansion into and its operations in China, India, South America and other foreign markets, including general economic conditions, inflation rates, recessions, foreign currency exchange rates, foreign investment and repatriation restrictions, legal and regulatory constraints, civil unrest and other

external economic and political factors; (i) the achievement of growth in developing markets, such as China, India, Mexico and South America; (j) increasingly stringent domestic and foreign governmental regulations including those affecting the environment; (k) inherent uncertainties involved in assessing the Company’s potential liability for environmental-related activities; (l) other changes in governmental policies, laws and regulations, including changes in accounting policies and standards and taxation requirements (such as new tax laws and new or revised tax law interpretations); (m) the nature, cost, quantity and outcome of pending and future litigation and other claims, including the lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation, and the effect of any legislation and administrative regulations relating thereto; and (n) unusual weather conditions.

Readers are cautioned that it is not possible to predict or identify all of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect future results and that the above list should not be considered to be a complete list. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE
DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company is exposed to market risk associated with interest rates, foreign currency and commodity fluctuations. The Company utilizes derivative instruments as part of its overall financial risk management policy, but does not use derivative instruments for speculative or trading purposes. The Company enters into foreign currency option and forward contracts and commodity swaps to hedge against value changes in foreign currency and commodities. The Company believes it may experience continuing losses from foreign currency translation and commodity price fluctuations. However, the Company does not expect currency translation, transaction, commodity price fluctuations or hedging contract losses to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. There were no material changes in the Company’s exposure to market risk since the disclosure included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President — Finance and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). Based upon that evaluation, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President — Finance and Chief Financial Officer concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this report our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and accumulated and communicated to our management including our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and our Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

During the third quarter of 2007, we completed an upgrade of certain of our domestic financial information systems to more technologically current and flexible financial systems. This upgrade in financial software enhances our common financial platform worldwide and will create additional efficiencies to support our continued growth. In connection with the upgrade in our financial software, we have modified or replaced the design and documentation of certain internal control processes and procedures.

Except as described above, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

For information with respect to certain environmental-related matters and legal proceedings, see the information included under the captions entitled “Environmental-Related Liabilities” and “Litigation” of “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Notes H and I of the “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Securities and Use of Proceeds.

A summary of the repurchase activity for the Company’s third quarter is as follows:

										Total Number				Maximum
		Total								of Shares				Number of Shares
		Number of				Average				Purchased as				That May Yet Be
		Shares				Price Paid				Part of Publicly				Purchased Under
Period		Purchased				Per Share				Announced Plan				the Plan
July 1 — July 31
Share repurchase program (1)			600,000			$	69.84				600,000				7,571,070
Employee transactions (2)
August 1 — August 31
Share repurchase program (1)			3,907,500			$	67.30				3,907,500				3,663,570
Employee transactions (2)
September 1 — September 30
Share repurchase program (1)			1,042,500			$	67.26				1,042,500				2,621,070
Employee transactions (2)			1,403			$	68.38								N/A
Total
Share repurchase program (1)			5,550,000			$	67.57				5,550,000				2,621,070
Employee transactions (2)			1,403			$	68.38								N/A

Item 6. Exhibits.

4(a)		Five Year Credit Agreement, dated as of August 28, 2007, by and among Sherwin-Williams, Citicorp USA, Inc., as administrative agent and issuing bank, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and The Bank of New York, as paying agent, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Sherwin-Williams’ Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 28, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference.
4(b)		Agreement for Letter of Credit, dated as of August 28, 2007, by and between Sherwin-Williams and Citibank, N.A., filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Sherwin-Williams’ Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 28, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference.
4(c)		Five Year Credit Agreement Amendment No. 1, dated as of September 17, 2007, by and among Sherwin-Williams, Citicorp USA, Inc., as administrative agent and issuing bank, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and The Bank of New York, as paying agent, filed as Exhibit 4 to Sherwin-Williams’ Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 17, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference.
4(d)		Five Year Credit Agreement Amendment No. 2, dated as of September 25, 2007, by and among Sherwin-Williams, Citicorp USA, Inc., as administrative agent and issuing bank, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and The Bank of New York, as paying agent filed as Exhibit 4 to Sherwin-Williams’ Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 25, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference.
31(a)		Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer (filed herewith).
31(b)		Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer (filed herewith).
32(a)		Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer (filed herewith).
32(b)		Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer (filed herewith).

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT NO.		EXHIBIT
4(a)		Five Year Credit Agreement, dated as of August 28, 2007, by and among Sherwin-Williams, Citicorp USA, Inc., as administrative agent and issuing bank, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and The Bank of New York, as paying agent, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Sherwin-Williams’ Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 28, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference.
4(b)		Agreement for Letter of Credit, dated as of August 28, 2007, by and between Sherwin-Williams and Citibank, N.A. , filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Sherwin-Williams’ Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 28, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference.
4(c)		Five Year Credit Agreement Amendment No. 1, dated as of September 17, 2007, by and among Sherwin-Williams, Citicorp USA, Inc., as administrative agent and issuing bank, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and The Bank of New York, as paying agent, filed as Exhibit 4 to Sherwin-Williams’ Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 17, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference.
4(d)		Five Year Credit Agreement Amendment No. 2, dated as of September 25, 2007, by and among Sherwin-Williams, Citicorp USA, Inc., as administrative agent and issuing bank, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and The Bank of New York, as paying agent filed as Exhibit 4 to Sherwin-Williams’ Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 25, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference.
31(a)		Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer (filed herewith).
31(b)		Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer (filed herewith).
32(a)		Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer (filed herewith).
32(b)		Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer (filed herewith).