Technology Films, coatings & laminate
PPG posts record fourth quarter, annual sales of $3.2 billion, $15.8 billion

Jan. 23, 2009 – On Jan. 16, 2009, PPG Industries reported record sales for the fourth quarter
of $3.2 billion, surpassing the prior year’s fourth quarter results by
three percent.

PPG posts record fourth quarter, annual sales of $3.2 billion, $15.8 billion

Cash from operations grows nearly 40 percent, company ends year with $1 billion in cash

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 16, 2009 – PPG Industries (PPG) today reported record sales for the fourth quarter of $3.2 billion, surpassing the prior year’s fourth quarter results by three percent. Fourth quarter net income was $71 million, or 43 cents per share. Fourth quarter 2007 sales were $3.1 billion and net income was $200 million, or $1.21 per share.

Fourth quarter 2008 net income includes aftertax earnings of $3 million, or two cents per share, to reflect the net decrease in the current value of the company’s obligation under its proposed asbestos settlement agreement reported in May 2002, which is pending court proceedings. Fourth quarter 2007 net income included an aftertax loss of $1 million, or one cent per share, for the proposed settlement.

“Without question, the fourth quarter was very challenging. Like many other companies, PPG experienced dramatic volume declines in several of the industrial end-use markets that we serve due to the rapid deterioration in the global economy,” said Charles E. Bunch, PPG chairman and chief executive officer. “Our Industrial Coatings and Glass segments were the most severely impacted and both reported operating losses in the quarter. However, the remaining segments, which represent about 70 percent of the company’s sales, delivered solid results. Throughout the quarter, we continued to implement a variety of initiatives to reduce costs in all of our businesses in response to worsening global economic conditions. These actions were taken in addition to the restructuring program we began last September.”

Bunch also commented on the company’s full year performance. “We delivered solid earnings despite rapidly rising energy and material costs and substantial demand declines, and our cash from operations was approximately $1.4 billion, which surpassed the prior year by nearly 40 percent. We ended the year with $1 billion of cash on hand, which is up from approximately $500 million at the end of 2007. This gives us tremendous financial flexibility, which is critical in today’s business climate. Our performance this past year under intensely difficult market conditions continues to demonstrate our strengthened business portfolio and the success of our strategic direction,” he said.

“Of equal importance, we have continued to transform the company, and I believe our accomplishments in this regard were greater this year than in any of the 30 years I have been with PPG,” Bunch continued. “Foremost among the actions we completed in 2008 was our acquisition of SigmaKalon. This acquisition has outperformed all of our expectations. It was the major factor that enabled us to grow our coatings sales by about 50 percent and to improve our year-over-year cash generation.”

Commenting on 2009, Bunch noted, “Overall, the progress we made in implementing our strategy this past year, including our stronger and more stable cash generation capabilities, should prove even more beneficial as we move into 2009. This has become even more important, as our early read on 2009 is that the first quarter and possibly the first half of the year is shaping up to be an even greater challenge than the fourth quarter 2008 due to further weakening demand. We continue to evaluate further cost actions that may result in additional restructuring and related cost savings during the year.”

Bunch concluded by saying that PPG is extremely proud of its heritage of rewarding shareholders, including increases in its annual dividend payments. PPG’s last dividend increase was announced Oct. 17, 2008. “Our portfolio transformation, our historically strong and growing cash flow and our longstanding, prudent fiscal discipline have positioned the company to continue rewarding shareholders into the future,” Bunch said.

Performance Coatings segment sales in the fourth quarter 2008 increased $85 million, or 8 percent, versus the prior year’s quarter. Sales grew as a result of acquisitions – most notably the SigmaKalon protective and marine coatings business – and higher pricing in all businesses. Volumes declined, particularly in the company’s architectural coatings – Americas and Asia and automotive refinish businesses, and weaker foreign currency also reduced sales. Segment earnings were flat, as lower volumes and inflation were offset by price gains, acquisitions and tighter cost control.

Industrial Coatings segment sales for the quarter decreased $166 million, or 18 percent, due primarily to lower volumes in the automotive OEM coatings and industrial coatings businesses, reflecting the severe declines in global demand. Weaker foreign currencies also detracted from sales. These decreases were only partially countered by the acquisition of SigmaKalon’s industrial coatings business and improved selling prices. Segment earnings decreased by $117 million due primarily to the negative effects of lower volumes. Inflation also impacted earnings and was only partially offset by higher selling prices and lower manufacturing and overhead costs. This segment is implementing the restructuring initiatives announced in September 2008 on an accelerated basis and has taken additional actions during the fourth quarter to reduce costs.

The Architectural Coatings EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) segment represents the largest business from the SigmaKalon acquisition. Segment sales for the quarter were $414 million and segment earnings were break-even in what is traditionally the segment’s slowest quarter due to seasonal trends. Segment earnings included a combined $25 million of ongoing non-cash quarterly depreciation and acquisition-related intangible amortization.

Optical and Specialty Materials segment sales for the quarter decreased $4 million, or two percent. The optical products business experienced a mid-single-digit percentage volume increase with growth in all regions. Silicas sales dropped as volumes declined by 20 percent due to reduced demand from automotive end-use markets. Segment earnings declined $13 million, or 28 percent, due to lower silicas volumes and higher selling and marketing expenses related to volume growth in optical products.

Commodity Chemicals segment sales for the quarter increased $31 million, or eight percent, due primarily to increased selling prices partially offset by lower volumes. The decline in demand was due to lower U.S. industrial activity. Segment earnings increased $35 million as the pricing gains more than countered the impact of lower sales volumes.

Glass segment sales declined $276 million compared with the prior year due largely to the divestiture of a majority interest in the automotive glass and services business, which was completed in September 2008. Other factors contributing to the decline in sales were lower volumes reflecting reduced construction and general industrial demand and weaker currency, which were slightly offset by higher selling prices. Segment earnings decreased by $40 million on lower volumes, lower equity and other earnings and the absence of earnings from the divested automotive glass and services business.

Fourth quarter 2007 results for the divested automotive glass and services business were sales of $230 million and earnings of $5 million pretax, $3 million aftertax, or two cents per share.

For all of 2008, sales were $15.8 billion. Net income was $538 million, or $3.25 per share. Reported net income includes aftertax charges of $110 million, or 67 cents per share, for business restructuring; $89 million, or 54 cents per share, in non-recurring acquisition-related costs stemming from the company’s January 2008 acquisition of SigmaKalon; $11 million, or  seven cents per share, to reflect the catch-up of depreciation expense, which was suspended when the automotive glass and services business was previously classified as a discontinued operation; $12 million, or seven cents per share, relating to the impact of benefit changes, including accelerated vesting, negotiated as part of the sale of the automotive glass and services business; and $2 million, or one cent per share, to reflect the net full year increase in the current value of the company’s obligation under its proposed asbestos settlement. Net income also includes an aftertax gain of $3 million, or 2 cents per share, on the divestiture of the automotive glass and services business. Adjusted net income was $759 million, or $4.59 per share, as detailed below.

For all of 2007, sales were $12.2 billion. Net income was $834 million, or $5.03 per share, and was comprised of net income from continuing operations of $856 million, or $5.16 per share, and a loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $22 million, or 13 cents per share. Reported net income from continuing operations includes aftertax charges of $4 million, or 3 cents per share, representing acquisition-related costs; $11 million, or 6 cents per share, related to the initial non-cash curtailment losses on certain defined benefit plans of the automotive glass and services business; and $15 million, or 9 cents per share, for the proposed asbestos settlement. The reported loss from discontinued operations includes an aftertax charge of $19 million, or 11 cents per share, representing the loss on divestiture of the fine chemicals business. Adjusted net income from continuing operations was $886 million, or $5.34 per share.

About PPG
Pittsburgh-based PPG is a global supplier of paints, coatings, chemicals, optical products, specialty materials, glass and fiber glass. The company has more than 150 manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates and operates in more than 60 countries. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.

Additional Information
PPG will hold a conference call to review its fourth quarter financial performance today, Friday, Jan. 16, at 10 a.m. ET. Charles E. Bunch, chairman and chief executive officer, and William H. Hernandez, senior vice president, finance, and chief financial officer, will provide commentary and host questions and answers. The dial-in numbers are: in the United States 866-713-8395; international 617-597-5309; passcode 88230946. The conference call will also be available in listen-only mode via Internet broadcast from PPG’s Investor Center at www.ppg.com (Windows Media Player).

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this news release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements reflecting the company's current view with respect to future events or objectives and financial or operational performance or results. These matters involve risks and uncertainties as discussed in PPG Industries' periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, and its current reports on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the company's forward-looking statements.

Among these factors are global economic conditions, increasing price and product competition by foreign and domestic competitors, fluctuations in cost and availability of raw materials and energy, the ability to maintain favorable supplier relationships and arrangements, difficulties in integrating acquired businesses and achieving expected synergies therefrom, economic and political conditions in international markets, foreign exchange rates and fluctuations in such rates, the impact of environmental regulations, unexpected business disruptions and the unpredictability of possible future litigation, including litigation that could result if the asbestos settlement discussed in PPG's filings with the SEC does not become effective. However, it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, while the list of factors presented here is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements.

Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on PPG's consolidated financial condition, operations or liquidity.

Discontinued Operations
PPG continues to classify the 2007 results of the fine chemicals business as discontinued operations in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The sale of the fine chemicals business was completed in the fourth quarter 2007.

Regulation G Reconciliation
PPG Industries believes investors' understanding of the company's operating performance is enhanced by the disclosure of net income and earnings per share adjusted for nonrecurring charges. PPG's management considers this information useful in providing insight into the company’s ongoing operating performance because it excludes the impact of items that cannot reasonably be expected to recur on a quarterly basis. Net income and earnings per share adjusted for these items are not recognized financial measures determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should not be considered a substitute for net income or earnings per share or other financial measures as computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, adjusted net income and earnings per share may not be comparable to similarly titled measures as reported by other companies. The following is a reconciliation of reported and adjusted net income and earnings per share for the full year 2008 and 2007.