TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY

PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY (CONTINUED)

PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY (CONTINUED)

RPM INTERNATIONAL INC.

STATEMENT OF GOVERNANCE POLICY

RPM International’s fundamental objective is to build long-term stockholder value by profitably growing our businesses and consistently delivering strong financial performance. We think that our ability to generate value for our stockholders is inextricably linked to our ability to provide value to our principal stakeholders, including our customers and associates.

We do not focus narrowly on efforts to maximize the short-term price of our stock, and think that such an approach is fundamentally misguided. Instead, we believe that emphasizing consistent value creation in our businesses will maximize the long-term value of our stockholders’ investment.

In short, we manage our businesses to create wealth for our stockholders. Creating value for our other stakeholders is how we have achieved, and will continue to achieve, that objective.

PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY (CONTINUED)

PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY (CONTINUED)

VOTING RIGHTS

The record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting was the close of business on August 11, 2017. On that date, the Company had 133,535,825 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote.

At the Annual Meeting, in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Company’s Amended and Restated By-Laws (the “By-Laws”), the inspectors of election appointed by the Board of Directors for the Annual Meeting will determine the presence of a quorum and will tabulate the results of stockholder voting. As provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the By-Laws, holders of shares entitling them to exercise a majority of the voting power of the Company, present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting, will constitute a quorum for such meeting. Under applicable Delaware law, if a broker returns a Proxy and has not voted on a certain proposal (generally referred to as a “broker non-vote”), such broker non-votes will count for purposes of determining a quorum. The shares represented at the Annual Meeting by Proxies which are marked “withheld” with respect to the election of Directors will be counted as shares present for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present.

Under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, if you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name and do not provide the bank, broker or other intermediary that holds your shares with specific voting instructions, that bank, broker or other intermediary may generally vote on routine matters but cannot vote on non-routine matters. Proposals One, Two and Three are considered non-routine matters. Unless you instruct the bank, broker or other intermediary that holds your shares to vote on Proposals One, Two and Three, no votes will be cast on your behalf with respect to those proposals. Therefore, it is important that you instruct the bank, broker or other intermediary to cast your vote if you want it to count on Proposals One, Two and Three. Proposal Four is considered a routine matter and, therefore, broker non-votes are not expected to exist on Proposal Four.

Nominees for election as Directors who receive the greatest number of votes will be elected Directors. The General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides that stockholders cannot elect Directors by cumulative voting unless a company’s certificate of incorporation so provides. The Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate”) does not provide for cumulative voting.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines include a majority voting policy, which sets forth our procedures if a Director-nominee is elected, but receives a majority of “withheld” votes. In an uncontested election, the Board of Directors expects any nominee for Director who receives a greater number of votes “withheld” from his or her election than votes “for” such election to tender his or her resignation following certification of the stockholder vote. The Board of Directors shall fill Board vacancies and new Directorships and shall nominate for election or re-election as Director only candidates who agree to tender their resignations in such circumstances. The Governance and Nominating Committee will act on an expedited basis to determine whether to accept a Director’s resignation tendered in accordance with the policy and will make recommendations to the Board of Directors for its prompt consideration with respect to any such letter of resignation. For the full details of our majority voting policy, which is part of our Corporate Governance Guidelines, please see our Corporate Governance Guidelines on our website at www.rpminc.com.

Pursuant to the By-Laws, proposals other than the election of Directors and matters brought before the Annual Meeting will be decided, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate, by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote thereon present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. In voting for other proposals, votes may be cast in favor, against or abstained. Abstentions will count as present for purposes of the items on which the abstention is noted and will have the effect of a vote against the proposal. Broker non-votes, however, are not counted as present for purposes of determining whether a proposal has been approved and will have no effect on the outcome of any such proposal.

If you have any questions or need any assistance in voting your shares of Common Stock, please contact the Company’s proxy solicitor:

Georgeson LLC

1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9^th Floor

New York, NY 10104

(888) 643-8150 (Toll Free)

STOCK OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL HOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT

STOCK OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL HOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)

PROPOSAL ONE

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The authorized number of Directors of the Company presently is fixed at eleven, with the Board of Directors divided into three Classes. Currently, each of Class I and Class II has four Directors, and Class III has three Directors. The term of office of one Class of Directors expires each year, and at each Annual Meeting of Stockholders the successors to the Directors of the Class whose term is expiring at that time are elected to hold office for a term of three years.

Robert A. Livingston, a nominee for election as Director at this year’s Annual Meeting, does not currently serve as a Director of the Company. In connection with Mr. Livingston’s election

as Director, the authorized number of Directors of the Company will be fixed at twelve, and each of Class I, Class II and Class III of the Board of Directors will have four Directors.

The term of office of the persons elected as Directors in Class III at this year’s Annual Meeting will expire at the time of the Annual Meeting held in 2020. Each Director in Class III will serve until the expiration of that term or until his or her successor shall have been duly elected. In addition to Mr. Livingston, the Board of Directors’ nominees for election as Directors in Class III are Julie A. Lagacy, Frederick R. Nance and William B. Summers, Jr. Ms. Lagacy and Messrs. Nance and Summers currently serve as Directors in Class III.

PROPOSAL ONE (CONTINUED)

PROPOSAL ONE (CONTINUED)

PROPOSAL ONE (CONTINUED)

PROPOSAL ONE (CONTINUED)

PROPOSAL ONE (CONTINUED)

PROPOSAL ONE (CONTINUED)

INFORMATION REGARDING MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors has an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Governance and Nominating Committee. The Executive Committee has the power and authority of the Board of Directors in the interim period between Board meetings. The functions of each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee are governed by charters that have been adopted by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors also has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to assist the Board of Directors in the exercise of its responsibilities, and a code of business conduct and ethics (“The Values & Expectations of 168”) that applies to the Company’s Directors, officers, and employees.

The charters of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Governance and Nominating Committee and the Corporate Governance Guidelines and The Values & Expectations of 168 are available on the Company’s website at www.rpminc.com and in print to any stockholder who requests a copy. Requests for copies should be directed to Manager of Investor Relations, RPM International Inc., P.O. Box 777, Medina, Ohio 44258. The Company intends to disclose any amendments to The Values & Expectations of 168, and any waiver of The Values & Expectations of 168 granted to any Director or executive officer of the Company, on the Company’s website. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, there have been no such waivers.

Board Independence

The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) listing standards provide that at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors must be independent, i.e., free of any material relationship with the Company, other than his or her relationship as a Director or Board Committee member. A Director is not independent if he or she fails to satisfy the standards for independence under the NYSE listing standards, the rules of the Commission, and any other applicable laws, rules and regulations. The Board of Directors adopted categorical standards (the “Categorical Standards”) to assist it in making independence determinations. The Categorical Standards specify the criteria by which the independence of the Directors will be determined and meet or exceed the independence requirements set forth in the NYSE listing standards and the rules of the Commission. The Categorical Standards are available on the Company’s website at www.rpminc.com.

During the Board of Directors’ annual review of director independence, the Board of Directors considers transactions, relationships and arrangements between each Director or an immediate family member of the Director and RPM. The

Board of Directors also considers transactions, relationships and arrangements between each Director or an immediate family member of the Director and RPM’s senior management.

In July 2017, the Board of Directors performed its annual director independence review for fiscal 2017. As a result of this review, the Board of Directors determined that 10 out of 11 current Directors are independent, and that all members of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Governance and Nominating Committee are independent. The Board of Directors determined that Ms. Deckard, Ms. Lagacy, and Messrs. Abizaid, Carbonari, Daberko, Fazzolari, Gross, Morford, Nance and Summers meet the Categorical Standards and are independent and, in addition, satisfy the independence requirements of the NYSE. The Board of Directors has also determined that Mr. Livingston, who has been nominated by the Board of Directors to stand for election at the Annual Meeting, will be an independent Director. Mr. Sullivan is not considered to be independent because of his position as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of RPM.

In determining the independence of Ms. Deckard, the Board of Directors considered that she is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Fairmount Santrol, a provider of high-performance sand and sand-based products used in various industries, including oil and gas exploration, foundry and building products, from which the Company has purchased products from time to time in the ordinary course of the Company’s business. For the Company’s fiscal year ended May 31, 2017, the Company purchased approximately $1.8 million of products and services of a transactional nature from Fairmount Santrol, representing less than 0.34% of Fairmount Santrol’s $535 million in net sales on an annual basis. The Board of Directors does not believe that this relationship impairs Ms. Deckard’s independence.

As part of this review, the Board of Directors also considered common private and charitable board memberships among our executive officers and Directors, including Ms. Deckard,

and Messrs. Nance and Summers. The Board of Directors does not believe that any of these common board memberships impairs the independence of the Directors.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight of the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence, and the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and independent auditor, and prepares the report of the Audit Committee. The specific functions and responsibilities of the Audit Committee are set

INFORMATION REGARDING MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (CONTINUED)

forth in the Audit Committee Charter which is available on the Company’s website.

The Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate and satisfies the current independence standards of the NYSE listing standards and Section 10A(m)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Board of Directors has also determined that each member of the Audit Committee qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined in Item 407(d) of Regulation S-K. Each of Ms. Lagacy and Messrs. Fazzolari, Gross and Summers also satisfies the NYSE accounting and financial management expertise requirements. Upon her appointment to the Board of Directors on July 18, 2017, Ms. Lagacy was appointed to serve on the Audit Committee, and Mr. Carbonari stepped down from the Audit Committee as of that date.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee assists the Board of Directors in discharging its oversight responsibilities relating to, among other things, executive compensation, equity and incentive compensation plans, management succession planning and producing the Compensation Committee Report. The Compensation Committee administers the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan, Restricted Stock Plan, Restricted Stock Plan for Directors, and 2014 Omnibus Plan. The Compensation Committee reviews and determines the salary and bonus compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, as well as reviews and recommends to the Board of Directors for its approval the compensation of the other executive officers of the Company. The Compensation Committee may delegate its authority to a subcommittee or subcommittees. Each member of the Compensation Committee is independent within the meaning of the NYSE listing standards and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

Our Chief Executive Officer and our President and Chief Operating Officer, together with the Compensation Committee, review assessments of executive compensation practices at least annually against our defined comparative framework. Our Chief Executive Officer and our President and Chief Operating Officer make recommendations to the Compensation Committee with the intent of keeping our executive officer pay practices aligned with our intended pay philosophy. The Compensation Committee must approve any recommended changes before they can be made. The Compensation Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate any compensation and benefits consultant, independent legal counsel or other adviser, to assess the independence of such compensation and benefits consultant, independent legal counsel or other adviser and any potential

conflicts of interest prior to engagement, and to approve the related fees and other retention terms of such compensation and benefits consultant, independent legal counsel or other adviser.

Before selecting any compensation and benefits consultant, independent legal counsel or other adviser, the Compensation Committee takes into account all factors relevant to that adviser’s independence from management, including the following six factors:

Governance and Nominating Committee

The Governance and Nominating Committee reports to the Board of Directors on all matters relating to corporate governance of the Company, including the development and recommendation to the Board of Directors of a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Company, selection, qualification and nomination of the members of the Board of Directors and nominees to the Board of Directors, and administration of the Board’s evaluation process. Each of the members of the Governance and Nominating Committee is independent within the meaning of the NYSE listing standards and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

In identifying and considering possible candidates for election as a Director, the Governance and Nominating Committee, after consultation with the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, will consider all relevant factors and will be guided by the following principles: (1) each Director should be an individual of the highest character and integrity; (2) each Director shall have demonstrated exceptional ability and judgment and should have substantial experience which is of particular relevance to the Company; (3) each Director should have sufficient time available to devote to the affairs of the

INFORMATION REGARDING MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (CONTINUED)

Company; and (4) each Director should represent the best interests of the stockholders as a whole rather than special interest groups. This evaluation is performed in light of the Governance and Nominating Committee’s views as to the needs of the Board of Directors and the Company as well as what skill set and other characteristics would most complement those of the current Directors.

The Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors consider a diverse group of experiences, characteristics, attributes, and skills, including diversity in gender, ethnicity, race, cultural background, and age, in determining whether an individual is qualified to serve as a Director of the Company. While the Board of Directors does not maintain a formal policy regarding diversity, pursuant to its Charter the Governance and Nominating Committee does consider the diversity of the Board of Directors when considering Director nominees for recommendation to the Board of Directors. The Governance and Nominating Committee and the Board of Directors also consider the composition of the Board of Directors as a whole in evaluating whether a particular individual should serve on the Board of Directors, as the Board of Directors seeks to comprise itself of members which, collectively, possess a range of relevant skills, experience, and expertise.

During fiscal 2017, the Governance and Nominating Committee retained a third-party search firm to locate and identify potential Director candidates who may meet the needs of the Board of Directors. The third-party search firm identified and recommended Ms. Lagacy and Mr. Livingston to the Governance and Nominating Committee, and worked with the Board of Directors in reviewing their candidacies.

The Governance and Nominating Committee will consider potential candidates recommended by stockholders, current Directors, Company officers, employees and others. The Governance and Nominating Committee will use the above enumerated factors to consider potential candidates regardless of the source of the recommendation. Stockholder recommendations for director nominations may be submitted to the Secretary of the Company at P.O. Box 777, Medina, Ohio 44258, and they will be forwarded to the Governance and Nominating Committee for consideration, provided such recommendations are accompanied by sufficient information to permit the Governance and Nominating Committee to evaluate the qualifications and experience of the potential candidates. Recommendations should include, at a minimum, the following:

Stockholders who desire to nominate a proposed nominee for Director at an Annual Meeting must also comply with the requirements set forth in the By-Laws concerning such nominations.

INFORMATION REGARDING MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (CONTINUED)

Board Meetings

The Board of Directors held four meetings during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2017. No Director, during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2017, attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of (i) the total number of meetings of the Board of Directors held during the period that the Director served and (ii) the total number of meetings held by Committees of the Board of Directors on which the Director served, during the period that the Director served.

Independent Directors Meetings

Each of the Directors, other than Mr. Sullivan, is a non-management Director. Each of the non-management Directors was independent within the meaning of the NYSE listing standards and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines during fiscal 2017. The Company’s independent Directors generally meet in executive sessions each year in January, April and July. Bruce A. Carbonari currently serves as Lead Director, and served as the Lead Director for the January, April and July meetings of the Company’s independent Directors in 2017. The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines define such Lead Director’s role and responsibilities.

Structure of the Board of Directors

The By-Laws provide that one person may hold the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer of the Company currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors believes that the Chief Executive Officer is best situated to serve as Chairman because he is one of the Directors most familiar with the Company’s business and industry. The Board of Directors believes that combining the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors provides an efficient and effective leadership model for the Company by fostering clear accountability, effective decision-making, and alignment of corporate strategy. The independent Directors bring experience, oversight, and expertise from outside the Company and its industry, while the

Chief Executive Officer brings Company and industry-specific experience and expertise. One of the key responsibilities of the Board of Directors is to develop strategic direction and hold management accountable for the execution of management’s strategy once it is developed.

The Corporate Governance Guidelines provide for a Lead Director, and define such Lead Director’s role and responsibilities. The Lead Director:

INFORMATION REGARDING MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (CONTINUED)

The Board of Directors believes the combined role of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors, together with independent Directors having the duties described above, is in the best interests of stockholders because it strikes an appropriate balance for the Company. With the Chief Executive Officer also serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors, there is unified leadership and a focus on strategic development and execution, while the independent Directors help assure independent oversight of management.

Role in Risk Oversight

Risk is inherent in any business and the Company’s management is responsible for the day-to-day management of risks that the Company faces. The Board of Directors, on the other hand, has responsibility for the oversight of risk management. In its risk oversight role, the Board of Directors has the responsibility to evaluate the risk management process to ensure its adequacy and that it is implemented properly by management.

The Board of Directors believes that full and open communication between management and the Board of Directors is essential for effective risk management and oversight. Senior management, which includes the Chief Compliance Officer, attends quarterly meetings of the Board of Directors, as well as certain committee meetings, in order to address any questions or concerns raised by the Board of Directors on risk management and any other matters. Each quarter, the Board of Directors receives presentations from senior management on business operations, financial results, and strategic issues. In addition, senior management holds an annual strategic planning retreat attended by members of the Board of Directors, as well as periodic strategic planning sessions, to discuss strategies, key challenges, and risks and opportunities for the Company. Senior management then reviews the results of each strategic planning session with the Board of Directors. Finally, each year senior management reviews with the Board of Directors an assessment of the key risks the Company faces and then prioritizes them in a consolidated enterprise risk map.

The Board Committees assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities in certain areas of risk. The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to risk management in the areas of financial reporting, internal controls, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Risk assessment reports are regularly provided by management and the Company’s internal auditors to the Audit Committee. The Compensation Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the

management of risks arising from the Company’s compensation policies and programs, including overseeing the Company’s compensation-related risk assessment described further below in this Proxy Statement. The Governance and Nominating Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to the management of risks associated with the organization of the Board of Directors and its membership and structure, succession planning for Directors and executive officers, and corporate governance, including the annual monitoring of corporate governance issues, administering regular self-evaluations of the Board and its committees, and reviewing potential conflicts of interest.

All of these Board Committees report back to the full Board of Directors at meetings of the Board of Directors as to the Board Committees’ activities and matters discussed and reviewed at the Board Committees’ meetings. In addition, the Board of Directors is encouraged to participate in external Director education courses to keep apprised of current issues, including areas of risk.

Succession Planning

The Company actively engages in succession planning in order to assure that it has sufficient depth and breadth of executive talent. While effective succession planning is a fluid process, there are certain annual processes in which the Company engages to determine appropriate candidates and leadership potential. Information is gathered and analyzed to assess the staffing of the Company’s key positions to identify and develop employees for such positions. To further this process, an offsite leadership development program is conducted each year for purposes of recognizing the Company’s emerging leaders and uniting them in a three-day formal program with peers and representatives from the Board of Directors. In addition, after completing this leadership development program, certain employees are selected to work with a top-ranked global provider of executive education to enhance senior level personal leadership development and leadership team strategy development.

Communications with the Board of Directors

Stockholders and other persons may communicate with the non-management Directors as a group or any chair of a Board Committee. Such communications may be confidential or anonymous, if so designated, and may be submitted in writing to Board of Directors Communications c/o General Counsel, RPM International Inc., P.O. Box 777, Medina, Ohio 44258 or by email to directors@rpminc.com. Unless specifically directed to one of the Committee chairs, communications will be forwarded to the Lead Director for the next scheduled meeting of independent Directors.

INFORMATION REGARDING MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (CONTINUED)

All communications received in accordance with these procedures will be reviewed initially by the Company’s General Counsel, who will relay all such communications (or a summary thereof) to the appropriate Director or Directors unless he determines that such communication:

In the alternative to the procedures outlined above, any stockholder or interested party may report any suspected accounting or financial misconduct confidentially through our compliance hotline. Information regarding our compliance hotline is available on our website, www.rpminc.com.

Attendance at Annual Meetings of Stockholders

It is a policy of the Board of Directors that all its members attend the Annual Meeting absent exceptional cause. All of the Directors who were at that time members of the Board of Directors were present at the October 2016 Annual Meeting.

PROPOSAL TWO

ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or the Dodd-Frank Act, contains a provision that is commonly known as “Say-on-Pay.” Say-on-Pay gives our stockholders an opportunity to vote on an advisory, non-binding basis to approve the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to Commission rules.

This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the executive compensation program and practices described in this Proxy Statement. Please read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the executive compensation tables and narrative disclosure for a detailed explanation of our executive compensation program and practices. Accordingly, we are asking our stockholders to vote “FOR” the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that RPM International Inc.’s stockholders hereby approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables and any related material disclosed in this Proxy Statement.”

We are focused on delivering operating results with the ultimate goal of creating and maximizing value for our stockholders on a long-term basis. Our compensation programs and practices have been designed to drive those results, and they have served our Company well. For fiscal 2017, 20% of the amounts of the principal compensation components for our named executive officers in the aggregate was variable and tied to our performance. Our compensation programs and practices have been integral to our success in attracting and retaining an experienced and effective management team.

PROPOSAL TWO (CONTINUED)

Consistent with our focus on delivering sustained long-term operating results, over the past 10 years our sales grew at a compound annual growth rate of 4.0%. Our stockholders have been rewarded for this performance over this 10-year period, enjoying a compound annual growth rate in cumulative total return, including the reinvestment of dividends, of 12.8%, compared to the compound annual growth rate in cumulative

total return for the S&P 500 of 6.9%. In addition, 2017 marked our 43rd consecutive year of increased dividends. The following table shows the cumulative total stockholder return, including the reinvestment of dividends, of shares of our Common Stock compared to the S&P 500, our current peer group and our prior peer group over the past 10 years.

PROPOSAL TWO (CONTINUED)

This advisory vote on executive compensation is not binding on us. However, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee highly value the opinions of our stockholders. To the extent there is a significant vote against this proposal, we will seek to determine the reasons for our stockholders’ concerns, and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns when making future executive compensation decisions.

Proposal Two will be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote thereon present in

person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. In voting for Proposal Two, votes may be cast in favor, against or abstained. Abstentions will count as present and will have the effect of a vote against Proposal Two. Broker non-votes, however, are not counted as present for purposes of determining whether Proposal Two has been approved, and will have no effect on the outcome of Proposal Two.

Our Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR Proposal Two relating to the advisory vote on executive compensation.

PROPOSAL THREE

ADVISORY VOTE ON THE FREQUENCY OF FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Dodd-Frank Act also contains a provision enabling our stockholders to indicate how frequently we should have a “Say on Pay” vote. This “frequency” vote is required to be held at least once every six years. We last held a frequency vote at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2011. At that meeting, our stockholders voted in favor of holding annual advisory votes on the compensation of the named executive officers, and we have held annual votes each year since 2011.

After careful consideration, the Board of Directors believes we should continue to hold annual advisory votes on the compensation of the named executive officers. In reaching its recommendation, the Board of Directors believes that an annual vote will continue to allow our stockholders to provide us with timely input on our executive compensation philosophy, policies and programs.

Although this vote is advisory and not binding, the Board of Directors and the Company highly value the opinions of our stockholders, and will consider the outcome of this vote when determining the frequency of future “Say on Pay” votes.

The option of every three, two, or one years that receives the most votes cast by stockholders will be considered the advisory vote of the stockholders.

Our Board of Directors unanimously recommends you vote for “EVERY YEAR” on Proposal 3 relating to the frequency of future advisory votes on executive compensation.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Executive Summary

In this section, we describe the material components of our executive compensation program for our named executive officers whose compensation is set forth in the Summary Compensation Table and other compensation tables contained in this Proxy Statement:

We also provide an overview of our executive compensation philosophy and our executive compensation program. In addition, we explain how and why the Compensation Committee arrives at specific compensation policies and decisions involving the named executive officers.

Our Business

RPM International Inc. owns subsidiaries that are world leaders in specialty coatings, sealants, building materials and related services across three segments. The Company’s industrial products include roofing systems, sealants, corrosion control coatings, flooring coatings and other construction chemicals. Industrial companies include Stonhard, Tremco, illbruck, Carboline, Flowcrete, Euclid Chemical and RPM Belgium Vandex. The Company’s consumer products are used by professionals and do-it-yourselfers for home maintenance and improvement and by hobbyists. Consumer brands include Rust-Oleum, DAP, Zinsser, Varathane and Testors. The Company’s specialty products include industrial cleaners, colorants, exterior finishes, specialty OEM coatings, edible coatings, restoration services equipment and specialty glazes for the pharmaceutical and food industries. Specialty segment companies include Day-Glo, Dryvit, RPM Wood Finishes, Mantrose-Haeuser, Legend Brands, Kop-Coat and TCI.

For more information about our business, please see “Business” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission on July 24, 2017.

Fiscal 2017 Business Highlights

The Company’s consolidated net sales, net income, and diluted earnings per share for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2017 were as follows:

In fiscal 2017, we continued to benefit from effective capital management, which remains a significant priority. Maintaining robust capital and liquidity positions provides us with a protective cushion during difficult periods, as well as the ability to pursue new opportunities.

Fiscal 2017 Executive Compensation Highlights

For fiscal 2017, the Compensation Committee:

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

As a result, total fiscal 2017 compensation, as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table, decreased compared to total fiscal 2016 compensation for all of our named executive officers.

Fiscal 2017 Corporate Governance Highlights

We place a high priority on maintaining good governance standards, including the oversight of our executive compensation policies and practices. The following policies and practices were in effect during fiscal 2017:

Consideration of Last Year’s “Say on Pay” Vote

Following our Annual Meeting of Stockholders in October 2016, the Compensation Committee reviewed the results of the stockholder advisory vote on executive compensation that was held at the meeting with respect to the fiscal 2016 compensation actions and decisions for Mr. Sullivan and the other named executive officers. Ninety-seven percent (97%) of the votes cast on the “say-on-pay” proposal last year were voted in support of the compensation of our named executive officers set forth in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and the related compensation tables and narratives in last year’s Proxy Statement. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider results from future stockholder advisory votes, as well as input from its stockholders, in its ongoing evaluation of the Company’s executive compensation programs and practices.

Opportunity for Stockholder Feedback

The Compensation Committee carefully considers feedback from our stockholders regarding our executive compensation program. Stockholders are invited to express their views to the Compensation Committee as described under the heading “Communications with the Board of Directors” in this Proxy Statement. In addition, the advisory vote on the compensation of the named executive officers provides stockholders with an opportunity to communicate their views on our executive compensation program.

You should read this Compensation Discussion and Analysis in conjunction with the advisory votes that we are conducting on the compensation of the named executive officers (see “Proposal Two – Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation” and “Proposal Three – Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Future Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation”). This Compensation Discussion and Analysis, as well as the accompanying compensation tables, contains information that is relevant to your voting decisions.

Overview

RPM’s compensation programs are designed to support our founder’s philosophy:

Our general compensation philosophy is performance-based in that our executive officers should be well compensated for achieving strong operating and financial results that contribute to enhanced stockholder value. We engage in a rigorous process intended to provide our executive officers a fair level

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

of compensation that reflects RPM’s operating and financial results, the relative skills and experience of the individuals involved, peer group compensation levels and other similar benchmarks.

The Compensation Committee has designed compensation policies and programs for our executive officers which are intended to compensate the executive officers at about the market median for a relevant group of similarly-sized companies and competitors within RPM’s industry, with the potential for higher than average compensation when our performance levels exceed our annual business plan. Our primary compensation goals are to retain key leaders, reward good past performance, incentivize strong future performance and align executives’ long-term interests with those of our stockholders.

Role of the Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee Charter provides for the Compensation Committee to oversee RPM’s compensation programs and, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer and the President and Chief Operating Officer, develop and recommend to the Board of Directors an appropriate compensation and benefits philosophy and strategy for RPM. The Compensation Committee consists of three independent Directors who are appointed to the Compensation Committee by, and report to, the entire Board of Directors. Each member of the Compensation Committee qualifies as a “non-employee director” within the definition of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, and as an “independent” director under the rules of the NYSE. The

Compensation Committee Charter is available on our website at www.rpminc.com.

Role of Executives in Determining Compensation

Our Chief Executive Officer and our President and Chief Operating Officer, together with the Compensation Committee, review assessments of executive compensation practices at least annually against our defined comparative framework. These assessments involve the gathering of compensation data, such as base salary, cash incentive and equity awards for similarly situated officers at companies in the diversified chemicals and specialty chemicals industries which fall within a reasonable size range (in terms of sales) and operate businesses similar to that of the Company. See “Comparative Framework” for more information about this review. With this information in hand, and as stated under the heading “Overview,” our Chief Executive Officer and our President and Chief Operating Officer recommend to the Compensation Committee levels of compensation for themselves and for the other named executive officers that are “at about the market median for a relevant group of similarly-sized companies and competitors within RPM’s industry” and aligned with our intended pay philosophy. After receiving the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer and our President and Chief Operating Officer, the Compensation Committee meets without our Chief Executive Officer and our President and Chief Operating Officer present to consider their recommendations. The Compensation Committee must approve any recommended changes before they can be made.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

Willis Towers Watson reviewed both published survey data from the 2015 Willis Towers Watson CDB General Industry Executive Compensation Survey Report and compensation peer group proxy statement data to determine competitive pay levels for the executives for the following elements of compensation: base salary, actual total cash compensation (the sum of salary and actual bonuses received), long-term incentives, and actual total direct compensation (the sum of base salary, actual annual bonuses and long-term incentives). Based on its analysis and findings, Willis Towers Watson

concluded that our Chief Executive Officer’s actual total direct compensation was competitive with the market median, and that his compensation was weighted more toward long-term incentives than is typical in the market. Overall, Willis Towers Watson concluded that our named executive officers’ salaries and total cash compensation are generally at or below the market median, and that their long-term incentives and total direct compensation are generally at or above the market median.

Specifically with regard to our Chief Executive Officer, Willis Towers Watson found that compared to similarly sized general industry companies, his base salary was 7% below the market median, and that his actual total cash compensation was 21% below the market median. Long-term incentives for our Chief Executive Officer were 41% above the market median. Overall, our Chief Executive Officer’s actual total direct compensation was 18% above the market median. Willis Towers Watson considers long-term incentives and actual total direct compensation to be competitive with the market if such amounts are within 20% of the market median.

Elements of Compensation

Our named executive officer compensation program for fiscal 2017 included three main elements:

Pay Mix

We use these particular elements of compensation because we believe that they provide a balanced mix of fixed compensation and at-risk compensation that produces short-term and long-term performance incentives and rewards. With this balanced portfolio, we provide the executive with a competitive base salary while motivating the executive to focus on the business metrics that will produce a high level of performance for the Company and provide the executive with additional compensation through short- and long-term incentives.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

The mix of compensation for our named executive officers is weighted toward at-risk pay (consisting of cash and equity compensation). Maintaining this pay mix is intended to result in a pay-for-performance orientation, which aligns to our

compensation philosophy of paying total direct compensation that is competitive with peer group levels based on relative company performance.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

Base Salary

Base salary represents amounts paid during the fiscal year to named executive officers as direct compensation for their services to us. Base salary and increases to base salary recognize the overall experience, position and responsibilities within RPM and expected contributions to RPM of each named executive officer. Adjustments to salaries are used to reward superior individual performance of our named executive officers on a day-to-day basis during the year and to encourage them to perform at their highest levels. We also use our base salary to retain top quality executives and attract management employees from other companies.

In July 2017, our Chief Executive Officer and our President and Chief Operating Officer recommended that the Compensation Committee not increase the base salaries of the named executive officers with the exception of a 1.6% increase to Ms. Kastner’s base salary. As in the past, this recommendation was based upon an analysis of:

Annual Cash Incentive Compensation

For fiscal 2017, we provided annual cash incentive compensation under the Amended and Restated 1995 Incentive Compensation Plan, which was designed to motivate participants to achieve our financial objectives and reward executives for their achievements when those objectives are met. All named executive officers who are Covered Employees under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, namely the Chief Executive Officer and the next three highest paid

executive officers, excluding the Chief Financial Officer, participated in the fiscal 2017 incentives. In addition, although the Chief Financial Officer is not a Covered Employee by definition, the Compensation Committee evaluated Mr. Gordon under performance criteria similar to that used to determine the cash incentive compensation of the other named executive officers. The amount of cash incentive compensation earned by our named executive officers in fiscal 2017 is set forth in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table. We paid these amounts in July 2017.

In July 2016, the Compensation Committee determined, on a percentage basis, the portion of the aggregate cash incentive compensation award pool under the Incentive Compensation Plan, or the Incentive Plan, to be awarded to each of the Covered Employees in respect of the Company’s performance for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2017 as follows: Mr. Sullivan, 40%; Mr. Rice, 30%; Mr. Moore, 15%; and Ms. Kastner, 15%. The Compensation Committee determined that cash incentives paid would range from zero to 150% of salary with a target of 100% for all direct reports of the Chief Executive Officer, regardless of title, namely, Messrs. Rice, Gordon, Moore and Ms. Kastner. The Compensation Committee may reduce or eliminate the amount of a named executive officer’s annual cash incentive award, at the Compensation Committee’s sole discretion, based solely on individual performance.

The Incentive Plan in place for fiscal 2017 provided for an aggregate cash incentive compensation award pool of 1.5% of our pre-tax income for fiscal 2017. In July 2017, the Compensation Committee calculated the aggregate non-equity compensation award pool based on our audited pre-tax income and each individual’s cash incentive payout amount. For fiscal 2017, the Company’s pre-tax income as defined in the Incentive Plan was $473 million, providing a cash incentive compensation award pool under the Incentive Plan for the Covered Employees of approximately $7.0 million. Upon the recommendation of our Chief Executive Officer, and after a review of a variety of factors described below, the Compensation Committee awarded cash incentives totaling $1,820,000 to the Covered Employees, which was significantly below the aggregate amount authorized to be paid pursuant to the award pool formula. The cash incentive compensation paid to the Covered Employees equaled approximately 76% of their salaries for fiscal 2017.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

In determining the actual incentive compensation awards for fiscal 2017, the named executive would receive a portion of his or her award equal to:

As a result, Messrs. Sullivan, Rice, Gordon, Moore and Ms. Kastner were awarded incentive compensation equal to approximately 75%, 75%, 95%, 95% and 61% of their respective base salaries.

Equity Compensation

We use equity compensation to align our named executive officers’ interests with those of our stockholders and to attract and retain high-caliber executives through recognition of anticipated future performance. Under our 2014 Omnibus Plan, we can grant a variety of stock-based awards, including awards of restricted stock and stock appreciation rights. After reviewing executive compensation practices against our defined comparative framework, including reviewing equity awards for similarly situated officers at companies in the diversified chemicals and specialty chemicals industries which fall within a reasonable size range (in terms of sales) and operate businesses similar to that of the Company, our Chief Executive Officer and our President and Chief Operating Officer make annual recommendations to the Compensation Committee of the type and amount of equity awards for the Chief Executive Officer, the President and Chief Operating Officer, and the other executive officers. In determining the equity incentive compensation component of Chief Executive Officer compensation, the Compensation Committee considers, in addition to the factors used to determine salary and cash incentive compensation:

In determining the equity incentive compensation of the other executive officers, the Compensation Committee reviews and approves a mix of business plan goals, with a significant amount of emphasis placed on the compensation recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer and our President and Chief Operating Officer. After receiving the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer and our President and Chief Operating Officer, the Compensation Committee meets without our Chief Executive Officer and our President and Chief Operating Officer present to consider their recommendations. The Compensation Committee must approve any recommended equity grants before they can be made.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

The Compensation Committee uses the various equity incentive awards available to it under the 2014 Omnibus Plan to retain executives and other key employees and achieve the following additional goals:

The Compensation Committee’s current intention is to achieve these goals by making annual awards to the Company’s executive officers and other key employees, using a combination of restricted stock and stock-settled stock appreciation rights.

Performance Earned Restricted Stock (PERS). The Compensation Committee currently awards Performance Earned Restricted Stock, or PERS, under the 2014 Omnibus Plan. The threshold and maximum number of and performance goals for the award of PERS for a given fiscal year are set in July of that year. The determination of whether and to what extent the PERS have been achieved for a fiscal year is made at the July meeting of the Compensation Committee following the close of that fiscal year. Based on that determination, the actual grants, if any, with respect to a fiscal year are made at that same meeting. With respect to fiscal 2017, the maximum number and performance goals were set in July 2016 and the Compensation Committee determined whether and to what extent the PERS were achieved at its meeting in July 2017.

The percentage of shares with respect to which the performance goal has been achieved is determined by reference to the percentage increase of planned EBIT which is attained. In making the determination of whether the planned increase has been attained, the actual fiscal year results are adjusted for the exclusion of restructuring and other similar charges or credits that are not central to the Company’s operations as shown on the Company’s financial statements as certified by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. If less than 75% of the planned increase is attained, then the performance goal will not be achieved with respect to any shares. If 75% to 100% of the planned increase is attained, then the performance goal will be achieved with respect to an equivalent percentage of shares. For example, if 91% of the planned increase is attained, then the performance goal will be achieved with respect to a

maximum amount of 91% of the shares. The percentage of the planned increase attained will be rounded down to the closest whole number (e.g., 85.5% would be rounded down to 85%). If more than 100% of the planned increase is attained, then the performance goal will be achieved with respect to 100% of the shares.

In July 2016, pursuant to the 2014 Omnibus Plan, the Compensation Committee approved a contingent award of PERS to the Covered Employees of up to 125,000 shares (including 60,000 shares for the Chief Executive Officer) to be based on the level of attainment of fiscal 2017 performance goals related to an increase in planned EBIT. In July 2016, the Compensation Committee established a 7.6% increase in adjusted EBIT over fiscal 2016 levels as the target for purposes of determining the amount of PERS awards earned by the named executive officers with respect to fiscal 2017. Adjusted EBIT for fiscal 2017 compared to fiscal 2016 was below goal. As a result, the Compensation Committee did not award any of these PERS to the Covered Employees and Mr. Gordon.

Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs). In July 2017, pursuant to the 2014 Omnibus Plan, the Compensation Committee awarded SARs totaling 390,000 shares to the executive officers. The SARs awards granted to the named executive officers in July 2017 are set forth below in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal 2017 table. The value of SARs is one component of the named executive officers’ long term incentive compensation intended to maintain such compensation competitive with the market median.

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) Restricted Stock. The RPM International Inc. 2007 Restricted Stock Plan was previously established to provide for supplemental retirement benefits to officers and other key employees of the Company designated by the Board of Directors whose retirement plan benefits may be limited under applicable law and the Internal Revenue Code. During fiscal 2017, the Compensation Committee determined that there were insufficient shares available under the 2007 Restricted Stock Plan for future SERP grants, and that such SERP grants will instead be awarded under the 2014 Omnibus Plan. In July 2016, the Compensation Committee awarded 20,175 shares of restricted stock to the executive officers under a combination of the 2007 Restricted Stock Plan and the 2014 Omnibus Plan.

Performance Contingent Restricted Stock (PCRS).

In July 2015, the Compensation Committee approved contingent awards of PCRS to Messrs. Sullivan, Rice, Gordon, Moore and Ms. Kastner, of up to 168,000 shares. Awarded pursuant to the 2014 Omnibus Plan, the purpose of the PCRS

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

awards is to provide an added incentive to key officers to improve the long-term performance of the Company.

The PCRS awards were made contingent upon the level of attainment of performance goals for the three-year performance period from June 1, 2015 ending May 31, 2018. Vesting of 67% of the PCRS relates to an increase in EBIT for the period, and vesting of the remaining 33% relates to an increase in EBIT margin for the period. Actual results will be adjusted for the exclusion of restructuring and other similar unusual charges or credits that are not central to the operations of the Company as shown on the Company’s consolidated financial statements as audited by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

With respect to that portion of the PCRS that may vest based upon achievement of improvement in EBIT, if the increase in EBIT is less than 75% of the planned increase in EBIT, then the performance goals are not achieved with respect to any of that portion of the PCRS. If the increase in EBIT is 75% to 100% of the planned increase in EBIT, then the performance goals are achieved with respect to a pro rata amount of that portion of the PCRS. If the increase in EBIT is more than 100% of the planned increase in EBIT, then the performance goals are achieved with respect to all of that portion of the PCRS.

With respect to that portion of the PCRS that may vest based upon achievement of improvement in EBIT margin, if EBIT margin does not increase, then the performance goals are not achieved with respect to any of that portion of the PCRS. If EBIT margin increases, then that portion of the PCRS will vest in a pro rata amount based on the percentage of the EBIT margin performance goal achieved. If the increase in EBIT margin is more than 100% of the planned increase in EBIT margin, then the performance goals are achieved with respect to all of that portion of the PCRS.

The Compensation Committee set the performance goals related to the PCRS awards at levels it believed to be achievable but would require the Company to meaningfully grow earnings.

Certain Fiscal 2018 Compensation Determinations

2018 PERS. In July 2017, the Compensation Committee determined that the performance goals for fiscal 2018 PERS will be (i) increase in planned EBIT and (ii) improvement in capital adjusted net earnings. For fiscal 2018 PERS awards, 67% of each named executive officer’s PERS award will be based upon achievement of increase in planned EBIT goals, and 33% of each named executive officer’s PERS award will be based upon achievement of improvement in capital adjusted net earnings. By contrast, fiscal 2017 PERS awards

were based upon achievement of increase in planned EBIT alone. The Compensation Committee will determine whether and to what extent the 2018 PERS were achieved at its meeting in July 2018.

Timing of Equity Grants

Equity grants to the named executive officers are made in July at regularly scheduled meetings of the Compensation Committee. Board and Compensation Committee meetings are generally scheduled at least a year in advance. Scheduling decisions are made without regard to anticipated earnings or other major announcements by the Company.

Minimum Stock Ownership Guidelines

The Company adopted minimum stock ownership guidelines for its executive officers and Directors in July 2012. Under the stock ownership guidelines certain executive officers are required to maintain the following minimum equity stakes in the Company:

Executives are expected to achieve targets within five years of the later of the date of the adoption of the minimum stock ownership guidelines or the date of assuming their positions. Each of the Company’s executive officers met the minimum stock ownership guidelines as of May 31, 2017.

Employment Agreements and Related Arrangements

We are a party to the following employment agreements with our named executive officers, each of which has been in effect since December 31, 2008:

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

Pursuant to the employment agreements, each of Messrs. Sullivan, Rice, Gordon, Moore and Ms. Kastner serves for a term ending on May 31, 2017, which is automatically extended for additional one-year periods unless either party gives the other party notice of nonrenewal two months in advance of the annual renewal date. In accordance with these automatic extension provisions, the employment agreement with each of these named executive officers has been extended to May 31, 2018. Each of Messrs. Sullivan, Rice, Gordon, Moore and Ms. Kastner is also eligible to receive such annual cash incentive compensation or bonuses as our Compensation Committee may determine based upon our results of operations and other relevant factors. Messrs. Sullivan, Rice, Gordon, Moore and Ms. Kastner are also generally entitled to participate in our employee benefit plans. Under the employment agreements, each of these named executive officers is entitled to receive fringe benefits in line with our present practice relating to the officer’s position, including the use of the most recent model of a full-sized automobile.

See “Other Potential Post-Employment Compensation” for a discussion of additional terms of the employment agreements related to restrictive covenants and potential post-employment compensation.

New Form of Employment Agreement

In April 2016, the Compensation Committee approved a new form of employment agreement that will be used for any new employment agreements with our executives in the future. The new form of employment agreement generally follows the current employment agreements with our named executive officers, except that the new form of employment agreement removes a provision that accelerates equity awards upon a termination of employment following a change in control. Instead, any outstanding equity awards will be subject to the terms of their respective plans and award agreements (for

example, equity awards granted under the 2014 Omnibus Plan will follow the double-trigger vesting provisions set forth in the 2014 Omnibus Plan). Further, the new form of employment agreement does not provide for a tax gross-up for excise taxes triggered under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code, but instead includes a “best-net alternative” provision, under which the executive would receive the greater of the total parachute payments, after taxes (including the excise tax) have been paid, or reduced parachute payments equal to the highest amount that may be paid without triggering the excise tax under Section 280G. The definitions of “change in control” and “good reason” were also revised to match the definitions for such terms in the 2014 Omnibus Plan.

Policy on Clawback of Executive Compensation

In July 2012, the Board of Directors adopted a policy regarding the clawback of executive compensation. If, as the result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any executive officer of the Company, the Company is required to restate all or a portion of its financial statements, the Board of Directors will, to the extent permitted by governing law, require reimbursement of any bonus or incentive compensation awarded to such executive officer or effect the cancellation of unvested restricted or deferred stock awards or stock options previously granted to the executive officer if:

Post-Employment Compensation and Change in Control

Each of the employment agreements with Messrs. Sullivan, Rice, Gordon, Moore and Ms. Kastner provides for payments and other benefits if the named executive officer’s employment terminates under certain circumstances, such as being terminated without cause within two years of a change in control, which is often referred to as a “double-trigger.” We believe that these payments and other benefits are important to recruiting and retaining our named executive officers, as many of the companies with which we compete for executive talent provide for similar payments to their senior employees. Additional information regarding these payments and other benefits is found under the heading “Other Potential Post-Employment Compensation.”

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code

In the course of fulfilling its responsibilities, the Compensation Committee routinely reviews the impact of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, which disallows a tax deduction for certain compensation paid in excess of $1,000,000 to the Chief Executive Officer and the next three highest paid executive officers of the Company, excluding the Chief Financial Officer. The regulations under Section 162(m), however, exempt from this $1,000,000 limit various forms of compensation, including “performance-based” compensation. The Company’s performance-based Incentive Plan, described above, and the 2014 Omnibus Plan satisfy the requirements of this Section 162(m) exemption. Although the Compensation Committee considers the impact of Section 162(m) when administering the Company’s compensation programs, the Compensation Committee does not make decisions regarding executive compensation solely based on the expected tax treatment of such compensation.

In order to maintain flexibility in designing compensation programs that retain key leaders, reward past performance, incentivize strong future performance and align executives’ long-term interests with stockholders, the Compensation Committee may deem it appropriate at times to forgo Section 162(m) qualified awards in favor of awards that may not be fully tax-deductible. This has occurred, for example, when the Company’s operating results were adversely impacted by restructuring or other non-operating charges, yet the Company performed significantly better than its business plan notwithstanding the charges.

Perks and Other Benefits

Our named executive officers participate in various employee benefit plans that are generally available to all employees and on the same terms and conditions as with respect to other similarly situated employees. These include normal and customary programs for life insurance, health insurance, prescription drug insurance, dental insurance, short and long term disability insurance, pension benefits, and matching gifts for charitable contributions. While these benefits are considered to be an important and appropriate employment benefit for all employees, they are not considered to be a material component of a named executive officer’s annual compensation program. Because the named executive officers receive these benefits on the same basis as other employees, these benefits are not established or determined by the Compensation Committee separately for each named executive officer as part of the named executive officer’s annual compensation package.

In addition, we maintain a 401(k) retirement savings plan for the benefit of all of our employees, including our named

executive officers. In fiscal 2017, we provided a Company match of up to 4% of the qualified retirement plan compensation limit per employee, which executives also were able to receive. RPM’s company match is fully vested to all employees, including executives, at the time of contribution. As is the case with all employees, unless they elect to make their contributions on an after-tax basis, named executive officers are not taxed on their contributions to the 401(k) retirement savings plan or earnings on those contributions until they receive distributions from the 401(k) retirement savings plan, and all RPM contributions are tax deductible by us when made.

During fiscal 2017 we provided the use of cars to our named executive officers. Also during fiscal 2017, we made financial and estate planning services available to Messrs. Sullivan, Rice and Moore, and we paid executive life insurance premiums for the benefit of our named executive officers.

We periodically review the perquisites that named executive officers receive.

Other Plans

In addition to the above described plans, the Company offers a tax qualified defined benefit retirement plan. Information about this plan can be found under the heading “Pension Benefits for Fiscal 2017.” The Company also offers a deferred compensation plan. Under this plan, selected management employees, certain highly compensated employees and Directors are eligible to defer a portion of their salary, bonus, incentive plan amounts and Director fees until a future date. A participant’s account will be credited with investment gains or losses as if the amounts credited to the account were invested in selected investment funds. Any compensation deferred under the plan is not included in the $1,000,000 limit provided for under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code until the year in which the compensation actually is paid. Additional information about this plan can be found under the heading, “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation for Fiscal 2017.”

Report of the Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with the Company’s management and legal counsel. Based on that review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Company’s definitive proxy statement

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

prepared in connection with its 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

David A. Daberko, Chairman

John P. Abizaid

Thomas S. Gross

The above Report of the Compensation Committee does not constitute soliciting material and should not be deemed filed with the Commission or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C (other than as provided in Item 407 of Regulation S-K) or to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically requests that the information in this Report be treated as soliciting material or specifically incorporates it by reference into a document filed under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) or the Exchange Act. If this Report is incorporated by reference into the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, such disclosure will be furnished in such Annual Report on Form 10-K and will not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act as a result of furnishing the disclosure in this manner.

Compensation-Related Risk Assessment

The Compensation Committee considers risks related to the attraction and retention of talent and risks relating to the design of compensation programs and arrangements affecting executive officers and employees. Our compensation programs reward outstanding performance by our operating companies, and do not encourage excessive risk taking on the part of our executive officers and employees. Further, elements of our compensation programs, including our minimum stock ownership guidelines, our clawback policy, and the three-year performance period structure of our PCRS awards, help mitigate compensation-related risk. After considering the Company’s compensation program as a whole and receiving the input of the Compensation Committee, we have concluded that risks arising from our compensation policies and practices applicable to our employees are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. In reaching that conclusion, we considered, among other things, the general performance-based philosophy of our compensation program, the material consistency of our compensation structure throughout all key employee levels of the Company, the balance of long and short term components of compensation, and the Company’s risk profile generally.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

Salary. Salaries paid to our named executive officers pursuant to their employment arrangements with us are set forth in the Summary Compensation Table. For fiscal 2017, salaries paid to our named executive officers accounted for the following percentages of their total compensation reported in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table: Mr. Sullivan (21%), Mr. Rice (25%), Mr. Gordon (30%), Mr. Moore (28%), and Ms. Kastner (30%). For fiscal 2016, salaries paid to our named executive officers accounted for the following percentages of their total compensation reported in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table: Mr. Sullivan (8%), Mr. Rice (11%), Mr. Gordon (15%), Mr. Moore (10%), and Ms. Kastner (14%). For fiscal 2015, salaries paid to our current named executive officers accounted for the following percentages of their total compensation reported in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table: Mr. Sullivan (14%), Mr. Rice (17%), Mr. Gordon (22%), Mr. Moore (18%), and Ms. Kastner (23%).

Bonus. No bonuses were awarded to our named executive officers during fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 or fiscal 2015, although the named executive officers did receive cash awards under our Incentive Plan, as further described under the caption “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” below.

Stock Awards. The amounts in the “Stock Awards” column of the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal 2017” table consist of restricted stock and performance earned restricted stock grants. Each of these grants is described in further detail under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Equity Compensation.”

The amounts included in the “Stock Awards” column of the Summary Compensation Table represent the grant date fair value of grants made in accordance with ASC 718.

Option Awards. Pursuant to our 2014 Omnibus Plan, we awarded stock appreciation rights, or SARs, to our named executive officers. The SARs granted to our named executive officers are set forth in the table “Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal 2017.” These grants are described in further detail under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Equity Compensation – Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs).” The amounts included in the “Option Awards” column of the Summary Compensation Table represent the grant date fair value of grants made in accordance with ASC 718.

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation. The non-equity incentive plan compensation set forth in the Summary Compensation Table reflects annual cash incentive compensation under our Incentive Plan. Annual cash incentive compensation is earned based upon the achievement of performance objectives as described under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Annual Cash Incentive Compensation.”

Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings. The change in the present value of each of our named executive officer’s accrued pension benefits under our Retirement Plan from May 31, 2016 to May 31, 2017 was based upon the RP2014 retiree generational mortality table for males and females with mortality improvements backed off to 2006 using scale MP2014, projected using scale MP2016, blended 50% blue collar and 50% white collar. The change from May 31, 2015 to May 31, 2016 and from May 31, 2014 to May 31, 2015 was based upon the RP2014 retiree generational mortality table for males and females, projected using scale MP2014, blended 50% blue collar and 50% white collar. The interest rate used to determine the present values was 4.25% as of May 31, 2015, 3.85% as of May 31, 2016 and 3.81% as of May 31, 2017. The present values were determined assuming that such amounts were payable to each of our named executive officers at their earliest unreduced retirement age in our Retirement Plan – 65 years with five years of participation in our Retirement Plan. The present value for 2015 also assumed that 35% of our named executive officers will be paid a life annuity and 65% will be paid a lump sum. The present values for 2016

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)

and 2017 assumed that 15% of our named executive officers will be paid a life annuity and 85% will be paid a lump sum.

The lump sums were determined using a 4.25% interest rate for May 31, 2015 and a 3.85% interest rate for May 31, 2016. The interest rates used for May 31, 2017 were 4.20% for the first five years, 4.77% for the next 15 years and 5.07% thereafter. The lump sums were determined using the applicable mortality table outlined in IRC Section 417(e) projected to 2023 for 2015 and 2016 calculations, and projected to 2027 for the 2017 calculations. No pre-retirement decrements, including mortality, were assumed in these calculations.

All Other Compensation. All other compensation of our named executive officers is set forth in the Summary Compensation Table and described in detail in footnote (6) of the table.

These benefits are discussed in further detail under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Perks and Other Benefits.”

Employment Agreements and Related Arrangements. Each named executive officer is employed under an employment agreement. The terms of the employment agreements are described under the headings “Compensation Discussion and Analysis – Employment Agreements and Related Arrangements” and “Other Potential Post-Employment Compensation.”

Additional Information. We have provided additional information regarding the compensation we pay to our named executive officers under the headings “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Other Potential Post-Employment Compensation.”

The Company offers both an active defined benefit pension plan and a matching 401(k) plan for U.S. employees. The Company’s worldwide employees have comprehensive health coverage and other competitive benefit packages, in keeping with local laws and customs.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (CONTINUED)