EXHIBIT 99.1

                       RPM AFFIRMS THIRD QUARTER ESTIMATES
       -- PER-SHARE EARNINGS SHOULD MEET OR EXCEED CONSENSUS ESTIMATES --

MEDINA, Ohio - March 13, 2002 - RPM, Inc. (NYSE: RPM) announced today that it
anticipates earnings for the third quarter of fiscal 2002, which ended February
28, will meet or exceed consensus estimates of $0.02 per diluted share for the
current quarter. The company plans to issue its results in early April.

"Based on preliminary sales figures for the third quarter, we expect results to
be in line with street estimates," said Frank C. Sullivan, president. "The
results reflect the benefits of our restructuring, ongoing cost containment
initiatives and strong demand in our Consumer products. This is offsetting
softness in certain parts of our Industrial segment."

According to Sullivan, the Company further reduced its debt during the quarter
by $29 million to $900 million through continual cash generation from
operations.

The company also affirmed that it will meet or modestly exceed current full year
consensus estimates of $.94 for its fiscal year ending May 31, 2002.

RPM, Inc. is a world leader in specialty coatings serving both industrial and
consumer markets. RPM's industrial products include roofing systems, sealants,
corrosion control coatings, flooring coatings and specialty chemicals. Its
consumer products are used by professionals and do-it-yourselfers for home,
automotive and boat maintenance and by hobbyists. Industrial brands include
Stonhard, Tremco, Carboline, Day-Glo, Euco and Dryvit. Consumer brands include
Zinsser, Rust-Oleum, DAP, Flecto, Bondo and Testor.

For more information, contact: Glenn R. Hasman, vice president - finance and
communications for RPM at (330) 273-8820.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" based on management's
expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward-looking statements
are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of
which are outside the control of the company that could cause actual results to
differ materially from such statements. These uncertainties and other factors
include risks related to the company's restructuring and consolidation program
and its ability to realize the benefits from its restructuring and
consolidation efforts; changes in the results of operations due to economic
conditions or unforeseen factors; sales of non-core product lines or
businesses; overall economic conditions within and among the company's domestic
and international coatings markets; unusual weather conditions that might
adversely affect sales; and such other risks and uncertainties described from
time to time in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The foregoing list is not exhaustive, and the company disclaims any
obligation to subsequently revise any forward-looking statements to reflect
events or circumstances after the date of such statements.