ppg-20241231
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
☒ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024
or
☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _______ to _______
Commission File Number 1-1687
PPG INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
One PPG Place Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15272
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 412 434-3131
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange onwhich registered
Common Stock – Par Value $1.66 2/3 PPG New York Stock Exchange
0.875% Notes due 2025 PPG 25 New York Stock Exchange
1.875% Notes due 2025 PPG 25A New York Stock Exchange
1.400% Notes due 2027 PPG 27 New York Stock Exchange
2.750% Notes due 2029 PPG 29A New York Stock Exchange
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes☒ No☐
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐No☒
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes☒ No ☐
Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Date File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes☒No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ☒ Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company ☐
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2024, was $29,338 million.
As of January 31, 2025, 226,953,559 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, with a par value of $1.66 2/3 per share, were outstanding. As of that date, the aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates was $26,163 million.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of PPG Industries, Inc. Proxy Statement for its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Proxy Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year, are incorporated herein by reference into Part III of this report.
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PPG INDUSTRIES, INC.
AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
As used in this report, the terms “PPG,” “Company,” “Registrant,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to PPG Industries, Inc., and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, unless the context indicates otherwise.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Part I
Item 1. Business 3
Item 1A. Risk Factors 10
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 14
Item 1C. Cybersecurity 14
Item 2. Properties 15
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 16
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 18
Part II
Item 6. [Reserved] 19
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 35
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 36
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 78
Item 9B. Other Information 78
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections 78
Part III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 78
Item 11. Executive Compensation 79
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services 79
Part IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules 79
Signatures 84
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Part I
Item 1. Business
PPG Industries, Inc. manufactures and distributes a broad range of paints, coatings and specialty products. PPG was incorporated in Pennsylvania in 1883. PPG’s vision is to be the first-choice partner to meet our customers’ evolving needs for innovative paints, coatings and surface solutions to protect and beautify the world.
PPG has a proud heritage with a demonstrated commitment to innovation, sustainability, community engagement and development of leading-edge paint, coatings and specialty products. Through dedication and industry-leading expertise, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. PPG is a global leader with manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates in more than 70 countries.
PPG supplies paints, coatings and specialty products to customers serving a wide array of end-uses, including industrial equipment and components; packaging material; aircraft and marine equipment; automotive original equipment; automotive refinish and aftermarket; pavement marking products; as well as coatings for other industrial and consumer products. PPG also serves commercial and residential new build and maintenance customers by supplying coatings to painting and maintenance contractors and directly to consumers for decoration and maintenance.
The coatings industry is highly competitive and consists of several large firms with global presence and many firms supplying local or regional markets. PPG competes in its primary markets with the world’s largest coatings companies, most of which have global operations, and with many regional coatings companies.
In December 2024, PPG completed the sale of 100% of its architectural coatings business in the U.S. and Canada. Accordingly, the Company’s consolidated results of operations and cash flows have been recast to present the results of the architectural coatings business in the U.S. and Canada as discontinued operations for all periods presented, and the Company’s December 31, 2023 balance sheet has been recast to present the assets and liabilities of the U.S. and Canada architectural coatings business as held for sale. Refer to Note 2, “Divestitures” under Item 8 of this Form 10-K for further information relating to this transaction.
PPG’s business is comprised of three reportable business segments: Global Architectural Coatings, Performance Coatings and Industrial Coatings as described below:
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GLOBAL ARCHITECTURAL COATINGS
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PERFORMANCE COATINGS
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INDUSTRIAL COATINGS
(a) Original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
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Research and Development
% of annual net sales 2.8 % 2.7 % 2.9 %
Technology innovation has been a hallmark of PPG’s success throughout its history. The Company seeks to optimize its investment in research and development to create new products to drive profitable growth. We align our product development with the macro trends in the markets we serve, including a focus on sustainability and productivity, and leverage core technology platforms to develop products to address unmet market needs. Additionally, we operate laboratories in close geographic proximity to our customers, and we customize our products for our customers' end-use applications. Our history of successful technology introductions is based on a commitment to an efficient and effective innovation process and disciplined portfolio management. We have obtained government funding for a small portion of the Company’s research efforts, and we will continue to pursue government funding, where appropriate.
We own and operate several facilities to conduct research and development for new and improved products and processes. In addition to the Company’s centralized principal research and development centers (see Item 2. “Properties” of this Form 10-K), operating segments manage their development through centers of excellence. As part of our ongoing efforts to manage our formulations and raw material costs effectively, we operate global competitive sourcing laboratories. Because of our broad array of products and customers, we are not materially dependent upon any single technology platform.
Raw Materials, Energy and Logistics
PPG uses a wide variety of complex raw materials that serve as the building blocks of our manufactured products. The Company’s most significant raw materials include resins, solvents, reactants, titanium dioxide, additives and epoxy. Raw materials include both organic, primarily petroleum-derived, materials and inorganic materials, including titanium dioxide. Raw materials represent PPG’s single largest production cost component.
Most of the raw materials and energy used in production are purchased from outside sources, and the Company has made, and continues to make, supply arrangements to meet our planned operating requirements for the future. Supply of critical raw materials and energy is managed by establishing contracts with multiple sources and identifying alternative materials or technology whenever possible. In support of our decarbonization efforts, we continue to increase the amount of renewable energy secured for our operating facilities, and we are increasingly evaluating alternative raw materials that offer sustainable benefits and support the circular economy, including recycled and renewable feedstocks. Prices for certain of our raw materials typically fluctuate with energy prices and global supply and demand changes; however, pricing may be impacted by the fact that the manufacture of our raw materials is several steps downstream from crude oil, natural gas, and other key feedstocks.
Through effective management of raw materials, energy and logistics, the Company aims to maintain a competitive cost position and ensure ongoing security of supply. Security of a sufficient supply of high-quality raw materials is important to PPG’s continued success as it allows the Company to increase production as necessary to keep pace with customer demand. While PPG faced certain raw material shortages and logistical challenges during 2021 and 2022, raw material and logistics availability improved in 2023 and 2024 and is now comparable to pre-pandemic conditions. We continue to focus on improving our competitive cost position and expanding our supply of high-quality raw materials, including strategic initiatives to qualify multiple sources of supply.
We typically experience fluctuating prices for energy and raw materials driven by various factors, including changes in supplier feedstock costs and inventories, global industry activity levels, foreign currency exchange rates, government regulation, tariffs, and global supply and demand factors. In 2024, raw material costs remained high compared to historic levels, but moderated compared to 2022 levels, resulting in a low single-digit percentage decrease to cost of goods sold compared to 2023. The Company expects raw material costs to increase by a low single-digit percentage during 2025, primarily due to already enacted tariffs.
We are subject to existing and evolving standards relating to the regulation and registration of chemicals which could potentially impact the availability and viability of some of the raw materials we use in our production processes. Our ongoing, global product stewardship efforts are directed at maintaining our compliance with these standards. We anticipate that the number of chemical registration regulations will continue to increase globally, and we have implemented programs to track and comply with these regulations.
Our commitment to sustainability extends to our suppliers as an extension of our internal focus on sustainability. The PPG Global Supplier Code of Conduct clarifies our global expectations in the areas of business integrity, labor practices, associate health and safety, and environmental management. Our Supplier Sustainability Policy builds upon our Global Supplier Code of Conduct by establishing expectations for sustainability within our supply chain. These policies reinforce
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our expectations that our suppliers, as well as their subcontractors, will comply fully with applicable laws and adhere to internationally recognized environmental, social and corporate-governance standards.
Global Operations
PPG has significant non-U.S. operations. This broad geographic footprint serves to lessen the significance to us of economic impacts occurring in any one region of the world. As a result of our global footprint, we are subject to certain inherent risks, including economic and political conditions in international markets, trade protection measures and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. During 2024, unfavorable foreign currency translation decreased Net sales by approximately $70 million and Income before income taxes by approximately $20 million.
Refer to Note 20, “Revenue Recognition” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional geographic information pertaining to sales and Note 21, “Reportable Business Segment Information” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for geographic information related to PPG’s property, plant and equipment.
Seasonality
PPG’s Income before income taxes has typically been greater in the second and third quarters and Cash from operating activities has been greatest in the fourth quarter due to end-use market seasonality, primarily in our architectural coatings and traffic solutions businesses. Demand for our architectural coatings in Europe and traffic solutions products in the U.S and Canada is typically the strongest in the second and third quarters due to higher home improvement, maintenance and construction activity during the spring and summer months. The Latin American paint season is the strongest in the fourth quarter. These cyclical activity levels result in the collection of outstanding receivables and lower inventory on hand in the fourth quarter generating higher Cash from operating activities.
Human Capital
As of December 31, 2024, PPG employed approximately 46,000 people, of which approximately 11,700 were in the United States and approximately 34,300 were elsewhere in the world. The Company has numerous collective bargaining agreements throughout the world. We observe local customs, laws and practices in labor relations when negotiating collective bargaining agreements. There were no significant work stoppages in 2024. While we have experienced occasional work stoppages and may experience some work stoppages in the future, we believe that we will be able to negotiate all labor agreements on satisfactory terms. To date, these work stoppages have not had a significant impact on our results of operations. Overall, we believe we have good relationships with our employees.
The PPG Way is a set of behaviors that enables, empowers and engages each employee to fully live our values and realize our full potential as an organization. It guides our employees and leaders as we strive to achieve our purpose of protecting and beautifying the world. Employee engagement is a measure of the extent to which our employees are involved in, enthusiastic about, and committed to our work and workplace. We conduct employee surveys to increase dialogue among teams and implement meaningful action to improve results.
Our human capital management strategies provide the foundation for our teams to thrive and deliver exceptional performance. These strategies in the areas of culture and purpose, employee engagement, development and pay equity are overseen by the Human Capital Management and Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors. We are committed to ensuring our employees are safe, healthy, enabled, engaged and valued for the unique talents they bring to PPG. We believe that having quality dialogue with our people, recognizing the value they bring and championing an authentic culture generates engaged employees and a company that is more innovative, productive and competitive. Our focus on and investment in learning and development are crucial to ensuring we keep our people engaged, productive and successful at every stage of their careers. We are committed to promoting from within wherever possible while also bringing in new ideas, thoughts and insights.
One of PPG’s greatest strengths is our people. Their talents and unique perspectives enable us to meet challenges quickly, creatively and effectively, providing a significant competitive advantage in today’s global economy. To ensure our people feel valued and respected, we are committed to providing a workplace that embraces a culture of collaboration and is free from harassment and bullying.
Our environmental, health and safety policy and standards define our expectations, and we implement programs and initiatives to reduce health and safety risk in our operations. We measure progress against our health and safety goals using the injury and illness rate, which is calculated as the number of illness and injury incidents per 200,000 work hours. For 2024, our injury and illness rate was 0.31.
More information about PPG’s human capital management strategies and our workforce can be found in the Proxy Statement for our 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and in our Sustainability Report located at http://sustainability.ppg.com.
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Environmental Matters
PPG is committed to operating in a sustainable and productive manner and to helping our customers meet their sustainability goals. Our sustainability efforts are overseen by the Sustainability and Innovation Committee of our Board of Directors. At the management level, day-to-day implementation of our sustainability initiatives is led by our Vice President, Global Sustainability who coordinates PPG’s sustainability programs, integrates these programs into our business and communicates the benefits of our sustainably advantaged products to our customers, shareholders and other stakeholders. The Vice President, Global Sustainability works with PPG’s Sustainability Committee, a committee of management consisting of senior corporate executives, to establish and monitor our sustainability goals, policies, programs and procedures that incorporate sustainability into our business practices, including resource management, innovation, community engagement, communications, procurement, manufacturing and employee wellness.
Our dedication to innovation is intertwined with sustainability. In 2024, PPG continued to innovate and deliver sustainably-advantaged solutions based on our customers’ desire to improve their productivity and to reduce overall value chain environmental impacts. Our products contribute to lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles, airplanes and ships, and they help our customers reduce their energy consumption, conserve water and reduce waste. These products include compact automotive paint processes and low temperature cure capabilities that save energy and reduce water usage at customer manufacturing sites; sustainably-advantaged waterborne coatings formulations; sustainably-advantaged powder coatings; lightweight sealants and coatings for aircraft; coatings that cool surfaces; coatings for recyclable metal packaging; antimicrobial products; coatings that contain reduced materials of concern; architectural coatings that contain lower carbon content raw materials; and solutions for autonomous and battery-powered vehicles. For the year ended December 31, 2024, 41% of sales were from sustainably-advantaged products and processes that we have defined as addressing multiple sustainability benefits, including lower emissions, lower toxicity, energy efficiency, use of renewable raw materials or extending durability.
PPG is committed to using resources efficiently and driving sustainability throughout our entire value chain, including continued focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water withdrawal and total energy use. In 2023, PPG announced its near-term 2030 sustainability goals, including greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions targets that have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. PPG’s 2030 sustainability goals include a commitment to reduce absolute emissions from its own operations (scope 1 and 2) by 50% by 2030 from a 2019 base year and to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services, processing of sold products, and end-of-life treatment of sold products by 30% within the same timeframe.
We are subject to existing and evolving standards relating to the protection of the environment. In management’s opinion, the Company operates in an environmentally sound manner and is well positioned, relative to environmental matters, within the industries in which it operates. PPG is negotiating with various government agencies concerning current and former manufacturing sites and offsite waste disposal locations, including certain sites on the National Priority List. While PPG is not generally a major contributor of wastes to these offsite waste disposal locations, each potentially responsible party may face governmental agency assertions of joint and several liability. Generally, however, a final allocation of costs is made based on relative contributions of wastes to the site. There is a wide range of cost estimates for cleanup of these sites, due largely to uncertainties as to the nature and extent of their condition and the methods that may have to be employed for their remediation. The Company has established reserves for onsite and offsite remediation of those sites where it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated.
Our experience to date regarding environmental matters leads us to believe that we will have continuing expenditures for compliance with provisions regulating the protection of the environment and for present and future remediation efforts at waste and plant sites. Management anticipates that such expenditures will occur over an extended period of time.
In addition to the $222 million currently reserved for environmental remediation efforts, we may be subject to loss contingencies related to environmental matters estimated to be approximately $100 million to $200 million. These reasonably possible unreserved losses relate to environmental matters at a number of sites, none of which are individually significant. The loss contingencies related to these sites include significant unresolved issues such as the nature and extent of contamination at these sites and the methods that may have to be employed to remediate them.
Management believes that the outcome of these environmental contingencies will not have a material adverse effect on PPG’s financial position or liquidity; however, any such outcome may be material to the results of operations of any particular period in which costs, if any, are recognized. Refer to Note 15, “Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information related to environmental matters and our accrued liability for estimated environmental remediation costs.
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Capital expenditures for environmental control projects $24 $26 $21
We believe that the amount spent on capital expenditures for environmental control projects in 2025 will be similar to 2024. Actual future capital expenditures may differ from expectations due to the inherent uncertainties involved in estimating future environmental remediation compliance costs, including possible technological, regulatory and enforcement developments, the results of environmental studies and other factors.
Available Information
The Company’s website address is www.ppg.com. The Company posts, and shareholders may access without charge, the Company’s recent filings and any amendments of its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its proxy statements as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company also posts all financial press releases, including earnings releases, and all other reports filed or furnished to the SEC, including current reports on Form 8-K to its website. Reference to the Company’s, the SEC’s or other websites herein does not incorporate by reference any information contained on those websites, and such information should not be considered part of this Form 10-K.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
As a global manufacturer of paints, coatings and specialty products, we operate in a business environment that includes risks. Each of the risks described in this section could adversely affect our results of operations, financial position and liquidity. While the factors listed here are considered to be the more significant factors, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles which may adversely affect our businesses and our results of operations, financial position and liquidity.
Economic Risks
Increases in prices and declines in the availability of raw materials could negatively impact our financial results.
Our financial results are significantly affected by the cost of raw materials. Raw materials include both organic, primarily petroleum-derived, materials and inorganic materials, including titanium dioxide. These raw materials represent PPG’s single largest production cost component. Most of our raw materials are purchased from outside sources, and the Company has made, and plans to continue to make, supply arrangements to meet the planned operating requirements for the future. Adequate supply of critical raw materials is managed by establishing contracts, procuring from multiple sources, and identifying alternative materials or technology whenever possible. While not our customary practice, we also import raw materials and intermediates, particularly for use at our manufacturing facilities in the emerging regions of the world. In most cases, those imports are priced in the currency of the supplier and, therefore, if that currency strengthens against the currency of our manufacturing facility, our margins may be lower.
The Company is continuing its aggressive sourcing initiatives to effectively broaden our supply of high quality raw materials. These initiatives include qualifying multiple and local sources of supply, within Asia and other lower cost regions of the world, diversification of our resin supply, including adding on-site resin production at certain manufacturing locations, and a reduction in the amount of titanium dioxide and certain other raw materials used in our product formulations.
PPG continues to undertake actions to maintain supply arrangements adequate to meet planned operating requirements. However, raw material supply chain disruptions, including logistical and transportation challenges, could adversely impact our ability to procure raw materials.An inability to obtain certain critical raw materials has adversely impacted our ability to produce certain products in the past and could do so in the future. Additionally, the cost of raw materials fluctuates due to a number of factors, including changes in supplier feedstock costs and inventories, global industry activity levels, foreign currency exchange rates, government regulation, tariffs, and global supply and demand factors, any of which could drive an increase in raw material costs. If raw material costs increase and we are unable to offset these higher costs in a timely manner, this would adversely impact Income from continuing operations and Cash from operating activities.
The pace of economic growth and level of economic and geopolitical uncertainty could have a negative impact on our results of operations and cash flows.
Demand for our products and services depends, in part, on the general economic conditions affecting the countries and markets in which we do business. Weak economic conditions in certain geographies and changing supply and demand balances in the markets we serve have negatively impacted demand for our products and services in the past and may do so in the future. There is a high level of uncertainty surrounding future global economic conditions due to a number of factors, including the impact of higher interest rates, geopolitical uncertainty, including the international impacts of the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Israel and increasing tensions between China and the United States, commodity market volatility, potential changes to international trade agreements, the imposition of tariffs and the threat of additional tariffs,
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and labor shortages in certain regions of the world. PPG provides products and services to a variety of end-use markets in many geographies. This broad end-use market exposure and expanded geographic presence lessens the significance of any individual decrease in activity levels; nonetheless, lower demand levels may result in lower sales, which would adversely impact Income from continuing operations and Cash from operating activities.
Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could affect our financial results.
We are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk with respect to our sales, expenses, profits, assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Because our consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, we must translate revenues and expenses into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate during each reporting period, as well as assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at the end of each reporting period. Therefore, increases or decreases in the value of the U.S. dollar against other currencies will affect our Net sales, Net income and the value of balance sheet items denominated in foreign currencies. We may use derivative financial instruments to reduce our net exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations related to foreign currency transactions. However, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, particularly the strengthening or weakening of the U.S. dollar against major currencies, could adversely or positively affect our financial condition and results of operations which are expressed in U.S. dollars.
The industries in which we operate are highly competitive.
With each of our businesses, an increase in competition may cause us to lose market share or lose customers, adversely impacting our sales volumes, or compel us to reduce prices to remain competitive, which could result in reduced margins for our products. Additionally, our ability to increase prices may impact the overall economics for the products we offer. Competitive pressures may not only reduce our margins but may also impact our revenues and our growth which could adversely affect our results of operations.
Public health crises, including pandemics and the measures taken by public health and government authorities to address them, have adversely impacted our financial condition and results of operations in the past, and could adversely impact us in the future.
Our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations were adversely impacted by public health crises in the past, including impacts from efforts by public health officials to contain the public health crises. The effects of public health crises could interfere with the ability of PPG, our suppliers, our customers, and others to conduct business and negatively affect consumer confidence and the global economy. Preventative and protective actions taken by public health officials, governments and PPG in response to public health crises could adversely impact our business, suppliers, distribution channels, and customers, due to business shutdowns, reduced workforce availability, reduced ability to supply products, or reduced demand for our products.
Legal, Regulatory, and Tax Risks
We are subject to existing and evolving standards relating to the protection of the environment.
Environmental laws and regulations control, among other things, the discharge of pollutants into the air and water, the handling, use, treatment, storage and clean-up of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, and the investigation and remediation of soil and groundwater affected by hazardous substances. In addition, various laws regulate health and safety matters. The environmental laws and regulations we are subject to impose liability for the costs of, and damages resulting from, cleaning up current sites, past spills, disposals and other releases of hazardous substances. Violations of these laws and regulations can also result in fines and penalties. Future environmental laws and regulations, including rules requiring expanded reporting of certain environmental, safety and governance information, may require substantial capital expenditures or may require or cause us to modify or curtail our operations, which may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are involved in a number of lawsuits and claims, and we may be involved in future lawsuits and claims, in which substantial monetary damages are sought.
PPG is involved in a number of lawsuits and claims, both actual and potential, in which substantial monetary damages are sought. Those lawsuits and claims may relate to contract, patent, environmental, product liability, asbestos exposure, antitrust, employment, securities and other matters arising out of the conduct of PPG’s current and past business activities. Any such claims, whether with or without merit, could be time consuming and expensive to defend and could divert management’s attention and resources. We maintain insurance against some, but not all, of these potential claims, and the levels of insurance we maintain may not be adequate to fully cover any and all losses. We believe that, in the aggregate, the outcome of all current lawsuits and claims involving PPG, including those described in Note 15, “Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, will not have a material effect on PPG’s consolidated financial position or liquidity; however, such outcome may be material to the results of operations of any particular period in which costs, if any, are recognized. Nonetheless, the results of any future litigation or claims are
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inherently unpredictable, and such outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, Cash from operating activities or financial condition.
We are subject to a variety of laws and regulations, which could increase our compliance costs and could adversely affect our results of operations.
We are subject to a wide variety of complex U.S. and non-U.S. laws and regulations, and legal compliance risks, including securities laws, tax laws, environmental laws, employment and pension-related laws, competition laws, U.S. and foreign export and trading laws, and laws governing improper business practices, including bribery. We are affected by new laws and regulations and changes to existing laws and regulations, as well as interpretations by courts and regulators. These laws and regulations effectively expand our compliance obligations and costs.
For example, regulations concerning the composition, use and transport of chemical products continue to evolve. Developments concerning these regulations could potentially impact the availability or viability of some of the raw materials we use in our product formulations and/or our ability to supply certain products to some customers or markets. Import/export sanctions and regulations also continue to evolve and could result in increased compliance costs, slower product movements or additional complexity in our supply chains.
Further, although we believe that we have appropriate risk management and compliance programs in place, we cannot guarantee that our internal controls and compliance systems will always protect us from improper acts committed by employees, agents, business partners or businesses that we acquire. Any non-compliance, improper actions or allegations of such could damage our reputation and subject us to civil or criminal investigations and shareholder lawsuits, could lead to substantial civil and criminal, monetary and non-monetary penalties, and could cause us to incur significant legal and investigatory costs.
Changes in the tax regimes and related government policies and regulations in the countries in which we operate could adversely affect our results and our effective tax rate.
As a multinational corporation, we are subject to various taxes in both the U.S. and non-U.S. jurisdictions. Due to economic and political conditions, tax rates in these various jurisdictions may be subject to significant changes. For example, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has proposed modernizing international tax rules, including global minimum tax standards (referred to as Pillar 2), which has caused an increase to our effective tax rate. Our effective income tax rate is also affected by changes in the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets, the introduction of new taxes and changes in tax laws or their interpretation. If our effective income tax rate were to increase, our Cash from operating activities, financial condition and results of operations would be adversely affected. Although we believe that our tax filing positions are appropriate, the final determination of tax audits or tax disputes may be different from what is reflected in our historical income tax provisions and accruals. If future audits find that additional taxes are due, we may be subject to incremental tax liabilities, possibly including interest and penalties, which could have a material adverse effect on our Cash from operating activities, financial condition and results of operations.
Operational and Strategic Risks
Our international operations expose us to additional risks and uncertainties that could affect our financial results.
PPG has a significant investment in global operations. This broad geographic footprint serves to lessen the significance of economic impacts occurring in any one region. Notwithstanding the benefits of geographic diversification, our ability to achieve and maintain profitable growth in international markets is subject to risks related to the differing legal, political, social and regulatory requirements and economic conditions of many countries. As a result of our operations outside the U.S., we are subject to certain inherent risks, including political and economic uncertainty, inflation rates, exchange rates, trade protection measures, local labor conditions and laws, restrictions on foreign investments and repatriation of earnings, and weak intellectual property protection. Recently, there has been an increase in global geopolitical uncertainty due to a number of factors, including the international impacts of the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Israel and increasing tensions between China and the United States. In 2024, PPG completed the divestiture of its U.S. and Canada Architectural Coatings business, which further increases the percentage of sales recognized outside the U.S. During 2024, approximately 68% of the Company’s total net sales were recognized outside of the United States.
Business disruptions could have a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
Unexpected events, including supply disruptions, temporary plant and/or power outages, work stoppages, natural disasters and severe weather events, significant public health issues, computer system disruptions, challenges implementing, upgrading or transitioning enterprise resource planning systems, fires, war or terrorist activities, could increase the cost of doing business or otherwise harm the operations of PPG, our customers and our suppliers. It is not possible for us to predict the occurrence or consequence of any such events. However, such events could reduce our
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 12
ability to supply products, reduce demand for our products or make it difficult or impossible for us to receive raw materials from suppliers or to deliver products to customers.
The security of our information technology systems could be compromised which could adversely affect our operations or reputation.
We rely extensively on global information technology systems, networks and services, certain of which are managed, hosted, provided and/or used by third parties or their vendors, to conduct our business. We use information technology systems, networks, and services throughout many of our key business processes, including, but not limited to, receiving customer orders, purchasing materials, producing inventory, shipping inventory to customers, collecting customer payments, and paying our employees and vendors.
Numerous and evolving information security threats, including advanced persistent threats and ransomware, pose a risk to the security of our systems, networks and services, as well as to the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our data and of our critical business operations. The techniques, tools and tactics used in cyber-attacks evolve rapidly, including from emerging technologies such as advanced automation or artificial intelligence and may be difficult to detect for periods of time. As a result we may face difficulties in anticipating and implementing adequate preventative measures or fully mitigating harms after such an attack. Our information technology systems, networks and services have been, and will likely continue to be, subject to cybersecurity attacks. We have implemented and operate a cybersecurity program designed to protect and preserve the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our networks and systems as well as information that we own or is in our care. Notwithstanding our cybersecurity preparedness activities, we cannot guarantee that our security efforts or the security efforts of our third-party service providers will prevent all cybersecurity events. A material cybersecurity event could result in negative publicity, theft or other financial loss, modification or destruction of proprietary information or key information, manufacture of defective products, theft of personally identifiable information, and/or production downtimes and operational disruptions, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
We may not effectively integrate acquired businesses into our existing operations.
Growth through acquisitions is an important component of the Company’s strategy. Over the last decade, we have successfully completed more than 50 acquisitions, and we will likely acquire additional businesses and enter into additional joint ventures in the future. Growth through acquisitions and the formation of joint ventures involve risks, including:
•difficulties in assimilating acquired companies and products into our existing business;
•delays in realizing the benefits from the acquired companies or products;
•diversion of our management’s time and attention from other business concerns;
•difficulties due to lack of or limited prior experience in any new markets we may enter;
•unforeseen claims and liabilities, including unexpected environmental exposures, product liability, or existing information technology vulnerabilities;
•unexpected losses of customers or suppliers of the acquired or existing business;
•difficulty in conforming the acquired business’ standards, processes, procedures and controls to those of our operations; and
•difficulties in retaining key employees of the acquired businesses.
These risks or other challenges encountered in connection with our past or future acquisitions and joint ventures could cause delays in realizing the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions or joint ventures, or such anticipated benefits may never be realized, which could adversely affect our results of operations, Cash from operating activities or financial condition.
Our ability to understand our customers’ specific preferences and requirements, and to innovate, develop, produce and market products that meet customer demand is critical to our business results.
Our business relies on continued global demand for our brands and products. To achieve our business goals, we must develop and sell products that appeal to customers. This is dependent on a number of factors, including our ability to produce products that meet the quality, performance and price expectations of our customers and our ability to develop effective sales, advertising and marketing programs.
We believe the automotive industry will experience significant and continued change in the coming years, including an increase in the production of electric vehicles. Vehicle manufacturers continue to develop new safety features such as collision avoidance technology and self-driving vehicles that may reduce vehicle collisions in the future, potentially lowering demand for our automotive refinish coatings. In addition, through the introduction of new technologies, new
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 13
business models or new methods of travel, such as ridesharing, the number of automotive OEM new-builds may decline, potentially reducing demand for our automotive OEM coatings and related automotive parts.
PPG is committed to developing and selling sustainably-advantaged products, which are designed to help our customers achieve their sustainability goals, including by reducing the amount of materials used in their processes. We expect that our focus on sustainably-advantaged products will drive future sales growth; however, as customers transition to sustainably-advantaged products, this could adversely impact our sales volumes as customers may require a lower quantity of our products due to reduced customer waste, extended durability and other similar impacts of using our sustainably-advantaged products.
Additionally, the development of customer-facing digital channels has and will continue to transform certain retail industries. An inability to develop such solutions and our customer’s pace of adoption of those solutions could negatively affect our business or the market demand for our products. We manage our innovation pipeline and introduction of new products through a rigorous stage gate process. We continuously look at ways to optimize and improve the effectiveness of this process to deliver innovation and growth.
Our future growth will depend on our ability to continue to innovate our existing products and to develop and introduce new products. If we fail to keep pace with product innovation on a competitive basis or to predict market demands for our products, our businesses, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Our business success depends on attracting, developing and retaining a qualified workforce.
Our continued business success depends on the efforts and abilities of our management team and employees. The skills, experience and industry knowledge of our employees significantly benefit our operations and performance. We compete with other companies both within and outside of our industry for talented personnel in a highly competitive labor market, and we may face challenges attracting or retaining qualified employees. If we are unable to effectively attract, develop and retain a qualified workforce, our businesses, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
PPG’s aerospace coatings business depends, in part, on our ability to successfully meet customer demand, production targets and commitments.
PPG is currently under contract to supply transparencies, coatings and sealants for use on existing and new commercial, general aviation and military aircraft manufactured by many of the largest global and regional aerospace manufacturers. Our aerospace business is currently experiencing a backlog resulting in product shortages to certain of our customers. In addition, many of our contracts contemplate production increases over the next several years. If we fail to meet production targets and commitments, or encounter difficulty or unexpected costs in meeting such levels, it could have a material effect on our reputation, business, operating results, or financial condition. Similarly, to the extent demand for our products increases rapidly and significantly in future periods, we may not be able to ramp up production quickly enough to meet the demand, which could result in production delays at our customers, lost opportunities for growth and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or competitive position. Additionally, delivery delays by us due to production interruptions or delays may subject us to liability from customer claims that such delay resulted in losses to the customer.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 1C. Cybersecurity
PPG’s cybersecurity program is designed to protect and preserve the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our networks and systems as well as information that we own or is in our care through a risk-based approach. The Company’s program is based on the U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity framework and other applicable industry frameworks.
Our cybersecurity program includes:
•ongoing employee cybersecurity awareness and training activities, which include frequent phishing testing;
•access management and access controls intended to implement Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) access;
•protection of certain data through encryption at rest and in transit;
•monitoring and protection software;
•a vulnerability management program that includes managing the risk of third-party software;
•a cyber incident response plan that provides controls and procedures to support appropriate containment, response, investigation, reporting and recovery of cybersecurity incidents;
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•periodic testing of our cybersecurity posture, including by independent third-party consultants; and
•integrating cybersecurity requirements and other provisions into various contracts.
PPG has continued to invest in cybersecurity to evolve and improve its program. PPG regularly assesses and measures itself against industry practices to identify opportunities to improve its people, processes and technology used to identify, prevent, detect, respond and recover from cybersecurity incidents. When such improvements are identified and validated as appropriate in PPG’s business context, they are incorporated in the roadmap for implementation.
To date, the risks from cybersecurity threats have not materially affected the Company. We have significantly increased our cybersecurity investments over the last five years and have implemented cybersecurity safeguards designed to detect and prevent cybersecurity events that may have a material adverse effect on the Company. Notwithstanding our increased cybersecurity investments and preparedness activities, sophisticated and targeted computer crime perpetrated by threat actors internal or external to the Company poses a risk to the security of our systems, facilities, and networks and to the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our data, including but not limited to intellectual property and confidential and personal data. This could lead to negative publicity, theft or other financial loss, modification or destruction of proprietary information or key information, manufacture of defective products, production downtimes and operational disruptions, which could materially and adversely affect our reputation, competitiveness and results of operations. Refer to the risk factor titled “The security of our information technology systems could be compromised which could adversely affect our operations or reputations” in Item 1A of this Form 10-K for further detail regarding cybersecurity risks that could affect PPG’s operations. We maintain insurance covering certain costs that we may incur in connection with cybersecurity incidents, which we believe is commensurate with the size and the nature of our operations. However, the Company may incur expenses and losses related to a cyber incident that are not covered by insurance or are in excess of our insurance coverage.
The PPG Board of Directors (the “Board”) has overall responsibility for the oversight of risk management at PPG, which includes cybersecurity risks.The Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”), is responsible for oversight of the Company’s enterprise risk management (“ERM”) program which provides oversight and governance of all of the Company’s operational and financial risks including risks from cybersecurity threats to the Company.The Audit Committee receives bi-annual reports and periodic briefings on cybersecurity matters, including key risks to the Company, recent developments, and risk mitigation activities from our Vice President and Chief Information Officer (“CIO”) and our Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO"), who are both responsible for overseeing our cybersecurity program. In addition, the full Board receives bi-annual briefings from our CIO on our cybersecurity program. The Board and the Audit Committee also periodically review the results of exercises performed by our advisors as part of an independent assessment of PPG’s cybersecurity program and internal preparedness.
In addition, the Enterprise Risk Committee, a committee of senior executives who identify and monitor the risks to PPG and are responsible for our ERM program, receives updated information on cybersecurity risks at each of its meetings.
As part of their oversight of our cybersecurity program, our CIO and our CISO oversee a team of cybersecurity professionals and are responsible for assessing and managing our material risks from cybersecurity threats. Our CIO and CISO are trained information technology professionals, each of whom has earned degrees in information systems and business administration and has many years of experience in or managing global enterprise information technology at various organizations.
PPG maintains an internal communication hierarchy that is designed to communicate the occurrence of certain cybersecurity events and/or incidents into our systems to our CISO, our CIO, our company crisis response team, and, as appropriate, to certain members of senior management. This communication hierarchy includes protocols for informing the Audit Committee and the full Board of certain cybersecurity events and/or incidents and for determining the materiality thereof.
Item 2. Properties
PPG’s corporate headquarters is located in the United States in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Company’s manufacturing facilities, sales offices, research and development centers and distribution centers are located throughout the world. Refer to Item 1. “Business” of this Form 10-K for the principal manufacturing and distribution facilities by reportable business segment.
The Company’s principal research and development centers are located in Allison Park, Pa.; Tianjin, China; Cleveland, Oh.; Springdale, Pa.; Milan, Italy; Monroeville, Pa.; Ingersheim, Germany; Marly, France; Oak Creek, Wi.; Sumare, Brazil; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Vantaa, Finland; Tepexpan, Mexico; Burbank, Ca.; Zhangjiagang, China; Cheonan, Republic of Korea; Wroclaw, Poland; Bangplee, Thailand; and Sylmar, Ca.
Our headquarters, certain distribution centers and substantially all company-owned paint stores are located in facilities that are leased while our other facilities are generally owned. Our facilities are considered to be suitable and adequate for the purposes for which they are intended and overall have sufficient capacity to conduct business in the upcoming year.
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Item 3. Legal Proceedings
PPG is involved in a number of lawsuits and claims, both actual and potential, including some that it has asserted against others, in which substantial monetary damages are sought. These lawsuits and claims may relate to contract, patent, environmental, product liability, asbestos exposure, antitrust, employment, securities and other matters arising out of the conduct of PPG’s current and past business activities. To the extent these lawsuits and claims involve personal injury, property damage and certain other claims, PPG believes it has adequate insurance; however, certain of PPG’s insurers are contesting coverage with respect to some of these claims, and other insurers may contest coverage. PPG’s lawsuits and claims against others include claims against insurers and other third parties with respect to actual and contingent losses related to environmental, asbestos and other matters.
From the late 1880’s until the early 1970’s, PPG owned property located in Cadogan and North Buffalo Townships, Pennsylvania which was used for the disposal of solid waste from PPG’s former glass manufacturing facility in Ford City, Pennsylvania. In October 2018, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (the “DEP”) approved PPG’s cleanup plan for the Cadogan Property. In April 2019, PPG and the DEP entered into a consent order and agreement (“CO&A”) which incorporated PPG’s approved cleanup plan and a draft final permit for the collection and discharge of seeps emanating from the former disposal area. The CO&A includes a civil penalty of $1.2 million for alleged past unauthorized discharges. PPG’s former disposal area is also the subject of a citizens’ suit filed by the Sierra Club and PennEnvironment seeking remedial measures beyond the measures specified in PPG’s approved cleanup plan, a civil penalty in addition to the penalty included in the CO&A and plaintiffs’ attorneys fees. PPG and the plaintiffs settled plaintiffs’ claims for injunctive relief and PPG agreed to enhancements to the DEP approved cleanup plan and a $250,000 donation to a Pennsylvania nonprofit organization. This settlement has been memorialized by an amendment to the CO&A which was appended to a Consent Agreement between PPG and the plaintiffs which has been entered by the federal court. The remaining claims in the case for attorneys’ fees and a civil penalty are not affected by this settlement. A trial on the issue of a civil penalty under the Clean Water Act was held in June 2024. Following the trial, the parties filed Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and the matter is now ready for a decision by the Court. With regard to plaintiffs’ motion for attorneys’ fees, the Court appointed a Special Master to review the parties' positions regarding the amount of fees that should be awarded.
In 2006, a lawsuit was filed in Manaus, Brazil, captioned Di Gregório Navegação LTDA v. PPG Industries, Inc. (the “Di Gregório litigation”). The lawsuit asserted claims arising from a November 1998 fire on a cargo ship off the coast of Brazil; the lawsuit alleges the fire was caused by PPG chemical products that were part of the ship’s cargo. The plaintiff, a charterer of the ship, brought claims for various alleged damages. This litigation was pending as of July 18, 2012 when PPG and Eagle Spinco Inc. (“Eagle Spinco”) signed a Separation Agreement setting forth the separation of the assets and liabilities of PPG’s commodity chemicals business to an entity to be later identified by Eagle Spinco. The assets and liabilities identified in the Separation Agreement specifically included all liabilities relating to the Di Gregório litigation. On January 22, 2013, PPG and Eagle US 2, LLC (“Eagle US 2”) signed a Contribution Agreement, by which PPG transferred to Eagle US 2 the assets and liabilities as set forth in the Separation Agreement. Georgia Gulf Corporation then acquired Eagle Spinco and Eagle US 2 in a merger transaction after which Georgia Gulf was renamed Axiall Corporation (“Axiall”). Thereafter, Axiall owned Eagle Spinco and Eagle US 2. Under the terms of the Contribution Agreement, Eagle US 2 acquired the assets and liabilities as defined in the Separation Agreement, including the Di Gregório litigation. In 2016, Westlake Corporation acquired Axiall and its subsidiaries, including Eagle Spinco and Eagle US 2. For convenience, Westlake Corporation, Axiall, Eagle Spinco, and Eagle US 2 collectively are referred to as “Westlake.”
Under the Separation Agreement and Contribution Agreement, Eagle US 2 assumed the Di Gregório litigation liability, and Eagle Spinco and Eagle US 2 were required to remove PPG as an obligor for this liability. To the extent PPG was not removed as an obligor, the Separation Agreement provides that Eagle Spinco and Axiall must act as agents or subcontractors of PPG and pay any liability in the matter on PPG’s behalf. The Separation Agreement also provides PPG an uncapped right of indemnification for all damages PPG incurs arising from the Di Gregório litigation and for any breach of the Separation Agreement or Contribution Agreement.
Since 2013, Westlake exclusively has controlled the defense of the Di Gregório litigation. In 2024, PPG learned that Westlake never substituted itself into the case in place of PPG or otherwise informed the Brazilian court that Westlake is the real party in interest and assumed all liability for the matter. On May 30, 2024, Westlake informed PPG that the Brazilian court entered an award against PPG (which remains the nominal defendant) that with prejudgment interest, fees, and costs would total over $700 million. More recently, Westlake informed PPG that it believes simple prejudgment interest applies to the judgment which would result in the final award being approximately $350 million.Westlake informed PPG that although it will continue to defend the case and pursue an appeal of the award, it will not post any bond, pay any judgment, or take any steps to prevent the plaintiff from attempting to execute on the judgment against PPG.
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On May 17, 2024, Eagle Spinco filed a lawsuit against PPG in Delaware Superior Court alleging breach of the Separation Agreement and requesting declaratory relief (the “Eagle Spinco Lawsuit”). In its lawsuit, Eagle Spinco sought to have the Di Gregório liability determined to be one in which its obligation is only to indemnify PPG for any damages PPG incursnet of any insurance coverage available from PPG’s insurers.
On June 13, 2024, PPG filed a lawsuit against Westlake in the Court of Chancery in Delaware (the “PPG Lawsuit”), asserting claims for specific performance, declaratory relief, breach of contract, and equitable estoppel. The PPG Lawsuit asserts: (a) Westlake assumed all liability for the Di Gregório litigation, (b) Westlake is obligated to remove PPG as an obligor in the litigation and has a continuing duty to act as PPG’s agent to satisfy any award if PPG is not removed as an obligor in the case, (c) Westlake has the duty to pay any award, bond, court fees and other costs awarded in the Di Gregório litigation, (d) Westlake’s obligations are unconditional and not contingent upon the recovery of any insurance proceeds and Westlake did not acquire any right to PPG’s insurance assets, and (e) PPG has an uncapped right of indemnification if Westlake fails to satisfy its obligations under the Separation Agreement and Contribution Agreement. Eagle Spinco filed counterclaims in the PPG Lawsuit restating the claims originally asserted in the Eagle Spinco Lawsuit, and dismissed the Eagle Spinco Lawsuit.
PPG intends to vigorously enforce its rights under the Separation Agreement and Contribution Agreement and to hold Westlake accountable for any damages PPG suffers as a result of Westlake’s breach of contract.The Delaware Court of Chancery has set a trial date of May 6, 2025 for the PPG Lawsuit. PPG believes the risk of loss associated with this matter is remote.
For many years, PPG has been a defendant in lawsuits involving claims alleging personal injury from exposure to asbestos. For a description of asbestos litigation affecting the Company, see Note 15, “Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” to the accompanying consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
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Information About Our Executive Officers
Set forth below is information related to the Company’s executive officers as of February 20, 2025.
Name Age Title
Kevin D. Braun (e) 56 Senior Vice President, Operations since October 2024
(a)Mr. Knavish served as President and Chief Executive Officer from January 2023 until September 2023. Mr. Knavish served as Chief Operating Officer from March 2022 through December 2022, Executive Vice President from October 2019 through February 2022, Senior Vice President, Architectural Coatings and President, PPG EMEA from January 2019 through September 2019, Senior Vice President, Industrial Coatings from October 2017 through December 2018, Senior Vice President, Automotive Coatings from March 2016 through September 2017, Vice President, Protective and Marine Coatings from August 2012 through February 2016 and Vice President, Automotive Coatings, Americas from March 2010 through July 2012.
(b)Ms. Foulkes served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary from April 2022 to June 2022 and from August 2018 to September 2018, Vice President and Associate General Counsel and Secretary from March 2016 through July 2018 and Assistant General Counsel and Secretary from April 2011 through February 2016.
(c)Mr. Morales served as Vice President, Finance from June 2016 through February 2017. From June 2015 through June 2016, he served as Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer and from October 2007 through May 2015 he served as Vice President, Investor Relations.
(d)Mr. Bergström served as Vice President, Architectural Coatings, Latin America, EMEA and Asia Pacific from February 2022 through April 2023 and as Vice President Architectural Coatings, Latin America from April 2017 through January 2022.
(e)Effective October 1, 2024, Mr. Braun was named Senior Vice President, Operations. Mr. Braun served as Senior Vice President, Industrial Coatings Segment from May 2023 through September 2024, Vice President, Global Industrial Coatings from January 2020 through April 2023 and as Vice President, Industrial Coatings, Americas from September 2013 through December 2019.
(f)Ms. Ericson served as Senior Vice President, Packaging Coatings from July 2018 through December 2022. She served as President of SUEZ Chemical Monitoring and Solutions from 2017 until 2018, President of General Electric Water Services Company from 2015 to 2017 and President and Chief Executive Officer of Alstom SA’s U.S. business from 2013 to 2015.
(g)Mr. Hagerty served as Vice President, Global Automotive Refinish Coatings from January 2020 through April 2023 and as Vice President, Global Industrial Coatings from January 2019 through December 2019.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not Applicable.
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Part II
Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The information required by Item 5 regarding market information, including PPG’s stock exchange listing and quarterly stock market prices, dividends, holders of common stock, and the stock performance graph is included in Exhibit 13.1 filed with this Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities - Fourth Quarter 2024
Total quarter ended December 31, 2024
(1)In December 2017, PPG's board of directors approved a $2.5 billion share repurchase program. In April 2024, PPG’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of an additional $2.5 billion of outstanding common stock. The remaining shares yet to be purchased under the program has been calculated using PPG’s closing stock price on the last business day of the respective month. The repurchase programs do not have an expiration date.
Item 6. [Reserved]
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion includes a comparison of our results of operations and liquidity and capital resources for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022. The Company’s financial results have been recast to present the results of the architectural coatings business in the U.S. and Canada as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
Highlights
Net sales were approximately $15.8 billion in 2024, a decrease of 2% compared to the prior year, due to sales volumes declining and the combination of unfavorable foreign currency translation and divestitures reducing net sales. Despite decreased sales due to lower industry demand in automotive OEM coatings, industrial coatings and architectural coatings in Europe, results were supported by record sales in aerospace coatings and growth in several other key technology-driven businesses.
Income before income taxes was $1,852 million in 2024, an increase of $162 million compared to the prior year. This increase was primarily due lower raw material costs, lower performance-based compensation costs and restructuring savings, partially offset by overhead inflation and the impact of lower sales volumes.
Performance Overview
Net Sales by Region
% Change
Net sales decreased $397 million due to the following:
● Lower sales volumes (-1%)
● Unfavorable foreign currency translation and divestitures (-1%)
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For specific business results, see the Performance of Reportable Business Segments section within Item 7 of this Form 10-K.
Net sales increased $628 million due to the following:
● Higher selling prices (+5%)
● Favorable foreign currency translation (+1%)
Partially offset by:
● Lower sales volumes (-2%)
For specific business results, see the Performance of Reportable Business Segments section within Item 7 of this Form 10-K.
Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization
% Change
Cost of sales as a % of net sales 58.4 % 59.6 % 63.9 % (1.2)% (4.3)%
Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization, decreased $426 million due to the following:
● Moderating raw material costs
● Lower sales volume
Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization, decreased $297 million due to the following:
● Moderating raw material costs
● Lower sales volume
Partially offset by:
● Wage and other cost inflation
Selling, general and administrative expenses
% Change
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $10 million primarily due to:
● Restructuring cost savings
● Lower performance-based compensation
Partially offset by:
● Wage and other cost inflation
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $364 million primarily due to:
● Wage and other cost inflation
● Unfavorable foreign currency translation
● Higher performance-based compensation expense
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● Selling, general and administrative expenses from acquired businesses
Partially offset by:
● Restructuring cost savings
Other charges and other income
% Change
Business restructuring, net $233 ($2) $33 N/A N/A
Impairment and other related charges, net $146 $160 $231 (8.8)% (30.7)%
Pension settlement charge $— $190 $— N/A N/A
Other charges/(income), net ($8) $80 ($66) N/A N/A
Interest expense
Interest expense decreased $6 million in 2024 versus 2023 primarily due to lower debt balances.
Interest expense increased $80 million in 2023 versus 2022 primarily due to the unfavorable impact of higher interest rates on PPG’s variable debt obligations.
Interest income
Interest income increased $37 million in 2024 versus 2023 primarily due to the favorable impact of higher interest rates.
Interest income increased $86 million in 2023 versus 2022 primarily due to strong cash generation, resulting in higher levels of cash and cash equivalents, as well as the favorable impact of higher interest rates.
Business restructuring, net
In October 2024, the Company approved a comprehensive cost reduction program focused on reducing structural costs primarily in Europe and in certain other global businesses, along with other corporate costs following the divestitures of PPG’s silicas products business and the architectural coatings business in the U.S. and Canada. In connection with approval of this restructuring program, the Company recorded a pretax restructuring charge of $239 million, representing employee severance and other cash costs. Refer to Note 8, “Business Restructuring” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information.
In 2022, the Company approved a business restructuring plan which included actions to reduce its global cost structure in response to economic conditions, including softening demand in Europe and lower than expected demand recovery in China. In connection with approval of this restructuring program, the Company recorded a pretax restructuring charge of $33 million.
Impairment and other related charges, net
During 2024, the Company received written approval from Russian regulatory authorities of a definitive agreement to sell the Company’s remaining Russian business. As a result, the Company classified the business as held for sale as of December 31, 2024 and recognized an impairment charge of $146 million, primarily related to accumulated foreign currency translation losses.
During 2023, as a result of its annual impairment testing performed in the fourth quarter, the Company recorded Impairment and other related charges, net of $158 million due to the goodwill impairment recognized for the traffic solutions reporting unit and $2 million to reduce the carrying value of certain indefinite-lived trademarks.
During 2022, the Company recorded Impairment and other related charges, net of $231 million primarily related to the wind down of the Company’s operations in Russia.
Refer to Note 6, “Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets” and Note 7 ”Impairment and Other Related Charges, Net” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information.
Pension settlement charge
In March 2023, the Company purchased group annuity contracts that transferred to third-party insurance companies pension benefit obligations for certain of the Company’s retirees in the U.S. who were receiving their monthly retirement benefit payments from the U.S. pension plan. This transaction resulted in a pension settlement charge of $190 million. Refer to Note 14, “Employee Benefit Plans" in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information.
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Other (income)/charges, net
Other (income)/charges, net was higher in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to a gain recognized on the divestiture of the silicas products business, partially offset by the recognition of accumulated foreign currency translation losses related to the Company’s exit of its Argentina operations. Refer to Note 18, “Other (Income)/Charges, Net” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information.
Other (income)/charges, net was lower in 2023 compared to 2022 due to an increase in the non-service cost components of pension and other postretirement benefit expense, an increase in environmental remediation costs and foreign currency losses recognized in Argentina related to a central bank adjustment to official foreign currency rates.
Effective tax rate and earnings per diluted share, continuing operations
% Change % Change
Earnings per diluted share, continuing operations $5.72 $5.16 $4.24 10.9% 21.7%
*See the Regulation G reconciliations - results of operations
The effective tax rate on continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2024 was 25.6%, an increase of 0.3% compared to the prior year. The adjusted effective tax rate was 22.9%, which was higher than the prior year adjusted effective tax rate in part due to the adverse impact of the Pillar 2 global minimum tax.
The effective tax rate on continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 was 25.3%, an increase of 1.7% compared to the prior year due in part to the goodwill impairment charge, for which there was no tax benefit. The adjusted effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2023 was 22.2%, an increase of 0.1% compared to the prior year.
Earnings per diluted share from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2024 increased year over year primarily due to lower overhead costs, restructuring cost savings and moderating raw material costs, partially offset by lower sales volumes. Earnings per diluted share from continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased year over year primarily due to increased selling prices, moderating raw material cost inflation and favorable foreign currency translation impact, partially offset by lower sales volumes. Refer to the Regulation G Reconciliations - Results from Operations for additional information.
Review and Outlook
During 2024, PPG demonstrated resilience in a challenging industrial macroeconomic environment by growing adjusted EPS, improving aggregate segment margins and generating $1.4 billion in operating cash flow. Net sales were $15.8 billion, a decrease of 2% over the prior year. Results were supported by the breadth and diversity of the business portfolio, as the Company benefited from higher prices in several businesses which was more than offset by unfavorable foreign currency translation, divestitures and lower sales volumes. Net sales, excluding the impact of currency, acquisitions and divestitures ("organic sales") decreased 1% during the year with continued strong growth in our aerospace coatings business, which was more than offset by declines in the industrial coatings and automotive OEM coatings businesses. On a regional basis, sales volumes were modestly higher in the Asia Pacific and Latin America regions. Earnings per diluted share from continuing operations was $5.72, compared to $5.16 in the prior year. Adjusted earnings per diluted share was $7.87, up 6% compared to $7.42 in 2023. Combined, segment income increased by 2%. Aggregate segment margins were 70 basis points higher than the prior year, driven by sales of our technology-advantaged products and strong brands.
Demand for PPG products was mixed by end-use market and geographic region during 2024. Demand for aerospace coatings, which was impacted by mobility restrictions in 2020 and 2021, continues to recover. Global automotive OEM manufacturers’ production decreased by about 1% versus 2023 due to lower demand and extended maintenance periods in the U.S. and Europe. Despite the lower demand, PPG outperformed the market in both Latin America and Asia Pacific. In the U.S. and Canada, demand was strong for aerospace coatings, packaging coatings and traffic solutions but declined for most other businesses. In Latin America, demand was solid throughout the year with steady demand for architectural products and growth in automotive OEM products and packaging coatings. The PPG Comex business made strong contributions, supported by a focus on its omnichannel sales approach. Demand was soft in Europe with the largest impact on the automotive OEM coatings business and the architectural coatings business. In Asia, demand was strong
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 22
with sales volume growth in aerospace coatings, protective and marine coatings, automotive OEM coatings, industrial coatings and packaging coatings.
We anticipate a slow start to 2025 as demand in Europe and in global industrial end-use markets remains challenged. Despite the macroeconomic environment, we expect to deliver organic sales growth of a low single-digit percentage for the year. We anticipate demand growth in China, India and Mexico, continued strength in aerospace coatings as well as protective and marine coatings and expect growth in automotive refinish coatings above industry rates. Gaining momentum in infrastructure spending should aid the traffic solutions business in 2025. Global industrial production is expected to be a headwind and remain at a low level in the first quarter with improvement in the Asia Pacific and Latin America regions offset by sluggishness in Europe and in the U.S. In general, most end-use markets do not have significant excess inventories, and any demand improvement should lead to a faster ramp-up of sales volumes.
Significant other factors
During the year, PPG successfully executed various strategic initiatives to strengthen the company. In December, the Company completed the divestitures of both the silicas products business and the architectural coatings U.S. and Canada business. These divestitures improve our financial profile, including higher operating margins, and result in a more focused organization which positions the Company to deliver sustainable organic growth. In conjunction with the divestiture of U.S. and Canada architectural coatings business, PPG entered into a supply agreement with the divested business to sell certain products, which will be recognized as Net sales in the refinish coatings, industrial coatings and protective and marine coatings businesses going forward. However, PPG has entered into transition services agreements to provide administrative services subsequent to the sale. The fees for services rendered under the transition services agreements are expected to offset the cost of providing the services.
PPG made significant progress to reduce costs and improve the profitability of the overall business portfolio through the global restructuring programs that were announced in 2022 and 2023. Total restructuring savings were approximately $40 million in 2024. In October 2024, the Company approved a comprehensive cost reduction program with anticipated annualized pre-tax savings of approximately $175 million once fully implemented, including savings of $60 million in 2025. The multi-year program is focused on reducing structural costs primarily in Europe and in certain other global businesses, along with other corporate costs following the divestitures of PPG’s silicas products business and the architectural coatings business in the U.S. and Canada. The Company will continue to monitor and manage its cost structure to ensure alignment with the overall demand environment.
Raw materials are the Company’s most significant input cost. PPG experiences fluctuating energy and raw material costs driven by various factors, including changes in supplier feedstock costs and inventories, global industry activity levels, foreign currency exchange rates, and global supply and demand factors.
In 2024, the company incurred wage inflation, which adversely impacted operating costs compared to 2023. There was an ample supply of commodity-related raw materials in all regions, and raw material costs were a favorable impact to our operating costs for 2024 versus 2023. In 2025, we anticipate that increased raw material costs and enacted tariffs will result in low single-digit percentage inflation. Additionally, we expect manufacturing efficiencies to improve as the year progresses.
We achieved selling price improvement across several businesses in 2024 stemming from our advantaged products and solutions. The Company will carefully monitor all costs during 2025 and assess the need for additional selling price increases.
In 2024, foreign currency exchange rates were volatile, with the U.S. dollar strengthening in the second half of the year against certain currencies in the countries within the regions where PPG operates, resulting in a net unfavorable impact to net income from continuing operations of approximately $20 million. We expect that foreign currency exchange rates will have a net unfavorable impact on net income from continuing operations in 2025; however, the Company generally purchases raw materials, incurs manufacturing costs and sells finished goods in the same currency, which reduces foreign currency transaction-related impacts to net income.
The 2025 effective tax rate from continuing operations is expected to be in the range of 23% to 25%, varying by quarter. This range is the Company’s best estimate and represents an increase compared to the 2024 adjusted effective tax rate driven by higher rates in certain countries, including the impact of recent global minimum tax standards, and the geographic mix of earnings.
Over the past four years, the Company used nearly $1.3 billion of cash to repurchase approximately nine million shares of PPG stock, including using $752 million to repurchase shares of PPG stock during 2024. The Company ended the year with approximately $2.8 billion remaining under its current share repurchase authorization. During 2024, the Company deployed $721 million for capital expenditures, $622 million for dividends and $31 million for acquisitions. In 2024, PPG marked the 53rd annual per share dividend increase and the 125th successive year of annual dividend payments.
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 23
PPG ended 2024 with approximately $1.4 billion in cash and short-term investments. The Company expects strong cash generation in 2025.
Regulation G Reconciliations - Results from Operations
PPG believes investors’ understanding of the Company’s performance is enhanced by the disclosure of net income from continuing operations, earnings per diluted share from continuing operations, PPG’s effective tax rate and segment income adjusted for certain items. PPG’s management considers this information useful in providing insight into the Company’s ongoing performance because it excludes the impact of items that cannot reasonably be expected to recur on a quarterly basis or that are not attributable to our primary operations. Net income from continuing operations, earnings per diluted share from continuing operations, the effective tax rate and segment income adjusted for these items are not recognized financial measures determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and should not be considered a substitute for net income from continuing operations, earnings per diluted share from continuing operations, the effective tax rate, segment income or other financial measures as computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per diluted share and the adjusted effective tax rate may not be comparable to similarly titled measures as reported by other companies.
Income before income taxes from continuing operations is reconciled to adjusted income before income taxes from continuing operations, the effective tax rate from continuing operations is reconciled to the adjusted effective tax rate from continuing operations and net income from continuing operations (attributable to PPG) and earnings per share – assuming dilution (attributable to PPG) are reconciled to adjusted net income from continuing operations (attributable to PPG) and adjusted earnings per share – assuming dilution below.
Includes:
Legacy environmental remediation charges(4) 24 6 25.0 % 18 0.07
Includes:
Business restructuring-related costs, net(2) 41 8 19.5 % 33 0.14
Legacy environmental remediation charges(4) 24 7 29.2 % 17 0.07
Impairment and other related charges, net(5) 160 — — % 160 0.67
Argentina currency devaluation losses(6) 20 (4) (20.0 %) 24 0.10
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 24
Includes:
(1)Earnings per diluted share is calculated based on unrounded numbers. Figures in the table may not recalculate due to rounding.
(2)Business restructuring-related costs, net include business restructuring charges, offset by releases related to previously approved programs, which are included in Business restructuring, net on the consolidated statement of income, accelerated depreciation of certain assets, which is included in Depreciation on the consolidated statement of income, and other restructuring-related costs, which are included in Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization and Selling, general and administrative on the consolidated statement of income. Business restructuring-related costs, net also includes the fourth quarter 2024 recognition of accumulated foreign currency translation losses of $110 million related to the Company's exit of its Argentina operations in connection with a restructuring program, which are included in Other (income)/charges, net in the consolidated statement of income. No tax benefit was recorded on the fourth quarter 2024 recognition of the accumulated foreign currency translation losses.
(3)Portfolio optimization includes gains and losses related to the sale of certain assets, which are included in Other (income)/charges, net on the consolidated statement of income, including the gain of $129 million on the sale of the Company's silicas products business in the fourth quarter 2024, and the losses on the sales of the Company's traffic solutions business in Argentina in the second quarter 2024, the Company's European and Australian Traffic Solutions businesses in the fourth quarter 2023 and the Company's legacy industrial Russian operations in the third quarter 2023. Portfolio optimization includes advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, other professional or consulting fees and certain internal costs directly incurred to effect acquisitions, as well as similar fees and other costs to effect divestitures and other portfolio optimization exit actions. These costs are included in Selling, general and administrative expense on the consolidated statement of income. Portfolio optimization also includes an impairment charge of $146 million recognized during the fourth quarter 2024 when the Company's remaining operations in Russia were classified as held for sale, which is included in Impairment and other related charges, net on the consolidated statement of income. No tax benefit was recorded on the fourth quarter 2024 impairment charge.
(4)Legacy environmental remediation charges represent environmental remediation costs at certain non-operating PPG manufacturing sites. These charges are included in Other (income)/charges, net in the consolidated statement of income.
(5)In the fourth quarter 2023, the Company recorded impairment and other related charges due to a non-cash goodwill impairment recognized for the Traffic Solutions reporting unit as a result of its annual goodwill impairment test. The fair value of the Traffic Solutions reporting unit decreased primarily due to increases in the cost of capital (discount rate assumption) and declines in the reporting unit’s long-term forecast driven by challenges at its operations in Argentina due to the highly inflationary environment and changes to the reporting unit’s global footprint, including the fourth quarter 2023 divestiture of its European and Australian businesses. In 2022, the Company recorded impairment and other related charges due to the wind down of the Company’s operations in Russia.
(6)In December 2023, the central bank of Argentina adjusted the official foreign currency exchange rate for the Argentine peso, significantly devaluing the currency relative to the United States dollar. Argentina currency devaluation losses represent foreign currency translation losses recognized during December 2023 related to the devaluation of the Argentine peso, which is included in Other charges/(income), net on the consolidated statement of income.
(7)In the fourth quarter 2024 and the fourth quarter 2023, the Company received reimbursement for previously approved insurance claims under policies covering legacy asbestos-related matters. In the first quarter 2023, the Company received reimbursement under its insurance policies for damages incurred at a southern U.S. factory from a winter storm in 2020. These insurance recoveries are included in Other charges/(income), net on the consolidated statement of income.
(8)In the first quarter 2023, PPG purchased group annuity contracts that transferred pension benefit obligations for certain of the Company’s retirees in the U.S. to third-party insurance companies, resulting in a non-cash pension settlement charge.
Performance of Reportable Business Segments
Global Architectural Coatings
$ Change % Change
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 25
Global Architectural Coatings net sales decreased due to the following:
● Lower sales volumes (-2%)
● Foreign currency translation (-1%)
Partially offset by:
● Higher selling prices (+1%)
The Global Architectural Coatings segment, which was previously reported as part of the Performance Coatings segment, is comprised of architectural coatings Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and architectural coatings Latin America and Asia Pacific. Net sales decreased during 2024, primarily driven by lower sales volumes.
Architectural coatings EMEA organic sales decreased by a low single-digit percentage year over year due to lower sales volumes partially offset by higher selling prices. Consumer confidence remained weak, and regional demand was uneven by country. Demand declined in all sub-regions in the fourth quarter; however, sales were higher for the full year in eastern and central Europe.
Architectural coatings Latin America and Asia Pacific organic sales were flat during the year primarily due to lower sales volumes offset by higher selling prices. In Mexico, architectural coatings organic sales increased compared to the prior year, as concessionaire network demand continued to be strong throughout 2024.
Segment income increased $5 million year over year primarily due to higher selling prices and moderating raw material costs, partially offset by wage and other cost inflation and lower sales volumes.
Global Architectural Coatings net sales increased due to the following:
● Higher selling prices (+6%)
● Foreign currency translation (+4%)
Partially offset by:
● Lower sales volumes (-5%)
● Divestitures (-1%)
In 2023, the Global Architectural Coatings business achieved organic sales growth of 1% as higher prices in all regions offset lower sales volumes.
Architectural coatings EMEA organic sales were flat year over year, with higher selling prices offset by lower sales volumes. Regional demand remained uneven by country, and positive sales trends occurred in some countries, including the United Kingdom, Poland and the Netherlands.
Architectural coatings Latin America and Asia Pacific organic sales increased during the year due to selling price increases. In Mexico, the concessionaire network demand was strong throughout 2023.
Segment income increased $115 million year over year primarily due to higher selling prices and moderating raw material costs, partially offset by wage and other cost inflation and lower sales volumes.
Looking Ahead
In the first quarter 2025, demand in Mexico is expected to continue to be robust, and consumer sentiment in Europe is expected to be tepid. Aggregate organic sales for the segment are expected to be in the range of flat to an increase of a low single-digit percentage compared to the first quarter 2024.
Performance Coatings
$ Change % Change
Depreciation and amortization expense $132 $139 $142 ($7) ($3) (5.0)% (2.1)%
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 26
Performance Coatings net sales increased due to the following:
● Higher selling prices (+3%)
● Higher sales volumes (+1%)
Partially offset by:
● Divestiture-related sales and other (-2%)
Net sales for the Performance Coatings segment, which is now comprised of aerospace coatings, automotive refinish coatings, protective and marine coatings, and traffic solutions, increased 2% during 2024. This increase was driven by higher selling prices and sales volumes, partially offset by the divestitures of the non-North American portion of the traffic solutions business.
Organic sales in automotive refinish coatings were flat year-over-year with sales volume declines offset by higher selling prices. In the U.S., sales volumes declined with benefits from share gains more than offset by lower industry collision claims. In Europe, organic sales increased modestly year over year driven by price. In China, demand for refinish products is recovering and is expected to improve.
Aerospace coatings organic sales increased by a double-digit percentage driven by increases in both price and sales volume in all regions. Demand remained strong and customer order backlogs are at similar levels to the prior year. Global air travel has improved year over year, but domestic flights remain about 3% below pre-pandemic levels. The Company remains focused on debottlenecking and expanding manufacturing capabilities to drive volume and earnings growth.
Protective and marine coatings organic sales increased by a low single-digit percentage compared to the prior year driven by higher sales volumes in Europe and Asia.
Traffic solutions organic sales increased by a low single-digit percentage year over year due to higher sales volumes, which benefited from market share gains across North America.
Segment income increased $123 million year over year primarily due to higher selling prices and moderating raw material costs, partially offset by wage and other cost inflation.
Performance Coatings net sales increased due to the following:
● Higher selling prices (+7%)
In 2023, all businesses within the Performance Coatings reportable business segment achieved higher selling prices.
Automotive refinish coatings organic sales increased a low single-digit percentage year over year. Price gains in all regions and sales volume growth in the Latin America and Asia Pacific regions were partially offset by lower sales volumes in all other regions.
Aerospace coatings organic sales were higher by 20% driven by increases in both price and volume. This strong organic sales growth was achieved despite global air travel remaining below pre-pandemic levels.
Protective and marine coatings organic sales increased by a mid-single-digit percentage driven by solid selling price realization and higher sales volumes.
Traffic solutions organic sales decreased by a mid-single-digit percentage year over year, with sales volume declines in all regions.
Segment income increased $172 million year over year primarily due to higher selling prices and moderating raw material costs, partially offset by wage and other cost inflation and lower sales volumes.
Looking Ahead
In the first quarter 2025, continued strength in aerospace coatings and protective and marine coatings is expected, as well as growth in automotive refinish coatings above industry rates. Traffic solutions is expected to follow typical seasonal trends and is well positioned to continue to benefit in the coming years from increased U.S. infrastructure spending. First quarter aggregate organic sales for the Performance Coatings segment are anticipated to increase by a low single-digit percentage to a mid-single-digit percentage compared to the first quarter 2024.
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 27
Industrial Coatings
$ Change % Change
Industrial Coatings segment net sales decreased due to the following:
● Lower selling prices (-3%)
● Lower sales volumes (-2%)
● Unfavorable foreign currency translation and the silicas products business divestiture (-1%)
In 2024, Industrial Coatings segment Net sales decreased due to lower selling prices and lower sales volume driven by lower industry demand.
Automotive OEM coatings organic sales decreased by a high single-digit percentage year over year driven by lower sales volumes and lower indexed-based selling prices for certain customer contracts. Sales volume increases in the Latin America and Asia Pacific regions were more than offset by declines in the U.S. and Europe.
For the industrial coatings business, organic sales decreased by a mid-single-digit percentage due to lower selling prices and lower sales volumes driven by softening global industrial demand.
Packaging coatings organic sales increased by a low single-digit percentage year over year due to higher sales volumes in all regions, partially offset by lower selling prices in all regions.
Specialty products organic sales increased by a mid-single-digit percentage primarily due to higher sales volumes, partially offset by lower selling prices.
Segment income decreased $75 million year over year primarily due to lower selling prices, lower sales volumes and wage and other cost inflation, partially offset by moderating raw material costs and lower overhead costs, including restructuring savings.
Industrial Coatings net sales increased due to the following:
● Higher selling prices (+4%)
Partially offset by:
● Lower sales volumes (-2%)
In 2023, all businesses within the Industrial Coatings reportable business segment achieved higher selling prices, which helped to offset a decrease in sales volumes driven by lower global industrial production.
Automotive OEM coatings organic sales increased by a high single-digit percentage year over year driven by higher selling prices and strong sales volume growth in most regions. Sales volume growth was led by the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions.
For the industrial coatings business, organic sales decreased by a mid-single-digit percentage year over year as higher selling prices were more than offset by lower sales volumes in all regions due to softening global industrial demand.
Packaging coatings organic sales decreased by a mid-single-digit percentage year over year due to lower sales volumes in all regions due to broad demand weakness. These sales volume decreases were partially offset by higher selling prices in most regions.
Specialty coatings and materials organic sales decreased by a mid-single-digit percentage primarily due to lower sales volumes, partially offset by higher selling prices.
Segment income increased $322 million year over year primarily due to higher selling prices and moderating raw material costs, partially offset by wage and other cost of sales inflation and lower sales volumes.
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 28
Looking Ahead
In the first quarter 2025, global industrial production is expected to remain at a relatively low level with improvement in the Asia Pacific and Latin America regions offset by sluggishness in Europe and in the U.S. Demand growth for PPG's industrial coatings in China is expected to continue for the next several quarters. Automotive OEM industry build rates are expected to decline in the first quarter, but are expected to outpace market growth in Latin America and the Asia Pacific region. Aggregate organic sales for the segment are anticipated to decrease by a mid-single-digit percentage to a low single-digit percentage compared to the first quarter 2024.
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities, including Environmental Matters
PPG is involved in a number of lawsuits and claims, both actual and potential, including some that it has asserted against others, in which substantial monetary damages are sought. Refer to Item 3. “Legal Proceedings” and Note 15, “Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for a description of certain of these lawsuits.
As discussed in Item 3 and Note 15, although the result of any future litigation of such lawsuits and claims is inherently unpredictable, management believes that, in the aggregate, the outcome of all lawsuits and claims involving PPG, including asbestos-related claims, will not have a material effect on PPG’s consolidated financial position or liquidity; however, any such outcome may be material to the results of operations of any particular period in which costs, if any, are recognized.
As also discussed in Note 15, PPG has significant reserves for environmental contingencies. Refer to the Environmental Matters section of Note 15 for details of these reserves. It is PPG’s policy to accrue expenses for contingencies when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. Reserves for environmental contingencies are exclusive of claims against third parties and are generally not discounted. In management’s opinion, the Company operates in an environmentally sound manner and the outcome of the Company’s environmental contingencies will not have a material effect on PPG’s financial position or liquidity; however, any such outcome may be material to the results of operations of any particular period in which costs, if any, are recognized. Management anticipates that the resolution of the Company’s environmental contingencies will occur over an extended period of time.
Accounting Standards Adopted in 2024
Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K describes the Company’s recently adopted accounting pronouncements.
Accounting Standards to be Adopted in Future Years
Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K describes accounting pronouncements that have been promulgated prior to December 31, 2024 but are not effective until a future date.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
During the past two years, PPG had sufficient financial resources to meet its operating requirements, to fund capital spending, including acquisitions, share repurchases and pension plans, and to pay increasing dividends to shareholders.
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments
Short-term investments 88 75
Cash from operating activities - continuing operations
($ in millions, except percentages) % Change
2024 vs. 2023
The $903 million decrease in Cash from operating activities - continuing operations was primarily due to unfavorable changes in working capital compared to the prior year. Accrued incentive compensation was lower at December 31, 2024 versus December 31, 2023, driving operating cash outflows during 2024 compared to 2023. The Company paid an additional $80 million in cash taxes during 2024 related to divestitures, primarily due to the taxable gain recognized on the sale of the silicas products business. The Company also recorded operating cash outflows of $55 million related to net
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 29
payables paid on behalf of the divested United States and Canada architectural coatings business during 2024 that were reimbursed in 2025.
2023 vs. 2022
The $1,294 million increase in Cash from operating activities - continuing operations was primarily due to higher net income driven by higher selling prices and moderating raw material costs and favorable changes in working capital compared to the prior year.
Operating working capital
Operating working capital is a subset of total working capital and represents (1) receivables from customers, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, (2) inventories, and (3) trade liabilities. Refer to Note 3, “Working Capital Detail” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for further information related to the components of the Company’s operating working capital. We believe operating working capital represents the key components of working capital under the operating control of our businesses.
A key metric we use to measure our working capital management is operating working capital as a percentage of sales (fourth quarter sales annualized).
($ in millions, except percentages) 2024 2023
Trade receivables, net as a % of fourth quarter sales, annualized 16.6 % 16.8 %
Days sales outstanding 51 55
Inventories, FIFO as a % of fourth quarter sales, annualized 13.5 % 13.5 %
Inventory turnover 4.5 4.2
Environmental expenditures
Cash outlays related to environmental remediation activities $28 $31 $73
We expect cash outlays for environmental remediation activities to be between $20 million to $60 million annually from 2025 through 2029.
Cash used for investing activities - continuing operations
% Change
2024 vs. 2023
The $126 million decrease in cash used for investing activities - continuing operations was primarily due to proceeds from the sale of our silicas products business, partially offset by higher capital expenditures.
2023 vs. 2022
The $95 million increase in cash used for investing activities was primarily due to higher capital expenditures and lower proceeds from asset sales.
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 30
Capital expenditures, including business acquisitions
% Change
Total capital expenditures, including acquisitions $752 $625 $600 20.3% 4.2%
(1)Includes modernization and productivity improvements, expansion of existing businesses and environmental control projects.
During 2025, capital expenditures, which are expected to be approximately $725 million to $775 million, will support future organic growth opportunities. The Company will continue to deploy cash focused on shareholder value creation.
Cash used for financing activities
% Change
2024 vs. 2023
The $125 million decrease in cash used for financing activities was primarily due to lower repayments of long-term debt, partially offset by higher share repurchases.
2023 vs. 2022
The $1,141 million increase in cash used for financing activities was primarily due to repayment of long-term debt and lower proceeds from the issuance of debt, partially offset by the absence of net payments on commercial paper.
Share repurchase activity
Number of shares repurchased (millions) 5.8 0.6 1.5
Cash paid for shares repurchased $752 $86 $190
The Company has approximately $2.8 billion remaining under the current authorization from the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors authorized $2.5 billion of share repurchases in December 2017 and authorized an additional $2.5 billion of share repurchases in April 2024. The repurchase programs do not have an expiration date.
Dividends paid to shareholders
PPG has paid uninterrupted annual dividends since 1899, and 2024 marked the 53rd successive year of increased annual per-share dividend payments to shareholders. The Company raised its per-share quarterly dividend by approximately 5% to $0.68 per share in July 2024.
Debt issued and repaid
Debt Issued (net of premium/discount and issuance costs) Year $ in millions
Debt Repaid Year $ in millions
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 31
The Company’s commercial paper borrowings are classified as long-term debt based on PPG’s intent and ability to refinance these borrowings on a long-term basis. Net payments on commercial paper were zero for both the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 and $440 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Credit agreements and lines of credit
In April 2023, PPG entered into a €500 million term loan credit agreement (the "Term Loan"). The Term Loan contains covenants that are consistent with those in the Credit Agreement discussed below and that are usual and customary restrictive covenants for facilities of its type, which include, with specified exceptions, limitations on the Company’s ability to create liens or other encumbrances, to enter into sale and leaseback transactions and to enter into consolidations, mergers or transfers of all or substantially all of its assets. The Term Loan terminates and all amounts outstanding are payable in April 2026. In April 2023, PPG borrowed €500 million under the Term Loan. In December 2023, PPG obtained lender commitments sufficient to increase the size of the Term Loan by €250 million. In January 2024, PPG borrowed the additional €250 million. In December 2024, PPG obtained lender commitments sufficient to increase the size of the Term Loan by €300 million. In January 2025, PPG borrowed the additional €300 million.
In February 2021, PPG entered into a $2.0 billion term loan credit agreement (the "Term Loan Credit Agreement") to finance the Company’s acquisition of Tikkurila, and to pay fees, costs and expenses related thereto. The Term Loan Credit Agreement provided the Company with the ability to borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $2.0 billion on an unsecured basis. The Term Loan Credit Agreement contained covenants that are consistent with those in the Credit Agreement discussed below and that are usual and customary restrictive covenants for facilities of its type, which included, with specified exceptions, limitations on the Company’s ability to create liens or other encumbrances, to enter into sale and leaseback transactions and to enter into consolidations, mergers or transfers of all or substantially all of its assets. The Term Loan Credit Agreement was scheduled to mature and all outstanding borrowings were due and payable on the third anniversary of the date of the initial borrowing under the Agreement. In June 2021, PPG borrowed $700 million under the Term Loan Credit Agreement to finance the Company’s acquisition of Tikkurila, and to pay fees, costs and expenses related thereto. In December 2021, PPG borrowed an additional $700 million under the Term Loan Credit Agreement to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. In 2022 and 2023, PPG repaid $300 million and $1.1 billion, respectively, of the Term Loan Credit Agreement using cash on hand. The Term Loan Credit Agreement was fully repaid as of December 31, 2023.
In March 2023, PPG amended its five-year credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) dated as of August 30, 2019. The amendments to the Credit Agreement replaced the LIBOR-based reference interest rate option with a reference interest rate option based upon Term SOFR. The other terms of the Credit Agreement remained unchanged. In July 2023, PPG amended and restated the Credit Agreement, extending the term through July 27, 2028. The amended and restated Credit Agreement provides for a $2.3 billion unsecured revolving credit facility. The Company has the ability to increase the size of the Credit Agreement by up to an additional $750 million, subject to the receipt of lender commitments and other conditions precedent. The Company has the right, subject to certain conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement, to designate certain subsidiaries of the Company as borrowers under the Credit Agreement. In connection with any such designation, the Company is required to guarantee the obligations of any such subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement. There were no amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2024, December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
The Term Loan and the Credit Agreement require the Company to maintain a ratio of Total Indebtedness to Total Capitalization, as defined in the Term Loan and the Credit Agreement, of 60% or less; provided, that for any fiscal quarter in which the Company has made an acquisition for consideration in excess of $1 billion and for the next five fiscal quarters thereafter, the ratio of Total Indebtedness to Total Capitalization may not exceed 65% at any time. As of December 31, 2024, Total Indebtedness to Total Capitalization as defined under the Credit Agreement and the Term Loan was 45%.
In addition to the amounts available under lines of credit, the Company maintains access to the capital markets and may issue debt or equity securities from time to time, which may provide an additional source of liquidity.
Refer to Note 10, “Borrowings and Lines of Credit” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for information regarding notes entered into and repaid as well as details regarding the use and availability of committed and uncommitted lines of credit, letters of credit and debt covenants.
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 32
Cash requirements
We continue to believe that our cash on hand and short-term investments, cash from operations and the Company’s access to capital markets will continue to be sufficient to fund our operating activities, capital spending, acquisitions, dividend payments, debt service, share repurchases, contributions to pension plans, and PPG’s significant cash requirements. The Company’s significant cash requirements include the following contractual obligations and commitments.
Obligations Due In:
(1)Interest on all outstanding debt.
(2)Includes interest payments.
(3)The unconditional purchase commitments are principally take-or-pay obligations related to the purchase of certain materials, utilities and services consistent with customary industry practice.
The Company’s off-balance sheet arrangements include unconditional purchase commitments disclosed in the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section in the cash requirements table as well as letters of credit as discussed in Note 10, “Borrowings and Lines of Credit” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Other liquidity matters
At December 31, 2024, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions, including an accrual of related interest and penalties along with positions only impacting the timing of tax benefits, was $152 million. The timing of payments will depend on the progress of examinations by tax authorities. PPG does not expect a significant tax payment related to these obligations within the next year. The Company is unable to make a reasonably reliable estimate as to if, or when, any significant cash settlements with tax authorities may occur.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Management has evaluated the accounting policies used in the preparation of the financial statements and related notes presented in Item 8 of this Form 10-K and believes those policies to be reasonable and appropriate. We believe that the most critical accounting estimates made in the preparation of our financial statements are those related to accounting for contingencies, under which we accrue a loss when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated, and to accounting for pensions, other postretirement benefits, business combinations, goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives because of the importance of management judgment in making the estimates necessary to apply these policies.
Contingencies
Contingencies, by their nature, relate to uncertainties that require management to exercise judgment both in assessing the likelihood that a liability has been incurred as well as in estimating the amount of potential loss. The most important contingencies impacting our financial statements are those related to environmental remediation, to pending, impending or overtly threatened litigation against the Company and to the resolution of matters related to open tax years. For more information on these matters, see Note 15, “Commitments and Contingent Liabilities” and Note 13, “Income Taxes” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Accounting for pensions and other postretirement benefits involves estimating the cost of benefits to be provided well into the future and attributing that cost over the time period each employee works. To accomplish this, we make extensive use of assumptions about inflation, investment returns, mortality, turnover, medical costs and discount rates. The Company has established a process by which management reviews and selects these assumptions annually. Refer to Note 14, “Employee Benefit Plans” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for information on these plans and the assumptions used.
Business Combinations
The Company uses the acquisition method of accounting to allocate costs of acquired businesses to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the dates of acquisition. The excess costs of acquired businesses over the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recognized as goodwill. The valuations of the acquired assets and liabilities impacts the determination of future operating results. In addition to using management estimates and negotiated amounts, the Company uses a variety of information sources to determine the estimated fair values of acquired assets and liabilities including: third-party appraisals for the estimated value and lives of identifiable
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 33
intangible assets and property, plant and equipment; third-party actuaries for the estimated obligations of defined benefit pension plans and similar benefit obligations; and legal counsel or other experts to assess the obligations associated with legal, environmental and other contingent liabilities.
The business and technical judgment of management is used in determining which acquired intangible assets have indefinite lives and in determining the useful lives of acquired finite-lived intangible assets in accordance with the accounting guidance for goodwill and other intangible assets.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The Company tests indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill for impairment by either performing a qualitative evaluation or a quantitative test at least annually, or more frequently if an indication of impairment arises. The qualitative evaluation is an assessment of factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit or asset is less than its carrying amount. In the quantitative test, fair values are estimated using a discounted cash flow model. Key assumptions and estimates used in the discounted cash flow model include projected future revenues, discount rates, operating cash flows, capital expenditures and tax rates. For more information on these matters, see Note 1, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
We believe that the amounts recorded in the financial statements in Item 8 of this Form 10-K related to these contingencies, pensions, other postretirement benefits, business combinations, goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets with indefinite lives are based on the best estimates and judgments of the appropriate members of PPG’s management, although actual outcomes could differ from our estimates.
Currency
Comparing spot exchange rates at December 31, 2024 and at December 31, 2023, the U.S. dollar strengthened against the currencies of many countries within the regions PPG operates, most notably the Mexican peso. As a result, consolidated net assets at December 31, 2024 decreased by $905 million from December 31, 2023. Comparing spot exchange rates at December 31, 2023 and at December 31, 2022, the U.S. dollar weakened against the currencies of many countries within the regions PPG operates, most notably the Mexican peso. As a result, consolidated net assets at December 31, 2023 increased by $508 million from December 31, 2022.
Comparing average exchange rates during 2024 to those of 2023, the U.S. dollar strengthened against the currencies of certain countries where PPG operates, including the Mexican peso and the Chinese yuan. This had an unfavorable impact of approximately $20 million on full year 2024 Income before income taxes from the translation of this foreign income into U.S. dollars. Comparing average exchange rates during 2023 to those of 2022, the U.S. dollar weakened against the currencies of certain countries where PPG operates, including the Mexican peso and the euro, partially offset by strengthening against the Chinese yuan and Argentine peso. This had a favorable impact of approximately $25 million on full year 2023 Income before income taxes from the translation of this foreign income into U.S. dollars.
Forward-Looking Statements
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. Management’s Discussion and Analysis and other sections of this Annual Report contain forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to current or historic facts. Forward-looking statements are identified by the use of the words “aim,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “outlook,” “forecast” and other expressions that indicate future events and trends. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our reports to the SEC. Also, note the following cautionary statements.
Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s forward-looking statements. Such factors include statements related to global economic conditions, geopolitical issues, increasing price and product competition by our competitors, fluctuations in cost and availability of raw materials, energy, labor and logistics, the ability to achieve selling price increases, the ability to recover margins, customer inventory levels, PPG inventory levels, our ability to maintain favorable supplier relationships and arrangements, the timing of and the realization of anticipated cost savings from restructuring initiatives, the ability to identify additional cost savings opportunities, the timing and expected benefits of our acquisitions, difficulties in integrating acquired businesses and achieving expected synergies therefrom, the amount of future share repurchases, economic and political conditions in the markets we serve, the imposition of tariffs, the ability to penetrate existing, developing and emerging foreign and domestic markets, foreign exchange rates and fluctuations in such rates, fluctuations in tax rates, the impact of future legislation, the impact of environmental regulations, unexpected business disruptions, cybersecurity events, global human health issues, the unpredictability of existing and possible future
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 34
litigation, including asbestos litigation, and government investigations. However, it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors.
Consequently, while the list of factors presented here and in Item 1A 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 the results compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, lower sales or income, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties, other factors set forth in Item 1A of this Form 10-K and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. PPG undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as otherwise required by applicable law.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
PPG is exposed to market risks related to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. The Company may enter into derivative financial instrument transactions in order to manage or reduce these market risks. A detailed description of these exposures and the Company’s risk management policies are provided in Note 11, “Financial Instruments, Hedging Activities and Fair Value Measurements” in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
The following disclosures summarize PPG’s exposure to market risks and information regarding the use of and fair value of derivatives employed to manage its exposure to such risks. Quantitative sensitivity analyses have been provided to reflect how reasonably possible, unfavorable changes in market rates could impact PPG’s consolidated results of operations, cash flows and financial position.
Foreign Currency Risk
We conduct operations in many countries around the world. Our results of operations are subject to both currency transaction and currency translation risk. Certain foreign currency forward contracts outstanding during 2024 and 2023 served as a hedge of a portion of PPG’s exposure to foreign currency transaction risk. The fair value of these contracts were net liabilities of $53 million and net assets of $23 million as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The potential reduction in PPG’s Income before income taxes resulting from the impact of adverse changes in exchange rates on the fair value of its outstanding foreign currency hedge contracts of 10% for European and Canadian currencies and 20% for Asian and Latin American currencies for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 would have been $429 million and $402 million, respectively.
PPG had U.S. dollar to euro cross currency swap contracts with a total notional amount of $375 million and $475 million as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The fair value of these contracts were net assets of $50 million and $33 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. A 10% increase in the value of the euro to the U.S. dollar would have had an unfavorable effect on the fair value of these swap contracts by reducing the value of these instruments by $31 million and $46 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
As of both December 31, 2024 and 2023, PPG had non-U.S. dollar denominated debt outstanding of $3.3 billion. A weakening of the U.S. dollar by 10% against European currencies and by 20% against Asian and South American currencies would have resulted in unrealized translation losses of $369 million and $363 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company manages its interest rate risk by balancing its exposure to fixed and variable rates while attempting to minimize its interest costs. PPG has interest rate swaps which converted $375 million of fixed rate debt to variable rate debt as of both December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The fair values of these contracts were liabilities of $16 million and $14 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. An increase in variable interest rates of 10% would have lowered the fair values of these swaps and increased interest expense by $5 million for both the periods ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. Considering the debt balance outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, a 10% increase in interest rates in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe and a 20% increase in interest rates in Asia and South America would have increased annual interest expense associated with PPG's variable rate debt obligations by $3 million and by $2 million, respectively. Further, a 10% reduction in interest rates would have increased the fair value of the Company’s fixed rate debt by approximately $77 million and $96 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively; however, such changes would not have had an effect on PPG’s annual Income before income taxes or cash flows.
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 35
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of PPG Industries, Inc.
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of PPG Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the related consolidated statements of income, of comprehensive income, of shareholders’ equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, including the related notes and schedule of valuation and qualifying accounts for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024 appearing under Item 15(a)(2) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 36
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Loss from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax Associated with the Sale of the U.S. and Canada Architectural Coatings Business
As described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, on December 2, 2024, the Company completed the sale of 100% of its architectural coatings business in the U.S. and Canada. The Company received $516 million in proceeds and recorded a loss on the sale of $285 million, which is recorded in “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax” for the year ended December 31, 2024. The sale represents a strategic shift in the Company’s business portfolio that has a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results. Accordingly, the Company’s consolidated results of operations and cash flows have been recast to present the results of the architectural coatings business in the U.S. and Canada as discontinued operations.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the loss from discontinued operations, net of tax associated with the sale of the U.S. and Canada architectural coatings business is a critical audit matter are the high degree of auditor effort in performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence related to management’s calculation of the loss from discontinued operations, net of tax.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to management’s calculation of the loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, associated with the sale of the U.S. and Canada architectural coatings business. These procedures also included, among others, reading the purchase agreement and testing management’s calculation of the loss from discontinued operations, net of tax.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
February 20, 2025
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2013.
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 37
Management Report
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
We conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024. In making this evaluation, we used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013). Based on this evaluation we have concluded that, as of December 31, 2024, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has issued their report, included on pages 36-37 of this Form 10-K, regarding the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ Timothy M. Knavish /s/ Vincent J. Morales
2024 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 38
Consolidated Statement of Income
For the Year
Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization 9,252 9,678 9,975
Business restructuring, net 233 (2) 33
Impairment and other-related charges, net 146 160 231
Pension settlement charge — 190 —
Other (income)/charges, net (8) 80 (66)
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations, net of tax (228) 47 19
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 33 39 28
Amounts attributable to PPG
Income from continuing operations, net of tax $1,344 $1,223 $1,007
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations, net of tax (228) 47 19
Earnings per common share
Income from continuing operations, net of tax $5.75 $5.18 $4.26
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations, net of tax (0.98) 0.20 0.08
Net income (attributable to PPG) $4.77 $5.38 $4.34
Earnings per common share - assuming dilution
Income from continuing operations, net of tax $5.72 $5.16 $4.24
(Loss)/income from discontinued operations, net of tax (0.97) 0.19 0.08