SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO

Certain statements contained in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in this report constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations, predictions, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events and conditions and may discuss, among other things, anticipated future performance (including sales and earnings), expected growth, future business plans and the costs and potential liability for environmental-related matters and lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation. Any statement that is not historical in nature is a forward-looking statement and may be identified by the use of words and phrases such as “anticipate,” “aspire,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “strive,” “target,” “will,” or “would” or the negative thereof or comparable terminology.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from our historical results, performance and experience. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include such things as:

•general business and economic conditions in the United States and worldwide;

•inflation rates, interest rates, unemployment rates, labor costs, healthcare costs, recessionary conditions, geopolitical conditions, terrorist activity, armed conflicts and wars, public health crises, pandemics, outbreaks of disease and supply chain disruptions;

•shifts in consumer behavior driven by economic downturns in cyclical segments of the economy;

•shortages and increases in the cost of raw materials and energy;

•catastrophic events, adverse weather conditions and natural disasters (including those that may be related to climate change);

•disruptions to our information technology systems, including due to digitization efforts or cybersecurity incidents;

•our ability to attract, retain, develop and progress a qualified global workforce;

•the loss of any of our largest customers;

•increased competition or failure to keep pace with developments in key competitive areas of our business;

•our ability to successfully integrate past and future acquisitions into our existing operations;

•risks and uncertainties associated with our expansion into and our operations in South America, Asia, Europe and other foreign markets;

•policy changes affecting international trade, including import/export restrictions and tariffs;

•our ability to achieve our strategies or expectations relating to sustainability considerations, including as a result of evolving legal, regulatory and other standards, processes and assumptions, the pace of scientific and technological developments, increased costs, the availability of requisite suppliers, energy sources, or financing and changes in carbon markets and carbon accounting rules;

•damage to our business, reputation, image or brands due to negative publicity;

•the infringement or loss of our intellectual property rights or the theft or unauthorized use of our trade secrets or other confidential business information;

•a weakening of global credit markets or changes to our credit ratings;

•our ability to generate cash to service our indebtedness;

•fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and changing monetary policies;

•our ability to comply with a variety of complex U.S. and non-U.S. laws, rules and regulations;

•increases in tax rates, or changes in tax laws or regulations;

•our ability to comply with numerous, complex and increasingly stringent domestic and foreign health, safety and environmental laws, regulations and requirements;

•our liability related to environmental investigation and remediation activities at some of our currently- and formerly-owned sites;

•the nature, cost, quantity and outcome of pending and future litigation, including lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation; and

•the other risk factors discussed in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other reports filed with the SEC.

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