Sherwin-Williams’ Chairman, President and CEO Establishes 10b5-1 Trading Plan

CLEVELAND, OHIO, February 3, 2006 – The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE: SHW) announced that Christopher M. Connor, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, has established a trading plan in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act. Rule 10b5-1 permits individuals who are not then in possession of material nonpublic information to establish prearranged plans to buy or sell stock. The rule allows individuals to buy or sell shares of stock at a specific price in the future, regardless of any subsequent material nonpublic information.

Under the plan, Mr. Connor intends to exercise approximately 230,000 employee stock options and sell a portion of the underlying shares of Sherwin-Williams common stock beginning in March and continuing from time to time during 2006, subject to the market price of our common stock. Mr. Connor’s ownership interest in Sherwin-Williams is in excess of stock ownership guidelines, has continually increased over the years, and will again increase in 2006. This process will facilitate the orderly exercise of employee stock options and the sale of common stock for personal financial planning purposes with the goal of minimizing any market impact and avoiding any concerns about the timing of the transactions.

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This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements,” as defined under U.S. federal securities laws, with respect to sales, earnings and other matters. These forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events and conditions. 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 the control of the Company, that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from the Company’s historical results and experience. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include such things as: general business conditions, strengths of retail and manufacturing economies and the growth in the coatings industry; changes in the Company’s relationships with customers and suppliers; changes in raw material availability and pricing; unusual weather conditions; and other risks, uncertainties and factors described from time to time in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Since it is not possible to predict or identify all of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect future results, 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 the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
© Copyright 2006 The Sherwin-Williams Company

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