RPM International Inc. recently reported higher net income for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended May 31, 2009. Fiscal 2008 net income included a one-time pre-tax charge of $288.1 million in the fourth quarter to increase the company's accrual for asbestos-related liabilities, while the fiscal 2009 fourth quarter and year included a one-time charge of $15.5 million for goodwill and other intangible asset impairments in the company's industrial segment. Excluding these one-time charges, fiscal 2009 net income declined for both the quarter and full year. Sales also declined for both the fourth quarter and fiscal year.

Sales for the quarter fell 20.3% to $857.3 million from $1.08 billion in the 2008 fourth quarter, with the company's industrial and consumer segments both reporting lower results.

Fourth-quarter net income was $39.3 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, compared to a year-ago loss of $87.6 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, as a result of the one-time fiscal 2008 charge. Excluding asbestos and impairment-related charges, fiscal 2009 fourth-quarter net income declined 44.0% to $54.6 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, from the $97.5 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, earned a year ago.

Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of $83.4 million in the fiscal 2009 fourth quarter compares to a loss of $145.0 million a year ago. Excluding one-time charges for both asbestos and impairment, fiscal 2009 fourth-quarter EBIT dropped 30.9% to $98.9 million from $143.1 million a year ago.

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