Exhibit 99.1







VALSPAR REPORTS FOURTH-QUARTER AND FISCAL-YEAR RESULTS





        Fourth-Quarter Adjusted Net Income per Share Increases 10.5 percent from 2007




        Adjusted Net Income per Share of $1.57 in Fiscal 2008 versus $1.58 in Fiscal 2007




MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., November 24, 2008 The Valspar Corporation (NYSE-VAL) today reported its results for the fourth-quarter and fiscal-year ended October 31, 2008.



Fourth-quarter sales totaled $923.2 million, an 8.3 percent increase from fourth quarter of 2007. The fourth quarter of 2008 consisted of 14 weeks compared to 13 weeks in 2007. Sales for the quarter increased 3.8 percent excluding the 14th week. Net income for the fourth quarter was $38.9 million. Fourth-quarter adjusted net income per share was $0.42, which excludes a $0.13 per share charge related to restructuring actions, a non-cash charge of $0.03 per share for Huarun minority interest shares and a $0.09 per share after-tax gain from the sale of assets. Fourth-quarter reported earnings per share in 2008 were $0.35. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2007 was $48.8 million. Fourth-quarter adjusted net income per share in 2007 was $0.38, which excluded a $0.10 per share after-tax gain for the sale of assets and a non-cash charge of $0.03 per share for Huarun minority interest shares.
Fourth-quarter reported earnings per share in 2007 were $0.45. The adjusted earnings per share comparison for the fourth quarter is $0.42 in 2008 and $0.38 in 2007.



Fiscal year 2008 sales totaled $3,482.4 million, an increase of 7.2 percent. Net income for the year totaled $150.8 million. Adjusted net income per share for the year was $1.57, which excludes a $0.16 per share charge related to restructuring actions, a non-cash charge of $0.12 per share for the Huarun minority interest shares and a $0.09 per share after-tax gain from the sale of assets. Reported earnings per share in fiscal 2008 were $1.38. Net income was $172.1 million in fiscal 2007. Adjusted net income per share in fiscal 2007 was $1.58, which excludes a $0.10 per share after-tax gain for the sale of assets and a non-cash charge of $0.18 per share for Huarun minority interest shares. Reported earnings per share in fiscal 2007 were $1.50. The adjusted earnings per share comparison is $1.57 in fiscal 2008 and $1.58 in fiscal 2007.



We were pleased with our performance in difficult market conditions, said William L. Mansfield, Valspar chairman and chief executive officer. By focusing on execution and operational discipline, we gained share in key markets, improved productivity and delivered strong cash flow. During the year we generated $160 million in free cash flow, an increase of $100 million from 2007, and reduced our debt by $94 million. Our liquidity position is strong, with $90 million in cash and $340 million of unused committed bank credit facilities providing total liquidity of $430 million at year-end.



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Mansfield also commented on the outlook for 2009. Anticipating a global recession, we expect our 2009 adjusted net income per share to be in the range of $1.55 to $1.65, excluding restructuring charges and a non-cash charge for Huarun minority interest shares. We have aggressively lowered our cost structure and continue to focus on execution. In addition, our strong brands, focus on customers, expanded global presence and strong free cash flow position us to meet the challenges of the weak global economy.



William L. Mansfield and Lori A. Walker, senior vice president and chief financial officer, will conduct a conference call for investors at 10:00 a.m. Central Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time) today. The call can be heard live over the Internet at Valspars website atwww.valsparglobal.comunder Investor Relations. Those unable to participate during the live broadcast can access an archive of the call on the Valspar website. A taped delay of the call will also be available from 12:00 p.m. Central Time November 24 through Midnight on December 5 by dialing 1-800-475-6701 from within the U.S. or 320-365-3844 from outside of the U.S., using access code 967988.



Investor Contact:  Tyler Treat, (612) 375-7358



Media Contact:  Mike Dougherty, (612) 375-7802



The Valspar Corporation (NYSE:VAL) is a global leader in the paint and coatings industry. Since 1806, Valspar has been dedicated to bringing customers the latest innovations, the finest quality and the best customer service in the coatings industry.

For more information, visitwww.valsparglobal.com.







This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on managements expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward-looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. These uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, dependence of internal earnings growth on economic conditions and growth in the domestic and international coatings industry; risks related to any future acquisitions, including risks of adverse changes in the results of acquired businesses and the assumption of unforeseen liabilities; risks of disruptions in business resulting from the integration process and higher interest costs resulting from further borrowing for any such
acquisitions; our reliance on the efforts of vendors, government agencies, utilities and other third parties to achieve adequate compliance and avoid disruption of our business; risks of disruptions in business resulting from the Companys relationships with customers and suppliers; unusual weather conditions adversely affecting sales; changes in raw materials pricing and availability; delays in passing along cost increases to customers; changes in governmental regulation, including more stringent environmental, health and safety regulations; the nature, cost and outcome of pending and future litigation and other legal proceedings; the outbreak of war and other significant national and international events; and other risks and uncertainties. The foregoing list is not exhaustive, and the Company disclaims any obligation to subsequently revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

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THE VALSPAR CORPORATION

COMPARATIVE CONSOLIDATED EARNINGS

For the Quarters Ended October 31, 2008 and October 26, 2007



Fourth Quarter

        

        Year-To-Date(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

        

        (Unaudited)

        

        (Unaudited)2008

        

        2007

        

        2008

        

        2007Net Sales

        

        $

        923,192

        

        $

        852,795

        

        $

        3,482,378

        

        $

        3,249,287Cost of Sales

        

        

        675,189

        

        

        605,485

        

        

        2,504,947

        

        

        2,277,490Operating Expenses

        

        

        173,055

        

        

        171,620

        

        

        684,056

        

        

        662,224Income From Operations

        

        

        74,948

        

        

        75,690

        

        

        293,375

        

        

        309,573Interest Expense

        

        

        14,286

        

        

        14,700

        

        

        57,745

        

        

        61,662Other (Income) Expense, Net

        

        

        1,062

        

        

        (15,205

        )

        

        6,933

        

        

        (11,860

        )Income Before Income Taxes

        

        

        59,600

        

        

        76,195

        

        

        228,697

        

        

        259,771Income Taxes

        

        

        20,685

        

        

        27,411

        

        

        77,931

        

        

        87,656Net Income

        

        $

        38,915

        

        $

        48,784

        

        $

        150,766

        

        $

        172,115Huarun Redeemable Stock Accrual (1)

        

        

        (3,317

        )

        

        (3,418

        )

        

        (12,195

        )

        

        (18,619

        )Net Income Available to Common Shareholders

        

        $

        35,598

        

        $

        45,366

        

        $

        138,571

        

        $

        153,496Average Number of Shares O/S - basic

        

        

        99,613,298

        

        

        100,312,608

        

        

        99,650,574

        

        

        100,938,940Average Number of Shares O/S - diluted

        

        

        100,351,918

        

        

        101,776,581

        

        

        100,326,249

        

        

        102,617,178Net Income per Common Share - basic

        

        $

        0.36

        

        $

        0.45

        

        $

        1.39

        

        $

        1.52Net Income per Common Share - diluted

        

        $

        0.35

        

        $

        0.45

        

        $

        1.38

        

        $

        1.50




(1)  HUARUN REDEEMABLE
STOCK ACCRUAL REDUCED BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME PER SHARE $0.03 IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2008, $0.12 YEAR TO
 DATE IN 2008 AND $0.03 IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2007 AND $0.18 YEAR TO DATE IN 2007.



NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In the accompanying press release, management has reported non-GAAP financial measures - Adjusted Net Income per Common Share - diluted and Full Year Guidance for Adjusted Net Income per Common Share - diluted - which exclude a non-cash accrual relating to Huarun Redeemable Stock in connection with the Companys acquisition of the remaining minority interest shares of Huarun Paints Holding Company Limited, restructuring charges, and gains on the sale of assets in 2008 and 2007. Management discloses these measures because it believes these measures may assist investors in comparing the Companys results of operations in the respective periods without regard to the effect on the results in the 2008 and 2007 periods of the non-cash accrual relating to the Huarun acquisition, effect of the restructuring charges in 2008, gains on sale of assets in 2008 and 2007.



NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION

The following is a reconciliation of Net Income Per Common Share - diluted to Adjusted Net Income Per Common Share - diluted for the periods presented:



Fourth Quarter

        

        Year-To-Date2008

        

        2007

        

        2008

        

        2007Net Income per Common Share - diluted

        

        $

        0.35

        

        $

        0.45

        

        $

        1.38

        

        $

        1.50Huarun Redeemable Stock Accrual

        

        $

        0.03

        

        $

        0.03

        

        $

        0.12

        

        $

        0.18Restructuring Charges

        

        $

        0.13

        

        $

        

        

        $

        0.16

        

        $

        Gain on Sale of Assets

        

        

        (0.09

        )

        

        (0.10

        )

        

        (0.09

        )

        

        (0.10

        )Adjusted Net Income per Common Share - diluted

        

        $

        0.42

        

        $

        0.38

        

        $

        1.57

        

        $

        1.58




The following is a reconciliation of Forecasted Net Income per Common Share - Diluted to our Full Year Guidance for the period presented.



Full Year2009Forecasted Net Income per Common Share - diluted

        

        $1.39  $1.47Huarun Redeemable Stock Accrual

        

        $0.09Restructuring Charges

        

        $0.07  $0.09Full Year Guidance for Adjusted Net Income per Common Share - diluted

        

        $1.55  $1.65




(Dollars in thousands)

        

        October 31,2008

        

        October 26,2007AssetsCurrent Assets:Cash and Cash Equivalents

        

        $

        90,073

        

        $

        84,948Accounts Receivable, Net

        

        

        565,237

        

        

        537,890Inventories

        

        

        271,423

        

        

        291,688Other

        

        

        120,287

        

        

        115,116Total Current Assets

        

        

        1,047,020

        

        

        1,029,642Goodwill

        

        

        1,352,813

        

        

        1,298,951Other Assets, Net

        

        

        630,493

        

        

        609,292Property, Plant & Equipment, Net

        

        

        489,716

        

        

        514,396Total Assets

        

        $

        3,520,042

        

        $

        3,452,281Liabilities and Stockholders EquityCurrent Liabilities:Notes Payable and Commercial Paper

        

        $

        159,526

        

        $

        367,521Trade Accounts Payable

        

        

        400,763

        

        

        371,437Income Taxes

        

        

        29,156

        

        

        19,316Accrued Liabilities

        

        

        290,898

        

        

        270,873Total Current Liabilities

        

        

        880,343

        

        

        1,029,147Long Term Debt

        

        

        763,129

        

        

        648,988Deferred Liabilities

        

        

        390,125

        

        

        356,007Huarun Redeemable Stock

        

        

        33,577

        

        

        37,342Stockholders Equity

        

        

        1,452,868

        

        

        1,380,797Total Liabilities and Stockholders Equity

        

        $

        3,520,042

        

        $

        3,452,281






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The Valspar Corporation

Other Financial Data

Dollars in millions, except per share amounts





Quarter 4

        

        YTD2008

        

        2007

        

        2008

        

        2007I. Comparison year over yearGross Margin, as a percentage of net sales *Gross Margin, reported

        

        

        26.9

        %

        

        29.0

        %

        

        28.1

        %

        

        29.9

        %Gross Margin, adjusted for net cost of restructuring

        

        

        28.3

        %

        

        29.0

        %

        

        28.5

        %

        

        29.9

        %Operating Expense as a percentage of net sales *Operating Expense, reported

        

        

        18.7

        %

        

        20.1

        %

        

        19.6

        %

        

        20.4

        %Operating Expense, adjusted for net cost of restructuring and gain on the sale of assets

        

        

        19.6

        %

        

        20.1

        %

        

        19.8

        %

        

        20.4

        %Operating Profit, as a percentage of net sales *Operating Profit, reported

        

        

        8.1

        %

        

        8.9

        %

        

        8.4

        %

        

        9.5

        %Operating Profit, adjusted for net cost of restructuring and gain on the sale of assets

        

        

        8.7

        %

        

        8.9

        %

        

        8.7

        %

        

        9.5

        %Quarter 4

        

        YTDII. Segment Data

        

        2008

        

        2007

        

        2008

        

        2007SalesCoatings

        

        $

        545.1

        

        $

        501.8

        

        $

        2,053.7

        

        $

        1,851.7Paint

        

        $

        300.8

        

        $

        269.6

        

        $

        1,127.1

        

        $

        1,088.8All Other less intersegment sales

        

        $

        77.3

        

        $

        81.4

        

        $

        301.6

        

        $

        308.8Total

        

        $

        923.2

        

        $

        852.8

        

        $

        3,482.4

        

        $

        3,249.3Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) *Coatings

        

        $

        47.3

        

        $

        59.5

        

        $

        188.2

        

        $

        198.1Paint

        

        $

        23.4

        

        $

        19.8

        

        $

        94.6

        

        $

        105.9All Other

        

        $

        3.2

        

        $

        11.6

        

        $

        3.6

        

        $

        17.4Total

        

        $

        73.9

        

        $

        90.9

        

        $

        286.4

        

        $

        321.4






* Certain amounts in prior years financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the 2008 presentation.







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