---
ticker: PPG
company: PPG
filing_type: 10-K
year_current: 2024
year_prior: 2023
risks_added: 1
risks_removed: 0
risks_modified: 6
risks_unchanged: 8
source: SEC EDGAR
url: https://riskdiff.com/ppg/2024-vs-2023/
markdown_url: https://riskdiff.com/ppg/2024-vs-2023/index.md
generated: 2026-05-10
---

# PPG: 10-K Risk Factor Changes 2024 vs 2023

> Source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR)  
> Generated: 2026-05-10  
> All data extracted directly from official filings. No hallucinated content.

> **[AI-Generated Summary]** The paragraph below was produced by a language
> model and may contain errors. All other content on this page is deterministically
> extracted from the original SEC filing.

> PPG added a new risk factor in 2024 focused on workforce attraction, development, and retention, reflecting increased emphasis on human capital challenges. Six existing risk factors were substantively modified, with notable updates to disclosures covering environmental standards, economic uncertainty, business integration, international operations, and information technology security. The company maintained eight unchanged risk factors while removing no previously disclosed risks.

---

## Summary

| Status | Count |
|--------|-------|
| New risks added | 1 |
| Risks removed | 0 |
| Risks modified | 6 |
| Unchanged | 8 |

---

## New in Current Filing: 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.

---

## Modified: We are subject to existing and evolving standards relating to the protection of the environment.

**Key changes:**

- Reworded sentence: "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."

**Prior (2023):**

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 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.

**Current (2024):**

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. 2023 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 10 2023 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 10 2023 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 10

---

## Modified: 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.

**Key changes:**

- Reworded sentence: "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, and labor shortages in certain regions of the world."
- Reworded sentence: "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."

**Prior (2023):**

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. Recently, global economic uncertainty has increased due to a number of factors, including the war in Ukraine, COVID-19, consumer sentiment and commodity market volatility, disruption in supply chains globally, potential changes to international trade agreements, the imposition of tariffs and the threat of additional tariffs, 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 result in reduced Income from continuing operations and Cash from operating activities.

**Current (2024):**

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, 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.

---

## Modified: We may not effectively integrate acquired businesses into our existing operations.

**Key changes:**

- Reworded sentence: "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."

**Prior (2023):**

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 problems 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.

**Current (2024):**

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. 2023 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 12 2023 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 12 2023 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 12

---

## Modified: Our international operations expose us to additional risks and uncertainties that could affect our financial results.

**Key changes:**

- Reworded sentence: "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 2023 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 11 2023 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 11 2023 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 11 earnings, and weak intellectual property protection."

**Prior (2023):**

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. Our percentage of sales generated in 2022 by products sold outside the U.S. was approximately 60%. 2022 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 11 2022 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 11 2022 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 11 Table of Contents Table of Contents

**Current (2024):**

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 2023 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 11 2023 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 11 2023 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 11 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. During 2023, approximately 63% of the Company's total net sales were recognized outside of the United States.

---

## Modified: The security of our information technology systems could be compromised which could adversely affect our operations or reputation.

**Key changes:**

- Reworded sentence: "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."

**Prior (2023):**

Increased global information technology security requirements, threats and sophisticated and targeted computer crime pose a risk to the security of our systems, networks and the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our data. Despite our efforts to protect intellectual property and confidential and personal data, our facilities and systems may be vulnerable to security breaches. This could lead to negative publicity, theft or other financial loss, modification or destruction of 2022 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 12 2022 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 12 2022 PPG ANNUAL REPORT AND FORM 10-K 12 Table of Contents Table of Contents proprietary information or key information, manufacture of defective products, production downtimes and operational disruptions, which could adversely affect our reputation, competitiveness and results of operations.

**Current (2024):**

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. In addition, because the techniques, tools and tactics used in cyber-attacks frequently change and may be difficult to detect for periods of time, 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.

---

## Modified: Public health crises, including pandemics and the measures taken by public health and government authorities to address them, have adversely impacted and could continue to adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.

**Key changes:**

- Reworded sentence: "Our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including impacts from efforts by public health officials to mitigate the spread of COVID-19."

**Prior (2023):**

The effects of the public health crisis caused by COVID-19 have interfered with the ability of PPG, our suppliers, customers, and others to conduct business and have negatively affected consumer confidence and the global economy. Public health officials have recommended or mandated certain precautions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, including prohibitions on congregating in groups, shelter-in-place orders, vaccination requirements or similar measures. Preventative and protective actions that public health officials, governments or PPG have taken with respect to COVID-19 have and will continue to adversely impact our business, suppliers, distribution channels, and customers, including business shutdowns or disruptions for an indefinite period of time, reduced operations, reduced workforce availability, reduced ability to supply products, or reduced demand for our products. Our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations have been and will continue to be adversely impacted by these preventative actions and the disruption to our business and that of our suppliers and customers. As we cannot predict the duration or scope of COVID-19, the negative financial impact to our business cannot be reasonably estimated, but could be material.

**Current (2024):**

Our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including impacts from efforts by public health officials to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The effects of this public health crisis interfered with the ability of PPG, our suppliers, our customers, and others to conduct business and negatively affected consumer confidence and the global economy. Preventative and protective actions taken by public health officials, governments and PPG with respect to the public health crises have and may continue to adversely impact our business, suppliers, distribution channels, and customers, including business shutdowns, reduced workforce availability, reduced ability to supply products, or reduced demand for our products. While we cannot reasonably predict the duration or scope of current and future public health crises, our results of operations, financial position and liquidity have been and may continue to be adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic or any other future health-related crises.

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*Data sourced from SEC EDGAR. Last updated 2026-05-10.*