Lowe's and Johns Manville Announce Strategic Alliance

Insulation Leader Johns Manville Announces Multi-Year, Exclusive Agreement with Lowe's

MOORESVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) and Johns Manville (JM), a Berkshire Hathaway company (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B), announced today an exclusive, multi-year agreement by which Johns Manville will provide innovative insulation products for home and business as an exclusive supplier to Lowe's. For both do-it-yourself homeowners and commercial customers, the strategic alliance will mean increased access to the most advanced insulation technology for energy efficiency and improved indoor air quality under one roof at nearly 1,700 Lowe's stores.

"At a time when energy awareness and healthy home are top of mind, Johns Manville is the market leader in providing insulation products that can improve air quality and are easier to use for consumers," said Nick Canter, Lowe's executive vice president of merchandising. "Through this new, multi-year agreement, we will enhance a very productive relationship that has already benefited Lowe's customers for well over a decade."

"Johns Manville is proud to be named Lowe's exclusive fiber glass building insulation supplier," said Todd Raba, CEO of Johns Manville. "We have a 150-year history of innovation, and this multi-year agreement reinforces Lowe's commitment to delivering industry-leading products to the home improvement market."

Johns Manville is the only company to offer a full line of Formaldehyde-free(TM) fiber glass building insulation, which can provide improved indoor air quality and is environmentally friendly because it contains more certified post-consumer recycled glass than other fiber glass insulation. The company's ComfortTherm(R) insulation is wrapped in plastic for more comfortable installation with less itch and dust, and its Mold-Resistant(R) Faced insulation makes JM the preferred choice for damp climates and environments. Additionally, JM offers EasyFit(R), a vertically perforated batt that increases ease of installation, eliminating the need to cut insulation to fit tight spaces.

"Adding fiber glass insulation is one of the best ways homeowners can reduce home heating and cooling costs and conserve energy," said Mike Lawrence, vice president and general manager for JM's Insulation Systems business. "Lowe's was named the 2009 Energy Star Retail Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, which reinforces why they are an ideal partner."

While Lowe's already offers Johns Manville insulation products in nearly 600 stores, the company expects the full line of innovative products to be available in all Lowe's stores over the next several months.

About Johns Manville

Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B), is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality products for building insulation, mechanical insulation, commercial roofing, and roof insulation, as well as fibers and nonwovens for commercial, industrial, and residential applications. JM serves markets that include aerospace, automotive and transportation, air handling, appliance, HVAC, pipe and equipment, filtration, waterproofing, building, flooring, interiors, and wind energy. In business since 1858, the Denver-based company has annual sales in excess of $2 billion and holds leadership positions in all of the key markets that it serves. JM employs approximately 7,000 people and operates 40 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China. For more information, visit jmhomeowner.com.

About Lowe's

With fiscal year 2008 sales of $48.2 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 14 million customers a week at more than 1,675 home improvement stores in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

    Source: Lowe's Companies, Inc.