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TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ý ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009

OR

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                        to                         

Commission file number 1-9753

GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No ý

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No ý

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý No o

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o No o

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ý

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer o    Accelerated filer o    Non-accelerated filer ý    Smaller reporting company o

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No ý

         Aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, computed using the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange for the registrant's common stock on June 30, 2009 was $22,162,928.

         Indicate the number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock as of the latest practicable date.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
(To the Extent Indicated Herein)

Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 18, 2010, in Part III of this Form 10-K.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

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PART I

Item 1.    BUSINESS.

General

        Georgia Gulf Corporation is a leading North American manufacturer and international marketer of two integrated chemical product lines, chlorovinyls and aromatics. Our primary chlorovinyls products are chlorine, caustic soda, ethylene dichloride ("EDC"), vinyl chloride monomer ("VCM"), vinyl resins, vinyl compounds and compound additives; and our aromatics products are cumene, phenol and acetone. On October 3, 2006, we completed the acquisition of Royal Group Technologies Limited, which was subsequently renamed Royal Group, Inc. ("Royal Group"), a leading North American manufacturer and marketer of vinyl-based building and home improvement products. Royal Group's core businesses now consist of five product lines: (i) window and door profiles; (ii) mouldings; (iii) siding; (iv) pipe and pipe fittings; and (v) deck, fence and rail products.

        The Royal Group acquisition furthered our chlorovinyls forward integration strategy by providing a growth platform that leverages Georgia Gulf's vinyl resins and vinyl compounds formulation expertise, which we have refined over the last 20 years, with Royal Group's experience and innovative product development. We believe the acquisition will allow us to strengthen our competitive position through further penetration of Royal Group's markets. The following chart illustrates our chlorovinyls and building and home improvement products integration.

Recapitalization

        We completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding common stock of Royal Group in 2006 for a total purchase price, including assumed debt and debt retired in conjunction with the closing, of approximately $1.5 billion. The acquisition was financed entirely with new debt, including $500.0 million in aggregate principal amount of new senior notes, $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of new senior subordinated notes and $800.0 million principal amount of floating interest rate term debt under a new senior secured credit facility.

        Demand for our building and home improvement products declined during 2008 as compared to 2007 primarily as a result of U.S. housing starts decreasing by about 33 percent according to a report furnished

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jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in January 2009. Similarly, in 2008 our chlorovinyls segment experienced decreased demand compared to 2007, primarily as a result of a continued weakness in the U.S. residential housing market.

        As a result of the significant impact of the recession on the residential construction industry, we were required to obtain numerous waivers and amendments of certain restrictive covenants that required us to maintain certain financial ratios under our senior secured credit facility. In early 2009, we began to take actions to recapitalize our company.

        On March 31, 2009, we commenced private exchange offers for our outstanding 7.125 percent senior notes due 2013 (the "2013 notes"), 9.5 percent senior notes due 2014 (the "2014 notes"), and 10.75 percent senior subordinated notes due 2016 (the "2016 notes" and collectively with the 2013 notes and 2014 notes, the "notes") and, in conjunction with the private exchange offers, withheld payment of $34.5 million of interest due April 15, 2009 for the 2014 and 2016 notes. After numerous extensions and amendments of the exchange offers and additional waivers and amendments under our senior secured credit facility, on July 29, 2009, we consummated our private exchange of equity for approximately $736.0 million (principal amount), or 92.0 percent, in aggregate principal amount of the notes. The $736.0 million was comprised of $91.0 million of the $100 million of 2013 notes, $486.8 million of the $500 million of 2014 notes, and $158.1 million of the $200 million of 2016 notes. An aggregate of approximately 30.2 million shares of convertible preferred stock and approximately 1.3 million shares of common stock were issued in exchange for the tendered notes after giving effect to a 1-for-25 reverse stock split, which reduced the outstanding common shares, before the issuance of common shares in the debt exchange, to approximately 1.4 million shares. In preparation and prior to this debt for equity exchange, we executed a 1-for-25 reverse stock split. In September 2009, following an amendment of our charter to increase our authorized shares of common stock to 100 million shares, approximately 30.2 million convertible preferred shares converted to an equal number of common shares. After giving effect to the debt exchange at December 31, 2009, we had outstanding $9.0 million of the 2013 notes, $13.2 million of the 2014 notes and $41.4 million of the 2016 notes. This debt for equity exchange was a troubled debt restructuring and thus an extinguishment of the notes for which we recognized a net gain of $400.8 million, or approximately $16.61 per share.

        On December 22, 2009, we refinanced our senior secured credit facility and our $175.0 million asset securitization agreement. At the time of the refinancing, our senior secured credit facility was comprised of a $300.0 million revolving credit facility and a $347.7 million Term Loan B. We replaced the senior secured credit facility and asset securitization facility with a four-year term secured asset—based revolving credit facility that provides for a maximum of $300 million of revolving credit (including credit in the form of letters of credit and swingline loans) through December 2013, subject to borrowing base availability and other terms and conditions (the "ABL Revolver") and the issuance of $500.0 million in principal amount of our 9.0 percent senior secured notes. The borrowing base under the ABL Revolver is equal to specified percentages of our eligible accounts receivable and inventories, less a fixed $15 million availability reserve and other reserves reasonably determined by the co-collateral agents. The borrowings under the ABL Revolver are secured by substantially all of our assets.

        The $500.0 million of senior secured 9.0 percent notes are due in 2017. The 9.0 percent notes are secured by substantially all of our assets and contain certain restrictive covenants including restrictions on debt incurrence, granting of liens, dividends, acquisitions and investments.

        Our new capital structure significantly reduces our interest expense to approximately $70 million to $80 million annually from approximately $130 million in recent years and substantially eliminates quarterly maintenance covenants that were part of our debt agreements under our previous capital structure. However, we cannot be certain that our annual interest expense will always fall within a range of $70 million to $80 million, as the borrowings under our ABL Revolver are subject to variable interest rates, and thus, could increase substantially over time.

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Segment Information

        We operate through four reportable segments: chlorovinyls; window and door profiles and mouldings products; outdoor building products; and aromatics. These four reportable segments reflect the organization used by our management for purposes of allocating resources and assessing performance. The chlorovinyls segment is a highly integrated chain of products, which includes chlorine, caustic soda, EDC, VCM and vinyl resins, vinyl compounds and compound additives. Through the Royal Group acquisition, we acquired manufacturing facilities for vinyl-based building and home improvement products. Our vinyl-based building and home improvement products are primarily marketed under the Royal Group brand names, and are managed within two reportable segments, window and door profiles and mouldings; and outdoor building products, which includes the manufacturing of siding, pipe and pipe fittings and deck, fence, and rail products. The aromatics segment includes cumene and the co-products phenol, acetone and alpha methyl styrene ("AMS").

        For selected financial information concerning our four reportable segments and our domestic and international sales, see Note 19 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8.

Plant Closings and Temporary Plant Idlings

        In May 2009, we announced plans to consolidate two plants in our window and door profiles and mouldings segment. As part of this plan, our window and door profiles plant in McCarran, Nevada was closed in November 2009 and one of our window and door profiles manufacturing plants in Vaughan, Ontario was closed in December 2009.

        The phenol industry suffered from industry-wide supply and demand imbalance primarily as a result of capacity that was brought online in 1999 and 2000. Rather than continue running both of our phenol/acetone plants of our aromatics segment at lower capacity utilization rates, management temporarily idled the Pasadena, Texas phenol/acetone plant in the second quarter of 2002. Subsequently, we have been able to continue to meet all of our customers' needs with phenol/acetone production from our Plaquemine, Louisiana plant. We intend to restart the Pasadena, Texas phenol/acetone plant when market conditions warrant. The net book value of our idled Pasadena, Texas phenol/acetone plant was approximately $0.7 million as of December 31, 2009 and is included in property, plant and equipment on our consolidated balance sheet.

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Products and Markets

Chlorovinyls

        The chlorovinyls segment is a highly integrated chain of products, which includes chlorine, caustic soda, EDC, VCM, vinyl resins, vinyl compounds and compound additives. We have leading market positions in our key chemical products. In North America, we are one of the largest producers of VCM, vinyl resins, and vinyl compounds. The following table shows our total annual production capacities as of December 31, 2009, in our chlorovinyls product line:

        Vinyl Compounds and Compound Additives.    Vinyl compounds are formulated to provide specific end-use properties that allow them to be processed directly into finished products. We produce flexible and rigid compounds, which are used in many different applications, including wire and cable insulation and jacketing, electrical outlet boxes and pipe fittings, window and furniture profiles and food-grade and general-purpose bottles. We also supply chlorinated vinyl compounds, or CPVC, to the extrusion and injection molding markets, mainly for production of hot water pipe and pipe fittings.

        We have four vinyl compound facilities located in Aberdeen, Gallman, Madison and Prairie, Mississippi. As a result of the Royal Group acquisition, we acquired several vinyl compound manufacturing facilities in Vaughan, Ontario and a compound additives manufacturing facility located in Bradford, Ontario. Additionally, certain Royal Group extrusion plants contain compounding facilities. Substantially all of the vinyl compounds produced by Royal Group are used internally in Royal Group's extrusion operations. The additives plant produces lubricants, stabilizers, impact modifiers and process aids used in the production of compounds, which are part of the typical compound formulations. The majority of our additives are consumed internally.

        Vinyl Resins.    Vinyl resins are among the most widely used plastics in the world today, and we supply numerous grades of vinyl resins to a broad number of end-use markets. During 2009, approximately 69 percent of Georgia Gulf's vinyl resins production was sold into the merchant market where our vinyl resins were used in a wide variety of flexible and rigid vinyl end-use applications. In 2009, the largest end-uses of our products were for pipe and pipe fittings, siding and window profiles. Approximately 31 percent of our vinyl resins are used internally in the manufacture of our vinyl compounds and vinyl building products.

        VCM.    During 2009, we used about 99 percent of our VCM production in the manufacture of vinyl resins in our PVC manufacturing operations. VCM production not used internally is sold to other vinyl resins producers in domestic and international markets.

        Chlor-alkali Products.    All of the chlorine we produce is used internally in the production of VCM. As a co-product of chlorine, caustic soda further diversifies our revenue base. We sell substantially all of our caustic soda domestically and overseas to customers in numerous industries, with the pulp and paper, chemical and alumina industries constituting our largest markets. Other markets for our caustic soda include soap and detergents and the water treatment industries.

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Window and Door Profiles and Mouldings

        In our window and door profiles and mouldings segment, we currently operate 11 manufacturing facilities located in Canada and the U.S. In addition we operate distribution centers, some of which are co-located with manufacturing plants. The window and door profiles and mouldings segment consists of extruded vinyl window and door profiles as well as interior and exterior mouldings, in which we have leading market positions.

        Window and Door Profiles.    Our window and door profiles products represent the largest portion of revenues within our building and home improvement products lines. We manufacture and extrude vinyl window profiles including frames, sashes, trim and other components, as well as vinyl patio door components and fabricated patio doors, which are sold primarily to window and door fabricators. Our sales are primarily to the custom segment of the vinyl window profile market with the profile design customized to a window fabricator's specific requirements.

        Mouldings.    We manufacture and market extruded decorative mouldings and millwork. Our decorative trim products are used for interior mouldings, such as crown, base and chair rail. For exterior mouldings, our products are used in applications such as brick mouldings, and as components used in the fabrication of doors, windows and spas. This product line includes a series of offerings, such as bendable trim and paintable/stainable trim.

Outdoor Building Products

        In our outdoor building products segment, our continuing operations include 11 manufacturing facilities, which produce siding, pipe and pipe fittings, deck, fence and rail, and fabricated aluminum products. In addition, we operate distribution centers, some of which are co-located with manufacturing plants and 21 of which are free-standing facilities.

        Siding.    We manufacture vinyl siding, and we also offer a wide range of complementary accessories including vinyl soffit, aluminum soffit, fascia and trim and molded vent mounts and exterior shutters. We have a broad product offering of vinyl siding styles, including a premium vinyl siding that includes rich, dark, color-fast shades as well as a siding system, which enables siding panels to withstand harsh wind conditions.

        Pipe and Pipe Fittings.    We manufacture pipe and pipe fittings for the municipal and electrical markets, as well as pipe for plumbing applications. Our municipal pipe and pipe fittings product lines are used in potable water applications as well as for storm and sewer applications. Our plumbing lines are used in residential and industrial applications to move storm and sanitary wastewater from the building to the municipal sewer at the property line. This product line is primarily targeted at drain, waste and vent applications. Electrical, pipe, conduit and fittings are available in a wide variety of sizes and configurations, to meet the needs of both commercial and residential applications.

        Deck, Fence and Rail.    We manufacture vinyl deck, fence and rail products that are used for both the do-it-yourself ("D-I-Y") and professionally installed segments of the market. Products directed at the D-I-Y segment such as D-I-Y fencing are made in pre-built sections designed for quick and easy installation, and are sold through big-box home improvement retail stores. We offer many different fence styles for the professional installer. We also offer decorative columns and rail to complement our fence products. Royal Group's deck, fence and rail product lines are positioned as a lower-maintenance alternative to conventional wood and metal products.

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Aromatics

        The aromatics segment is also integrated and includes cumene and the co-products phenol and acetone. We operate the world's largest cumene plant.

        The following table shows our total annual production capacities as of December 31, 2009 in our aromatics product line:

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Capacity includes our plant in Pasadena (160 million pounds of phenol and 100 million pounds of acetone), which has been temporarily idled.

        Cumene.    Cumene is used as an intermediate to make phenol and acetone. About 31 percent of our cumene was consumed internally during 2009 to produce phenol and acetone. Cumene production not used internally is sold to other phenol and acetone manufacturers in domestic and international markets, and is sold as an additive in gasoline blending.

        Phenol.    Our phenol is sold to a broad base of customers who are producers of a variety of phenolic resins, engineering plastics and specialty chemicals. Phenolic resins are used as adhesives for wood products such as plywood and Oriented Strand Board, or OSB. Engineering plastics are used in compact discs, digital video discs, automobiles, household appliances, electronics and protective coating applications. We also sell phenol for use in insulation, electrical parts, oil additives and chemical intermediates. In 2009, the largest sales segment of our phenol was the chemical/specialty chemical sector.

        Acetone.    As a co-product of phenol, acetone further diversifies our revenue base. Acetone is a chemical used primarily in the production of acrylic resins, engineering plastics and industrial solvents. We sell the majority of our acetone into the acrylic resins market, where it is used in the manufacture of various plastics and coatings used for signage, automotive parts, household appliances, paints and industrial coatings. Other uses range from solvents for automotive and industrial applications to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Production, Raw Materials and Facilities

        Our operations are highly vertically integrated as a result of our production of some of the key raw materials and intermediates used in the manufacture of our products. Our operational integration enhances our control over production costs and capacity utilization rates, as compared to our non-integrated competitors.

        Chemical Products.    In our chlorovinyls segment, we produce chlorine and its co-product caustic soda by electrolysis of salt brine. We produce VCM by reacting purchased ethylene with chlorine, which is both produced internally and purchased from third parties; our internal production of VCM slightly exceeds our internal demand requirements. We produce vinyl resins by polymerization of VCM in a batch reactor process. We formulate our vinyl compounds by blending our vinyl resins with various additives such as plasticizers, impact modifiers, stabilizers and pigments, most of which are purchased. We also have the capacity to produce EDC, an intermediate in the manufacture of VCM, for external sales. In our aromatics segment, we produce cumene utilizing benzene and refinery grade propylene ("propylene") purchased from third parties. Cumene is then oxidized to produce cumene hydroperoxide, which is split into the co-products phenol and acetone.

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        The significant raw materials we purchase from third parties include ethylene, benzene, natural gas, propylene, compound additives and chlorine. The majority of our purchases of ethylene and chlorine are made under long-term supply agreements, and we purchase natural gas, benzene and propylene in both the open market and under long-term contracts. We believe we have reliable sources of supply for our raw materials under normal market conditions. We cannot, however, predict the likelihood or impact of any future raw material shortages. Any shortages could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.

        Plaquemine, Louisiana Facilities.    Our operations at these facilities include the production of chlorine, caustic soda, VCM, vinyl resins, phenol and acetone. We have a long-term lease on a nearby salt dome with reserves in excess of twenty years from which we supply our salt brine requirements. We use all of our chlorine production in the manufacture of VCM at this facility, and we sell substantially all of our caustic soda production externally. All of the ethylene requirements for our VCM production are supplied by pipeline. Most of our Plaquemine VCM production is consumed on-site in our vinyl resins production or shipped to our other vinyl resins facilities with the remainder sold to third parties. We manufacture a significant portion of our vinyl resins production at this facility. As part of a modernization project at this facility completed in 2007, we increased our vinyl resins production capacity by approximately 450 million pounds annually. Our cumene requirements for the production of phenol and its co-product acetone are shipped from our Pasadena, Texas facility by dedicated barges.

        Our 250-megawatt cogeneration facility supplies all of the electricity and steam needs at our Plaquemine facilities. We also own an on-site air separation unit operated by a third party that provides all of the Plaquemine facility's nitrogen and oxygen gas requirements.

        Lake Charles, Louisiana Facilities.    We produce VCM at our Lake Charles, Louisiana facility and through our manufacturing joint venture, PHH Monomers, LLC, which is located in close proximity to our Lake Charles VCM facility. PHH Monomers is a joint venture with PPG Industries, Inc. that entitles us to 50 percent of the VCM production. Virtually all of the chlorine and ethylene needs of our Lake Charles VCM facility and PHH Monomers facility are supplied by pipeline. VCM from these facilities supplies our Aberdeen, Mississippi facility. On occasion, a small portion of VCM produced at the Lake Charles facilities is sold on spot sales to third parties.

        Aberdeen, Mississippi Facility.    We produce vinyl resins at our Aberdeen, Mississippi facility from VCM supplied by railcar from our various VCM facilities. In addition, the Aberdeen facility produces plasticizers, which are consumed internally for flexible vinyl compound production.

        Vinyl Compounds and Compound Additives Facilities.    We operate compound facilities in Aberdeen, Gallman, Madison and Prairie, Mississippi and Vaughan, Ontario. We also produce vinyl compounds in certain of our extrusion plants. All of these vinyl compound facilities are supplied from our vinyl resins facilities by railcar, truck or in the case of Aberdeen, pipeline. Additionally, we produce some of our compound additives at our Bradford, Ontario facility and purchase the remainder from various sources at market prices.

        Pasadena, Texas Facilities.    At our Pasadena, Texas facilities we have the capability to produce cumene, phenol and acetone. We produce cumene utilizing purchased benzene and propylene. Our cumene facility is integrated by pipeline with our phenol and acetone facility at Pasadena. Currently, due to the temporary idling of phenol and acetone production at Pasadena (discussed above), all of the cumene production at this facility is either shipped to the Plaquemine phenol and acetone facility or sold to third parties. We purchase propylene and benzene at market prices from various suppliers delivered by multiple transportation modes to our cumene facility. A portion of the benzene is supplied under contracts at market prices, and the propylene is provided from numerous refineries at market prices. Based on current industry capacity, we believe we have adequate access to benzene and propylene under normal conditions.

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        Building and Home Improvement Products.    In our building and home improvement product lines, we produce vinyl window and door profiles, mouldings, siding, pipe and pipe fittings, and deck, fence and rail products. The principal raw material we use in production is vinyl resin, which is blended with other compound additives to form vinyl compounds, which are then extruded or injection molded. We believe internal production of vinyl resins, compounds and most compound additives by our chlorovinyls segment assures quality and facilitates efficient production of our vinyl-based products. Additives assist in processing vinyl resins efficiently and can be used to make the resulting product flexible or rigid, to add color or texture or other desired properties. For example, UV inhibitors may be added to protect an exterior product from sun damage, which could cause fading.

        Extrusion is a process by which vinyl compounds are heated until they melt and then forced through a uniquely shaped opening, referred to as a die, to form various shapes and thickness. For example, when producing decking, a slip resistant design may be embossed onto the planks. Variations in extrusion are used to give products other desired qualities. For example, in producing mouldings and some deck products, we use cellular extrusion, which involves the process of encapsulating air bubbles in the vinyl extrusion, which reduces weight and cost. As the extruded product leaves the die, it is immediately cooled resulting in resolidification of the vinyl into a product matching the die pattern. Cooling is accomplished by using water and/or air.

        We also produce some pipe fittings through injection molding. These products are produced by heating vinyl compounds until they melt and then injecting them under pressure into a hollow mold to create three dimensional parts.

        Facilities.    We operate numerous manufacturing facilities in Canada and the U.S. to produce our building and home improvement products. Vinyl resins and vinyl compounds as well as compound additives from the plants operated by our chlorovinyls segment are supplied to our facilities by truck or rail. We also purchase additional additives from various sources at market prices. The other principal cost to produce these products is electricity to power our facilities.

        Operation of numerous manufacturing facilities located strategically near customers, such as is the case in our window and door profiles division, facilitates marketing and customer support and also minimizes transportation costs. Transportation costs limit sales of pipe from our facilities. Because our pipe plants are located in Ontario and British Columbia, sales of our pipe are concentrated within the northeastern and northwestern portions of Canada and the U.S. Our building and home improvement products are delivered primarily by truck.

Seasonality

        Operating income for all four of our reportable segments is affected by the seasonality of the construction industry, which experiences its highest level of activity during the spring and summer months. Therefore, our second and third quarter operating results are typically the strongest. Our first and fourth quarter operating results usually reflect a decrease in construction activity due to colder weather and holidays.

Inventory Practices and Product Returns

        In our chlorovinyls business, by the nature of our products, we do not maintain significant inventories and product returns are insignificant.

        As is typical for the industry, in our home improvement and building products business, we maintain stocks of inventories in most of our product lines. We generally build additional inventory in advance of the peak construction season to assure product availability.

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        Generally, our home improvement and building products may be returned only if defective. However, in certain circumstances, we may allow the return of products as a customer accommodation, such as in the case of a change in product lines.

Sales and Marketing

        No single customer accounted for more than 6 percent of our consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007. In addition to our domestic sales, we export some of our products.

        Chemical Products.    Our sales and marketing program is aimed at supporting our existing customers and expanding and diversifying our customer base. In our chemicals business, we have a dedicated sales force organized by product line and region. In addition, we use distributors to market products to smaller customers. We have a product development and technical service staff that primarily supports our vinyl resins and vinyl compounds businesses. This staff works closely with customers to qualify existing Georgia Gulf products for use by our customers.

        Building and Home Improvement Products.    In our building products business, sales and marketing activities vary by product line and distribution channel. Our window and door profiles are primarily sold by our dedicated sales force and supported by marketing support activities that may include brochure development for window fabricators, technical advisory and design services for fabricators and advertising directed at installers suggesting that they look for windows fabricated with Royal Group profiles. Our mouldings products are distributed primarily by our dedicated sales force to independent dealers, fabricators, distributors and home centers, who resell the products directly to builders, installers or homeowners. The majority of our vinyl siding and accessories sales are in North America, where products are distributed through independent building product distributors, who are solicited primarily by Royal Group's dedicated sales force. In Canada, vinyl siding and accessories are distributed through company-owned as well as independent building product distributors. These distributors generally sell to professional building product installers in North America. Sales of pipe and pipe fittings are generally sold through municipal and electrical distributors. Our sales and technical staff work with end use customers to provide technical information to promote the use of our PVC pipe and fitting products. The majority of pipe and pipe fitting sales occur in Canada, where products are sold nationally through pipe distributors to contractors. In the United States, we sell our pipe fittings nationally, but sell our pipe only in the Northeast and Northwest due to close proximity to Canadian manufacturing plants and higher costs associated with shipping to other regions. Deck, fence and rail products are sold through retail home improvement stores, and are also sold to professionals through distributors. The sales force for these products is primarily company employees. Royal Group engages in advertising programs primarily directed at trade professionals that are intended to develop awareness and interest in its products. In addition, Royal Group displays its products at a series of national and regional trade shows.

Competition

        We experience competition from numerous manufacturers in our chlorovinyls, aromatics and building and home improvement products businesses. We compete on a variety of factors including price, product quality, delivery and technical service.

        In our chemicals business, we face competition from numerous manufacturers of chemicals and vinyl resins and compounds. In our building and home improvement products business, we face competition for each of our products from other manufacturers of vinyl products as well as numerous manufacturers of traditional building materials. We believe that our vinyl building and home improvement products are preferred by builders and homeowners because of their durability and ease of installation and maintenance as compared to traditional building materials. In the window and door profile market, we face competition from manufacturers of wood, aluminum and fiberglass products. In the siding market, we face competition

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from manufacturers of cement, brick, wood, stucco, stone, concrete and aluminum products. We face competition from manufacturers of concrete and metal products in the pipe and pipe fittings market. Similarly, we face competition from manufacturers of composite materials, wood and metal products in the deck, fence and rail markets. In addition, competition for certain price sensitive products from countries such as China is increasing.

        In all businesses, we believe that we are well-positioned to compete as a result of integrated product lines and the operational efficiency of our plants and, in the case of our chemical plants, the proximity of our facilities near major water and/or rail transportation terminals. We also believe that for many of our extruded products, our ability to produce our dies internally is a competitive advantage over producers who must rely on third parties. For example, we believe our ability to produce our own dies generally results in our responding more quickly and efficiently to the customer. Finally, we believe the breadth of our extruded building and home improvement product lines to be a source of competitive advantage.

Environmental Regulation

        Our operations are subject to increasingly stringent federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental quality. These regulations, which are enforced principally by the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("USEPA") and comparable state agencies and Canadian federal and provincial agencies, govern the management of solid hazardous waste, emissions into the air and discharges into surface and underground waters, and the manufacture of chemical substances. In addition to the matters involving environmental regulation above and the matters discussed in Item 3 "Legal Proceedings," we have the following potential environmental issues.

        In the first quarter of 2007, the USEPA informed us of possible noncompliance at our Aberdeen, Mississippi facility with certain provisions of the Toxic Substances Control Act. Subsequently, we discovered possible non-compliance involving our Plaquemine, Louisiana and Pasadena, Texas facilities, which were then disclosed. We expect that all of these disclosures will be resolved in one settlement agreement with USEPA. While the penalties, if any, for such noncompliance may exceed $100,000, we do not expect that any penalties will have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

        There are several serious environmental issues concerning the VCM facility at Lake Charles, Louisiana we acquired from CONDEA Vista Company ("CONDEA Vista" is now Sasol North America, Inc.) on November 12, 1999. Substantial investigation of the groundwater at the site has been conducted, and groundwater contamination was first identified in 1981. Groundwater remediation through the installation of groundwater recovery wells began in 1984. The site currently contains an extensive network of monitoring wells and recovery wells. Investigation to determine the full extent of the contamination is ongoing. It is possible that offsite groundwater recovery will be required, in addition to groundwater monitoring. Soil remediation could also be required.

        Investigations are currently underway by federal environmental authorities concerning contamination of an estuary near the Lake Charles VCM facility we acquired known as the Calcasieu Estuary. It is likely that this estuary will be listed as a Superfund site and will be the subject of a natural resource damage recovery claim. It is estimated that there are about 200 potentially responsible parties ("PRPs") associated with the estuary contamination. CONDEA Vista is included among these parties with respect to its Lake Charles facilities, including the VCM facility we acquired. The estimated cost for investigation and remediation of the estuary is unknown and could be quite costly. Also, Superfund statutes may impose joint and several liabilities for the cost of investigations and remedial actions on any company that generated the waste, arranged for disposal of the waste, transported the waste to the disposal site, selected the disposal site, or presently or formerly owned, leased or operated the disposal site or a site otherwise contaminated by hazardous substances. Any or all of the responsible parties may be required to bear all of the costs of cleanup regardless of fault, legality of the original disposal or ownership of the disposal site.

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Currently, we discharge our wastewater to CONDEA Vista, which has a permit to discharge treated wastewater into the estuary.

        CONDEA Vista has agreed to retain responsibility for substantially all environmental liabilities and remediation activity relating to the vinyls business we acquired from it, including the Lake Charles, Louisiana VCM facility. For all matters of environmental contamination that were currently known at the time of acquisition (November 1999), we may make a claim for indemnification at any time. For environmental matters that were then unknown, we must generally have made such claims for indemnification before November 12, 2009. No such material claims were made.

        At our Lake Charles VCM facility, CONDEA Vista continued to conduct the ongoing remediation at its expense until November 12, 2009. We are now responsible for remediation costs up to about $150,000 of expense per year, as well as costs in any year in excess of this annual amount up to an aggregate one-time amount of about $2.3 million. As part of our ongoing assessment of our environmental contingencies, we determined these remediation costs to be probable and estimable and therefore maintained a $2.2 million accrual in non-current liabilities at December 31, 2009.

        As for employee and independent contractor exposure claims, CONDEA Vista is responsible for exposures before November 12, 2009, and we are responsible for exposures after November 12, 2009, on a pro rata basis determined by years of employment or service before and after November 12, 1999, by any claimant.

        In May 2008, our corporate management was informed that further efforts to remediate a spill of styrene reducer at our Royal Mouldings facility in Atkins, Virginia would be necessary. The spill was the result of a supply line rupture from an external holding tank. As a result of this spill, the facility entered into a voluntary remediation agreement with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality ("VDEQ") in August 2003 and began implementing the terms of the voluntary agreement shortly thereafter. In August 2007, the facility submitted a report on the progress of the remediation to the VDEQ. Subsequently, the VDEQ responded by indicating that continued remediation of the area impacted by the spill is required. While the additional remediation costs may exceed $100,000, we do not expect such costs will have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

        We believe that we are in material compliance with all current environmental laws and regulations. We estimate that any expenses incurred in maintaining compliance with these requirements will not materially affect earnings or cause us to exceed our level of anticipated capital expenditures. However, there can be no assurance that regulatory requirements will not change, and it is not possible to accurately predict the aggregate cost of compliance resulting from any such changes.

        Although we are not aware of any significant environmental liabilities associated with Royal Group, should any arise, we would have no third party indemnities for environmental liabilities, including liabilities resulting from Royal Group's operations prior to our acquisition of the company.

Employees

        As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, we had 3,489 and 4,463, respectively, full-time employees. The decrease in number of employees represents part of management's continuing cost reduction strategy. We employ approximately 444 employees under collective bargaining agreements that expire at various times from 2010 through 2014. We believe our relationships with our employees are good.

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Available Information

        We make available free of charge on our website at www.ggc.com our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

Item 1A.    RISK FACTORS.

        Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by the risks described below as well as the other risks described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The chemical industry is cyclical and volatile, experiencing alternating periods of tight supply and overcapacity, and the building products industry is also cyclical. This cyclicality adversely impacts our capacity utilization and causes fluctuations in our results of operations.

        Our historical operating results for our chemical businesses have tended to reflect the cyclical and volatile nature of the chemical industry. Historically, periods of tight supply have resulted in increased prices and profit margins and have been followed by periods of substantial capacity addition, resulting in oversupply and declining prices and profit margins. A number of our chemical products are highly dependent on markets that are particularly cyclical, such as the building and construction, paper and pulp, and automotive markets. As a result of changes in demand for our products, our operating rates and earnings fluctuate significantly, not only from year to year but also from quarter to quarter, depending on factors such as feedstock costs, transportation costs, and supply and demand for the product produced at the facility during that period. As a result, individual facilities may operate below or above rated capacities in any period. We may idle a facility for an extended period of time because an oversupply of a certain product or a lack of demand for that product makes production uneconomical. Facility shutdown and subsequent restart expenses may adversely affect quarterly results when these events occur. In addition, a temporary shutdown may become permanent, resulting in a write-down or write-off of the related assets. Capacity expansions or the announcement of these expansions have generally led to a decline in the pricing of our chemical products in the affected product line. We cannot assure that future growth in product demand will be sufficient to utilize any additional capacity.

        In addition, the building products industry is cyclical and seasonal and is significantly affected by changes in national and local economic and other conditions such as employment levels, demographic trends, availability of financing, interest rates and consumer confidence, which factors could negatively affect the demand for and pricing of our building products. For example, if interest rates increase, the ability of prospective buyers to finance purchases of home improvement products and invest in new real estate could be adversely affected, which, in turn, could adversely affect our financial performance. In response to the recent significant decline in the market for our building and home improvement products, we have closed facilities and sold certain businesses and assets. We are continuing to take further actions and implement cost control initiatives; however, it is uncertain as to when demand will return, or whether demand for our products will decline further, and when these businesses will return to profitability.

Our substantial level of indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition and prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under our senior secured notes and our other indebtedness or force us to take other actions to satisfy these obligations.

        We have substantial indebtedness which requires significant interest payments, including interest payments of approximately $63 million in 2010, based on interest rates in effect at December 31, 2009. As of December 31, 2009, we had total indebtedness of $739.0 million, including $500.0 million outstanding under our 9.0 percent notes, $56.5 million drawn under the new asset-based revolving credit facility that

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provides for a maximum of $300 million of revolving credit, subject to borrowing base availability and other terms and conditions (the "ABL Revolver"), $106.4 million of lease financing obligations, $22.1 million of senior unsecured notes, $41.4 million of senior subordinated notes and $15.9 million of other debt. As of December 31, 2009, we had $134.5 million of undrawn availability under our new ABL Revolver, after giving effect to $45.2 million of outstanding letters of credit. Our high level of indebtedness could have important consequences. For example, it could:

•

make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations, exposing us to the risk of default, which could result in a foreclosure on our assets, which, in turn, would negatively affect our ability to operate as a going concern;



•

require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to interest and principal payments on our indebtedness, reducing the availability of our cash flow for other purposes, such as capital expenditures, acquisitions, dividends and working capital;



•

limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industries in which we operate;



•

increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;



•

place us at a disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt;



•

expose us to fluctuations in the interest rate environment because the interest rates on borrowings under our new ABL Revolver are variable;



•

increase our cost of borrowing; and



•

limit our ability to borrow additional funds.

If our cash flows are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to sell assets, seek additional capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness. These alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. In addition, the terms of existing or future debt agreements, including our new ABL Revolver and the indenture relating to our 9.0 percent notes may restrict us from pursuing any of these alternatives. However, if we satisfy the various restrictive conditions in our debt agreements that address our ability to incur additional indebtedness, and we incur additional new debt, the risks associated with our high level of indebtedness could intensify.

Our new ABL Revolver and the indenture governing the 9.0 percent notes impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us and our subsidiaries, which may prevent us from capitalizing on business opportunities and taking some actions.

        The agreements that govern the terms of our debt, including our new ABL Revolver and the indenture that governs the 9.0 percent notes, impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us. These restrictions limit our ability to, among other things:

•

incur additional indebtedness;



•

incur liens;



•

make investments and sell assets, including the stock of subsidiaries;



•

pay dividends and make other distributions;



•

purchase our stock;



•

engage in business activities unrelated to our current business;



•

enter into transactions with affiliates; or



•

consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets.

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As a result of these covenants and restrictions, we will be limited in how we conduct our business and we may be unable to raise additional debt or equity financing to compete effectively or to take advantage of new business opportunities. The terms of any future indebtedness we may incur could include more restrictive covenants. A breach of any of these covenants could result in a default in respect of the related indebtedness. If a default occurs, the relevant lenders could elect to declare the indebtedness, together with accrued interest and other fees, to be due and payable immediately and proceed against any collateral securing that indebtedness.

        Furthermore, there are limitations on our ability to incur the full $300.0 million of commitments under our new ABL Revolver. Borrowings under our new ABL Revolver are limited by a specified borrowing base consisting of a percentage of eligible accounts receivable and inventory, less customary reserves. In addition, if our availability under the ABL Revolver falls below a certain amount, we will be subject to a minimum fixed charge maintenance covenant, which will require us to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.1 to 1.0. Our ability to meet the required fixed charge coverage ratio can be affected by events beyond our control, and we cannot assure you we will meet this ratio. A breach of any of these covenants could result in a default under our new ABL Revolver.

A further deterioration in business conditions, or material interruption in our operations, could cause us to default on our indebtedness, which could result in loss of our sources of liquidity, or an acceleration of our principal indebtedness.

        We principally operate in the North American chemicals and building products markets, which have suffered a substantial decline as a result of the severe downturn in the U.S. housing industry and the general worldwide recession resulting in a reduced demand for our products. In response principally to our resulting weakened financial condition, in July 2009, we completed equity-for-debt exchanges, which substantially reduced our debt and relieved us of certain covenant obligations and we obtained amendments to the financial covenants in our senior secured credit agreement. In December 2009 we entered into a new ABL Revolver because, among other things, it does not require compliance with maximum leverage ratios. While we believe that we should be able to meet the covenants under the new ABL Revolver, we may be unable to do so, particularly if business conditions further deteriorate to a material degree, or we suffer significant interruption of our operations. Further, deteriorating business conditions could result in declines in our accounts receivable and inventories thereby lowering the availability of borrowings under the ABL Revolver. In any of these events, we would need to seek an amendment to, or a waiver or refinancing of, our new ABL Revolver, although there can be no assurance that we could do so, and even if we do, it is likely that such relief would significantly increase our costs through additional fees or increased rates and may only last for a specified period, potentially necessitating additional amendments, waivers or refinancing in the future. In the event we do not maintain compliance with the covenants under the new ABL Revolver, our lenders under such facility could cease making loans to us and accelerate and declare due all outstanding loans under the facility.

Natural gas, electricity, fuel and raw materials costs, and other external factors beyond our control, as well as downturns in the home repair and remodeling and new home construction sectors of the economy, can cause wide fluctuations in our margins.

        The cost of our natural gas, electricity, fuel and raw materials, and other costs, may not correlate with changes in the prices we receive for our products, either in the direction of the price change or in absolute magnitude. Natural gas and raw materials costs represent a substantial part of our manufacturing costs, and energy costs, in particular electricity and fuel, represent a component of the costs to manufacture building products. Most of the raw materials we use are commodities and the price of each can fluctuate widely for a variety of reasons, including changes in availability because of major capacity additions or significant facility operating problems. Other external factors beyond our control can cause volatility in raw materials prices, demand for our products, product prices, sales volumes and margins. These factors

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include general economic conditions, the level of business activity in the industries that use our products, competitors' actions, international events and circumstances, and governmental regulation in the United States and abroad. These factors can also magnify the impact of economic cycles on our business. While we attempt to pass through price increases in energy costs and raw materials, we have been unsuccessful in doing so in some circumstances in the past and there can be no assurance that we can do so in the future.

        Additionally, our business is impacted by changes in the North American home repair and remodeling sectors, as well as the new construction sector, which may be significantly affected by changes in economic and other conditions such as gross domestic product levels, employment levels, demographic trends, consumer confidence, increases in interest rates and availability of consumer financing for home repair and remodeling projects as well as availability of financing for new home purchases. These factors can lower the demand for and pricing of our products, which could cause our net sales and net income to decrease and require us to recognize additional impairments of our assets.

The industries in which we compete are highly competitive, with some of our competitors having greater financial and other resources than we have; competition may adversely affect our results of operations.

        The commodity chemical industry is highly competitive. Many of our competitors are larger and have greater financial and other resources and less debt than us. Moreover, barriers to entry, other than capital availability, are low in most product segments of our commodity chemical business. Capacity additions or technological advances by existing or future competitors also create greater competition, particularly in pricing. We cannot provide assurance that we will have access to the financing necessary to upgrade our facilities in response to technological advances or other competitive developments.

        In addition, we compete with other national and international manufacturers of vinyl-based building and home improvement products. Some of these companies are larger and have greater financial resources and less debt than us. Accordingly, these competitors may be better able to withstand changes in conditions within the industries in which we operate and may have significantly greater operating and financial flexibility than us. Some of these competitors, who compete with our building product lines, may also be able to compete more aggressively in pricing and could take a greater share of sales and cause us to lose business from our customers. Many of our competitors have operated in the building products industry for a long time. Additionally, our building products face competition from alternative materials: wood, metal, fiber cement and masonry in siding, wood and aluminum in windows and iron and cement in pipe and fittings. An increase in competition from other vinyl exterior building products manufacturers and alternative building materials could cause us to lose customers and lead to decreases in net sales. To the extent we lose customers in the renovation and remodeling markets, we must market to the new home construction market, which historically has experienced more fluctuations in demand.

Extensive environmental, health and safety laws and regulations impact our operations and assets; compliance with these regulations could adversely affect our results of operations.

        Our operations on and ownership of real property are subject to extensive environmental, health and safety regulation, including laws and regulations related to air emissions, water discharges, waste disposal and remediation of contaminated sites, at both the national and local levels in the U.S. We are also subject to similar regulations in Canada. The nature of the chemical and building products industries exposes us to risks of liability under these laws and regulations due to the production, storage, use, transportation and sale of materials that can cause contamination or personal injury, including, in the case of commodity chemicals, potential releases into the environment. Environmental laws may have a significant effect on the costs of use, transportation and storage of raw materials and finished products, as well as the costs of the storage and disposal of wastes. We have and must continue to incur operating and capital costs to comply with environmental laws and regulations. In addition, we may incur substantial costs, including fines, damages, criminal or civil sanctions and remediation costs, or experience interruptions in our operations for violations arising under these laws.

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        Also, some environmental laws, such as the federal Superfund statute, may impose joint and several liability for the cost of investigations and remedial actions on any company that generated the waste, arranged for disposal of the waste, transported the waste to the disposal site, selected the disposal site, or presently or formerly owned, leased or operated the disposal site or a site otherwise contaminated by hazardous substances. Any or all of the responsible parties may be required to bear all of the costs of cleanup, regardless of fault, legality of the original disposal or ownership of the disposal site. A number of environmental liabilities have been associated with the facilities at Lake Charles, Louisiana that we acquired as part of the acquisition of the vinyls business of CONDEA Vista Company ("CONDEA Vista," which is now known as Sasol North America, Inc.) and which may be designated as Superfund sites. Although CONDEA Vista retained financial responsibility for certain environmental liabilities that relate to the facilities that we acquired from it and that arose before the closing of our acquisition of the vinyls business of CONDEA Vista in November 1999, there can be no assurance that CONDEA Vista will be able to satisfy its obligations in this regard, particularly in light of the long period of time in which environmental liabilities may arise under the environmental laws. If CONDEA Vista fails to fulfill its obligation regarding its environmental liabilities, then we could be held responsible. Furthermore, any environmental liabilities relating to Royal Group will not have the benefit of any third party indemnification, including liabilities resulting from Royal Group's operations prior to our acquisition of the company.

        Our policy is to accrue costs relating to environmental matters when it is probable that these costs will be required and can be reasonably estimated. However, estimated costs for future environmental compliance and remediation may be too low or we may not be able to quantify the potential costs. We expect to be continually subjected to increasingly stringent environmental and health and safety laws and regulations. It is difficult to predict the future interpretation and development of these laws and regulations or their impact on our future earnings and operations. We anticipate continued compliance will require increased capital expenditures and increased operating costs. Any increase in these costs could adversely affect our financial performance.

        Concerns related to climate change are continuing to grow leading to efforts to limit greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions. In the fourth quarter of 2009, the EPA issued rules requiring reporting of GHG emissions in the U.S. beginning in 2010. In addition, the United States Congress is considering legislation which may require companies such as Georgia Gulf to restrict or control GHG emissions. Also, the United States has recently engaged in discussions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at Copenhagen. Such discussions may result in international treaties requiring additional controls on GHG emissions. Our non-U.S. manufacturing facilities are all in Canada which has adopted the Kyoto Protocol which seeks the reduction of GHG emissions. The cost impact of such legislation, regulation or international negotiations would depend on the specific requirements enacted and cannot be determined at this time. For example, the impact of proposed legislation relating to GHG emissions would depend on factors such as the specific GHG limits imposed and the timing of the implementation of these requirements. The EPA regulatory requirement to report GHG emissions may result in the need to install or modify monitoring equipment at certain of our U.S. manufacturing facilities to monitor GHG emissions.

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        The potential impact of these and related future international, legislative or regulatory actions on our operations cannot be predicted at this time but could be significant. Such impacts would include the potential for significant compliance costs, including capital expenditures, and could result in operating restrictions. Any increase in the costs related to these initiatives could adversely affect our financial performance.

        The heightened interest in climate change issues could have the potential to affect business operations. There is a potential for indirect consequences of climate change regulation on business trends. In addition, some have alleged an association with changes in weather patterns on climate change. The Company may, in the future, be required to expend money to defend claims based on the alleged association of climate change with changes in weather patterns.

Hazards associated with manufacturing may occur, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

        Hazards associated with chemical manufacturing as well as building products manufacturing, and the related use, storage and transportation of raw materials, products and wastes may occur in our operations. These hazards could lead to an interruption or suspension of operations and have an adverse effect on the productivity and profitability of a particular manufacturing facility or on our operations as a whole. These hazards include:

•

pipeline and storage tank leaks and ruptures;



•

explosions and fires;



•

inclement weather and natural disasters;



•

mechanical failure;



•

unscheduled downtime;



•

labor difficulties;



•

transportation interruptions;



•

remediation complications;



•

terrorist acts; and



•

chemical spills and other discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases.

These hazards may cause personal injury and loss of life, severe damage to or destruction of property and equipment, and environmental damage, any of which could lead to claims or liability under the environmental laws. Additionally, individuals could seek damages for alleged personal injury or property damage due to exposure to chemicals at our facilities or to chemicals otherwise owned, controlled or manufactured by us. We are also subject to present and future claims with respect to workplace exposure, workers' compensation and other matters. Although we maintain property, business interruption and casualty insurance of the types and in the amounts that we believe are customary for the industry, we are not fully insured against all potential hazards incident to our business.

We face potential product liability claims relating to the production and manufacture of building products.

        We are exposed to product liability risk and the risk of negative publicity if our building products do not meet customer expectations. Although we maintain insurance for products liability claims, the amount and scope of such insurance may not be adequate to cover a products liability claim that is successfully asserted against us. In addition, product liability insurance could become more expensive and difficult to maintain and, in the future, may not be available to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain or maintain adequate insurance coverage against possible products liability claims at commercially reasonable levels, or at all.

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We rely heavily on third party transportation, which subjects us to risks that we cannot control; these risks may adversely affect our operations.

        We rely heavily on railroads, barges and other shipping companies to transport raw materials to our manufacturing facilities and to ship finished product to customers. These transport operations are subject to various hazards, including extreme weather conditions, work stoppages and operating hazards, as well as interstate transportation regulations. If we are delayed or unable to ship finished product or unable to obtain raw materials as a result of these transportation companies' failure to operate properly, or if there were significant changes in the cost of these services, we may not be able to arrange efficient alternatives and timely means to obtain raw materials or ship our goods, which could result in an adverse effect on our revenues and costs of operations.

We rely on a limited number of outside suppliers for specified feedstocks and services, and due to our overall financial condition, including our debt level, our key suppliers may require more onerous terms for trade credit.

        We obtain a significant portion of our raw materials from a few key suppliers. If any of these suppliers is unable to meet its obligations under present supply agreements, we may be forced to pay higher prices to obtain the necessary raw materials. Any interruption of supply or any price increase of raw materials could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations. In connection with our acquisition of the vinyls business of CONDEA Vista in 1999, we entered into agreements with CONDEA Vista to provide specified feedstocks for the Lake Charles facility. This facility is dependent upon CONDEA Vista's infrastructure for services such as wastewater and ground water treatment, site remediation, and fire water supply. Any failure of CONDEA Vista to perform its obligations under those agreements could adversely affect the operation of the affected facilities and our results of operations. The agreements relating to these feedstocks and services had initial terms of one to ten years. Most of these agreements have been automatically renewed, but may be terminated by CONDEA Vista after specified notice periods. If we were required to obtain an alternate source for these feedstocks or services, we may not be able to obtain pricing on as favorable terms. Additionally, we may be forced to pay additional transportation costs or to invest in capital projects for pipelines or alternate facilities to accommodate railcar or other delivery or to replace other services.

        While we believe that our relationships with our key suppliers are strong, any vendor may choose, subject to existing contracts, to modify our relationship due to general economic concerns or concerns relating to the vendor or us, at any time. Any significant change in the terms that we have with our key suppliers could adversely affect our financial condition and liquidity, as could significant additional requirements from our suppliers that we provide them additional security in the form of prepayments or with letters of credit.

Operation on multiple ERP information systems may negatively impact operations

        We are highly dependent on our information systems infrastructure in order to process orders, track inventory, ship products in a timely manner, prepare invoices to our customers, maintain regulatory compliance and otherwise carry on our business in the ordinary course. We currently operate on multiple Enterprise Resource Planning, or ERP, information systems, which complicate our processing, reporting and analysis of business transactions and other information. Since we must process and reconcile our information from multiple systems, the chance of errors is increased and we may incur additional costs. Inconsistencies in the information from multiple ERP systems could adversely impact our ability to manage our business efficiently and may result in heightened risk to our ability to maintain our books and records and comply with regulatory requirements.

        Further, from time to time we may transition a portion of our operations from one of our ERP systems to another.

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        The transition to a different ERP system involves numerous risks, including:

•

diversion of management's attention away from normal daily business operations;



•

increased demand on our operations support personnel;



•

initial dependence on unfamiliar systems while training personnel to use new systems; and



•

increased operating expenses resulting from training, conversion and transition support activities.

We may pursue dispositions, asset acquisitions, and joint ventures, and other transactions that may impact our results of operations, including difficulties in integrating any acquired business operations, which may result in our failure to realize expected cost savings and operational efficiencies.

        We may enter into agreements to dispose of certain assets. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to dispose of these assets at any anticipated prices, or at all, or that any such sale will occur during any anticipated time frame. In addition, we may engage in additional business combinations, purchases or sales of assets, or contractual arrangements or joint ventures. To the extent permitted under our debt agreements, some of these transactions may be financed by additional borrowings by us. The integration of any business we acquire may be disruptive to our business and may result in a significant diversion of management attention and operational resources. Additionally, we may suffer a loss of key employees, customers or suppliers, loss of revenues, increases in costs or other difficulties. If the expected efficiencies and synergies of the transactions are not fully realized, our results of operations could be adversely affected, at least in the short term, because of the costs associated with such transactions. Other transactions may advance future cash flows from some of our businesses, thereby yielding increased short-term liquidity, but consequently resulting in lower cash flows from these operations over the longer term.

Our participation in joint ventures exposes us to risks of shared control.

        We own a 50 percent interest in a manufacturing joint venture, the remainder of which is controlled by PPG Industries, Inc., which also supplies chlorine to the facility operated by the joint venture. We also have other joint ventures, such as Royal Group's strategic joint venture arrangements with several customers. We may enter into additional joint ventures in the future. The nature of a joint venture requires us to share control with unaffiliated third parties. If our joint venture partners do not fulfill their obligations, the affected joint venture may not be able to operate according to its business plan. In that case, our operations may be adversely affected or we may be required to increase our level of commitment to the joint venture. Also, differences in views among joint venture participants may result in delayed decisions or failure to agree on major issues. Any differences in our views or problems with respect to the operations of our joint ventures could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange and interest rates could affect our consolidated financial results.

        We earn revenues, pay expenses, own assets and incur liabilities in countries using currencies other than the U.S. dollar, principally the Canadian dollar. Because our consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars, we must translate revenues and expenses into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate during each reporting period, as well as assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at the end of each reporting period. Therefore, increases or decreases in the value of the U.S. dollar against other major currencies will affect our net revenues, operating income and the value of balance sheet items denominated in foreign currencies. Because of the geographic diversity of our operations, weaknesses in various currencies might occur in one or many of such currencies over time. From time to time, we may use derivative financial instruments to further reduce our net exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations. However, we cannot assure you that fluctuations in foreign currency

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exchange rates, particularly the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against major currencies, would not materially affect our financial results.

        In addition, we are exposed to volatility in interest rates. When appropriate, we may use derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to interest rate risks. We cannot assure you, however, that our financial risk management program will be successful in reducing the risks inherent in exposures to interest rate fluctuations.

Forward-Looking Statements

        This Form 10-K and other communications to stockholders may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to, among other things, our outlook for future periods, supply and demand, pricing trends and market forces within the chemical industry, cost reduction strategies and their results, planned capital expenditures, long-term objectives of management and other statements of expectations concerning matters that are not historical facts.

        Predictions of future results contain a measure of uncertainty. Actual results could differ materially due to various factors. Factors that could change forward-looking statements are, among others, those contained in the "Risk Factors" section above as well as continued compliance with covenants in our new ABL Revolver and our indenture for our 9.0 percent notes, our ability to negotiate covenant relief and waivers from our lenders under our lending arrangements and availability of funds thereunder, changes in the general economy, changes in demand for our products or increases in overall industry capacity that could affect production volumes and/or pricing, changes and/or cyclicality in the industries to which our products are sold, availability and pricing of raw materials, technological changes affecting production, difficulty in plant operations and product transportation, governmental and environmental regulations and other unforeseen circumstances. A number of these factors are discussed in this Form 10-K and in our other periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Item 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

        None.

Item 2.    PROPERTIES.

        We believe current capacity will adequately meet anticipated demand requirements.

Chemical Production

        Our chemical manufacturing sites are located in the U.S. and Canada. During 2009, our chlorovinyls and aromatics production facilities operated at approximately 65 percent of capacity. The following table sets forth the location of each chemical manufacturing facility we own, products manufactured at each facility and the approximate production capacity of each product, assuming normal plant operations, as of December 31, 2009.

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(1)

Reflects 100 percent of the production at our owned facility in Lake Charles and our 50 percent share of PHH Monomers' 1.15 billion pounds of total VCM capacity.

(2)

This plant is temporarily idled. See Item 1. Business.

        Our chemical manufacturing facilities are located near major water and/or rail transportation terminals, facilitating efficient delivery of raw materials and prompt shipment of finished products. In addition, our chemical operations have a fleet of about 3,625 railcars that are leased pursuant to operating leases with varying terms through the year 2018. The total lease expense for these railcars and other transportation equipment was approximately $16.3 million for 2009, $16.4 million for 2008, and $20.1 million for 2007.

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Home Improvement and Buildings Products

        The following table sets forth the location of each home improvement and building products manufacturing facility we own or lease and the principal products manufactured at each facility as of December 31, 2009.

        Certain of the above facilities are also used as distribution centers. In addition, we operate a number of distribution locations, most of which are leased, to serve our home improvement building products customers, primarily in Canada, which represented a total of about 410,000 square feet at December 31, 2009.

Other

        We lease office space for our principal executive offices in Atlanta, Georgia, and for information services in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Additionally, space is leased for sales and marketing offices in Houston, Texas and for numerous storage terminals throughout the United States.

        Substantially all of our owned facilities are pledged as security for our senior secured 9.0 percent notes due 2017 and our ABL Revolver maturing in 2013.

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Item 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

        In October 2004, the USEPA notified us that we have been identified as a potentially responsible party for a Superfund site in Galveston, Texas. The site is a former industrial waste recycling, treatment and disposal facility. Over one thousand PRPs, have been identified by the USEPA. We contributed a relatively small proportion of the total amount of waste shipped to the Superfund site. In the fourth quarter of 2007, we accepted a settlement offer from USEPA. Under the terms of this settlement, we were required to pay $63,771 for cleanup costs incurred, or to be incurred, by USEPA, in exchange for a covenant not to sue and protection from contribution actions brought by other parties. The settlement agreement was finally approved by USEPA and payment of the $63,771 settlement amount was made in June 2009.

        In August 2004 and January and February 2005, the USEPA conducted environmental investigations of our manufacturing facilities in Aberdeen, Mississippi and Plaquemine, Louisiana, respectively. The USEPA informed us that it identified several "areas of concern," and indicated that such areas of concern may, in its view, constitute violations of applicable requirements, thus warranting monetary penalties and possible injunctive relief. In lieu of pursuing such relief through its traditional enforcement process, the USEPA proposed that the parties enter into negotiations in an effort to reach a global settlement of the areas of concern and that such a global settlement cover our manufacturing facilities at Lake Charles, Louisiana and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as well. During the second quarter of 2006, we were informed by the USEPA that its regional office responsible for Oklahoma and Louisiana desired to pursue resolution of these matters on a separate track from the regional office responsible for Mississippi. During the second quarter of 2007, we reached agreement with the USEPA responsible for Mississippi on the terms and conditions of a consent decree that would settle USEPA's pending enforcement action against our Aberdeen, Mississippi facility. All parties have executed a consent decree setting forth the terms and conditions of the settlement. The consent decree has been approved by the federal district court in Atlanta, Georgia. Under the consent decree, we were required to, among other things, pay a $610,000 fine, which was paid in March 2008, and undertake certain other environmental improvement projects. While the cost of such additional projects will likely exceed $1.0 million, we do not believe that these projects will have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

        We have not yet achieved a settlement with the USEPA regional office responsible for Oklahoma and Louisiana. However, on November 17, 2009, we received a unilateral administrative order ("UAO") from this USEPA regional office. The UAO, issued pursuant to Section 3013(a) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA"), requires us to take certain monitoring and assessment activities in and around several of our wastewater and storm water conveyance systems. In addition, on December 17, 2009, we received a Notice of Potential Penalty ("NOPP") from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. The NOPP contains allegations of violation that may potentially be similar in nature to allegations of violation by USEPA in respect to the above. The NOPP does not identify a specific penalty amount. It is likely that any settlement, if achieved, will result in the imposition of monetary penalties, capital expenditures for installation of environmental controls, and/or other relief. We do not know the total cost of monetary penalties, environmental projects, or other relief that would be imposed in any settlement or order. While we expect that such costs will exceed $100,000, we do not expect that such costs will have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

        In addition, we are subject to other claims and legal actions that may arise in the ordinary course of business. We believe that the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to these other claims and legal actions will not have a material effect on our financial position or on our results of operations.

Item 4.    RESERVED

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PART II

Item 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

        Georgia Gulf Corporation's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "GGC." At March 5, 2010, there were 404 stockholders of record. The following table sets forth the New York Stock Exchange high, low and closing stock prices and dividend payments for Georgia Gulf's common stock for the periods indicated.

        All amounts reflect the 1-for-25 reverse stock split of our common stock effected on July 28, 2009. Since the fourth quarter of 2008, we have suspended the quarterly cash dividends on our common stock. Dividends may be paid when, and if our board of directors deems appropriate, subject to covenants in our ABL Revolver and the indenture for our 9.0 percent senior secured notes which limit our ability to pay cash dividends. Under the ABL Revolver, cash dividend payments may be made if both our ability to borrow under the ABL Revolver then exceeds $100 million and our fixed charge coverage ratio for the prior month exceeds 1.1 to 1.0, each on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the cash dividend payment (see Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8).

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PERFORMANCE GRAPH

        This graph below is a comparison of the five-year cumulative total return for us, Standard & Poor's SmallCap 600 Index and Standard & Poor's Chemical SmallCap Index. Stock performances, including our stock performance, were calculated using the assumption that all dividends, including distributions of cash, were reinvested in common stock. In March 2009, Standard & Poors announced that Georgia Gulf Corporation was being replaced on the Standard & Poor's SmallCap 600 index since its market capitalization had fallen below the minimum requirement.

        Pursuant to SEC rules, the foregoing "Performance Graph" section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is not deemed "filed" with the SEC and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Total Shareholder Returns (Indexed)
GGC vs S&P Smallcap 600 Index and S&P 600 Chemicals Index

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Item 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

        

Five-Year Selected Financial Data

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(a)

Other for the year ended December 31, 2009 includes $13.9 million of equity compensation related to the 2009 equity and performance plan, $13.1 million of operational and financial restructuring consulting fees offset by $9.6 million of loan cost amortization. Other for the year ended December 31, 2008 includes $6.4 million of loan cost amortization and $4.3 million foreign exchange loss.

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Item 7.    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

        We are a leading North American manufacturer and an international marketer of chlorovinyl and aromatics chemicals and also manufacture and market vinyl-based building and home improvement products. Our chlorovinyl and aromatic chemicals products are sold for further processing into a wide variety of end-use applications, including plastic pipe and pipe fittings, siding and window frames, bonding agents for wood products, high-quality plastics, acrylic sheeting and coatings for wire and cable. Our vinyl-based building and home improvement products, marketed under the Royal Group brands, primarily include window and door profiles, mouldings, siding, pipe and pipe fittings and deck, fence and rail products.

Vinyl-Based Building and Home Improvement Products Business Overview

        Our vinyl-based building and home improvement products are used primarily in new residential and industrial construction, municipality infrastructure and residential remodeling. Our sales revenue by geographic area for our building and home improvement products for 2009 was about 44 percent in the U.S. and the remainder in Canada. All of our building and home improvement products are ultimately sold to external customers.

        Demand for our building and home improvement products declined during 2009 as compared to 2008 primarily as a result of U.S. housing starts decreasing by about 37 percent according to a report furnished jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in January 2010. Housing starts in Canada were down 30 percent from 2008 to 2009 with an average annualized rate in 2009 of about 0.1 million units. The weakness in the U.S. and Canadian residential housing industry was the primary cause of the industry sales decrease for siding of 12 percent, mouldings of 10 percent and rigid pipe of 6 percent, according to American Chemistry Council Plastics Industry Producers Statistics Group ("PIPS").

Chemical Business Overview

        Our chemical business consists of two integrated chemical product lines, chlorovinyls and aromatics. Our primary chlorovinyls products include chlorine, caustic soda, VCM, vinyl resins and vinyl compounds. For the year ended December 31, 2009, we consumed all of our chlorine production in making VCM, we consumed 5 percent of our caustic soda production, we consumed 99 percent of our VCM production in manufacturing vinyl resins, we consumed 31 percent of our vinyl resins in the manufacture of vinyl compounds and we consumed about 23 percent of our vinyl compounds in the manufacture of fabricated products. The remainder of our caustic soda, VCM, vinyl resins and vinyl compounds were sold to third parties. Our primary aromatic products include cumene, phenol and acetone. For the year ended December 31, 2009, approximately 69 percent of our cumene was sold to third parties with the remainder used internally to manufacture phenol and acetone. All of our phenol and acetone was sold to third parties. Our products are used primarily by customers as raw materials to manufacture a diverse range of products, which serve numerous consumer markets for durable and non-durable goods and construction.

        Our chemical business and the chemical industry in general, are cyclical in nature and are affected by domestic and, to a lesser extent, worldwide economic conditions. Cyclical price swings, driven by changes in supply and demand, can lead to significant changes in our overall profitability. The demand for our chemicals tends to reflect fluctuations in downstream markets that are affected by consumer spending for durable and non-durable goods as well as construction.

        Global capacity also materially affects the prices of chemical products. Generally, in periods of high operating rates, prices rise, and margins increase and as a result new capacity is announced. Since world-scale size plants are generally the most cost-competitive, new increases in capacity tend to be on a large scale and are often undertaken by existing industry participants. Usually, as new capacity is added, prices

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decline until increases in demand improve operating rates and the new capacity is absorbed, or in some instances, until less efficient producers withdraw capacity from the market. As the additional supply is absorbed, operating rates rise, prices increase and the cycle repeats.

        Purchased raw materials and natural gas costs account for the majority of our cost of sales and can also have a material effect on our profitability and margins. Some of our primary raw materials, including ethylene, benzene and propylene, are crude oil and natural gas derivatives and therefore follow the oil and gas industry price trends. Chemical Market Associates, Incorporated ("CMAI") reported annual U.S. industry prices for crude oil and natural gas decreased 38 percent and 56 percent, respectively, from 2008 to 2009. From 2007 to 2008, CMAI reported U.S. industry prices for crude oil and natural gas increased 38 percent and 32 percent, respectively.

        Significant volatility in raw material costs tends to put pressure on product margins as sales price increases can lag behind raw material cost increases. Conversely, product margins may suffer from a sharp decline in raw material costs due to the time lag between the purchase of raw materials and the sale of the finished goods manufactured using those raw materials. As an example, CMAI reported U.S. industry prices for crude oil and natural gas decreased 69 percent and 48 percent, respectively from July 2008 to December 2008.

        In 2009 our chlorovinyls segment experienced decreased domestic demand compared to 2008, primarily as a result of a continued weakness in the U.S. residential housing market. When comparing 2008 to 2009, North American industry vinyl resins sales volume decreased about 1 percent as a result of a domestic sales volume decline of 7 percent partially offset by a 33 percent increase in export sales volume. The domestic vinyl resins volume decrease resulted from declines in most end-use markets, according to PIPS. CMAI reported an industry price decrease for our feedstocks ethylene of 43 percent and natural gas of 56 percent from 2008 to 2009, while chlorine increased about 7 percent for the same time period. Vinyl resin industry sales prices decreased 10 percent from 2008 to 2009 due to decreased feedstock costs. Caustic soda industry sales prices decreased 43 percent from 2008 to 2009 due to a decrease in demand caused by the significant economic downturn effectively removing large segments of the demand for caustic through shutdowns and rate reductions by end users and an increase in global supply from new chlor-alkali capacity additions in Asia. Vinyl resin industry operating rates for 2009 and 2008 were approximately 77 percent, according to Chemical Data Inc. ("CDI").

        Our aromatics segment demand decreased in 2009 compared to 2008. According to CDI, North American operating rates for phenol and acetone decreased from about 75 percent in 2008 to about 60 percent in 2009. North American cumene industry operating rates decreased from about 72 percent in 2008 to about 62 percent in 2009. CMAI reported industry prices trended upwards during 2009 for our feedstocks benzene by 179 percent and propylene of 289 percent. As a result of the increase in feedstocks costs, industry sales prices also increased during 2009 by 62 percent for phenol, 133 percent for acetone and 177 percent for cumene, according to CMAI. Consequently, most producers were able to more than recover previously purchased raw materials costs in an increasing sales price environment due to the time lag between the purchase of raw materials and the sale of the related finished goods. Conversely during the fourth quarter of 2008, the aromatics industry experienced a sharp decline in feedstock and product prices. CDI reported U.S. industry prices for benzene and propylene decreased 76 percent and 78 percent, respectively, from September 2008 to December 2008, as a result of which most producers were unable to fully recover previously purchased raw materials costs.

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Results of Operations

        The following table sets forth our consolidated statement of operations data for each of the three years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, and the percentage of net sales of each line item for the years presented.

        We have identified four reportable segments through which we conduct our operating activities: (i) chlorovinyls; (ii) window and door profiles and mouldings products; (iii) outdoor building products, and (iv) aromatics. These four segments reflect the organization used by our management for internal reporting. The chlorovinyls segment is a highly integrated chain of products, which includes chlorine, caustic soda, VCM, vinyl resins, vinyl compounds, and compound additives. Our vinyl-based building and home improvement products are marketed under the Royal Group brand names, and are managed within two reportable segments, (i) window and door profiles and mouldings products and (ii) outdoor building products, which include siding, pipe and pipe fittings and deck, fence and rail products. The aromatics segment is also integrated and includes the products cumene and the co-products phenol and acetone.

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        The following table sets forth certain financial data by reportable segment for each of the three years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, and the percentage of total net sales or gross margin by segment for each line item.

Year Ended December 31, 2009, Compared With Year Ended December 31, 2008

        Net Sales.    For the year ended December 31, 2009, net sales totaled $1,990.1 million, a decrease of 32 percent compared to $2,916.5 million for the prior year. This decrease was primarily a result of decreases in our overall sales prices and volumes of 27 percent and 6 percent, respectively. Our overall average sales price decrease is largely a result of decreases in the prices of vinyl resins and all of our aromatics products and an unfavorable currency impact. The sales price decreases reflect lower costs for our raw materials and natural gas. Our overall sales volume decrease is mainly attributable to a decrease in demand in North America for vinyl-based building materials, which, in turn, is attributable to the seasonally adjusted annual U.S housing starts rate decreasing 37 percent from 2008 to 2009. Our North American sales volume decrease was partially offset by an increase in export sales.

        Chlorovinyls segment net sales totaled $940.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, a decrease of 32 percent compared with net sales of $1,380.0 million for the prior year. Our overall average sales price decreased 32 percent primarily as a result of decreases in the prices of vinyl resins of 34 percent and caustic soda of 50 percent. The vinyl resins sales price decrease reflects lower prices for the feedstock ethylene and natural gas. The caustic soda sales price decrease reflects a decrease in demand caused by the significant economic downturn effectively removing large segments of the demand for caustic through shutdowns and rate reductions by end users and an increase in global supply from new chlor-alkali capacity additions in Asia. Our North America chlorovinyls sales volume decreased primarily as a result of the decrease in our sales volume for vinyl resins of 15 percent, vinyl compounds of 10 percent and caustic soda of 21 percent. Our North American sales volume decrease was offset by an increase in exports for vinyl resins of 80 percent and caustic soda of 59 percent. North American vinyl resin industry sales volume declined 1 percent as a result of the domestic sales volume decrease of 7 percent, primarily due to the decline in U.S. housing and construction offset by an increase in export sales volume of 33 percent.

        Window and door profiles and mouldings products segment net sales totaled $323.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, a decrease of 21 percent (16 percent decrease on a constant currency basis) compared to $408.9 million for the prior year. Our overall sales volumes decreased 19 percent. North American industry wide vinyl resin extruded window and doors and mouldings sales volumes

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declined 4 percent in the same period, reflecting the decline in U.S. housing construction and remodeling. We experienced an unfavorable currency impact on our sales in Canada resulting from the weakening of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar. During 2009, our window and door profiles and mouldings segment generated about 55 percent of its revenue in the U.S. and the remainder in Canada.

        Outdoor building products segment net sales totaled $404.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, a decrease of 21 percent (14 percent decrease on a constant currency basis) compared to $508.8 million for the prior year. Our overall sales volumes decreased 10 percent. North American vinyl resin pipe, siding, fence and decking industry sales volumes declined about 7 percent, reflecting the decline in U.S. housing construction and remodeling. In addition, sales during 2008 included about $26.4 million related to the outdoor storage business, a business we divested in 2008. We experienced an unfavorable currency impact on our sales in Canada resulting from the weakening of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar. During 2009, our outdoor building products segment generated about 35 percent of its revenue in the U.S. and the remainder in Canada.

        Aromatics segment net sales were $321.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, a decrease of 48 percent compared to $618.8 million for the prior year. Our overall average sales prices decreased 34 percent as a result of decreases in the prices of cumene of 36 percent, phenol of 30 percent and acetone of 19 percent. The sales price decreases reflect lower costs for the feedstocks benzene and propylene. The North American phenol and acetone industry operating rate was approximately 61 percent for 2009, or down about 15 percent compared with the prior year. The North American cumene industry operating rate was approximately 62 percent during 2009, or about 10 percent lower than the prior year. During the first quarter of 2009, a competitor announced the idling of a 1 billion pound cumene plant reducing North American cumene industry capacity by about 9 percent. Our overall aromatics sales volumes decreased 21 percent as a result of a decline in phenol of 48 percent and acetone of 50 percent. The phenol and acetone sales volume decrease is due to weak demand in North America caused primarily by the decline in the U.S. housing construction and automotive markets and reduced export sales. Our cumene sales volume increase of 10 percent reflects additional spot sales opportunities realized during the year ended December 31, 2009.

        Gross Margin.    Total gross margin increased from 6.8 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2008 to 10.6 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2009. This $12.0 million gross margin increase and related increase in gross margin percentage is due to lower feedstock costs and natural gas costs and several cost savings initiatives partially offset by lower sales volumes and sales prices. Also during 2009, we were able to fully recover previously purchased raw materials costs in an increasing feedstock and sales price environment. Conversely during 2008, the chemical industry experienced a sharp decline in feedstock and product prices and we were not able to recover previously purchased feedstock costs due to the time lag between the purchase of raw materials and the sale of the related finished goods. Some of our primary raw materials and natural gas costs in our chemical segments normally track crude oil and natural gas industry prices. Crude oil and natural gas industry prices experienced decreases of 38 percent and 56 percent, respectively, from 2008 to 2009. We implemented several cost savings initiatives during 2008 and 2009 including the permanent closure of our 450 million pound vinyl resin manufacturing plant in Sarnia, Ontario and our 500 million pound vinyl resin manufacturing plant in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, resulting in a number of cost reductions including a decrease in labor cost related to cost of sales of about $50.5 million during 2009 as compared to 2008.

        Chlorovinyls segment gross margin decreased from 12.0 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2008 to 11.5 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2009. This $57.3 million gross margin decrease and related decrease in gross margin percentage primarily reflects a decrease in sales prices and domestic sales volume for most of our chlorovinyls products partially offset by a decrease in our raw materials and natural gas costs, an increase in export sales and cost savings initiatives implemented during 2008 and 2009. The sales price decrease reflects lower prices for our feedstock costs. In addition, the caustic soda sales price decrease reflects a decrease in demand due to the significant economic

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downturn and an increase in global supply from chlor-alkali capacity additions in Asia. The domestic sales volume decrease is due to weak demand in North America caused primarily by the decline in U.S. housing construction. Our overall raw materials and natural gas costs during 2009 decreased 47 percent compared to 2008. Our chlorovinyls operating rate increased from 70 percent for 2008 to 75 percent for 2009. In addition, in the first quarter of 2009 we had scheduled turnaround maintenance for our caustic chlorine plant. During 2008, we reduced our cost structure with the permanent closure of the Sarnia, Ontario and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma vinyl resin manufacturing plants, which had a combined 950 million pound annualized capacity, and moved the production requirements of our customers to our other manufacturing locations.

        Window and door profiles and mouldings segment gross margin increased from 5.8 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2008 to 8.7 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2009. This $4.3 million gross margin increase and related increase in gross margin percentage primarily reflects decreases in our raw materials costs and cost savings initiatives implemented during 2008 and 2009 partially offset by decreases in sales volumes. The industry price of vinyl resins, this segment's primary raw material, decreased from 2008 to 2009. The window and door profiles and mouldings sales volume decrease is due to weak demand in North America reflecting the decline in the North American housing and construction markets. We implemented numerous cost savings initiatives during 2008 and 2009 to improve profitability, reduce indirect spending and freight costs and adjust our capacity to more closely match market demand. During 2008, we reduced our cost structure with the permanent closure of two window and door profile fabrication plants and moved the production requirements of our customers to our other manufacturing locations. In May 2009, we announced the permanent closure of two additional window and door profile fabrication plants and moved the production requirements of our customers to our other manufacturing locations.

        Outdoor building products segment gross margin increased from 8.1 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2008 to 13.3 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2009. This $12.6 million gross margin increase and related increase in gross margin percentage primarily reflects decreases in our raw materials costs and cost savings initiatives implemented during 2008 and 2009 partially offset by decreases in sales volumes. The industry price of vinyl resins, this segment's primary raw material, decreased from 2008 to 2009. We implemented numerous cost savings initiatives during 2008 and 2009 to improve profitability, reduce indirect spending and freight costs and adjust our capacity to more closely match market demand. During 2008, we reduced our cost structure with the permanent closure of one fabrication plant and moved the production requirements of our customers to our other manufacturing locations. In addition, we sold our outdoor storage buildings business during the first quarter of 2008, which also reduced our cost structure. The outdoor building products sales volume decrease is due to weak demand in North America reflecting the decline in the North American housing and construction markets.

        Aromatics segment gross margin increased from negative 5.0 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2008 to 6.6 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2009. This $52.4 million gross margin increase and related increase in gross margin percentage from the last year is due primarily to decreases in our raw materials costs which more than offset decreases in our sales prices and volumes for most of our aromatics products. Also during 2009, we were able to fully recover previously purchased raw materials costs in an increasing feedstock and sales price environment. Conversely during the fourth quarter of 2008, we experienced a $24.8 million operating loss due to a sharp decline in feedstock and product prices and we were not able to recover previously purchased feedstock costs due to the time lag between the purchase of raw materials and their sale as finished goods. Our aromatics segment is allocated costs for certain maintenance, utilities, environmental and service costs, as well as other selling, general and administrative costs. For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, there was $10.5 million and $12.9 million, respectively, of these costs allocated to our aromatics segment.

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        Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.    Selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $182.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, an 8 percent increase from the $168.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. We have increased selling, general and administrative expenses about $14.4 million for stock compensation expense. This increase in stock compensation expense is primarily related to a July 27, 2009 stock grant in connection with the completion of our private exchange offers described in Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. On the date of acceptance of notes in the exchange offers, restricted share units for 2,274,745 shares in the aggregate were granted. We have also increased our selling, general and administrative expenses primarily from a $12.6 million increase for services of restructuring advisors to assist us in reducing overall indebtedness and related interest expense, performance improvement, and transportation management and indirect sourcing cost reduction initiatives among other areas of the business, with the ultimate goal to improve and sustain profitability for the long-term. In addition, we increased selling, general and administrative expenses by $4.4 million for the amortization of financing fees related to our asset securitization agreement entered into on March 17, 2009, lower cost last year of $5.2 million relating to a change in our vacation policy and accrued incentive compensation of $1.8 million. Our chlorovinyls and aromatics segments collectively increased selling, general, and administrative costs by $1.4 million, primarily as a result of a $4.0 million increase in the bad debt reserve offset partially by a gain in litigation settlements of $3.8 million. We have reduced selling, general and administrative costs in our window and door profiles and mouldings and outdoor building product segments, collectively, by $26.6 million, including a decrease in payroll related costs of $7.1million, bad debt expense of $5.5 million, advertising, commission and promotional expense of $4.3 million and depreciation and amortization of $5.1 million. Our Canadian operations selling, general, and administrative expenses reflect a favorable currency effect of $4.3 million as the Canadian dollar weakened against the U.S. dollar during the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the same period in the prior year

        Long-Lived Asset Impairment Charges.    In May 2009, we initiated plans to further consolidate plants in our window and door profiles and mouldings products segment (the "2009 Window and Door Consolidation Plan"). In accordance with general accepted accounting principles, we wrote down the plant's property, plant and equipment, resulting in a $21.6 million charge in the year ended December 31, 2009. During the fourth quarter of 2008, we recorded non-cash impairment charges of $176.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 to write down goodwill, other intangible assets and long-lived assets. The additional impairment during 2008 is due to the continued deteriorating U.S. housing and construction markets. An impairment loss may be recognized when the carrying amount of the reporting unit's net assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. The 2008 non-cash impairment charges by reportable segment are as follows: Window and Door Profiles and Mouldings reportable segment are $63.4 million of goodwill and $47.2 million of other intangible assets and $2.3 million of other long-lived assets. Outdoor Building Products reportable segment are $0.1 million of other intangible assets and $0.6 million of other long-lived assets and Chlorovinyls reportable segment is $1.4 million of other intangible assets and $61.1 million of other long-lived assets. The Chlorovinyls reportable segment other long-lived assets write down of $61.1 million is primarily due to ceasing all operations and permanent shut down of the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Sarnia, Ontario vinyl resin manufacturing plants during 2008.

        Restructuring Costs.    The expenses associated with the Fourth Quarter 2008 Restructuring Plan, the Outdoor Storage Plan (each as described in Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8) and the 2009 Window and Door Consolidation Plan for the year ended December 31, 2009 for severance and exit costs totaled $4.4 million. Also related to these restructuring plans we expensed about $2.5 million for the services of several consultants to assist us in performance improvement, transportation management and indirect sourcing cost reduction initiatives among other areas of the business with the ultimate goal of improving and sustaining profitability for the long-term. For 2008, restructuring costs were $22.0 million primarily due to the closure and disposition costs of our outdoor storage buildings business of $5.8 million and cost related to the permanent shut down of the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Sarnia, Ontario vinyl resin manufacturing plants, severance and other exit

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costs of $6.3 million. See Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2009 for further information on restructuring costs.

        Losses (gains) on sale of assets.    There were no significant asset sales during the year ended December 31, 2009. In June 2008, we sold land for net proceeds of $36.5 million, which resulted in a gain of $28.8 million. Additionally, in June 2008, we sold and leased back equipment for $10.6 million resulting in a $2.2 million currently recognized gain, a short-term deferred gain of $0.8 million and a non-current deferred gain of $7.2 million. The remainder of $3.7 million was due to a loss on the sale of other real estate.

        Interest Expense, net.    Interest expense, net decreased to $130.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, from $133.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. This decrease of $2.7 million was primarily attributable to lower overall debt balances and interest rates offset partially by the accretion of the fair value of the Term Loan B during 2009 as compared to the same period last year. The lower overall debt balance was due primarily to our exchanging approximately $736.0 million of our debt for equity on July 27, 2009. This reduction in debt effectively decreased our annual interest expense by $69.7 million. This decrease in interest expense was offset by the Term Loan B debt discount accretion as interest expense of $12.9 million during 2009, prior to the extinguishment of the Term Loan B on December 22, 2009 when this debt was refinanced. There was no Term Loan B debt discount accretion expense during 2008.

        Loss on debt modification and extinguishment, net.    On March 16, 2009, we executed the fifth amendment to our senior secured credit facility and accounted for this amendment as an extinguishment of the Term Loan B in accordance with ASC subtopic 470-50 section 40, Modifications and Extinguishments. Accordingly, we recorded the amended Term Loan B at its estimated fair value of $207.1 million at the date of extinguishment. The difference between the fair value of the amended Term Loan B and the carrying value of the original Term Loan B less the related financing cost at the date of debt extinguishment of $121.0 million was recorded as a gain. On December 22, 2009, we refinanced our senior secured credit facility and asset securitization agreement with a four-year term $300.0 million senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility and $500.0 million of senior secured 9.0 percent notes. The full extinguishment of our old senior secured credit facility and asset securitization agreement resulted in the write off of the Term Loan B debt discount and related financing costs of $163.8 million. Both the gain from the fifth amendment to our senior secured credit facility and loss from the refinancing of our senior secured credit facility and asset securitization were netted in the loss on debt modification and extinguishment, net in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2009.

        Gain on debt exchange.    On July 29, 2009, we consummated our private exchange of equity for approximately $736.0 million of our outstanding notes. In accordance with ASC subtopic 470-60, Troubled Debt Restructuring by Debtors, this debt for equity exchange was a troubled debt restructuring and thus an extinguishment of the notes for which we recognized a net gain of $400.8 million. This gain included $731.5 million of principal debt, net of original issuance discounts, $53.7 million accrued interest, $14.1 million in deferred financing fees written off and $12.4 million of third party fees which was exchanged for the $357.9 million fair value of our common and preferred stock.

        Provision for (benefit from) income taxes.    The provision for income taxes from continuing operations was $79.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared with an income tax benefit from continuing operations of $20.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Income from continuing operations before income taxes increased $503.2 million from 2008 to 2009. Our effective tax rate for continuing operations for 2009 and 2008 was 35.4 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively. The difference in the effective tax rate as compared to the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate in 2009 was primarily due to federal and state income tax credits, including credits earned from timely repayment of the Mississippi Industrial Development Bond, and the benefit related to the Cancellation of Debt Income ("CODI") offset by the reduction of tax attributes as a result of the debt for equity exchange and concurrent change

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in control of the company for tax purposes and the valuation allowance in Canada. The difference in the effective tax rate as compared to the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate in 2008 was primarily due to federal and state income tax credits, the reversal of the interest accrued on the Quebec Trust matter discussed below and the valuation allowance in Canada. We are not recognizing a tax benefit for the net operating losses in Canada, as we have determined that we have not met the ASC topic 740, Income Taxes, criteria to allow us to realize such benefits. See Note 16 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on income taxes.

        In March 2008, we reached a settlement with the provinces of Quebec and Ontario and the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency with respect to their assessments resulting from the retroactive application of tax law changes promulgated by Bill 15, which amended the Quebec Taxation Act and other legislative provisions. Royal Group, in connection with its tax advisors, had established tax structures that used a Quebec Trust to minimize its overall tax liabilities in Canada. Bill 15 eliminated the ability to use the Quebec Trust structure on a retroactive basis. As of December 31, 2007, we had recorded a liability for the unrecognized tax benefit of $46.1 million related to the Quebec Trust matter. We settled this matter with all relevant jurisdictions by making cash payments totaling $20.1 million. We recognized an income tax benefit of $9.2 million related to the reversal of $5.8 million in interest accrued on this liability and the reversal of $3.4 million in a previously established valuation allowance for net operating loss carryforwards, the value of which was realized via this settlement. In addition, we reduced goodwill by $16.5 million as a result of the settlement of this preacquisition tax contingency.

Year Ended December 31, 2008, Compared With Year Ended December 31, 2007

        Net Sales.    For the year ended December 31, 2008, net sales totaled $2.9 billion, a decrease of about 8 percent compared to $3.2 billion in 2007. This decrease in our overall sales was primarily a result of a decrease in volumes of 17 percent offset by an increase in our overall net sales prices of 11 percent. Our overall sales volumes decrease is mainly attributable to a significant decrease in demand in North America for most of our products as North American housing starts decreased 33 percent from 2007 to 2008. In addition, our sales volumes were impacted by hurricanes Gustav and Ike in the U.S. gulf coast region during the third quarter of 2008. Our overall average sales price increase is due to higher costs for our raw materials and natural gas.

        Chlorovinyls segment net sales totaled $1.38 billion for the year ended December 31, 2008, a slight decrease compared with net sales of $1.41 billion in 2007. Our overall chlorovinyls sales volumes decreased 18 percent and were mostly offset by our overall average sales prices increase of 19 percent. The sales volume decrease was primarily due to a decrease in demand for vinyl resins of 28 percent and vinyl compounds of 17 percent. Our vinyl resins sales volume decrease reflects a reduction in domestic sales as a result of a decrease in demand, a rationalization of lower margin customers, and disruptions caused by hurricanes Gustav and Ike during the third quarter of 2008, offset partially by an increase in exports. North American vinyl resin industry sales volume declined 12 percent as a result of the domestic sales volume decrease of 16 percent, reflecting the decline in U.S. housing starts, offset partially by an increase in exports of 27 percent. Our overall average sales prices increased by 19 percent, primarily as a result of increases in the prices of caustic soda of 79 percent and vinyl resins of 15 percent. The caustic soda price increase reflects the tightness of supply resulting from the weak demand for its co-product chlorine. The vinyl resins sales price increase reflects higher costs for the feedstock ethylene and natural gas.

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        Window and door profiles and mouldings products segment net sales totaled $408.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, a decrease of 20 percent (20 percent decrease on a constant currency basis) compared to $508.0 million in 2007. Our overall sales volumes decreased 20 percent. North American vinyl resin extruded window and door industry sales volumes declined about 19 percent reflecting the decline in the U.S. housing and construction markets. We experienced a minimal currency impact on our sales in Canada resulting from the change of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar from 2007 to 2008. During 2008, our window and door profiles and mouldings segment generated about 57 percent of its revenue in the U. S. and the remainder in Canada.

        Outdoor building products segment net sales totaled $508.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, a decrease of 11 percent (12 percent change on a constant currency basis) compared to $573.3 million in 2007. Our overall sales volumes decreased 19 percent. North American vinyl resin pipe, siding, fence and decking industry sales volumes declined about 20 percent reflecting the decline in U.S. housing and construction market. We experienced a minimal currency impact on our sales in Canada resulting from the change of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar from 2007 to 2008. During 2008, our outdoor building products segment generated about 32 percent of its revenue in the U.S. and the remainder primarily in Canada.

        Aromatics segment net sales were $618.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, a decrease of 7 percent compared to $666.9 million in 2007. Our overall aromatics sales volumes decreased 12 percent primarily as a result of decreases in phenol and acetone sales of 23 and 20 percent, respectively. The phenol and acetone sales volume decrease is due to weak demand in North America reflecting the decline in the U.S. housing and construction markets. In addition, our sales volumes were impacted by hurricanes Gustav and Ike in the U.S. gulf coast region during the third quarter of 2008. Our overall average sales prices increased 6 percent as a result of increases in the prices of acetone of 16 percent, phenol of 4 percent and cumene of 1 percent. The sales price increases reflect higher costs for the feedstock propylene and natural gas. The North American phenol and acetone industries' operating rates were approximately 76 percent for the year ended of 2008, or about 11 percent lower than in 2007.

        Gross Margin.    Total gross margin decreased from 9.7 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2007 to 6.8 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2008. This $106.7 million decrease is due to lower overall sales volumes and higher feedstock costs and was partially offset by an increase in overall sales prices and cost reduction initiatives. Some of our primary raw materials and natural gas costs in our chemical segments normally track crude oil and natural gas industry prices. Crude oil and natural gas industry prices experienced increases of 38 percent and 32 percent, respectively, from 2007 to 2008. We have implemented several cost savings initiatives during 2008 including reducing our cost structure by the permanent closure and consolidation of six manufacturing plants into other facilities. We also reduced total headcount by about 15 percent resulting in a decrease in labor cost related to cost of sales of about $37.1 million in 2008 compared to 2007. In addition, we sold our outdoor storage buildings business, which also reduced our cost structure.

        Chlorovinyls segment gross margin increased from 10.7 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2007 to 12.0 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2008. This $15.2 million increase primarily reflects increases in sales prices for all of our chlorovinyls products offset partially by a decrease in overall sales volumes and increases in our raw materials and natural gas costs. Our overall raw materials and natural gas costs during 2008 increased 28 percent compared to 2007. Our chlorovinyls operating rate decreased from about 81 percent for 2007 to about 69 percent for 2008. During 2008, we reduced our cost structure with the permanent closure of the Sarnia, Ontario and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma vinyl resin manufacturing plants, which had a combined 950 million pound annualized capacity, and moved the production requirements of our customers to our other manufacturing locations.

        Window and door profiles and mouldings segment gross margin decreased from 13.5 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2007 to 5.8 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2008. This

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$45.0 million decrease primarily reflects decreases in sales volumes and increases in our raw materials costs. The industry price of vinyl resins, this segment's primary raw material, increased about 24 percent from 2007 to 2008. During 2008, we reduced our cost structure with the permanent closure of two window and door profile fabrication plants and moved the production requirements of our customers to our other manufacturing locations.

        Outdoor building products segment gross margin decreased from 12.6 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2007 to 8.1 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2008. This $31.0 million decrease primarily reflects decreases in sales volumes and increases in our raw materials costs. The industry price of vinyl resins, this segment's primary raw material, increased about 24 percent from 2007 to 2008. During 2008, we reduced our cost structure with the permanent closure of one fabrication plant and moved the production requirements of our customers to our other manufacturing locations. In addition, we sold our outdoor storage buildings business, which also reduced our cost structure.

        Aromatics segment gross margin decreased from 2.2 percent of sales for year ended December 31, 2007 to a negative 5.0 percent of sales for the year ended December 31, 2008. This $45.9 million decrease is due primarily to decreases in sales volumes as well as an increase in our benzene and propylene raw material costs, which were not fully offset by increases in sales prices for all of our aromatics products. Overall raw material costs increased 4 percent primarily as a result of increases in propylene and natural gas costs from 2007 to 2008. During the fourth quarter of 2008, we experienced a $24.8 million operating loss due to a sharp decline in feedstock and product prices and the time lag between the purchase of raw materials and their sale as finished goods.

        Impact from Hurricanes Ike and Gustav on the year ended December 31, 2008.    Hurricanes Ike and Gustav impacted the U.S. Gulf Coast region during the first two weeks of September of 2008 resulting in a significant disruption of our operations and minor property damage at our Louisiana and Texas facilities. Certain manufacturing plants were shut down in an orderly manner just prior to the hurricanes and subsequently were down or running at reduced rates as a result of the disruption to feedstock and energy supplies, and transportation networks in the region. As of September 30, 2008, all of our impacted plants returned to near normal operations. We estimate that these events negatively impacted our operating income by approximately $27.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2008 as a result of repairs and maintenance costs, unabsorbed fixed costs and lost sales resulting from the hurricanes. In addition, based on current projections of costs related to the hurricanes, we believe it is unlikely that we will be able to recover any material amount under our commercial insurance policies.

        Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.    Selling, general and administrative expenses totaled $168.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, a 25 percent decrease from the $225.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. This $57.0 million decrease reflects our continued focus on targeted cost saving initiatives. We reduced selling, general and administrative costs in our window and door profiles and mouldings and outdoor building product segments, collectively, by $38.7 million, including a decrease in payroll related costs of $12.1 million, legal and professional fees of $7.8 million, advertising, commission and promotional expense of $6.1 million, information systems related costs of $1.8 million and Canadian capital tax expense of $2.2 million. We also reduced selling, general, and administrative costs in our chlorovinyls and aromatics segments collectively by $7.1 million, primarily as a result of a decrease in our information systems related costs of $2.3 million and a reduction of $5.2 million relating to a change in our vacation policy that resulted in a reduction to our vacation accrual. In 2008, we changed our vacation policy from one where vacation earned in a given year was to be taken in the following year, to a policy where vacation earned in a given year must be used by that year end. Additionally, our share-based compensation expense decreased by $7.5 million. The decreases in selling, general and administrative expenses were offset by an increase in legal and professional fees of $3.7 million primarily related to the favorable resolution of an alleged notice of default issue during the second quarter of 2008. We experienced a minimal currency impact on our selling, general and administrative costs in Canada resulting from the change of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar from 2007 to 2008.

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        Long-Lived Asset Impairment Charges.    As a result of our annual impairment testing performed during the fourth quarter of 2008 and the property plant and equipment impairments, resulting from our restructuring activity, we recorded non-cash impairment charges of $176.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 as compared to $159.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 to write down goodwill, other intangible assets and long-lived assets. The additional impairment during 2008 is due to the continued deterioration of the U.S. housing and construction markets. The 2008 non-cash impairment charges by reportable segment are as follows: Window and Door Profiles and Mouldings reportable segment are $63.4 million of goodwill and $47.2 million of other intangible assets and $2.3 million of other long-lived assets. Outdoor Building Products reportable segment are $0.1 million of other intangible assets and $0.6 million of other long-lived assets and Chlorovinyls reportable segment is $1.4 million of other intangible assets and $61.1 million of other long-lived assets. The Chlorovinyls reportable segment other long-lived assets write down of $61.1 million is primarily due to ceasing all operations and permanent shut down of the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Sarnia, Ontario vinyl resin manufacturing plants during 2008.

        Restructuring costs.    Restructuring costs were $22.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to $3.7 million for 2007. This $18.3 million increase is primarily due to closure and disposition costs of our outdoor storage buildings business of $5.8 million, cost related to the permanent shut down of the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Sarnia Ontario vinyl resin manufacturing plants of about $9.9 million and severance and other exit costs of $6.3 million. For the year ended December 31, 2007, restructuring costs were costs of $3.7 million consisting primarily of severance and other exit costs.

        (Gains) losses on sale of assets.    Gains on sale of assets totaled $27.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to a loss on sale of assets of $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. In June 2008, we sold excess land in Pasadena, Texas for $36.5 million, which resulted in a gain of $28.8 million. Additionally, in June 2008, we sold and leased back equipment for $10.6 million resulting in a $2.2 million currently recognized gain, a short-term deferred gain of $0.8 million and a non-current deferred gain of $7.2 million. The remainder of $3.7 million was due to a loss on the sale of other real estate.

        Interest Expense, net.    Interest expense, net decreased to $133.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, from $133.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. This minimal change was primarily attributable to lower capitalized interest on construction in progress offset by lower average debt balances and interest rates during 2008 compared to 2007.

        Provision for (Benefit from) Income Taxes.    The benefit from income taxes from continuing operations was $20.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with an income tax provision for continuing operations of $44.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. Loss from continuing operations before income taxes increased $66.5 million from 2007 to 2008. Our effective tax rate for continuing operations for 2008 and 2007 was 7.2 percent and negative 20.8 percent, respectively. The difference in the rates was due to the routine accrual of interest on ASC topic 740, Income Taxes, formerly Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation ("FIN") 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 ("FIN 48") liabilities, the reversal of interest accrued on the Quebec tax trust settlement, (described below), and a portion of our valuation allowance for deferred tax assets in Canada, which was realized as a result of the Quebec Trust Settlement, the impact of non-deductible goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived assets and the impact of the valuation allowance resulting from not recognizing a tax benefit for the deferred tax assets in Canada as we determined that we did not meet the ASC topic 740, Income Taxes, criteria to realize such benefits.

        In March 2008, we reached a settlement with the provinces of Quebec and Ontario and the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency with respect to their assessments resulting from the retroactive application of tax law changes promulgated by Bill 15, which amended the Quebec Taxation Act and other legislative provisions. Royal Group, in connection with its tax advisors, established tax structures that used a Quebec Trust to minimize its overall tax liabilities in Canada. Bill 15 eliminated the ability to use the Quebec Trust

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structure on a retroactive basis. As of December 31, 2007, we had recorded a liability for the unrecognized tax benefit of $46.1 million related to the Quebec Trust matter. We settled this matter with all relevant jurisdictions by making cash payments totaling $20.1 million. We recognized an income tax benefit of $9.2 million related to the reversal of $5.8 million in interest accrued on this liability and the reversal of $3.4 million in a previously established valuation allowance for net operating loss carryforwards, the value of which was realized via this settlement. In addition, we reduced goodwill by $16.5 million as a result of the settlement of this preacquisition tax contingency.

        Loss from Discontinued Operations.    Subsequent to the Royal Group acquisition on October 3, 2006, we began to exit several non-core businesses. Certain businesses qualified as discontinued operations under generally accepted accounting principles. There was no activity in our discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2008, compared with a net loss of $10.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

        Operating Activities.    For the year ended December 31, 2009, cash flows provided by operating activities from continuing operations were $0.7 million compared with $41.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. The major use of cash flow for fiscal year 2009 was a $111.0 million repurchase of previously sold accounts receivable as a result of the termination and replacement of our asset securitization agreement as part of our December 2009 refinancing that included a new ABL Revolver and issuance of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 9.0 percent senior secured notes ("9.0 percent Notes"). Additionally we incurred approximately $21.8 million on restructuring and process improvement initiatives. Total working capital at December 31, 2009 was $341.9 million versus $225.2 million at December 31, 2008. The significant increase in working capital for fiscal year 2009 includes the $111.0 million increase in accounts receivable due to the above described termination of our asset securitization agreement and a decrease of $28.6 million in current debt. Further, since completing our debt for equity exchange, described below in "Financing Activities," we have steadily improved our vendor terms, as a result of which our accounts payable are returning to levels more in line with our historical averages for accounts payable.

        For the year ended December 31, 2008, cash flows provided by operating activities from continuing operations were $41.4 million compared with $128.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. The major use of cash flow for fiscal year 2008 was a $20.1 million payment in connection with the settlement of our Quebec tax trust tax contingency. The major source of cash flow for fiscal year 2008 was a $13.7 million increase in cash provided by other current operating assets and liabilities. Total working capital at December 31, 2008 was $225.2 million versus $200.7 million at December 31, 2007, an increase of $24.5 million. The significant increase in working capital for fiscal year 2008 includes an $80.7 million increase in cash partially offset by a $32.6 million increase in our current portion of long-term debt, primarily due to the issues regarding the availability on our revolver discussed below in "Financing Activities"; and decreases in accounts payable, accrued compensation, and liability for unrecognized tax benefits of $127.4 million, $23.0 million and $52.1 million, respectively. The decrease in payables was primarily attributable to production volume decreases and shorter credit terms from certain vendors, some of whom required prepayments, as a result of certain vendors' concern over the alleged notice of default on our 7.125 percent notes that was resolved on July 15, 2008. These significant increases in working capital for fiscal year 2008 were partially offset by a decrease in inventories of $126.3 million. The majority of our inventory decrease was mainly due to lower prices in our raw materials and adjusting our levels to the decrease in current demand.

        For the year ended December 31, 2007, we generated $128.2 million of cash flow from operating activities from continuing operations. The major use of cash flow for fiscal year 2007 was approximately $19.0 million paid towards involuntary employee termination benefits. The major source of cash flow in 2007 was a $40.2 million increase in cash provided by other current operating assets and liabilities. Total

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working capital at December 31, 2007 was $200.7 million compared to the $203.0 million at December 31, 2006.

        Investing Activities.    Net cash used in investing activities was $26.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. Cash provided by investing activities for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $24.6 million and $21.6 million, respectively. We incurred maintenance expense for our production facilities of $104.5 million, $109.1 million and $111.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively. During 2009, we used cash of $30.1 million primarily for capital expenditures at our Plaquemine, Louisiana co-generation and Lake Charles, Louisiana VCM manufacturing plants. During 2008, we received cash proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment and assets held for sale of $79.8 million. These proceeds relate primarily to the sale of the outdoor storage business for $13.0 million, a sale of real estate in Ontario, Canada for $12.6 million, a sale of real estate in Manitoba, Canada for $4.5 million, the sale of a vacant tract of land along the Houston ship channel in Pasadena, Texas for net proceeds of $36.5 million, and the sale and lease back of equipment for $10.6 million. During 2007, we received cash proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment; assets held for sale and discontinued operations of $105.3 million. These proceeds primarily relate to the sale of Royal Group's corporate headquarters and three manufacturing facilities located in Vaughan, Ontario. We estimate total capital expenditures for 2010 will be in the range of $45.0 million to $50.0 million.

        Financing Activities.    Cash used in financing activities was $29.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009. In 2006, we completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding common stock of Royal Group for a total purchase price, including assumed debt and debt retired in conjunction with the closing, of approximately $1.5 billion. The acquisition was financed entirely with new debt, including $500.0 million in aggregate principal amount of new senior notes, $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of new senior subordinated notes and $800.0 million principal amount of floating interest rate term debt under a new senior secured credit facility. Demand for our building and home improvement products declined during 2008 as compared to 2007 primarily as a result of U.S. housing starts decreasing by about 33 percent according to a report furnished jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in January 2009. Similarly, in 2008 our chlorovinyls segment experienced decreased demand compared to 2007, primarily as a result of a continued weakness in the U.S. residential housing market. As a result of the significant impact of the recession on the residential construction industry, we were required to obtain numerous waivers and amendments of certain restrictive covenants that required us to maintain certain financial ratios under our senior secured credit facility. In early 2009, we began to take actions to recapitalize our company.

        On March 31, 2009, we commenced private exchange offers for our outstanding 7.125 percent senior notes due 2013 (the "2013 notes"), 9.5 percent senior notes due 2014 (the "2014 notes"), and 10.75 percent senior subordinated notes due 2016 (the "2016 notes" and collectively with the 2013 notes and 2014 notes, the "notes") and, in conjunction with the private exchange offers, withheld payment of $34.5 million of interest due April 15, 2009 for the 2014 and 2016 notes. After numerous extensions and amendments of the exchange offers and additional waivers and amendments under our senior secured credit facility, on July 29, 2009, we consummated our private exchange of equity for approximately $736.0 million (principal amount), or 92.0 percent, in aggregate principal amount of the notes. The $736.0 million was comprised of $91.0 million of the $100 million of 2013 notes, $486.8 million of the $500 million of 2014 notes, and $158.1 million of the $200 million of 2016 notes. An aggregate of approximately 30.2 million shares of convertible preferred stock and approximately 1.3 million shares of common stock were issued in exchange for the tendered notes after giving effect to a 1-for-25 reverse stock split, which reduced the outstanding common shares, before the issuance of common shares in the debt exchange, to approximately 1.4 million shares. In preparation for and prior to this debt for equity exchange, we executed a 1-for-25 reverse stock split. In September 2009, following an amendment of our charter to increase the shares of our authorized common stock to 100 million shares, approximately 30.2 million convertible preferred shares converted to an equal number of common shares. After giving effect to the debt exchange at December 31, 2009, we had

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outstanding $9.0 million of the 2013 notes, $13.2 million of the 2014 notes and $41.4 million of the 2016 notes. This debt for equity exchange was a troubled debt restructuring and thus an extinguishment of the notes for which we recognized a net gain of $400.8 million, or approximately $16.61 per share. Cash tax payments in 2009 were $10 million. As a result of the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed in 2009, we have the option to defer the federal taxes payable as a result of the debt exchange to 2014 and then pay those taxes ratably over five years. We expect to make this election when we file our 2009 federal tax return and therefore do not have a large current tax liability.

        On December 22, 2009, we refinanced our senior secured credit facility and our $175.0 million asset securitization agreement. At the time of the refinancing our senior secured credit facility was comprised of a $300.0 million revolving credit facility and a $347.7 million Term Loan B. We replaced the senior secured credit facility and asset securitization facility with a four-year term senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility that provides for a maximum of $300 million of revolving credit subject to borrowing base availability and other terms and conditions (the "ABL Revolver") and the issuance of $500.0 million in principal amount of 9.0 percent senior secured notes.

        This recapitalization and a $17.0 million payoff of other debt per the stated terms of that debt are the primary contributors to reducing our total debt by $655.1 million from December 31, 2008 to December 31, 2009. These debt reductions are net of a $15.0 million increase in our lease financing obligation that is due exclusively to the change in the Canadian dollar foreign exchange rate. These debt pay offs were also partly offset by refinancing our trade receivable asset securitization program with debt. The recapitalization also significantly extended the timing of our debt maturities. The ABL Revolver terminates in December 2013 and our next significant debt maturity is in 2017 when the 9.0 percent Notes are due. Further, the recapitalization reduced our cash interest costs and removed the quarterly maintenance covenants that required waivers and amendments from our lenders in the past.

        Cash provided by financing activities was $15.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008. Cash provided by financing activities in 2008 was impacted by our adjustment of our cash management activities to maximize our financial flexibility. Specifically, Lehman Commercial Paper, Inc., a subsidiary of Lehman Brothers Inc. (collectively "Lehman Brothers"), was a participant in our revolving line of credit facility, representing about 12 percent of our $375.0 million revolving line of credit facility. Due to their failure to fund revolver draws, we had about $6.6 million of our revolving line of credit that was not available to us. As a result we maintained a higher cash balance partially due to $105.8 million of net additional borrowings on our revolving line of credit that was partially offset by the repayment of $74.0 million of long-term debt. Long-term debt repayments were primarily funded by proceeds from the sale of under utilized assets. During fiscal year 2008, we increased our total debt by $33.3 million due primarily to the above noted issues with Lehman Brothers and the impact on the availability of our revolving line of credit. Had the revolving line of credit been fully available we could have decreased total debt during fiscal 2008 by $46.7 million by applying approximately $80.0 million of the $90.0 million of cash and cash equivalents on hand at December 31, 2008 towards our outstanding revolving line of credit balance.

        Cash used in financing activities was $150.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. During fiscal year 2007, we reduced our total debt by $135.9 million, of which $11.6 million was generated from cash provided by operations, $105.3 million was provided by asset sales and $19.0 million was provided from the sale of additional interests in our trade receivables. Additionally, we entered into a lease financing obligation whereby we transferred ownership in certain real estate in exchange for proceeds of $95.9 million. We used those proceeds to reduce our term B debt. In connection with the lease financing transaction, a $17 million collateralized letter of credit was issued in favor of the buyer-lessor, with an effective term of eight years. As a result of the collateralized letter of credit, the transaction has been recorded as a financing transaction rather than as a sale, and the land and buildings and related accounts continue to be recognized in property, plant, and equipment in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. These lease financing transactions primarily related to the lease of four Royal Group manufacturing and warehousing facilities located in Vaughan, Ontario.

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        On December 31, 2009, our balance sheet debt consisted of $56.5 million of borrowings under our ABL Revolver, $9.0 million of unsecured 7.125 percent senior notes due 2013, $13.2 million of unsecured 9.5 percent senior notes due 2014, $41.4 million of unsecured 10.75 percent senior subordinated notes due 2016, $496.7 million of senior secured 9.0 percent Notes due 2017, $106.4 million of lease financing obligations and $15.9 million in other debt. At December 31, 2009, under our ABL Revolver, we had a maximum borrowing capacity of $300.0 million, and net of qualifying accounts receivable and inventory, outstanding letters of credit of $45.2 million, current borrowings of $56.5 million, and less a fixed $15.0 million availability reserve we had remaining availability of $134.5 million. Over the next twelve months, we expect to pay off $28.2 million on our ABL Revolver. Therefore, we have classified this debt as current in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2009.

        The ABL Revolver provides for a maximum of $300 million of revolving credit including letters of credit through December 2013, subject to borrowing base availability. The borrowing base is determined on a monthly basis and is equal to specified percentages of our eligible accounts receivable and inventories, less a fixed $15 million availability reserve and other reserves reasonably determined by the co-collateral agents. Interest on this facility is variable at a rate per annum, at our option, based on the prime rate plus the applicable pricing margin or the London Interbank Offered Rate, ("LIBOR") plus the applicable pricing margin. For the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, the average interest rates for the former senior credit facility were 9.09, 6.51, and 7.94 percent, respectively. As of December 31, 2009 the rate was 6.0%. The ABL Revolver is secured by substantially all of our assets and contains certain restrictive covenants including restrictions on debt incurrence, granting of liens, dividends, acquisitions and investments.

        On December 22, 2009, we also issued the $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured 9.0 percent Notes due 2017. These notes were issued at a $3.3 million discount to effectively provide a 9.125 percent interest rate. Interest on these notes is payable January 15 and July 15 of each year. On or after January 15, 2014, we may redeem the notes in whole or in part, initially at 104.5 percent of their principal amount, and thereafter at prices declining annually to 100 percent on or after December 15, 2016. During any twelve-month period prior to January 15, 2014 we may make optional redemptions of the notes up to 10 percent of the aggregate principal amount thereof at a redemption price of 103.0 percent. In addition, prior to January 15, 2013, we may make optional redemptions of up to 35 percent of the aggregate principal amount thereof at a redemption price equal to 109.0 percent of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, we may redeem some or all of the notes at anytime prior to January 15, 2014 at a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus a make-whole premium and any accrued and unpaid interest. The 9.0 percent Notes are secured by substantially all of our assets and contain certain restrictive covenants including restrictions on debt incurrence, granting of liens, dividends, acquisitions and investments.

        Management believes based on current and projected levels of operations and conditions in our markets and cash flow from operations, together with our cash and cash equivalents on hand of $38.8 million and the availability to borrow an additional $134.5 million under our ABL Revolver as of December 31, 2009, the Company has adequate funding for the foreseeable future to make required payments of principal and interest on our debt and fund our working capital and capital expenditure requirements and comply with the financial ratios of the senior secured ABL Revolver and covenants under our indenture for the 9.0 percent notes. To the extent our cash flow and liquidity exceeds the levels necessary for us to make our required debt payments, fund our working capital and capital expenditure requirements and comply with our ABL Revolver and the indenture for the 9.0 percent notes, we may use that excess liquidity to further grow our business through investments or acquisitions and/or to further reduce our debt through optional prepayments or redemptions of our outstanding debt securities.

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        However, if our expectations regarding our business prove incorrect, we may not be able to pursue any such business growth or debt reduction opportunities, and may not be able to meet certain restrictive covenants and maintain compliance with certain financial ratios or, possibly, not be able to make required payments under our notes or ABL Revolver. In that event, we would attempt to obtain waivers or covenant relief from our lenders. Although we have successfully negotiated covenant relief in the past, there can be no assurance we can do so in the future. As of December 31, 2009, we are in compliance with all required debt covenants.

        Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement.    We had agreements pursuant to which we sold an undivided percentage ownership interest in a defined pool of our U.S. trade receivables on a revolving basis through a wholly owned subsidiary to a third party (the "Securitization"). The funded balance has the effect of reducing accounts receivable and short-term liabilities by the same amount. As collections reduce accounts receivable included in the pool, we sold interests in new receivables to bring the ownership interests sold up to a maximum of $165.0 million, as permitted by the Securitization in effect through March 17, 2009, and up to a maximum of $175.0 million thereafter. The balance in the interest of receivables sold at December 31, 2008 was $111.0 million.

        As of December 22, 2009, the Securitization was terminated and replaced with a $300.0 million ABL Revolver (see Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

        Contractual Obligations.    Our aggregate future payments under contractual obligations by category as of December 31, 2009, were as follows:

        Long-Term Debt.    Long-term debt includes principal and interest payments based upon our interest rates as of December 31, 2009. Long-term debt obligations are listed based on when they are contractually due.

        Lease Financing Obligations.    We lease land and buildings for certain of our Canadian manufacturing facilities under leases with varying maturities through the year 2017.

        Operating Lease Obligations.    We lease railcars, storage terminals, computer equipment, automobiles and warehouse and office space under non-cancelable operating leases with varying maturities through the year 2017. We did not have significant capital lease obligations as of December 31, 2009.

        Purchase Obligations.    Purchase obligations include agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding and that specify all significant terms. We have certain long-term raw material supply contracts and energy purchase agreements with various terms extending through 2014. These commitments are designed to assure sources of supply for our normal requirements. Amounts are based upon contractual raw material volumes and market rates as of December 31, 2009.

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        Uncertain Income Tax Positions.    We have recognized a liability for our unrecognized income tax benefits of approximately $65.2 million as December 31, 2009. We have included in the table above any liability for our unrecognized income tax benefits related to audits and other tax matters that we are likely to pay within a twelve month period. The ultimate resolution and timing of payment for remaining matters remains uncertain and are therefore excluded from the above table.

Outlook

        We based our 2010 operating plans on conservative macro economic assumptions regarding the main drivers of our businesses. We assume a slight recovery in U.S. and Canadian housing starts, gross domestic product ("GDP") growth in both the U.S. and Canada greater than 2 percent over 2009, a continuation of favorable conditions for PVC exports, natural gas costs that average approximately $6 per MMBTU, and stabilization in the ECU value in 2010 compared to 2009.

        In addition to the macroeconomic assumptions, our operating plans give effect to the expected impact of a number of factors specifically related to GGC. Among other things, our performance will be impacted by two scheduled maintenance outages compared to just one in 2009, as well as the benefit of cost reduction efforts initiated in 2009, which should be fully realized in 2010.

See Item 1A. "Risk Factors—Forward-Looking Statements"

Inflation

        The most significant component of our cost of sales is raw materials, which include basic oil-based commodities and natural gas or derivatives thereof. The costs of raw materials and natural gas are based primarily on market forces and have not been significantly affected by inflation. Inflation has not had a material impact on our sales or income from operations.

New Accounting Pronouncements

        In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Codification ("Codification" or "ASC") subtopic 105-10, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The Codification is now the single source of authoritative nongovernmental U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants. This statement was effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after September 15, 2009. All existing accounting standards are superseded as described in this statement. All other accounting literature not included in the Codification is nonauthoritative. The adoption of the Codification on September 30, 2009 did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

        In June 2009, the FASB issued ASC topic 810, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), which amends the consolidation guidance applicable to variable interest entities and the definition of a variable interest entity ("VIE") and requires enhanced disclosures to provide more information about an enterprise's involvement in a VIE. In addition, it requires an enterprise to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise's variable interest gives it a controlling interest in a VIE. The analysis identifies the primary beneficiary of the VIE as the enterprise that has both (a) the power to direct the activities of the VIE and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE. This statement will be effective for us beginning in the first quarter of 2010. We are currently evaluating the impact of this statement on our consolidated financial statements.

        In June 2009, the FASB issued ASC topic 860, Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140, which improves the relevance, representational faithfulness and comparability of the information that a reporting entity provides in its financial statements about a transfer of financial assets; the effects of a transfer on its financial position, financial performance and cash flows;

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and a transferor's continuing involvement, if any, in the transferred assets. This statement is effective for financial asset transfers occurring after the beginning of an entity's first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2009. Early adoption is prohibited. We are currently evaluating the impact of this statement on our consolidated financial statements.

        In April 2009, the FASB issued ASC subtopic 820-10, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, section 65-4, Transition Related to FASB Staff Position ("FSP") SFAS 157-4, Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly. This ASC subtopic emphasizes that even if there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability and regardless of the valuation technique(s) used, the objective of a fair value measurement remains the same. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction (that is, not a forced liquidation or distressed sale) between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. This ASC subtopic was effective for the second quarter of 2009 and did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. On August 28, 2009 the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2009-05, Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value, (previously exposed for comments as proposed FSP 157-f) to provide guidance on measuring the fair value of liabilities under ASC 820. This ASU clarifies that the quoted price for the identical liability, when traded as an asset in an active market, is also a Level 1 measurement for that liability when no adjustment to the quoted price is required. The ASU also provides guidance in the absence of a Level 1 measurement. The ASU was effective for the first interim or annual reporting period beginning after the ASU's issuance. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-6, Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements. This ASU discusses the level of disaggregation required for each class of assets and liabilities and for fair value measurements that fall within Level 2 or 3 of the fair value hierarchy. This ASU is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures concerning purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. See Note 18, "Fair Value of Financial Instruments" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, for disclosures related to this statement.

        In April 2009, the FASB issued ASC subtopic 825-10, Financial Instruments, section 65-1, Transition Related to FSP SFAS 107-1 and Accounting Principles Bulletin ("APB") No. 28-1, Interim Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments. This ASC subtopic states that an entity shall disclose in the body or in the accompanying notes of its summarized financial information for interim reporting periods and in its financial statements for annual reporting periods the fair value of all financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value, whether recognized or not recognized in the statement of financial position, as required by Statement 107. Fair value information disclosed in the notes must be presented together with the related carrying amount in a form that makes it clear whether the fair value and carrying amount represent assets or liabilities and how the carrying amount relates to what is reported in the statement of financial position. An entity also must disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments and describe changes in method(s) and significant assumptions, if any, during the period. These new disclosures became effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009. See Note 18, "Fair Value of Financial Instruments" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for disclosures related to this statement.

        In December 2008, the FASB issued ASC subtopic 715-20, Compensation—Retirement Benefits, section 65-2, Transition Related to FSP SFAS 132(R)-1, Employer's Disclosure about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets, which amends ASC subtopic 715-20 to require more detailed disclosures about employers' pension plan assets. New disclosures will include more information on investment strategies, major categories of assets, concentrations of risk within plan assets and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets. This new ASC subtopic requires new disclosures for us for the year ending

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December 31, 2009. The new disclosures are reflected in Note 15, "Employee Retirement Plans" of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

        Critical accounting policies are those that are important to our financial condition and require management's most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments. Different amounts would be reported under different operating conditions or under alternative assumptions. We have evaluated the accounting policies used in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes and believe those policies to be reasonable and appropriate. See Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for a complete listing of our accounting policies. We believe the following to be our most critical accounting policies applied in the preparation of our financial statements.

        Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.    In our determination of the allowance for doubtful accounts and consistent with our accounting policy, we estimate the amount of accounts receivable that we believe are unlikely to be collected and we record an expense for that amount. Estimating this amount requires us to analyze the financial strength of our customers by analyzing leverage and coverage ratios, as well as Dun and Bradstreet ratings. In our analysis, we combine the use of historical collection experience, our accounts receivable aged trial balance and specific collectibility analysis. By its nature, such an estimate is highly subjective, and it is possible that the amount of accounts receivable that we are unable to collect may be different than the amount initially estimated. Our allowance for doubtful accounts on December 31, 2009 and 2008 was $16.5 million and $12.3 million, respectively. No individual customer accounted for greater than 10 percent of our trade accounts receivable as of December 31, 2009 and 2008. To the extent the actual collectibility of our accounts receivable differs from our estimated allowance by 10 percent, our net income would be higher or lower by approximately $1.2 million, on an after-tax basis, depending on whether the actual collectibility was better or worse than the estimated allowance.

        Environmental and Legal Accruals.    In our determination of the estimates relating to ongoing environmental costs and legal proceedings (see Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements), we consult with our advisors (consultants, engineers and attorneys). Such consultation provides us with the information on which we base our judgments on these matters and under which we accrue an expense when it has been determined that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount is reasonably estimable. While we believe that the amounts recorded in the accompanying consolidated financial statements related to these contingencies are based on the best estimates and judgments available to us, the actual outcomes could differ from our estimates. To the extent that actual outcomes differ from our estimates by 10 percent, our net income would be higher or lower by approximately $0.5 million, on an after-tax basis, depending on whether the actual outcomes were better or worse than the estimates.

        Valuation of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.    Goodwill is the excess of cost of an acquired entity over the amounts specifically assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in purchase accounting for business combinations. Other identifiable intangible assets are intangible assets such as customer lists, trade names and technology that are identified during acquisitions. Our carrying value of our goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets are tested for impairment annually on October 1 and are tested for impairment between annual impairment tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate the carrying amounts may be impaired. Indicators include, but are not limited to significant declines in the markets and industries which buy our products, changes in the estimated future cash flows of our reporting units, changes in capital markets and changes in our market capitalization. Impairment testing for goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets is a two-step test performed at a reporting unit level. Our reporting units subject to such testing are window and door profiles; mouldings; deck, fence and rail products and compounds (vinyl and additives). The initial step requires the carrying value of each reporting unit to be compared with its estimated fair value. The second step to evaluate a reporting unit for

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impairment is only required if the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value in the initial step. We use a discounted cash flow analysis and market approaches to determine the estimated fair value of a reporting unit, which requires judgment and assumptions including estimated future cash flows and discount rates. Our weighting of the discounted cash flow and market approaches vary by reporting unit based on factors specific to those reporting units. Our weighting of the two approaches was equal in 2009. An impairment loss may be recognized when the carrying amount of the reporting unit's net assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. Actual impairment charges incurred could vary significantly from amounts that we estimate if different assumptions or methods are used in the estimate for fair value of the reporting units.

        Inherent in our fair value determinations are certain judgments and estimates relating to future cash flows, including interpretation of current economic indicators and market conditions, overall economic conditions and our strategic operational plans with regard to our operations. A change in such assumptions may cause a change in the results of the analyses performed. In addition, to the extent significant changes occur in market conditions, overall economic conditions or our strategic operational plan; it is possible that goodwill not currently impaired may become impaired in the future. Based on the results of our evaluation in connection with our goodwill impairment test as of October 1, 2009, we did not record an impairment charge to goodwill in 2009. We experienced a significant decline in our market capitalization from October 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009, which we determined was not primarily due to company-specific factors, but rather, due to macroeconomic conditions, including rising unemployment levels, turmoil in the credit markets, and deteriorating consumer confidence. However, given the decrease in market capitalization at December 31, 2009, we reconsidered our cash flow projections utilized in our impairment test as of October 1, 2009, including an assessment of our actual results for the fourth quarter of 2009 as compared to our projections for such period, and also assessed whether the discount rates used in our October 1, 2009 impairment test remained appropriate as of December 31, 2009. We further evaluated our reporting units with significant goodwill using a 100 basis point increase in our discount rates above those that were supported by our valuation work on the basis that a change in such assumptions may cause a change in the results of the analyses performed; however, it did not. See Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details of the 2009 goodwill and other intangible asset impairment test. We recorded a non-cash impairment charge to write down goodwill and other intangible assets by $112.1 million and $149.4 million in 2008 and 2007, respectively, primarily as a result of the deteriorating North America housing and construction markets.

        Valuation of Long-Lived Assets.    Our long-lived assets, such as property, plant, and equipment, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, in accordance with ASC topic 360 Property, Plant, and Equipment. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Our judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on legal factors, market conditions and assumptions for operational performance of our businesses. The assumptions used to estimate our future undiscounted cash flows are predominately identified from our financial forecasts. The actual impairment charge incurred could vary significantly from amounts that we estimate. Additionally, future events could cause us to conclude that impairment indicators exist and that associated long-lived assets of our businesses are impaired.

        During 2009 we continued the consolidation of our Window and Door profiles plants resulting in impairments of $21.6 million. During 2008 we assessed our Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Sarnia, Ontario resin plants for impairment, and recorded impairment charges of $15.5 million and $42.3 million, respectively. The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma plant ceased operations in March 2008 and the Sarnia plant closed in December 2008. We noted no significant further impairment of these assets in 2009 or 2007.

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        Pension Liabilities.    Accounting for employee retirement plans involves estimating the cost of benefits that are to be provided in the future and attempting to match, for each employee, that estimated cost to the period worked. To accomplish this, we make assumptions about discount rates, expected long-term rates of return on plan assets, salary increases, employee turnover and mortality rates, among others. We reevaluate all assumptions annually with our independent actuaries taking into consideration existing as well as forecasted economic conditions, and our policy and strategy with regard to the plans. We believe our estimates, the most significant of which are stated below, to be reasonable.

        The discount rate reflects the rate at which pension benefit obligations could be effectively settled. We determined our discount rate by matching the expected cash flows of our pension obligations to a yield curve generated from a broad portfolio of high-quality fixed rate debt instruments. The discount rate assumption used for determining annual pension expense for our U.S. pension plans in 2009 was 6.7 percent. At December 31, 2009, this rate was 6.0 percent for determining 2010 annual pension expense for our U.S. pension plans. A 25 basis point increase or decrease in this discount rate would decrease or increase our annual pre-tax pension expense by $0.1 million for our U.S. pension plans. In addition to the expense, a 25 basis point increase in our discount rate would decrease our year-end benefit obligations by $3.8 million, whereas a 25 basis point decrease would increase our year-end benefit obligations by $4.0 million for our U.S. pension plans.

        The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption is based on historical and projected rates of return for current and planned asset classes in the plan's investment portfolio. Our weighted average asset allocation as of December 31, 2009, is 58.5 percent equity securities, 21.7 percent debt securities, 1.6 percent real estate and 18.2 percent other. Assumed projected rates of return for each of the plan's projected asset classes were selected by us after analyzing historical experience and future expectations of the returns and volatility of the various asset classes. The expected long-term rate of return assumption used for determining annual pension expense for 2009 was 8.75 percent for our U.S. pension plans. At December 31, 2009, this rate was 8.75 percent for determining 2010 annual pension expense for our U.S. pension plans. A 25 basis point increase or decrease in the long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption would decrease or increase our annual pre-tax pension expense by $0.2 million for our U.S. pension plans. A 25 basis point increase or decrease in the expected long-term rate of return assumption for our foreign pension plans is not material.

        Income Taxes.    Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. At December 31, 2009 and 2008, we had a net deferred tax liability balance of $160.3 million and $47.6 million, respectively.

        In evaluating the ability to realize our deferred tax assets we rely principally on forecasted taxable income using historical and projected future operating results and the reversal of existing temporary differences. At December 31, 2009 and 2008, we had deferred tax assets for state tax credit carryforwards of $16.1 million and $4.6 million, respectively, which carryforward indefinitely. We believe we will achieve taxable income in the related jurisdictions in order to realize the deferred tax assets for state tax credit carryforwards. In addition, at December 31, 2009 we had deferred tax assets for net operating loss carryforwards in the U.S. and Canada of $3.0 million and $31.1 million, respectively, of which we have a $32.6 million valuation allowance to record these deferred tax assets related to net operating losses at their estimated realizable values.

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        In 2009 and 2008, we recorded a $7.3 million and $55.5 million valuation allowance, respectively, on certain deferred tax assets in Canada that, in the judgment of management, are not more likely than not to be realized. In assessing the reliability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets depends on the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences are deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities (including the impact of available carryback and carryforward periods), projected taxable income and tax-planning strategies available to the company in making this assessment. In order to fully realize the deferred tax assets, we will need to generate future taxable income before the expiration of the deferred tax assets governed by the tax code. Based on the level of historical cumulative losses, management believes that it is more likely than not that the company will realize the benefits of these deductible differences, net of the existing valuation allowances at December 31, 2009. As a result of the debt exchange completed in July 2009, we experienced a change in control as defined by the Internal Revenue Code. Because of this change in control, we will be unable to realize a benefit from the U.S. federal net operating loss arising before the acquisition of the Royal Group. Therefore, we no longer carry those net operating losses as a deferred tax asset. The change in control also limits our ability to realize certain expenses in the future and we have recorded deferred tax liabilities to reflect this.

        Effective January 1, 2007, we adopted ASC topic 740, Income Taxes, formerly Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation ("FIN") 48 , Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise's financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. The ASC standard prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Under the ASC standard, we recognize the financial statement effects of a tax position when it is more likely than not, based upon the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. Conversely, we derecognize a previously recognized tax position in the first period in which it is no longer more likely than not that the tax position would be sustained upon examination. A tax position that meets the more likely than not recognition threshold will initially and subsequently be measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority. We also recognize interest expense by applying a rate of interest to the difference between the tax position recognized in accordance with the ASC standard and the amount previously taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. We classify interest expense and related penalties, if any, with respect to our uncertain tax positions in the provision for income taxes.

        In addition, we have accrued a reserve for non-income tax contingencies of $8.7 million and $7.4 million, at December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The increase in the reserve is related primarily to the changes in the Canadian dollar exchange rates and the accrued interest related to these matters. We accrue for non-income tax contingencies when it is probable that a liability to a taxing authority has been incurred and the amount of the contingency can be reasonably estimated. The non-income tax contingency reserves are adjusted for, among other things, changes in facts and circumstances, receipt of tax assessments, expiration of statutes of limitations, interest and settlements and additional uncertainties.

        Stock-Based Compensation.    We account for share-based payments in accordance with ASC topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation ("ASC 718"). All share-based payments to employees and non-employee directors, including grants of stock options, restricted and deferred stock units, restricted stock and employee stock purchase rights are required to be recognized in our financial statements based on their respective grant date fair values. Under ASC 718, the fair value of each share-based payment award is estimated on the date of grant using an option-pricing model that meets certain requirements. We currently use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of our share-based payment awards. The Black-Scholes model meets the requirements of ASC 718; however, the fair values generated by the model may not be indicative of the actual fair values of our awards as it does not consider certain

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factors important to our awards, such as continued employment, periodic vesting requirements and limited transferability. Future stock-based compensation expense and unearned stock-based compensation will increase to the extent that we grant additional equity awards to employees or we assume unvested equity awards in connection with acquisitions. The determination of the fair value of share-based payment awards utilizing the Black-Scholes model is affected by our stock price and a number of assumptions, including expected volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate and expected dividends. We use the historical volatility for our stock, as we believe that historical volatility is more representative than implied volatility. The expected life of the awards is based on historical and other economic data trended into the future. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on observed interest rates appropriate for the terms of our awards. The dividend yield assumption is based on our historical dividend yield and expectation of future dividend payouts. The fair value of our restricted and deferred stock units and restricted stock are based on the fair market value of our stock on the date of grant. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Stock-based compensation expense recognized in our financial statements is based on awards that are ultimately expected to vest. We evaluate the assumptions used to value our awards on a quarterly basis. If factors change and we employ different assumptions, stock-based compensation expense may differ significantly from what we have recorded in the past. If there are any modifications or cancellations of the underlying unvested securities, we may be required to accelerate, increase or cancel any remaining unearned stock-based compensation expense.

Environmental

        Our operations are subject to increasingly stringent federal, state, and local laws and regulations relating to environmental quality. These regulations, which are enforced principally by USEPA and comparable state agencies, govern the management of solid hazardous waste, emissions into the air and discharges into surface and underground waters, and the manufacture of chemical substances. Our Canadian operations are subject to similar laws and regulations.

        We believe that we are in material compliance with all the current environmental laws and regulations. We estimate that any expenses incurred in maintaining compliance with these requirements will not materially affect earnings or cause us to exceed our level of anticipated capital expenditures. However, there can be no assurance that regulatory requirements will not change, and therefore, it is not possible to accurately predict the aggregate cost of compliance resulting from any such changes.

        See Item 1. Business, Item 3. Legal Proceedings, Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for additional information related to environmental matters.

Item 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

        We are subject to certain market risks related to long-term financing and related derivative financial instruments, foreign currency exchange rates and raw material commodity prices. These financial exposures are managed as an integral part of our risk management program, which seeks to reduce the potentially adverse effect that the volatility of the interest rate, exchange rate, raw material commodity and natural gas markets may have on our operating results. We do not engage in speculative transactions, nor do we hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes.

        Interest Rate Risk Management.    The following table is "forward-looking" information that provides information about our debt obligations and other significant financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. Our policy is to manage interest rates through the use of a combination of fixed and floating rate debt instruments. At times, we may utilize interest rate swap agreements to help manage our interest rate risk. As of December 31, 2008, we had interest rate swaps with notional amounts totaling $75.0 million to fix the interest rate on $75.0 million of our variable LIBOR based term debt. As of December 31, 2009 we had no outstanding interest rate swaps. We currently estimate that a 100 basis point

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change in prevailing market interest rates on our variable rate debt would impact our related annual pre-tax income by $0.6 million. The table presents principal cash flows and related weighted average interest rates by expected maturity dates for the financial instruments.

        Foreign Currency Exchange Risk Management.    Our international operations require active participation in foreign exchange markets. We may or may not enter into foreign exchange forward contracts and options, and cross-currency swaps to hedge various currency exposures or create desired exposures.

        Raw Materials and Natural Gas Price Risk Management.    The availability and price of our raw materials and natural gas are subject to fluctuations due to unpredictable factors in global supply and demand. To reduce price risk caused by market fluctuations, from time to time, we may enter into forward swap contracts, which are generally less than one year in duration. We designate forward swap contracts with financial counter-parties as cash flow hedges. Any outstanding contracts are valued at market with the offset going to other comprehensive income, net of applicable income taxes, and any material hedge ineffectiveness is recognized in cost of goods sold. Any gain or loss is recognized in cost of goods sold in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The fair value of our natural gas swap contract was a $0.3 million and $0.2 million asset at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.

        We also have other long-term supply contracts for raw materials, which are at prices not in excess of market, designed to assure a source of supply and not expected to be in excess of our normal manufacturing operations requirements. Historically, we have taken physical delivery under these contracts and we intend to take physical delivery in the future. Therefore, at inception we designate these contracts as normal purchase agreements and account for them under the normal purchase provision of ASC topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and related amendments.

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Item 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

        

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Georgia Gulf Corporation
Atlanta, Georgia

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Georgia Gulf Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Georgia Gulf Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 11, 2010 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Atlanta, Georgia
March 11, 2010

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Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Georgia Gulf Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND NATURE OF BUSINESS

        Principles of Consolidation.    The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Georgia Gulf Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

        Nature of Operations.    We are a leading North American manufacturer and an international marketer of chlorovinyl and aromatics chemicals and also manufacture and market vinyl-based building and home improvement products. Our chlorovinyl and aromatic chemicals products are sold for further processing into a wide variety of end-use applications, including plastic pipe and pipe fittings, siding and window frames, bonding agents for wood products, high-quality plastics, acrylic sheeting and coatings for wire and cable. Our vinyl-based building and home improvement products, marketed under the Royal Group brands, primarily include window and door profiles, mouldings, siding, pipe and pipe fittings and deck, fence and rail products.

        Use of Estimates.    Management is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

        Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions.    Our subsidiaries that operate outside the United States use their local currency as the functional currency. The functional currency is translated into U.S. dollars for balance sheet accounts using the month end exchange rates in effect as of the balance sheet date and average exchange rate for revenues and expenses for each respective period. The translation adjustments are deferred as a separate component of stockholders' equity, within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax where applicable. Gains or losses resulting from transactions denominated in foreign currencies are reported in the same financial statement captions as the underlying transactions in the consolidated statements of operations. We recorded a loss of $1.1 million, $2.3 million and $5.4 million, in fiscal years 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively, within operating (loss) income in the consolidated statement of operations. The year over year fluctuation in transaction related gains or (losses) is due to both the volume of foreign currency denominated transactions and the volatility in the underlying exchange rates.

        Cash and Cash Equivalents.    Marketable securities that are highly liquid with an original maturity of three months or less are considered to be the equivalent of cash for purposes of financial statement presentation.

        Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.    We grant credit to customers under credit terms that are customary in the industry and based on the creditworthiness of the customer and generally do not require collateral. We also provide allowances for cash discounts and doubtful accounts based on contract terms, historical collection experience, periodic evaluations of the aging of the accounts receivable and specific collectibility analysis.

        Revenue Recognition.    We recognize revenue in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as outlined in the Financial Accounting Standards Board's ("FASB"), Accounting Standard Codification ("ASC" or "Codification") topic 605, "Revenue Recognition," which requires that four basic criteria be met before revenue can be recognized: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (ii) the price is fixed or determinable; (iii) collectibility is reasonably assured; and (iv) product delivery has

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND NATURE OF BUSINESS (Continued)

occurred. We primarily recognize revenue as products are shipped based on free on board ("FOB") terms when title passes to customers, and the customer takes ownership and assumes risk of loss.

        Sales Incentives.    We offer sales incentives, primarily in the form of volume rebates, slotting fees and advertising allowances to our customers, which are classified as a reduction of net sales and are calculated based on contractual terms of customer contracts. We accrue for these sales incentives based on contract terms and historical experience.

        Shipping Costs.    All amounts billed to a customer in a sale transaction related to shipping are classified as revenue. Shipping fees billed to customers and included in sales and cost of goods sold were $62.0 million in 2009, $74.0 million in 2008, and $90.3 million in 2007.

        Advertising Costs.    Advertising costs and promotion expenses generally relate to our vinyl-based building and home improvement products marketed under the Royal Group brand names and are charged to earnings during the period in which they are incurred. Advertising and promotion expenses are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and were $5.7 million, $8.3 million and $11.7 million, in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

        Inventories.    Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method for the majority of inventory and the weighted average cost method for the remainder. Costs include raw materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead. Market is based on current replacement cost for raw materials and supplies and on net realizable value for finished goods.

        Property, Plant and Equipment.    Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, and major renewals and improvements are capitalized. Interest expense attributable to funds used in financing the construction of major plant and equipment is capitalized. Interest expense capitalized during 2009, 2008 and 2007 was $1.0 million, $0.4 million, and $5.7 million, respectively. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Depreciation expense totaled approximately $98.5 million, $128.2 million and $134.8 million, for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively. The net book value of our idled Pasadena, Texas phenol/acetone plant was approximately $0.7 million as of December 31, 2009, and is included in property, plant and equipment on our consolidated balance sheet. The estimated useful lives of our assets are as follows:

        Asset Retirement Obligation.    We account for asset retirement obligations in accordance with ASC topic 410 sub-topic 20, Asset Retirement Obligation, which requires the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred and capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. When a liability is initially recorded, we capitalize the cost by increasing the carrying value of the related long-lived asset. The liability is accreted to its future value each

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND NATURE OF BUSINESS (Continued)

period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the estimated useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the liability, a gain or loss is recorded. We had $2.3 million and $2.2 million of asset retirement obligations recorded in other non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

        Other Assets.    Other assets primarily consist of advances for long-term raw materials purchase contracts (see Note 11), our investment in joint ventures (see Notes 8 and 12) and unamortized debt issuance costs (see Note 8). Advances for long-term raw materials purchase contracts are being amortized as additional raw materials costs over the life of the related contracts in proportion to raw materials delivery or related contract terms. Debt issuance costs are being amortized to interest expense using the effective interest rate and straight-line methods over the term of the related debt instruments.

        Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.    We account for our goodwill and other intangible assets in accordance with ASC topic 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other. Goodwill is the excess of cost of an acquired entity over the amounts specifically assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in purchase accounting for business combinations. Our other identifiable intangible assets include customer lists, trade names and purchased technology. We test the carrying value of our goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment on an annual basis on October 1. The carrying value will be tested for impairment between annual impairment tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would indicate the carrying amount may be impaired. Indicators include, but are not limited to, significant declines in the markets and industries that buy our products, changes in the estimated future cash flows of our reporting units, changes in capital markets and changes in our market capitalization. Impairment testing for goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets is a two-step test performed at a reporting unit level. Our reporting units subject to such testing are window and door profiles; mouldings; deck, fence and rail products and compounds (vinyl and additives). An impairment loss may be recognized when the carrying amount of the reporting unit's net assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. See Note 9 for a summary of goodwill and other intangible assets by reportable segment.

        Long-Lived Assets.    Our long-lived assets, such as property, plant, and equipment, and intangible assets with definite lives are analyzed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated fair value of the asset based on undiscounted cash flows. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds estimated fair value of the asset, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the estimated fair value of the asset based on discounted cash flows. Assets to be disposed of would be recorded at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell and no longer depreciated.

        Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans.    We have defined contribution pension plans covering substantially all of our employees. In addition, we have two defined benefit pension plans and had one postretirement benefit plan. For the defined benefit pension plans, the benefits are based on years of service and the employee's compensation. Our postretirement benefit plan was terminated and paid out in the second quarter of 2009. Our policy on funding the defined benefit plans is to contribute an amount within the range of the minimum required and the maximum tax-deductible contribution.

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND NATURE OF BUSINESS (Continued)

        Accounting for employee retirement plans involves estimating the cost of benefits that are to be provided in the future and attempting to match, for each employee, that estimated cost to the period worked. To accomplish this, we make assumptions about discount rates, expected long-term rates of return on plan assets, salary increases and employee turnover and mortality, among others. We reevaluate all assumptions annually with our independent actuaries taking into consideration existing as well as forecasted economic conditions, and our policy and strategy with regard to the plans. As of December 31, 2009, we had frozen any further benefits associated with the defined contribution and defined benefit plans.

        Income Taxes.    Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

        We adopted ASC topic 740, Income Taxes, formerly Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation ("FIN") 48, effective January 1, 2007. ASC topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. See Note 16, for further explanation of our adoption of ASC topic 740.

        Self-Insurance Accruals.    We are self-insured up to certain limits for costs associated with workers' compensation and employee group medical coverage. Liabilities for insurance claims and reserves include accruals of estimated settlements for known claims, as well as accruals of estimates of incurred, but not reported claims. These accruals are included in other current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. We also use information provided by independent consultants to assist in the determination of estimated accruals. In estimating these costs, we consider historical loss experience and make judgments about the expected levels of costs per claim.

        Warranty Costs.    We provide warranties for certain building and home improvement products against defects in material, performance and workmanship. We accrue for warranty claims at the time of sale based on historical warranty claims experience. Our warranty liabilities are included in other accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Activity in our warranty liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 is as follows:

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND NATURE OF BUSINESS (Continued)