CLEVELAND, April 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PolyOne Corporation (NYSE: POL) today reported its first quarter results for 2016. Adjusted earnings per share increased 22% to $0.56 from $0.46 in the first quarter of 2015. GAAP earnings per share of $0.46 in the first quarter of 2016 increased from $0.34 in the first quarter of 2015. Special items for the first quarter of 2016, which primarily included restructuring costs, resulted in a net after-tax charge of $9.1 million, or $0.10 per share (see Attachment 1). In the prior year quarter, special items were $11.4 million, or $0.12 per share.

"I'm extremely pleased to report we delivered very strong double-digit EPS growth of 22% to $0.56 for the first quarter," said Robert M. Patterson, president and chief executive officer, PolyOne Corporation. "Last year, we increased our sales force by nearly 10% and further invested in technology to better serve our customers. These investments, and our unwavering commitment to specialization, have made it possible to win new business and expand margins on a consolidated basis."

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Mr. Patterson added, "We achieved the most significant growth in North America driven by gains in our Distribution and Performance Products and Solutions segments. We believe that these two segments benefited almost immediately from our additional commercial resources, as they have the shortest sales cycles. In addition, they were also the most heavily impacted by destocking in the prior year which did not reoccur in 2016."

Revenue for the first quarter of 2016 was $847 million, compared to $873 million in the first quarter of 2015. Underlying growth of 4% plus the acquired revenue from Magenta and Kraton's TPE business led to a sales increase of 5%. This was more than offset, however, by lower selling prices in Distribution, Performance Products and Solutions, and Designed Structures and Solutions (DSS), due to lower hydro-carbon based raw material costs. In addition, a weaker euro impacted Color, Additives and Inks and Engineered Materials.

Mr. Patterson added, "Our established businesses clearly drove our outstanding results, and I'm also pleased with our ongoing progress to improve DSS, as its transformation to specialty continues. DSS improved on-time delivery and other key operational metrics, which we view as prerequisites to long-term sustainable growth. Our facility upgrades and LSS activities continue at an aggressive pace, and our recently upgraded commercial team has been fully deployed in pursuit of new business."

Bradley C. Richardson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, PolyOne Corporation said, "Our balance sheet remains strong, and it provides us with important flexibility to invest in our growth strategy through strategic innovation, commercial resources and bolt-on acquisitions. At the same time, we continue to allocate capital to provide additional value to shareholders, through dividends and share buybacks, repurchasing 1.5 million shares in the first quarter."

Commenting on the company's outlook, Mr. Patterson said, "We've had a strong start to the year, driven by gains in Distribution and PP&S. I expect Color and Engineered Materials to show momentum throughout the year as the increased commercial resources added last year gain traction. We should also see continued progress at DSS as we execute our operational and commercial improvement initiatives."

Mr. Patterson added, "Our ability to innovate across our business segments and execute our strategy is what differentiates PolyOne. We plan to use our strengths to deliver double digit adjusted earnings per share growth for the year in pursuit of our 2020 Platinum Vision."

About PolyOne
PolyOne Corporation, with 2015 revenues of $3.4 billion, is a premier provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions. The company is dedicated to serving customers in diverse industries around the globe, by creating value through collaboration, innovation and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Guided by its Core Values, Sustainability Promise and No Surprises Pledge((SM)), PolyOne is committed to its customers, employees, communities and shareholders through ethical, sustainable and fiscally responsible principles. For more information, visit www.polyone.com.

To access PolyOne's news library online, please visit www.polyone.com/news.

Forward-looking Statements

In this press release, statements that are not reported financial results or other historical information are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. They are based on management's expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. They use words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial condition, performance and/or sales. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: our ability to realize anticipated savings and operational benefits from the realignment of assets, including the closure of manufacturing facilities; the timing of closings and shifts of production to new facilities related to asset realignments and any unforeseen loss of customers and/or disruptions of service or quality caused by such closings and/or production shifts; separation and severance amounts that differ from original estimates; amounts for non-cash charges related to asset write-offs and accelerated depreciation realignments of property, plant and equipment, that differ from original estimates; our ability to identify and evaluate acquisition targets and consummate acquisitions; the ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses into our operations, including whether such businesses will be accretive, retain the management teams of acquired businesses, and retain relationships with customers of acquired businesses; disruptions, uncertainty or volatility in the credit markets that could adversely impact the availability of credit already arranged and the availability and cost of credit in the future; the financial condition of our customers, including the ability of customers (especially those that may be highly leveraged and those with inadequate liquidity) to maintain their credit availability; the speed and extent of an economic recovery, including the recovery of the housing market; our ability to achieve new business gains; the effect on foreign operations of currency fluctuations, tariffs and other political, economic and regulatory risks; changes in polymer consumption growth rates and laws and regulations regarding the disposal of plastic in jurisdictions where we conduct business; changes in global industry capacity or in the rate at which anticipated changes in industry capacity come online; fluctuations in raw material prices, quality and supply and in energy prices and supply; production outages or material costs associated with scheduled or unscheduled maintenance programs; unanticipated developments that could occur with respect to contingencies such as litigation and environmental matters; an inability to achieve or delays in achieving or achievement of less than the anticipated financial benefit from initiatives related to working capital reductions, cost reductions and employee productivity goals; an inability to raise or sustain prices for products or services; an inability to maintain appropriate relations with unions and employees; our ability to continue to pay cash dividends; the amount and timing of repurchases of our common shares, if any; and other factors affecting our business beyond our control, including, without limitation, changes in the general economy, changes in interest rates and changes in the rate of inflation. The above list of factors is not exhaustive.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our reports on Form 10-Q, 8-K and 10-K that we provide to the Securities and Exchange Commission.



                                                                                     Attachment 1

                                         PolyOne Corporation

                  Summary of Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

                                 (In millions, except per share data)


                                                Three Months Ended
                                                  March 31,
                                                  ---------

                                               2016                 2015
                                               ----                 ----


    Sales                                              $847.0                                    $873.1

     Operating
     income                                    71.3                           70.1

    Net
     income
     attributable
     to
     PolyOne
     shareholders                              39.1                           30.2

     Basic
     earnings
     per
     share
     attributable
     to
     PolyOne
     shareholders                                       $0.46                                     $0.34

     Diluted
     earnings
     per
     share
     attributable
     to
     PolyOne
     shareholders                                       $0.46                                     $0.34

Senior management uses comparisons of adjusted net income attributable to PolyOne shareholders and diluted earnings per share (EPS) attributable to PolyOne shareholders, excluding special items, to assess performance and facilitate comparability of results. Below is a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP (GAAP).



                                                                  Three Months Ended         Three Months Ended
                                                                     March 31, 2016            March 31, 2015
                                                                    --------------             --------------

    Reconciliation to Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income    $              EPS        $              EPS
                                                                   ---              ---      ---              ---


    Net income attributable to PolyOne shareholders                       $39.1                      $0.46            $30.2  $0.34

    Special items, after tax (Attachment 3)                        9.1                  0.10                     11.4   0.12
                                                                                                               ----   ----

    Adjusted net income / EPS - excluding special items                   $48.2                      $0.56            $41.6  $0.46
                                                                          =====                      =====            =====  =====



                                                                                              Attachment 2

                                                PolyOne Corporation

                              Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

                                        (In millions, except per share data)


                                                        Three Months Ended
                                                           March 31,
                                                           ---------

                                                       2016                   2015
                                                       ----                   ----


    Sales                                                      $847.0                                     $873.1

    Cost of sales                                     661.5                             703.3
                                                      -----                             -----

    Gross margin                                      185.5                             169.8

    Selling and administrative
     expense                                          114.2                              99.7
                                                      -----                              ----

    Operating income                                   71.3                              70.1

    Interest expense, net                            (14.6)                           (16.1)

    Other income (expense),
     net                                                0.3                             (0.7)
                                                        ---                              ----

    Income before income taxes                         57.0                              53.3

    Income tax expense                               (18.0)                           (23.1)
                                                      -----                             -----

    Net income                                         39.0                              30.2

     Net loss attributable to
      noncontrolling interests                          0.1                                 -
                                                        ---                               ---

    Net income attributable to
     PolyOne common
     shareholders                                               $39.1                                      $30.2
                                                                =====                                      =====


    Earnings per common share
     attributable to PolyOne
     common shareholders -
     Basic:                                                     $0.46                                      $0.34

    Earnings per common share
     attributable to PolyOne
     common shareholders -
     Diluted:                                                   $0.46                                      $0.34


    Cash dividends declared
     per share of common stock                                  $0.12                                      $0.10


    Weighted-average shares used to compute
     earnings per common share:

    Basic                                              84.7                              89.2

    Diluted                                            85.5                              90.1



                                                                                                                                                      Attachment 3

                                                                                       PolyOne Corporation

                                                                               Summary of Special Items (Unaudited)

                                                                               (In millions, except per share data)


                                                                                                                       Three Months Ended
                                                                                                                          March 31,
    Special items (1)


                                                                                                                      2016                2015
                                                                                                                      ----                ----

    Cost of sales:

       Restructuring Costs                                                                                                    $(2.7)                             $(7.9)

       Environmental remediation costs                                                                               (1.7)                     (1.5)

       Reimbursement of previously incurred environmental costs                                                          -                       0.5

       Acquisition related adjustments                                                                               (2.5)                         -
                                                                                                                      ----                        ---

          Impact on cost of sales                                                                                    (6.9)                     (8.9)


    Selling and administrative expense:

       Employee separation and restructuring costs                                                                   (4.7)                     (2.7)

       Legal related and other                                                                                       (1.9)                       2.8

       Acquisition/divestiture related costs                                                                         (0.3)                     (0.5)
                                                                                                                      ----                       ----

          Impact on selling and administrative expense                                                               (6.9)                     (0.4)


          Impact on operating income                                                                                (13.8)                     (9.3)


       Other income, net                                                                                               0.2                          -
                                                                                                                       ---                        ---

          Impact on income before income taxes                                                                      (13.6)                     (9.3)

    Income tax benefit on above special items                                                                          4.9                        3.8

    Tax adjustments(2)                                                                                               (0.4)                     (5.9)

    Impact of special items on net income attributable to PolyOne Shareholders                                                $(9.1)                            $(11.4)
                                                                                                                               =====                              ======


    Diluted earnings per common share impact                                                                                 $(0.10)                            $(0.12)


    Weighted average shares used to compute adjusted earnings per share:

       Diluted                                                                                                        85.5                90.1

((1)) Special items are a non-GAAP financial measure and are used to determine adjusted earnings. Special items include charges related to specific strategic initiatives or financial restructuring such as: consolidation of operations; debt extinguishment costs; costs incurred directly in relation to acquisitions or divestitures; employee separation costs resulting from personnel reduction programs, plant phase-in costs, executive separation agreements; asset impairments; mark-to-market adjustments associated with actuarial gains and losses on pension and other post-retirement benefit plans; environmental remediation costs, fines, penalties and related insurance recoveries related to facilities no longer owned or closed in prior years; gains and losses on the divestiture of operating businesses, joint ventures and equity investments; gains and losses on facility or property sales or disposals; results of litigation, fines or penalties, where such litigation (or action relating to the fines or penalties) arose prior to the commencement of the performance period; one-time, non-recurring items; and the effect of changes in accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results.

((2)) Tax adjustments include the net tax expense/benefit from one-time income tax items, the set-up or reversal of uncertain tax position reserves and deferred income tax valuation allowance adjustments.



                                                                                             Attachment 4

                                               PolyOne Corporation

                                      Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                                  (In millions)


                                                  (Unaudited)              December 31,
                                                   March 31,                       2015
                                                         2016
                                                         ----

    Assets

    Current assets:

    Cash and cash equivalents                                     $155.4                                    $279.8

    Accounts receivable, net                            429.2                             347.0

    Inventories, net                                    323.5                             287.0

    Other current assets                                 40.8                              47.0
                                                         ----                              ----

    Total current assets                                948.9                             960.8

    Property, net                                       579.9                             583.5

    Goodwill                                            634.8                             597.7

    Intangible assets, net                              353.1                             344.6

    Other non-current assets                            107.7                             108.5
                                                        -----                             -----

    Total assets                                                $2,624.4                                  $2,595.1
                                                                ========                                  ========


    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

    Current liabilities:

    Short-term and current
     portion of long-term debt                                     $18.6                                     $18.6

    Accounts payable                                    383.4                             351.6

    Accrued expenses and other
     current liabilities                                116.4                             127.9

    Total current liabilities                           518.4                             498.1

    Non-current liabilities:

    Long-term debt                                    1,174.3                           1,128.0

    Pension and other post-
     retirement benefits                                 55.6                              77.5

    Deferred income taxes                                34.1                              33.8

    Other non-current
     liabilities                                        148.5                             152.5
                                                        -----                             -----

    Total non-current
     liabilities                                      1,412.5                           1,391.8

    Shareholders' equity:

    PolyOne shareholders'
     equity                                             692.6                             704.2

    Noncontrolling interests                              0.9                               1.0
                                                          ---                               ---

    Total equity                                        693.5                             705.2
                                                        -----

    Total liabilities and
     shareholders' equity                                       $2,624.4                                  $2,595.1
                                                                ========                                  ========



                                                                                               Attachment 5

                                                PolyOne Corporation

                            Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

                                                   (In millions)


                                                        Three Months Ended
                                                           March 31,
                                                           ---------

                                                       2016                   2015
                                                       ----                   ----

    Operating Activities

    Net income                                                  $39.0                                       $30.2

    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
     cash used by operating activities:

    Depreciation and
     amortization                                      24.3                               25.0

    Accelerated depreciation
     and fixed asset charges
     associated with
     restructuring activities                           2.8                                5.4

    Provision for doubtful
     accounts                                           0.1                                  -

    Share-based compensation
     expense                                            2.2                                1.9

    Change in assets and liabilities, net of
     the effect of acquisitions:

    Increase in accounts
     receivable                                      (79.5)                            (55.8)

    (Increase) decrease in
     inventories                                     (13.3)                               7.4

    Increase in accounts
     payable                                           29.9                               22.2

    Decrease in pension and
     other post-retirement
     benefits                                        (23.7)                            (24.0)

    Decrease in accrued
     expenses and other assets
     and liabilities -net                            (11.0)                            (70.1)
                                                      -----                              -----

    Net cash used by operating
     activities                                      (29.2)                            (57.8)

    Investing Activities

    Capital expenditures                             (19.6)                            (15.1)

    Business acquisitions                            (72.8)                                 -

    Proceeds from sale of
     businesses and other
     assets                                               -                               1.1
                                                        ---                               ---

    Net cash used by investing
     activities                                      (92.4)                            (14.0)

    Financing Activities

    Repayment of long-term
     debt                                             (1.4)                                 -

    Borrowings under credit
     facilities                                       221.9                              274.7

    Repayments under credit
     facilities                                     (174.6)                           (187.4)

    Purchase of common shares
     for treasury                                    (39.6)                            (19.6)

    Exercise of share awards                            0.6                                3.8

    Cash dividends paid                              (10.4)                             (9.0)
                                                      -----                               ----

    Net cash (used) provided
     by financing activities                          (3.5)                              62.5

    Effect of exchange rate
     changes on cash                                    0.7                              (2.9)
                                                        ---                               ----

    Decrease in cash and cash
     equivalents                                    (124.4)                            (12.2)

    Cash and cash equivalents
     at beginning of period                           279.8                              238.6
                                                      -----                              -----

    Cash and cash equivalents
     at end of period                                          $155.4                                      $226.4
                                                               ======                                      ======



                                                                                               Attachment 6

                                              PolyOne Corporation

                              Business Segment and Platform Operations (Unaudited)

                                                 (In millions)


    Operating income at the segment level does not include: special items as defined on Attachment 3; corporate
     general and administration costs that are not allocated to segments; intersegment sales and profit
     eliminations; share-based compensation costs; and certain other items that are not included in the measure
     of segment profit and loss that is reported to and reviewed by the chief operating decision maker. These
     costs are included in Corporate and eliminations.


                                                  Three Months Ended
                                                       March 31,
                                                       ---------

                                                   2016                   2015
                                                   ----                   ----

    Sales:

       Color, Additives and
        Inks                                               $204.9                                          $208.5

       Specialty Engineered
        Materials                                 141.0                              141.9

       Designed Structures
        and Solutions                             108.5                              119.1
                                                  -----                              -----

          Specialty Platform                      454.4                              469.5

       Performance Products
        and Solutions                             166.2                              175.9

       PolyOne Distribution                       268.8                              265.7

       Corporate and
        eliminations                             (42.4)                            (38.0)
                                                  -----                              -----

          Sales                                            $847.0                                          $873.1
                                                           ======                                          ======


    Gross margin:

       Color, Additives and
        Inks                                                $75.3                                           $73.4

       Specialty Engineered
        Materials                                  44.2                               43.0

       Designed Structures
        and Solutions                              10.7                               13.8

          Specialty Platform                      130.2                              130.2

       Performance Products
        and Solutions                              32.4                               22.5

       PolyOne Distribution                        30.7                               27.8

       Corporate and
        eliminations                              (7.8)                            (10.7)
                                                   ----                              -----

          Gross margin                                     $185.5                                          $169.8
                                                           ======                                          ======


    Selling and administrative expense:

       Color, Additives and
        Inks                                                $40.4                                           $39.6

       Specialty Engineered
        Materials                                  20.8                               19.9

       Designed Structures
        and Solutions                              10.3                               10.6
                                                   ----                               ----

          Specialty Platform                       71.5                               70.1

       Performance Products
        and Solutions                              12.7                               11.0

       PolyOne Distribution                        13.2                               12.1

       Corporate and
        eliminations                               16.8                                6.5
                                                   ----                                ---

          Selling and
           administrative
           expense                                         $114.2                                           $99.7
                                                           ======                                           =====


    Operating income:

       Color, Additives and
        Inks                                                $34.9                                           $33.8

       Specialty Engineered
        Materials                                  23.4                               23.1

       Designed Structures
        and Solutions                               0.4                                3.2
                                                    ---                                ---

          Specialty Platform                       58.7                               60.1

       Performance Products
        and Solutions                              19.7                               11.5

       PolyOne Distribution                        17.5                               15.7

       Corporate and
        eliminations                             (24.6)                            (17.2)
                                                  -----                              -----

          Operating income                                  $71.3                                           $70.1
                                                            =====                                           =====

The Specialty Platform consists of our three specialty segments: Color, Additives and Inks; Specialty Engineered Materials; and Designed Structures and Solutions. We present Specialty Platform sales, gross margin, selling and administrative expense, and operating income because management believes that this is useful information to investors by highlighting our collective progress in advancing our specialization strategy.



                                                                                                                                                                                     Attachment 7

                                                                                         PolyOne Corporation

                                                                      Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)

                                                                                 (In millions, except per share data)


    Senior management uses gross margin before special items and operating income before special items to assess performance and allocate resources because senior management believes that these
     measures are useful in understanding current profitability levels and that current levels may serve as a basis for future performance. In addition, operating income before the effect of special
     items is a component of PolyOne annual and long-term employee incentive plans and is used in debt covenant computations. Below is a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most
     directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. See Attachment 3 for a definition of special items.


                                                                                                                                        Three Months Ended
                                                                                                                                            March 31,
                                                                                                                                            ---------

    Reconciliation to Consolidated Statements of Income                                                                                 2016                    2015
                                                                                                                                        ----                    ----


    Sales                                                                                                                                       $847.0                                           $873.1


    Gross margin before special items                                                                                                  192.4                               178.7

    Special items in gross margin (Attachment 3)                                                                                       (6.9)                              (8.9)
                                                                                                                                        ----                                ----

       Gross margin - GAAP                                                                                                                      $185.5                                           $169.8
                                                                                                                                                ======                                           ======


    Gross margin, before special items, as a percent of sales                                                                          22.7%                              20.5%


    Operating income adjusted                                                                                                           85.1                                79.4

    Special items in operating income (Attachment 3)                                                                                  (13.8)                              (9.3)
                                                                                                                                       -----                                ----

       Operating income - GAAP                                                                                                                   $71.3                                            $70.1
                                                                                                                                                 =====                                            =====


    Operating income, before special items, as a percent of sales                                                                      10.0%                               9.1%

The table below reconciles pre-special income tax expense and the pre-special effective tax rate to their most comparable US GAAP figures.



                                                                 Three Months Ended March 31,                               Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                                                                 2016                                                       2015
                                                                                                 ----                                                       ----

                                                       GAAP                Special                 Pre-             GAAP                 Special                  Pre-
                                                      Results               Items                 special         Results                 Items                 special
                                                                                                  Results                                                       Results
                                                                                                  -------                                                       -------


    Income before income taxes                                   $57.0                                      $13.6                                       $70.6                        $53.3               $9.3       $62.6


    Income tax expense - GAAP                           (18.0)                                 -                    (18.0)                           (23.1)                 -              (23.1)

    Income tax impact of special items (Attachment 3)        -                             (4.9)                     (4.9)                                -             (3.8)               (3.8)

    Tax adjustments (Attachment 3)                           -                               0.4                        0.4                                 -               5.9                  5.9
                                                           ---                               ---                        ---                               ---               ---                  ---

    Income tax (expense) benefit                               $(18.0)                                    $(4.5)                                    $(22.5)                     $(23.1)              $2.1     $(21.0)
                                                                ======                                      =====                                      ======                       ======               ====      ======


    Effective Tax Rate                                   31.6%                                             31.9%                            43.3%                                 33.5%

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SOURCE PolyOne Corporation