In addition to driving top-line growth, we have established margin improvement targets for all businesses. Long-term trends that currently provide opportunities to leverage our strategy include the drive toward sustainability in polymers and their processing, the emergence of biodegradable and bio-based polymers, consumer concern over the use of bisphenol-A (BPA) in infant-care products and developing legislation that bans lead and certain phthalates from toys and child-care items.

In a year with little to no macroeconomic momentum to help drive growth, it would have been easy to sacrifice our long-term prospects for short-term rewards. In closing, I am proud of what we have accomplished and the momentum we are building to drive an even brighter future.

It drives the innovation that earns us leadership positions in the markets we serve and underpins the high level of respect we show each other every day. More broadly within the Company, our diversity and inclusion approach is fostered by multiple Employee Resource Groups that are driving improvements and opening opportunities throughout our organization.

In addition to driving top-line growth, we have established margin improvement targets for all businesses. Long-term trends that currently provide opportunities to leverage our strategy include the drive toward sustainability in polymers and their processing, the emergence of biodegradable and bio-based polymers, consumer concern over the use of bisphenol-A (BPA) in infant-care products and developing legislation that bans lead and certain phthalates from toys and child-care items.

• Color, Additives and Inks and Specialty Engineered Materials had record years and remain the driving force behind 25 consecutive quarters of adjusted EPS growth. • Continued rapid pace of innovation with 43% of our specialty platform sales from products introduced in the last five years. • Increased our dividend 20%—our fifth consecutive annual increase— and repurchased 4.5 million shares of our common stock. • Further strengthened our balance sheet by refinancing a portion of our outstanding debt, significantly lowering interest rates, extending maturities and enhancing liquidity.