Patterson added, "Performance Products & Solutions (PP&S) achieved another exceptional quarter, driven by continued mix improvement resulting in a new segment operating margin record of 12.3%.  Underlying organic sales growth plus the addition of Magenta's fiber colorant business and Kraton's TPE business was more than offset by lower year-over-year selling prices in Distribution, PP&S, and Designed Structures and Solutions (DSS), due to lower hydro-carbon based raw material costs.

Our Specialty Engineered Materials, Performance Products & Solutions (PP&S) and Distribution (POD) segments all delivered record operating income, helping us to overcome a number of macro-economic challenges and weaker performance in Designed Structures & Solutions (DSS)." These associates led to a near-immediate impact in POD and PP&S where sales cycles are the shortest within the company, and both segments reported record operating income for the full year 2016. 

These injection moldable TPEs can be overmolded to polypropylene (PP) and come in a natural grade that can be easily colored. More recently, with the divestiture of the PP&S segment in 2019 and the acquisition of Clariant Color in 2020, we have fundamentally repositioned our portfolio to that of a true specialty enterprise—from which we can springboard to even greater heights in the future.

STOCK PERFORMANCE PolyOne’s stock performance has significantly outpaced the S&P 500 index and the S&P Mid Cap Chemicals index. 12.31.09 12.31.10 12.31.11 12.31.12 12.31.13 12.31.14 12.31.15 Operating Income % Specialty Color, Additives & Inks Specialty Engineered Materials Designed Structures & Solutions PP&S Distribution Specialty Platform Operating Income % of Total ROIC** (after-tax) Adjusted EPS Growth 2006 “Where we were” 1.7% 1.1% — 5.5% 2.6% 6.0% 5.0% N/A 2015 “Where we are” 16.7% 14.7% 3.0% 8.3% 6.6% 65% 11.8% 25 Consecutive Quarters of YOY EPS Growth 2020 Platinum Vision 20% + 20% + 12–14% 10–12% 6.5–7.5% 80% + 15% Double Digit Expansion **ROIC is defined as TTM adjusted OI divided by the sum of average debt and equity over a 5 quarter period 500 400 300 200 100 0 P ER CE NT AG E POL S&P MID CAP CHEMICALS S&P 500 ANNUAL REPORT 2015 SPECIALTY DISTRIBUTION PP&S JV’S % O F O PE RA TI NG IN CO M E 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 OPERATING INCOME MIX SHIFT*^ 100 80 60 40 20 0 100+100+100+100+10050+77+80+97+100+10010+32+53+82+82+841+18+34+51+61+64 *Operating Income excludes Corporate charges and special items ^2005–2009 has not been restated for subsequent changes in accounting principles or discontinued operations +5 +33 +41 +50 +65 +90 +98 2.00 1.80 1.60 1.40 1.20 1.00 .80 .60 .40 .20 0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE ◊† U.

Softening demand conditions in the fourth quarter most heavily impacted the Performance Products and Solutions (PP&S) and Specialty Engineered Materials (SEM) segments. Specifically, end markets negatively impacting PP&S were building & construction and appliance.

The company noted customers are citing concerns over tariffs and persistent inflation as possible drivers of these demand conditions, which most heavily impacted the Performance Products and Solutions (PP&S) and Distribution segments.  If so, lower operating income from PP&S and Distribution could offset continued growth in Color, Additives & Inks and Engineered Materials in the fourth quarter.

Announced transformative portfolio improvements by divesting Performance Products and Solutions (PP&S) segment and signing definitive agreement to acquire Clariant Masterbatch business It was also the year we took two major steps forward in our specialty transformation with the divestiture of PP&S for

This quarter, our Specialty Engineered Materials, Performance Products & Solutions (PP&S) and Distribution segments led the way, as all three achieved year-over-year increases in operating income." Underlying organic sales growth, plus contributions from the company's recently acquired businesses, offset lower year-over-year selling prices in Distribution, PP&S, and Designed Structures and Solutions (DSS), due to lower hydro-carbon based raw material costs.

Patterson said, "We've had a strong start to the year, driven by gains in Distribution and PP&S. 

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