https://www.avient.com/sites/default/files/resources/POL%2520IR%2520Presentation%2520–%2520Goldman%2520Sachs%2520Conference%25202015.pdf
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
The final amount of charges resulting from the planned North American asset realignment and the Company’s ability to realize anticipated
savings and operational benefits from the asset realignment;
Our ability to achieve the strategic and other objectives relating to the acquisition of Spartech Corporation, including any expected synergies;
Our ability to successfully integrate Spartech and achieve the expected results of the acquisition, including, without limitation, the acquisition
being accretive;
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 in the markets 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, employee productivity goals, and an inability to raise or sustain prices for products or services;
An inability to raise or sustain prices for products or services;
An inability to maintain appropriate relations with unions and employees;
The inability to achieve expected results from our acquisition activities;
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
In addition, operating income before special items and
adjusted EPS are components of various PolyOne annual and long-term employee
incentive plans
PolyOne Corporation Page 4
PolyOne Commodity to Specialty Transformation
• Volume driven,
commodity producer
• Heavily tied to
cyclical end markets
• Performance largely
dependent on non-
controlling joint
ventures
2000-2005 2006 - 2009 2010 – 2014 2015 and beyond
• Steve Newlin
appointed, Chairman,
President and CEO
• New leadership team
appointed
• Implementation of four
pillar strategy
• Focus on value based
selling, investment in
commercial resources
and innovation to drive
transformation
• Substantial EPS growth
from $0.13 to all-time
high of $1.80
• Shift to faster growing,
high margin, less
cyclical end markets
• Key acquisitions propel
current and future
growth, as well as
margin expansion
• Specialty mix expands
to 65% of Operating
Income – strongest mix
of earnings in history
• Accelerating growth
• Deliver consistent
double digit annual
EPS growth
• Maintain >35% vitality
index
• Pursue strategic
acquisitions that
expand specialty
offerings and
geographic breadth
• Invest and grow
current and next
generation talent
PolyOne Corporation Page 5
Appliances
5%
Building &
Construction
12%
Consumer
10%
Electrical &
Electronics
5%
Healthcare
11%
Industrial
14%
Packaging
14%
Transportation
20%
Wire & Cable
9%
Distribution
28%
PP&S
20%
Specialty
52%
United States
69%
Europe
13%
Canada
7% Asia
6%
Latin America
5%
2014 Revenues: $3.8 Billion
End Markets
2014 Revenues: $3.8 Billion
PolyOne
At A Glance
$13
$31
$46 $46
$92 $96
$122
$195
$242
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Specialty Operating Income ($M)
PolyOne Corporation Page 6
Old
PolyOne
*Operating Income excludes corporate charges and special items
2%
34% 43%
62%
65%
69%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2005 2008 2010 2013 2014 Q1 2015 2020
%
o
f O
pe
ra
tin
g
In
co
m
e*
JV's Performance Products & Solutions Distribution Specialty
80%+
Specialty OI $5M $46M $87M $195M $242M $60M
Mix Shift Highlights Specialty Transformation
Transformation
2020
Platinum
Vision
Platinum
Vision
PolyOne Corporation Page 7
Confirmation of Our Strategy
The World’s Premier Provider of Specialized
Polymer Materials, Services and Solutions
Specialization Globalization
Operational
Excellence
Commercial
Excellence
PolyOne Corporation Page 8
-100%
0%
100%
200%
300%
400%
500%
600%
Strategy and Execution Drive Results
$0.12
$0.27
$0.21
$0.13
$0.68
$0.82
$1.00
$1.31
$1.80
'06 '07 '08 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14
‘06-‘14 Adjusted EPS CAGR = 40%
Adjusted EPS Share Price vs.
https://www.avient.com/sites/default/files/resources/PolyOne%2520IR%2520Presentation%2520-%2520Goldman%2520Sachs%2520Basic%2520Materials%2520Conference%2520-%2520May%25202016.pdf
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 companies into our operations, retain the management teams of acquired companies, retain relationships
with customers of acquired companies, and achieve the expected results of such acquisitions, including whether such businesses will be accretive to our
earnings;
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
In addition, operating income before special items and
adjusted EPS are components of various PolyOne annual and long-term employee
incentive plans
PolyOne Corporation Page 4
PolyOne Commodity to Specialty Transformation
• Volume driven,
commodity producer
• Heavily tied to
cyclical end markets
• Performance largely
dependent on non-
controlling joint
ventures
2000-2005 2006 - 2009 2010 – 2015 2016 and beyond
• Steve Newlin
appointed, Chairman,
President and CEO
• New leadership team
appointed
• Implementation of four
pillar strategy
• Focus on value based
selling, investment in
commercial resources
and innovation to drive
transformation
• Substantial EPS growth
from $0.13 to all-time
high of $1.96
• Shift to faster growing,
high margin, less
cyclical end markets
• Key acquisitions propel
current and future
growth, as well as
margin expansion
• Specialty mix expands
to 65% of Operating
Income – strongest mix
of earnings in history
• Deliver consistent
double digit annual
EPS growth
• Maintain >35% vitality
index
• Pursue strategic
acquisitions that
expand specialty
offerings and
geographic breadth
• Invest and grow
current and next
generation talent
PolyOne Corporation Page 5
Confirmation of Our Strategy
The World’s Premier Provider of Specialized
Polymer Materials, Services and Solutions
Specialization Globalization
Operational
Excellence
Commercial
Excellence
Associates
PolyOne Corporation Page 6
26 Consecutive Quarters of EPS Growth
PolyOne Corporation Page 7
2015 Revenues: $3.4 Billion
End Markets
2015 Revenues: $3.4 Billion
PolyOne
At A Glance
$0.12
$0.27 $0.21
$0.13
$0.68
$0.82
$1.00
$1.31
$1.80
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Adjusted EPS
United States
66%
Europe
13%
Canada
7%
Asia
7%
Latin America
7%
Appliances
4%
Building &
Construction
12%
Consumer
10%Electrical &
Electronics
5%
Healthcare
11%
Industrial
14%
Packaging
13%
Textiles
2%
Transportation
20%
Wire & Cable
9%
$1.96
Distribution
29%
PP&S
20%
CAI
23%
SEM
15%DSS
13%
PolyOne Corporation Page 8
Old
PolyOne
*Operating Income excludes corporate charges and special items
2%
43%
65%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2005 2010 2015 2020
%
o
f O
pe
ra
tin
g
In
co
m
e*
JV's Performance Products & Solutions Distribution Specialty
80%+
Specialty OI $5M $87M $229M
Mix Shift Highlights Specialty Transformation
Transformation
2020
Platinum
Vision
Platinum
Vision
PolyOne Corporation Page 9
Color and Engineered Materials at the
Heart of Specialty Transformation
OPERATING MARGIN
1.7%
4.6% 5.1%
5.5%
7.2%
8.1%
9.7%
12.2%
14.7%
16.7% 17.0%
20%+
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 1Q'16 2020
Platinum
Vision
COLOR, ADDITIVES
AND INKS
1.1% 1.3%
3.4%
5.1%
9.6%
8.0%
8.6%
9.3%
12.1%
14.7%
16.6%
20%+
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 1Q'16 2020
Platinum
Vision
SPECIALTY
ENGINEERED MATERIALS
PolyOne Corporation Page 10
2006 1Q 2016 2020
“Where we were” “Where we are” Platinum Vision
1) Operating Income %
Specialty:
Color, Additives & Inks 1.7% 17.0% 20%+
Specialty Engineered Materials 1.1% 16.6% 20%+
Designed Structures & Solutions N/A 2.5% (TTM) 8 – 10%
Performance Products &
Solutions 5.5% 11.9% 12 – 14%
Distribution 2.6% 6.5% 6.5 – 7.5%
2) Specialty Platform % of
Operating Income 6.0% 61% 80%+
3) ROIC* 5.0% 12.0% 15%
4) Adjusted EPS Growth N/A 22% Double Digit
Expansion
Proof of Performance & 2020 Goals
*ROIC is defined as TTM adjusted OI divided by the sum of average debt and equity over a 5 quarter period
PolyOne Corporation Page 11
Therma-Tech™ & Sheet
GEON™ Vinyl
Polymer ColorantsTherma-Tech™
TPE’s & Film
TPE + OnForce™
Gravi-Tech™
Page 11
Film
Target End Markets… Healthcare
PolyOne Corporation Page 12
TPE + OnForce
(SEM)
OnForce
(SEM)
Glasforms
(SEM)
TPE Vibration Dampening
(SEM/GLS)
TPE & Film
(SEM + DSS)
Glasforms
(SEM)
Polymer Colorants
(CAI)
Thermatech
(SEM)
Thermoplastic Elastomers
(SEM)
TPE + OnForce
(SEM)
OnForce
(SEM)
Thermoplastic Elastomers
(SEM)
Glasforms
(SEM)
Polymer Colorants
(CAI)
Sheet
(DSS)
Source: Outdoor Industry Association
Target End Markets… Outdoor High Performance
PolyOne Corporation Page 13
Sound & Vibration
Management
Fuel Handling
Systems
Interior & Exterior Trim
Structural Braces
& Brackets
Interior Structural
Components
Lighting
Air management
Electronics & Cameras
Fluid Handling
Target End Markets… Automotive
Underhood
Components
Roof Systems
PolyOne Corporation Page 14
Target End Markets… Packaging
PreservaPak™
OnColor™
Smart Batch™
VersaFlex™
TPE Cap Liner
ColorMatrix™
Amosorb™
Oxygen Scavenger
ColorMatrix™
Ultimate™ UV
Light Barrier
OnCap™
Laser Marking
Additives
PolyOne Corporation Page 15
Innovation Drives Earnings Growth
*Specialty Platform revenue from products introduced in last five years
$20
$53
2006 2015
Research & Development
Spending
($ millions)
Specialty Platform
Vitality Index Progression*
14%
34%
2006 2015
CAI & SEM
Gross Margin
12%
43%
2006 2015
Target ≥ 35%
Innovation Pipeline Potential
PolyOne Corporation Page 16
2,883
2,414
2006 2015
Volume
(lbs in millions)
-16%
$103
$192
2006 2015
Commercial, R&D
and Marketing
Spending ($M)
+86%
$303
$721
2006 2015
Adjusted
Gross Profit ($M)
+138%
Ours is Not a Cost Cutting Story
PolyOne Corporation Page 17
Design and Service as a Differentiator
Right Material &
Color
Desired
Product Design
Appropriate
Manufacturing Process
Delivering Concept to
Commercialization
Connecting
the Dots with
iQ Design Labs and
InVisiO Color Design
PolyOne Corporation Page 18
Customer First Through World-Class Service
Strengthening relationships through:
Providing LSS services to small/medium sized customers
Providing training in Customer Centric Selling Skills with customers
World’s Best Business
Process Excellence
Program in 2012*
World’s Best Start-up
program for Lean Six Sigma
Deployment in 2009*
81%
93%
2006 2015
16.2%
9.7%
2006 2015
On-Time Delivery
Working Capital % of Sales
52% of associates trained in LSS
Five consecutive years – CFO Magazine Best Working
Capital Management in the chemical industry
Commitment to Operational Excellence
PolyOne Corporation Page 19
60%
100%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2008 1Q 2016
Pension Funding**
As of March 31, 2016
Debt Maturities & Pension Funding
Net Debt / Adjusted EBITDA*= 2.5x
** includes US-qualified pension plans only*TTM 3/31/2016
$550
$600
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
2022 2023
Debt Maturities
As of March 31, 2016
($ millions)
Coupon Rate: 3.750% 5.250%
PolyOne Corporation Page 20
Free Cash Flow and Strong Balance Sheet
Fund Investment / Shareholder Return
Expanding our sales,
marketing, and
technical capabilities
Investing in operational
and LSS initiatives
~75% of capital
expenditures fund
growth initiatives Organic
Growth
Acquisitions
Share
Repurchases
Dividends
$0.16
$0.20
$0.32
$0.40
$0.48
$0.10
$0.20
$0.30
$0.40
$0.50
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Annual Dividend
Targets that expand
our:
• Specialty offerings
• End market
presence
• Geographic breadth
Synergy opportunities
Adjacent material
solutions
Repurchased
1.5 million shares in
Q1 2016
Repurchased 17.3
million shares since
early 2013
10.0 million shares are
available for
repurchase under the
current authorization
$0.24
PolyOne Corporation Page 21
The New PolyOne: A Specialty Growth Company
Why Invest In PolyOne?
https://www.avient.com/idea-center/idea-center?all=true
More
MEDICAL OEM Boosts Productivity
Learn how this contract manufacturer reduced rejects and added $100,000 to its annual bottom line.
More
TPE Tackles Critical Issues, Saves $100,000
Custom TPE addresses critical issues and delivers $100,000 in annual savings.
More
Savings and Appeal for Automotive Interior
Automaker delivers 'wow' factor and $500,000 in annual savings with new colorant plus additive.
https://www.avient.com/sites/default/files/resources/PolyOne%2520IR%2520Presentation%2520-%2520Morgan%2520Stanley%2520Conference.pdf
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
• The ability to successfully integrate acquired companies into our operations, retain the management teams of acquired companies, retain
relationships with customers of acquired companies, and achieve the expected results of such acquisitions, including whether such
businesses will be accretive to our earnings;
• 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 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;
• Information systems failures and cyber attacks; 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.
In addition, operating income
before special items and adjusted EPS are components of various PolyOne
annual and long-term employee incentive plans
Leverage
PolyOne’s
global reach
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
18-20%
operating
margins
Invest in
commercial
resources
I N V E S T - T O - G R O W P R O O F O F P E R F O R M A N C E
PolyOne Corporation 23
Commercial
Resources
Operating
Income
($ in millions)
Operating
Margins
243
335
At Acquisition Today
$36
$90
At Acquisition Today
11%
20%
At Acquisition Today
Established Acquisitions
(> 7 years)
+ 40% + 150% + 900 bps
I N V E S T - T O - G R O W D R I V I N G T H E F U T U R E
PolyOne Corporation 24
Commercial
Resources
Operating
Income
($ in millions)
Operating
Margins
113
144
206
At Acquisition Today Goal
$16
$18
$60
At Acquisition Today Goal
7% 8%
18-20%
At Acquisition Today Goal
Recent Acquisitions
(< 2 years)
PolyOne Corporation 25
Average
Company Size
# of
Possibilities
Rationale
250
• Local to regional footprint
• Niche technology focus
• Concentrated customer base
$50M–$200M 150
• Regional to global footprint
• 1–3 specialty technologies
• Diversified customer base
>$200M 30
• Global footprint with local service
• Diverse specialty technologies
• Highly diversified customer & market
portfolio
S T R O N G P I P E L I N E
D R I V E N B Y F R A G M E N T E D M A R K E T
$0
$150
$300
$450
$600
$750
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
$809M
R E T U R N I N G C A S H T O S H A R E H O L D E R S
O V E R $ 1 B I L L I O N S I N C E 2 0 1 1
PolyOne Corporation
$0.16
$0.20
$0.24
$0.32
$0.40
$0.48
$0.58
$0.70
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
3-Year Dividend Plan
Cumulative Share Repurchases
(In millions)
Increasing Annual Dividend
26
6.3%
14.0%
15.0%
16-17%
2009 2017 Platinum Vision Updated Expectations
R O I C D R I V E S S H A R E H O L D E R R E T U R N
PolyOne Corporation 27
PolyOne Corporation 28
W H Y I N V E S T I N P O L Y O N E ?
https://www.avient.com/company/policies-and-governance/avient-canada-ulc
TRA-Annual Report 2016 for 15 Tideman
TRA-Annual Report 2016 for 17 Tideman
https://www.avient.com/company/sustainability/sustainability-report/people/occupational-safety-continuous-improvement
To enhance associate participation in our safety & health systems, goals have been set through our Annual Incentive Plan which includes a safety based metric that measures the percentage of associates that participate in a safety engagement.
Examples include Global Safety Days, Residual Risk Reduction (R3), and our annual Safe Areas of Focus & Emphasis (SAFE Program).
https://www.avient.com/sites/default/files/resources/Polyone%2520AR.pdf
We believe that the quality and production capacity of our
facilities is sufficient to maintain our competitive position for the foreseeable future.
I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of PolyOne Corporation;
2.
I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of PolyOne Corporation;
2.
https://www.avient.com/sites/default/files/2023-06/AVNT June IR Conferences w_Non GAAP Recs.pdf
&
Canada
EMEA
Asia
Latin America
64%
36%
Specialty
Engineered
Materials
Color
Additives
and Inks
40%
37%
18%
5%
6%
8%
24%
20%
10%
15%
9% 4% 4%
Defense
Healthcare
Packaging
Consumer
Building &
Construction
Industrial
Transportation
Energy Telecom
4
C R EAT I N G A WO R L D- C L A SS
S US TA I NA B L E ORG A N I ZAT I ON
1. 6.5% annualized long term sales
growth leveraging sustainable
solutions, composites, healthcare
and emerging regions
2.
Deliver annual EBITDA and EPS
growth of 10% and 15%
4.
In addition, operating
income before the effect of special items is a component of Avient’s annual incentive plans and is used in debt covenant
computations.
https://www.avient.com/investor-center/news/polyone-announces-first-quarter-2019-results
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 identify and evaluate acquisition targets and consummate and integrate acquisitions; 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 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 plastics 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 raise or sustain prices for products or services; an inability to achieve or delays in achieving or achievement of less than the anticipated financial benefit from initiatives related to acquisition and integration, working capital reductions, cost reductions and employee productivity goals; information systems failures and cyberattacks; 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.
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.
https://www.avient.com/news/polyone-announces-record-first-quarter-2014-results
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the final amount of charges resulting from the planned North American asset realignment and the Company's ability to realize anticipated savings and operational benefits from the asset realignment; our ability to achieve the strategic and other objectives relating to the acquisition of Spartech Corporation, including any expected synergies; our ability to successfully integrate Spartech and achieve the expected results of the acquisition, including, without limitation, the acquisition being accretive; 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 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; the inability to achieve expected results from our acquisition activities; 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.
In addition, operating income before the effect of special items is a component of various PolyOne annual and long-term employee incentive plans and is used in debt covenant computations.