A. Schulman Names First Research & Development Director For Asia Pacific Region

AKRON, Ohio, June 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A. Schulman, Inc. (Nasdaq: SHLM), a leading international supplier of high-performance plastics compounds and resins, today announced the appointment of Tony Daponte as the Company's first Research & Development Director Masterbatch for the Asia-Pacific ("APAC") region. In this capacity, he will collaborate with the existing application centers in the region and assist in the development of a R&D facility dedicated to harnessing the technical know-how in APAC.

Since 2001, Daponte has served as the Company's R&D Director Masterbatch for Europe, Middle East and Africa ("EMEA"). In this role, he has contributed to the ongoing development of innovative products and value-adding properties that support A. Schulman's diverse solutions portfolio.  In 2012, he also was named the Managing Director for the Company's facility in Bornem, Belgium. 

Bernard Rzepka, President and Chief Executive Officer of A. Schulman stated, "This action aligns with our aim to further develop our R&D capabilities with global and local reach. Our network of Innovation & Collaboration Centers is essential in providing our customers with market-leading technologies thus providing differentiation and value for them." 

"Tony's appointment to R&D Director Masterbatch APAC is both a testament to the industry thought leadership he has demonstrated over the years, as well as the Company's commitment to advancing its R&D capabilities and innovation potential in APAC," said Derek Bristow, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Asia Pacific for A. Schulman. "Tony is a proven team builder whose commitment and dedication will prove invaluable to us as we deepen our ability to serve the region with custom, niche solutions."

Product innovation is a critical component of A. Schulman's organic growth strategy. Through its global R&D centers, the Company is able to accelerate the development of customer-centric solutions that address specific needs anywhere in the world. A. Schulman provides customized Masterbatch solutions that serve a diverse range of niche markets, including agriculture, appliances, mobility, building and construction, electrical & electronics, sports, leisure & home and packaging. 

About A. Schulman, Inc.A. Schulman, Inc. is a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Since 1928, the Company has been providing innovative solutions to meet its customers' demanding requirements. The Company's customers span a wide range of markets such as packaging, mobility, building & construction, electronics & electrical, agriculture, personal care & hygiene, sports, leisure & home, custom services and others. The Company employs approximately 5,000 people and has 61 manufacturing facilities globally. A. Schulman reported net sales of approximately $2.5 billion for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014. Additional information about A. Schulman can be found at www.aschulman.com.

Cautionary Statements A number of the matters discussed in this document that are not historical or current facts deal with potential future circumstances and developments and may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts and relate to future events and expectations. Forward-looking statements contain such words as "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 performance. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which management is unable to predict or control, that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements, and that could adversely affect the Company's future financial performance, include, but are not limited to, the following:

• worldwide and regional economic, business and political conditions, including continuing economic uncertainties in some or all of the Company's major product markets or countries where the Company has operations;
• the effectiveness of the Company's efforts to improve operating margins through sales growth, price increases, productivity gains, and improved purchasing techniques;
• competitive factors, including intense price competition;
• fluctuations in the value of currencies in areas where the Company operates;
• volatility of prices and availability of the supply of energy and raw materials that are critical to the manufacture of the Company's products, particularly plastic resins derived from oil and natural gas;
• changes in customer demand and requirements;
• effectiveness of the Company to achieve the level of cost savings, productivity improvements, growth and other benefits anticipated from acquisitions and the integration thereof, joint ventures and restructuring initiatives;
• escalation in the cost of providing employee health care;
• uncertainties regarding the resolution of pending and future litigation and other claims;
• the performance of the global automotive market as well as other markets served;
• further adverse changes in economic or industry conditions, including global supply and demand conditions and prices for products;
• operating problems with our information systems as a result of system security failures such as viruses, cyber-attacks or other causes;
• integration of the business of Citadel with our existing business, including the risk that the integration will be more costly or more time consuming and complex or simply less effective than anticipated;
• our ability to achieve the anticipated synergies, cost savings and other benefits from the Citadel acquisition;
• transaction and acquisition-related costs incurred in connection with the Citadel acquisition and related transactions; and
• substantial time devoted by management to the integration after the closing of the Citadel acquisition.

The risks and uncertainties identified above are not the only risks the Company faces. Additional risk factors that could affect the Company's performance are set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2014, as amended and superseded in part by the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 27, 2015. In addition, risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that it believes to be immaterial also may adversely affect the Company. Should any known or unknown risks or uncertainties develop into actual events, or underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, these developments could have material adverse effects on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

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SOURCE A. Schulman, Inc.