Our investments in sustainable solutions combined with our initiatives to control costs, are helping to offset weak demand across many end markets," said Most notably, sales of composite technologies organically increased 8% over the prior year, and additives into the packaging market increased 3%."  The divestment of PP&S is expected to close soon, which will reduce our exposure to more cyclical end markets and strengthen our balance sheet. 

construction demand versus previous expectations for the second quarter, sales into this end market remained below 2018 levels. Patterson said, "We believe the current market challenges will continue into the second half of 2019.  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 realignment 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.

Lorraine provides our Board with the broad business perspective that he gained in extensive leadership roles in varying industries. Competitive Market Pay Information and Benchmarking. In analyzing competitive market data for the purpose of determining the market median for 2015, we drew from two independent sources.

Course evaluations, focus groups and program pilot techniques are utilized to gain insight to program effectiveness and monitor opportunities for enhancement. We continue to enable our innovation strategy through investment in R&D, sales and marketing resources. Marketing Manager, CAI (Germany) Photo: right, for their outstanding entries securing runner up places.

Avient Corporation, a premier provider of specialised and sustainable material solutions and services, has invested in testing equipment, personnel, and software to help its customers gain insight into its unique material solutions and how they perform.

The pandemic has negatively impacted every region and many end markets, but certain end markets such as healthcare and packaging are holding up well." Market conditions remain challenged, as most of the world outside of Given the uncertainty in global markets, the company does not plan to provide specific guidance for the second quarter or the balance of the year at this time. 

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 North American asset realignment and our 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 at expected levels and within the expected timeframe; 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.

Avient Corporation, a premier provider of specialised and sustainable material solutions and services, has invested in testing equipment, personnel, and software to help its customers gain insight into its unique material solutions and how they perform.

PolyOne expects to record a pre-tax gain of approximately and Automotive end markets. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the time required to consummate the proposed divestiture; the satisfaction or waiver of conditions in the sale agreement; any material adverse changes in the business supporting the PP&S assets being sold; the ability to obtain required regulatory or other third-party approvals and consents and otherwise consummate the proposed divestiture; 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 ability to achieve or delays in achieving or achievement of less than the anticipated financial benefit from initiatives related to acquisitions 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.

For example, if an organization is focused on gaining carbon footprint credits, then it might consider designing products with sustainable raw materials.