HOUSTON, June 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (KRA), a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers today announced the first commercial application of its NEXAR polymer technology.

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"With the launch of Columbia Sportswear's latest cooling technology, the first commercial application of our NEXAR specialty polymer technology has been achieved," said Holger R. Jung, Kraton's Vice President, Sales and Marketing."As a leader in the performance apparel industry, Columbia Sportswear is known for pioneering the use of new and innovative technologies in its products.Our NEXAR polymer technology possesses unique performance attributes which we believe make it ideal for use in performance apparel," Jung added. "We believe that NEXAR also has application in humidification and dehumidification and water management processes, and we look forward to announcement of additional commercial applications for NEXAR in the future."

Kraton will highlight applications for its NEXAR polymer technology and will review other products and innovations at its 2012 Investor Day to be held on August 2, 2012 at the Ritz Carlton Battery Park in New York.

About Kraton

Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., through its operating subsidiary Kraton Polymers LLC and its subsidiaries, is a leading global producer of engineered polymers and, we believe, the world's largest producer of styrenic block copolymers (SBCs), a family of products whose chemistry was pioneered by us almost fifty years ago. SBCs are highly-engineered thermoplastic elastomers which enhance the performance of numerous products by delivering a variety of attributes, including greater flexibility, resilience, strength, durability and processability. Our polymers are used in a wide range of applications, including adhesives, coatings, consumer and personal care products, sealants and lubricants, and medical, packaging, automotive, paving, roofing and footwear products. We offer a broad range of products to more than 800 customers in over 60 countries worldwide, and are the only SBC producer with manufacturing and service capabilities on four continents. We manufacture products at five plants globally, including our flagship plant in Belpre, Ohio, as well as plants in Germany, France and Brazil, and a joint venture plant operated in Japan.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements," which are statements other than statements of historical fact and are often characterized by the use of words such as "believes," "expects," "estimates," "projects," "may," "will," "intends," "plans" or "anticipates," or by discussions of strategy, anticipated performance, plans or intentions. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made based on management's current expectations and estimates, which involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in "Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors" contained in our Annual Report on 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and as subsequently updated in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We hereby make reference to all such filings for all purposes. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update such information.

Omni-Freeze is a trademark of Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.

Kraton, the Kraton logo and design, and the "Giving Innovators Their Edge" tagline are all trademarks of Kraton Polymers LLC.

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Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. Announces First Commercial Application of NEXAR™ Polymer Technology