HOUSTON, Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (NYSE: KRA - News), a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers, announces financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2011.

2011 FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

"Despite significant volatility in raw material prices throughout 2011 and the uncertain global economic environment in the second half of the year, Kraton reported full-year 2011 Adjusted EBITDA of $194 million, the second highest in the company's history," said Kevin M. Fogarty, Kraton's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Although 2011 sales volumes were essentially flat with the prior year, reflecting the impact of customer destocking and competitive price dynamics in certain markets, we experienced volume growth in our more differentiated Cariflex and HSBC products. Furthermore, we were able to defend unit margins through continued implementation of our Price Right strategy as butadiene prices rose throughout much of the year, reaching record levels in the third quarter. Regarding our innovation results, in 2011 we proudly achieved a Vitality Index, reflecting the percentage of sales directly attributable to innovation sales commercialized in the prior 5 years, of 14.3%, a 137 basis point improvement from 2010," said Fogarty.

Three Months Ended Dec. 31,

Years Ended Dec. 31,

(US $ in thousands, except per share amounts)

2011

2010

2011

2010

Link:
Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Results