AKRON, Ohio, July 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A. Schulman, Inc. (NASDAQ:SHLM) announced today that its Board of Directors has unanimously recommended to propose at its 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders an amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to declassify its board structure.
Currently, the Company's Board of Directors is divided into three classes, with each director class serving a staggered term of three years. If the proposed declassification amendment is approved, all current directors would serve the remainder of their terms and thereafter become subject to election each year by stockholders at the Annual Meeting. The change would go into effect beginning with those directors whose terms expire at the 2008 Annual Meeting. As of the 2010 Annual Meeting, all Board members will be subject to annual election. The Company will include the text of the proposed declassification amendment, along with its statement of support, in its 2008 proxy statement.
Pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, adoption of the declassification amendment will require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock at the 2008 Annual Meeting, which is expected to be held in December 2008.
"Declassification is viewed favorably by proponents of corporate governance reform, and this proposal reflects our Board's commitment to accountability to all of our stockholders," said Joseph M. Gingo, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Although A. Schulman and its stockholders have been well served by its classified Board of Directors, we believe it is in the best long-term interest of the Company's stockholders for the Board to transition to annual elections of all directors." About A. Schulman, Inc.
Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, A. Schulman is a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins. These materials are used in a variety of consumer, industrial, automotive and packaging applications. The Company employs about 2,200 people and has 16 manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe (including Asia). Revenues for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007, were $1.8 billion. Additional information about A. Schulman can be found at http://www.aschulman.com/ . DATASOURCE: A. Schulman, Inc.
CONTACT: Paul DeSantis, CFO and Treasurer of A. Schulman, Inc., +1-330-666-3751 Web site: http://www.aschulman.com/
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