HANNA M A CO/DE
DEF 14A, 1999-03-18
MISCELLANEOUS PLASTICS PRODUCTS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (Rule 14a-101)

                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
                Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
               Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.   )

Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_]

Check the appropriate box:

[_]  Preliminary Proxy Statement             [_]  Confidential, For Use of the
[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement                   Commission Only (as permitted
[_]  Definitive Additional Materials              by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[_]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to
     Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12


                               M.A. HANNA COMPANY
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)



- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)


Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]  No fee required.
[_] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.


- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:



- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:



- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3)   Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction  computed  pursuant
     to Exchange  Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
     calculated and state how it was determined):



- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:



- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5) Total fee paid:

     [_]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:



- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     [_]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
          Rule  0-11(a)(2)  and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
          was paid  previously.  Identify  the previous  filing by  registration
          statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

          1)   Amount previously paid:

          2)   Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

          3)   Filing Party:

          4)   Date Filed:


<PAGE>


                                M.A.Hanna Company
          SUITE 36-5000, 200 PUBLIC SQUARE, CLEVELAND, OHIO 44114-2304


To Our Stockholders:

     On behalf of the Board of Directors and management,  I cordially invite you
to attend the 1999 annual meeting of  stockholders  of the Company to be held on
Wednesday, May 5, 1999, at 10:30 A.M. at the Forum Conference Center Auditorium,
1375 East Ninth Street, Cleveland, Ohio.

     At the  meeting,  in  addition  to  considering  and acting on the  matters
described in the Proxy Statement,  there will be a management report.  Following
the report, there will be an opportunity for stockholders to ask questions about
the Company and its operations.

     If you will need special assistance at the meeting because of a disability,
please contact the office of the Corporate Secretary at the above address.

     Whether or not you  currently  plan to attend the meeting,  it is important
that you exercise  your right to vote.  Please  sign,  date and return the proxy
card or vote by telephone.

     I look forward to seeing you on May 5.



                                         Sincerely,



                                         /S/ M. D. Walker
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         M. D. Walker
                                         Chairman and Chief Executive Officer



<PAGE>


                               M.A.Hanna Company
                        SUITE 36-5000, 200 PUBLIC SQUARE
                           CLEVELAND, OHIO 44114-2304


                            Notice of Annual Meeting


     The annual  meeting of  stockholders  of M.A. Hanna Company will be held on
Wednesday,  May 5, 1999 at 10:30 A.M. at the Forum Conference Center Auditorium,
1375 East Ninth Street, Cleveland, Ohio, for the following purposes:

     (1)  Electing eleven directors for the ensuing year;

     (2)  Ratifying the appointment of independent public accountants; and

     (3)  Transacting  such  other  business  as may  properly  come  before the
          meeting.

     The Board of  Directors  has fixed the close of business on March 10, 1999,
as the record date for the determination of stockholders  entitled to notice of,
and to vote at, the meeting or any adjournment thereof.


                                                JOHN S. PYKE, JR.
                                   Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary


March 18, 1999

     PLEASE  FILL  OUT,  SIGN  AND MAIL  THE  ENCLOSED  FORM OF PROXY OR VOTE BY
TELEPHONE  IF YOU  DO  NOT  EXPECT  TO BE  PRESENT  AT  THE  ANNUAL  MEETING.  A
SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED
IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.



<PAGE>


                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING .........................................

PROXY STATEMENT ..................................................            1

General Information ..............................................            1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS ............................................  (ITEM 1)  1

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors ................            3

Holdings of Shares of the Company's Common Stock .................            5

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance ..........            5

Executive Compensation ...........................................            5

Defined Benefit Retirement Plans .................................            9

Board Compensation and Organization Committee Report
   on Executive Compensation .....................................           10

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation ......           12

Performance Graph ................................................           13

Directors' Compensation ..........................................           14

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS ...................................  (ITEM 2) 15

Submission of Stockholder Proposals ..............................           15

Other Matters ....................................................           15


<PAGE>

                                PROXY STATEMENT

                               General Information

     This proxy  statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation by
the Board of Directors of M.A. Hanna Company of proxies to be used at the annual
meeting of stockholders of the Company to be held on Wednesday, May 5, 1999. The
meeting will be held at the Forum Conference Center Auditorium,  1375 East Ninth
Street, Cleveland, Ohio.

     If the accompanying form of proxy is properly executed and returned, or the
proxy is  granted  by  calling  the  specially  designated  telephone  number as
described on the accompanying  form of proxy, the shares  represented by it will
be voted and,  where a  specification  is made by the  stockholder,  as provided
therein,  will be  voted  in  accordance  with  such  specification.  If no such
specification  is  made,  the  shares  will be  voted  in  accordance  with  the
recommendations of the Company's  management.  The proxy may,  nevertheless,  be
revoked prior to its exercise by delivering  written notice of revocation to the
Company, by executing a later dated proxy or by attending the meeting and voting
in person. For stockholders participating in the Company's Dividend Reinvestment
and Stock  Purchase Plan,  the  administrator  will only vote the shares that it
holds for the participant's account in accordance with the proxy returned by the
participant  and the procedures  set forth above.  If a proxy is not returned or
returned unsigned, none of the shares represented by that proxy, whether held in
the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan or otherwise, will be voted.

     At the annual meeting,  the results of stockholder voting will be tabulated
by the  inspectors  of election  appointed for the annual  meeting.  The Company
intends to treat properly executed proxies that are marked "abstain" or that are
held in  "street  name" by brokers  and are not voted on one or more  particular
proposals  (if  otherwise  voted on at least  one  proposal)  as  "present"  for
purposes  of  determining  whether  a quorum  has been  achieved  at the  annual
meeting.  Directors  will be elected by a  plurality  vote.  Votes  withheld  in
respect of the  election of  directors  will not be counted in  determining  the
outcome of that vote.  In respect of the proposal to ratify the  appointment  of
independent public accountants, abstentions will be treated as votes against the
proposal and broker non-votes will be treated as having no effect on the outcome
of the vote.

     At the close of business on March 10, 1999,  the record date for the annual
meeting,  the Company had outstanding and entitled to vote 49,635,695  shares of
Common  Stock.  Each share of Common  Stock is entitled  one vote on each matter
brought before the meeting.

     The Company has retained Morrow & Co., Inc., a proxy solicitation firm, for
a fee of $7,500 plus  reimbursement of normal  expenses,  to assist employees of
the Company in the solicitation of proxies by personal interview,  telephone and
other means. The cost of solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company.

     The Notice of Annual  Meeting,  Proxy Statement and form of proxy are first
being mailed to stockholders on approximately  March 18, 1999. The Annual Report
of the  Company  for the year  ended  December  31,  1998 was  first  mailed  to
stockholders  on March 16, 1999,  but the Annual Report is not deemed to be part
of this Proxy Statement.

     At the annual meeting of  stockholders  of the Company held on May 6, 1998,
approximately 89% of the then outstanding shares were present at the meeting and
voting.

                            1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     The Board has nominated  the ten incumbent  Directors and Mr. David H. Hoag
for  election  at the 1999  annual  meeting.  All  nominees  except Mr. Hoag and
Messrs. R. A. Garda and M.D. Walker,  who were elected to the Board on August 4,
1998 and October 7, 1998, respectively, were previously elected by stockholders.

     It is intended that shares  represented by the proxies in the  accompanying
form will be voted for the election of the eleven nominees listed below to serve
as directors for a term of one year and until their  successors  are elected and
qualified.  If any nominee should be unable or unwilling to serve as a director,
which the Board of Directors 

<PAGE>

does not  anticipate,  the  proxies  will be voted for such other  person as the
Board  of  Directors  may  select  or the  size  of  the  Board  may be  reduced
accordingly.

     The  following  table lists  information  as of January 31, 1999 as to each
nominee for director,  his or her principal occupation or employment and certain
other directorships. Except as otherwise indicated each nominee has had the same
principal occupation or employment during the past five years.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  Nominee for Director           Principal Occupation and Other Directorships
  --------------------           --------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>
CAROL A. CARTWRIGHT           President,  Kent State  University  (public higher
Ph.D.                         education institution),  1991 to date. Director of
Director since 1994           KeyCorp  (formerly Key Bank N.A.) and  FirstEnergy
Age--57                       (formerly  Ohio  Edison  Company).  Member  of the
                              National    Collegiate    Athletic     Association
                              Presidents Council.   

WAYNE R. EMBRY                President  and  Chief   Operating   Officer,   The
Director since 1990           Cleveland   Cavaliers   (professional   basketball
Age--61                       team),  1986 to date.  Director  of Ohio  Casualty
                              Insurance Company.

J. TREVOR EYTON, O.C.         Senior Group  Chairman,  EdperBrascan  Corporation
Director since 1986           (natural resources, power generation and financial
Age--64                       services).   Member  of  the   Senate  of  Canada.
                              Director of Barrick  Gold  Corporation,  Coca Cola
                              Enterprises Limited,  Trilon Financial Corporation
                              and Noranda, Inc.  

ROBERT A. GARDA               Executive-in-Residence,   The   Fuqua   School  of
Director since 1998           Business,   Duke   University,   1997   to   date.
Age--59                       Independent consultant,  1995-1997;  President and
                              Chief  Executive  Officer,   Aladdin   Industries,
                              1994-1995;    Director,    McKinsey   &   Company,
                              1972-1994. Director of Insect Biotechnology, Inc. 
                              
GORDON D. HARNETT             Chairman,  President and Chief Executive  Officer,
Director since 1997           Brush Wellman Inc. (specialty materials),  January
 Age--56                      1991  to  date.   Director  of  Essef  Corp.,  The
                              Lubrizol Corp. and National City Bank. 

DAVID H. HOAG                 Retired.   Chairman  of  LTV  Corporation   (steel
Age--59                       manufacturing),  1991-February  1,  1999 and Chief
                              Executive Officer 1991-September 1998. Director of
                              Brush Wellman Inc., The Chubb Corporation, Federal
                              Reserve   Bank   of   Cleveland,    The   Lubrizol
                              Corporation and Karrington Health, Inc.         

GEORGE D. KIRKHAM             Retired financial industry executive.
Director since 1975
Age--66

DAVID BAKER LEWIS             Chairman,  Lewis  &  Munday  (attorneys),  1982 to
Director since 1997           date. Director of LGE Energy Corp., Comerica Bank,
Age--54                       Michigan and TRW Inc.

MARVIN L. MANN                Chairman,  Lexmark  International,   Inc.  (office
Director since 1991           machines), 1991 to 1998. Director of Imation, Inc.
Age--65                       and Lexmark and member of the Independent Board of
                              Trustees, Fidelity Investments.  

RICHARD W. POGUE              Senior Advisor, Dix & Eaton Inc. (public relations
Director since 1988           firm),  July 1,  1994  to  date;  Senior  Partner,
Age--70                       Jones,  Day,  Reavis & Pogue  (attorneys)  1993 to
                              June 30,  1994;  Managing  Partner,  1984 to 1992.
                              Director   of   Continental    Airlines,    Derlan
                              Industries   Limited,  IT  Group,   KeyCorp,   LAI
                              Worldwide, Rotek Incorporated and TRW Inc. 

MARTIN D. WALKER              Chairman  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  M.A.
Director since 1986           Hanna,  October 1998 to date;  Chairman January 1,
Age--66                       1997-June 30, 1997;  Chairman and Chief  Executive
                              Officer 1986-1996.  Director of Comerica Inc., The
                              Goodyear   Tire   &   Rubber   Company,    Lexmark
                              International,   Inc.,  Meritor  Automotive  Inc.,
                              Reynolds  and Reynolds  Company,  Textron Inc. and
                              The Timken Company. 
</TABLE>


                                       2

<PAGE>

     The following table sets forth  information as to the beneficial  ownership
of the Company's  Common Stock on January 31, 1999 by each  director,  the chief
executive officer and the four other most highly compensated  executive officers
and, as a group, the foregoing persons and other executive  officers.  Except as
indicated in the footnotes,  the directors have sole voting and investment power
over the shares listed.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                   Total
                                                                                                 Shares &
                                                                              Shares or            Share
                                             Shares        Percent of     Share Equivalent      Equivalent
                                          Beneficially     Outstanding    Held in Deferred     Beneficially
Name                                          Owned          Shares      Compensation Plans        Held
- - ----                                        --------        --------       --------------        --------
<S>                                       <C>                  <C>              <C>              <C>   
C. A. Cartwright ......................      25,420(1)         *                 1,565              26,985
W. R. Embry ...........................      27,252(1)         *                 1,684              28,936
J. T. Eyton ...........................      18,740(2)         *                 7,846              26,586
R. A. Garda ...........................       7,000            *                   243               7,243
G. D. Harnett .........................       8,502(2)         *                 3,588              12,090
G. D. Kirkham .........................      45,984(1)(3)      *                 1,684              47,668
D. B. Lewis ...........................       9,026(2)         *                   672               9,698
M. L. Mann ............................      39,684(1)         *                12,739              52,423
R. W. Pogue ...........................      55,035(1)         *                 1,684              56,719
M. D. Walker ..........................   1,020,868(4)(5)      2.06%            10,321           1,031,189
K. J. Darragh .........................      44,745(4)         *                 3,744              48,489
M. S. Duffey ..........................      56,148(4)         *                     0              56,148
G. W. Henry ...........................     119,819(4)         *                     0             119,819
D. R. Schrank .........................     172,342(4)         *                 8,066             180,408
All directors and executive officers
as a group ............................   1,908,546            3.85%            74,140           1,982,686
</TABLE>

- - ----------
*    The  shares  beneficially  owned  amount  to less than one  percent  of the
     outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock.

(1)  Includes  22,500  shares  which may be acquired  within 60 days through the
     exercise  of stock  options  granted  under the  Company's  1988  Long-Term
     Incentive Plan.

(2)  Includes  7,500  shares  which may be acquired  within 60 days  through the
     exercise  of stock  options  granted  under the  Company's  1988  Long-Term
     Incentive Plan.

(3)  Includes  16,200 shares as to which Mr.  Kirkham has shared  investment and
     voting  power;  the  shares  are held by a trust  for  which he  serves  as
     co-trustee; Mr. Kirkham disclaims any beneficial interest in such shares.

(4)  Includes  shares which may be acquired  within 60 days through the exercise
     of stock options, as follows:  719,988, 31,901, 39,950, 73,304, 150,515 and
     162,224 shares for Messrs. Walker,  Darragh,  Duffey, Henry and Schrank and
     the other executive officers, respectively.

(5)  Includes 2,000 shares owned by Mr. Walker's wife; Mr. Walker  disclaims any
     beneficial interest in such shares.

                Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

     The Board of  Directors  held 9  meetings  in 1998.  All  director-nominees
attended  at  least  seventy-five  percent  of the  meetings  of the  Board  and
committees of the Board on which each served except Mr. Eyton.

     In addition to meeting as a group to review the Company's business, certain
members of the Board of  Directors  also  devote  their time and  talents to the
Board's five standing  committees.  The standing  committees and their principal
functions are as follows:


                                       3

<PAGE>

     The Audit  Committee,  composed of directors  who are not  employees of the
Company,  held 4 meetings in 1998 with the Company's  Chief  Financial  Officer,
Chief  Accounting  Officer,  General  Counsel,  Director of  Internal  Audit and
independent  public  accountants  to review the plan and results of the audit by
the independent accountants,  the Company's financial statements,  the scope and
results of the  Company's  internal  auditing  procedures,  the  adequacy of the
Company's  system of  internal  controls  and the  Company's  environmental  and
litigation  exposures  and its health  and safety  record.  The  Committee  also
selects and appoints  independent  public  accountants to serve as the Company's
auditors  each year.  Present  members are R. A.  Garda,  G. D.  Harnett,  G. D.
Kirkham, D.B. Lewis and R. W. Pogue (Chair).

     The Board Governance  Committee held 2 formal meetings in 1998. Pursuant to
the Guidelines on Significant  Corporate  Goverance Issues adopted by the Board,
the Committee  conducts  assessments of the Board's  performance  and recommends
changes in the policies and operations of the Board and its Committees.  It also
acts as a nominating  committee of the Board and recommends qualified candidates
for  election as  directors.  Stockholders  wishing to nominate  candidates  for
consideration  by the Committee can do so by writing to the Corporate  Secretary
and  providing  the  candidate's   name,   appropriate   biographical  data  and
qualifications. Present members are C. A. Cartwright, W. R. Embry (Chair), G. D.
Kirkham and M. D. Walker.

     The Compensation and Organization Committee,  composed of directors who are
not employees of the Company,  held 6 meetings in 1998. It approves remuneration
arrangements  and succession  plans for senior  management and  administers  the
Company's executive compensation plans. Present members are C. A. Cartwright, W.
R. Embry, J. T. Eyton, M. L. Mann (Chair) and R. W. Pogue.

     The  Executive  Committee  exercises  all of the  authority of the Board of
Directors during intervals between meetings of the Board except for those powers
to be exercised only by other  committees of the Board,  the  declaration of any
dividend,  the issuance of stock and the powers which pursuant to Section 141(c)
of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,  as amended, may not be
delegated to a Committee.  It did not formally meet in 1998. Present members are
J. T. Eyton, M. L. Mann, R. W. Pogue and M. D. Walker (Chair).

     The Finance  Committee,  composed of directors who are not employees of the
Company, held 2 meetings in 1998. It is responsible for overseeing the Company's
financial  policies and capital  structure,  management of foreign exchange risk
and banking relationships.  The Committee is also responsible for overseeing the
funding,  financial  performance and administration of the Company's  retirement
plans and the  accounting  for the plans.  Present  members are C.A.  Cartwright
(Chair), W. R. Embry, J. T. Eyton, R. A. Garda, G. D. Harnett and D. B. Lewis.


                                       4

<PAGE>


                Holdings of Shares of the Company's Common Stock

     The  following  table lists the only persons  believed by the Company to be
the  beneficial  owners of more than five percent of the  outstanding  shares of
Common  Stock  of the  Company  as of  December  31,  1998.  The  nature  of the
beneficial ownership is set forth in the footnotes below.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 Shares        Percent of
     Beneficial Owner                                      Beneficially Owned  Outstanding
     ------------                                             -------------     --------
     <S>                                                       <C>               <C>    
     FMR Corp. ...........................................     5,317,295(1)      10.725%
     82 Devonshire Street
     Boston, MA 02109

     Wachovia Bank of North Carolina, N.A., ..............     4,394,259(2)       8.85%
     Trustee of the M.A. Hanna
     Associates Ownership Trust
     301 North Main Street
     Winston-Salem, NC 27102
</TABLE>

- - ----------
(1)  Sole dispositive  power,  according to Schedule 13G dated February 1, 1999,
     as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(2)  Shared  voting  and   dispositive   power.   Shares  of  Common  Stock  are
     periodically  allocated  and  released  from the Trust to  satisfy  funding
     requirements under certain of the Company's  compensation and benefit plans
     ("Plans").  Participants  in and  trustees of the Plans under  confidential
     voting procedures have authority to vote all shares allocated to them or to
     instruct that the shares not be voted. Unallocated shares held in the Trust
     are voted in the same proportions as the shares for which instructions have
     been received.

             SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

     Section  16(a) of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended,
requires the  Company's  Directors and certain  officers to report  ownership of
M.A. Hanna  securities  and benefit plan interests and subsequent  acquisitions,
dispositions  or other  transfer of interests in such  securities  if and to the
extent reportable events occur which require reporting.  The Company is required
to describe in this proxy  statement  whether it has  knowledge  that any person
required  to file such a report  may have  failed  to do so in a timely  manner.
Based on the filed reports and related information furnished to the Company, the
Company  believes  that all such filing  requirements  were  complied  with in a
timely manner during and with respect to 1998.

                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     The following table sets forth the compensation for the chief executive
officers  who held  office in 1998 and the four  other most  highly  compensated
executive  officers,  for services rendered in all capacities to the Company and
its subsidiaries for the last three years.


                                       5

<PAGE>

                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Annual Compensation                           Long-Term Compensation
                                          ----------------------                  ---------------------------------
                                                                                          Awards           Payouts
                                                                                  ---------------------   ---------
                                                                      Other       Restricted
           Name and                                                   Annual        Stock      Number of    LTIP        All Other
      Principal Position             Year     Salary     Bonus    Compensation(1) Awards($)(2)  Options   Payouts(3) Compensation(4)
      ------------------             ----     ------     -----    --------------  ------------  -------   ---------- ---------------
<S>                                  <C>     <C>        <C>             <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>           <C>    
D. J. McGregor                       1998    $588,878          0      $2,392        7,735            0     $123,680      $218,249
  Chairman & Chief Executive 1997            $553,667   $330,000      $2,446       22,598       70,785     $245,700      $238,865
  Officer (to 10/7/98)               1996    $450,000   $300,000      $5,120       29,241       76,091     $328,700      $247,281
                                                                                                                      
M. D. Walker                         1998    $115,705          0           0            0      100,000     $120,334      $460,017
  Chairman & Chief Executive 1997            $330,000   $215,000      $3,446       41,715      100,000     $453,600      $246,654
  Officer (from 10/7/98)             1996    $660,000   $520,000     $18,965       38,468      100,000     $432,500      $314,686
                                                                                                                      
D. R. Schrank                        1998    $297,000    $37,000    $196,859        5,461            0      $87,360       $56,376
  Senior Vice President-             1997    $287,000   $120,000      $1,110       10,445       22,275     $113,400       $58,823
  Operations                         1996    $275,000   $130,000      $1,312         0(5)       25,302        NA(5)       $50,368
                                                                                                                      
G. W. Henry                          1998    $258,333    $40,000     $74,551        3,846       42,667      $61,520       $60,412
  Executive Vice President-          1997    $236,667   $155,000     $71,015        8,434       15,625      $91,665       $59,460
  Worldwide Plastics                 1996    $212,333   $115,000     $72,149        7,694       17,687      $86,500       $56,791
                                                                                                                      
K. J. Darragh                        1998    $254,167    $25,000    $111,962        1,998       39,111      $31,680       $29,988
  Senior Vice President-             1997    $221,462   $137,000      N/A(6)        6,661       15,625      $72,387        N/A(6)
  Operations                         1996    $173,333   $120,000      N/A(6)        5,547       14,057      $62,280        N/A(6)
                                                                                                                      
M. S. Duffey                         1998    $238,700    $25,000        $455        2,040       34,062      $32,400       $29,261
  Senior Vice President, Finance     1997    $213,333   $117,000        $791        5,947       13,896      $64,638       $29,019
  & Administration & CFO             1996    $190,000   $103,000        $782        7,694       15,018      $86,500       $28,680
</TABLE>

- - ----------
(1)  The column  reports the  Company's  reimbursements  for the Medicare  taxes
     incurred by the named officers on accrued  non-qualified  plan benefits and
     in addition  to such  reimbursement  to Mr.  Henry in 1996 in the amount of
     $2,091, in 1997 in the amount of $520, and in 1998 in the amount of $1,388,
     includes  reimbursement  for  moving  expenses  and  payments  to  equalize
     cost-of-living  and housing  differences  in connection  with an assignment
     outside of his home country;  and in addition to such  reimbursement to Mr.
     Schrank in 1998 in the amount of $352,  includes  reimbursement  for moving
     expenses  and  temporary  housing  expenses  and  tax   reimbursements  for
     relocation   for  a   temporary   assignment,   and  in  addition  to  such
     reimbursement to Mr. Darragh in 1998 of $320, includes relocation bonus and
     tax  reimbursements on those expenses.  The aggregate amount of perquisites
     and personal  benefits  given to each officer did not exceed the disclosure
     threshholds established by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(2)  The column  reports  grants of  restricted  stock to the named  individuals
     during  the  fiscal  year.  The value of the  awards  shown in the table is
     determined  by  multiplying  the number of shares  awarded  by the  closing
     market  price  for the  stock  on the  award  date.  The  total  number  of
     restricted  shares  and the  value of those  shares  at the end of the last
     fiscal year,  based on the year-end  closing  price for the stock,  held by
     Messrs.  McGregor,   Walker,  Schrank,  Henry,  Darragh,  and  Duffey  were
     4,429/$54,532;  5,757/$70,883; 740/$9,111; 1,881/$23,160;  898/$11,057; and
     1,021/$12,571,  respectively. Restricted shares are issued at the same time
     LTIP  payouts  are made  equal in value to 25% of the  value of the  Common
     Stock component of the LTIP payout;  neither the restricted  shares nor the
     other shares issued at the same time may be transferred  for four years, at
     which time the restrictions  lapse. The named officers receive dividends on
     their restricted shares at the same time and frequency as all stockholders.

(3)  Payout in cash and market  value of Common  Stock paid under the  Company's
     1988  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan  in  the  year  following  the  three-year
     performance period ending December 31, 1997, 1996, and 1995.

(4)  The column  reports  matching  contributions  made by the Company under the
     Non-Qualified Capital Accumulation Plan, a retirement type savings plan, of
     $68,532,  $5,764,  $38,237,   $35,902,  $29,988  and  $29,261  for  Messrs.
     McGregor,  Walker, Schrank, Henry, Darragh, and Duffey,  respectively,  and
     the  dollar  value of split  dollar  life  insurance  premiums  paid in the
     amounts of $149,717,  $123,170,  $18,140 and $24,509, for Messrs. McGregor,
     Walker,  Schrank,  and  Henry,  respectively.   This  column  also  reports
     distributions  to Mr.  Walker of $275,781  from the  Non-Qualified  Capital
     Accumulation  Plan and $55,302 from the  Voluntary  Non-Qualified  Deferred
     Compensation Plan.

(5)  LTIP  payouts  in  1996  were  for  awards  made  prior  to  Mr.  Schrank's
     employment.

(6)  Prior to his election as a Senior Vice  President in 1997,  Mr. Darragh did
     not participate in certain executive benefit plans.

     The  Compensation  and  Organization  Committee  of the Board of  Directors
agreed to certain  arrangements for Mr. McGregor following his decision to leave
the  Company  on October 7,  1998.  In order to  qualify to  participate  in the
retiree medical benefits plan, Mr. McGregor was granted a leave of absence until
January 3, 2001, when he will formally  retire.  Mr. McGregor was granted salary
continuation for 6 months and severance equal to one year's



                                       6
<PAGE>


salary, and received a lump sum benefit under the non-qualified  retirement plan
of $1.8  million  which was  enhanced  to reflect the benefit he would have been
entitled to if he retired at age 62 (Mr.  McGregor was 57 in October,  1998). In
exchange for these payments Mr. McGregor  entered into a covenant not to compete
with the  Company and  released  all claims he had or might have had against the
Company.

     The Company's Voluntary  Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan, approved
by  stockholders  in 1995,  provides  that  executives  whose total  annual cash
compensation  exceeds $150,000 may elect to defer up to 25% of his or her salary
and up to  100%  of  his or her  short-term  compensation  and to  allocate  the
deferral to a cash account ("Cash  Account") or an account  maintained in shares
of M.A. Hanna Common Stock (the "Stock  Account").  Balances in the Cash Account
earn interest  quarterly at a rate equal to 125% of the Moody's  Corporate  Bond
Yield Index.  As cash  dividends are declared on M.A.  Hanna Common  Stock,  the
executive's  Stock  Account is credited  with  additional  shares of M.A.  Hanna
Common Stock  equivalent to cash  dividends paid on the balance of shares in the
Stock Account. All deferrals to the Stock Account are "matched" by a 25% premium
in the form of additional  shares of M.A. Hanna Common Stock. When the executive
retires,  dies or becomes  disabled,  the full  balance in the Cash  Account and
Stock Account is distributed to the executive,  and if employment terminates for
any other reason, a partial distribution will be made. Messrs. Darragh,  Schrank
and Walker have elected to participate in the Plan.

     The Company in 1998 entered into amended and restated employment agreements
with certain  executive  officers,  including K. J. Darragh,  M.S. Duffey, G. W.
Henry,  D. R.  Schrank and M. D.  Walker,  which  become  operative  only upon a
"change in control" of the Company, as defined in the agreements.  The executive
officers  who did not enter into the amended and restated  employment  agreement
are parties to a predecessor  employment  agreement which also becomes operative
on a  "change  in  control"  of the  Company  and  provides  similar  terms  and
conditions.  The amended and restated  agreements provide that the officers will
remain employed by the Company in their customary  positions from the occurrence
of a "change in  control"  (i) for an  initial  term of one year  which,  unless
otherwise  elected by either party, is automatically  extended for an additional
one-year period on the first anniversary and each anniversary thereafter or (ii)
until normal  retirement  date,  if sooner.  During this  employment  period the
officer  will  receive a base salary at least equal to the annual rate in effect
at the time of the "change in  control",  plus any  increases  as may be awarded
thereafter in accordance with the Company's  regular  administrative  practices,
and a bonus under the Company's  pay-for-performance  plan at least equal to the
average of the annual bonuses paid to him under such plan during the three years
preceding  the  time of the  "change  in  control".  In  addition,  during  this
employment  period the officer shall be entitled to continue to  participate  in
all of the Company's  benefit programs in which he was participating at the time
of the "change in control".

     If the executive  officer's  employment is terminated  for any reason other
than death,  disability,  retirement or cause during the  employment  term,  the
officer  is  entitled  to  receive,  as  liquidated  damages  for the  breach of
contract,  a payment  equal to the  present  value of the sum of the  salary and
bonus(es)  due to the officer for the  remainder of his  employment  term and is
also entitled to a payment equal to the present value of his benefits  under the
Company's benefit plans for the remainder of his employment term supplemented by
an amount equal to the present value of the contributions the Company would have
made to the plans for the officer for the remainder of the term.  The Company is
entitled to offset against amounts due to the officer any compensation  payments
made to the officer by another employer under certain conditions. Termination of
employment without cause is defined to include a good faith determination by the
officer that due to changed circumstances  significantly  affecting his position
with the Company after the "change in control" occurs, he is unable to carry out
his duties and responsibilities.


                                       7
<PAGE>


                        OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     Potential Realized Value at
                                                                                     Annual Rates of Stock Price
                                              Individual Grants                     Appreciation for Option Term
                             ---------------------------------------------------    ----------------------------
                                            Percent of
                                           Total Options
                                            Granted to
                                           Employees in   Exercise     Expiration
    Name                     Granted (#)    Fiscal Year  Price ($/Sh)     Date          5% ($)        10% ($)
    ----                      --------      -----------  -----------    -------       ---------     ---------
<S>                             <C>             <C>       <C>           <C>           <C>             <C>     
D. J. McGregor                      --          0.0%      $                           $             $  
M. D. Walker                   100,000         13.6%      $11.6875      10/07/08      $735,021      $1,862,687
D. R. Schrank                       --          0.0%      $                           $             $  
G. W. Henry                     42,667          5.8%      $15.0000      11/04/08      $402,496      $1,020,003
K. J. Darragh                   39,111          5.3%      $15.0000      11/04/08      $368,950      $  934,993
M. S. Duffey                    34,062          4.6%      $15.0000      11/04/08      $321,321      $  814,291
</TABLE>

                 AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                            AND FY-END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    Value of Unexercised
                                                                    Number of           In-the-Money
                                                               Unexercised Options       Options at
                                                                   at FY-End (#)         FY-End ($)
                          Shares Acquired          Value          Exercisable (E)/    Exercisable (E)/
     Name                   on Exercise           Realized       Unexercisable (U)   Unexercisable (U)(1)
     ----                   -----------           --------       -----------------   --------------------
<S>                            <C>                <C>               <C>                 <C>     
D. J. McGregor                 85,500             $756,378          367,003E            109,062E
                                                                     73,214U                  0U

M. D. Walker                       --                   --          719,988E            197,657E
                                                                    100,000U             62,500U

D. R. Schrank                      --                   --          150,515E                  0E
                                                                     23,945U                  0U

G. W. Henry                     4,500              $16,156           73,304E             49,219E
                                                                     59,491U                  0U

K. J. Darragh                      --                   --           31,901E                  0E
                                                                     54,478U                  0U

M. S. Duffey                       --                   --           39,950E                  0E
                                                                     48,559U                  0U
</TABLE>


               LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN AWARDS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      Estimated Future Payouts Under
                                             Performance                Non-Stock Price Based Plans
                                              or Other      ---------------------------------------------------
                             Number of         Period       Threshold Number   Target Number    Maximum Number
                            Performance   Until Maturation   of Performance   of Performance    of Performance
    Name                  Share Units (#)     or Payout      Share Units (#)  Share Units (#)   Share Units (#)
    ----                  ---------------     ---------     ----------------  ---------------   ---------------
<S>                            <C>             <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>  
D. J. McGregor                    --             --                 --                --                --
M. D. Walker                      --             --                 --                --                --
D. R. Schrank                     --             --                 --                --                --
G. W. Henry                    4,800           3 years           2,400             4,800             9,600
K. J. Darragh                  4,400           3 years           2,200             4,400             8,800
M. S. Duffey                   3,832           3 years           1,916             3,832             7,664
</TABLE>

     The  number  of  Performance  Shares  shown in the  table  above  represent
Performance  Shares granted  pursuant to the Company's 1988 Long-Term  Incentive
Plan as amended.  Performance  Shares  represent  the right to receive



                                       8
<PAGE>


payments  under  the  plan  at  the  end of the  three-year  performance  period
commencing January 1, 1999. The number of Performance Shares earned by the named
officers  at  the  end  of  the  three-year  cycle  will  be  determined  by the
Compensation and Organization Committee and will be based on achievement against
earnings per share growth and return on stockholders'  equity  measures.  If the
EPS and ROSE targets are met, the target  number of  Performance  Shares will be
paid out. If the results  exceed target  performance,  the number of Performance
Shares  paid will range  between  the target  number and the  maximum  number of
Performance  Shares shown in the above table. If, on the other hand, results are
less than target  performance,  the number of Performance Shares paid will range
between the target number and the threshold  number of  Performance  Shares.  If
performance  after the three-year  performance  period fails to reach  threshold
levels,  no  Performance  Shares  will  be paid  to any of the  named  officers.
Payments will be determined based on the market value of M.A. Hanna Common Stock
at the end of the  performance  period at which time a portion of the award will
be paid in shares of M.A. Hanna Common Stock and a portion in cash.

                        Defined Benefit Retirement Plans

     The   Salaried   Employees   Retirement   Income   Plan   ("SERIP")   is  a
non-contributory  pension plan covering all officers and certain other  salaried
employees  of the Company.  Effective  December 31, 1998 SERIP was closed to new
participants,  benefit accruals ceased and the benefits of the participants were
frozen.  Upon reaching the normal  retirement date (age 65), each participant in
SERIP generally is entitled to receive monthly for life a basic benefit equal to
the  greater  of (i) the  participant's  highest  average  monthly  compensation
(including  bonuses and overtime) for 60 consecutive months out of the final 120
months of his or her  employment  or (ii)  1/12th of the  average  of his or her
annual compensation (including bonuses and overtime) during any 5 annual periods
in which he or she received the highest  compensation  included within the final
10 annual periods of his or her  employment,  which is then multiplied by 2% for
the first 20 years of credited  service and 1% for the next 20 years of credited
service.  In  addition,  benefits  are  provided  for  early  retirement  and to
surviving spouses.

     The Company has adopted an excess benefits plan to pay retirement  benefits
which but for limitations  under the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act of
1974 and the  Internal  Revenue  Code would have been paid under  SERIP and will
continue to accrue non-qualified benefits for the executive officers for up to a
5-year period in connection  with the freezing of SERIP.  These benefits will be
paid out of the general funds of the Company or trust funds established for this
purpose.

     The following table shows estimated annual benefits payable upon retirement
to participants in specified  remuneration and years-of-service  classifications
under the Company's  above-mentioned  two pension plans for salaried  employees.
Benefits  payable  under  the  qualified  pension  plan are not  subject  to any
deduction for Social Security benefits.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 Average Annual
  Compensation                                 Years of Service at Age 65
For Last 5 Years     --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  of Employment      15 Years          20 Years          25 Years             30 Years       35 Years
   -----------       --------          --------          --------             --------       --------
<S> <C>              <C>               <C>               <C>                  <C>            <C>     
    $  300,000       $ 90,000          $120,000          $135,000             $150,000       $165,000
       500,000        150,000           200,000           225,000              250,000        275,000
       700,000        210,000           280,000           315,000              350,000        385,000
       900,000        270,000           360,000           405,000              450,000        495,000
     1,100,000        330,000           440,000           495,000              550,000        605,000
</TABLE>

     The credited years of service for retirement benefits for Messrs.  Darragh,
Duffey, Henry, Schrank and Walker are 1, 4, 23, 5 and 11, respectively.


                                       9
<PAGE>


                  BOARD COMPENSATION AND ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE
                        REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     M.A. Hanna's executive  compensation program is structured and administered
to drive and incent a level of  performance  necessary to achieve the  Company's
vision,  support M.A.  Hanna's  internal  culture and operating  environment and
reinforce its human resource  management values. The objectives of the executive
compensation program are to:

     o    Establish a  pay-for-performance  philosophy  and policy that places a
          meaningful  portion of each executive's  compensation at risk with the
          stockholders,  commensurate  with the  executive's  ability  to impact
          bottom line results;

     o    Motivate  and  incent  executives  to  achieve a level of  performance
          consistent with the Company's strategic business objectives and reward
          them for their achievement;

     o    Provide total compensation opportunities which are market competitive,
          are subject to associated  downside risk and offer significant  upside
          opportunities  based  on  performance,  thus  enabling  M.A.  Hanna to
          compete  for and retain  outstanding,  talented  and highly  motivated
          executives who are vital to M.A. Hanna's long-term success;

     o    Align the  interests  of  executives  with the  long-term  interest of
          stockholders through incentive-award  opportunities that are linked to
          the long-term  performance of the Company and that result in ownership
          of M.A. Hanna Common Stock; and

     o    Retain  the skills  that are  critical  to the  future  success of the
          Company.

     M.A. Hanna's executive compensation program is comprised of three principal
components: base salary; annual incentive compensation;  and long-term incentive
compensation.  As an executive's  level of responsibility  increases,  a greater
portion  of his or her  potential  total  compensation  opportunity  is based on
performance  incentives (including stock-based awards), and less on salary; this
approach  may  result  in  variability  in the  executive's  actual  total  cash
compensation  level from year to year if there are  variations  in the Company's
performance.

     The executive total compensation program is designed to be competitive with
the total  compensation  programs of a broad base of industrial  companies  with
annual sales levels  comparable to M.A.  Hanna.  In order to assess  competitive
total compensation  programs and establish total compensation  opportunities for
M.A.  Hanna  executives,  the  Committee  receives the advice of an  independent
compensation consultant and utilizes data contained in independent  compensation
surveys such as the Watson  Wyatt Data  Services'  Top  Management  Report,  the
Towers Perrin  Compensation Data Bank (Cash Compensation and Long-Term Incentive
Plan Surveys),  the Conference Board's report on Top Executive  Compensation and
Hewitt's Project 777 Executive Compensation Study.

     M.A.  Hanna's  total  compensation  program is  structured to provide total
compensation  opportunities  that are commensurate with the Company's ability to
demonstrate consistently  outstanding performance.  In order to drive and reward
for a consistent  high level of  performance,  M.A.  Hanna's total  compensation
systems are designed to deliver a total  compensation  opportunity that is above
average.  M.A. Hanna targets executive total compensation  opportunities for its
executives' outstanding performance at the 65th percentile of total compensation
opportunities  afforded to executives  performing  similar  responsibilities  in
competitive  companies.  On the other hand, the total  compensation  systems are
also designed to be responsive  in the event the  Company's  actual  performance
falls below  expectations  vis-a-vis the annual  operating plan and/or  industry
comparisons.

Base Salaries

     M.A.  Hanna targets its  executives'  base salaries to the median,  or 50th
percentile,  of base salaries reported in the published surveys referenced above
by comparable companies.


                                       10
<PAGE>


     The Committee  annually  reviews the base  salaries of executive  officers.
Prior to the  meeting  at which the  annual  review  occurs,  the  Committee  is
furnished  with data on the current total  compensation  and total  compensation
history of each executive officer,  current survey data for comparable positions
at comparable industrial companies and individual  performance appraisal ratings
by the Chief Executive Officer for each executive officer except himself. At the
meeting the Committee reviews all available data and considers  adjustments.  In
1998 it made selective adjustments in executive officers' salaries.

Annual Incentive Compensation for 1998

     Because the Company  did not achieve its EBIT plan in 1998,  the  Committee
did not approve any payments to the  executive  officers  based on the Company's
performance.  The Committee  approved  individual  awards for certain  executive
officers which reflected the individual  performance  and  contribution of those
executives in 1998.

1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards

     Under M.A.  Hanna's  stockholder-approved  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan,  the
Committee grants stock options and long-term  incentive plan  performance  units
("LTIP Units")  annually to cover a three-year  performance  period.  Awards are
based on a pay grade level formula which takes into account  relevant  long-term
award data as reported  by a broad base of  industrial  companies  in the Towers
Perrin Compensation Data Bank Long-Term Incentive Plan Survey.

     In November 1998 the Committee made grants of  non-qualified  stock options
at a purchase  price equal to 100% of the fair market value of M.A. Hanna Common
Stock on the  grant  date and  awards of LTIP  Units in the form of  Performance
Share units for a three-year  performance  period  beginning on January 1, 1999.
The Committee will establish target performance  measures to be attained for the
performance period, with threshold and maximum achievement levels.

1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan Payments

     The  Committee  applied the compound  annual  earnings per share growth and
three-year  average  return  on  stockholders'   equity   performance   measures
established  for the  three-year  performance  period  ending  December 31, 1997
against  actual  performance  and  approved  a  payout  of LTIP  Units  for that
performance period at 80% of the target amounts. The Committee elected to make a
portion of the  payment to each  participant  in cash and a portion in shares of
M.A. Hanna Common Stock, and awarded each participant  shares of restricted M.A.
Hanna  Common  Stock  equal in value to 25% of the Common  Stock  portion of the
payment.  The terms of the restricted  stock require the participant to hold the
restricted  stock and the stock issued in partial payment of the LTIP Unit award
for four years, at which time the restrictions lapse.

Chief Executive Officer Compensation

     Mr. D. J. McGregor served as Chief Executive Officer until October 7, 1998.
Mr.  McGregor's  base pay was increased in February 1998. He did not receive any
incentive  compensation  for 1998 nor did he  receive  any  Long-Term  Incentive
Awards.  In  consideration  of  certain  commitments  and  undertakings  by  Mr.
McGregor,  the Company  entered into an  agreement  with him  involving  certain
future payments to him, which is described on page 6 of this proxy statement.

     Mr. M. D. Walker,  appointed  the Chairman and Chief  Executive  Officer on
October  7,  1998,  agreed to rejoin the  Company  at an annual  base  salary of
$500,000  and to forego  any  incentive  compensation  for 1998.  The  Committee
awarded Mr. Walker a  non-qualified  stock option to purchase  100,000 shares of
Common Stock at the closing price on October 8, 1998.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

     Stock ownership  guidelines have been  established for  participants in the
Company's  Long-Term Incentive Plan which encourages them to acquire a guideline
value of M.A. Hanna Common Stock.  The guidelines are expressed as a multiple of
base  salary.  The  multiples  range from three  times base salary for the Chief
Executive


                                       11
<PAGE>


Officer to 0.5 times base salary for the non-officer,  key manager  participants
in the Plan.  Under the policy  there will be no penalty  for failure to achieve
the  expected  levels  of  ownership  but if a  participant  does  not  hold the
guideline value of M.A. Hanna Common Stock at the end of a three-year period, up
to one-half of his or her annual  incentive  compensation  award will be paid in
shares of M.A.  Hanna Common Stock until the expected stock  ownership  value is
achieved. The Committee monitors attainment of the guidelines.

Deductibility of Executive Compensation

     Internal Revenue Code Section 162 (m) and regulations thereunder respecting
the non-deductibility of certain executive compensation payments in excess of $1
million did not affect the deductibility of M.A. Hanna compensation  payments in
1998 and are not expected to affect the  deductibility of compensation  payments
in  1999.  Under  the  stockholder-approved   Voluntary  Non-Qualified  Deferred
Compensation  Plan, the M.A. Hanna  executives to whom Section 162 (m) may apply
have elected to defer a portion of their  compensation  pursuant to the Plan and
receive the deferred amounts after  retirement,  at which time the deductibility
of such compensation will not be subject to Section 162 (m).


                     Compensation and Organization Committee
                                M. L. Mann, Chair
                                C. A. Cartwright
                                   W. R. Embry
                                   J. T. Eyton
                                   R. W. Pogue

  Compensation and Organization Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

     There are no Compensation and Organization  Committee interlocks or insider
participation.


                                       12
<PAGE>


                                PERFORMANCE GRAPH


                  COMPARISON OF 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
  AMONG M.A. HANNA COMPANY, THES&P 500 INDEX AND THE S&P CHEMICALS (SPECIALTY)
                                      INDEX


 [THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A LINE CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.]


            M.A. HANNA COMPANY        S&P 500      S&P CHEMICALS (SPECIALTY)
            ------------------        -------      -------------------------

12/93             100                   100                 100
12/94             111                   101                  87
12/95             134                   139                 115
12/96             160                   171                 118
12/97             189                   229                 146
12/98             98                    294                 124


     *    $100 INVESTED ON 12/31/93 IN STOCK OR INDEX. INCLUDING REINVESTMENT OF
          DIVIDENDS. FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31.

     This  performance  graph  assumes that the value of the  investment in M.A.
Hanna and each index was $100 on December 31, 1993 and that all  dividends  were
reinvested.


                                       13
<PAGE>


                             Directors' Compensation

     Directors  who are not full-time  employees of the Company are  compensated
for their services by payment of a quarterly retainer fee of $6,750 and a fee of
$1,300 for each Board  meeting  attended.  They also receive a fee of $1,100 for
each  committee  meeting  attended when the meeting  occurs on the same day as a
Board meeting and $1,500 when the meeting  occurs on a day when no Board meeting
is held;  Chairs of Board committees are paid an additional  quarterly  retainer
fee of $750.  Executive Committee members who are not full-time employees of the
Company are paid an additional  quarterly retainer fee of $1,250.  Directors who
are also  full-time  employees  of the  Company  are not  compensated  for their
services as directors and members of Board committees.

     Under the Directors' Deferred Fee Plan, which was approved by stockholders,
non-employee directors are required to defer a minimum of 25% of their quarterly
Board retainer fee into a Deferred  Benefit Account  maintained in Units,  which
are  accounting  units equal in value to one share of M.A.  Hanna Common  Stock.
Directors  may also elect to defer the balance of his or her  retainer  fees and
meeting  fees to the Units  account  or a cash  account.  The Units  account  is
credited  with  additional  units equal in value to cash  dividends  paid on the
Common Stock equivalent to the balance of units in the Unit account and the cash
account is  credited  with  interest  equal to  interest  payable on 1-year U.S.
Treasury bills.  Each Deferred  Benefit Account  maintained in Units is credited
after the end of each year with  additional  units  equal in value to 25% of the
value of the units  credited to each Deferred  Benefit  Account during the year.
The Deferred Benefits Accounts are paid to Directors at the termination of their
service or, at the director's election, at his or her death.

     One-time grants of options to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock
were granted in 1991 to all non-employee directors then in office and thereafter
to  non-employee  directors  at the time of their  election  to the  Board at an
option price equal to the closing sale price of the Common Stock on the New York
Stock  Exchange  on the date of  grant.  The  amount of  shares  subject  to the
one-time grant, adjusted for stock splits, is currently 22,500. One-third of the
grant  becomes  exercisable  after the director has served for one year from the
date of grant,  an  additional  one-third  after two years and the balance after
three years of service.

     A non-qualified  retirement plan for non-employee  Directors was terminated
effective May 1, 1997,  and no further  benefits will accrue under the plan from
that date for  incumbent or future  Directors.  Each Director then in office who
would have been entitled to receive a benefit under the terminated plan received
an amount of  restricted  Common  Stock of the Company  equal to the net present
value on May 1, 1997 of the  benefit  he or she would  have  received  under the
terminated  plan,  and  the   restrictions   shall  lapse  upon  the  Director's
termination of service.

     Effective May 1, 1998 the non-employee  Directors' compensation includes an
annual award of $15,650 in the form of  restricted  M.A.  Hanna  Company  Common
Stock,  valued at 100% of the market value of Common Stock on May 1. In general,
the  restricted  shares vest only if the Director  serves at least five years on
the Board,  with payment on the  Director's  retirement  from the Board.  If the
Director's  service is terminated  for actions  opposed to the best interests of
the Company,  the  restricted  shares will be forfeited.  This  compensation  in
restricted  shares is intended to confirm the  mutuality  of interest  among all
stockholders,  including the Directors,  and maintain  director  compensation at
competitive levels which may be adjusted as appropriate.


                                       14
<PAGE>


        2. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

     The Board of Directors  delegated  its  authority to select and appoint the
Company's  independent  public  accountants to the Audit Committee of the Board,
which  selected and  appointed  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP to be the  Company's
independent public accountants for the year 1999, subject to ratification by the
stockholders.  The Audit Committee  considers  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP to be
well qualified.

     If the appointment is not ratified, the Audit Committee will reconsider its
decision but will not be bound by the refusal of the  stockholders to ratify the
appointment    of    PricewaterhouseCoopers    LLP.    A    representative    of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is expected to be present at the annual meeting, will
have an opportunity to make a statement if such representative  desires to do so
and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate  questions.  The Audit
Committee of the Board of Directors  recommends that the  stockholders  vote FOR
ratification of the appointment of  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP as the Company's
independent public accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1999.

                       Submission of Stockholder Proposals

     If a holder of the Company's  Common Stock wishes to present a proposal for
consideration at next year's annual meeting,  any such proposal must be received
at the Company's offices at Suite 36-5000,  200 Public Square,  Cleveland,  Ohio
44114-2304, Attention: Corporate Secretary, on or before November 3, 1999.

                                  Other Matters

     The  management  knows of no other  matters  which are likely to be brought
before the meeting, but if any such matters properly come before the meeting the
persons named in the enclosed proxy, or their  substitutes,  will vote the proxy
in accordance with their best judgment.


                                              JOHN S. PYKE, JR.
                                   Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

March 18, 1999



                                       15
<PAGE>

================================================================================




                        CONFIDENTIAL VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

                                M.A.HannaCompany
                          EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
                                    (TRASOP)

Shares of Common Stock of M.A. Hanna Company allocated to your account under the
above-named  Plan are held of record by Key Trust  Company  of Ohio,  N.A.,  the
Trustee,  or its nominee,  under said Plan.  The Plan  provides,  however,  that
participants  are  entitled  to direct  the  Trustee  as to the voting of shares
beneficially held in their accounts.  The annual meeting of stockholders of M.A.
Hanna  Company will be held on May 5, 1999,  as  indicated  in the  accompanying
Proxy Statement.

Election of Directors:

Nominees: C. A. Cartwright, W. R. Embry, J. T. Eyton, R. A. Garda
          G. D. Harnett, D. H. Hoag, G. D. Kirkham, D. B. Lewis,
          M. L. Mann, R. W. Pogue, M. D. Walker

Please  indicate by marking on the REVERSE  SIDE the manner in which you wish to
direct the Trustee as to how the shares beneficially held in your account are to
be voted. In the absence of contrary  instructions on the REVERSE SIDE, the Plan
Trustee or its proxies will vote the shares in your account  proportionately  in
accordance with the instructions  received from all participants  with shares of
Hanna  Common Stock  allocated to their  accounts.  A  postage-paid  envelope is
enclosed for your convenience.

    PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD PROMPTLY

                                                                     -----------
                                                                     SEE REVERSE
                                                                         SIDE
                                                                     -----------

                              FOLD AND DETACH HERE


<PAGE>



Please mark your
vote as in this
example. [X]


1.   Election of Directors. (see reverse)

                FOR [ ]        WITHELD [ ]


2.   Ratification of appointment of accountants.

          FOR [ ]        AGAINST [ ]         ABSTAIN [ ]


3.   Upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

          FOR [ ]        AGAINST [ ]         ABSTAIN [ ]


For, except vote withheld from the following nominee(s)


_______________________________________________________

- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                          ----------------------
                                                               SPECIAL ACTION
                                                          ----------------------
                                                           Comments          [ ]

                                                           Change of Address [ ]
                                                          ----------------------



SIGNATURE ______________________________________          DATE _____________
NOTE: Please sign exactly as name appears hereon.

- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              FOLD AND DETACH HERE



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