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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 2, 1997
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THE GEON COMPANY
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Delaware 1-11804 34-1730488
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(State or other (Commission (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
One Geon Center, Avon Lake, Ohio 44012
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code 440-930-1001
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Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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Item 5. Other Events
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The Geon Company announced that Edward C. Martinelli, senior vice president for
corporate development, will retire after a 34-year career with Geon. The move
will be effective January 31, 1998.
Item 7(c). Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
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Exhibit 99.1 Press Release of December 2, 1997 announcing the retirement of
Edward C. Martinelli from The Geon Company.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
THE GEON COMPANY
By \s\ Gregory L. Rutman
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Secretary
Dated December 8, 1997
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EXHIBIT 99.1
NEWS RELEASE
MARTINELLI TO RETIRE FROM THE GEON COMPANY
CLEVELAND, OHIO -- December 2, 1997 -- The Geon Company (NYSE: GON) announced
today that Edward C. Martinelli, senior vice president for corporate
development, will retire after a 34- year career with Geon. The move will be
effective January 31, 1998.
Martinelli, 56, joined the Geon Vinyl Division of the BFGoodrich Company upon
graduation from the University of Delaware in 1963. He has been a member of
Geon's senior management team since the Company's spinoff from BFGoodrich in
1993.
"Ed has had a long history with Geon, and his impact has been felt throughout
the Company," said William F. Patient, chairman, president and chief executive
officer of Geon. "His leadership within our resin, compounds and intermediates
segments has been instrumental to the success of Geon as a young public company.
We will miss the vast operational expertise and dedication he has brought to the
Geon team, and we wish him the best in his retirement."
Martinelli has played a key role in the Company's progress in recent years,
Patient said. As examples, he cited the expansion of Geon's vinyl chloride
monomer plant in LaPorte, Texas, and the joint venture with Olin Corporation,
which will lower Geon's raw material costs by supplying chlorine to the LaPorte
plant. Patient also noted Martinelli's significant contributions to productivity
and safety.
Martinelli started at BFGoodrich as an associate engineer and was involved in
the design, construction and startup of the Company's Pedricktown, New Jersey,
plant in 1969. He served in a series of leadership positions with BFGoodrich,
culminating with his selection in 1987 as senior vice president of Geon Vinyl
Division Operations. In 1995, he was named senior vice president, commercial, of
Geon. Earlier this year, he was appointed to his present position, with
responsibility for assessing strategic business opportunities for growth.
He has a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and is a 1985 graduate of the
Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.
Martinelli is a member of the board of directors of the Great Lakes Science
Center and the Greater Cleveland chapter of the American Red Cross. He and his
wife, Sandy, live in Westlake. They have a son and a daughter.
The Geon Company is the world's largest producer of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
compounds and the second-largest PVC resin producer in North America. Its
products are widely used in building materials, home appliances, electronics and
automobiles. Geon employs more than 2,100 people and has 17 manufacturing plants
in the United States and Canada, and joint ventures in Europe, Australia and
Southeast Asia. The Company recorded sales of $1.14 billion in 1996. Additional
information about Geon can be found on the World Wide Web at www.geon.com.
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Media & Investor Contact: Dennis Cocco, Director of Corporate & Investor Affairs
(216) 930-1538
