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
 
Filed by the Registrantþ
 
Filed by a Party other than the Registranto
 
Check the appropriate box:
 
o Preliminary Proxy Statement
o Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted byRule 14a-6(e)(2))
þ Definitive Proxy Statement
o Definitive Additional Materials
o Soliciting Material UnderRule 14a-12
 
POLYONE CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Certificate)
 
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
þ  No fee required.
 
o  Fee computed on table below per Exchange ActRules 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 ActRule 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:
 
 
o  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
o  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
o  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange ActRule 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:
(4)  Date Filed:


 
(POLYONE CORPORATION LOGO)
 
 
POLYONE CORPORATION
 
Notice of 20072009
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
and Proxy Statement
 


(POLYONE CORPORATION LOGO)
March 24, 2009
Dear Fellow Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the PolyOne Corporation Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2009, at the Wyndham Cleveland at Playhouse Square, Palace Ballroom East, 1260 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.
A Notice of the Annual Meeting and the Proxy Statement follow. Please review this material for information concerning the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting and the nominees for election as Directors.
You will also find enclosed a proxyand/or voting instruction card or cards and an envelope in which to return the card(s). Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please complete, sign, date and return your enclosed proxyand/or voting instruction card(s), or vote over the telephone or the Internet as soon as possible so that your shares can be voted at the meeting in accordance with your instructions.Your vote is very important.You may, of course, withdraw your proxy and change your vote prior to or at the Annual Meeting, by following the steps described in the Proxy Statement.
I appreciate the strong support of our shareholders over the years and look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
Sincerely,
-s- Stephen D. Newlin
Stephen D. Newlin
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
PolyOne Corporation
Please refer to the accompanying materials for voting instructions.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

POLYONE CORPORATION NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
POLYONE CORPORATION PolyOne Center 33587 Walker Road Avon Lake, Ohio 44012
PROXY STATEMENT
PROPOSAL 1 -- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS
2008 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON SHARES
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
2008 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
2008 OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
2008 PENSION BENEFITS
2008 NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE-IN-CONTROL
PROPOSAL 2 -- APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO OUR CODE OF REGULATIONS
PROPOSAL 3 -- RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
GENERAL


 
POLYONE CORPORATION
 
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
OF SHAREHOLDERS
 
 
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of PolyOne Corporation will be held at The Forum Conference and Education Center, 1375 E. Ninth Street,the Wyndham Cleveland at Playhouse Square, Palace Ballroom East, 1260 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 10, 2007.14, 2009. The purposes of the meeting are:
1. To elect Directors;
 
 1. To elect as Directors the 10 nominees named in the proxy statement and recommended by the Board of Directors;
2.To approve an amendment to PolyOne Corporation’s Code of Regulations to allow the Board of Directors to amend the Regulations to the extent permitted by law;
3. To ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as PolyOne Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007;2009; and
3. To consider and transact any other business that may properly come before the meeting.
4. To consider and transact any other business that may properly come before the meeting.
 
Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 12, 200716, 2009 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.
 
For the Board of Directors
 
-s- Wendy C. Shiba-s- Lisa K. Kunkle
Wendy C. ShibaLisa K. Kunkle
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal
Officer General Counsel
and Secretary
 
March 21, 200724, 2009
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 14, 2009:
The proxy statement, proxy card and annual report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 are available at our internet website, www.polyone.com, on the “Investors Relations” page.


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POLYONE CORPORATION
PolyOne Center
33587 Walker Road
Avon Lake, Ohio 44012
 
PROXY STATEMENT
Dated March 21, 200724, 2009
 
Our Board of Directors respectfully requests your proxy for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at The Forum Conference and Education Center, 1375 E. Ninth Street,the Wyndham Cleveland at Playhouse Square, Palace Ballroom East, 1260 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 10, 2007,14, 2009, and at any adjournments of that meeting. This proxy statement is to inform you about the matters to be acted upon at the meeting.
 
If you attend the meeting, you may vote your shares by ballot. If you do not attend, your shares may still be voted at the meeting if you sign and return the enclosed proxy card. Common shares represented by a properly signed card will be voted in accordance with the choices marked on the card. If no choices are marked, the shares will be voted to elect the nominees listed on pages 3 through 45 of this proxy statement, to approve the amendment to our Code of Regulations and to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007.2009. You may revoke your proxy before it is voted by giving notice to us in writing or orally at the meeting. Persons entitled to direct the vote of shares held by the following plans will receive a separate voting instruction card: The PolyOne Retirement Savings Plan DH Compounding Company Savings and Retirement Plan and Trust and PolyOne Canada Inc. Retirement Plan.Savings Program. If you receive a separate voting instruction card for one of these plans, you must sign and return the card as indicated on the card in order to instruct the trustee on how to vote the shares held under the plan. You may revoke your voting instruction card before the trustee votes the shares held by it by giving notice in writing to the trustee.
 
Shareholders may also submit their proxies by telephone or over the Internet. The telephone and Internet voting procedures are designed to authenticate votes cast by use of a personal identification number. These procedures allow shareholders to appoint a proxy to vote their shares and to confirm that their instructions have been properly recorded. Instructions for voting by telephone and over the Internet are printed on the proxy cards.
 
We are mailing this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card and, if applicable, the voting instruction card, to shareholders on or about March 26, 2007.30, 2009. Our headquarters are located at PolyOne Center, 33587 Walker Road, Avon Lake, Ohio 44012 and our telephone number is(440) 930-1000.


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PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
Our Board of Directors currently consists of teneleven Directors. Each Director serves for aone-year term and until a successor is duly elected and qualified, subject to the Director’s earlier death, retirement or resignation. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that allnon-employee Directors will retire from the Board not later than the first Annual Meeting of Shareholders following the Director’s 70th birthday. In accordance with these Guidelines, Mr. EmbryGarda will retire from the Board at the 20072009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Following Mr. Embry’sGarda’s retirement, our Board will consist of nineten Directors.
 
A shareholder who wishes to suggest a Director candidate for consideration by the Compensation and Governance Committee must provide written notice to our Secretary in accordance with the procedures specified in Regulation 12 of our Regulations. Generally, the Secretary must receive the notice not less than 60 nor more than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which we first mailed our proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting. The notice must set forth, as to each nominee, the name, age, principal occupations and employment during the past five years, name and principal business of any corporation or other organization in which such occupations and employment were carried on, and a brief description of any arrangement or understanding between such person and any others pursuant to which such person was selected as a nominee. The notice must include the nominee’s signed consent to serve as a Director if elected. The notice must set forth the name and address of, and the number of our common shares owned by, the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made and any other shareholders believed to be supporting such nominee.
 
Following are the nominees for election as Directors for terms expiring in 20082010 and a description of the business experience of each nominee. Each of the nominees is a current member of the Board. The reference below each Director’s name to the term of service as a Director includes the period during which the Director served as a Director of The Geon Company (“Geon”) or M.A. Hanna Company (“M.A. Hanna”), each one of our predecessors. The information is current as of March 21, 2007.16, 2009.
Our Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election to the Board of each of the following nominees:
 
   
J. Douglas Campbell
Director since 1993
Age — 65
67
 Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ArrMaz Custom Chemicals, Inc., a specialty mining and asphalt additives and reagents producer. Mr. Campbell served in this capacity from December 2003 until the company was sold in July 2006. Mr. Campbell served as President and Chief Executive Officer and was a Director of Arcadian Corporation, a nitrogen chemicals and fertilizer manufacturer, from December 1992 until the company was sold in 1997.
   
Dr. Carol A. Cartwright
Director since 1994
Age — 65
67
 RetiredPresident of Bowling Green State University, a public higher education institution, since January 2009 and Interim President from July 2008 to January 2009. Dr. Cartwright served as President of Kent State University, a public higher education institution. Ms. Cartwright served in this capacityinstitution, from 1991 until her retirement in JulyJune 2006. Ms.Dr. Cartwright serves on the Boards of Directors of KeyCorp FirstEnergy and The Davey Tree Expert Company.FirstEnergy.


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Gale Duff-Bloom
Director since 1994
Age — 67
69
 Retired President of Company Communications and Corporate Image of J.C. Penney Company, Inc., a major retailer. Ms. Duff-BloomDuff- Bloom served in this capacity from June 1999 until her retirement in April 2000. From 1996-June1996 to June 1999, Ms. Duff-Bloom served as President of Marketing and Company Communications of J.C. Penney.


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Richard H. Fearon
Director since 2004
Age — 51
53
 Executive Vice President,Chairman and Chief Financial and Planning Officer of Eaton Corporation, a global manufacturing company, since February 2009. Mr. Fearon served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Planning Officer from April 2002.2002 until February 2009. Mr. Fearon served as a Partner of Willow Place Partners LLC from 2001-20022001 to 2002 and was the Senior Vice President Corporate Development for Transamerica Corporation from 1995-2000.1995 to 2000.
   
Robert A. Garda
Director since 1998
Age — 68
Retired Director of McKinsey & Company, Inc., a management consulting firm. Mr. Garda served in this capacity from 1978-1994. He served as anExecutive-in-Residence of The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University, from 1997-2005, as an independent consultant from 1995-1997 and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Aladdin Industries from 1994-1995. Mr. Garda serves on the Boards of Directors of Edge Seal Technologies and Ryan Herco Flow Solutions.
Gordon D. Harnett
Director since 1997
Age — 64
66
 Lead Director of our Board of Directors since July 18, 2007. Retired Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Brush Engineered Materials Inc., an international supplier and producer of high performance engineered materials. Mr. Harnett served in this capacity from 1991 until his retirement in May 2006. Mr. Harnett serves on the Boards of Directors of The Lubrizol Corporation, and EnPro Industries, Inc. and Acuity Brands, Inc.
   
Richard A. Lorraine
Director since 2008
Age — 63
Retired Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Eastman Chemical Company, a specialty chemicals company. Mr. Lorraine served in this capacity from 2003 to 2008. Mr. Lorraine also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Occidental Chemical Company from 1995 to 2003. Mr. Lorraine serves on the Board of Directors of Carus Corporation.
Edward J. Mooney
Director since 2006
Age — 65
67
 Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nalco Chemical Company, a specialty chemicals company. Mr. Mooney served in this capacity from 1994-2000.1994 to 2000. Mr. Mooney also served as Déléqué Général — North America, of Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux from 2000-2001,2000 to 2001, following its acquisition of Nalco. Mr. Mooney serves on the Boards of Directors of FMC Corporation, FMC Technologies, Inc., Northern Trust Corporation, and Cabot Microelectronics Corporation.Corporation and Commonwealth Edison Company (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Exelon Corporation).
   
Stephen D. Newlin
Director since 2006
Age — 54
56
 Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of PolyOne since February 2006. Mr. Newlin served as President — Industrial Sector of Ecolab, Inc., a global developer and marketer of cleaning and sanitizing specialty chemicals, products and services from 2003-2006.2003 to 2006. Mr. Newlin served as President and a director of Nalco Chemical Company, a manufacturer of specialty chemicals, services and systems, from 1998-20011998 to 2001 and was Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman from 2000-2001.2000 to 2001. Mr. Newlin serves on the BoardBoards of Directors of Black Hills Corporation and The Valspar Corporation.

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William H. Powell
Director since 2008
Age — 63
Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of National Starch and Chemical Company, a specialty chemicals company. Mr. Powell served in this capacity from 1999 until his retirement in 2006. Mr. Powell serves on the Boards of Directors of Arch Chemicals, Inc. and Granite Construction Incorporated.
Farah M. Walters
Director since 1998
Age — 62
64
 Lead Director of our Board of Directors since May 2006 and President and Chief Executive Officer of QualHealth, LLC, a healthcare consulting firm, that designs healthcare delivery models, since 2005. From 1992 until her retirement in June 2002, Ms. Walters was the President and Chief Executive Officer of University Hospitals Health System and University Hospitals of Cleveland. Ms. Walters serves on the Board of Directors of Celanese Corporation.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BOARD MATTERS
 
Director Independence
 
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines require that a substantial majority of the members of our Board of Directors be “independent” under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)(“NYSE”). To be considered “independent,” the Board of Directors must make an affirmative determination that the Director has no material relationship with us other than as a Director, either directly or indirectly (such as an officer, partner or shareholder of another entity that has a relationship with us or any of our subsidiaries)., and that the Director is free from any business, family or other relationship that would reasonably be expected to interfere with the exercise of independent judgment as a Director. In each case, the Board of Directors considers all relevant facts and circumstances in making an independence determination.
 
A Director will not be deemed to be “independent” if, within the preceding three years:
 
(a) the Director was our employee, or an immediate family member of the Director was either our executive officer or the executive officer of any of our affiliates;
 
(b) the Director received, or an immediate family member of the Director received, more than $100,000$120,000 per year in direct compensation from us, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation was not contingent in any way on continued service);
 
(c) the Director is a current partner or employee of Ernst & Young LLP, our external auditor, or within the last three years was a partner or employee of Ernst & Young LLP who personally worked on our audit during that time;
(d) an immediate family member of the Director is a current partner of Ernst & Young LLP, our external auditor, or within the last three years was a partner oran employee of Ernst & Young LLP andwho personally worked on our audit during that time;
 
(d)(e) the Director was employed, or an immediate family member of the Director was employed, as an executive officer of another company where any of our present executive officers serve on that company’s compensation committee; or
 
(e)(f) the Director was an executive officer or an employee, or an immediate family member of the Director was an executive officer, of a company that makes payments to, or receives

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payments from, us for property or services in an amount which, in any single fiscal year, exceeds the greater of $1,000,000, or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues.
 
An “immediate family member” includes a Director’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mothers andfathers-in-law, sons anddaughters-in-law, brothers andsisters-in-law, and anyone (other than domestic employees) who shares such Director’s home.
 
A Director’s service as an executive officer of anot-for-profit organization will not impair his or her independence if, within the preceding three years, our charitable contributions to the organization in any single fiscal year, in the aggregate, did not exceed the greater of $1,000,000 or 2% of that organization’s consolidated gross revenues.
 
The NYSE “independent director” listing standards also provide that employment as an interim Chairman, Chief Executive Officer or other officer will not disqualify a director from being considered independent following that employment. William F. Patient, our former Director, ceased serving as interim Chief Executive Officer on February 21, 2006.
The Board of Directors determined that J. Douglas Campbell, Carol A. Cartwright, GaleDuff-Bloom, Wayne R. Embry, Richard H. Fearon, Robert A. Garda, Gordon D. Harnett, Richard A. Lorraine, Edward J. Mooney, William F. Patient,H. Powell and Farah M. Walters are independent under the NYSE “independent director” listing standards. In making this determination, the Board reviewed significant transactions, arrangements or relationships that a Director might have with our customers or suppliers.


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Lead Director
 
Our independent Directors meet regularly in executive sessions. In 2006, the Board of Directors amended ourOur Corporate Governance Guidelines to allowprovide that the independent directors are to designateselect a lead directorLead Director to preside at executive sessions. The Lead Director acts as the key liaison between the independent directors and the Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for coordinating the activities of the other independent directors and for performing various other duties as may from time to time be determined by the independent directors. In May 2006,July 2007, the Board elected Ms. WaltersMr. Harnett to serve as the Lead Director. Mr. Patient served as our Lead Director from February 2006 until his retirement in May 2006.
 
Board Attendance
 
The Board met eight times during 2006,2008, the calendar year being our fiscal year. Each member of our Board attended at least 75% of the meetings held by our Board and the meetings held by the Committees of the Board on which such member served in 2008. Each Director is expected to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. In 2006,2008, all of our Directors serving at that time attended the Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
 
Committees of the Board of Directors; AttendanceDirectors
 
As of the date of this proxy statement, our Board has teneleven directors and the following four committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Governance Committee, the Environmental, Health & Safety Committee and the Financial Policy Committee. The following table sets forth the membership of the standing committees of our Board of Directors, as of the date of this proxy statement, and the number of times each committee met in 2006.2008. The current function of each committee is described below.
 
                     
       Compensation &
   Environmental,
     
       Governance
   Health &
   Financial
 
Director  Audit Committee   Committee   Safety Committee   Policy Committee 
Mr. Campbell        X    X    X*
Ms. Cartwright   X    X           
Ms. Duff-Bloom        X    X    X 
Mr. Embry(1)
        X    X*   X 
Mr. Fearon   X    X           
Mr. Garda   X    X           
Mr. Harnett   X*   X           
Mr. Mooney        X         X 
Mr. Newlin             X    X 
Ms. Walters        X*        X 
Number of Meetings
in 2006
   9    10    2    5 
                     


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       Compensation &
   Environmental,
     
       Governance
   Health &
   Financial
 
Director  Audit Committee   Committee   Safety Committee   Policy Committee 
Mr. Campbell        X    X    X*
                     
Dr. Cartwright   X    X           
                     
Ms. Duff-Bloom        X    X    X 
                     
Mr. Fearon   X*   X           
                     
Mr. Garda   X    X           
                     
Mr. Harnett   X    X*          
                     
Mr. Lorraine   X    X           
                     
Mr. Mooney        X    X*   X 
                     
Mr. Newlin             X    X 
                     
Mr. Powell        X    X    X 
                     
Ms. Walters        X         X 
                     
Number of Meetings in 2008
   8    7    2    5 
                     
 
X — Member
 
* — Chairperson
(1)  Mr. Embry will retire from the Board at the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
 
The Audit Committee meets with appropriate financial and legal personnel and independent auditors to review our corporate accounting, internal controls, financial reporting and compliance


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with legal and regulatory requirements. The Committee exercises oversight of our independent auditors, internal auditors and financial management. The Audit Committee appoints the independent auditors to serve as auditors in examining our corporate accounts. Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock ExchangeNYSE and are governed by its listing standards. All members of the Audit Committee meet the financial literacy and independence requirements as set forth in the New York Stock ExchangeNYSE listing standards. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. HarnettFearon meets the requirements of an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
The Compensation and Governance Committee reviews and approves the compensation, benefits and perquisites afforded our executive officers and other highly-compensated personnel. The Committee has similar responsibilities with respect to non-employee Directors, except that the Committee’s actions and determinations are subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. The Committee also has oversight responsibilities for all of our broad-based compensation and benefit programs and provides policy guidance and oversight on selected human resource policies and practices. To help it perform its responsibilities, the Committee makes use of PolyOne resources, including members of senior management in our human resources, legal and finance departments. In addition, the Committee directly engages the resources of Towers Perrin as an independent outside compensation consultant (the “Consultant”) to assist the Committee in assessing the competitiveness and overall appropriateness of our executive compensation programs. In 2006,2008, the Committee, assisted by the Consultant, analyzed competitive market compensation data relating to salary, annual incentiveincentives and long-term incentive.incentives. In analyzing competitive market data, the Committee reviewed data from a peer group of similarly-sized U.S. chemical companies and reviewed data from the Consultant’s Compensation Data Bank and other published surveys. The Consultant then assisted the Committee in

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benchmarking base salaries and annual and long-term incentive targets to approximate the market median. The Consultant assisted by our human resources department also preparedin preparing tally sheets to provide the Committee with information regarding our executive officers’ total annual compensation, termination benefits and wealth accumulation. More detailed information about the compensation awarded to our executive officers in 20062008 is provided in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this proxy statement. The Consultant maintains regular contact with the Committee and interacts with management to gather the data needed to prepare reports for Committee review.
 
The Committee recommends to the Board of Directors candidates for nomination as Directors, and the Committee advises the Board with respect to governance issues and directorship practices, reviews succession planning for the Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers and oversees the process by which the Board annually evaluates the performance of the Chief Executive Officer. All members of the Compensation and Governance Committee have been determined to be independent as defined by the New York Stock ExchangeNYSE listing standards.
 
The Compensation and Governance Committee will consider shareholder suggestions for nominees for election to our Board of Directors as described on page 3. The Committee uses a variety of methods for identifying and evaluating nominees for Directors, including third-party search firms, recommendations from current Board members and recommendations from shareholders. Nominees for election to the Board of Directors are selected on the basis of the following criteria:
 
 • Business or professional experience;
 
 • Knowledge and skill in certain specialty areas such as accounting and finance, international markets, physical sciences and technology or the polymer or chemical industry;


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 • Personal characteristics such as ethical standards, integrity, judgment, leadership and the ability to devote sufficient time to our affairs;
 
 • Substantial accomplishments with demonstrated leadership capabilities;
 
 • Freedom from outside interests that conflict with our best interests;
 
 • The diversity of backgrounds and experience each member will bring to the Board of Directors; and
 
 • Our needs from time to time.
 
The Committee also considers such other relevant factors as it deems appropriate, including the current composition of the Board, the balance of management and independent directors, the need for Audit Committee expertise and the evaluations of other prospective nominees. The Committee has established these criteria that any Director nominee, whether suggested by a shareholder or otherwise, should satisfy. A nominee for election to the Board who is suggested by a shareholder will be evaluated by the Committee in the same manner as any other nominee for election to the Board. Finally, if the Committee determines that a candidate should be nominated for election to the Board, the Committee will present its findings and recommendation to the full Board for approval. Edward J. Mooney, who is standing for election by the shareholders for the first time, was recommended as a Board member by the Committee.
 
In the past,2008, the Committee has used Christian & Timbers as a third-party search firm, at our expense, to assist in identifying qualified nominees for the Board. The search firm was askedRussell Reynolds Associates, to identify possible candidates who meet the minimum and desired qualifications, to interview and screen such candidates (including conducting appropriate background and reference checks), to act as a liaison among the Board, the Committee and each candidate during the screening and evaluation process, and thereafter to be available for consultation as needed by the Committee. The Committee did not use the services of Christian & Timbers in 2006, but has asked them, in 2007, to assist it again in identifying potential nominees to the Board.


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The Environmental, Health and Safety Committee exercises oversight with respect to our environmental, health, safety, security and product stewardship policies and practices and our compliance with related laws and regulations.
 
The Financial Policy Committee exercises oversight with respect to our capital structure, borrowing and repayment of funds, financial policies, management of foreign exchange risk and other matters of financial risk management, banking relationships and other financial matters.
 
The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for each of the standing committees of the Board of Directors. These charters are posted and available on our investor relations internet website at www.polyone.com under the Corporate Governance page. Shareholders may request copies of these charters, free of charge, by writing to PolyOne Corporation, 33587 Walker Road, Avon Lake, Ohio 44012, Attention: Secretary, or by calling(440) 930-1000.
The Board and each Committee conduct an annual self-evaluation. During 2006, each incumbent Director attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the Committees on which he or she served.
 
Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct and Corporate Governance Guidelines
 
In accordance with applicable NYSE Listing Standardslisting standards and Securities and Exchange Commission Regulations,regulations, the Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct and Corporate Governance Guidelines. These are also posted and available on our investor relations


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internet website at www.polyone.com under the Corporate Governance page. Shareholders may request copies of these corporate governance documents, free of charge, by writing to PolyOne Corporation, 33587 Walker Road, Avon Lake, Ohio 44012, Attention: Secretary, or by calling(440) 930-1000.
 
In October 2007, the Board amended our Corporate Governance Guidelines to adopt a policy relating to majority voting. Pursuant to the policy, any nominee for election as a Director of the Board who receives a greater number of votes “withheld” from his or her election than votes “for” his or her election in an election of Directors that is not a contested election is expected to tender his or her resignation as a Director to the Board promptly following the certification of the election results. Neither abstentions nor broker non-votes will be deemed to be votes for or withheld from a Director’s election for purposes of the policy. The Compensation and Governance Committee (without the participation of the affected Director) will consider each resignation tendered under the policy and recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject it. The Board will then take appropriate action on each tendered resignation, taking into account the Compensation and Governance Committee’s recommendation. The Compensation and Governance Committee in making its recommendation, and the Board in making its decision, may consider any factors or other information that it considers appropriate, including the reasons (if any) given by shareholders as to why they withheld their votes, the qualifications of the tendering Director and his or her contributions to the Board and to PolyOne, and the results of the most recent evaluation of the tendering Director’s performance by the other members of the Board. The Board will promptly disclose its decision whether to accept or reject the Director’s tendered resignation and, if applicable, the reasons for rejecting the tendered resignation.
Communication with Board of Directors
 
Shareholders and other interested parties interested in communicating directly with the Board of Directors as a group, the non-management or independent Directors as a group, or with any individual Director may do so by writing to the Secretary, PolyOne Corporation, 33587 Walker Road, Avon Lake, Ohio 44012. The mailing envelope and letter must contain a clear notation indicating that the enclosed letter is either a “Shareholder-Board of Directors Communication” or an “Interested Party-Board of Directors Communication,” as appropriate.


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The Secretary will review all such correspondence and regularly forward to the Board of Directors a log and summary of all such correspondence and copies of all correspondence that, in the opinion of the Secretary, deals with the functions of the Board or Committees of the Board or that she otherwise determines requires their attention. Directors may at any time review a log of all correspondence we receive that is addressed to members of the Board and request copies of any such correspondence. Concerns relating to accounting, internal controls or auditing matters are immediately brought to the attention of our internal audit department and handled in accordance with procedures established by the Audit Committee for such matters.
 
Director Compensation
 
We payFor the first quarter of 2008, we paid our non-employee Directors an annual retainer of $100,000, quarterly in arrears, consisting of a cash retainer of $50,000 and an award of $50,000 in value of fully vested common shares. Effective April 1, 2008, we increased the cash retainer to $60,000 and the annual stock award to equal $75,000 in value. We grant the shares payable to the Directors quarterly and determine the number of shares to be granted by dividing the dollar value by the arithmetic average of the high and low stock price on the last trading day of each quarter. We pay individual meeting fees only as follows: fees of $2,000 for each unscheduled Board and committee meeting attended and fees of $1,000 for participation in each unscheduled significant telephonic Board and committee meeting. In addition, the Chairpersons of each committee receive a fixed annual cash retainer payable quarterly, as follows: $5,000 for Environmental, Health and Safety and Financial Policy Committees and $10,000 for Audit and Compensation and Governance Committees. These amounts are payable on a quarterly basis. We reimburse Directors for their expenses associated with each meeting attended.
 
We grantPrior to April 1, 2008, we granted each new non-employee Director, at the time of his or her initial election or appointment as a Director, an award of 8,500 common shares. TheEffective April 1, 2008, we eliminated this initial share awards made to Directors are awarded under either our Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors or our 2005 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan.award.
 
Directors who are not our employees may defer payment of all or a portion of their compensation as a Director under our Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors. A Director may defer the compensation as cash or elect to have it converted into our common shares and, prior to April 1, 2008, the Director could defer cash compensation into common shares at a rate equal to 125% of the cash compensation amount. Effective April 1, 2008, we eliminated this premium on cash deferred in the form of common shares.
In 2008, we awarded shares to Directors under our Deferred Compensation Plan forNon-Employee Directors, our 2005 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan (for share awards made prior to May 15, 2008) or our 2008 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan (for share awards made after May 15, 2008). Deferred compensation, whether in the form of cash or common shares, is held in trust for the participating Directors. Interest is earned on the cash amounts and dividends, if any, on the common shares deferred accrue for the benefit of the participating Directors.


910


 
20062008 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
                     
   Fees Earned
             
   or Paid
   Stock
   Option
     
   in Cash(3)
   Awards(4)(6)
   Awards(6)
   Total
 
Name  ($)   ($)   ($)   ($) 
J.D. Campbell  $62,000   $50,000       $112,000 
C.A. Cartwright   56,000    50,000        106,000 
G. Duff-Bloom   57,000    50,000        107,000 
W.R. Embry   60,000    50,000        110,000 
R.H. Fearon   59,000    50,000        109,000 
R.A. Garda   59,000    50,000        109,000 
G.D. Harnett   68,000    50,000        118,000 
E.J. Mooney(1)
   4,167    71,359(5)       75,526 
W.F. Patient(2)
                
F.M. Walters   67,000    50,000        117,000 
                     
                     
   Fees Earned
             
   or Paid
   Stock
   Option
     
   in Cash(1)
   Awards(2)(3)
   Awards(3)
   Total
 
Name  ($)   ($)   ($)   ($) 
J.D. Campbell   65,500    68,750        134,250 
                     
C.A. Cartwright   58,500    68,750        127,250 
                     
G. Duff-Bloom   60,500    68,750        129,250 
                     
R.H. Fearon   70,500    68,750        139,250 
                     
R.A. Garda   60,500    68,750        129,250 
                     
G.D. Harnett   70,500    68,750        139,250 
                     
R.A. Lorraine   16,000    18,750        34,750 
                     
E.J. Mooney   64,500    68,750        133,250 
                     
W.H. Powell   16,000    18,750        34,750 
                     
F.M. Walters   60,500    68,750        129,250 
                     
(1)Mr. Mooney was elected as a Director on December 6, 2006.
(2)Mr. Patient served as our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer until his retirement from these positions on February 21, 2006. Mr. Patient retired as a member of our Board of Directors on May 25, 2006. All compensation received by Mr. Patient (including compensation for serving as a Director) is reported in the 2006 Summary Compensation Table contained in this proxy statement.
(3)Non-employee Directors may defer payment of all or a portion of their cash compensation as a Director (cash(effective April 1, 2008, annual cash retainer of $50,000,$60,000, meeting fees, and chair fees) under our Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors. A. Prior to April 1, 2008, a Director maycould defer his or her compensation as cash or elect to have it converted into our common shares at a rate equal to 125% of the cash compensation amount. The following have elected to defer all or a portion of their cash compensation into our common shares and have received the 25% premium on the amount deferred into stock: Mr. Campbell ($15,500 in premiums); Ms. Cartwright ($14,0003,688 in premiums); Ms. Duff-Bloom ($10,688 in premiums); Mr. Embry ($7,500844 in premiums); Mr. Garda ($7,375 in premiums); Mr. Harnett ($17,0001,813 in premiums); Mr. Mooney ($1,0423,438 in premiums); and Ms. Walters ($8,3753,375 in premiums).
 
(4)(2)We pay non-employee DirectorsFor the first quarter of 2008, our Director stock compensation consisted of an annual award of $50,000 in value of fully vested shares and, effective April 1, 2008, our Director stock compensation consisted of an annual award of $75,000 in value of fully vested common shares, which the Directors maycould elect to defer under our Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors.defer. We grantgranted the shares quarterly and determinedetermined the number of shares to be granted by dividing the dollar value by the arithmetic average of the high and low stock price on the last trading day of each quarter. We used the following quarterly fair market values in calculating the number of shares: March 31, 2006- $9.180;2008 — $6.430; June 30, 2006- $8.740;2008 — $7.115; September 29, 2006- $8.360;30, 2008 — $6.565; and December 29, 2006- $7.495.31, 2008 — $2.980.
 
(5)Mr. Mooney received a one time grant of 8,500 common shares upon his election to the Board of Directors. The dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for fiscal year 2006 (i.e., the fair market value on the date of grant) is included in this number.


10


(6)(3)In 2006, no grants, exercises or vesting of2008, we did not grant any stock options occurred with respect to our non-employee Directors. The number of outstanding stock options held by each Non-Employeenon-employee Director at the end of the fiscal year is set forth in the following table. All of these options are fully exercisable. In addition, the number of fully-vested deferred shares held in an account for each Director at the end of the fiscal year is set forth in the following table. None of our non-employee Directors exercised stock options in 2008.
 
                
 Option Awards Stock Awards   Option Awards   Stock Awards 
  Number of
   Number of
   Number of
   Number of
 
  Securities Underlying
   Deferred
   Securities Underlying
   Deferred
 
  Unexercised Options
   Shares
   Unexercised Options
   Shares
 
Name  (#)   (#)   (#)   (#) 
          
J.D. Campbell   48,000    102,933    44,000    148,412 
          
C.A. Cartwright   39,000    68,471    39,000    49,011 
          
G. Duff-Bloom   48,000    83,559    44,000    110,230 
W.R. Embry   39,000    32,764 
          
R.H. Fearon   15,000    0    15,000    0 
          
R.A. Garda   61,500    36,892    39,000    48,159 
          
G.D. Harnett   61,500    89,115    39,000    110,167 
          
R.A. Lorraine   0    6,291 
          
E.J. Mooney   0    9,749    0    54,754 
W.F. Patient   0    0 
          
W.H. Powell   0    11,660 
          
F.M. Walters   54,000    84,698    44,000    57,408 
                


11


BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON SHARES
 
The following table shows the number of our common shares beneficially owned on March 12, 200716, 2009 (including options exercisable within 60 days of that date) by each of our Directors and nominees, any Director who served during 2006, each of the executive officers named in the 2006 Summary Compensation Table on page 2933 and by all Directors and executive officers as a group.
 
                        
 Number of
 Right to
 Total
   Number of
   Right to
   Total
 
 Shares
 Acquire
 Beneficial
   Shares
   Acquire
   Beneficial
 
Name
 Owned(1) Shares(3) Ownership   Owned(1)   Shares(3)   Ownership 
J. Douglas Campbell  104,989(2)   48,000   152,989    150,468(2)   44,000    194,468 
               
Carol A. Cartwright  87,284(2)   39,000   126,284    108,336(2)   39,000    147,336 
               
Gale Duff-Bloom  84,057(2)   48,000   132,057    110,728(2)   44,000    154,728 
Wayne R. Embry  43,311(2)   39,000   82,311 
               
Richard H. Fearon  13,437(2)   15,000   28,437    34,489    15,000    49,489 
               
Robert A. Garda  70,786(2)   61,500   132,286    103,105(2)   39,000    142,105 
               
Gordon D. Harnett  105,926(2)   61,500   167,426    126,978(2)   39,000    165,978 
               
Richard A. Lorraine   6,291(2)   0    6,291 
               
Edward J. Mooney  9,749(2)   0   9,749    254,754(2)   0    254,754 
               
William H. Powell   21,660(2)   0    21,660 
               
Farah M. Walters  85,754(2)   54,000   139,754    119,331(2)   44,000    163,331 
               
Stephen D. Newlin  219,300    0   219,300    169,600    0    169,600 
William F. Patient  81,431    146,000   227,431 
               
Robert M. Patterson   100,000    0    100,000 
               
W. David Wilson  128,976    344,136   473,112    159,377    215,600    374,977 
Wendy C. Shiba  67,927    116,590   184,517 
               
Kenneth M. Smith  68,487    160,892   229,379    74,613    131,500    206,113 
Bernard P. Baert  21,000    17,072   38,072 
18 Directors and executive officers as a group  1,298,870    1,362,132   2,661,002 
               
Michael L. Rademacher   65,909    151,024    216,933 
               
Bernard Baert   35,766    6,969    42,735 
               
19 Directors and executive officers as a group   1,886,344    788,465    2,674,809 
            
(1)Except as otherwise stated in the following notes, beneficial ownership of the shares held by each individual consists of sole voting power and sole investment power, or of voting power and investment power that is shared with the spouse or other family member of the individual. It includes an approximate number of shares credited to the named executives’ accounts in our Retirement Savings Plan, a tax-qualified defined contribution plan. The number of common shares allocated to these individuals is provided by the savings plan administrator in a statement for the period ending December 31, 2006,2008, based on the market value of the applicable plan units held by the individual. Additional common shares may have been allocated to the accounts of participants in the savings plan since the date of the last statements received from the plan administrator. No Director, nominee or executive officer beneficially owned, on March 12, 2007,16, 2009, more than 1% of our outstanding common shares. As of that date, the Directors and executive officers as a group beneficially owned approximately 2.82%2.9% of the outstanding common shares.
 
(2)With respect to the Directors, beneficial ownership includes shares held under the Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors as follows: J.D. Campbell, 102,933148,412 shares; C.A. Cartwright, 68,47139,281 shares; G. Duff-Bloom, 83,559 shares; W.R. Embry, 32,76443,882 shares; R.H. Fearon, 0 shares; R.A. Garda, 36,89248,159 shares; G.D. Harnett, 89,115110,167 shares; E. J.R.A. Lorraine, 6,291 shares; E.J. Mooney, 9,74954,754 shares; W.H. Powell, 11,660 shares; and F.M. Walters, 84,69826,251 shares.


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(3)Includes shares the individuals have a right to acquire on or before May 11, 2007.15, 2009. The executive officers named in the table (the “Named Executive Officers”) also have the right to acquire common shares upon the exercise of vested stock-settled stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) as follows: Mr. Newlin, 116,600520,600 SARs; Mr. Patterson, 20,000 SARs; Mr. Wilson, 42,000 SARs; Ms. Shiba, 32,000167,467 SARs; Mr. Smith, 29,80098,700 SARs; Mr. Rademacher, 94,100 SARs; and Mr. Baert, 25,000177,200 SARs. The number of shares to be acquired cannot be determined because it depends on the market value of our common shares on the date of exercise and the applicable withholding taxes.


12


 
The following table shows information relating to all persons who, as of March 12, 2007,16, 2009, were known by us to beneficially own more than five percent of our outstanding common shares based on information provided in Schedule 13Gs and 13Ds filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”):
         
  Number of
  % of
 
Name and Address
 Shares  Shares 
 
Barclays Global Investors, NA  6,639,933(1)  7.2%
45 Fremont Street
San Francisco, California 94105
        
Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc  5,992,320(2)  6.5%
2200 Ross Avenue, 31st Floor
Dallas, Texas75201-2761
        
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP  5,795,047(3)  6.2%
1299 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, California 90401
        
New York Life Trust Company, Trustee  5,566,350(4)  6.0%
51 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010
        
FMR Corp.   5,444,700(5)  5.9%
82 Devonshire Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
        
Commission:
 
Number of
% of
Name and AddressSharesShares
Fine Capital Partners, L.P. 7,795,000(1)8.4%
590 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP7,756,699(2)8.4%
1299 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, California 90401
Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc7,104,210(3)7.7%
2200 Ross Avenue, 31st Floor
Dallas, Texas75201-2761
Barclays Global Investors, NA7,051,825(4)7.6%
45 Fremont Street
San Francisco, California 94105
New York Life Trust Company, Trustee5,534,987(5)6.0%
51 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010
(1)As of January 23, 2007,March 6, 2009, based upon information contained in a Schedule 13D/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. FCP Capital Partners, L.P. and its affiliates have sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to all of these shares.
(2)As of February 9, 2009, based upon information in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, as an investment advisor, has sole voting power with respect to 7,579,740 of these shares and has sole dispositive power with respect to all of these shares.
(3)As of February 12, 2009, based upon information contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc. has sole voting power with respect to 3,137,990 of these shares and has sole dispositive power with respect to all of these shares.
(4)As of February 5, 2009, based upon information contained in a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Barclays Global Investors, NA, as an investment advisor and reporting on behalf of a group of affiliate entities, has sole voting power with respect to 6,277,2815,568,496 of these shares and has sole dispositive power with respect to all of these shares.
 
(2) (5)As of February 9, 2007,13, 2009, based uponon information contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Commission. Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc. has sole voting power with respect to 2,729,400 of these sharesSecurities and has sole dispositive power with respect to all of these shares.
(3) As of February 9, 2007, based upon information contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Commission. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, as an investment advisor, has sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to all of these shares.
(4) As of February 15, 2007, based upon information contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed with theExchange Commission. New York Life Trust Company, as Trustee for The PolyOne Retirement Savings Plan and Excel Polymers Retirement Savings Plan, as a bank, has sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to all of these shares.
(5) As of February 14, 2007, based upon information contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed with the Commission. FMR Corp., as a holding company reporting on behalf of its subsidiaries, has sole voting power with respect to 0 of these shares and has sole dispositive power with respect to all of these shares.


13


Share Ownership Guidelines
 
We have established share ownership guidelines for our non-employee Directors, executive officers and other elected corporate officers to better align their financial interests with those of shareholders by requiring them to own a minimum level of our shares. These individuals are expected to make continuing progress towards compliance with the guidelines and to comply fully within five years of becoming subject to the guidelines. These policies, as they relate to our Named Executive Officers, are discussed in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this proxy statement. TheIn order to reflect the Board’s commitment to share ownership and better align the interests of our Board members with our shareholders, the required share ownership level for non-employee Directorsdirectors is 17,000 shares.a number of shares with a value equal to five times the annual cash retainer.
 
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
 
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires that our executive officers and Directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity


13


securities, file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Executive officers, Directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required by Securities and Exchange Commission rules to furnish us with copies of all forms they file. Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by us and written representation from certain reporting persons, we believe that, during 20062008 and until the date of this proxy statement, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to our executive officers, Directors and 10% shareholders were satisfied, except for one Form 4 filing for each of our executive officers relating to an award of stock appreciation rights on March 8, 2007, which were made two days after the due date. During 2006, we amended one Form 4 report that was timely filed but that omitted, due to a technical complication, a transaction line item relating to a purchase of shares by Mr. Newlin (which shares were reflected in the aggregate number of shares beneficially owned on the original filing).satisfied.


14


EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
 
Introduction
 
Our executive compensation programs are approved and overseen by the Compensation and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”), which is composed entirely of independent directors. The Committee has selected and retained an independent compensation consultant, Towers Perrin (the “Consultant”). The Committee works in conjunction with the Consultant and with input from members of senior management, principally the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Human Resources Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Legal Officer.General Counsel.
 
This report contains management’s discussion and analysis of the compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to the following executive officers (the “Named Executive Officers”)1(:
 
 • Stephen D. Newlin — Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 • W. David WilsonRobert M. Patterson — Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 • Wendy C. ShibaW. David Wilson — Former Senior Vice President and Chief LegalFinancial Officer and Secretary
 
 • Kenneth M. Smith — Senior Vice President, Chief Information and Human Resources and Chief Information Officer
 
 • Michael L. Rademacher — Senior Vice President and General Manager, Distribution
• Bernard P. Baert — Senior Vice President &and General Manager, Colors and Engineered Materials — Europe and Asia
 
Executive Compensation Programs — Objectives and Overview
 
The objectives of our executive compensation programs are to: (1) attract, retain and motivate the management team who leads in setting and achieving the overall goals and objectives of our company; (2) foster apay-for-performance culture by rewarding the achievement of specified financial goals and growth of our share price; and (3) align our goals and objectives with the interests of our shareholders by recognizing and rewarding business results through incentive programs.
 
While we believe that all components of total compensation (which are identified in the 2006 Summary Compensation Table) should be valued and considered when making decisions regarding pay, the primary focus of our executive compensation program is on base salary, annual incentive and long term incentives. We believe that compensation opportunities should be competitive with the industry compensation practices of the companies we compete with for executive talent and that total compensation should be fair to both employees and shareholders.
 
Our incentive programs focus on the critical performance measures that determine our company’s overall success. For positions with significant business unit responsibilities, incentive
(1 Mr. William F. Patient served as PolyOne’s principal executive officer for a portion of 2006. He had been a Director and Chairman of the Board since November 2003 and served as President and Chief Executive Officer from October 2005 to February 21, 2006, when Mr. Newlin became Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Patient served as Lead Director of the Board of Directors from February 21, 2006 until his retirement at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 25, 2006. The compensation that Mr. Patient received is disclosed in the 2006 Summary Compensation Table. He did not participate in our annual or long-term incentive plans or receive the perquisites generally provided to executive officers. Consequently, the references to Named Executive Officers in this report do not apply to Mr. Patient.


15


programs also emphasize success at the business unit level, which often leads to Named Executive Officers at comparable levels being paid differently across the organization. The structure ofOur base salary and annual and long-term incentive opportunities isare designed to reward executives for the efficient execution of theirday-to-day responsibilities and attainment of short term results, balanced with the need for sustainable, long-term success.


15


The following table outlines the major elements of compensation in 2008 for our Named Executive Officers.
 
       
Compensation
      
Element  Definition  Rationale
Base Salary
  • Fixed compensation
payable bi-weekly
  • Standard market practice
• Intended to pay for completing
day-to-day job responsibilities
assigned to the position
Annual Incentive Plan
  • Variable, cash compensation that is earned when pre-established annual performance goals are achieved  • Standard market practiceBuilds accountability for important annual financial goals
• Limits fixed expenses; payment
is required only upon
achievement of specified
  goals
• Builds accountability for
  important annual financial goals
Long-Term Incentive
Plan (2 Components)
      
       
Long-Term Incentive
Plan (3 Components)
60% — Cash-settled
Performance Units

  

• Variable, cash compensation that is earned when
pre-established three-year financial goals are achieved
  • Multi-year incentive is standard
  market practice
• Emphasizes achievement of
long-term strategic goals and
objectives
• Limits fixed expenses; payment
is required only upon
achievement of specified goals
• Avoids stock dilution through
cash awards


• Multi-year incentive is common market practice
40% — Stock-settled Stock
Stock Appreciation
Rights
  • Variable compensation that vests
  only if, and growsincreases in value as our
share price rises
• Paid in PolyOne common shares
  • Multi-year incentive is standard
  market practiceAligns with the shareholder goal of maximizing value through increased stock price
• Limits fixed expenses; payment
  is required only upon
  achievement of specified goals
• Emphasizes stock price growth
• Vesting conditions require
Requires growing stock price before any
value can be realized by
participant
Retirement Plans
     • Increases share ownership
• Limits fixed expenses
• Vesting conditions require executive to remain with PolyOne for the vesting period
• Multi-year incentive is a common market practice
Restricted Stock Units
• Equity compensation with three-year cliff vesting
• Paid in PolyOne common shares
• Increases share ownership
• Limits fixed expenses; payment is not required if executive terminates before vesting
• Vesting conditions require executive to remain with PolyOne for the vesting period
• Full-value grant is a common market practice
       
Retirement Plans

U.S. Defined
Contribution Plans
  

• Qualified 401(k) defined
contribution plan

• Nonqualified excess 401(k) defined contribution plan
  

• The qualified defined
contribution plan is a standard
tax-qualified benefit offered to
all employees subject to
limitations on compensation and
benefits under the Internal
Revenue Code
       


16


       
Compensation
      
Element  Definition  Rationale
   • Nonqualified excess 401(k) defined contribution plan  • Restores benefits that are limited
by the Internal Revenue Code
in the qualified plan for most
highly-paid executives
Belgium Defined
Contribution Plan
  • Tax-efficient defined contribution plan  • Mr. Baert is a participant in a
standard tax-efficient defined
contribution plan provided to
most Belgium employees
Defined Benefit Plans


(These plans have been closed to new participants since the formation of PolyOne)
PolyOne and were frozen as of March 20, 2009)
  • Qualified defined benefit pension
  plan



• Nonqualified, excess defined
  benefit plan
  • Messrs. Wilson and Smith are
participants in a legacy defined
benefit pension plan offered to
certain heritage employees
• Nonqualified, excess defined benefit plan• Restores benefits that are
limited by the Internal
Revenue Code in the qualified
plan and applies to all eligible
plan participants; as of
  December 31, 2004, this
  benefit has been frozenparticipants
Supplemental Retirement Benefit for Mr. Newlin
• Non-qualified annual supplemental retirement payments, upon a “Qualifying Separation from Service,” payable in the form of a 15-year certain and continuous life annuity• This non-qualified retirement benefit is consistent with benefits offered at peer companies

• Vesting conditions require executive to remain with PolyOne until the vesting conditions are satisfied
Post-Retirement
Medical Plan

Plans
(This
• Subsidized retiree medical coverage similar to coverage provided to active employees available to certain heritage employees (This plan has been closed to new participants since the formation of PolyOne)• Capped Company-paid subsidy of premiums for medical coverage for retirees similar to coverage provided to active employees  • Messrs. Wilson and Smith are
  participants eligible for participation in a legacy post-
  retirementpost-retirement medical plan offered
to certain heritage employees
• Retiree medical coverage at full cost to the retiree from ages 55 to 65 that is available to PolyOne employees• Messrs. Newlin, Patterson and Rademacher are eligible for participation in the post-retirement medical plan offered to U.S. based PolyOne employees
• Mr. Baert is not eligible to participate in a company provided retiree medical plan
Perquisites
  • Car allowance
• Relocation benefits
• Executive physicals
• Financial planning and tax
  preparation
• Excess preparation; excess liability insurance
• Relocation benefits
  • Standard market practice
• Relocation benefits assist
in attracting new executive talent
  talent• Executive physicals help to ensure continuity of our management team
• Other perquisites are
modest and are typical for
executives at comparable
companies
       
Current Global Economic Conditions
The current global recession has had an impact on our business and on our executive compensation programs. As the year 2008 progressed and the global economy significantly eroded, it became clear that our executive compensation decisions for 2009 should be reviewed to take into account the current

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economic conditions. Significant compensation decisions, including deviations from historyand/or design changes for 2009, are noted below, with additional details following throughout this analysis.
• Base salaries for Named Executive Officers, as well as other officers of the Company, will be frozen in 2009.
• The value of the long-term incentive grants in 2009 will be 38% below the target market opportunity for the Named Executive Officers and, therefore, will be below the value of last year’s grant.
• The change in long-term incentive opportunity results in a decrease in total direct compensation for Named Executive Officers in the range of 14% to 22% (with the CEO’s compensation being decreased by the 22%).
• The long-term incentive will include a grant of Performance Units with a one-year performance cycle payable after three years, to further emphasize our focus on cash management for 2009.
• Achievement of threshold performance under the performance units will result in a payout of 30% of the targeted award (instead of 50%), while maintaining our standard threshold level of performance.
• Performance measures will be added as a condition of vesting under the stock-settled stock appreciation rights and performance shares.
• Achievement of threshold performance under the Annual Incentive Plan will result in a payout of 30% of the targeted award (instead of 50%), while maintaining our standard threshold level of performance.
• The Annual Incentive Plan performance measures for 2009 will include a greater emphasis on working capital as a percentage of sales to promote cash management.
 
Setting the Level of Compensation
 
We have designed our compensation programs to be competitive with companies of comparable size and industry as well as companies with whom we compete for executive talent. The Committee obtains advice from the Consultant relating to competitive salaries and annual incentives, and long-term incentives.incentives, as well as other items of total compensation, including retirement benefits, health and welfare benefits and perquisites. Management and the Committee review the specific pay disclosures of the defined peer group of chemical companies as well as survey data of similarly-sized chemical and other companies, as provided by the Consultant. The Committee discusses and considers this information when making compensation decisions. This process is described in the “Compensation Oversight Processes” section of this report. The Committee manages compensation so as to align each of the pay elements with market practices.
 
The Committee targets base salaries ataround the median of observed market practice and sets annual and long-term incentive targets (incentive as a percent of salary) to approximate the market median. We believe the maximum potential annual incentive payouts (no award shall be greater than double the target award) are consistent with the typical market range around target awards.

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Our actual awards of cash-settled performance units, andstock-settled stock appreciation rights (“SARs”)(SARs) and restricted stock units (RSUs) are a product of thebased on competitive long-term incentive market practices, market data, and other considerations.an evaluation of an individual’s performance. In 2006:2008:
 
 • We delivered 60%allocated 40% of the assigned long-term incentive target opportunity for a position based upon competitive median long-term incentive practices, in the form of cash-settled performance units in order to avoid the dilution associated withshare-based awards. awards and to reward executives for achieving growth in our earnings per share, one of the measures we consider critical to our overall success.
 
 • We delivered the remaining 40%allocated 30% of the assigned long-term incentive target opportunity in the form ofstock-settled SARs because they align executive and shareholder interests as they increase in value as our stock price grows and because they help preserve cash.
• We allocated the remaining 30% of the assigned long-term incentive target opportunity in the form of RSUs. We decided to grant RSUs in addition to performance units and SARs to provide an award that is consistent with market practice and that conserves shares under our equity plan, promotes share ownership and enhances our retention of executives.
 
 • We assigned a value to a single performance unit and established a value for a single SAR based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model.valuation method. RSUs were valued at their full value. We then determined the actual number of performance units, SARs and SARsRSUs to be granted by dividing the targeted dollar value allocated to each element by the value of a single performance unit, SAR, and SAR,RSU, respectively.
 
The following table summarizes the allocation of the compensation opportunity at target that was granted in 20062008 to the Named Executive Officers, (and not the compensation opportunity that could be earned in 2006), based upon the primary elements of compensation (2006(2008 base salary, Annual Incentive Plan 20062008 target opportunity, and long-term incentive grants made in 2006,2008, including performance units that will pay out in 2009,2011, if earned). The compensation opportunity is consistent with the company’sour overallpay-for-performance philosophy. Generally, employees at more senior levels in the organization, including the Named Executive Officers, have a greater proportion of their compensation tied to incentive compensation. Targeted pay opportunity levels align with the market in each individual pay element.
 
                                            
  Proportionate Size of Primary Elements of Compensation   Proportionate Size of Primary Elements of Compensation 
Element  Newlin   Wilson   Shiba   Smith   Baert   Newlin   Patterson   Wilson   Smith   Rademacher   Baert 
Base Salary   24%   36%   40%   40%   43%   20%   67%   36%   43%   43%   45%
                              
Annual Incentive Opportunity   24%   18%   20%   20%   22%   20%   33%   18%   22%   21%   22%
                              
Long-Term Incentive Opportunity*   52%   46%   40%   40%   35%   60%   **   46%   35%   36%   33%
                                            
*Long-term incentive relating to the performance units for the2006-20082008-2010 performance period wouldwill be paid in 2009,2011, if earned.
**Mr. Patterson was not a PolyOne employee at the time of the 2008 long-term incentive award. In lieu thereof, he received a grant of 60,000 SARs and 40,000 RSUs at the time of his employment.
Risk Oversight
A primary objective of our executive compensation program is to encourage and reward performance by our Named Executive Officers that meets or exceeds our financial and operational performance goals, without encouraging the taking of excessive risks that could be detrimental to the interests of our shareholders. Further, our use of short and long-term incentives, the award of different types of equity compensation, the use of different performance measures, and our share ownership guidelines, do not encourage our management to take unreasonable risks relating to our


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business. Overall, the Committee does not believe that any aspect of our executive compensation program encourages the Named Executive Officers to take unnecessary and excessive risks.
 
Benchmarking Competitive Compensation
 
Each year, weWe regularly analyze competitive market compensation data relating to salary, annual incentive, and long-termlong term incentive. Periodically, we also analyze competitive market compensation data relating to retirement benefits and perquisites.
 
In analyzing competitive market data, we draw from two independent sources. First, we review proxy statement disclosures of a peer group of similarly-sizedsimilarly sized U.S. chemical companies (listed below) to establish an estimate of market compensation for our most senior executives. This approach provides insight into explicit company practices at business competitors or companies facing similar operating challenges. However, it does not provide market information for positions below the senior management level, nor does it address competitors for talent outside the chemical industry.
 


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Albemarle Corporation Eastman Chemical Company Hercules IncorporatedIncorporated*
Arch Chemicals, Inc.    CompanyFerro Corporation The Lubrizol Corporation
A. Schulman, Inc.  FerroFMC Corporation RPM International Inc.
Cabot Corporation FMCGeorgia Gulf Corporation Spartech Corporation
Chemtura Corporation Georgia Gulf CorporationH.B. Fuller Company The Valspar Corporation
Cytec Industries Inc. H.B. Fuller Company  
 
*Note: Lyondell Chemical CompanyHercules Incorporated was considered a peer for the purpose of the2006-2008 performance unit plan, but given its growthsubsequently purchased by Ashland Incorporated in size over the period it has been removed from the comparison group.November 2008.
 
Second, we review data from Towers Perrin’s Compensation Data Bank and other published surveys relating to the chemical industry or other applicable general industries, as provided by the Consultant, to augment the peer proxy analysis and provide a more robustbroader sense of market practices. To obtain comparability based on company size, the data either references a specific sample of companies or calibrates the pay of a broad sample of companies against company size. Specific benefits of using the survey data include:
• Addresses more than just the named executive officers;
• Provides target incentive levels;
• Includes similarly-sized chemical companies; and
• Considers similarly-sized companies across a broad range of industries.
This data is used as one of several inputs into management’s and the Committee’s deliberation on appropriate compensation levels. Other inputs include performance, scope of responsibilities, retention, internal equity considerations and other factors.
 
Elements of Compensation
 
The following discussion provides additional details about the main elements of compensation for the Named Executive Officers.
 
Base Salary
 
As described above, our policy is to target base pay at the market median but does allow actual pay levels to deviate from target based on performance, responsibility, experience and marketability unique to each individual. Based on general industry data provided by the Consultant, the salaries of the Named Executive Officers range from 93%82% to 104%109% of the market median for comparable positions. For 2008, the Committee approved base salary increases for the Named Executive Officers ranging from 0% to 13.9%. For 2009, however, management recommended, and the Compensation and Governance Committee agreed, that the Named Executive Officers (and other corporate officers) would not receive any salary increases.
 
Annual Incentive
 
The Senior Executive Annual Incentive Plan (the “Annual Plan”) was approved by shareholders in 2005 and includes a set of performance measures that can be used in setting bonusesdetermining awards under the plan. The Annual Plan determines how participants (including all Named Executive Officers) can


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earn annual cash awards. In 2006,2008, the performance measures used for the corporate staff participants in the Annual Plan (including Messrs. Newlin, Patterson, Wilson and Smith and Ms. Shiba)Smith) were company operating income (53% weighting with a $90 million performance target),(80% weighting) and company-controlled cash flow (34% weighting with a $93.4 million performance target) and equity investment performance (13% weighting with a 10% ROIC performance target)(20% weighting).
The performance measures used for Mr.Messrs. Rademacher and Baert as a participantparticipants in the Annual Plan were business unit operating income (53% weighting with a $28 million performance target)(60% weighting), company controlledoperating income (20% weighting) and company-controlled cash flow (34% weighting with a $93.4 million(20% weighting). The Committee chose these performance target)measures in order to drive profitability and revenue growthpromote consistency in Asia (13% weighting with a 13% performance target).operational performance. Goals were generally designed to reward executives for the attainment of challenging but achievable annual business goals.

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The definitions of certain performance measures and targets and the respective levels of achievement for each performance measure under the Annual Plan are as follows:set forth below.
MeasureTarget GoalActual Result% of Target
Company Operating Income$71.9 mm$68.2 mm94.9%
Company-Controlled Cash Flow38.6 mm28.0 mm72.5%
BU Operating Income (Rademacher)24.9 mm28.1 mm112.9%
BU Operating Income (Baert)33.4 mm20.4 mm61.1%
In the Annual Plan:
 
 • “Equity investment performance” is a measure of the Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) based on the earnings before taxes of our equity investments in two joint ventures, OxyVinyls, LPOperating income was defined as operating income less Sunbelt operating income and Sunbelt Chlor-Alkali Partnership. Through these equity investments, we realize a portion of the economic benefits of a base resin producer for PVC resin, one of our major raw materials. This performance measure was used for Messrs. Newlin, Smith and Wilson and Ms. Shiba.less any specified special items.
 
 • Company-controlled cash flow” is a measure of (operatingflow was defined as operating income less Sunbelt operating income plus depreciation and amortization)amortization plus/minus (changeschanges in average working capital less capital expenditures, interest and other expenses).
• “Growth in Asia” is a measure of the revenue growth rate in Asia expressed as a percentage.expenses.
 
The Committee chose these performance measures in order to incent profitability and promote consistency in operational performance. Goals were generally set so that individual business units needed to exceed 2005 performance to achieve a threshold (50% of target) level of attainment.
ConsistentWe established target annual incentive levels for 2008 consistent with our approach described above to approximate the market median in targeting annual incentives, the 2006 target bonus levels for the Named Executive Officers were: $700,000 for Mr. Newlin, $177,029 for Mr. Wilson, $168,885 for Ms. Shiba, $156,741 for Mr. Smith and an equivalent of $174,961 for Mr. Baert (whose compensation is based in Euros).median. These targeted levels are set at 100% of base salary earned for Mr. Newlin and 50% of salary earned during the year for each of the other Named Executive Officers.
 
The target awards for the Named Executive Officers under the Annual Plan and the actual amounts earned for 2008 performance are set forth below.
                
Executive  Target Award   Earned Award   % Attainment
S.D. Newlin  $831,731   $700,650    84.2% 
 
R.M. Patterson   127,692(1)   107,568    84.2% 
 
W.D. Wilson   131,619(1)   110,876    84.2% 
 
K.M. Smith   166,654    140,389    84.2% 
 
M.L. Rademacher   158,654    204,663    129.0% 
 
B. Baert(2)
   207,721    63,064    30.4% 
 
(1) For the portion of the year the Named Executive Officer was with PolyOne.


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(2) Mr. Baert’s compensation is based in Euros and has been converted to dollars using the conversion rate of €1.00 = $1.4096, which is the conversion rate used in our Annual Report onForm 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.
Achievement of a performance goal at the threshold level for 2008 would result in payment of 50% of the targeted award for that particular performance goal; achievement of a performance goal at the target level would result in payment of 100% of the targeted award for that performance goal; and, achievement at the maximum level or greater would result in payment of 200% of the targeted award for that goal. The awards are interpolated if performance falls between the levels. The actual amount awarded to the Named Executive Officers for 2008 ranged from 30.4% of the targeted amount to 129.0% of the targeted amount. The actual amounts earned under the Annual Plan for 2008 are included in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table.
 
The Annual Plan, as it applies to the Named Executive Officers, is structured to comply with Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”). In order to qualify the amounts earned under the Annual Plan as “performance-based”,“performance-based,” the Committee may exercise discretion only to reduce an award. The Annual Plan is structured so that achievement of the threshold level of performance in any of the measures described above will result in the funding of the plan at maximum. Actual awards are calculated using the Plan formula described above and if funded at maximum as described above, the maximum awards are reduced, as necessary, to deliver awards that are consistent across all of ourwith the attainment levels that were achieved for management incentive plan participants. For a more detailed discussion of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, see the “Tax Considerations” section of this report.
 
Performance measuresFor 2009, to place a greater emphasis on managing cash, the weighting for operating income was reduced from 80% to 50% and a new measure, working capital as a percentage of sales, was introduced with a 50% weighting. Operating income continues to be an important measure of our performance. Managing cash and working capital improvement, however, are critical imperatives given the Annual Plan have been revised2009 global economic environment. We also lowered the level of payment for 2007. The purposeachievement of threshold performance from 50% of the revisiontargeted award to 30% of the targeted award. The level of attainment required to reach the threshold performance, however, was to simplify and clarify the Plan, providing even greater focus on those metrics most important to creating shareholder value. Specifically, we have increased the emphasis on operating income on both a business unit and corporate basis while continuing to focus on cash flow. In order to emphasize controllable results of our operating businesses, the financial impact of our equity investments will not be included in the performance measures for the 2007 Annual Plan.lowered.
 
Long-Term Incentive
 
The 2005 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan was approved by shareholders in 2005 and permits a variety of types of incentive awards. In January 2006,We used the shares authorized under this plan in making our long-term incentive awards in 2008 (except for awards made to Mr. Patterson). In May of 2008, our shareholders approved a new equity plan, the 2008 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan, and this will be the plan used to make awards in 2009 and in future years until the authorized shares are depleted. No further grants can be made under the 2005 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan.
(1)  Awards Granted in 2008
In March 2008, long-term incentive awards were


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granted under the 2005 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan using two vehicles. Sixty percentthree vehicles, with the allocation of the award values roughly as follows: 40% of the award’s value was in the form ofallocated to performance units for the performance period2006-2008,2008-2010, with the remaining 40% in the form of30% was allocated to stock-settled SARs.SARs and 30% was allocated to RSUs.


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(1) Cash-Settled Performance Units
• Cash-Settled Performance Units
 
The performance units granted in March 2008 will be paid in cash, subject to achievement of three types of performance goals discussed below. Each of the following performance measures are weighted equally (i.e., at 331/3%). The awards represented 60% of the total long-term incentive opportunity. The performance units granted in 2006 are subjectrelating to the following performance measures and goalscompany earnings per share for the three-year period from January 1, 20062008 through December 31, 2008:
• Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), modified based on our performance versus a group of chemical companies (consisting of the same peers as reported under the “Benchmarking Competitive Compensation” section of this report but including Lyondell Chemical Company)
• Cash Flow (EBITDA plus non-cash special charges, cash distributions from equity investments and net divestment proceeds, less earnings from equity investments, capital expenditures, cash taxes, cash interest, cash for restructuring plus changes in working capital and accrued expenses)
• Ratio of Debt/EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization)2010.
 
The Committee selected theseearnings per share as the performance measuresmeasure in order to drive improvementsfocus on improvement in overall company profitability, promote consistency in operational excellence and drive a reduction in overall company debt while improving earnings.profitability. Generally, the Committee setsset the target levelslevel for the performance measuresmeasure consistent with the levelslevel established under the projections for our3-yeara three-year financial plan. The Committee believes that the budgeted levels reflectlevel reflects a challenging but obtainable targets.target. If the targeted level of achievement for eachthe performance measure were obtained, this would represent a significant improvement over the levelslevel attained forin previous years. The targeted level is intended to be achievable, but a maximum level of performance would require an extraordinary level of performance, which we believe is possible but unlikely to be achieved. Given that we do not provide earnings guidance, we believe that disclosure of our actual earnings per share targets for the performance units would cause competitive harm. In setting the applicable target levels,level, the Committee may considerconsiders how achievement of the performance criteria could be impacted by events expected to occur in the coming year(s).years.
 
If we were to achieve all of thesethe target performance levels,level, a participant would earn a target-level award; if we were to attain only the threshold performance levels, onlylevel, 50% of the target award would be earned; and if we were to attain the maximum (or better) performance levels,level, the participant would earn 200% of the target award. If our performance fell between the threshold and target or between target and maximum, earnings under the plansplan would be interpolated forinterpolated. If threshold performance is not achieved, no award will be paid to the ROIC and Cash Flow measures. There is no interpolation for the Debt/EBITDA measure. Performance under each measure is evaluated and the awards are determined separately (i.e., a participant can earn performance units for performance in one, two or all three measures).participants.
 
(2) Stock-Settled SARs
• Stock-Settled SARs
 
To continually reinforce our ongoing commitment to enhancing shareholder returns, 40%30% of the long-term incentive opportunity awarded in January 2006March 2008 to executives, including the Named Executive Officers, (other than Mr. Newlin who received a grant upon his hire date in February 2006), consists of SARs that, when exercised by the holder, are settled in our common shares. The SARs granted in JanuaryMarch to all Named Executive Officers, exceptexcluding Mr. Newlin,Patterson, have a base price of $6.51 and the SARs granted in February to Mr. Newlin have a base price of $9.185.$6.765. All SARs granted in 20062008 have an exercise term of seven years, and vest upon the attainment of target prices (sustained for three consecutive trading days) for our common shares as follows: 1/3 @ $7.50; 1/3 @ $8.50 and1/3 @ $10.00 (with a minimum vesting period of one year from the date of grant).


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We believe the SAR awards include more rigorous vesting conditions than are typically seen in the market for SARs/stock options, reinforcing our commitment to aligning pay and performance for executives. The SARs will vest only if the stock price hurdles mentioned above are attained and in no event will any SARs vest sooner than one year after grant, regardless of how our stock price performs. The SARs expire seven years after grant, which is shorter than typical market practice.
We do not The SARs vest one-third per year over three years. Mr. Patterson’s award of SARs was part of his offer of employment and have not otherwise “backdated” the exercise orhas a base price of any stock option or SAR. We have reviewed$7.72.
• RSUs
To conserve shares under our equity plan, promote share ownership and enhance the meritsretention of settingour executives, 30% of the exerciselong-term incentive opportunity awarded in March 2008 consists of three-year cliff-vested RSUs. The RSUs granted in March to all Named Executive Officers vest 100% in three years from date of grant. The RSUs granted to all the Named Executive Officers, except Mr. Patterson, were valued at $6.765 at the time of grant and this was the price used in determining the size of an option or base pricethe grant. The RSUs granted to Mr. Patterson were valued at $7.72 for this same purpose.
(2)  Awards Granted in Prior Years
In February 2009, the Committee approved the payout of performance units relating to the long-term incentive award that was granted in 2006, for the2006-2008 performance period. The performance units were based on achievement of performance goals related to cash flow, debt to EBITDA and return on invested capital. Each of these performance measures represented 20% of the participant’s total Long-Term Incentive opportunity. The Named Executive Officers, except


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Mr. Patterson, received a SARcash award based on the priceattainment of these established goals, as set forth in the table below.
                 
   Goals     
Measure
  Threshold  Target  Maximum  % Attainment  
Cash Flow  $225 mm  $280 mm  $400 mm   0%(1)  
 
Debt to EBITDA
  4 quarters 3.00
  6 quarters 3.00
  6 quarters 3.00 and 4 of 6   100%
  
         quarters 2.50       
 
Return on Invested Capital  10%  14%  17%   0%  
 
(1)Management recommended, and the Committee agreed, that the proceeds from the sale of our interest in Oxy Vinyls in 2007 would not be included in the cash flow attainment. As a result, threshold performance was not attained.
All outstanding equity awards are set forth in the 2008 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End table in this proxy statement.
(3)  Awards Granted in 2009
The awards granted in 2009 are designed to address the current economic conditions facing the Company, the need for an increased focus on generating cash, and the goal of maintaining a consistent structure with the long-term incentives granted in prior years.
The Committee determined that cash-settled performance units would again be granted in 2009 based on the day precedingsame formula for determining target opportunity used in 2008, but that the grantperformance units would be earned only upon achievement of performance goals relating to working capital as a percent of sales, consistent with the Annual Plan. To focus on the near-term cash needs of the Company, performance will be measured over a one-year period (for 2009 only) and, to enhance retention, the performance units will continueonly be paid if the participant continues to be employed on the third anniversary of the date of grant. In addition, to align the award payment level with this process. Additional information regarding this matter can be foundthe progress attained in working capital improvements, the “Timing with Respectperformance units were structured such that achievement of threshold performance will result in a payout of 30% of the targeted award, instead of 50%. The actual level of performance required to Equity Award Grants” section of this report.achieve threshold performance, however, was not adjusted.
 
We did not make traditionalFurther, the Committee determined that it would again grant stock-settled SARs and full value stock awards, but that for the grants made in 2009, there would be performance conditions tied to the vesting of these awards.
In determining the number of SARs and performance shares to be granted, the Committee modified its approach in 2009 to address the current economic conditions. As described above, in prior years, the Company’s practice was to grant each participant a long-term incentive award with a target value based on market median and to determine the number of SARs and restricted stock units to deliver that pre-determined value. Due to the decline in our stock price and the desire to preserve shares under our 2008 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”), the Committee reduced the value of the long-term incentives in 2009 such that only 50% of the available shares under the 2008 Plan would be used. As a result, the values of the Named Executive Officers’ long-term incentive grants for the2004-2006 performance period. Instead, in order to provide an incentive for senior management to achieve near-term improvement in the price of our common shares, in December of 2003, the Committee approved an incentive for senior leaders and key employees. The award consisted entirely of target-priced SARs having a three-year life and vesting upon the attainment of target prices (sustained for three consecutive trading days) for PolyOne common shares as follows: 1/3 @ $8.00; 1/3 @ $9.00 and 1/3 @ $10.00. The SARs had a base price equal to $6.14 and would be settled in our common shares. These SARs expired at the end of 2006 with 2/3 of the SARs having vested and 1/3 of the SARs being “in the money” but not vested due to the failure to achieve2009 were 38% below the target prices established.market median opportunity.


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This approach balances the perspectives of shareholders and participants by providing additional shares to incent the participants, but at a lower total targeted value than in 2008.
 
For 2007,2009, the long-term incentive awards will maintain the same general design as in 2006. The proportion of performance units to SARs, however, has changed from 60% performance units and 40% SARs to 50% performance units and 50% SARs, to better align our interests with those of shareholders. Minor modifications have also been made to the performance unit measures for the2007-2009 performance period. Specifically, we have simplified the designconsist of the 2007following:
• 65% — cash-settled performance units
• 14% — performance-vested, stock-settled SARs
• 21% — performance shares
The terms of each component of the 2009 long-term incentive plan by having only one performance unit measure which is focused on the profitability of our operating business units,award are as measured by growth in operating income. Further, in assigning a value to a single performance unit and a single SAR (to determine the actual number of performance units and SARs to be granted), we have switched from the Black-Scholes option pricing model to using several capital market assumptions by applying Towers Perrin’s binomial valuation methodology.follows:
• The performance units are earned based on achievement of goals relating to working capital over a one-year performance period but paid three years from date of grant. Achievement of threshold performance will result in a payout of 30% of the target award, achievement of target performance will result in a payout of 100% of the target award, and achievement of maximum performance will result in a payout of 200% of the target award.
• The SARs granted have a term of seven years and will vest one-third on the attainment of 10%, 20% and 30% stock appreciation (which must be attained for a minimum of three consecutive trading days), with no more than one-third vesting per year for the first three years. Consistent with the terms of the 2008 Plan, the grant price for the SARs was set based on the closing market price of the SARs on the date of grant (March 5, 2009).
• Each performance share is equal in value to one share of PolyOne common stock and the performance shares will pay out in the form of our common shares on a one-for-one basis. The performance shares will vest one-third on the attainment of 10%, 20% and 30% stock appreciation from the closing price on the grant date (which must be attained for a minimum of three consecutive trading days) during a three-year performance period. Vested shares will be distributed on the third anniversary of the grant. If the price hurdles are not met, no award will be earned.
 
Retirement Benefits
 
We offer a defined contribution retirement benefit to all U.S. employees through an Internal Revenue Code tax-qualified profit sharing/401(k) plan (the “Qualified Savings Plan”). The Qualified Savings Plan provides employees with individual retirement accounts funded by (1) an automatic Company-paid contribution of 2% of eligible earnings for all employees, (2) a Company-paid match on employee 401(k) contributions equal todollar-for-dollar on the first 3% of earnings the employee contributes plus $0.50 per dollar on the next 3% of earnings the employee contributes, and (3) for certain heritage employees, an additional automatic company-paid contribution (Transition Contribution) of up to 4% of eligible earnings (ofearnings. Of the Named Executive Officers, only Messrs. SmithWilson and WilsonSmith receive this contribution in the amount of 3.25%4% and 4%3.25%, respectively).respectively. Effective March 20, 2009, the heritage additional automatic company-paid contribution was eliminated for all participants. The Internal Revenue Code limits employee contributions to $15,000the Qualified Savings Plan to $15,500 and earnings upon which employee/company contributions are based to $220,000$230,000 in 2006.2008.
 
The PolyOne Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan (the “Nonqualified Savings Plan”) is an unfunded, nonqualified plan that provides benefits similar to the Qualified Savings Plan, but without the Internal Revenue Code contribution and earnings limitations. The benefits under the


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Nonqualified Savings Plan are offset by the Qualified Savings Plan. Together these plans are intended to provide the Named Executive Officers with retirement income equivalent to that provided to all other employees under the Qualified Savings Plan. As a result, the Named Executive Officers can


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expect a retirement income that replaces a portion of their income while employed similar to that received by all other employees participating in the Qualified Savings Plan who are not impacted by the Internal Revenue Code limitations of the Qualified Savings Plan.
 
Mr. Baert is based outside the United States and does not participate in the Qualified Savings Plan or the Nonqualified Savings Plan. Mr. Baert participates in a standard defined contribution retirement benefit plan generally provided to all Belgium employees (except that some employees hired prior to May 2003 (other than Mr. Baert) elected to remain in the Belgium defined benefit plan previously offered as the standard retirement plan). The plan provides employees with individual retirement accounts funded by (1) an automatic Company paid contribution of 5% of base pay up to a salary limit plus 15% of base pay in excess of the salary limit, and (2) employee contributions of 5% of base pay above that salary limit. The salary limit, which is indexed annually, was €38,200€40,150 for 2006.2008.
During 2008, the Committee reviewed the CEO’s total compensation package among the peer companies and across the broader general industry. The Committee determined that it was in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders to provide a supplemental retirement benefit for Mr. Newlin that would be competitive with industry practices and serve as an additional retention vehicle. Thus, Mr. Newlin’s Letter Agreement (which provides for the terms of Mr. Newlin’s employment) was amended on July 16, 2008 to include certain retirement benefits. Specifically, the Letter Agreement was amended to provide that upon a Qualifying Separation from Service, Mr. Newlin will be entitled to annual supplemental retirement payments, payable in the form of a15-year certain and continuous life annuity, conditioned upon Mr. Newlin’s execution of a release and waiver. If Mr. Newlin dies or incurs a Disability prior to a Qualifying Separation from Service, he or his designated beneficiary also will be entitled to certain supplemental retirement payments. Generally, Mr. Newlin will be considered to have a Qualifying Separation from Service if (1) he attains the age of 55 and has at least five years of service with the Company, serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at the time of his retirement (provided that if the Board, in its sole discretion, has identified a suitable successor for the position of Chief Executive Officer, he only needs to be serving as Chairman at the time of his retirement) and the PolyOne Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, has identified a suitable successor to the position of Chief Executive Officer; or (2) Mr. Newlin’s employment is involuntarily terminated other than for serious cause or Mr. Newlin terminates employment for good reason following a change of control of the Company. Under the terms of the amended Letter Agreement, he will also be treated as a retiree for purposes of any SARs, RSUs, performance shares and performance units awarded to him as long-term incentive awards. In addition, he and his eligible dependents will have access to the same retiree medical benefits made available to all retirement eligible employees under our standard retiree medical benefit program, to the extent we continue to maintain such programs for the benefit of our retirees and their eligible dependents. Mr. Newlin will forfeit his rights to receive the supplemental retirement payments and retiree medical benefits if he engages in any conduct prohibited by his non-competition agreement or any acts that constitute fraud, embezzlement, and disclosure of confidential information or deliberate dishonesty.
 
Messrs. SmithWilson and WilsonSmith are also eligible, along with certain other legacy employees, to receive pension payments under a company-funded Internal Revenue Code qualified defined benefit pension plan as well as an unfunded, nonqualified defined benefit pension plan (the “Qualified Pension Plan” and “Nonqualified Pension Plan”,Plan,” respectively). In addition, upon becoming retirement eligible (55 years of age with 10 years of service), Messrs. SmithWilson and WilsonSmith will be eligible to receive certain retiree medical benefits.benefits for which they will be required to pay a portion of


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the cost. These plans existed prior to our formation in 2000 through the consolidation of The Geon Company and M.A. Hanna Company and generally benefited all nonunion employees of The Geon Company.Geon.
 
The amount of the Named Executive’sMessrs. Wilson’s and Smith’s pension depends on a number of factors including monthly Final Average Earnings (“FAE”) and years of benefit service to us (“Benefit Service”). The Qualified Pension Plan provides a monthly lifetime benefit equal to 1.15% times FAE times Benefit Service plus 0.45% times FAE in excess of 2002 Covered Compensation (as defined by the Internal Revenue Code) times Benefit Service limited to 35 years.
 
The Nonqualified Pension Plan is similar to the Nonqualified Savings Plan in that it restores benefits lost in the Qualified Pension Plan due to Internal Revenue Code limitations on earnings and benefits. The Nonqualified Pension Plan benefit formula is the same as the Qualified Pension Plan except without the Internal Revenue Code qualified plan earnings limitations. The Nonqualified Pension Plan benefit is offset by the Qualified Pension Plan benefit.
 
The Qualified Pension Plan and Nonqualified Pension Plan were frozen to new entrants effective December 31, 1999. Benefit Service was frozen effective December 31, 2002 in both plans. In responseplans and, effective March 20, 2009, earnings under both plans were frozen for all participants. We decided to Internal Revenue Code Section 409A,freeze these plans following a comprehensive retirement benefits review, during which the Nonqualified Pension Plan accrued benefit was temporarily frozen effective December 31, 2004. Any future decisions regarding the Nonqualified Pension Plan will be delayed until final guidance relatingCommittee examined whether our retirement programs were consistent with company goals, including fairness to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code is released. Earnings are not frozenall associates and competitiveness in the Qualified Pension Plan so participants, including Messrs. Smithmarketplace. With this change, we will have a single and Wilson, can continue to accrue additional benefits under that plan.competitive retirement plan for ourU.S.-based employees.
 
Messrs. NewlinPatterson, Rademacher and Baert and Ms. Shiba do not participate in a defined benefit plan.
 
Perquisites
 
We provide a limited number ofcertain perquisites to the Named Executive Officers, which we believe are competitive with the companies with which we compete for executive talent. These perquisites for those Named Executive Officers based in the United States, include a monthly car allowance


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(except for Mr. Patterson), reimbursement of expenses for financial planning and tax preparation, an annual physical examination, and group insurance providing excess liability umbrella insurance coverage in an amount equal to $5 million. For Mr. Baert, perquisites typical and competitive with companies in Europe include a company provided automobile, meal and entertainment allowance, reimbursement of expenses for financial planning and tax preparation, and group insurance providing excess liability umbrella insurance coverage in an amount equal to $5 million. The specific amounts attributable to perquisites for 20062008 for the Named Executive Officers are disclosed in the 2006 Summary Compensation Table.
 
We reimbursed Mr. Newlin for reasonable expenses related to lodging, meals and travel between his residence and work location (Avon Lake, Ohio) during his first 90 days of employment. Mr. Newlin is alsoPatterson was eligible for reimbursement of his relocation expenses under our standard relocation plan. During 2006,2008, we reimbursed Mr. NewlinPatterson for expenses associated with transporting household and personal goods to a temporaryclosing costs on his home that he purchased near our headquarters.headquarters and other incidental relocation expenses.
We believe that these perquisites that we provide are consistent with market practices for senior executives and further our goals by retaining our leaders.
 
We also provide other benefits such as medical, dental and life insurance and disability coverage to eachU.S.-based Named Executive Officer, which are identical to the benefits provided to all other eligibleU.S.-based employees. Medical, dental and life insurance coverage for Mr. Baert is identical to the benefits provided to all other Belgium-based employees. We also provide vacation and paid holidays to all employees, including the Named Executive Officers. The Named Executive Officers are eligible for the following vacation: Messrs.Mr. Newlin and— five weeks, Mr. Patterson — four


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weeks (pro-rated from his hire date), Mr. Wilson — six weeks (pro-rated through his termination date), Mr. Smith — five weeks, Mr. WilsonRademacher — sixfour weeks, and Mr. Baert — 26 days, and Ms. Shiba — four weeks.days.
 
We do not provide or reimburse for personal country club memberships for any Named Executive Officer. We do maintain a corporate membership to a country club that is used for customer entertainment and other business purposes. We pay the monthly dues for this membership and incur expenses only for these business purposes. Any personal use of this facility by a Named Executive Officer is at the officer’s personal expense, with no incremental cost to us.
 
Compensation Oversight Processes
 
Salary Adjustments
 
During the fourthfirst quarter, the Committee typically reviews executive compensation marketplace data provided by the Consultant. ThisThe resulting report highlights trends in executive compensation and benchmarks our executive compensation compared to our peer group and the market in general. In addition, the Committee reviews tally sheets that contain information regarding the executives’ total annual compensation, termination benefits and wealth accumulation. A more detailed description of the tally sheets is provided under the heading “Review of Tally Sheets.”
 
In the first halfquarter of the calendar year, based upon individual performance and results achieved, the Chief Executive Officer typically recommends for the Committee’s review and approval specific salary adjustments for each of the executive officers, including the Named Executive Officers. The Chief Executive Officer makes his recommendations in conjunction with the marketplace data and input provided by the Consultant. The Committee sets the target compensation at or near the median, with adjustments to account for our specific facts and circumstances. Based upon the Chief Executive Officer’s recommendation, in May 2006,March 2008, the Committee increased the salaries of Messrs. Smith, Rademacher and Baert effective in the Named Executive Officers.first pay period in April 2008.
 
Mr. Newlin’s 2006 salary was established byIn 2008, the Committee in February 2006 by the terms of his employment agreement. The Committee considered recent compensation for the role, revieweddetermined, based on marketplace data and a pro formaMr. Newlin’s tally sheet provided by their independent advisor to ensure both the fairness and the competitiveness of the total compensation package.data, that a 13.9% increase in salary was appropriate. In the Committee’s judgment, the total compensation package provided to Mr. Newlin, as described under the heading “Employment Agreement


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of the Chief Executive Officer,” wasis appropriate in order to attract the caliber of executivefairly compensate and retain our Chief Executive Officer.
In 2009, management recommended and the Committee was seeking.agreed, that due to the deteriorating global economy and in an attempt to manage costs, Named Executive Officers as well as other officers of the Company will have their base salary frozen for 2009.
 
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
 
In the fourth quarter, the Committee typically reviewsperiod-to-date performance and estimates of incentive payouts for the in-progress performance periods. In the first quarter of the following year, the Committee evaluates actual performance against pre-set goals and determines earnings under just-completed plan periods. Generally, the Committee approves payouts based on pre-set performance criteria and will not exercise discretion to increase an award. The Committee, however, has exercised its discretion to reduce an award.
 
In addition, in the fourthfirst quarter, the Committee and management typically review competitive incentivetotal compensation data provided by the Consultant. Management develops preliminaryuses the data to develop recommendations for eligibility, award opportunities, performance measures and goals for the plan periods to commence the subsequent year for the Committee’s review. The Committee approves final terms of the plan in the first quarter of the subsequentplan year.


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Review of Tally Sheets
 
The Committee and management have reviewed and considered tally sheets in connection with pay deliberations.compensation decisions. Tally sheets, including all components of compensation, are reviewed by the Committee to determine the reasonableness of the compensation of our executive officers. Tally sheets are created collaboratively by the Consultant and our human resourcesHuman Resources department.
 
The tally sheets provide information regarding the Named Executive Officers’ as well as other officers’ total annual compensation, termination benefits and wealth accumulation. Total annual compensation includes: salary, annual incentive, long-term incentive, perquisites, and retirement benefits. This information is comparable to the amounts reported in the 2006 Summary Compensation Table. Payments under various forms of termination are reviewed and disclosed elsewhere in this proxy statement.
In aligning the overall program with market practices, benchmarking against the market occurs, but is limited in scope to the elements considered as compensation. The process of reviewing tally sheets began in late 2006. We have committed to annually review tally sheets and use the information in connection with compensation related decisions.
 
Tax Considerations
 
Cash compensation, such as base salary or annual incentive compensation, is taxable to the recipient as ordinary income when earned, unless deferred under a company-sponsored deferral plan. Deferrals under tax-qualified plans, such as a 401(k) plan, do not affect our current tax deduction. Deferrals under supplemental executive deferral plans delay our tax deduction until the deferred amount (and any accumulation thereon) is paid. Stock-settled SARs are generally taxable as ordinary income when exercised.exercised and RSUs, performance units and performance shares are generally taxable when paid. We realize a tax deduction at that time. The Committee does review potential tax implications before making decisions regarding compensation.
 
Management and the Committee are aware of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, which generally limits the deductibility of executive pay in excess of one million dollars, and which specifies the requirements for the “performance-based” exemption from this limit. The Committee generally manages our incentive programs to qualify for the performance-based exemption. It also reserves the right to provide compensation that does not meet the exemption criteria if, in its sole discretion, it determines that doing so advances our business objectives. We believe the compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers in 2008 is fully deductible.
 


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Accounting Considerations
 
When reviewing preliminary recommendations and in connection with approving the terms of a given incentive plan period, management and the Committee review and consider the accounting implications of a given award, including the estimated expenseand/or dilutive considerations. Depending upon the type of accounting treatment associated with an incentive plan design, management and the Committee may alter or modify the incentive award due to the accounting treatment if the award (and the related accounting consequences) were to adversely affect our financial performance.
 
Employment Agreement of the Chief Executive Officer
 
On February 13,6, 2006, we entered into an agreement with Mr. Newlin, under which he agreed to serve as our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. The agreement providesprovided for specified awards intended to serve as an inducement to join the company, for Mr. Newlin’s initial base salary of $700,000, a signing bonus of $600,000, a grant of 200,000 shares of restricted stock, and for Mr. Newlin’shis participation in our various long-term incentive and benefit plans in effect from time to time during the term of his employment. Mr. Newlin also received a grant of a two-year cash incentive, consisting of phantom units subject to the achievement of specified performance goals over a two-year period(2006-2007),with each unit being equal in value to one share of our common stock. The terms of


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the units, as amended, provide that payout will not be less than the targeted number of units (87,000) at the grant date stock price of $9.185. The phantom units will bewere paid out in cash if earned,at the targeted number of units in March 2008 and are subject tothis payout is reflected in the achievement of specified performance goals over a two-year period(2006-2007).Summary Compensation Table as “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” in 2007.
 
In addition, the agreement provides for certain payments upon termination of Mr. Newlin’s employment, as described more fully in the “Potential Payments Upon Termination orChange-in-Control” section of this proxy statement. In October, 2007, this agreement was amended to ensure that any payments made pursuant to the agreement were in compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.
Mr. Newlin’s agreement also provides for a supplemental retirement benefit, as described more fully in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis under the heading “Retirement Benefits.”
 
Termination Payments for Other Named Executive Officers
 
Effective May 25, 2006, the Committee approved anthe PolyOne Corporation Executive Severance Plan (the “Executive Severance Plan”) that is designed to provide severance protection to certain officers who are expected to make substantial contributions to our success and thereby provide for stability and continuity of operations. Under the terms and conditions of the Executive Severance Plan, officers are entitled to receive Severance Payments upon their termination of employment for reasons other than cause, death or disability. The plan details and estimates of these payments are provided in the “Potential Payments Upon Termination orChange-in-Control” section of this report.
The payments are to be made in compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.proxy statement. These severance benefits are contingent upon our receipt of a signed release of all claims against us and signed non-compete, non-solicitation and non-disparagement agreements.
 
In May 2008, it was decided that Mr. Wilson would cease serving as Chief Financial Officer. From May 12, 2008 until September 9, 2008, Mr. Wilson continued to serve as Senior Vice President to transition responsibilities to our new Chief Financial Officer. On September 9, 2008, Mr. Wilson terminated from service. Consistent with our Executive Severance Plan, Mr. Wilson receives two years of base salary, earned incentives under the Annual Plan through his termination date, continued medical, dental and vision for two years and outplacement benefits for one year. In addition, we entered into a consulting agreement with Mr. Wilson. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, Mr. Wilson rendered services to us related to projects designated by the Compensation and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors and otherwise on an as-needed basis. We paid Mr. Wilson in consideration of his performance of the consulting services a total of $14,940. The term of Mr. Wilson’s consulting agreement ended on December 31, 2008.
Change inof Control Payments
 
We have entered intochange-in-control management continuity agreements (“CIC”Continuity Agreements”) agreements with all of our elected corporate officers, including each of the Named Executive Officers. These agreements are designed to provide severance protection should a change inof control of PolyOne occur and the executive officer’s employment isbe terminated either by us without cause or by the executive for good reason (as defined in the agreements). Generally, a change inof control will be deemed to have occurred if (1) any person becomes the beneficial owner of 25% or more of the combined voting power of our outstanding securities (subject to certain exceptions); (2) there is a change in the majority of our Board of Directors; (3) certain corporate reorganizations occur where the existing shareholders do not retain more than 60% of the common shares and combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving entity; or (4) there is shareholder approval of a complete liquidation or dissolution of PolyOne.


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These agreements are intended to provide for continuity of management in the event of a change inof control. The agreements are automatically renewed each year unless we give prior notice of termination of the CIC agreement.Continuity Agreement. The agreements provide that covered executive officers could be entitled to certain severance benefits. The details of the severance paymentpayments and benefits are provided in the “Potential Payments Upon Termination orChange-in-Control” section of this report.proxy statement.
 
In order to provide additional protection in the event of a change inof control, our 2006 equity awards and Annual Incentive Plan provide for accelerated benefits in the event of a change of control. In addition, the terms of the performance units provide that in control.the event of a change of control, the participant is entitled to 100% of the performance units. In the event of a change inof control and a termination of the executive’s employment by us without cause or by the executive for good reason (as defined in the agreements), the SARs remain exercisable for their full term. Thesechange-in-control change of control provisions affect all participants in those programs, including the Named Executive Officers.
 
Compensation Policies
 
Timing with Respect to Equity Award Grants
 
In recentprior years, including 2006, the base price of SARs has been set according to our normal practice as outlined in the 2005 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan and is based on the average of the high and low price of our common shares on the trading day immediately before the day the award was approved by the Committee. ThisEffective with the approval of the 2008 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan, the practice allows the Committeewas changed to know the actual base price at the time of approval. Becauseset the base price could be different thanof SARs (and the exercise price of any options granted) as the closing price of our common shares on the daydate of the grant, the pricing difference is explained in the 2006 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table in this proxy statement.grant. Further, if we are in possession of material information that has not been publicly disclosed, the Committee will not grant equity awards until all such information is available to the public.
 
Stock Ownership Guidelines
 
In order to better align their financial interests with those of shareholders, we believe our executives should own a meaningful number of our shares. We have adopted share ownership guidelines specifying a minimum level of share ownership for all executives, including all Named Executive Officers. The specific levels of share ownership for the Named Executive Officers are noted in the following table. Executives are expected to accumulate the specified shares within five years of their becoming subject to the policy. The applicable guidelines are reduced after age 55 by 10% of the original level of ownership each year for five years.


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In general, shares counted toward required ownership include shares directly held and shares vestedheld in our benefit or deferral plans (including RSUs and phantom shares under our nonqualified deferral plan).
 
                    
                               
Element  Newlin Wilson Shiba Smith Baert   Newlin   Wilson   Patterson   Smith   Rademacher   Baert    
Share Ownership Target (in shares)   290,000   85,000   67,500   65,000   48,000    324,000    *    105,000    85,000    56,000    63,000     
Total Share Ownership as of3/12/07
   219,300   144,546   67,927   75,538   21,000 
                                  
Total Share Ownership as of 3/16/09   284,300    *    140,000    94,265    78,509    48,366     
                                  
Attainment Status   75.6%  170.1%  100.6%  116.2%  43.8%   87.7%    *    133.3%    110.9%    140.2%    76.8%     
                                                
*Mr. Wilson, who left the Company in 2008, is no longer required to meet these guidelines.
 
Note:  Ownership targets have been reduced by 10% for Ms. Shiba and 20%Mr. Newlin, 40% for Mr. Baert and 30% for Mr. Rademacher, according to the applicable guidelinesguideline pertaining to age reduction as discussed above. Mr. Newlin has been with the Company for three years; therefore, he is not yet required to meet 100% of his respective share ownership target, but he is on pace to meet the guidelines within the five-year required time frame.


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Repayment of Earned Incentives upon Restatement of Financial Results
 
We have has adopted a policy that is consistent with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which requires the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to reimburse us for any awards received during the twelve-month period following the release of financial results that subsequently require an accounting restatement due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement if they are subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of theSarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
Conclusion
 
Our executive compensation programs are competitive in the marketplace and linked to our performance. These programs allow us to attract and retain high-caliber executives. We believe the design of our compensation plans and the relative mix of compensation elements successfully motivates our executives and aligns both the short-term and long-term interests of employees and shareholders.


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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth the compensation forearned by, and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 ofcompensation opportunity granted to, our principal executive officer, formerour current principal executivefinancial officer, our former principal financial officer and our other three most highly compensated executive officers.officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 and the prior two fiscal years, if applicable.
 
2006 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
                                              
                     Change in Pension
      
                     Value and
      
                  Non-
  Nonquali-
      
                  Equity
  fied
      
               Option/
  Incentive Plan
  Deferred
  All Other
   
            Stock
  SAR
  Compen-
  Compensation
  Compensa-
   
Name and Principal
     Salary
  Bonus(4)
  Awards
  Awards(7)
  sation(8)
  Earnings(9)
  tion
  Total
Position  Year  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)
Stephen D. Newlin, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer(1)
   2006   $589,615   $600,000   $505,374(5)  $558,936   $959,700    0   $103,725(10)  $3,317,350 
William F. Patient, Former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer(2)
   2006    68,833    50,000    20,833    0    0    0    0    139,666 
W. David Wilson, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer   2006    354,058    50,000    75,561(6)   158,724    242,707    0    81,711(11)   962,761 
Wendy C. Shiba, Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary   2006    337,769    50,000    59,052(6)   120,905    231,541    0    42,859(12)   842,126 
Kenneth M. Smith, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Chief Information Officer   2006    313,481    50,000    52,914(6)   112,084    214,891    0    59,109(13)   802,479 
Bernard P. Baert, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Colors and Engineered Materials, Europe and Asia(3)
   2006    349,999    0    53,125(6)   105,333    219,576    0    69,043(14)   797,076 
                                              
                                              
                     Change in
      
                     Pension
      
                  Non-
  Value and
      
                  Equity
  Nonqualified
      
               Option/
  Incentive
  Deferred
      
            Stock
  SAR
  Plan
  Compensation
  All Other
   
Name and
     Salary
  Bonus
  Awards(4)
  Awards(5)
  Compensation(6)
  Earnings
  Compensation
  Total
Principal Position  Year  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)  ($)
                                              
Stephen D. Newlin,   2008   $831,731   $0   $797,592   $331,625   $1,044,150   $4,341,255(7)  $135,106(9)  $7,481,459 
                                              
Chairman, President and   2007    741,635    0    589,333    778,565    1,482,066        208,069    3,799,668 
                                              
Chief Executive Officer   2006    589,615    600,000    505,374    558,936    959,700        110,196    3,323,821 
                                              
Robert M. Patterson,
Senior Vice President and
   2008    255,385    0    64,526    33,775    107,568        85,109(10)   546,363 
Chief Financial Officer(1)
                                             
                                              
W. David Wilson,
Former Senior Vice
   2008    325,881    0    4,125    68,650    199,420    179,740(8)   861,135(11)   1,638,951 
                                              
President and Chief   2007    363,981    0    241    218,060    167,595    168,279    94,846    1,013,002 
                                              
Financial Officer(2)
   2006    354,058    50,000    75,561    158,724    242,707    0    81,711    962,761 
                                              
Kenneth M. Smith,
Senior Vice President,
   2008    333,308    0    23,232    48,562    210,289    156,297(8)   69,065(12)   840,753 
                                              
Chief Information and   2007    323,712    0    169    145,647    149,053    189,074    76,485    884,140 
                                              
Human Resources Officer   2006    313,481    50,000    52,914    112,084    214,891    0    59,109    802,479 
                                              
Michael L. Rademacher,
Senior Vice President and
   2008    317,308    0    23,232    47,063    270,930        64,367(13)   722,900 
                                              
General Manager, Distribution   2007    307,577    0    160    138,141    210,229        64,508    720,615 
                                              
Bernard Baert,
Senior Vice President and
   2008    415,441    0    23,232    30,974    121,564        84,388(14)   675,599 
                                              
General Manager, Color
and Engineered Material —
   2007    421,668    0    169    144,609    166,263        86,727    819,436 
                                              
Europe and Asia(3)
   2006    349,999    0    53,125    105,333    219,576        70,030    798,063 
                                              
(1)Mr. NewlinPatterson was elected Chairman,hired as Senior Vice President and Chief ExecutiveFinancial Officer, effective February 21, 2006.May 12, 2008 and the numbers in the table reflect the compensation earned during the part of the year he was with the Company.
 
(2)Mr. Patient servedWilson was replaced as our Chief ExecutiveFinancial Officer for a portion of 2006. He had been a Directoron May 12, 2008 and Chairman ofcontinued serving as Senior Vice President until his departure from the Board since November 2003 and served as President and Chief Executive Officer from October 6, 2005 to February 21, 2006, when Mr. Newlin became Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Patient did not participate in our annual or long-term incentive plans or receive the perquisites generally provided to our executive officers.Company on September 9, 2008. The total compensation received by Mr. Patient in 2006, as reflectednumbers in the 2006 Summary Compensation Table, includes: (a) salarytable reflect the compensation earned forduring the period of time in 2006 during which Mr. Patient served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer ($50,000); (b) director fees paid in cash ($18,833); (c) a one-time recognition award, as described in footnote (4) below ($50,000); and (d) like our other non-employee directors, an award of fully-vested PolyOne common shares with a value of $20,833, which represents the award of common shares with a value of $50,000 granted to the other non-employee Directors, pro-rated for the portionpart of the year for which he served as a Director.was with the Company.


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(3)Mr. Baert’s compensation is based in Euros. The conversion rate used for purposes of converting the Euros earned by Mr. Baert into dollars for purposes of this table was €1.00 = $1.25559,$1.4096, which is the conversion rate used in our Annual Report onForm 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.2008.
 
(4)AmountsThis column includes the grants of time-vested, stock-settled RSUs granted in 2008 to the Named Executive Officers under our 2005 and 2008 Equity and Performance Incentive Plans. These grants are described more fully in the narrative following the 2008 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table and in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Elements of Compensation — Long-Term Incentive — Awards Granted in 2008 — RSUs” section of this proxy statement. This column include a signing bonus of $600,000also includes for Mr. Newlin a one-time recognition award in the amount of $50,000 to each of Ms. Shiba and Messrs. Wilson and Smith in recognition of the additional duties and responsibilities assumed in connection with executive and operating matters during the CEO-transition period, and a one-time recognition award in the amount of $50,000 to Mr. Patient in recognition of his leadership and contributions during the CEO-transition period.
(5)This reflects a restricted stock award granted in 2006 to Mr. Newlin under our 2005 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”) as part of his hiring packageLetter Agreement with a compensation cost for 20062008 of $505,374.$586,104. The amount amounts


33


reflected in the table includesfor 2008 include the dollar amountamounts recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for 20062008 with respect to the awardthese awards computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (“SFAS 123(R)”). Additional information regarding the assumptions used in determining the cost reflected in the table can be found in Note Q of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our Annual Report on Form10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. This grant is described more fully in the narrative following the 2006 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table in this proxy statement.
(6)This reflects the compensation cost under SFAS 123(R) in 2006 of performance shares granted in 2005. Additional information regarding the assumptions used in determining the costs reflected in the table can be found in Note Q16 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our Annual Report onForm 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. These performance shares are described in more detail in footnote (5) to the 2006 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End table.2008.
 
(7)(5)This column includes the grants of target-priced,time-vested, stock-settled stock appreciation rightsSARs granted in 20062008 to the Named Executive Officers under our 2005 and 2008 Equity Plan.and Performance Incentive Plans. The cost of these awards as reflected in the table was based on the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes for 20062008 with respect to these awards, computed in accordance with SFAS 123(R). These grants are described more fully in the narrative following the 20062008 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table and in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Elements of Compensation — Long-Term Incentive — Awards Granted in 2008 — Stock-Settled SARs” section inof this proxy statement. This column also reflects for Messrs. Wilson, Smith and Baert and Ms. Shiba the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes in 20062008 with respect to awards granted in prior years. Additional information regarding the assumptions used in determining the costs reflected in the table can be found in Note Q16 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our Annual Report onForm 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.2008.
 
(8)(6)This column reflects amounts earned by the Named Executive Officers under the Senior Executive Annual Plan and pursuant to the vesting of performance units under the Long Term Incentive Plan (the “SEAIP”).for the 2006 — 2008 performance cycle. The terms of the SEAIPthese plans are described more fully in the narrative following the 20062008 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table and in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Elements of Compensation — Annual Incentive”Compensation” section of this proxy statement.
 
(9)(7)Mr. Newlin is entitled to a supplemental retirement benefit under his Letter Agreement (as amended on July 18, 2008), as described more fully in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Elements of Compensation — Retirement Benefits” section of this proxy statement. The amount reflected in the table reflects the net present value as of December 31, 2008 of the annual benefit payment that will be payable as a15-year certain and continuous life annuity beginning at age 58.6 and assumes that Mr. Newlin has a “Qualifying Separation from Service.”
(8)Among the Named Executive Officers, only Mr.Messrs. Wilson and Mr. Smith participate in a company-funded qualified defined benefit pension planthe Qualified Pension Plan and an unfunded, nonqualified defined benefit pension plan (the “Qualifiedthe Nonqualified Pension Plan” and “Nonqualified Pension Plan” respectively) that existed prior to our formation in 2000 through the consolidation of The Geon Company and M.A. Hanna Company. Although shown as $0 in the above table, theHanna. The aggregate actuarial present value of theMessrs. Wilson’s and Smith’s accumulated benefits under the Qualified Pension Plan and the Nonqualified Pension Plan actually decreased during 2006increased by $11,727 for Mr. Wilson and by $8,412 for Mr. Smith.the amount shown in the table above. This increase was due to the fact that earnings under the Nonqualified Pension Plan were re-calculated following the release of final guidance relating to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, as described more fully under the 2008 Pension Benefits table in this proxy statement. Above-market or preferential earnings are not available under any of our non-qualified deferred compensation plans.
(10)(9)Amounts under “All Other Compensation” for Mr. Newlin include taxgross-ups on personal benefits (including a gross up on a moving allowance described below) in the amount of $23,229,$9,462, PolyOne’s cash contributions to our qualified savings planQualified Savings Plan in the amount of $14,300,$14,950, PolyOne’s cash contributions under our non-qualified retirement plan providing for benefits in excess of the amounts permitted to be contributed under the qualified savings planQualified Savings Plan in the amount of $22,675$82,231 and excess liability umbrella insurance


30


coverage in the amount of $987.$685. Mr. Newlin also received perquisites in 2006,2008, reflected in the table, with the following incremental costs: moving allowance ($18,155), car allowance ($12,129, based on $1,200 per month, pro-rated)14,400), and financial planning and tax preparation expenses ($12,250)12,624), and an executive physical ($754).
 
(11)(10)Amounts under “All Other Compensation” for Mr. WilsonPatterson include taxgross-ups on personal benefits (including a gross up on reimbursement for moving expenses described below) in the amount of $6,593,$26,467, PolyOne’s cash contributions to our qualified savings planQualified Savings Plan in the amount of $23,100,$4,600, PolyOne’s cash contributions under our non-qualified retirement plan providing for benefits in excess of the amounts permitted to be contributed under the qualified savings planQualified Savings Plan in the amount of $27,410,$12,000 and excess liability umbrella insurance coverage in the amount of $987 and the current value of future expected retiree medical coverage in the amount of $1,215.$457. Mr. WilsonPatterson also received perquisites in 2006,


34


2008, reflected in the table, with the following incremental costs: car allowancereimbursement of moving expenses ($14,400)39,336) and financial planning and tax preparation expenses ($8,006)2,250).
(12)(11)Amounts under “All Other Compensation” for Ms. ShibaMr. Wilson include severance payments received under our Executive Severance Plan of base salary in the amount of $732,000, continuation of health benefits in the amount of $16,533, gross up of employer contributions toward health benefits in the amount of $12,341 and outplacement in the amount of $9,000. In addition, Mr. Wilson received consulting fees in the amount of $14,940, taxgross-ups on personal benefits in the amount of $2,336,$7,453, PolyOne’s cash contributions to our qualified savings planQualified Savings Plan in the amount of $14,300,$18,450, PolyOne’s cash contributions under our non-qualified retirement plan providing for benefits in excess of the amounts permitted to be contributed under the qualified savings planQualified Savings Plan in the amount of $11,036$26,788, and excess liability umbrella insurance coverage in the amount of $987. Ms. Shiba$514. Mr. Wilson also received perquisites in 2006,2008, reflected in the table, with the following incremental costs: car allowance ($12,000) and10,357), financial planning and tax preparation expenses ($2,200)10,000), and an executive physical ($2,759).
 
(13)(12)Amounts under “All Other Compensation” for Mr. Smith include taxgross-ups on personal benefits in the amount of $4,370,$4,212, PolyOne’s cash contributions to our qualified savings planQualified Savings Plan in the amount of $21,450,$22,425, PolyOne’s cash contributions under our non-qualified retirement plan providing for benefits in excess of the amounts permitted to be contributed under the qualified savings planQualified Savings Plan in the amount of $14,255,$23,330, and excess liability umbrella insurance coverage in the amount of $987 and the current value of future estimated retiree medical coverage in the amount of $1,073.$685. Mr. Smith also received perquisites in 2006,2008, reflected in the table, with the following incremental costs: car allowance ($12,000) and, financial planning and tax preparation expenses ($4,974)5,257), and an executive physical ($1,156).
(13)Amounts under “All Other Compensation” for Mr. Rademacher include taxgross-ups on personal benefits in the amount of $4,432, PolyOne’s cash contributions to our Qualified Savings Plan in the amount of $14,950, PolyOne’s cash contributions under our non-qualified retirement plan providing for benefits in excess of the amounts permitted to be contributed under the Qualified Savings Plan in the amount of $25,040 and excess liability umbrella insurance coverage in the amount of $685. Mr. Rademacher also received perquisites in 2008, reflected in the table, with the following incremental costs: car allowance ($12,000), financial planning and tax preparation expenses ($5,567), and an executive physical ($1,693).
 
(14)Amounts under “All Other Compensation” for Mr. Baert include PolyOne’s cash contributions to atax-efficient savings plan, generally provided to all Belgium employees, in the amount of $42,644.$52,336 and excess liability umbrella insurance coverage in the amount of $685. Mr. Baert also received perquisites in 2006,2008, reflected in the table, with the following incremental costs: company provided automobile ($20,951)25,512), meal vouchers ($1,320)1,606) and customer entertainment allowance ($4,128)4,249).


3135


 
20062008 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
 
                                                      
               Estimated Future Payouts Under
            
      Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(2)  Equity Incentive Plan Awards(4)            
                        All Other
         
                        Stock
        Grant Date
                        Awards:
        Fair
                        Number
        Value of Stock
                        of Shares
  Exercise or Base 
     and
                        of Stock or
  Price of Option 
     Option/SAR
      Threshold(3)
  Target
  Maximum
  Threshold
  Target
  Maximum
  Units
  /SAR Awards(6) 
  Closing Market
  Awards(7)
Name  Grant Date  ($)  ($)  ($)  (#)  (#)  (#)  (#)  ($/Sh)   Price on Grant Date  ($)
S.D. Newlin(1)
  *  $350,000   $700,000   $1,400,000                                    
   2/21/06   515,250    1,030,500    2,061,000                                    
   2/21/06   384,540    769,080    1,538,160                                    
   2/21/06                       174,900              9.185    8.90    651,794 
   2/21/06                                 200,000(5)             1,768,000 
W.F. Patient                             2,314            20,833 
W.D. Wilson  *   88,515    177,029    354,058                                    
   1/4/06   148,100    296,200    592,400                                    
   1/4/06                       63,000              6.51    6.56    173,880 
W.C. Shiba  *   84,442    168,885    337,769                                    
   1/4/06   113,000    226,000    452,000                                    
   1/4/06                       48,000              6.51    6.56    132,480 
K.M. Smith  *   78,370    156,741    313,481                                    
   1/4/06   104,850    209,700    419,400                                    
   1/4/06                       44,700              6.51    6.56    123,372 
B.P. Baert  *   87,481    174,961    349,922                                    
   1/4/06   87,750    175,500    351,000                                    
   1/4/06                       37,500              6.51    6.56    103,500 
                                                      
                                              
      Estimated Future Payouts Under
               
      Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards(2)               
               All Other
            
               Stock Awards:
  All Other Options
        Grant Date
               Number of
  Awards: Number
  Exercise or
  Closing
  Fair Value
               Shares of
  of Securities
  Base Price
  Market
  of Stock and
               Stock or
  Underlying
  of Option
  Price on
  Option/ SAR
   Grant
  Threshold
  Target 
  Maximum 
  Units(4)
  Options(5)
  Awards
  Grant
  Awards
Name  Date  ($)(3)  ($)  ($)  (#)  (#)  ($/Sh)(6)  Date  ($)(7)
S.D. Newlin   (1)   415,866    831,731    1,663,462                          
    
    3/6/2008    516,000    1,032,000    2,064,000                          
    
    3/6/2008                        286,800    6.765    6.67    648,168 
    
    3/6/2008                   114,700                   771,931 
    
R.M. Patterson   (1)   63,846    127,692    255,385                          
    
        0    0    0                          
    
    5/15/2008                        60,000    7.72    7.72    160,800 
    
    5/15/2008                   40,000                   307,200 
    
W.D. Wilson   (1)   65,810    131,619    263,238                          
    
    3/6/2008    87,850    175,700    351,400                          
    
    3/6/2008                        32,600    6.765    6.67    73,676 
    
    3/6/2008                   13,100                   88,163 
    
K.M. Smith   (1)   83,327    166,654    333,308                          
    
    3/6/2008    58,700    117,400    234,800                          
    
    3/6/2008                        31,200    6.765    6.67    70,512 
    
    3/6/2008                   12,600                   84,798 
    
M.L. Rademacher   (1)   79,327    158,654    317,308                          
    
    3/6/2008    55,800    111,600    223,200                          
    
    3/6/2008                        31,200    6.765    6.67    70,512 
    
    3/6/2008                   12,600                   84,798 
    
B. Baert   (1)   103,861    207,721    415,442                          
    
    3/6/2008    76,350    152,700    305,400                          
    
    3/6/2008                        31,200    6.765    6.67    70,512 
    
    3/6/2008                   12,600                   84,798 
 
(1)There is no Grant Date for these awards. This row relates to awards made under our cash-based Senior Executive Annual Incentive Plan (the “SEAIP”).
(1)Mr. Newlin was hired February 21, 2006.Plan.
 
(2)The first row of this column for each Named Executive Officer represents the annual cash incentive opportunity for the Named Executive Officers under the SEAIP.Annual Plan. The actual amount earned for 20062008 under the SEAIPAnnual Plan is reportedincluded in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the 2006 Summary Compensation Table. The second row of this column for each Named Executive Officer represents the performance units awarded to each Named Executive Officer under our 2005 Equity and


36


Performance Incentive Plan.Plan except for Mr. Patterson, who did not receive an award of performance units in 2008. Each performance unit is equal in value to $1.00. These performance units will be paid in cash, if earned, and are subject to achievement of specified performance goals over a three-year performance period(2006-2008) (2008 — 2010). The third row of this column for Mr. Newlin represents a two-year cash incentive that was granted to Mr. Newlin in connection with his employment agreement. This cash incentive consists of 87,000 targeted phantom units, with each unit being equal in value to one share of our common stock. These phantom units will be paid in cash (based on the high-low average of our common shares on the day immediately preceding approval of payment), if earned, and are subject to achievement of specified performance goals over a two-year performance period(2006-2007).
 
(3)Threshold refers to the minimum amount payable upon reaching the threshold level of performance. If threshold performance is not attained, the participant will receive $0 for this award.
 
(4)The numbers in this column represent stock-settled stock appreciation rightsRSUs granted to the Named Executive Officers under our 2005 and 2008 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan,Plans, which become exercisable only upon the achievement of target prices relating to our common stock. If the applicable target prices are met, a portion of the total award becomes exercisable, as explained in the following narrative disclosure. The award of SARs provides for a single estimated payout and, thus, the total number of stock-settled SARs granted in 2006 is reported in the “Target” column above.


32


(5)This represents a grant of restricted stock that Mr. Newlin received as part of his hiring package, which fully vestsvest on the third anniversary of the date of grantgrant.
(5)The numbers in this column represent stock-settled SARs granted to the Named Executive Officers under our 2005 and 2008 Equity and Performance Incentive Plans, which accrues dividends, if any dividends are declaredbecome exercisable one-third on our common stock.each anniversary of the date of grant.
 
(6)In setting the base price of SARs, we have followed the practice of using the average of the high and low sales price of our common shares on the trading day immediately before the day the award was approved by the Committee. This practice is in compliance with our 2005 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan. The award of stock-settled SARs that was granted on January 4, 2006March 6, 2008 to the Named Executive Officers other than Mr. Newlin was priced higher thanusing the average of the high and low sales price on the trading day immediately before the date of grant ($6.51 base price vs. $6.45 average6.765). Mr. Patterson’s award of highSARs was made upon his hire and low on January 3, 2006). This base price is in compliance with the terms ofwas granted under our 20052008 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan, which was approved by shareholders in May, 2008. This plan provides that the baseexercise price must be equal to or greater thanof SARs is set using the fairclosing market value of our common stock (which we have determined to be the average of the high and low sales price)price on the day preceding the date of grant.grant, which was $7.72 for Mr. Patterson’s award.
 
(7)This represents the grant date fair value of each equity-based award, computed in accordance with SFAS 123(R).
 
Set forth below is narrative disclosure relating to the 2006 Summary Compensation Table and the 20062008 Grants of Plan-Based Awards table.
 
Senior Executive Annual Incentive Plan
 
Annual cash incentives were granted in 20062008 under our Senior Executive Annual Incentive Plan and are based on achievement of performance goals relating to company operating income, and company-controlled cash flow and equity investment performance (for the corporate staff participants) and business unit operating income, company operating income and company-controlled cash flow (for Messrs. Baert and revenue growth in Asia (for Mr. Baert)Rademacher). Achievement of a performance goal at the threshold level results in payment of 50% of the targeted award for that performance goal; achievement of a performance goal at the target level results in a payment of 100% of the targeted award for that performance goal; and, achievement at the maximum level or greater results in payment of 200% of the targeted award for that goal. In no event will a Named Executive Officer receive an award that exceeds the plan maximum of $2,000,000. If performance falls between the levels, the award payouts are interpolated. For a more detailed discussion of our annual incentive plan, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Elements of Compensation — Annual Incentive.”
 
Cash-Settled Performance Units
 
Cash-settled performance units were granted in 20062008 to all of our Named Executive Officers, except for Mr. Patterson, under our 2005 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan and are based on achievement of performance goals, over a three-year period, relating to return on invested capital, cash flow and our ratio of debt to EBITDA.earnings per share. If we achieve performance at the threshold levels,level, 50% of the performance units will be earned; if we achieve performance at the targeted levels,level, 100% of the performance units will be earned; and, if we achieve performance at the maximum levelslevel or greater, 200% of the performance units will be earned. If performance falls between the levels, the number of performance units earned is interpolated for the ROIC and cash flow measures. There is no interpolation for the measure relating to the ratio of debt to EBITDA. Performance under each measure is evaluated independently and awards are determined separately for each measure.


37


interpolated. For a more detailed discussion of the performance units granted in 2006,2008, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Elements of Compensation — Long-Term Incentive — Awards Granted in 2008 — Cash-Settled Performance Units.”


33


 
Stock-Settled SARs
 
In 2006,2008, our Compensation and Governance Committee granted stock-settled SARs to the Named Executive Officers. These SARs have a term of seven years and vest uponone-third on each of the attainmentfirst three anniversaries of target prices (sustained for three consecutive trading days) for PolyOne common shares as follows: 1/3 @ $7.50; 1/3 @ $8.50 and 1/3 @ $10.00. In no event may the SARs vest sooner than one year from the date of grant. For a more detailed discussion of the stock-settled SARs granted in 2006,2008, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Elements of Compensation — Long-Term Incentive — Awards Granted in 2008 — Stock-Settled SARs.”
 
Restricted Stock Granted to Mr. NewlinUnits (RSUs)
 
Upon his hire date, Mr. Newlin received a grant of 200,000 shares of restricted stock, which fullyIn 2008, our Compensation and Governance Committee granted RSUs to the Named Executive Officers. The RSUs vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant. The common shares subject to the grant of restricted stock may not be transferred or otherwise disposed of by Mr. Newlin (except by will or the laws of descent and distribution), unless the restricted stock becomes nonforfeitable as described herein. The common shares subject to the grant of restricted stock were registered in Mr. Newlin’s name and are fully paid and nonassessable. From and after the date of grant, Mr. Newlin had alldate. For a more detailed discussion of the rightsRSUs granted in 2008, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Elements of a shareholder with respect to the shares of restricted stock granted, including the right to vote such shares of restricted stock and receive any dividends that may be paid thereon.
Phantom UnitsCompensation — Long-Term Incentive — Awards Granted to Mr. Newlin
Mr. Newlin received a grant of 87,000 cash-settled phantom units, which become earned only upon the attainment of equally-weighted performance goals relating to our cash flow, return on invested capital (ROIC) and debt to EBITDA ratio and Mr. Newlin remaining in the continuous employ of PolyOne or a subsidiary through the end of a two year performance period (i.e., December 31, 2007). Each phantom unit is equal in value to one common share. If we achieve performance at the threshold levels, 50% of the units will be earned; if we achieve performance at the targeted levels, 100% of the units will be earned; and, if we achieve performance at the maximum levels or greater, 200% of the units will be earned. If performance falls between the levels, the number of units earned is interpolated for the ROIC and cash flow levels. There is no interpolation for the measure relating to the debt to EBITDA ratio. Performance under each measure is evaluated independently and awards are determined separately for each measure. Any earned units entitle Mr. Newlin to a cash payment at the end of the performance period equal to the number of earned units multiplied by the average of the high and low sales prices of our common shares on the day immediately preceding approval of payment.2008 — RSUs.”
 
Employment Agreements
 
We do not have employment agreements with any of our Named Executive Officers, except for Mr. Newlin. Mr. Newlin’s Employment Agreement is described in detail in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Employment Agreement of the Chief Executive Officer” and the “Potential Payments Upon Termination orChange-in-Control” sections of this proxy statement.


3438


20062008 OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
 
                            
  Option/SAR Awards   Stock Awards 
          Equity
                 
          Incentive Plan
                 
  Number of
   Number of
   Awards: Number of
                 
  Securities
   Securities
   Securities
               Market Value
 
  Underlying
   Underlying
   Underlying
   Option/
       Number of Shares
   of Shares or
 
  Unexercised
   Unexercised
   Unexercised
   SARs
   Option/
   or Units of Stock
   Units of Stock
 
  Options
   Options/SARs
   Unearned
   Exercise
   SARs
   That Have Not
   That Have Not
 
  (#)
   (#)
   Options/SARs
   Price
   Expiration
   Vested
   Vested
 
Name  Exercisable(1)   Unexercisable   (#)   ($)   Date   (#)   ($)(2) 
S.D. Newlin                            200,000(3)   630,000 
                                   
                            114,700(4)   361,305 
                                   
   116,600(5)        58,300(5)   9.1850    2/20/2013           
                                   
   308,400(6)             6.5850    3/7/2014           
                                   
        286,800(7)        6.7650    3/5/2015           
                                   
R.M. Patterson                            40,000(4)   126,000 
                                   
        60,000(7)        7.7200    5/14/2015           
                                   
W.D. Wilson                            2,237(4)   7,047 
                                                                       
  Option/SAR Awards   Stock Awards    26,400(8)             8.9400    1/4/2012           
                  Equity
 Equity
                                    
                  Incentive
 Incentive Plan 
    42,000(5)        21,000(5)   6.5100    1/3/2013           
      Equity
           Plan
 Awards:
                                    
      Incentive Plan
           Awards:
 Market or
    88,200(6)             6.5850    3/7/2014           
      Awards:
         Market
 Number of
 Payout Value
                                    
  Number of
 Number of
 Number of
       Number of
 Value of
 Unearned
 of Unearned
    10,867(9)   0         6.7650    3/5/2015           
  Securities
 Securities
 Securities
       Shares or
 Shares or
 Shares,
 Shares, Units
                                    
  Underlying
 Underlying
 Underlying
 Option/
     Units of
 Units of
 Units or
 or Other
    200    0         9.0000    9/4/2010           
  Unexercised
 Unexercised
 Unexercised
 SAR
 Option/
   Stock That
 Stock That
 Other Rights
 Rights That
                                    
  Options/SARs
 Options/SARs
 Unearned
 Exercise
 SAR
   Have Not
 Have Not
 That Have
 ��Have Not
    71,100    0         8.7000    2/27/2011           
  (#)
 (#)
 Options/SARs
 Price
 Expiration
   Vested
 Vested
 Not Vested
 Vested(6)
                                    
Name  Exercisable(1)   Unexercisable   (#)   ($)   Date   (#)   ($)   (#)   ($) 
S.D. Newlin                            200,000(2)   1,500,000(6)           
             174,900(3)   9.1850    2/20/2013                     
W.F. Patient   72,000    0         9.9375    1/1/2007                     
   140,000    0         10.3125    2/3/2008                        82,400    0         12.2200    9/9/2011           
   6,000    0         6.7050    5/20/2014                                                        
W.D. Wilson             26,400(4)   8.9400    1/4/2012                     
   61,900    0         6.0000    9/9/2011           
                                   
K.M. Smith                            12,600(4)   39,690 
             63,000(3)   6.5100    1/3/2013                                                        
                                      23,800(5)   178,500              18,600(10)   8.9400    1/4/2012           
   8,000    0         9.9375    1/1/2007                                                        
   24,800    0         6.0000    3/31/2007                        29,800(5)        14,900(5)   6.5100    1/3/2013           
   128,536    0         10.3125    2/3/2008                                                        
   200    0         9.0000    9/4/2010                        58,500(6)             6.5850    3/7/2014           
   71,100    0         8.7000    2/27/2011                                                        
   82,400    0         12.2200    3/25/2012                             31,200(7)        6.7650    3/5/2015           
   61,900    0         6.0000    3/31/2013                                                        
W.C. Shiba             20,700(4)   8.9400    1/4/2012                     
             48,000(3)   6.5100    1/3/2013                        200    0         9.0000    9/4/2010           
                                      18,600(5)   139,500                                    
   2,134    0         6.0000    3/31/2007                        42,700    0         8.7000    2/27/2011           
   10,290    0         8.9600    2/27/2011                                                        
   59,400    0         12.2200    3/25/2012                        49,500    0         12.2200    3/25/2012           
   46,900    0         6.0000    3/31/2013                                                        
                                       39,100    0         6.0000    3/31/2013           
                                   
M.L. Rademacher                            12,600(4)   39,690 
                                   
             17,700(10)   8.9400    1/4/2012           
                                   
   28,200(5)        14,100(5)   6.5100    1/3/2013           
                                   
   55,500(6)             6.5850    3/7/2014           
                                   
        31,200(7)        6.7650    3/5/2015           
                                   
   19,524    0         11.5000    1/5/2010           
                                   
   200    0         9.0000    9/4/2010           
                                   
   42,700    0         8.7000    2/27/2011           
                                   
   49,500    0         12.2200    3/25/2012           
                                   
   39,100    0         6.0000    3/31/2013           
                            


3539


                                              
   Option/SAR Awards   Stock Awards 
                               Equity
   Equity
 
                               Incentive
   Incentive Plan 
 
           Equity
                   Plan
   Awards:
 
           Incentive Plan
                   Awards:
   Market or
 
           Awards:
               Market
   Number of
   Payout Value
 
   Number of
   Number of
   Number of
           Number of
   Value of
   Unearned
   of Unearned
 
   Securities
   Securities
   Securities
           Shares or
   Shares or
   Shares,
   Shares, Units
 
   Underlying
   Underlying
   Underlying
   Option/
       Units of
   Units of
   Units or
   or Other
 
   Unexercised
   Unexercised
   Unexercised
   SAR
   Option/
   Stock That
   Stock That
   Other Rights
   Rights That
 
   Options/SARs
   Options/SARs
   Unearned
   Exercise
   SAR
   Have Not
   Have Not
   That Have
   Have Not
 
   (#)
   (#)
   Options/SARs
   Price
   Expiration
   Vested
   Vested
   Not Vested
   Vested(6)
 
Name  Exercisable(1)   Unexercisable   (#)   ($)   Date   (#)   ($)   (#)   ($) 
K.M. Smith             18,600(4)   8.9400    1/4/2012                     
              44,700(3)   6.5100    1/3/2013                     
                                       16,667(5)   125,003 
    1,800    0         9.9375    1/1/2007                     
    29,392    0         10.3125    2/3/2008                     
    200    0         9.0000    9/4/2010                     
    42,700    0         8.7000    2/27/2011                     
    49,500    0         12.2200    3/25/2012                     
    39,100    0         6.0000    3/31/2013                     
B.P. Baert             18,600(4)   8.9400    1/4/2012                     
              37,500(3)   6.5100    1/3/2013                     
                                       16,733(5)   125,498 
    3,030    0         25.1875    11/4/2007                     
    7,073    0         15.0000    11/3/2008                     
    6,969    0         10.6250    11/30/2009                     
    200    0         9.0000    9/4//2010                     
    41,000    0         8.7000    2/27/2011                     
    47,500    0         12.2200    3/25/2012                     
                                              
                                    
   Option/SAR Awards   Stock Awards 
           Equity
                 
           Incentive Plan
                 
   Number of
   Number of
   Awards: Number of
                 
   Securities
   Securities
   Securities
               Market Value
 
   Underlying
   Underlying
   Underlying
   Option/
       Number of Shares
   of Shares or
 
   Unexercised
   Unexercised
   Unexercised
   SARs
   Option/
   or Units of Stock
   Units of Stock
 
   Options
   Options/SARs
   Unearned
   Exercise
   SARs
   That Have Not
   That Have Not
 
   (#)
   (#)
   Options/SARs
   Price
   Expiration
   Vested
   Vested
 
Name  Exercisable(1)   Unexercisable   (#)   ($)   Date   (#)   ($)(2) 
B. Baert                            12,600(4)   39,690 
                                    
              18,600(10)   8.9400    1/4/2012           
                                    
    25,000(5)        12,500(5)   6.5100    1/3/2013           
                                    
    53,100(6)             6.5850    3/7/2014           
                                    
         31,200(7)        6.7650    3/5/2015           
                                    
    6,969    0         10.6250    11/30/2009           
                                    
    200    0         9.0000    9/4/2010           
                                    
    41,000    0         8.7000    2/27/2011           
                                    
    47,500    0         12.2200    3/25/2012           
                                    
(1)This column shows the fully-exercisable stock options and SARs granted to the Named Executive Officers prior to the last fiscal year.
 
(2)Based on the closing market price of our common shares on the last trading day of the 2008 fiscal year, December 31, 2008 ($3.15).
(3)These shares of restricted stock vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant.
 
(3)(4)These RSUs were granted in 2008 and vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant.
(5)These stock-settled stock appreciation rights (“SARs”)SARs were granted in 2006 and vest upon the attainment of target prices (sustained for three consecutive trading days) for our common shares as follows: 1/3 @ $7.50; 1/3 @ $8.50; and1/3 @ $10.00. In no event may the SARs vest sooner than one year from the date of grant.
 
(4)(6)These stock-settled SARs were granted in 2007 and vest upon the attainment of target prices (sustained for three consecutive trading days) for our common shares as follows: 1/3 @ $7.24; 1/3 @ $7.90; and1/3 @ $8.56. In no event may the SARs vest sooner than one year from the date of grant.
(7)These stock-settled SARs were granted in 2008 and vest one-third on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant.
(8)The stock-settled SARs granted to Mr. Wilson in 2005 became fully vested due to his separation from service and retirement eligibility under the terms of those awards.
(9)One-third of the stock-settled SARs granted to Mr. Wilson vested due to his separation from service and retirement eligibility under the terms of those awards within six months of the vesting date. The remaining two-thirds were cancelled.
(10)These stock-settled SARs were granted in 2005 and vest upon the attainment of target prices (sustained for three consecutive trading days) for our common shares as follows: 1/3 @ $9.84; 1/3 @ $10.73; and 1/3 @ $11.63.
(5)These performance shares were granted in January 2005 and are earned upon achievement of performance goals, over the2005-2007 performance period, relating to operating cash flow, return on invested capital (ROIC), and level of EBITDA in relation to debt. Each performance measure is weighted equally at 331/3%. If we were to attain all of the targeted performance levels, a participant would earn a target-level award. If we were to attain only the threshold performance levels, 50% of the targeted award would be earned and if we were to attain the maximum or better performance levels, the participant would earn


3640


200% of the targeted award. Awards are interpolated for the ROIC and cash flow measures if performance falls between the levels. There is no interpolation for the level of EBITDA in relation to debt performance measure. The numbers reflected in the table are based on achieving the threshold level of performance for two performance measures and the target level of performance for one performance measure.
(6)Based on the closing market price of our common shares on the last trading day of the 2006 fiscal year, December 29, 2006 ($7.50).
 
2006 OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED2008 PENSION BENEFITS
 
                     
   Option/SAR Awards   Stock Awards 
   Number of Shares
       Number of Shares
     
   Acquired on
   Value Realized
   Acquired on
   Value Realized 
 
   Exercise(1)
   on Exercise(2)
   Vesting
   on Vesting 
 
Name  (#)   ($)   (#)   ($)  
S.D. Newlin                
W.F. Patient                
W.D. Wilson   55,040    154,387         
W.C. Shiba   16,666    31,332         
K.M. Smith   15,600    50,382         
B.P. Baert   16,400    48,380         
                     
                 
          Present Value of
    
      Number of Years
   Accumulated
   Payments During Last 
      Credited Service
   Benefit
   Fiscal Year
Name  Plan Name  (#)   ($)   ($)
S.D. Newlin  Supplemental Retirement benefit under Letter Agreement       4,341,255(1)   0
 
R.M. Patterson  N/A          
 
W.D. Wilson  
PolyOne Merged Pension Plan(2)
   24.9    589,172(2)   0
 
   
The Geon Company Section 401(a)(17) Benefit Restoration Plan(2)
   24.9    854,017(2)   0
 
K. M. Smith  
PolyOne Merged Pension Plan(2)(3)
   17.4    371,675(2)(3)   0
 
   
The Geon Company Section 401(a)(17) Benefit Restoration Plan(2)(4)
   17.4    473,654(2)(4)   0
 
M.L. Rademacher  N/A          
 
B. Baert  N/A          
 
(1)The Present Value of Accumulated Benefit shown above for Mr. Wilson exercised 55,040 stock appreciation rights; Ms. Shiba exercised 16,666 incentive stock options;Newlin is the lump-sum value as of December 31, 2008 of the annual benefit payment earned as of December 31, 2008 that will be payable under Mr. Smith exercised 15,600 incentive stock options; Mr. Baert exercised 16,400 stock appreciation rights.Newlin’s Amended and Restated Letter Agreement, dated as of July 16, 2008, providing for a15-year certain and continuous life annuity beginning at age 58.6. Lump sum payments are not allowed under the plan. The assumptions used to determine the lump-sum value are a discount rate of 6.64% and a post-retirement mortality using the RP-2000 Combined Healthy Mortality Tables for males projected by scale AA to 2009.
 
(2)Represents the difference between the market price of our common shares at exercise and the exercise or base price of the options or SARs exercised.


37


2006 PENSION BENEFITS
                   
          Present Value of
     
      Number of Years
   Accumulated
   Payments During 
 
      Credited Service
   Benefit(1)
   Last Fiscal Year 
 
Name  Plan Name  (#)   ($)   ($)  
S.D. Newlin  N/A            
W.F. Patient(2)
  N/A            
W.D. Wilson  PolyOne Merged Pension Plan   24.9    512,950    0 
   The Geon Company Section 401(a)(17) Benefit Restoration Plan   24.9    582,220    0 
W.C. Shiba  N/A            
K.M. Smith  PolyOne Merged Pension Plan(3)   17.4    326,264    0 
   The Geon Company Section 401(a)(17) Benefit Restoration Plan(4)   17.4    173,694    0 
B.P. Baert  N/A            
                   
(1)The Present Value of Accumulated Benefit shown in column (d) above for each plan for each Named Executive OfficerMessrs. Wilson and Smith is the lump-sum value as of December 31, 20062008 of the monthly pension benefit earned as of December 31, 20062008 that would be payable under that plan for the executive’sMessrs. Wilson’s and Smith’s life beginning onat age 62 (the earliest age prior to the Normal Retirement Age of 65 when benefits can commence unreduced for early retirement). Lump sum payments are not allowed under either plan. The assumptions used to determine the lump-sum value are a discount rate of 6.07%6.64% and a post-retirement mortality using the RP-2000 Combined Healthy Mortality Tables for males.males projected by Scale AA to 2009. No pre-retirement decrements are assumed.
(2)Mr. Patient was not entitled to pension benefits as a result of his retirement as our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to his serving in this capacity, he was entitled to, and was receiving, earned pension benefits as a result of his service with The Geon Company, our predecessor.
 
(3)Mr. Smith’s Number of Years of Credited Service includes the 4four additional years of pension service discussed in the narrative following the 20062008 Pension BenefitsBenefit table. Without the 4four additional years of pension service, the Present Value of Accumulated Benefit would have been $251,355$286,340 instead of the $326,264$371,675 shown in the table. Subsequent earnings under the qualified and non-qualified plan were frozen effective March 20, 2009.
 
(4)Mr. Smith’s Number of Years of Credited Service includes the 4four additional years of pension service discussed in the narrative following the 20062008 Pension Benefitsbenefit table. Without the 4four additional years of pension service, the Present Value of Accumulated Benefit would have been $133,814$364,905 instead of the $173,694 shown$473,654 in the table. Subsequent earnings under the qualified and non-qualified plan were frozen effective March 20, 2009.
 
As a result of the continuation of a planplans that existed prior to the consolidation of Geon and M.A. Hanna, we maintain two defined benefit plans for those employees who were with those companies at the time of the consolidation. As of December 31, 1999, both plans were closed to new participants. Only Messrs. Wilson and Smith participate in these Pension Plans.
 
One plan is The PolyOne Merged Pension Plan, which provides funded, tax-qualified benefits subject to the limits on compensation and benefits under the Internal Revenue Code (referred to as


38


the(the “Qualified Plan”). The other plan is The Geon Company Section 401(a)(17) Benefit Restoration Plan (the “Benefit Restoration Plan”), which provides unfunded, non-qualified benefits that are in addition to


41


those offered under the Qualified Plan. The Benefit Restoration Plan benefits are calculated under a formula similar to that of the Qualified Plan, but without the compensation and benefit limits imposed by the Internal Revenue Code on qualified plans. The benefits under the Benefit Restoration Plan are offset by benefits provided under the Qualified Plan. The Qualified Plan makes available a pension that is paid from funds in trust provided through contributions by PolyOne.us. Any pension benefit provided under the Benefit Restoration Plan is paid from our general assets.
 
The amount of the executive’s pension depends on a number of factors including “final average earnings” (“FAE”)Final Average Earnings (FAE) and years of credited company service to PolyOne.Benefit Service. FAE is determined based on the highest four consecutive calendar years of an employee’s earnings. Earnings include salary, overtime pay, holiday pay, vacation pay, and certain incentive payments including annual cash bonuses, but exclude awards under long-term incentive programs and the match by us in the qualified savings plans. The annual salary and bonus for the current year for the Named Executive Officers is indicated in the 2006 Summary Compensation Table.
 
EffectiveThe Qualified Pension Plan and Nonqualified Pension Plan were frozen to new entrants effective December 31, 1999. Benefit Service was frozen effective December 31, 2002 service under thein both the Qualified Planplans and, the Benefit Restoration Plan were frozen. Effective December 31, 2004,effective March 20, 2009, earnings under both plans were frozen for all participants. We decided to freeze these plans following a comprehensive retirement benefits review, during which the Benefit Restoration PlanCommittee examined whether our retirement programs were frozen.consistent with company goals, including fairness to all associates and competitiveness in the marketplace. With this change, we will have a single and competitive retirement plan for ourU.S.-based employees.
 
The combined Plans generally provide a benefit of 1.15% of FAE, times all years of pension service credit, plus 0.45% of FAE in excess of 2002 “covered compensation” (as defined by the Social Security Administration) times years of pension credit up to 35 years. In addition, those executives who were actively at work on December 31, 1989, may receive an additional pension service credit of up to 4four years if actual pension service credit is less than 24 years. Benefits become vested after 5five years of service and are generally payable on a monthly lifetime basis starting at age 65.
 
A former employee can elect to commence vested benefit payments as early as age 55 in lieu of waiting to age 65. However, the benefit described above is subject to reduction in recognition of the additional payments that are received because of early commencement. The reduction for early retirement is determined differently depending on whether the former employee terminated employment before or after attaining age 55. If an employee terminates employment on or after age 55 and commences his or her benefit before age 62, the benefit payments would be reduced by 0.5% per month. If an employee terminates employment before age 55 and commences his or her benefit before age 65, the reduction is more severe and is determined on an actuarially equivalent basis. No reduction will occur if an employee (1) terminates employment on or after age 55 and commences his or her benefit on or after age 62 or (2) terminates employment before age 55 and commences his or her benefit at age 65.
 
The normal form of payment provides that an employee will receive his or her benefit on a lifetime payment with a minimum of 60 monthly payments guaranteed. Married participants receive payments in an actuarially equivalent 50% Joint and Survivor form. Other actuarially equivalent monthly lifetime forms of payments are available if elected by the participant with spousal agreement if married. Lump sum payments are not available.
 
In general, if a married, vested participant dies prior to commencing his pension benefit then the spouse is eligible to receive the benefit that would have otherwise been payable had the participant terminated employment on the day he died, survived to his Normal Retirement Date and


42


elected a 50% Joint and Survivor form of payment and then immediately died. The 50% Joint and Survivor provides the surviving spouse with monthly lifetime payments at the participant’s Normal Retirement Age equal to 50% of the benefit that otherwise would have been payable. Payments can


39


commence prior to the participant’s Normal Retirement Age but may be reduced for early commencement.
 
Mr. Newlin is also eligible for supplemental retirement benefits as described more fully in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Elements of Compensation — Retirement Benefits” section of this proxy statement.
20062008 NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
 
                          
   Executive
   Registrant
   Aggregate
   Aggregate
   Aggregate
 
    Contributions in
   Contributions in
   Earnings
   Withdrawals/
   Balance at Last
 
   Last FY(1)
   Last FY(2)
   in Last FY(3)
   Distributions
   FYE(4)
 
Name  ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($) 
S.D. Newlin  $20,377   $22,675   $413       $40,100 
W.F. Patient                    
W.D. Wilson   49,442    27,410    49,814        502,595 
W.C. Shiba   9,633    11,036    16,409        190,406 
K. M. Smith   7,803    14,255    11,388        151,941 
B.P. Baert                    
                          
                          
   Executive
   Registrant
   Aggregate
   Aggregate
     
   Contributions
   Contributions in
   Earnings
   Withdrawals/
   Aggregate Balance
 
   in Last FY(1)
   Last FY(2)
   in Last FY(3)
   Distributions(4)
   at Last FYE(5)
 
Name  ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($) 
S.D. Newlin  $75,382   $82,231   $14,770   $0   $404,188 
 
R.M. Patterson   38,308    12,000    (8,769)   0    41,539 
 
W.D. Wilson   49,125    26,788    (150,522)   (284,766)   307,440 
 
K.M. Smith   13,442    23,330    (35,438)   0    208,085 
 
M.L. Rademacher   63,630    25,040    (140,380)   0    403,432 
 
B. Baert                    
 
(1)These amounts reflect actual amounts earned by the executivesNamed Executive Officers in 2006, which amounts2008 that have been deferred on a voluntary basis. The full amounts reflected in this column (b) are included in the 2006 Summary Compensation Table as Salary, except for $4,364 relating to Mr. Wilson, which was reported in the “Bonus” column of the 2005 Summary Compensation Table.follows:
           
      2007 “Non-Equity
      Incentive Plan
   2008 “Salary”
  Compensation”
   Column  Column
S.D. Newlin  $41,192   $34,190 
 
R.M. Patterson   38,308     
 
W.D. Wilson   28,928    20,197 
 
K.M. Smith   13,442     
 
M.L. Rademacher   38,653    24,977 
 
B. Baert        
 
(2)This column contains contributions by us in the last fiscal year under our non-qualified retirement plan, the PolyOne Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan, which provides for benefits in excess of amounts permitted to be contributed under our qualified retirement plan, as follows: (a) our cash contributions in amounts equal to 100% on the first 3% of employee contributions plus 50% on the next 3% of employee contributions (the “Company Match”); (b) a retirement contribution by us in an amount equal to 2% of eligible earnings (the “Retirement Contribution”); and (c) for Messrs. Wilson and Smith and Wilson only (as our heritage employees), an additional automatic company-paid contribution in the amount of 3.25%4% and 4%3.25%, respectively (the “Transition Contribution”). Messrs.Mr. Baert and Patient dodoes not currently participate in this plan or any other non-qualified deferred compensation plan. The following table breaks out the contributions made by us in 20062008 under each of the types of contributions described above:
 


43


                                               
Company Contribution Newlin Patient Wilson Shiba Smith Baert   Newlin   Patterson   Wilson   Smith   Rademacher   Baert 
Company Match   56,537    11,492    14,738    10,081    19,089     
Company Match $15,283     $14,833  $7,225  $5,852    
Retirement Contribution  7,392      4,192   3,811   3,201       25,694    508    4,017    5,047    5,951     
Transition Contribution  0      8,385   0   5,202               8,033    8,202         
All of these amounts are included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.
 
All of these amounts are included in the “All Other Compensation” column of the 2006 Summary Compensation Table.
(3)Because amounts included in this column do not include above-market or preferential earnings, none of these amounts are included in the “Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” column of the 2006 Summary Compensation Table.
 
(4)Subsequent to his separation from service, Mr. Wilson’s balance of $170,760 in his Geon Company Section 401(a)(17) Benefit Retirement Plan was distributed to him under the provisions of the plan and he elected to withdraw a portion of his balance ($114,006) from the PolyOne Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan.
(5)A portion of the balance reflected in the table represents amounts earned by the executives, which they have elected to defer on a voluntary basis. The following amounts included in the “Aggregate Balance at Last FYE” column were reported in the 2006 Summary Compensation Table or in the Summary Compensation Table for previous years since our formation in 2000 (in the “Salary,” “Bonus,” “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation,” or the “All Other Compensation” columns): Mr. Newlin: $40,100; Mr. Wilson: $345,830; Ms. Shiba: $152,938; and Mr. Smith: $102,121. Certain of the Named Executive Officers also have balances in frozen non-qualified deferred compensation plans sponsored by our predecessor companies, Geon and M.A. Hanna. These plans are The Geon Company Section 401(a)(17) Benefit Restoration Plan and the M.A. Hanna Company Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan. These amounts are reflected in the table.
 
We currently offer participation in a non-qualified deferred compensation retirement plan, called the PolyOne Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan. This plan is an unfunded, nonqualified


40


plan that provides benefits similar to our Qualified Savings Plan, but without Internal Revenue Code contribution and earnings limitations. The Named Executive Officers are permitted to elect to defer up to 15%50% of their salary and annual bonus into the plan. The amounts deferred are credited to accounts selected by the executive that mirror the investment alternatives available in our qualified retirement plan, except that participants cannot elect the PolyOne stock fund with respect to amounts deferred under the non-qualified plan. Each Named Executive Officer who is a participant in the supplemental plan is 100% vested in that portion of his or her account that is attributable to elective deferrals, the Transition Contribution (as defined above) and the Company Match (as defined above). Effective March 20, 2009, the Transition Contribution was eliminated for all participants. Further, Named Executive Officers who are participants in the plan are vested in the Retirement Contribution (as defined above) upon three years of service. A Named Executive Officer’s vested accounts will commence to be paid to such executive within 30 days of the date of the executive’s termination of employment with us in the form of payment selected by the executive (lump sum payment or payment in installments over a period not exceeding 10 years) on an election form received by us.
 
The PolyOne Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan and the frozen legacy plans are subject to the rules of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, which restricts the timing of distributions. Thus, payment, or commencement of payment, to the Named Executive Officers of their accounts may need to be delayed by six months from such executive’s “separation from service” with us.
 
POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION ORCHANGE-IN-CONTROL
 
Our Named Executive Officers’ employment may be terminated under several possible scenarios. In certain of these scenarios, our plans, agreements, arrangements or typical practices would provide severance benefits in varying amounts to the executive. We do not have employment agreements with any of our Named Executive Officers, other than Mr. Newlin. We do have Management

44


Continuity Agreements with each of our Named Executive Officers, which provide for specified benefits upon a termination of employment following a change inof control and each of our Named Executive Officers, other than Mr. Newlin, participate in our newly-approved Executive Severance Plan. Further, our plans, agreements and arrangements may provide for specified benefits upon a change inof control (or for acceleration of such benefits). Severance and other benefits that are payable upon a termination of employmentand/or upon a change inof control are described below. The tables following the narrative discussion summarize the amounts payable upon termination or a change inof control under certain circumstances, assuming that the executive’s employment terminated on December 31, 2006.2008.
 
Management Continuity Agreements
 
Messrs. Newlin, Wilson,Patterson, Smith, BaertRademacher and Ms. ShibaBaert are parties to management continuity agreementsContinuity Agreements with us (the “Continuity Agreements”).us. The purpose of the Continuity Agreements is to encourage the individuals to carry out their duties in the event of the possibility of a “change of control” of PolyOne. The Continuity Agreements do not provide any assurance of continued employment unless there is a change of control. Generally, a change of control is deemed to have occurred if:
 
 • any person becomes the beneficial owner of 25% or more of the combined voting power of our outstanding securities (subject to certain exceptions);
 
 • there is a change in the majority of our Board of Directors;


41


 • certain corporate reorganizations occur where the existing shareholders do not retain more than 60% of the common shares and combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving entity; or
 
 • there is shareholder approval of a complete liquidation or dissolution of PolyOne.
 
The Continuity Agreements generally provide for the continuation of employment of the individuals (for a period of 2two or 3three years, depending on the executive) in the same positions and with the same responsibilities and authorities that they possessed immediately prior to the change of control and with the same benefits and level of compensation.
 
If a change of control occurs and the Named Executive Officer’s employment is terminated by us or a successor for reasons other than “cause” or is terminated voluntarily by the individual for “good reason”,reason,” generally the Continuity Agreements provide that the individual would be entitled to receive:
 
 • at the election of the executive, continued payments of base salary for a period of up to two or three years, depending on the executive, or a lump sum payment of two or three years of base salary, depending on the executive;
 
 • a payment of up to two or three times (depending on the executive) the executive’s targeted annual incentive amount in effect prior to the change of control;
 
 • the continuationreimbursement for costs of all employee health and welfare benefits for up to two or three years (depending on the executive); equal to the difference between (1) the amount the executive is required to pay for such coverage and (2) the amount the executive would have been required to pay if he had paid the same percentage of the cost that a similarly situated employee would pay as of the date of the executive’s termination of employment, plus reimbursement for any taxes imposed as a result of the reimbursement for health care coverage;
 
 • a financial planning services for one year;planning/tax preparation allowance equal to the annual financial planning/tax preparation allowance the executive was entitled to receive prior to the change of control;
 
 • a payment based on the difference between what the executive is entitled to receive under certain retirement plans and what the executive would have received under such retirement


45


plans if he or she had accumulated two or three (depending on the executive) additional years of service under such plans;
 • a lump sum payment equal to the company contributions required to be made to certain retirement plans on behalf of the executive for the year of the change of control or the year of termination; and
 
 • a taxgross-up for any excise tax due under the Internal Revenue Code for any payments or distributions made under the agreements.
 
All of the above severance benefits would be paid to the executive in accordance with, and at times permitted by, Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.
 
Under the terms of the Continuity Agreements, “cause” is defined generally to include: (1) following notice and an opportunity to cure, the willful and continued failure of the executive to substantially perform his or duties, which causes material and demonstrable injury to the company; or (2) the willful engaging by the executive in other gross misconduct materially and demonstrably injurious to the company.
 
Further, under the terms of the Continuity Agreements, “good reason” is defined generally to include:
 
 • changes in duties, responsibilities, reporting relationships and status that constitute a material demotion;


42


 • the assignment of duties or responsibilities that are materially inconsistent with, or materially and adversely change, the executive’s positions, duties, responsibilities or reporting relationships and status;
 
 • a reduction in base salary or target incentive;
 
 • the failure to continue employee benefits or perquisites on a substantially equivalent basis;
 
 • the requirement to change the principal location of the executive’s work, which results in an additional commute of more than 50 miles;
 
 • the requirement for increased travel (one-third more) away from the executive’s office;
 
 • the failure of a successor to assume the Continuity Agreement; or
 
 • a termination of employment that does not comply with the Continuity Agreement.
 
For the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Officer, “good reason” also includes theirhis election to terminate employment for any reason during the30-day period immediately following the first anniversary of the change of control.
 
To the extent a payment or benefit that is paid or provided under a Continuity Agreement would also be paid or provided under the terms of another plan, program, agreement, arrangement or arrangement,legal requirement, the executive would be entitled to payment under the Continuity Agreement or such other applicable plan, program, agreement, arrangement or arrangement shalllegal requirement, whichever provides for greater benefits, but would not be deemedentitled to have been satisfied by the payment made or benefit providedbenefits under both the Continuity Agreement.Agreement and such other plan, program, agreement, arrangement or legal requirement.
 
In addition, in order to receive payment and benefits under the Continuity Agreement, the Named Executive Officer must execute a release of claims against us and is subject to confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation covenants for two or three years (depending on the executive).


46


Employment Agreement with Mr. Newlin
 
We have entered into a letter agreement with Stephen D. Newlin, pursuant to which Mr. Newlin agreed to serve as our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. The agreement provides that if (i) Mr. Newlin’s employment is terminated by us without serious cause (as defined in our Employee Transition Plan), (ii) Mr. Newlin is not otherwise entitled to receive benefits under his Continuity Agreement (discussed above) and (iii) Mr. Newlin agrees to standard non-compete and non-solicitation covenants for a period of 36 months following the date of termination, Mr. Newlin will be entitled to 36 months of salary continuation, car allowance and financial planning/tax preparation allowance, a pro-rated annual incentive amount as earned for the year in which the termination of employment occurs and 18reimbursement for the costs previously paid by us while Mr. Newlin was employed for the continued coverage for 24 months of continuation in our medical and dental plans (but not life insurance, short-term disability or long-term disability) and an amount equal to the financial equivalent, plus any taxes imposed as a result of six additional months of continuation in such medical and dental plans.reimbursement.
 
If Mr. Newlin’sNewlin is also entitled to supplemental retirement benefits under his Letter Agreement if his employment is involuntarily terminated without serious cause prior to February 21, 2009,other than for Serious Cause or if Mr. Newlin terminates employment for “Good Reason” (as defined above) following a change of control. For this purpose, Serious Cause has the meaning ascribed to such term in the PolyOne Employee Transition Plan as amended from time to time, and also includes any breach of the Letter Agreement or certain other agreements between us and Mr. Newlin. These supplemental retirement benefits are described more fully in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Elements of Compensation — Retirement Benefits” section of this proxy statement.
W. David Wilson Severance Payments
On September 9, 2008, Mr. Wilson terminated from service. Consistent with our Executive Severance Plan, Mr. Wilson receives two years of base salary ($732,000), earned incentives under the Annual Plan through his termination date ($110,876), continued medical, dental and vision for two years ($16,533), gross up of employer contributions towards coverage ($12,341) and outplacement benefits for one year ($9,000). In addition, Mr. Wilson also agreed to act as a consultant through the end of 2008 and received $14,940. Mr. Wilson’s consulting arrangement is entitled to an additional cash payment, which payment increases each year duringdescribed more fully in the three-year period. If Mr. Newlin is terminated on or following February 21, 2009, there is no additional cash payment.“Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Termination Payments for Other Named Executive Officers” section of this proxy statement.
 
Executive Severance Plan
 
On May 25, 2006, our Compensation and Governance Committee approved the adoption of the PolyOne Corporation Executive Severance Plan (the “Severance Plan”).Plan. The Executive Severance Plan provides for severance payments to our executive officers and other elected officers upon certain terminations of employment.


43


 
For the Named Executive Officers other than Mr. Newlin, the Executive Severance Plan provides that, if we terminate the employment of a Named Executive Officer for any reason other than cause, the Named Executive Officer will be entitled to receive:
 
 • salary continuation payments in an amount equal to two times the Named Executive Officer’s base salary;
 
 • a pro rata payment of his or her annual bonus for the year of termination;
 
 • reimbursement for the costs previously paid by us for continued participationcoverage for two years in our medical, dental and vision plans for two years;plus any taxes imposed as a result of such reimbursement; and
 
 • fees for outplacement benefits for a period of 12 months.
 
We do not have to make payments to any Named Executive Officer under the Executive Severance Plan if he or she is entitled to receive payment under a Continuity Agreement discussed above. In addition, in order to receive payment and benefits under the Executive Severance Plan, the


47


Named Executive Officer must execute a release of claims against us and is subject to confidentiality, non-compete, non-solicitation and non-disparagement covenants during the two-year severance period.
 
Senior Executive Annual Incentive Plan
 
The PolyOne Senior Executive Annual Incentive Plan (the “SEAIP”) provides opportunities to our key executives to receive incentive compensation as a reward for high levels of performance above the ordinary performance standards compensated by base salary, without limiting our ability to deduct that expenditure for federal income tax purposes. Currently, all of our Named Executive Officers participate in the SEAIP.Annual Plan. The SEAIPAnnual Plan provides that, if a change inof control occurs, we are required to pay each participant an interim lump-sum cash payment equal to the product of the number of months that have elapsed in the calendar year prior to the change inof control and one-twelfth of the participant’s target annual incentive award in effect prior to the change inof control. We have the obligation to make a final payment under the terms of the SEAIPAnnual Plan for the plan year in which the change inof control occurs, but may offset the amount of any interim payment made.
 
Under the SEAIP,Annual Plan, a change inof control is deemed to have occurred if:
 
 • any person becomes the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the combined voting power of our outstanding securities (subject to certain exceptions);
 
 • there is a change in the majority of our Board of Directors;
 
 • certain corporate reorganizations occur where the existing shareholders do not retain more than 60% of the common shares and combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving entity; or
 
 • there is shareholder approval of a complete liquidation or dissolution of PolyOne.
 
Equity/Long-Term Incentive Awards
 
Each of the agreements evidencing outstanding awards of restricted stock, stock options, stock appreciation rights performance shares and performance units provides that the vesting of such award will accelerate upon a change inof control. For this purpose a “change inof control” is defined, in some instances, the same as in the SEAIPAnnual Plan and, in other instances, the same as in the Continuity Agreements.


44


 
Retirement Benefits
 
Our defined benefit retirement benefit plan,plans applicable only to Messrs. Wilson and Smith and Wilsonalso have provisions relating to the termination of the participants’ employment with us. Mr. Newlin’s supplemental retirement benefit under his Letter Agreement also has provisions relating to the termination of the participants’his employment with us. These payments are described more fully in the disclosure provided in connection with the 20062008 Pension Benefits table contained in this proxy statement.
Mr. Patient — Termination Payments
Mr. Patient retired as our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer on February 21, 2006. He continued to serve as a member of our Board of Directors until he retired from that position on May 25, 2006. Mr. Patient did not receive any payments or benefits from us specifically in connection with his termination of service with PolyOne. As a former employee of The Geon Company (our predecessor), Mr. Patient has been receiving and will continue to receive the same pension benefit amounts and medical coverage he started receiving on August 1, 1999 as a retiree of Geon. The following termination scenarios do not apply to Mr. Patient since his triggering event has already occurred.
 
Payments and Benefits Upon Termination — As of the End of Fiscal Year 20062008
 
The following tables summarize the amounts payable upon termination under specified circumstances or upon a change inof control. The data in the tables assumes that each triggering event listed in the tables occurred on December 31, 20062008 and that the stock price for our common shares is $7.50,$3.15, the closing sales price of our common shares on December 29, 2006.31, 2008.


4548


 
STEPHEN D. NEWLIN
 
                                        
  Voluntary
                   Voluntary
                 
  Termination or
               Involuntary
   Termination or
               Involuntary
 
  Retirement(1)
   Involuntary
           Termination
   Retirement(1)
   Involuntary
           Termination
 
  (No CIC; or,
   Termination
       Involuntary
   without Cause or
   (No COC; or,
   Termination
       Involuntary
   without Cause or
 
  Following a CIC,
   with Cause
       Termination
   for Good Reason
   Following a COC,
   with Cause
       Termination
   for Good Reason
 
  without Good
   (Including
       without Cause
   (Following a
   without Good
   (Including
       without Cause
   (Following a
 
  Reason)   Following a CIC)   Death/Disability   (No CIC)   CIC)   Reason)   Following a COC)   Death/Disability   (No COC)   COC) 
  ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)  
Cash Severance Benefit
(salary continuation, multiple of annual incentive payments and additional cash payment for termination prior to2/21/09)
  $0   $0   $0   $2,600,003   $4,700,003   $0   $0   $0   $3,105,001   $5,685,001(8)
                         
Annual Incentive for Year of Termination   0    0    0    959,700    959,700    0    0    0    700,650    700,650 
                         
Cash LTIP-Vesting of Performance Units   0    0    343,500(2)   0    1,030,500    0    0    2,071,233(2)   0    3,107,600 
LTIP-Vesting of Phantom Units   0    0    326,250    0    652,500 
                         
Equity Awards                                                  
                                    
- Restricted Stock   0    0    1,500,000    0    1,500,000 
- Performance Shares (LTIP)   0    0    0    0    0 
           
- Restricted Stock / Units   0    0    730,363    0    991,305 
                         
- Unexercisable Stock Options/SARs   0    0    0(3)   0    0    0    0    0(3)   0    0 
                         
Other Benefits                                                  
                                    
- Continuation of Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits   0    0    0    20,425    30,637 
        ��  
- Continuation of Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits including taxgross-up   0    0    0    42,140    63,209 
                         
- Continuation of Other Benefits (car allowance; other welfare benefits)   0    0    0    43,200    22,857    0    0    0    45,255    15,085 
- Financial Planning Services(4)   0    0    0    39,000    13,000 
                         
- Financial Planning Services   0    0    0    39,000    13,000 
                         
- Outplacement Benefits   0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0 
                         
- Additional Company Contribution for Defined Contribution Plans Under the Management Continuity Agreement   0    0    0    0    273,000    0    0    0    0    335,400 
Excise Tax Gross Up   0    0    0    0    3,103,837 
                         
Excise Tax Gross Up(4)   0    0    0    0    5,000,713 
                         
SUB-TOTAL
(Benefits Triggered Upon a Termination of Employment)
   0    0    2,169,750    3,662,328    12,286,034    0    0    2,801,596    3,932,046    15,911,963 
                         

PLAN BALANCES/VESTED BENEFITS

PLAN BALANCES/VESTED BENEFITS
                         
                                    
           
Defined Contribution Plan(s) Balances (includes the Retirement Savings Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan)(5)   65,677    65,677    65,677    65,677    65,677    501,587    501,587    501,587    501,587    501,587 
Present Value of Accrued Pension Benefit   0    0    0    0    0 
                         
Present Value of Accrued Pension Benefit(6)   0    0    3,158,119/
4,137,098
(7)   4,137,098    4,137,098 
                         
TOTAL
(Includes Benefits that are Vested and Currently Payable to the Executive)
   65,677    65,677    2,235,427    3,728,005    12,351,711    501,587    501,587    6,461,302/
7,440,281
(7)   8,570,731    20,550,648 
                                        
1(1)Retirement is defined as the executive’s attainment of age 55 with five years of service.
(2)Assumes achievement of performance goals at the target level of performance.
(3)Assumes a constant share price of $3.15, the closing sales price of our common shares on December 31, 2008.
(4)This assumes that the presumption that any arrangement entered into within 12 months of a change of control is a parachute payment under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code is rebutted and, thus, the retirement benefit for Mr. Newlin is not considered a parachute payment for purposes of the calculations in the table.
(5)This row consists mainly of amounts contributed by the executive to a retirement benefit plan of the Company that otherwise would have been paid to the executive and includes amounts disclosed in the “Aggregate Balance at Last FYE” column of the 2008 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table.
(6)The numbers shown in the table are illustrative only because lump sum payments are not available.
(7)The first number represents payments received upon death and the second number represents payments received upon disability.
(8)$525,001 of this amount is payable only upon involuntary termination without cause with a change of control.


49


ROBERT M. PATTERSON
                          
   Voluntary
                 
   Termination or
               Involuntary
 
   Retirement(1)
   Involuntary
           Termination
 
   (No COC; or,
   Termination
       Involuntary
   without Cause or
 
   Following a COC,
   with Cause
       Termination
   for Good Reason
 
   without Good
   (Including
       without Cause
   (Following a
 
   Reason)   Following a COC)   Death/Disability   (No COC)   COC) 
   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)  
Cash Severance Benefit
(salary continuation, multiple of annual incentive payments)
  $0   $0   $0   $830,000   $1,867,500 
                          
Annual Incentive for Year of Termination   0    0    0    107,568    107,568 
                          
Cash LTIP-Vesting of Performance Units   0    0    0    0    0 
                          
Equity Awards                         
                          
                          
- Restricted Stock Units   0    0    26,250    0    126,000 
                          
- Unexercisable Stock Options/SARs   0    0    0(2)   0      
                          
Other Benefits                         
                          
                          
- Continuation of Medical, Dental and
Vision Benefits including taxgross-up
   0    0    0    42,212    64,386 
                          
- Continuation of Other Benefits (car allowance; other welfare benefits)   0    0    0    0    685 
                          
- Financial Planning Services   0    0    0    0    10,000 
                          
- Outplacement Benefits   0    0    0    9,000    0 
                          
- Additional Company Contribution for Defined Contribution Plans Under the Management Continuity Agreement   0    0    0    0    121,390 
                          
Excise Tax Gross Up   0    0    0    0    931,301 
                          
SUB-TOTAL
(Benefits Triggered Upon a Termination of Employment)
   0    0    26,250    988,780    3,228,830 
                          
                          
PLAN BALANCES/VESTED BENEFITS                         
                          
                          
Defined Contribution Plan(s) Balances (includes the Retirement Savings Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan)(3)   45,665    45,665    45,665    45,665    45,665 
                          
Present Value of Accrued Pension Benefit   0    0    0    0    0 
                          
TOTAL
(Includes Benefits that are Vested and Currently Payable to the Executive)
   45,665    45,665    71,915    1,034,445    3,274,495 
                          
(1)Retirement is generally defined as the executive’s attainment of age 55 with 10 years of service.
 
2Assumes achievement of performance goals at the target level of performance.
3(2)Assumes a constant share price of $7.50,$3.15, the closing sales price of our common shares on December 29, 2006.31, 2008.
 
4(3)AssumesThis row consists mainly of amounts contributed by the executive takes advantageto a retirement benefit plan of the maximum amount of available financial planning services.
5IncludesCompany that otherwise would have been paid to the executive and includes amounts disclosed in the “Aggregate Balance at Last FYE” column of the 20062008 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table.


4650


W. DAVID WILSONKENNETH M. SMITH
 
                                        
  Voluntary
               Involuntary
   Voluntary
                 
  Termination or
   Involuntary
           Termination
   Termination or
               Involuntary
 
  Retirement(1)
   Termination
           without Cause
   Retirement(1)
   Involuntary
           Termination
 
  (No CIC; or,
   with Cause
       Involuntary
   or for Good
   (No COC; or,
   Termination
       Involuntary
   without Cause or
 
  Following a
   (Including
       Termination
   Reason
   Following a COC,
   with Cause
       Termination
   for Good Reason
 
  CIC, without
   Following a
       without Cause
   (Following a
   without Good
   (Including
       without Cause
   (Following a
 
  Good Reason)   CIC)   Death/Disability   (No CIC)   CIC)   Reason)   Following a COC)   Death/Disability   (No COC)   COC) 
  ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)  
Cash Severance Benefit
(salary continuation, multiple of annual incentive payments)
  $0   $0   $0   $717,000   $1,613,250 
Cash Severance Benefit
(salary continuation, multiple of annual incentive payments
  $0   $0   $0   $672,000   $1,512,000 
                         
Annual Incentive for Year of Termination   0    0    0    242,707    242,707    0    0    0    140,389    140,389 
                         
Cash LTIP-Vesting of Performance Units   0    0    98,733(2)   0    296,200    0    0    381,100(2)   0    525,500 
                         

Equity Awards
                                                  
                                    
- Restricted Stock   0    0    0    0    0 
- Performance Shares (LTIP)   0    0    178,500    0    267,750 
           
- Restricted Stock Units   0    0    11,025    0    39,690 
                         
- Unexercisable Stock Options/SARs   0    0    13,860(3)   0    62,370    0    0    0(3)   0    0 
                         

Other Benefits
                                                  
                      
- Continuation of Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits   0    0    0    22,465    33,697 
- Continuation of Other Benefits (other welfare benefits)   0    0    0    0    17,182 
- Financial Planning Services(4)   0    0    0    0    10,000 
- Continuation of Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits including taxgross-up   0    0    0    42,212    64,386 
                         
- Continuation of Other Benefits (car allowance; other welfare benefits)   0    0    0    0    12,685 
                         
- Financial Planning Services   0    0    0    0    10,000 
                         
- Outplacement Benefits   0    0    0    9,500    0    0    0    0    9,000    0 
                         
- Additional Company Contribution for Defined Contribution Plans Under the Management Continuity Agreement   0    0    0    0    169,390    0    0    0    0    147,420 
                         
Excise Tax Gross Up   0    0    0    0    1,023,226    0    0    0    0    986,209 
                         
SUB-TOTAL
(Benefits Triggered Upon a Termination of Employment)
   0    0    291,093    991,672    3,735,772    0    0    392,125    863,601    3,438,279 
                         
                         

PLAN BALANCES/VESTED BENEFITS

PLAN BALANCES/VESTED BENEFITS
                         
                                    
Defined Contribution Plan(s)                         
Balances (includes the Retirement Savings Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan)(5)   967,075    967,075    967,075    967,075    967,075 
Present Value of Accrued Pension Benefit(6)   855,373    855,373    427,670 / 855,373(7)   855,373    855,373 
           
Defined Contribution Plan(s) Balances (includes the Retirement Savings Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan)(4)   445,355    445,355    445,355    445,355    445,355 
                         
Present Value of Accrued Pension Benefit(5)   546,724    546,724    261,151/
546,724
(6)   546,724    546,724 
                         
                         
TOTAL
(Includes Benefits that are Vested and Currently Payable to the Executive)
   1,822,448    1,822,448    1,685,838 / 2,113,541(7)   2,814,120    5,558,220    992,079    992,079    1,098,631/
1,384,204
(6)   1,855,680    4,430,358 
                                             
                    
 
1(1)Retirement is generally defined as the executive’s attainment of age 55 with 10 years of service.
 
2(2)Assumes achievement of performance goals at the target level of performance.
 
3(3)Assumes a constant share price of $7.50,$3.15, the closing sales price of our common shares on December 29, 2006.31, 2008.
 
4(4)AssumesThis row consists mainly of amounts contributed by the executive takes advantageto a retirement benefit plan of the maximum amount of available financial planning services.
5IncludesCompany that otherwise would have been paid to the executive and includes amounts disclosed in the “Aggregate Balance at Last FYE” column of the 20062008 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table.
 
6(5)The numbers shown in the table are illustrative only because lump sum payments are not available.
 
7(6)The first number represents payments received upon death and the second number represents payments received upon disability.


4751


WENDY C. SHIBAMICHAEL L. RADEMACHER
 
                                        
  Voluntary
                   Voluntary
                 
  Termination or
               Involuntary
   Termination or
   Involuntary
           Involuntary
 
  Retirement(1)
   Involuntary
           Termination
   Retirement(1)
   Termination
           Termination
 
  (No CIC; or,
   Termination
       Involuntary
   without Cause or
   (No COC; or,
   with Cause
       Involuntary
   without Cause or
 
  Following a CIC,
   with Cause
       Termination
   for Good Reason
   Following a COC,
   (Including
       Termination
   for Good Reason
 
  without Good
   (Including
       without Cause
   (Following a
   without Good
   Following a
       without Cause
   (Following a
 
  Reason)   Following a CIC)   Death/Disability   (No CIC)   CIC)   Reason)   COC)   Death/Disability   (No COC)   COC) 
  ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)  
Cash Severance Benefit (salary continuation, multiple of annual incentive payments)  $0   $0   $0   $684,000   $1,539,000   $0   $0   $0   $640,000   $1,440,000 
                         
Annual Incentive for Year of Termination   0    0    0    231,541    231,541    0    0    0    204,663    204,663 
                         
Cash LTIP-Vesting of Performance Units   0    0    75,333(2)   0    226,000    0    0    361,400(2)   0    498,501 
                         

Equity Awards
                                                  
                                    
- Restricted Stock   0    0    0    0    0 
- Performance Shares (LTIP)   0    0    139,500    0    209,250 
           
- Restricted Stock Units   0    0    11,025    0    39,690 
                         
- Unexercisable Stock Options/SARs   0    0    10,560(3)   0    47,520    0    0    0(3)   0    0 
                         

Other Benefits
                                                  
                                    
- Continuation of Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits   0    0    0    406    609 
- Continuation of Other Benefits (other welfare benefits)   0    0    0    0    14,404 
- Financial Planning Services(4)   0    0    0    0    10,000 
           
- Continuation of Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits including taxgross-up   0    0    0    28,147    42,932 
                         
- Continuation of Other Benefits (car allowance; other welfare benefits)   0    0    0    0    12,685 
                         
- Financial Planning Services   0    0    0    0    10,000 
                         
- Outplacement Benefits   0    0    0    9,500    0    0    0    0    9,000    0 
                         
- Additional Company Contribution for Defined Contribution Plans Under the Management Continuity Agreement   0    0    0    0    100,040    0    0    0    0    93,600 
                         
Excise Tax Gross Up   0    0    0    0    839,624    0    0    0    0    866,451 
                         
SUB-TOTAL
(Benefits Triggered Upon a Termination of Employment)
   0    0    225,393    925,447    3,217,988    0    0    372,425    881,810    3,208,522 
                         
                         

PLAN BALANCES/VESTED BENEFITS

PLAN BALANCES/VESTED BENEFITS
                         
                                    
Defined Contribution Plan(s) Balances (includes the Retirement Savings Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan)(5)   359,305    359,305    359,305    359,305    359,305 
           
Defined Contribution Plan(s) Balances (includes the Retirement Savings Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan)(4)   597,384    597,384    597,384    597,384    597,384 
                         
Present Value of Accrued Pension Benefit   0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0 
                         
TOTAL
(Includes Benefits that are Vested and Currently Payable to the Executive)
   359,305    359,305    584,698    1,284,752    3,577,293    597,384    597,384    969,809    1,479,194    3,805,906 
                                        
 
1(1)Retirement is generally defined as the executive’s attainment of age 55 with 10 years of service.
 
2(2)Assumes achievement of performance goals at the target level of performance.
 
3(3)Assumes a constant share price of $7.50,$3.15, the closing sales price of our common shares on December 29, 2006.31, 2008.
 
4(4)AssumesThis row consists mainly of amounts contributed by the executive takes advantageto a retirement benefit plan of the maximum amount of available financial planning services.
5IncludesCompany that otherwise would have been paid to the executive and includes amounts disclosed in the “Aggregate Balance at Last FYE” column of the 20062008 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table.


4852


KENNETH M. SMITHBERNARD BAERT(1)
 
                                        
  Voluntary
                   Voluntary
                 
  Termination or
               Involuntary
   Termination or
   Involuntary
           Involuntary
 
  Retirement(1)
   Involuntary
           Termination
   Retirement(2)
   Termination
           Termination
 
  (No CIC; or,
   Termination
       Involuntary
   without Cause or
   (No COC; or,
   with Cause
       Involuntary
   without Cause or
 
  Following a CIC,
   with Cause
       Termination
   for Good Reason
   Following a COC,
   (Including
       Termination
   for Good Reason
 
  without Good
   (Including
       without Cause
   (Following a
   without Good
   Following a
       without Cause
   (Following a
 
  Reason)   Following a CIC)   Death/Disability   (No CIC)   CIC)   Reason)   COC)   Death/Disability   (No COC)   COC) 
  ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)  
Cash Severance Benefit
(salary continuation, multiple of annual incentive payments)
   0    0    0    635,000    1,428,750 
Cash Severance Benefit
(salary continuation, multiple of annual incentive payments
  $0   $0   $0   $0   $0 
                         
Annual Incentive for Year of Termination   0    0    0    214,891    214,891    0    0    0    0    0 
                         
Cash LTIP-Vesting of Performance Units   0    0    69,900(2)   0    209,700    346,200    0    346,200(3)   346,200    507,900 
                         
Severance Pay Under Belgian Law(4)   0    0    0    1,398,478    1,398,478 
                         

Equity Awards
                                                  
                                    
- Restricted Stock   0    0    0    0    0 
- Performance Shares (LTIP)   0    0    125,000    0    187,500 
           
- Restricted Stock Units   11,025    0    11,025    11,025    39,690 
                         
- Unexercisable Stock Options/SARs   0    0    9,834(3)   0    44,253    0    0    0(5)   0    0 
                         

Other Benefits
                                                  
                                    
           
- Continuation of Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits   0    0    0    20,425    30,637    0    0    0    0    0 
- Continuation of Other Benefits (other welfare benefits)   0    0    0    0    15,873 
- Financial Planning Services(4)   0    0    0    0    10,000 
                         
- Continuation of Other Benefits (car allowance; other welfare benefits)   0    0    0    0    0 
- Financial Planning Services   0    0    0    0    8,000 
                         
- Outplacement Benefits   0    0    0    9,500    0    0    0    0    0    0 
                         
- Additional Company Contribution for Defined Contribution Plans Under the Management Continuity Agreement   0    0    0    0    139,300    0    0    0    0    0 
                         
Excise Tax Gross Up   0    0    0    0    841,906    0    0    0    0    0 
                         
SUB-TOTAL
(Benefits Triggered Upon a Termination of Employment)
   0    0    204,734    879,816    3,122,810    357,225    0    357,225    1,755,703    1,954,068 
                         
                         

PLAN BALANCES/VESTED BENEFITS

PLAN BALANCES/VESTED BENEFITS
                         
                                    
Defined Contribution Plan(s) Balances (includes the Retirement Savings Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan)(5)   459,871    459,871    459,871    459,871    459,871 
Present Value of Accrued Pension Benefit(6)   352,294    352,294    172,203 / 352,294(7)   352,294    352,294 
           
Defined Contribution Plan(s) Balances (includes the Retirement Savings Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan)(6)   466,334    466,334    466,334    466,334    466,334 
                         
Present Value of Accrued Pension Benefit   0    0    0    0    0 
                         
TOTAL
(Includes Benefits that are Vested and Currently Payable to the Executive)
   812,165    812,165    836,808 / 1,016,899(7)   1,691,981    3,934,975    823,559    466,334    823,559    2,222,037    2,420,402 
                                        
 
1(1)Based on conversion rate of €1.00 = $1.4096.
(2)Retirement is generally defined as the executive’s attainment of age 55 with 10 years of service.
 
2(3)Assumes achievement of performance goals at the target level of performance.
 
3Assumes a constant share price of $7.50, the closing sales price of our common shares on December 29, 2006.
4Assumes the executive takes advantage of the maximum amount of available financial planning services.
5Includes amounts disclosed in the “Aggregate Balance at Last FYE” column of the 2006 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table.
6The numbers shown in the table are illustrative only because lump sum payments are not available.
7The first number represents payments received upon death and the second number represents payments received upon disability.


49


BERNARD P. BAERT(1)
                          
   Voluntary
                 
   Termination or
               Involuntary
 
   Retirement(2)
   Involuntary
           Termination
 
   (No CIC; or,
   Termination
       Involuntary
   without Cause or
 
   Following a CIC,
   with Cause
       Termination
   for Good Reason
 
   without Good
   (Including
       without Cause
   (Following a
 
   Reason)   Following a CIC)   Death/Disability   (No CIC)   CIC) 
   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($)   ($) 
                          
Cash Severance Benefit
(salary continuation, multiple of annual incentive payments)
  $0   $0   $0   $0   $0 
Annual Incentive for Year of Termination   0    0    0    0    0 
Cash LTIP-Vesting of Performance Units   58,500(3)   0    58,500(3)   0    175,500 
Severance Pay Under Belgian Law   0    0    0    1,394,540(7)   1,394,540(7)

Equity Awards
                         
                          
- Restricted Stock   0    0    0    0    0 
- Performance Shares (LTIP)   125,500    0    125,500    0    188,250 
- Unexercisable Stock Options/SARs   8,250(4)   0    8,250(4)   0    37,125 

Other Benefits
                         
                          
- Continuation of Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits   0    0    0    0    0 
- Continuation of Other Benefits (other welfare benefits)   0    0    0    0    0 
- Financial Planning Services(5)   0    0    0    0    8,000 
- Outplacement Benefits   0    0    0    0    0 
- Additional Company Contribution for Defined Contribution PlansUnder the Management Continuity Agreement   0    0    0    0    0 
Excise Tax Gross Up   0    0    0    0    0 
SUB-TOTAL
(Benefits Triggered Upon a Termination of Employment)
   192,250    0    192,250    1,394,540    1,803,415 

PLAN BALANCES/VESTED BENEFITS
                          
Defined Contribution Plan(s) Balances (includes the Retirement Savings Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan)(6)   292,182    292,182    292,182    292,182    292,182 
Present Value of Accrued Pension Benefit   0    0    0    0    0 
TOTAL
(Includes Benefits that are Vested and Currently Payable to the Executive)
   484,432    292,182    484,432    1,686,722    2,095,597 
                          
1Based on a conversion rate of €1.00 = $1.25559.
2Retirement is generally defined as the executive’s attainment of age 55 with 10 years of service.
3Assumes achievement of performance goals at the target level of performance.
4Assumes a constant share price of $7.50, the closing sales price of our common shares on December 29, 2006.
5Assumes the executive takes advantage of the maximum amount of available financial planning services.
6Includes amounts disclosed in the “Aggregate Balance at Last FYE” column of the 2006 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table.
7(4)Assumes payments would be provided as required by Belgian law and not under the Executive Severance Plan or Mr. Baert’s Continuity Agreement.
(5)Assumes a constant share price of $3.15, the closing sales price of our common shares on December 31, 2008.
(6)This row consists mainly of amounts contributed by the executive to a retirement benefit plan of the Company that otherwise would have been paid to the executive and includes amounts disclosed in the “Aggregate Balance at Last FYE” column of the 2008 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table.


5053


Compensation and Governance Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
 
During 2006,2008, none of our executive officers or Directors was a member of the Board of Directors of any other company where the relationship would be construed to constitute a committee interlock within the meaning of the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
Policy on Related Person Transactions
 
Under our Guidelines for Ethical Business Conduct, we prohibit all employees, including our officers and non-employee Directors from engaging in activities that would impact their ability to carry out their duties in an independent, objective fashion. We also have adopted a written “Policy for Review of Transactions Between the Company and Its Directors, Executive Officers and Other Related Persons.” This policy requires an initial review by our Chief Legal Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Ethics and Compliance Officer, in consultation with each other (the “Reviewing Team”), of all transactions, arrangements or relationships with us in which any Director, executive officer or other related person (including immediate family members of all related persons) has a direct or indirect material interest, which involve $50,000 or more. Further, the Audit Committee must review and approve any transaction that the Reviewing Team determines may be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 ofRegulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any similar provision. In reviewing the related person transactions, the Reviewing Team and the Audit Committee consider the following factors: (1) whether the transaction is in conformity with our Guidelines for Ethical Business Conduct and is in our best interests; (2) whether the transaction would be in the ordinary course of our business; (3) whether the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arm’s length dealings with an unrelated third party; (4) the disclosure standards set forth in Item 404 ofRegulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any similar provision; and (5) whether the transaction could call into question the status of any Director or Director nominee as an independent director under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.NYSE rules.
 
Report of the Compensation and Governance Committee
 
The Compensation and Governance Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth on pages 15 to 2832 of this proxy statement with management and, based on this review, has recommended to the Board of Directors the inclusion of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis in this proxy statement.
 
The Compensation and Governance Committee
of the Board of Directors
 
Gordon D. Harnett, Chairperson
J. Douglas Campbell
Carol A. Cartwright
Gale Duff-Bloom
Richard H. Fearon
Robert A. Garda
Richard A. Lorraine
Edward J. Mooney
William H. Powell
Farah M. Walters Chairperson
J. Douglas Campbell
Carol A. Cartwright
Gale Duff-Bloom
Wayne R. Embry
Richard H. Fearon
Robert A. Garda
Gordon D. Harnett
Edward J. Mooney


5154


 
PROPOSAL 2 — APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO OUR CODE OF REGULATIONS
In March 2009, our Board of Directors unanimously recommended that our shareholders approve and adopt an amendment to our Code of Regulations that would permit the Board of Directors to adopt amendments to the Regulations to the extent permitted by Ohio law.
In 2006, the Ohio Revised Code was amended to allow boards of directors of Ohio corporations to make certain amendments to their regulations without shareholder approval, so long as such amendments do not divest or limit the shareholders’ power to adopt, amend or repeal the regulations of the corporation. Our existing Regulations require that all amendments be approved and adopted by shareholders. Many jurisdictions, such as Delaware, have historically allowed the board of directors of a corporation to amend the bylaws without shareholder approval. The Ohio Revised Code now gives Ohio corporations similar flexibility, subject to statutory limitations that prohibit directors from amending the regulations to effect changes in certain areas deemed by the Ohio legislature to be important substantive rights that are reserved to the shareholders, such as to:
• specify the percentage of shares a shareholder must hold in order to call a special meeting;
• specify the length of time period required for notice of a shareholders’ meeting;
• specify that shares that have not yet been fully paid can have voting rights;
• specify requirements for a quorum at a shareholders’ meeting;
• prohibit shareholder or director actions from being authorized or taken without a meeting;
• define terms of office for directors or provide for classification of directors;
• require greater than a majority vote of shareholders to remove directors without cause;
• establish requirements for a quorum at directors’ meetings, or specify the required vote for an action of the directors;
• delegate authority to committees of the board to adopt, amend or repeal regulations; and
• remove the requirement that a control share acquisition of an issuing public corporation be approved by shareholders of the acquired corporation.
If this proposal is approved, Section 51 of our Regulations would reflect this change by allowing the Board of Directors to amend the Regulations in the future to the extent permitted by Ohio law. Accordingly, the Board of Directors would be able to make ministerial and other changes to the Regulations without the time-consuming and expensive process of seeking shareholder approval, which would continue to be required if this proposal is not approved. If this proposal is approved, we will be required to promptly notify shareholders of any amendments that the Board of Directors makes to the Regulations by sending a notice to shareholders of record as of the date of the adoption of the amendment, or by filing a report with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The text of Section 51 as proposed to be amended is set forth as Appendix A to this proxy statement and marked to show the proposed changes.
Approval of Proposal 2 requires the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise two-thirds of our voting power.
Our Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” Proposal 2 to amend our Code of Regulations to permit the Board of Directors to amend the Regulations without shareholder approval to the extent permitted by law.


55


PROPOSAL 3 — RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
The Audit Committee has reappointed Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit our financial statements for the current year. The Board of Directors recommends ratification of the Audit Committee’s appointment of Ernst & Young LLP.
 
The selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to be submitted to a vote of our shareholders for ratification. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that the Audit Committee be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of our independent auditors. The Board of Directors is submitting the appointment to our shareholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If our shareholders fail to vote on an advisory basis in favor of the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether to retain Ernst & Young LLP, and may retain that firm or another firm without re-submitting the matter to our shareholders. Even if our shareholders ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee may, in its discretion, direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the our best interests and the interests of our shareholders. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares voting on this proposal is required for ratification.
 
A representative of Ernst & Young LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The representative will be given an opportunity to make a statement if desired and to respond to questions regarding Ernst & Young LLP’s examination of our consolidated financial statements and records for the year ended December 31, 2006.2008.
 
Our Board of Directors unanimously recommends a voteFORProposal 23 to ratify the Audit Committee’s appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2007.2009.
 
Independent Registered Public Accountant Services and Related Fee Arrangements
 
Services provided by Ernst & Young LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, and related fees in each of the last two fiscal years were as follows:
 
Audit Fees.Fees.   Audit services include the annual audit of the financial statements, the audit of internal controls over financial reporting, the reviews of our quarterly reports onForm 10-Q, the issuance of comfort letters, review of registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and international statutory audits. Fees for audit services totaled $1,993,300$2,358,600 in 20062008 and $1,780,100$1,780,200 in 2005.2007. The Audit Committee pre-approved all audit services and related fee arrangements billed for 2006.2008.
 
Audit-Related Fees.Fees.   Audit-related services principally include audits of businesses identified for divestment and audits of our employee benefit plans. Fees for audit-related services totaled $131,300$185,900 in 20062008 and $188,000$196,400 in 2005.2007. The Audit Committee pre-approved all audit-related fee arrangements billed for 2006.2008.
 
Tax Fees.Fees.   Tax services include tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. Fees for tax services totaled $546,900$681,300 in 20062008 and $575,000$574,200 in 2005.2007. The Audit Committee pre-approved all tax fee arrangements billed in 2006.2008.
 
All Other Fees.Fees.   Other services principally include transitional support and advisory services related to our expatriate program. Fees for other services totaled $44,600$42,000 in 20062008 and $60,000$36,900 in 2005.2007. The Audit Committee pre-approved all other fee arrangements billed for 2006.2008.


5256


The Audit Committee pre-approves all audit and non-audit services and related fee arrangements performed by Ernst & Young. Unless a type of service Ernst & Young provides has received general pre-approval, it will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. The term of any pre-approval is 12 months from the date of pre-approval, unless the Audit Committee specifically provides for a different period. The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one of its members. However, management has no authority to approve services performed by Ernst & Young that have not been pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
 
Ernst & Young will provide us a description of work scope and supportingback-up documentation regarding the specific services they will provide. At each meeting of the Audit Committee, the current year’s previously pre-approved independent auditor fees along with any proposed revisions will be presented for approval. Any interim requests between Audit Committee meetings to provide services that require separate pre-approval will be submitted to the Audit Committee by Ernst & Young and the Chief Financial Officer, or Controller, and must include a statement as to whether, in each of their views, the request is consistent with the Commission’s rules on auditor independence.


53


 
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
 
The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities to shareholders relating to the integrity of the company’s financial statements, the company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independent auditors’ qualifications and independence and the performance of the company’s internal audit function and independent auditors. Management has the primary responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of the company’s financial statements and disclosures, the financial reporting process and the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report with management and the independent auditors including any significant changes in the company’s selection or application of accounting principles. The Committee also reviewed and discussed with management and the independent auditors management’s report on internal controls over financial reporting, including the significance and status of control deficiencies identified by management and the results of remediation efforts undertaken, to determine the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting at December 31, 2006.2008.
 
The Committee reviewed with the independent auditors, which have the responsibility for expressing an opinion on the conformity of the financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable rules and regulations, their judgments as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of PolyOne’s critical accounting principles and estimates and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Audit Committee under generally accepted auditing standards. The Committee also reviewed with the independent auditors their report on the company’s internal controls over financial reporting at December 31, 2006,2008, including the basis for their conclusions. The Committee has discussed with Ernst & Young LLP the matters required to be discussed by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Ethics and Independence Rule 3526, “Communications with Audit Committees Concerning Independence.” In addition, Ernst & Young LLP has provided the Committee with the written disclosures and the letter required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent auditorsauditors’ communications with the auditors’Committee concerning independence and the Committee has discussed with Ernst & Young LLP their firm’s independence from management and PolyOne, including the matters in the written disclosures required by the Independence Standards Board. In doing so, it has considered the compatibility of non-audit services with the auditors’ independence.PolyOne. The Committee has pre-approved all audit and non-audit services and fees provided to the company by the independent auditors. Based upon the Committee’s considerations, the Committee has concluded that Ernst & Young LLP is independent. The Committee discussed with PolyOne’s


57


internal and independent auditors the overall scope and audit plans and evaluated their performance. The Committee meets with the internal and independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of PolyOne’s internal controls over financial reporting, and the overall quality of PolyOne’s financial reporting. The Audit Committee met nineeight times during 2006.2008.
 
In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board has approved) that the audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report onForm 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006,2008, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
The Committee has re-appointed Ernst & Young as independent auditors for the year 2007.2009.
 
All members of the Audit Committee concur in this report.
 
The Audit Committee of

the Board of Directors
 
Richard H. Fearon, Chairperson
Carol A. Cartwright
Robert A. Garda
Gordon D. Harnett Chairperson
Carol
Richard A. Cartwright
Richard H. Fearon
Robert A. GardaLorraine
 
February 19, 200718, 2009


5458


GENERAL
 
Voting at the Meeting
 
Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 12, 2007,16, 2009 are entitled to vote at the meeting. On that date, a total of 92,863,24392,290,754 common shares were outstanding. Each share is entitled to one vote.
 
The affirmative vote of a majority of the common shares represented and voting, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present is required for action by shareholders on any matter, unless the vote of a greater number of shares or voting by classes or series is required under Ohio law. Abstentions and broker non-votes are tabulated in determining the votes present at a meeting for purposes of determining a quorum. Shareholders will not be entitled to dissenter’s rights with respect to any matter to be considered at the Annual Meeting.
 
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes of shares present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the election of Directors at a meeting at which a quorum is present. An abstention or a broker non-vote has the same effect as a vote against a Director nominee, as each abstention or broker non-vote would be one less vote in favor of a Director nominee. Holders of common shares have no cumulative voting rights. If any of the nominees listed on pages 3 through 45 becomes unable or declines to serve as a Director, each properly signed proxy card will be voted for another person recommended by the Board of Directors, however, we have no reason to believe that this will occur.
 
The affirmative vote of holders of shares entitling them to exercise two-thirds of our voting power is necessary for approval of the amendment to our Regulations that would permit the Board of Directors to adopt amendments to the Regulations to the extent permitted by Ohio law. A broker non-vote occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote those shares on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary authority to do so, and has not received voting instructions with respect to the proposal from the beneficial owner. For this reason, an abstention or broker non-vote will have the same effect as votes AGAINST this proposal.
The affirmative vote of holders of at least a majority of the shares cast, in person or by proxy, is necessary for approval of the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. An abstention or broker non-vote will have no effect on this proposal as the abstention or broker non-vote will not be counted in determining the number of votes cast.
 
We know of no other matters that will be presented at the meeting, however, if other matters do properly come before the meeting, the persons named in the proxy card will vote on these matters in accordance with their best judgment.
 
Shareholder Proposals
 
Any shareholder who wishes to submit a proposal to be considered for inclusion in next year’s Proxy Statement should send the proposal to us, addressed to the Secretary, so that it is received on or before November 27, 2007.30, 2009. We suggest that all proposals be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.
 
Additionally, a shareholder may submit a proposal for consideration at the 20082010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, but not for inclusion in next year’s Proxy Statement, if the shareholder gives timely written notice of such proposal in accordance with Regulation 8(c) of our Regulations. In general, Regulation 8(c) provides that, to be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to


59


our principal executive offices not less than 60 nor more than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which we first mailed our proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting.
 
Our proxy materials for the 20072009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be mailed on or about March 26, 2007.30, 2009. Sixty days prior to the first anniversary of this date will be January 26, 2008,29, 2010, and 90 days prior to the first anniversary of this date will be December 27, 2007.30, 2010. Our proxies for the 20082009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will confer discretionary authority to vote on any matter if we do not receive timely written notice of such matter in accordance with Regulation 8(c). For business


55


to be properly requested by a shareholder to be brought before the 20082010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the shareholder must comply with all of the requirements of Regulation 8(c), not just the timeliness requirements set forth above.
 
Proxy Solicitation
 
We are making this proxy solicitation and will bear the expense of preparing, printing and mailing this notice and proxy statement. In addition to requesting proxies by mail, our officers and regular employees may request proxies by telephone or in person. We have retained Morrow & Co., Inc., 445 ParkLLC, 470 West Avenue, New York, NY 10022,Stamford, CT 06902, to assist in the solicitation for an estimated fee of $6,500$7,000 plus reasonable expenses. We will ask custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries to send proxy material to beneficial owners in order to obtain voting instructions. We will, upon request, reimburse them for their reasonable expenses for mailing the proxy material.
 
We are mailing our Annual Report to Shareholders, including consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006,2008, to shareholders of record with this proxy statement.
 
For the Board of Directors

PolyOne Corporation
 
-s- Wendy C. Shiba-s- Lisa K. Kunkle
Wendy C. Shiba
Lisa K. Kunkle
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer
General Counsel and
Secretary
 
March 21, 200724, 2009


5660


APPENDIX A
Proposed Amendment to Regulations
If Proposal 2 is approved, Section 51 of our Regulations will be amended as follows, with deletions shown in strike-through and additions bolded and underlined:
“51. Amendments.   Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Incorporation or these Regulations, these Regulations or any of them may be amended in any respect or repealed at any time (i) by the Shareholders at a meeting held for that purpose, provided notice of the proposed amendment or repeal be contained in the notice of the meeting, by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise two-thirds of the voting power of the Corporation on the proposal,or (ii) by the written consent of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise two-thirds of the voting power of the Corporation on the proposal, or (iii) to the extent permitted by Chapter 1701 of the Ohio General Corporation Law, by the Directors. The provisions of this Regulation 51 notwithstanding, the Shareholders may not modify any of Regulations 10, 12 and 19 while those provisions remain in effect pursuant to their terms without the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise three-quarters of the voting power of the Corporation on the proposal.”


A-1


(PROXY)
     (POLYONE LOGO)(BAR CODE)
000000000.000000 ext   000000000.000000 ext
000000000.000000 ext   000000000.000000 ext
000004000000000.000000 ext   000000000.000000 ext
(BAR CODE)MR A SAMPLE
DESIGNATION (IF ANY)
ADD 1
ADD 2
ADD 3
ADD 4
ADD 5
ADD 6

(SCALE)




Electronic Voting Instructions
You can vote by Internet or telephone!
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
Instead of mailing your proxy,voting instruction card, you may choose one of the two voting methods outlined below to vote your proxy.
vote. VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED BELOW IN THE TITLE BAR.
Proxies Voting instruction cards submitted by the Internet or telephone must be received by 1:00 a.m., Central Time, on May 10, 2007.
(INTERNET LOGO)14, 2009. Vote by Internet
· Log on to the Internet and go to
www.investorvote.com
www.investorvote.com/ticker symbol · Follow the steps outlined on the secured website.
(TELEPHONE LOGO)Vote by telephone
· Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico any time on a touch tone telephone. There isNO CHARGEto you for the call.
Follow the instructions provided by the recorded message.
Using ablack ink pen, mark your votes with an Xas shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas.x
Annual Meeting Proxy Card
(NUMBER)C012345678912345
6IF YOU HAVE NOT VOTED VIA THE INTERNETOR TELEPHONE, FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.6
AProposals — The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all the nominees listed and FOR Proposal 2.
1.Election of Directors:01 - J. Douglas Campbell02 -— Dr. Carol A. Cartwright03 - Gale Duff-Bloom
04 - Richard H. Fearon05 - Robert A. Garda06 - Gordon D. Harnett+
06 — Richard A. Lorraine 07 - Edward J. Mooney08 - Stephen D. Newlin09 -— William H. Powell 10 — Farah M. Walters
o
Mark here to vote FOR all nominees
o
Mark here to WITHHOLD vote from all nominees
                                           
      01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09   
  
o
 For All EXCEPT— To withhold a vote for one or more nominees, mark the box to the left and the corresponding numbered box(es) to the right. 
o
 
o
 
o
 
o
 
o
 
o
 
o
 
o
 
o
  
For All EXCEPT — To withhold a vote for one or more nominees, mark the box to the left and the corresponding numbered box(es) to the right. For AgainstAbstain
2.         . Proposal to approve an amendment to PolyOne Corporation’s Code of Regulations to allow the Board of Directors to amend the Regulations to the extent permitted by law. Proposal to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as PolyOne’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2007.
o
o
o
BNon-Voting Items
Change of Address— Please print your new address below.
Comments— Please print your comments below.
2009. Meeting Attendance
Mark the box to the right if
you plan to attend the
Annual Meeting.
o
CAuthorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Date and Sign Below
Please sign exactly as name(s) appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title.
Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below.Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box.Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box.
/
/
n(BAR CODE)C 1234567890

1 U P X
J N T

0 1 2 6 1 6 1
MR A SAMPLE (THIS AREA IS SET UP TO ACCOMMODATE 140 CHARACTERS) MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND               +

 


March 21, 2007(PROXY)
To Our Shareholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at The Forum Conference and Education Center, 1375 E. Ninth Street, Cleveland, Ohio, at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 10, 2007.
The Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the Proxy Statement describe the matters to be acted upon at the meeting.
Regardless of the number of shares you own, your vote on these matters is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to mark your choices on the attached proxy card and to sign, date and return it in the envelope provided. If you decide to vote in person at the meeting, you will have an opportunity to revoke your Proxy and vote personally by ballot.
If you plan to attend the meeting, please mark the box provided on the proxy card.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
STEPHEN D. NEWLIN
Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
6 PLEASE FOLD ALONG THE PERFORATION, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.6
(POLYONE LOGO)
Proxy — PolyOne Corporation
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS, MAY 10, 2007
This proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Corporation’s Board of Directors
The undersigned hereby appoints Kenneth M. Smith, Wendy C. Shiba and W. David Wilson, and each of them jointly and severally, Proxies, with full power of substitution, to vote, as designated on the reverse side, all common shares of PolyOne Corporation held of record by the undersigned on March 12, 2007, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 10, 2007, or any adjournment thereof.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote (1) “FOR” the election of the nominees to serve as Directors and (2) “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as PolyOne Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007. The shares represented by this Proxy will be voted as specified on the reverse side. If no direction is given in the space provided on the reverse side, this proxy will be voted “FOR” the election of the nominees specified on the reverse side and “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as PolyOne Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007.
PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN THIS PROXY ON THE OTHER SIDE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
March 24, 2009 Dear Fellow Shareholders: You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2009, at the Wyndham Cleveland at Playhouse Square, palace ballroom east, 1260 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. Please review the Notice of the Annual Meeting and the Proxy Statement for information concerning the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting and the nominees for election as Directors. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please complete, sign, date and return your proxy card, or vote over the telephone or the Internet as soon as possible so that your shares can be voted at the meeting in accordance with your instructions. Your vote is very important. You may, of course, withdraw your proxy and change your vote prior to or at the Annual Meeting, by following the steps described in the Proxy Statement. I appreciate the strong support of our shareholders over the years and look forward to seeing you at the meeting. Sincerely, STEPHEN D. NEWLIN Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer PolyOne Corporation ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS, MAY 14, 2009 This proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Corporation’s Board of Directors The undersigned hereby appoints Kenneth M. Smith, Lisa K. Kunkle and Robert M. Patterson, and each of them jointly and severally, Proxies, with full power of substitution, to vote, as designated on the reverse side, all common shares of PolyOne Corporation held of record by the undersigned on March 16, 2009, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 14, 2009, or any adjournment thereof. The Board of Directors recommends a vote (1) “FOR” the election of the nominees to serve as Directors, (2) “FOR” the approval of an amendment to PolyOne Corporation’s Code of Regulations to allow the Board of Directors to amend the Regulations to the extent permitted by law and (3) “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as PolyOne Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009. The shares represented by this Proxy will be voted as specified on the reverse side. If no direction is given in the space provided on the reverse side, this proxy will be voted “FOR” the election of the nominees specified on the reverse side, “FOR” the approval of an amendment to PolyOne Corporation’s Code of Regulations to allow the Board of Directors to amend the Regulations to the extent permitted by law and “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as PolyOne Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009. PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN THIS PROXY ON THE OTHER SIDE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.