BUSINESS MEMO: SPARTECH ACQUISITION PLANS

Spartech Corp., headquartered in St. Louis, has announced an agreement to acquire the net assets of Preferred Plastic Sheet Division of Echlin Ind., a manufacturer of extruded sheet and profile products based in Greenville, Ohio.

"We're enthusiastic about the prospect of Preferred's extrusion and profile operations joining the Spartech family of plastics processing companies," said Bradley B. Buechler, Spartech president and chief executive officer. "The acquisition will provide Spartech with new production capabilities and strong technological leadership in the manufacture of polyethylene sheet products."

The acquisition should also improve operation efficiencies throughout Spartech's extruded sheet and rollstock group, said Buechler.

Plans call for the transaction to be completed, subject to necessary consents and approvals, on or before Aug. 31.

Spartech is a leading producer of engineered thermoplastic materials, polymeric compounds and molded products, and annually produced more than 500 million pounds from its 22 facilities in the United States. The new acquisition is expected to increase annual production capacity to 750 million pounds, increasing sales to more than $575 million.

Spartech has two operations in Cape Girardeau -- Spartech Plastics at 2500 Spartech Drive and Spartech Compounding on Nash Road.