BUSINESS MEMO: SPARTECH EARNINGS

Spartech Corp. has announced record sales and earnings for the third quarter that ended July 31, marking the 31st consecutive quarter of improved operating results.

Bradley B. Buechler, Spartech president and chief executive officer, reported third-quarter sales at $201.8 million, a record for a three-month period in the company's 30-year history and 14 percent greater than last year's third quarter.

Earnings for the quarter were $11.4 million, or 39 cents per diluted share, up 27 percent from the $9 million and 31 cents per diluted share of the same quarter in 1998.

For the first nine months, Spartech earnings were $31.7 million, or $1.09 per diluted share.

Spartech, headquartered in St. Louis, has two operations in Cape Girardeau -- Spartech Plastics at 2500 Spartech Drive and Spartech Compounding on Nash Road. Spartech is a leading manufacturer of engineered thermoplastic materials and polymeric compounds.

Spartech, a producer of engineered thermoplastic material, polymeric compounds and molded and profile products, has 40 facilities throughout North America and Europe.