Full year Group highlights (reported currency):
Record profit delivered, with profit growth in all Core Business sectors. Adjusted profit before tax up 13.2% at £288.3m
Robust sales growth, up 15.0%, driven by Incotec, innovation and progress in high value markets, together with positive currency translation
Relentless innovation creating more IP-protected business across all sectors, with sales of New & Protected Products (NPP) up 20% to 27.4% of total sales
Excellent margin and return on capital retained, with return on sales of 24.0% and ROIC at 19.3%
Impressive cash generation with free cash flow of over £155m, supporting net capital expenditure of over £100m, a 7.2% increase in ordinary dividend and further de-leveraging after special dividend payment of £136m in June 2016.
