Coats PLC announce proposed final dividend of 1.30 cents per share as a result of the strength of the balance sheet, the encouraging recovery, and the Board's confidence in the strategy and outlook for the Group.
Other financial highlights include:
Improving sales momentum with Group organic sales exit rate down 5% for November and December (versus down 26% H1 2020 and down 15% four months to October 2020), following the impact of Covid earlier in the year.
Continued share gains in Apparel & Footwear and customer wins in Performance Materials as customers' priorities pivot to reliability, speed and flexibility during Covid.
Continued Innovation focus despite Covid disruption; 22 new products launched in the year, generating $13 million of incremental revenue, and with a rich pipeline of opportunities.
Adjusted operating profit of $111 million, ahead of previous expectations, with solid recovery in H2; ability to significantly flex cost base leading to resilient margins of 12.2% in H2 (6.4% H1).
Further advancement on Sustainability agenda; increased demand for EcoVerde product range with revenues up 6x year-on-year; signed up to Science Based Targets initiative, specifically to achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2050.
Net debt (excl. IFRS 16) of $181 million, 1.2x leverage; committed facility headroom of $330 million.
