Global market leader in the apparel and footwear market

A strong and defendable core business representing some 73% of Group sales.

• Global leader in A&F thread market, consistently increasing market share in a stable market (pre/post-Covid)
• Leading the response to meet changing industry needs – speed, personalisation, innovation, cost, quality, responsibility and sustainability

Leading player in the performance materials market

Ability to build scale through technology, innovation and acquisition. Representing some 27% of Group sales.

• Performance Materials has a global presence; building scale both organically and inorganically. It includes products for the Personal Protection industry, Composites products and Performance Thread products for multiple but focussed end-use sectors.
• Performance Materials offers products that deliver performance and safety, and solves industry problems through applying our vast textile expertise.
• Innovation in developing or acquiring new competencies and technologies – such as carbon and glass composites.

Focus on digital, innovation and sustainability

Ability to focus on the continuing challenges from macro trends that are shaping the world and give us the tools to enable us to deliver value to all our stakeholders.

• Thinking ‘beyond the stitch line’ to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to repurpose our products into new ones and use machine learning and AI for new ways of operating – fit for the digital age
• Innovation and big, bold game-changing ideas are crucial to our success
• Industry leader in sustainability agenda, giving us competitive advantage as well as to support our customers’ ambitious sustainability agendas

Track record of delivering continuous improvements and operational excellence

Focused improvement programmes and experienced management to deliver margin and other financial improvements.

Ensuring the Group is ‘fit for purpose’ and agile in the modern high-paced world.

• Productivity gains and procurement initiatives
• Investing in energy / waste reduction to improve operational efficiencies
• Cost and Cash discipline around the organisation.

Track record of delivering free cash flow

Strong Adjusted Free Cash Flow and high Return on Capital Employed (ROCE).

• Balancing key cash demands of organic investment, pension schemes and shareholder returns

Value-adding acquisitions

Ability to build scale in the strategic focus areas which are currently fragmented competitively.

• The Group’s acquisition strategy looks to identify companies with complementary capabilities that can further strengthen the core, technology, innovations, or Intellectual Property and which can be scaled to deliver growth and value for customers and shareholders.