Coats Regulatory News (COA)

27 February 2018

Coats Group plc

2017 Full Year results

Coats Group plc ('Coats' or the 'Company'), the world's leading industrial thread manufacturer, today announces its unaudited preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2017.

Highlights

· Revenue growth of 4% to $1,510 million; driven by Apparel and Footwear (up 5%) and Performance Materials (up 12%), with some offset due to a weak performance in North America Crafts.

· Adjusted operating profit up 11% to $174 million (reported $167 million, up 9%); Group operating margin up 70bps to 11.5%.

· Adjusted EPS up 30% to 6.4 cents (reported EPS of 5.8 cents, up 35%) as a result of higher operating profits, a further reduction in effective tax rate and a reduction in finance costs.

· Adjusted free cash flow growth of 12% to $87 million; which includes a $10 million year-on-year increase in capital spend predominantly in H2, as anticipated.

· Settlement concluded with all three UK pension schemes and Pension Regulator investigations now ceased with $348 million of parent Group cash paid to the schemes during the year.

· Launch of Connecting for Growth programme supporting the next phase of Coats' growth; expected to deliver $15 million net annualised operating cost savings.

· Completed the Performance Materials acquisition of Patrick Yarn Mill in December 2017.

· Successful $225 million debut US Private Placement issue, alongside refinancing of existing bank debt facilities, providing diversification of sources and maturity of debt.

· Full year dividend per share increase of 15% to 1.44c per share.

Commenting on Coats Full Year 2017 results Rajiv Sharma, Group Chief Executive, said:

'Coats delivered a strong performance in 2017. Momentum in Industrial continued throughout the year in key Apparel and Footwear markets, where we continued to take share, and we saw double-digit growth in hi-tech end-uses in Performance Materials. This was partly offset by North America Crafts where market conditions remained weak. In an environment of rising input costs, we were able to grow our operating margins, through realising price increases, productivity and procurement gains, as well as tight control of our cost base. Following this strong performance in 2017 we have announced a full year dividend per share of 1.44 cents, which represents a 15% year-on-year increase.

'Through our continued strong financial delivery and investment in growth initiatives we have built a solid base for the future. However, the markets in which we operate are constantly changing. Our customers require an increased emphasis on speed, quality, value, innovation and corporate responsibility. To accelerate our transition from the industrial to the digital age, we launched the Connecting for Growth transformation programme, which will support our next phase of growth. We expect this programme to deliver increased productivity, with targeted net annualised operating cost savings of $15 million by 2020.

'To further support our strategy delivery, we completed the Performance Materials acquisition of Patrick Yarn Mill, which extends our existing competencies and innovation capabilities. As with our previous acquisitions of Gotex, Fast React and GSD, we look forward to leveraging Coats' unrivalled geographic footprint, breadth of global customer relationships and strong corporate brand to support Patrick Yarn Mill's expansion.

'We enter 2018 in a strong position, with continued momentum in our Apparel and Footwear and hi-tech Performance Materials businesses. Whilst market conditions in our North American Crafts business are expected to remain challenging, our new management team has commenced implementation of a refocused strategy. We expect 2018 adjusted operating profits to benefit from the incremental full year contribution from the Patrick Yarn Mill acquisition, and the anticipated first year benefits from the Connecting for Growth programme. As such, 2018 adjusted operating profits are expected to be slightly ahead of previous management expectations. We will also continue to focus on cash flow generation in order to allow us to continue to reinvest in both organic and inorganic growth opportunities'

Conference call

Coats Management will discuss this report in a webcast / conference call with analysts and investors at 0900 GMT today (27 February 2018). The webcast can be accessed via www.coats.com/investors/fy17. The conference call can be accessed by dialling +44 (0)20 3936 2999 and using participant access code '29 01 76'. The webcast will also be made available in archive form on www.coats.com.

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Enquiry details

Investors Rob Mann Coats Group plc +44 (0)20 8210 5175

Media Richard Mountain / Nick Hasell FTI Consulting +44 (0)20 3727 1374

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This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the Market Abuse Regulation.

About Coats Group plc

Coats is the world's leading industrial thread manufacturer and a major player in the Americas textile crafts market. At home in some 50 countries, Coats employs 19,000 people across six continents. Revenues in 2017 were US$1.5bn. Coats' pioneering history and innovative culture ensure the company continues leading the way around the world, providing complementary and value added products and services to the apparel and footwear industries; applying innovative techniques to develop high technology Performance Materials threads and yarns in areas such as automotive composites and fibre optics; and extending the crafts offer into new markets and online. Headquartered in the UK, Coats is a FTSE 250 listed company on the London Stock Exchange. To find out more about Coats visit www.coats.com.

Summary

Coats revenues increased by 4%. There was a neutral impact of foreign exchange on revenues (whereas in 2016 we faced FX headwinds due to the previous US dollar strength against certain key trading currencies), so reported revenue growth is consistent with CER growth of 4%. On an organic basis, which excludes a 1% contribution from the acquisitions of Gotex, Fast React, and Patrick Yarn Mill, revenue growth was 3%.

Industrial revenues grew at 6%, driven by share gains in Apparel and Footwear, and underpinned by our continued focus on product innovation, digital solutions and our strong corporate responsibility credentials. This growth in Apparel and Footwear was achieved despite mixed demand from clothing retailers. In addition, Performance Materials revenues grew by 12%, due to double-digit growth in hi-tech end uses, and the contribution from bolt-on acquisitions. Geographically, our organic growth of 5% continued to strengthen during the year in the key geographies of Asia (6% growth) and EMEA (9% growth), although the US consumer durables market (e.g. bedding and quilting) remained soft in the second half.

The Crafts division saw revenues decline by 11% on a CER basis (10% decline on a reported basis), as the North American market conditions remained weak throughout the second half of the year, alongside an adverse impact from the introduction of own-label handknitting products at a major customer. This followed the first half business disruption caused by the tornado strike at the main Crafts distribution centre in Albany, Georgia, USA on 22 January 2017 (estimated sales impact $10 million). 

Group adjusted operating profit increased 11% to $174 million on a CER basis (2016: $157 million) and operating margins were up 70 bps to 11.5% (2016: 10.8%). On a reported basis operating profit (which is after exceptional and acquisition related items) increased 9% to $167 million (2016: $153 million). Exceptional and acquisition related items are not allocated to segments and as such segmental performance commentary is based on adjusted operating profit.

Industrial adjusted operating profit grew 13% on a CER basis to $173 million and margins were up 70bps to 13.3%. This was due to volume growth, realising price increases through continually focussing on our customers' needs (e.g. speed, quality, innovation and corporate responsibility), productivity and procurement improvements, and continued cost control which more than offset input cost inflation. The majority of the raw material price increases during the year (partly linked to the rising oil price) were recovered through price increases. Organic Industrial adjusted operating profit grew 11% year-on-year, and margins were up 70bps, with strengthening year-on-year growth of profits and margins in the second half of the year.

Crafts adjusted operating profit declined by 34% to $7 million (margins down 120bps) due to lower year-on-year volumes in North America (particularly in the second half), as well as certain non-trading items (see later for details). This was offset to some extent by cost synergies being realised in the smaller Latin America market following the decision to commence integrating its activities with the Industrial Division (as previously announced). From 2018, it is anticipated that Latin America Crafts will be reported as part of the Industrial division once the integration of activities is finalised.

Financial summary

Adjusted earnings per share ('EPS') for the year increased 30% to 6.4 cents (2016: 4.9 cents). This growth was driven by higher adjusted operating profits (11% CER growth), a reduction in effective tax rate (4% reduction in underlying rate, including a $3 million deferred tax credit resulting from the recent US tax reforms), a $4 million reduction in the IAS19 pension finance charge (albeit offset to some extent by the related decrease in interest income on reduced parent group cash), and foreign exchange gains of $2 million (2016: $4 million losses) primarily relating to mark-to-market (MTM) adjustments. Excluding the year-on-year impact of the foreign exchange gains / losses (net of tax), and the deferred tax credit as a result of the recently announced US tax reforms, adjusted EPS growth would have been 17%. The Company generated a reported attributable profit from continuing operations of $81 million compared to $64 million in 2016, primarily due to the reasons set out above.

Adjusted free cash flow was $87 million in 2017, a 12% increase on 2016 ($78 million), driven by improved profitability, which was partially offset by the anticipated increase in capital expenditure to $50 million (2016: $40 million); the increase in which was predominantly in the second half. The reduction in net cash from $78 million at the end of 2016 to a net debt position at 31 December 2017 of $241 million primarily reflects the upfront deficit recovery payments made into the three UK defined benefit pension schemes in the first half of the year following settlement with the Trustees of those schemes (see later for further details). An important metric for the operating business is the leverage ratio of net debt (excluding parent group cash) to adjusted EBITDA, which further improved to 1.1x adjusted EBITDA at 31 December 2017 (31 December 2016: 1.3x).

Return on capital employed (ROCE - see note 14 for definition) remained in line with 2016 at 35%, as higher adjusted operating profits and controlled working capital were offset by the anticipated increase in capital expenditure.

Connecting for Growth programme

Connecting for Growth is a 2 year transformation programme to drive agility across the organisation, enabling the next phase of growth at Coats, and accelerating our transition from the industrial age to the digital age. We are building on our current strong position in order to respond to the constantly changing market demands and adding value to our customers by being agile partners with an increased emphasis on speed, quality, value, innovation and corporate responsibility. This programme will focus on simplification across many aspects of the organisation, connecting the business end to end, and releasing funds for reinvestment in our customer-focussed initiatives and our people. Examples of reinvestment will include further building our innovation capabilities, digital tools (e.g. further connecting our global manufacturing assets), and developing our people (e.g. skills upgrades relevant to a digital world), all of which are key to delivering our wider Group strategy.

We have identified potential gross annualised operating cost savings of $25 million by 2020. After reinvestments of c.$10 million per annum, we expect the programme to deliver net annualised operating cost savings of $15 million by 2020. The total reorganisation cost to achieve these operating cost savings is estimated to be $30 million, with the majority of these reorganisation costs incurred in 2018 (as these costs are not expected to form part of the on-going cost base, these will be excluded from adjusted operating profit). In 2018, we anticipate there to be net operating cost savings, after reinvestments, of $5 million (reflected within adjusted operating profit).

We expect that the majority of savings will be achieved from reducing complexity in the existing Group. For example, transitioning from market-focussed support functions (e.g. Finance, HR, Technology) to realigned globally integrated support functions, redesigning the way we service a number of our peripheral markets, and moving from a business which is currently operated by individual local management teams into 10 scalable clusters. The programme extends beyond productivity improvements to delivering process excellence, improving customer satisfaction, and creating a wider pool of world class talent, all of which underpin our growth strategy and increase shareholder value.

Acquisition of Patrick Yarn Mill Inc.

As previously reported, Coats acquired 100% of the share capital of Patrick Yarn Mill in December 2017.

Patrick Yarn Mill is a manufacturer of high-performance engineered yarns based in North Carolina, US. It specialises in cut-resistant and flame retardant yarns. It also produces yarns from recycled fibres marketed under its earthspun® trademarks and with its large solar installation promotes its earth friendly yarns as 'Spun by the Sun'.

Founded in 1963, Patrick Yarn Mill has 150 employees. Patrick Yarn Mill's unique spinning competencies in engineered performance yarns offer an opportunity to expand Coats' existing Performance Materials portfolio as well as to extend its innovation capability. Coats will support Patrick Yarn Mill's expansion into high-growth markets by leveraging Coats' unrivalled geographic footprint, breadth of global customer relationships and strong corporate brand.

The initial consideration is $21 million, with further payments of up to $4 million over a three year period to 2020, contingent on Patrick Yarn Mill achieving certain performance targets. The acquisition will be funded from Coats' operating cash flows and existing debt facilities.

In 2017, the business achieved revenues of $42 million, and an adjusted operating profit of $2 million. It is our intention to grow revenues and operating margins going forward through identified revenue and cost synergies as a result of Patrick Yarn Mill being part of the wider Coats group of companies.

Refinancing

As previously reported, in December, the Group completed a $225 million issue of US Private Placement (USPP) notes. The notes, which represent our debut issue in the USPP market, have a maturity of seven and ten years and have been issued on investment grade terms.

Simultaneously, Coats agreed a new $350 million five-year bank facility with a syndicate mainly comprising its existing lenders. The USPP notes and new bank facility replace Coats' $680 million bank facility that was due to mature in March 2020. This refinancing has achieved the Group's aims of diversifying the sources of debt financing and extending their maturity out to 2027.

Dividend

Coats has a track record of delivering good levels of free cash through profitable sales growth, delivering self-help initiatives and investing in organic growth opportunities. The Board aims to use this free cash flow to fund its pension schemes, self-finance bolt-on acquisitions, and make returns to shareholders. Over time, and as underlying earnings and cash flows increase, the Board intends to pursue a progressive dividend policy.

As a result of this established policy, and reflecting the financial performance in 2017, the Board is proposing a final dividend of 1.00c per share which, combined with the interim divided of 0.44c per share, gives a total dividend for the year of 1.44c (pro-forma 2016 full year dividend: 1.25c per share), which represents a 15% increase on the previous year. Subject to approval at the forthcoming AGM, the final dividend will be paid on 29 May 2018 to ordinary shareholders on the register at 4 May 2018, with an ex-dividend date of 3 May 2018.

Outlook

We enter 2018 in a strong position, with continued momentum in our Apparel and Footwear and hi-tech Performance Materials businesses. Whilst market conditions in our North American Crafts business are expected to remain challenging, our new management team has commenced implementation of a refocused strategy.

We expect 2018 adjusted operating profits to benefit from the incremental full year contribution from the Patrick Yarn Mill acquisition, and the anticipated first year benefits from the Connecting for Growth programme. As such, 2018 adjusted operating profits are expected to be slightly ahead of previous management expectations.

We will also continue to focus on cash flow generation in order to allow us to continue to reinvest in both organic and inorganic growth opportunities.

Operating Review

Industrial

Industrial revenues grew by 6% in the year due to continued strong momentum in Apparel and Footwear (~70% of Group revenues) which grew by 5%, along with 12% growth in Performance Materials (7% organic growth and 5% contribution from acquisitions).

The strong Apparel and Footwear performance in the year delivered market share gains and was achieved despite continued mixed demand from clothing retailers and ongoing price pressures, as we maintained our customer-led approach to innovation and digital solutions, alongside our strong corporate responsibility credentials. Coats' ability to continue to take market share was assisted by several factors including deepening its relationships with retailers and brand owners through its global accounts programme, and with manufacturers, through the increasing adoption of digital services (e.g. our growing eCommerce platform which now extends to online payment availability in a number of our key markets which helps to reduce payment times from our customers). In addition, market share gains were realised through the launch of innovative new products, for example knitted footwear uppers for key sportswear brands, and we are actively working on further innovation projects with a number of global brands. We have also developed and recently launched a 100% post-consumer recycled premium thread, Epic Ecoverde, which is an industry first.

Performance Materials revenues grew 12% in the period on a CER basis (12% reported), which includes a 5% contribution from the acquisitions of Gotex (acquired in June 2016) and Patrick Yarn Mill (acquired in December 2017). Organic growth of 7% was underpinned by strong growth in EMEA and Asia as we continued to drive geographic expansion of existing products across the Coats portfolio, and leveraging Coats' global customer base. However the US consumer durables market (e.g. "traditional" end uses such as bedding and quilting) remained soft in the second half. Growth in hi-tech end uses which now account for 50% of Performance Materials revenues (e.g. wire and cable, and engineering performance yarns) remained strong throughout the year delivering double-digit year-on-year growth (18% organic growth). The business also continued to grow revenues in new, innovative products, and in 2017 over 20% of our total Performance Materials revenues were in relation to products that did not exist 5 years ago (for example, Coats Synergex). Overall, following the Performance Materials organic growth of 4% in the July-October period which was reported in November 2017, we have seen the organic growth for the second half improve to 6%.

By region, revenue in Asia grew by 6% on a CER basis which was ahead of the 4% growth reported in the first half, as momentum in key Apparel and Footwear markets (e.g. Vietnam and Indonesia) gathered pace during the year (7% growth in H2). Thread sales in China for domestic Apparel and Footwear consumption grew strongly by 9% in 2017, supporting our belief that Coats remains well placed in that market to benefit from the macro trend of the expansion of the urban middle class in Asia. Revenues in EMEA rose 14% (9% organic growth) which was a continuation of a strong and improving performance in 2016 (7% organic growth) and the first half of 2017 (organic growth 8%), driven by double-digit growth in certain key A&F markets (e.g. Turkey) and hi-tech Performance Materials end uses (including Gotex). In the Americas there was a return to growth in the year (2% decline in 2016) following strong performance in certain key Latin America Markets, and a marginal year-on-year improvement in the US consumer durables market on 2016 although overall this market remains weak.

Industrial adjusted operating profit increased 13% to $173 million on a CER basis (2016: $153 million) and margins increased 70bps to 13.3%. This reflected strong volume growth driving a positive operational gearing impact, realising price increases through continually focussing on our customers' needs (e.g. speed, quality, innovation and corporate responsibility), ongoing productivity and procurement savings, and a close control of costs. The majority of the raw material price increases seen during the year (partly linked to the rising oil price) were recovered through price increases, and together with these other self-help initiatives were able to more than offset the other structural non-raw material inflation (e.g. wages and energy) that the Group faces across the many countries in which it operates. Year-on-year adjusted operating profit growth in the second half of 2017 improved to 15% and margins increased year-on-year by 100bps. 

Crafts

Crafts revenues declined 10% on a reported basis (11% CER decline). This was as a result of the business disruption caused by the tornado strike in January at the main Crafts distribution centre in Albany, Georgia, USA, along with continued tough underlying market conditions in the North American market which persisted throughout the second half of the year and the adverse impact from the introduction of own-label handknitting products at a major customer. The revenue decline was broadly split evenly across both the Handknittings and Needlecrafts categories. Revenues in the smaller Latin America market grew by 1% on a CER basis (6% reported), with growth in the key markets of Brazil and Argentina.

Despite the continued difficult trading conditions, the division has continued to make good progress in the areas of enhancing its online offerings and new product launches. New management is now in place in our North American Crafts business who will be delivering a revised and refocused strategy, and the previously announced integration of the Latin American business with the Industrial operations remains on-going. From 2018, it is anticipated that Latin America Crafts will be reported as part of the Industrial division once the integration of activities is finalised.

Adjusted operating margins in the Crafts Division reduced to 3.3% (2016: 4.5%) and adjusted operating profits were down 34% to $7 million (2016: $11 million). This margin reduction was mainly due to non-trading items that occurred in the second half. These included reorganisation costs in relation to the North American management team, specific business disruption costs in relation to the Albany tornado, and asset write-downs following the sale of the non-core lifestyle fabrics business (due to complete in H1 2018). Offsetting the above, were the realisation of the initial cost synergies anticipated in the Latin American business ahead of its eventual full integration with the Industrial business. First half adjusted operating margins of 5.3% benefitted partially from the profit insurance cover in relation to lost revenues resulting from the tornado.

Financial review

Adjusted EPS for the year increased 30% to 6.4 cents (2016: 4.9 cents). This was driven by the higher operating profit, improvements in the underlying tax rate, the deferred tax credit as a result of the recently announced US tax reforms, a lower pension finance charge (offset to some extent by decrease in interest income on reduced parent group cash), and MTM foreign exchange gains (2016: foreign exchange losses). Excluding the year-on-year impact of the MTM foreign exchange gains/losses (net of tax), and the one-off impact of the US tax reforms on deferred tax balances, adjusted EPS growth would have been 17%. Reported EPS of 5.8 cents compares to 4.3 cents in 2016 with the increase predominantly due to the above factors.

Non-operating results

Net finance costs in the period were $23.0 million, significantly down from $31.6 million in 2016. The key drivers of the reduction in net finance costs in the period were $2 million foreign exchange gains mainly in relation to MTM adjustments for the year ended 31 December 2017 (2016: $4 million losses), and a $4 million reduction in the IAS19 pension finance charge to $9.4 million (2016: $13.6 million). The latter was following the injection of parent group cash into the three UK defined benefit schemes which reduced the net IAS19 liabilities accordingly, although the reduced pension finance charge was offset to some extent by reduced interest income on the lower parent group cash balance. Interest on borrowings was broadly flat year-on-year at $14.5 million (2016 $14.4 million); underlying interest was lower partly due to fixed interest rate swaps coming to an end, as well as lower net debt levels during the year. However, this was offset by a $2 million charge in relation to accelerated amortisation of capitalised facility fees in relation to the previous 2015 refinancing (following the USPP issue and refinancing of existing bank debt in December 2017).

The taxation charge for 2017 was $47.8 million (2016: $46.8 million) resulting in a reported tax rate of 33% (2016: 38%). Excluding exceptional and acquisition related items and the impact of IAS19 finance charges, the underlying effective rate on pre-tax profits reduced by 400bps to 30% (2016: 34%). This reduction includes a non-cash tax credit of $3.0 million (200 bps) as a result of the revaluation of the net US deferred tax liabilities following the tax reform measures introduced by the US Government in the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. The Group's underlying effective tax rate excluding this one-off impact is 32%, a reduction of 200bps from 2016 which was driven by a reduction in unrelieved losses, together with a change in profit mix for the period.

We have reviewed the available detail of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act but do not expect the changes to have a significant impact on the Group's future underlying effective tax rate despite the reduction in the headline US Corporate Income Tax rate from 35% to 21% with effect from 1 January 2018. The benefit of the rate reduction is offset by provisions to limit net interest expense to 30% of adjusted taxable income and the loss of the domestic production activities deduction, which our US operations have historically benefitted from. Further detail and guidance is expected to be released in the coming months and we will continue to monitor this.

Profit attributable to minority interests was $14.3 million (2016: $11.9 million) and was predominantly related to Coats' operations in Vietnam and Bangladesh (in which it has controlling interests).

Exceptional and acquisition related items

Net exceptional and acquisition related items before taxation were $9.1 million in 2017. These are related to the amortisation of intangible assets acquired in the recent acquisitions ($2.1 million), contingent consideration in relation to these acquisitions ($4.0 million), acquisition transaction costs ($0.4 million), and the closure costs of a joint venture entity ($2.6 million). In 2016 net exceptional and acquisition related items before taxation totalled $4.6 million.

Lower Passaic River

In 2010, the US Environmental Protection Agency ('EPA') notified Coats & Clark, Inc. ('CC'), a subsidiary within the Coats Group, that it was a 'potentially responsible party' under the US Superfund law for investigation and remediation costs at the 17 mile Lower Passaic River Study Area ('LPR') in New Jersey in respect of alleged operations of a predecessor's former facilities in that area prior to 1950. CC has concluded that it was not responsible for the contaminants and environmental damage that are the primary focus of the EPA process.

In 2015, a provision of $15.8 million was recorded for remediation costs and associated legal and professional costs based on CC's estimated share of de minimis costs for appropriate remedies, net of insurance reimbursements.

In September 2017, in response to comments from various parties that all parties should be included in the same allocation process, EPA expanded the process to include private parties that are alleged to have discharged the relevant contaminants, and asked the allocator to make a determination about the respective shares of all parties. CC has previously indicated to EPA that it is not responsible for the primary risk drivers. The duration and scope of the allocation process have yet to be determined. No additional provision has been recorded during 2017.

See note 10 for further details.

Investment

Capital expenditure in the year, in addition to ongoing maintenance requirements, related to new product development, process improvements, capacity expansion, health and safety, and environmental spend. The latter, include projects such as effluent treatment plants which enable a thread plant to recycle more process water, or even to operate with zero discharges.. These help to ensure that Coats maintains its strong corporate responsibility credentials and ethical reputation in the industry as well as benefitting the local communities that we do business in. Total capital spend for the year amounted to $50 million (1.2x depreciation and amortisation), in line with the previously flagged increase on the 2016 capital spend of $40 million (1.0x depreciation and amortisation).

In order to continue to support our growth strategy and reinforce our strong environmental compliance credentials we anticipate capital spend to remain in the $50-60 million range for 2018.

Cash flow

Adjusted free cash flow was $87 million in 2017, which was a 12% increase on 2016 ($78 million). This was due to increased profitability and lower effective tax rates, which more than offset the anticipated second half increase in capital expenditure ($8 million increase vs H2 2016). This is a key metric for the Group in relation to underlying cash flow generation and is before annual pension recovery payments, acquisitions and dividends, and excludes exceptional items.

Adjusted EBITDA (defined as adjusted operating profit before depreciation and amortisation) was $216 million (2016: $199 million). Net working capital has been effectively controlled at 10% of Group sales (2016: 10%), driven by an improvement in days payable outstanding which was offset by an increase in stocks to support service delivery, along with a marginal improvement in days sales outstanding. Interest paid was $14 million, which was in line with 2016. Tax paid was $61 million, a $3 million increase on 2016, where the impact of higher profitability in 2017 was offset by the overall reduction in the Group's underlying effective tax rate driven by the profit mix.

On a non-adjusted basis, free cash outflow was $330 million, compared to $84 million outflow in 2016. The increase was primarily related to $373 million of payments into the three UK defined benefit pension schemes (2016: $99 million) following settlement with their respective trustees (including $348 million of upfront settlement payments out of parent group cash made in the first half), shareholder dividends of $18 million (2016: nil), offset by a lower spend on acquisitions in 2017 of $20 million (2016: $36 million).

Balance sheet

The Group had a net debt position of $241 million at 31 December 2017 (31 December 2016: net cash $78 million). At 31 December 2016 the net cash position of $78 million included parent group cash of $343 million and operating business net debt of $265 million. Following the settlement of the three UK defined benefit pension schemes in the first half of 2017 the parent group cash has now reduced to $0.5 million, with $348 million (£270 million) up-front settlement payments into those three schemes.

The Coats operating business had a net debt position of $242 million at the end 2017. This was below 31 December 2016 ($265 million) primarily due to the adjusted free cash flow in the year ($87 million), offset by on-going pension deficit recovery payments (including administrative expenses) now paid out of the operating business net debt following settlement ($25 million), shareholder dividends ($18 million) and the acquisition of Patrick Yarn Mill ($20 million). An important metric for the operating business is the leverage ratio of net debt (excluding parent group cash) to adjusted EBITDA. Net debt at 31 December 2017 improved to 1.1x adjusted EBITDA of the last twelve months (1.3x at 31 December 2016).

Following the binding settlement agreements agreed with the trustees of the three UK pension schemes (see further details below) it was determined that the functional currency of Coats Group plc had changed from Great Britain pounds sterling to the United States dollars, effective 1 March 2017. This change has been accounted for prospectively (in line with accounting standards) and generated exchange differences in the year that reduced share capital by $40 million, reduced the capital reduction reserve by $25 million, and reduced the share premium account by $11 million. Equivalent gains were booked in the translation reserve and as a result distributable reserves have not been impacted by this change.

Pensions and other post-employment benefits

The net obligation for the Group's retirement and other post-employment defined benefit liabilities, on an IAS19 financial reporting basis, was $163 million as at 31 December 2017, down from $627 million at 31 December 2016.

The deficits in the Group's UK defined benefit schemes, namely the UK Coats Plan, and Brunel and Staveley schemes, decreased to $106 million (£79 million) from the position at 31 December 2016 ($576 million, £467 million). The decrease in liabilities in the period of $470 million primarily consisted of deficit repair payments of $373 million (which included agreed upfront settlement payments of £270 million ($348 million) made in the first half), actuarial gains of $141 million (mainly related to asset outperformance) offset by the impact of foreign exchange on Sterling liabilities of $31 million.

Pensions Investigations

As previously reported in the announcements of 16 December 2016, 17 February 2017, and 26 June 2017 Coats has signed binding settlement agreements with the Trustees of all three UK pension schemes; the UK Coats Pension Plan, the Brunel Holdings Pension scheme and the Staveley Industries Retirement Benefit Scheme. The settlements with the three schemes were completed in the first half of 2017, and as a result the UK Pension Regulator confirmed that its regulatory action has ceased in relation to the warning notices issued to the Company in 2013 and 2014.

The principal commercial terms of the combined three settlements are:

· Financial support on the basis of a combined technical provisions deficit as at April 2015 of £582 million ($786 million) to be repaired by:

a) upfront payments totalling £329.5 million ($447 million) from the Company's parent group cash paid directly into the schemes (inclusive of the agreed Recovery Plan contributions paid to the Brunel and Staveley schemes since 1 January 2016); and

b) annual deficit contributions totalling £17.5 million ($24 million), including estimated administration expenses and levies of £5 million p.a. to be paid until 2028.

· Access to sponsor support from Coats for future funding needs together with a Company guarantee.

As a result of the settlements reached with the three schemes, the total cash Recovery Plan contributions in 2017, including estimated administration expenses and levies, were £290 million ($373 million). This comprised £270 million upfront settlement payments (which were paid in H1), and £20 million annual deficit contributions, including estimated administration expenses and levies. These cash payments continue to be excluded from the Group's adjusted Free Cash Flow.

Triennial funding valuations

The next triennial funding valuations for the Coats UK, Brunel and Staveley schemes have an effective date of 31 March 2018.

Although there is a relatively small IAS19 accounting deficit as at 31 December 2017 in comparison to the gross pension liabilities, the pension trustees are required to calculate the funding position on the more prudent technical provisions basis. In addition, real UK interest rates have reduced since the first quarter of 2015 and in aggregate the UK schemes now hedge c.70% of interest rate and inflation linked liabilities. These triennial valuations will determine the Group's agreed future contribution requirements and the process is expected to be completed in the first half of 2019.

Coats Group plc

Consolidated income statement

Continuing and discontinued operations

Coats Group plc

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

Coats Group plc

Consolidated statement of financial position

Coats Group plc

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

For the year ended 31 December 2017

* The functional currency of the parent company Coats Group plc was changed during the year ended 31 December 2017. See note 1 for further details.

Coats Group plc

Consolidated cash flow statement

Coats Group plc

Notes to the consolidated financial information for the year ended 31 December 2017

1. Basis of preparation

The preliminary financial information (the 'financial information') set out in this report is based on Coats Group plc's unaudited consolidated financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS') as adopted by the European Union, and complies with the disclosure requirements of the Listing Rules of the UK Financial Services Authority. The accounting policies adopted by the Group have been applied consistently to all periods presented.

The financial information set out in this report does not constitute the Coats Group plc's statutory accounts for the years ended 31 December 2017 and 2016. The financial information for the year ended 31 December 2016 is derived from the statutory accounts for that year which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The audit report on those accounts did not contain statements under Sections 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006. The audit opinion contained in that report was unmodified. The audit of the statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2017 is not yet complete. Those accounts will be finalised on the basis of the financial information presented by the Directors in this preliminary announcement and will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's Annual General Meeting.

Whilst the financial information included in this report has been compiled in accordance with the recognition and measurement principles of applicable IFRS, this report does not itself contain sufficient information to comply with IFRS. Coats Group plc expects to publish full consolidated financial statements that comply with IFRS; these will be available to shareholders in March 2018.

New standards, interpretation and amendments adopted by the Group

The same accounting policies, presentation and methods of computation are followed in the preliminary financial information as applied in the Group's annual audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2016 other than the following new and revised standards that were effective as of 1 January 2017:

· Amendments to IAS 12 Income Taxes: Recognition of Deferred Tax Assets for Unrealised Losses

· Amendments to IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows: Disclosure Initiative

· Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2014-2016 Cycle - Amendments to IFRS 12 Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities

The adoption of these standards has not had a material impact on the financial statements of the Group.

Change in functional currency

In February 2017 the Company signed binding settlement agreements with the Trustees of the Coats UK Pension Plan and Brunel Holdings Pension Scheme. On 28 February 2017 agreed cash payments of £200.0 million and £34.5 million were made into the Coats UK Pension Plan and Brunel Holdings Pension Scheme respectively. The Company has received written assurances from the UK Pensions Regulator that its regulatory action has ceased in relation to these two schemes under the Warning Notices that it issued to the Company in 2013 and 2014.

Following the events noted above, it was determined that the functional currency of Coats Group plc had changed from Great Britain pounds sterling ('Sterling') to United States dollars ('USD'), effective 1 March 2017. In accordance with IAS 21 this change has been accounted for prospectively from this date. To give effect to the change in functional currency, the assets, liabilities and equity of Coats Group plc in Sterling at 1 March 2017 were converted into USD at an exchange rate of US$1:£0.8078.

Share capital and other equity amounts of Coats Group plc reported in the Group's consolidated statement of financial position were previously presented in USD converted from Sterling using historical rates of exchange. Exchange differences have therefore arisen between the historical USD/Sterling exchange rates and the exchange rate used for conversion from Sterling to USD at 1 March 2017. These exchange differences are reported in the consolidated statement of changes in equity.

The presentation currency of the Group is USD and remains unchanged.

Going concern

Giving due consideration to the nature of the Group's business and taking account of the following matters: the financing facilities available to the Group; the Group's foreign currency exposures; and also taking into consideration the cash flow forecasts prepared by the Group and the sensitivity analysis associated therewith, the directors consider that the Company and the Group are going concerns and this financial information is prepared on that basis.

Principal exchange rates

The principal exchange rates (to the US dollar) used are as follows:

2. Operating segments

The Group has two reportable segments: Industrial and Crafts. Both segments includes businesses with similar operating and market characteristics. These segments are consistent with the internal reporting as reviewed by the Coats Group plc Board (the 'Chief Operating Decision Maker').

Segment revenue and results

Year ended 31 December 2017:

Year ended 31 December 2016:

Audited

3. Exceptional and acquisition related items

The Group's consolidated income statement format includes results before and after exceptional and acquisition related items.

Adjusted results exclude exceptional and acquisition related items to reflect the underlying performance of the business and provides a more meaningful comparison of how the business is managed and measured on a day-to-day basis. Further details on alternative performance measures are set out in note 14.

Exceptional items

There were no exceptional items charged/(credited) to operating profit during the year ended 31 December 2017 (2016: $nil).

Share of losses of joint ventures for the year ended 31 December 2017 is after exceptional costs of $2.6 million (2016: $nil) relating to the sale and closure of the business of a joint venture in Australia, Australia Country Spinners.

Judgement is used by the Group in assessing the particular items, which by virtue of their scale and nature, are presented in the income statement and disclosed in the related notes as exceptional items. In determining whether an event or transaction is exceptional, quantitative as well as qualitative factors such as frequency or predictability of occurrence are considered. This is consistent with the way financial performance is measured by management and reported to the Board.

Acquisition related items

Acquisition related items are set out below:

The Group completed the acquisition of Patrick Yarn Mill during the year ended 31 December 2017 (see note 12 for further details) and completed the acquisitions of Gotex S.A. and Fast React Systems Limited during the year ended 31 December 2016.

The Group has made acquisitions with earn outs to allow part of the consideration to be based on the future performance of the businesses acquired and to lock in key management. Where consideration paid or contingent consideration payable in the future is employment linked, it is treated as an expense and part of statutory results. However, all consideration of this type is excluded from adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share as in management's view, these items are part of the capital transaction.

Acquisition transaction costs and amortisation of intangible assets acquired through business combinations are not included within adjusted earnings. These costs are acquisition related and management consider them to be capital in nature and they do not reflect the underlying trading performance of the Group.

Excluding amortisation of intangible assets acquired through business combinations and recognised in accordance with IFRS 3 "Business Combinations" from adjusted results also ensures that the performance of the Group's acquired businesses is presented consistently with its organically grown businesses. It should be noted that the use of acquired intangible assets contributed to the Group's results for the years presented and will contribute to the Group's results in future periods as well. Amortisation of acquired intangible assets will recur in future periods.

Amortisation of software is included within adjusted results as management consider these cost to be part of the underlying trading performance of the business.

4. Investment income

* Cash relating to the realisation of investments previously held by Coats Group plc.

5. Finance costs

6. Taxation

In December 2017 the US Government introduced tax reform measures in the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act. As a result of the provisions of this Act, the Group recognised a one-off non-cash tax credit of $3.0 million in the consolidated income statement as a result of the revaluation of the net US deferred tax liabilities using the new headline Corporate Income Tax rate of 21% effective from 1 January 2018. A further tax credit of $2.9 million was taken directly to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income in relation to the revaluation of deferred tax liabilities in respect of US defined benefit pension arrangements.

7. Earnings per share

The calculation of basic earnings per ordinary share from continuing operations is based on the profit from continuing operations attributable to equity shareholders and the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue during the year, excluding shares held by the Employee Benefit Trust but including shares under share incentive schemes which are not contingently issuable.

The calculation of basic earnings per ordinary share from continuing and discontinued operations is based on the profit attributable to equity shareholders. The weighted average number of ordinary shares used for the calculation of basic earnings per ordinary share from continuing and discontinued operations is the same as that used for basic earnings per ordinary share from continuing operations.

For diluted earnings per ordinary share, the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue is adjusted to include all potential dilutive ordinary shares. The Group has two classes of dilutive potential Ordinary Shares: those share options granted to employees where the exercise price is less than the average market price of the Company's ordinary shares during the year and those long-term incentive plan awards for which the performance criteria would have been satisfied if the end of the reporting period were the end of the contingency period.

8. Issued share capital

During the year ended 31 December 2017 the Company issued 5,688,366 Ordinary shares of 5p each (2016: nil) following the exercise of share options as set out below:

The own shares reserve of $7.7 million at 31 December 2017 (2016: $10.5 million) represents the cost of shares in Coats Group plc purchased in the market and held by an Employee Benefit Trust to satisfy awards under the Group's share based incentive plans. The number of shares held by the Employee Benefit Trust at 31 December 2017 was 19,025,392 (2016: 25,746,861).

9. Dividends

The proposed final dividend of 1.00 cents per ordinary share for the year ended 31 December 2017 is not recognised as a liability in the consolidated statement of financial position in line with the requirements of IAS 10 Events after the Reporting Period and, subject to shareholder approval, will be paid on 29 May 2018 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 4 May 2018.

10. US environmental matters