H1 highlights:
Underlying profit before tax up 17.4% to £71.6m (constant currency up 10.8%):
• Two 'bolt-on' acquisitions completed in last 12 months successfully integrated
• Europe & North America continue to grow in line with GDP
• Asia & Rest of World in line with guidance with H1 Nitrile Latex margins stable vs Q4 2016
• Positive FX impact
IFRS profit before tax £53.4m
R&D delivering sustainable growth: new products represent circa 20% total sales* (2016: 18%)
Underlying earnings per share up 21.7% at 16.8p per share
Interim dividend of 3.7p (2016: 3.5p); increase of 5.7% in line with dividend policy
Strong and flexible balance sheet maintained - leverage 1.3x EBITDA
