“Our business is the high value-added design, conversion and finishing of polymers or other specialist materials into products for strategically attractive niche markets. By outstanding performance for our customers we will build strong international market share positions. We will maintain a focus on business-to-business selling and improved returns on capital. We will provide related services where they can generate value for us and our customers.”

What is Low & Bonar PLC?

The single paragraph above tries to summarise the common strands and common objectives of our Group. A few explanations of particular phrases from that description will hopefully give a more specific interpretation:

“High value-added design, conversion and finishing of polymers.”  We use as our base chemical polymers like polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon and PVC and then shape, colour, process and add componentry to them in ways that separate us from bulk converters of such chemicals. That’s why our chemical raw materials typically represent no more than 30% to 40% of sales value.

“Strategically attractive niche markets.”  Whatever it be as one of a very few players producing yarns for artificial football pitches, shading screens for greenhouses, or a flooring product that is soft yet acts like a resilient material, we will seek out markets that are differentiated and are capable of being uniquely valuable to our customers – and therefore of sustaining higher margins.

“A focus on business-to-business selling and improved returns on capital”  We believe that selling to businesses, as opposed to consumers, requires a specific set of skills, gives us plenty of scope for growth and hence will be our chosen market type. We believe that by paying close attention to the efficiency with which we use our asset base, as well as the profit margins we make, we can ensure a strong cash flow and high quality of earnings for investors.