Interim Results

Summary by AI BETAClose X

Zotefoams PLC reported a strong first half for the six months ended 30 June 2026, with revenue increasing by 23% to £95.2 million, driven by diversification and the acquisition of Overseas Konstellation Company (OKC), which contributed £14.8 million. Adjusted operating profit rose 34% to £16.3 million, and adjusted profit before tax also grew 34% to £15.3 million, with gross margins improving to 35.6%. The company maintained its full-year expectations and is progressing strategic investments, including a new facility in Vietnam and a UK restructuring expected to yield £4 million in annual savings, while also increasing its interim dividend by 5.2% to 2.63p per share.

Disclaimer*

Zotefoams PLC
05 August 2026
 

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the UK version of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ('UK MAR'). Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

 

Zotefoams plc

 

Interim Report for the six months ended 30 June 2026

 

Diversification and disciplined execution drive strong first-half growth

 

5 August 2026 - Zotefoams plc ("Zotefoams", the "Company" or the "Group"), a world leader in high-performance foams, announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026.

 

Results highlights

·      Revenue up 23% to £95.2m (HY 2025: £77.4m), representing constant currency growth of 24% and organic revenue growth, excluding acquisitions, of 4%, 6% at constant currency:

·      EMEA revenue up 20% to £73.6m (HY 2025: £61.4m) including a £14.8m contribution from Overseas Konstellation Company ("OKC")

·      North America revenue up 29% to £18.7m (HY 2025: £14.5m)

·      Asia revenue up 107% to £2.9m (HY 2025: £1.4m)

·      Improved margins deliver strong H1 profit performance:

·      Gross margin up 100 bps to 35.6% (HY 2025: 34.6%)

·      Adjusted operating profit1 up 34% to £16.3m (HY 2025: £12.2m); adjusted operating margin up 130 bps to 17.1% (HY 2025: 15.8%).

·      Adjusted profit before tax up 34% to £15.3m (HY 2025: £11.4m).

·      Statutory profit before tax up 23% to £14.0m (HY 2025: £11.4m), including adjusting items of £1.3m.

·      Adjusted Basic earnings per share up 29% to 25.70p (HY 2025: 19.99p)

·      Basic earnings per share of 23.60p (HY 2025: 19.99p)

·      Strong balance sheet:

·      Net debt (covenant basis2) £39.1m (HY 2025: £21.1m; FY 2025: £31.5m); leverage3 0.98x (HY 2025: 0.68x).

·      New £90m multi-currency revolving credit facility (from £50m); liquidity headroom £50.2m.

·      Interim dividend up 5.2% to 2.63p per share (HY 2025: 2.50p).

 

Strategic highlights

·      Growth across a range of targeted regional and sector markets in particular, Transport & Smart Technologies, together with the acquired contribution from OKC, more than offset the anticipated normalisation in footwear following exceptional 2025 demand, with footwear revenue down around 23% year on year.

·      OKC, the Group's first acquisition under its Expanding Beyond the Core strategy, is integrating well and ahead of plan, contributing £14.8m of acquired revenue in its first full half-year, with early cross-selling wins secured.

·      Vietnam manufacturing facility on track for trial production from October 2026, with the first autoclaves on site and installation underway.

·      Proposed restructuring of the Group's UK operations at Croydon, aimed at optimising the UK manufacturing footprint to ensure it is aligned with future customer demand and remains fit for purpose for the long term. If implemented, the site would be repositioned around materials innovation and non-footwear applications aligned to our other 6 key industries, reinforcing the Group's ongoing commitment to UK manufacturing. The proposals reflect the continued investment in automation and process improvement, the planned transfer of high-volume footwear production to Vietnam over 2026 and 2027 and increased utilisation of manufacturing capacity in Poland.

·      South Korea Footwear Innovation Centre is open and already hosting customers, with equipment being installed.

·      Global Approved Partners Programme rollout continued, with E&H Laminating & Slitting, ESI, FlexTech, J&T Group (including Kristofoam, Ramfoam and Worldwide Foam), Polyformes, Technifab and UFP Technologies announced during the period.

·      Continued cost discipline, productivity enhancement and significantly improved profitability in North America driving overall margin gains, offsetting temporary margin moderation in footwear as new facilities are ramped up and optimised through 2026 and 2027.

·      Modest investment in AI progressing, with the ZoteIQ customer engine and ZoteLabs materials-innovation platform embedded across customer, innovation and operational workflows. These tools are beginning to deliver productivity benefits.

 

Outlook

·      The Group's full-year expectations4 for 2026 remain unchanged.

·      Our strategic priorities are progressing to plan including the commissioning and optimisation of Vietnam, restructuring in the UK and delivering our other major investments in innovation

·      The Group remains confident in its ability to deliver its medium-term financial ambitions of revenue greater than £230m and operating profit greater than £40m by FY2029.

Financial summary

June 2026

June 2025

Change

Revenue (£m)

95.2

77.4

+23%

Gross margin (%)

35.6

34.6

+100 bps

Adjusted operating profit1 (£m)

16.3

12.2

+34%

Adjusted operating margin (%)

17.1

15.8

+130 bps

Adjusted profit before tax (£m)

15.3

11.4

+34%

Statutory profit before tax (£m)

14.0

11.4

+23%

Basic EPS (p)

23.60

19.99

-

Net debt - covenant basis2 (£m)

39.1

21.1

+85%

Leverage3 (x)

0.98

0.68

-

Interim dividend (p)

2.63

2.50

+5.2%

 

1. Adjusted operating profit excludes exceptional items, acquisition expenses, primarily amortisation of acquired intangible assets, and other significant one-off items.

2. Net debt (covenant basis) is cash less gross bank loans, excluding lease liabilities as defined under the bank facility.

3. Leverage is the ratio of net debt (covenant basis) to EBITDA as defined in the banking facility.

4. The Board notes that current market expectations for the year ended 31 December 2026, prior to release of this interim report, are revenue of £190.8m and adjusted profit before tax of £26.3m

 

Commenting on the results and outlook, Ronan Cox, Group CEO, said:

"We are pleased with the performance in the first half which provides clear evidence that Zotefoams' strategy is delivering a broader and more balanced business. Strong growth across our target non-footwear markets, a more than doubling of Asia revenue and the first full-half contribution from OKC drove strong revenue, profit and margin growth in the period, even as footwear normalised following exceptional demand in 2025. This is an important proof point of our Expanding Beyond the Core strategy.

 

"OKC's first full half year contribution has been encouraging and ahead of plan. As acquired growth it should be distinguished from our underlying like-for-like performance, but it is an important demonstration of our disciplined, value-accretive approach to acquisitions. Our investments in Vietnam and South Korea are progressing to plan and positioning us closer to the global footwear supply chain.

 

"Together with continued momentum in Transport & Smart Technologies including wins in aerospace and space this will drive the next phase of growth for Zotefoams. Commissioning and optimising the Vietnam facility will create some temporary inefficiency as production is shared between the UK and Vietnam during the transition, but this is a planned and necessary step which will deliver a more competitive, customer-proximate platform.

 

"We are cognisant of wider macroeconomic uncertainty however we remain confident in delivering full year results in line with market expectations, underpinned by strong first half trading. In footwear specifically, the shift to Asia and to 3D preforms, including the run-down of sheet ahead of preforms, will weigh on volumes and revenue through the second half and into 2027. Our strategic priorities are progressing to plan including the commissioning and optimisation of Vietnam and our other major investments.

 

"We are increasingly confident in the scale of the opportunity and in materially stronger value creation from 2028 onwards, supported by a strong balance sheet and continued demand across our key target markets and in line with our medium-term financial ambitions."

 

Enquiries:

 

Zotefoams plc

IFC Advisory (Financial PR & IR)

Ronan Cox, Group CEO

Nick Wright, Group CFO

 

 

+44 (0) 208 664 1600

 

Graham Herring

Tim Metcalfe

Zach Cohen

 

+44 (0) 203 934 6630

 

About Zotefoams plc

 

Zotefoams plc (LSE - ZTF) is a world leader in high-performance foam technology delivering optimal material solutions for the benefit of society. Utilising a variety of unique manufacturing processes, including environmentally friendly nitrogen expansion for lightweight AZOTE® polyolefin and ZOTEK® high-performance foams, Zotefoams sells to diverse markets worldwide. Zotefoams uses its own cellular materials to manufacture T-FIT® advanced insulation for demanding industrial markets.


Zotefoams is headquartered in London, UK, with manufacturing sites in Croydon, UK, Kentucky, USA and Brzeg, Poland (foam manufacture), Oklahoma, USA (foam products manufacture and conversion), Anglesola and Burgos, Spain (foam manufacture), Vietnam and Jiangsu Province, China (T-FIT).


www.zotefoams.com

AZOTE
®, ZOTEK® and T-FIT® are registered trademarks of Zotefoams plc



 

Results overview


Group revenue in the period increased £17.8m, or 23%, to £95.2m (HY 2025: £77.4m), including a £14.8m first full half year contribution from Overseas Konstellation Company ("OKC"), which was acquired in November 2025. Excluding the OKC contribution, organic revenue grew 4%, as good growth across non-footwear markets and a more than doubling of Asia revenue more than offset the anticipated normalisation in footwear following exceptional 2025 demand.

Gross profit increased 26% to £33.9m (HY 2025: £26.8m) and gross margin improved 100 bps to 35.6% (HY 2025: 34.6%). Temporary surcharges were applied across EMEA and OKC to offset Middle East-linked raw-material, freight and utility cost inflation, with North America surcharges commencing in July.

Adjusted operating profit increased 34% to £16.3m (HY 2025: £12.2m) and adjusted operating margin improved 130 bps to 17.1% (HY 2025: 15.8%). Adjusted profit before tax increased 34% to £15.3m (HY 2025: £11.4m). After adjusting items of £1.3m, statutory profit before tax increased 23% to £14.0m (HY 2025: £11.4m). Adjusted basic earnings per share was 25.70p (HY 2025: 19.99p). Basic earnings per share was 23.60p (HY 2025: 19.99p).

2026 is a year of strategic investment in Asia and the Global Innovation Hub, alongside deferred consideration payments relating to the OKC acquisition. Cash generated from operations was £8.2m (HY 2025: £15.8m), reflecting strong operating performance offset by higher working capital of £14.0m. This includes initial absorption of OKC's normal seasonal requirements as well as targeted inventory build to support footprint transition in the second half. On an IFRS basis, net debt at 30 June 2026 was £49.5m (FY 2025: £43.0m; HY 2025: £29.1m). On a bank covenant basis, net debt was £39.1m (FY 2025: £31.5m; HY 2025: £21.1m), representing leverage of 0.98x (HY 2025: 0.68x). Following the January 2026 refinancing into a new £90m multi-currency revolving credit facility, liquidity headroom remains substantial at £50.2m (HY 2025: £28.8m). The Board has approved an interim dividend of 2.63p per share, an increase of 5.2% (HY 2025: 2.50p).

Business unit review


Performance is presented in line with the Group's regional management and reporting structure, comprising EMEA, North America and Asia, and reflects the integration of OKC within EMEA.

EMEA

In the period, the EMEA region delivered revenue of £73.6m (HY 2025: £61.4m), an increase of 20%, driven by the £14.8m first full half year contribution from OKC and strong growth in non-footwear lines, which more than offset the anticipated normalisation in footwear following exceptional 2025 demand.

 

Footwear, the largest component of the region's Consumer & Lifestyle activity, normalised as anticipated following exceptional demand in 2025. Footwear revenue was £28.5m in the period (HY 2025: £37.0m), down 23%. This reflects a return to more normalised levels of demand, together with anticipated customer inventory normalisation, where the footwear opportunity remains significant.

We expect footwear volumes to be lower through the second half of 2026 and into 2027 as the business transitions. Footwear is also moving from the supply of foam sheet to 3D preforms as manufacturing relocates to Vietnam, and during this changeover sheet volumes will run down ahead of the preform ramp, adding further pressure on footwear revenue. We expect footwear to begin recovering from 2028 as the Vietnam base scales and a stronger programme pipeline reaches production, and we continue to work closely with our customer on near-term requirements and future programmes, which will increasingly be supplied from Vietnam once it is fully operational.

Excluding footwear and OKC, the underlying EMEA business grew strongly, with continued momentum in Transport & Smart Technologies, including growing business in aerospace and space. The Group is developing UK and European aerospace opportunities from its Croydon facility, reinforcing the site's role in higher-value technical applications, alongside early cross-selling wins secured with OKC customers. Regional operating profit increased to £16.8m (HY 2025: £13.8m), with operating margin of 22.8% (HY 2025: 22.5%). The modest margin improvement reflected annual price increases, surcharges and ongoing cost discipline partly offset by mix, wage inflation and higher raw-material, energy and transport costs.

As footwear normalises, a proportion of EMEA volume is being replaced by growth in other markets. EMEA margins are therefore expected to reflect this changing volume and mix through the transition, partly mitigated by pricing, cost discipline and productivity improvements, including from AI-enabled ways of working.

North America

North America delivered revenue of £18.7m (HY 2025: £14.5m), up 29%, with growth across Transport & Smart Technologies and Construction & Other Industrial. Growth reflected the benefit of the second low-pressure vessel, commissioned last year, now fully operational, together with improved product mix and new business, reflected in record output months at both our Walton, KY and Tulsa facilities. Regional operating profit increased to £3.3m (HY 2025: £1.2m), with operating margin improving to 17.6% (HY 2025: 8.3%), driven by higher volumes, favourable mix and strong operational gearing.

Asia

Asia delivered revenue of £2.9m (HY 2025: £1.4m), an increase of over 107%, driven by Construction & Other Industrial demand, principally T-FIT and related sales into India and China. Regional operating profit increased to £0.5m (HY 2025: breakeven). Asia will become materially more important as the Vietnam footwear manufacturing facility begins operations. Commissioning, ramp-up and optimisation of the facility will take place progressively through 2026 and 2027, in line with our plan. Once fully operational, the facility will place the Group closer to its customer, shorten the supply chain and provide a more cost-efficient, customer-proximate platform, underpinning our confidence in the medium-term footwear opportunity.

Strategic investment


Asia - Vietnam and South Korea

Development of the Vietnam footwear manufacturing facility continued to plan and remains on track for first-stage trials from October 2026. The first batch of autoclaves (three high-pressure and four low-pressure vessels) is on site, with installation and commissioning underway. The first injection-moulding machine has been delivered on site, and the Environmental Impact Assessment and construction permit have been secured.

 

In July, the necessary Vietnam approval was received to transfer the Vietnam operating company to the UK joint-venture holding company, clearing the way to complete the internal restructure. In South Korea, the Footwear Innovation Centre is operational and already hosting customers, with the core infrastructure, including a leased injection moulding machine, laboratory facilities and office accommodation fully established, and the autoclave expected on site in mid-August.

 

Commissioning and optimisation of the Vietnam facility will take place progressively through 2026 and 2027, with production shared between the UK and Vietnam during the transition; the start-up costs, learning-curve effects and inefficiencies typical of a project of this scale are expected to temporarily moderate footwear profitability as expected before the facility delivers a more efficient, customer-proximate platform.

 

UK Global Innovation Hub

The Group's Global Innovation Hub in Croydon progressed at pace, strengthening R&D capability to support Group growth. Most long-lead equipment has been ordered, and office and facility renovation works are underway.

UK manufacturing footprint

The Group has today announced proposals to restructure its UK operations at Croydon. The Board has approved the commencement of collective consultation with affected employees and their representatives. The proposals, and any decision to implement them, remain subject to consultation; no decisions on individual roles will be made until it has concluded.

 

The proposals form part of the Group's plans to optimise its UK manufacturing footprint, ensuring it is aligned with future customer demand and remains fit for purpose for the long term, while reinforcing its commitment to UK manufacturing. They reflect continued investment in automation and process improvement, the planned transfer of high-volume footwear production to Vietnam over 2026 and 2027, and increased utilisation of the Group's manufacturing facilities in Poland. Together, these changes are expected to leave UK capacity and fixed costs above the requirements of the business at anticipated demand levels.

The proposals would therefore realign the UK operating model and cost base accordingly, while repositioning Croydon around materials innovation and the Group's growing non-footwear applications aligned to our other 6 key industries, including opportunities in industrial packaging, electric vehicles, defence and aerospace.

 

The consultation is expected to affect more than 100 colleagues. If implemented following consultation, the proposals are expected to give rise to material one-off costs, including redundancy and other related costs, which are expected to be presented as adjusting items, principally in the second half of 2026, together with annualised cost savings.

 

The full financial effects will be quantified following completion of the consultation process; however, potential annualised savings are currently expected to be approximately £4m, with a payback of period of less than one year, reflecting a combination of direct labour, manufacturing overhead and SG&A efficiencies, with direct labour accounting for around one-third of the total benefit.

 

No provision has been recognised at 30 June 2026 as no constructive obligation existed at the reporting date.

 

Artificial intelligence
The Group continued to advance a modest but high-impact investment in AI, now embedded across customer, innovation and operational workflows. This includes the ZoteIQ customer engine and the ZoteLabs materials-innovation platform, a private, enterprise-secured suite of specialist agents trained on Zotefoams' own knowledge and spanning market analysis, formulation, application engineering, competitor insight, and market research. These tools are beginning to deliver tangible productivity and efficiency benefits across commercial, innovation and operational activities, supporting margins as the manufacturing footprint transitions.

OKC integration

OKC, the Group's first acquisition under its Expanding Beyond the Core strategy, is integrating well and ahead of plan, extending products, capabilities and routes to market in Europe. OKC contributed £14.8m of revenue in its first full half, with trading seasonally weighted to the first half, as expected, and is earnings accretive. The commercial function has been aligned with the wider EMEA organisation, an initial brand refresh aligned to Zotefoams is underway, and early cross-selling wins have been secured.

In April, we made the first deferred consideration payment of £3.0m. A further £3.0m is expected in October 2026, with the final £1.3m expected in the first half of 2027, contingent on OKC delivering its 2026 targets.
As acquired growth, OKC's contribution is reported within EMEA and is distinct from the Group's underlying like-for-like performance; it nonetheless provides an important proof point of the Group's disciplined approach to expanding beyond the core.

Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG")

The Board understands that embedding ESG in the business creates sustainable long-term value for stakeholders. Zotefoams' purpose, to provide 'optimal material solutions for the benefit of society', reflects our belief that plastics, when used appropriately, are frequently the best solution for the sophisticated, long-term applications delivered by our customers. We continue to progress our ESG plans, including reducing energy and polymer usage, minimising waste and developing products using recycled materials.

Our major investments in Vietnam and the innovation facilities have also been designed with sustainability in mind, including reduced waste, shorter supply chains and improved energy efficiency. A full ESG report was published in the 2025 Zotefoams Annual Report, setting out the Group's ESG management framework, goals and performance to date.

Employees

Hiring, retaining and developing employees with the right skills remains critical as Zotefoams grows and evolves globally. During this period, the Group completed the transition to its simplified global operating model, with common leadership across EMEA and North America and a smaller, more focused, Group Executive Team. Employee engagement remained strong, supported by the formation of a Senior Leadership Team, established to turn strategy into action. The first Senior Leadership conference, 'Momentum', was held in June.

The Group's global workforce (full-time equivalent) was 815 at the period end, reflecting the addition of the OKC team and the build-out of Vietnam and South Korea operations. We are today announcing proposals to restructure our Croydon operations, as set out above. With the Board's approval, we have begun a consultation expected to affect more than 100 colleagues; no final decision has been taken. These proposals affect valued colleagues, and we are committed to consulting openly and fairly and to supporting those affected throughout.

Continued investment in AI is improving effectiveness through AI-enabled ways of working. On behalf of the Board, we thank all employees for their continued contribution and commitment to Zotefoams.

Financial review

Currency review

As a predominantly UK-based exporter, with most sales invoiced in currencies other than sterling, mainly US dollars and euros, exchange-rate movements can significantly affect the Group's results. The Group uses forward exchange contracts to hedge foreign-currency transaction risk and, where possible, hedges foreign-currency-denominated assets by offsetting them with same-currency liabilities. This policy is reviewed regularly and approved annually by the Board.

 

The exchange rates used to translate the key flows and balances were:

Exchange rates

6 months to
30-Jun-26

6 months to
30-Jun-25

12 months to
31-Dec-25

Euro to GBP - period average

1.150

1.192

1.173

Euro to GBP - period-end Spot

1.161

1.169

1.146

USD to GBP - period average

1.346

1.282

1.312

USD to GBP - period-end Spot

1.327

1.372

1.345

 

 

In the period, net foreign exchange movements had a negative impact on sales and profitability. Reported net sales were £1.1m below those adjusted at constant currency (HY 2025: £1.1m below). The net profit effect of this on the Group, prior to any hedging activity, was unfavourable by approximately £0.7m (HY 2025 loss: £0.5m). Offsetting this was a gain of £0.3m (HY 2025 gain: £0.2m) from transactional hedging via forward exchange contracts, which mostly occurs on USD-denominated footwear receivables. The combined unfavourable impact of movements in foreign currency on profitability in the period was £0.4m (HY 2025: unfavourable impact £0.3m).

 

Gross profit

Gross profit increased 26% to £33.9m (HY 2025: £26.8m), with gross margin improving to 35.6% (HY 2025: 34.6%). Margin benefited from the OKC contribution, price increases and surcharges, partly offset by higher freight and utility costs and wage inflation. Contribution margin was 60.6% (HY 2025: 59.4%).

 

Distribution and administrative costs

Distribution costs were £4.5m (HY 2025: £4.0m), while administrative and technical costs, excluding FX and hedging, were £14.0m (HY 2025: £10.5m). The increases largely reflected the inclusion of OKC, the build-out of Asia and innovation teams, and wage inflation. Total SG&A was £18.5m (HY 2025: £14.6m), including a full six months of OKC and increased teams in Vietnam and Korea.

Net finance costs

Net finance costs increased to £1.1m (HY 2025: £0.8m), reflecting higher average borrowings following the OKC acquisition and Vietnam investment. The Group's share of joint-venture profit was £0.1m.

 

Taxation and earnings per share

Adjusting items in the period were £1.3m. The income tax expense for the period increased 50% to £2.4m (HY 2025: £1.6m). The tax charge is recognised based on management's estimate of the tax charge in the various jurisdictions that the Group operates in applying applicable rates to profit before tax.

 

The effective tax rate for the period to 30 June 2026 is 17% (HY 2025: 14%). This increase in rate arises from lower tax deductions from patent box initiatives and the addition of OKC to the Group which is taxed at 25% compared to other foreign entities with lower effective rates.

 

Adjusted basic earnings per share was 25.70p (HY 2025: 19.99p). Basic earnings per share was 23.60p (HY 2025: 19.99p).

 

Cash flow

Cash generated from operations was £8.2m (HY 2025: £15.8m), reflecting a working-capital outflow of £14.0m as inventory and receivables increased, partly to support the planned footwear transition to Vietnam and OKC's seasonality. Capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was £7.2m, principally on the Vietnam facility and the innovation facilities in Korea and the UK. Free cash flow was an outflow of £0.4m (HY 2025: £6.2m).

 

Net debt and covenants

In January 2026, the Group refinanced into a new £90m multi-currency revolving credit facility, with a £30m accordion, provided by HSBC, NatWest and Handelsbanken, with an initial three-year term. Net debt on a bank covenant basis was £39.1m at 30 June 2026 (FY 2025: £31.5m; HY 2025: £21.1m), representing leverage of 0.98x (HY 2025: 0.68x), against a covenant maximum of 3.5x. The EBITDA-to-net-finance-charges ratio was 22.7x (HY 2025: 14.7x), against a covenant minimum of 4.0x, and liquidity headroom was £50.2m (HY 2025: £28.8m). The Group remained comfortably within its banking covenants throughout the half.

 

Net debt to EBITDA ratio (Leverage)

 

£m

12 months to 30 June 2026

12 months to 30 June 2025

£m

At 30 June

2026

At 30 June

2025


 



 


Profit after tax

27.1

13.9

Net debt per IFRS

49.5

29.1

Adjusted for:

 


IFRS 16 leases

(10.4)

(8.0)

Depreciation and amortisation

10.2

9.1


 


Net finance costs

2.0

2.3

Net debt per bank

39.1

21.1

Share of result from joint venture

(0.1)

-

 

 


Equity-settled share-based payments

1.9

1.2


 


Taxation

(1.5)

4.6


 


Exceptional items

0.4

-


 


Roundings

(0.2)

(0.2)


 


EBITDA

39.8

30.9

Leverage per bank

0.98

0.68


 



 


EBITDA to net finance charges ratio



 



 



 


£m

12 months to 30 June 2026

12 months to 30 June 2025

£m

12 months

to 30 June

2026

12 months

to 30 June

2025


 



 


EBITDA, as above

39.8

30.9

Finance costs

2.0

2.3


 


Finance income

(0.3)

(0.2)


 



 


EBITDA to net finance charges

22.7

14.7

Net finance charges

1.8

2.1

 

 

Post-employment benefits

A surplus of £0.8m has been calculated for the scheme. In accordance with IAS 19 and IFRIC 14, the surplus is recognised only to the extent that the Group has an unconditional right to a refund or a reduction in future contributions. On this basis the asset recognised is £nil (31 December 2025: £nil)

 

Going Concern

The Group's business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and position, are set out in the Strategic Report of the 2025 Annual Report on pages 1 to 75 and the section entitled risk management and principal risks on pages 38 to 48. This Interim Report provides information on business and financial performance for the six months to 30 June 2026.

 

The Directors believe that the Group is well placed to manage its business risks and, after making enquiries including a review of forecasts and projections, taking account of reasonably possible changes in trading performance and considering the existing banking facilities, have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the next 12 months following the date of approval of this Interim Report. After due consideration of the range and likelihood of potential outcomes, the Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing these interim financial statements.

Dividend

The Board remains confident in the cash generation of the business and has approved an interim dividend of 2.63p per share (HY 2025: 2.50p), an increase of 5.2%. The interim dividend will be paid on 5 October 2026 to shareholders on the Company's register at the close of business on 4 September 2026.

Principal risks and uncertainties

Zotefoams' business and share price may be affected by a number of risks, not all of which are within its control. The Group's process for identifying, assessing and managing risks is set out in the risk management and principal risks section of the 2025 Annual Report, published in April 2026. In the Board's opinion, the specific principal risks and relevant mitigating factors have not changed significantly since publication of the last Annual Report. Broadly, these are operational disruption; sustainability and climate change; global capacity management; technology displacement; scaling-up of international operations; customer concentration; external factors; legal and regulatory; cyber, data and IT security; and human capital.

The Board continues to monitor instability in the Middle East and its impact on raw-material, freight and energy costs, which is being mitigated through surcharges, and the evolving US trade and tariff landscape, which the Group is well positioned to manage through its diversified manufacturing footprint across the UK, US, Poland and Vietnam. The Group is also progressing readiness for Provision 29 of the 2024 UK Corporate Governance Code.

The proposed UK restructuring announced today introduces execution and people-related risks during the transition period, which the Board is managing through an open and fair consultation process and structured programme governance.

Outlook

Strong performance in the first half provides clear evidence that the Group's strategy is delivering a broader and more balanced business. Growth across target non-footwear markets, together with the acquired contribution from OKC and doubling of Asia drove strong revenue, profit and margin growth in the period, even as footwear normalised following exceptional demand in 2025.

The Group enters the second half with continued strategic and trading momentum, led by Transport & Smart Technologies and including wins in aerospace and space. Footwear is entering a transition as manufacturing relocates to Vietnam and supply moves from foam sheet to 3D preforms. As sheet runs down ahead of the preform ramp, we expect footwear revenue to be lower through the second half of 2026 and into 2027, before beginning to recover from 2028; we remain confident in the long-term footwear opportunity from our enhanced footprint.

The Group continues to monitor instability in the Middle East and the wider macroeconomic backdrop, mitigating raw-material and other cost movements through surcharge pricing. Commissioning and optimisation of the major strategic investments in Vietnam, the South Korea Footwear Innovation Centre and the UK Global Innovation Hub will progress through 2026 and 2027; during this period, production shared between the UK and Vietnam will carry start-up costs and transition inefficiencies that temporarily moderate footwear profitability as we build a more competitive, customer-proximate manufacturing platform.

The proposed UK restructuring announced today, which is subject to collective consultation, is expected to give rise to material one-off costs in the second half. These are expected to be presented as adjusting items and do not change the Group's adjusted full-year expectations. Subject to consultation outcomes, the proposals are expected to generate annualised cost savings of approximately £4m, supporting the optimisation of the Group's manufacturing footprint and the repositioning of the Croydon site around innovation and higher-value applications.

While cognisant of wider macroeconomic uncertainty, the Group remains confident of delivering full year results in line with our expectations underpinned by strong first-half trading. The strategy is progressing to plan including the commissioning and optimisation of Vietnam and our other major investments. These will provide Zotefoams with a materially stronger platform for further growth and value creation from 2028 onwards, and the Board is increasingly confident in its medium-term ambition of revenue greater than £230m and operating profit greater than £40m by FY2029.

Zotefoams PLC

Independent Review Report

For the six months ended 30 June 2026


Conclusion

We have been engaged by the group to review the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2026 which comprise the Consolidated Interim Income Statement, the Consolidated Interim Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated Interim Statement of Financial Position, the Consolidated Interim Statement of Cash Flow, the Consolidated Interim Statement of Changes in Equity, and related notes. We have read the other information contained in the half-yearly financial report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the condensed set of financial statements.

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2026 is not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standard 34 and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.

Basis for conclusion

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK) 2410, "Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity", issued for use in the United Kingdom. A review of interim financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

As disclosed in note 1, the annual financial statements of the group are prepared in accordance with UK adopted IASs. The condensed set of financial statements included in this half-yearly financial report has been prepared in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standard 34, "Interim Financial Reporting".

Conclusions relating to going concern

Based on our review procedures, which are less extensive than those performed in an audit as described in the Basis for conclusion section of this report, nothing has come to our attention to suggest that management have inappropriately adopted the going concern basis of accounting or that management have identified material uncertainties relating to going concern that are not appropriately disclosed.

This conclusion is based on the review procedures performed in accordance with ISRE (UK) 2410, however future events or conditions may cause the group to cease to continue as a going concern.

Responsibilities of directors

The directors are responsible for preparing the half-yearly financial report in accordance with the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.


In preparing the half-yearly financial report, the directors are responsible for assessing the group's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the group or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor's responsibilities for the review of financial information

In reviewing the half-yearly report, we are responsible for expressing to the group a conclusion on the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report. Our conclusion, including our Conclusions relating to going concern, are based on procedures that are less extensive than audit procedures, as described in the Basis for conclusion paragraph of this report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company's directors, as a body, in accordance with the terms of our engagement letter dated 15 July 2026.  Our review has been undertaken so that we might state to the company's directors those matters we have agreed to state to them in a reviewer's report and for no other purpose.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone, other than the company and the company's directors as a body, for our work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have formed.

 

PKF Littlejohn LLP

Statutory Auditor

30 Churchill Place

London E14 5RE

4 August 2026


 

Zotefoams PLC

Consolidated Interim Income Statement

For the six months ended 30 June 2026

 

 



Six months ended

Year Ended



30-Jun-26

30-Jun-25

31-Dec-25



(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)


Notes

£'000

£'000

£'000

Revenue

6

95,234

77,432

158,490

Cost of sales


(61,382)

(50,664)

(105,591)

Gross profit


33,852

26,768

52,899

Distribution costs


(4,480)

(4,051)

(8,175)

Administrative expenses


(13,971)

(10,491)

(22,153)

Exceptional items


(371)


(946)

Operating profit


15,030

12,226

21,625

Adjusted Operating profit *


16,308

12,226

22,821

Finance costs


(1,210)

(1,053)

(2,058)

Finance income


87

205

350

Share of profit from joint venture


116

19

46

Profit before income tax


14,023

11,397

19,963

Adjusted profit before income tax *


15,301

11,397

21,159

Income tax (expense) / credit

7

(2,449)

(1,647)

2,676

Profit for the period/year


11,574

9,750

22,639

Adjusted profit for the period/year


12,604

9,750

18,555

Profit attributable to:


 



Equity holders of the Company


11,574

9,750

22,639



 



Earnings per share:


 



Basic (p)

9

23.60

19.99

46.37

Diluted (p)

9

22.83

19.44

44.87

Adjusted earnings per share *


 



Basic (p)

9

25.70

19.99

38.00

Diluted (p)

9

24.86

19.44

36.77

 

* This is not an IFRS measure. Adjusted operating profit, profit before tax and profit for the year have been calculated by excluding specific one off costs, and amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisition of subsidiary.

 

The notes below form an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.


 

Zotefoams PLC

Consolidated Interim Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the six months ended 30 June 2026

 


Six months ended

Year ended


30-Jun-26

30-Jun-25

31-Dec-25


(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)


£'000

£'000

£'000

Profit for the period/year

11,574

9,750

22,639

Other comprehensive income

 



Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss:

 

 


Actuarial (loss) / gains on defined benefit pension schemes

570

755

Tax relating to items that will not be reclassified

(143)

(189)

Total items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss

(287)

427

566

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

 

 


Foreign exchange translation gains / (losses) on translation of foreign operations

248

(1,777)

(1,099)

Change in fair value of hedging instruments

3,302

647

Hedging gains reclassified to profit or loss

(185)

743

Tax relating to items that may be reclassified

299

(1,005)

(509)

Total items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss

(334)

335

(218)

Other comprehensive (expense) /income for the period/year, net of tax

(621)

762

348

Total comprehensive income for the period/year

10,953

10,512

22,987

Comprehensive income attributable to:

 



Equity holders of the Company

10,953

10,512

22,987

Total comprehensive income for the period/year

10,953

10,512

22,987

 

The notes below form an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.


Zotefoams PLC

Consolidated Interim Statement of Financial Position

For the six months ended 30 June 2026



30-Jun-26

30-Jun-25

31-Dec-25


 

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)


Notes

£'000

£'000

£'000

Non-current assets


 



Property, plant and equipment

10

109,064

93,342

105,607

Right-of-use assets

11

5,764

1,910

6,266

Goodwill


9,775

-

9,903

Intangible assets


12,738

327

13,883

Intangible right-of-use assets


6,070

6,845

6,458

Investments in joint venture


444

301

327

Trade and other receivables

14

280

24

134

Deferred tax assets


5,447

483

5,571

Total non-current assets


149,582

103,232

148,149

Current assets


 



Inventories


34,971

28,628

27,270

Trade and other receivables

14

43,234

35,716

36,484

Derivative financial instruments

14

258

2,899

980

Current tax asset


355

-

229

Cash and cash equivalents


13,016

8,257

13,982

Total current assets


91,834

75,500

78,945

Total assets


241,416

178,732

227,094

Current liabilities


 



Trade and other payables


(23,545)

(15,888)

(21,580)

Provisions


(573)

(139)

(859)

Derivative financial instruments

14

(541)

-

(67)

Current tax liability


(2,200)

(568)

(925)

Lease liabilities

11

(2,864)

(2,116)

(2,774)

Deferred consideration


(4,264)

-

(6,022)

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings

12

(52,161)

(29,380)

(45,511)

Total current liabilities


(86,148)

(48,091)

(77,738)

Non-current liabilities


 



Lease liabilities

11

(7,451)

(5,820)

(8,729)

Deferred tax liabilities


(8,759)

(6,227)

(9,239)

Deferred consideration


-

-

(1,309)

Post-employment benefits


-

(600)

-

Total non-current liabilities


(16,210)

(12,647)

(19,277)

Total liabilities


(102,358)

(60,738)

(97,015)

Total net assets


139,058

117,994

130,079

Equity


 



Issued share capital


2,482

2,442

2,462

Share premium


44,178

44,178

44,178

Own shares held


(16)

(20)

(16)

Capital redemption reserve


15

15

15

Translation reserve


2,802

1,876

2,554

Hedging reserve


(384)

1,429

198

Retained earnings


89,981

68,074

80,688

Total equity

 

139,058

117,994

130,079

The notes below form an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.


Zotefoams PLC

Consolidated Interim Statement of Cash flows

For the six months ended 30 June 2026

 


Six months ended

Year ended


30-Jun-26

30-Jun-25

31-Dec-25


(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)


£'000

£'000

£'000

Cash flows from operating activities

 



Profit before tax

14,023

11,397

19,963

Adjustments for:

 



Depreciation and amortisation

6,139

4,278

8,890

Disposal of assets

12

44

20

Finance costs

1,123

848

1,708

Share of profit from joint venture

(116)

(19)

(46)

Net exchange differences

500

(1,558)

22

Equity-settled share-based payments

954

761

1,674

Non-Cash cost of Closure of Business

-

-

946

Operating profit before changes in working capital & provisions

22,635

15,751

33,177

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables

(7,674)

(3,551)

(1,586)

(Increase)/decrease in inventories

(7,661)

727

4,536

Increase in trade and other payables

1,371

3,289

4,466

Employee defined benefit contributions

(430)

(430)

(859)

Cash generated from operations

8,241

15,786

39,734

Interest paid

(815)

(734)

(1,561)

Income taxes paid

(1,358)

(1,734)

(3,024)

Net cash flows generated from operating activities

6,068

13,318

35,149

Cash flows from investing activities

 



Interest received

87

205

350

Purchases of intangibles

(18)

(13)

(262)

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

(7,245)

(8,465)

(13,963)

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

2

700

700

Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired

(3,012)

-

(23,406)

Net cash used in investing activities

(10,186)

(7,573)

(36,581)

Cash flows from financing activities

 



Proceeds from options exercised and issue of share capital

45

-

25

Repayment of borrowings

(7,734)

(4,012)

(14,584)

Proceeds from borrowings

15,163

-

25,931

Lease payments

(1,659)

(1,357)

(2,736)

Dividends paid

(2,627)

(2,491)

(3,713)

Net cash flows from financing activities

3,188

(7,860)

4,923

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

(930)

(2,115)

3,491

Cash and cash equivalents at start of period/year

13,982

10,534

10,534

Exchange losses

(36)

(162)

(43)

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period/year

13,016

8,257

13,982

 

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and short-term highly liquid investments with a maturity date of less than three months.

 

The notes below form an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

 

The net exchange differences of £500k (June 2025: £1,558k, December 2025: £22k) within operating activities relate to the foreign exchange movement on borrowings and open forward contracts in the balance sheet.


Zotefoams PLC

Consolidated Interim Statement of Changes in Equity

For the six months ended 30 June 2026

 


Share capital

Share premium

Own shares held

Capital redemption reserve

Translation reserve

Hedging reserve

Retained earnings

Total equity

£`000

£`000

£`000

£`000

£`000

£`000

£`000

£`000










Balance as at 1 January 2026

2,462

44,178

(16)

15

2,554

198

80,688

130,079

Profit for the year

-

-

-

-

-

-

11,574

11,574

Other Comprehensive income for the year:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

Foreign exchange translation gains on investment in subsidiaries

-

-

-

-

248

-

-

248

Change in fair value of hedging instruments recognised in other comprehensive income

-

-

-

-

-

(546)

-

(546)

Reclassification to income statement - administrative expenses

-

-

-

-

-

(335)

-

(335)

Tax relating to effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges, net of recycling

-

-

-

-

-

299

-

299

Actuarial loss on defined benefit pension scheme

-

-

-

-

-

-

(382)

(382)

Tax relating to actuarial gain on defined benefit pension scheme

-

-

-

-

-

-

95

95

Total comprehensive income for the period

-

-

-

-

248

(582)

11,287

10,953

Transactions with owners of the Parent:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options exercised

-

-

-

-

-

-

45

45

Equity-settled share-based payments net of tax

20

-

-

-

-

-

588

608

Dividends paid

-

-

-

-

-

-

(2,627)

(2,627)

Total transactions with owners of the Parent

20

-

-

-

-

-

(1,994)

(1,974)

Balance as at 30 June 2026 (Unaudited)

2,482

44,178

(16)

15

2,802

(384)

89,981

139,058

 










Share capital

Share premium

Own shares held

Capital redemption reserve

Translation reserve

Hedging reserve

Retained earnings

Total equity

£`000

£`000

£`000

£`000

£`000

£`000

£`000

£`000










Balance as at 1 January 2025

2,442

44,178

(7)

15

3,653

(683)

59,759

109,357

Profit for the period

-

-

-

-

-

-

9,750

9,750

Other Comprehensive income for the year:

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Foreign exchange translation losses on investment in subsidiaries

-

-

-

-

(1,777)

-

-

(1,777)

Change in fair value of hedging instruments recognised in other comprehensive income

-

-

-

-

-

3,302

-

3,302

Reclassification to income statement - administrative expenses

-

-

-

-

-

(185)

-

(185)

Tax relating to effective portion of changes in fair value of cash flow hedges, net of recycling

-

-

-

-

-

(1,005)

-

(1,005)

Actuarial gain on defined benefit pension scheme

-

-

-

-

-

-

570

570

Tax relating to actuarial gain on defined benefit pension scheme

-

-

-

-

-

-

(143)

(143)

Total comprehensive income for the period

-

-

-

-

(1,777)

2,112

10,177

10,512

Transactions with owners of the Parent:









Proceeds of shares issued, net of expenses

-

-

(13)

-

-

-

-

(13)

Equity-settled share-based payments net of tax

-

-

-

-

-

-

629

629

Dividends paid

-

-

-

-

-

-

(2,491)

(2,491)

Total transactions with owners of the Parent

-

-

(13)

-

-

-

(1,862)

(1,875)

Balance as at 30 June 2025 (Unaudited)

2,442

44,178

(20)

15

1,876

1,429

68,074

117,994

 

During the six months period ended 30 June 2026, 378,584 shares (June 2025: 142,925) were issued from the Zotefoams Employee Benefit Trust ('EBT') following the exercise of options.

 

During the six month period ended 30 June 2026, 906,000 Long Term Incentive Plan awards (June 2025: 656,217), 62,871 Deferred Bonus Share Plan awards (June 2025: 113,281) and 59,666 share options (June 2025: 33,991) were granted.

 

The notes below form an integral part of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.


Zotefoams PLC

Notes to the condensed consolidated Interim financial statements

For the six months to 30 June 2026

 

1.   General Information

 

Zotefoams plc (the 'Company') and its subsidiaries and joint venture (together, the 'Group') manufacture and sell high-performance foams and license related technology for specialist markets worldwide. The Group has manufacturing sites in the UK, USA, Poland, Spain, Vietnam and China. The interim condensed consolidated financial statements of the Group for the six months ended 30 June 2026 were authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution of the directors on 4 August 2026.

 

The Company is a public limited company which is listed on the London Stock Exchange and incorporated and domiciled in the UK. The address of the registered office is 602-3 Salisbury House, 29, Finsbury Circus, London, EC2M 5SQ, United Kingdom.

 

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements do not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 were approved by the Board of Directors on 10 April 2026 and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors on those accounts was unqualified, did not contain an emphasis of matter paragraph and did not contain any statement under section 498 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been reviewed, not audited. The review report is included at the end of this document.

 

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the six months ended 30 June 2026 have been prepared in accordance with the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority and with IAS 34, 'Interim financial reporting' as adopted by the United Kingdom. The condensed consolidated interim financial statements do not include all the information and disclosures required in the annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, which have been prepared in accordance with UK adopted international accounting standards (IAS).

 

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this condensed set of consolidated interim financial statements are forward-looking. Although the Group believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. As these statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

 

We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

2.   Basis of preparation

 

2.1 Accounting policies

The accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the interim condensed consolidated financial statements are consistent with those followed in the preparation of the Group's annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, except for the adoption of new standards effective as of 1 January 2026 as disclosed in Note 17. The Group has not early adopted any standard, interpretation or amendment that has been issued but is not yet effective. Several amendments apply for the first time in 2026, but do not have an impact on the interim condensed consolidated financial statements of the Group. Taxes on income in the interim condensed consolidated financial statements are accrued using the tax rate that would be applicable to the expected full financial year results for the Group.

2.2 Going concern

 

The Group has prepared the financial statements on the basis that it will continue to operate as a going concern.

 

The Directors believe that the Group is well placed to manage its business risks and, after making enquiries including a review of forecasts and projections, taking account of reasonably possible changes in trading performance and considering the existing banking facilities, have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the next twelve months following the date of approval of the financial statements. After due consideration of the range and likelihood of potential outcomes evaluated as part of stress tests on the viability statement, the Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing these interim financial statements.

 

3.   Estimates and Judgements

 

The preparation of interim financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expense. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

 

In preparing these condensed consolidated interim financial statements, the significant judgements made by management in applying the Group's accounting policies and the key sources of estimation uncertainty were the same as those that applied to the consolidated financial statements for the year

ended 31 December 2025 with the exception of changes in estimates that are required in determining the provision for income taxes.

 

4.   Financial Risk Management

 

There have been no changes in any risk management policies since the year-end.

 

5.   Seasonality of operations

 

The seasonality of the Group's business, in our Transport & Smart Technologies and Construction & Other Industrial verticals, is generally balanced with performance more dependent on the underlying cyclical nature of our markets, over the longer macroeconomic business cycle, as the Group sells into a wide variety of business segments, many of which are themselves cyclical. Our Consumer & Lifestyle vertical, dominated by footwear sales, tends to be evenly split across the year, however this can be impacted by the timing of the launch or cessation of product lines. Regionally, business unit performance tends to follow the same pattern, except for Asia, which is typically weighted towards H2, based on ordering patterns of our T-FIT customers.

6.   Segment reporting

 

The Group's operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to and regularly reviewed by the Group Chief Executive Officer, Ronan Cox, who is considered to be the 'chief operating decision maker' for the purpose of evaluating segment performance and allocating resources. The Group Chief Executive Officer primarily uses a measure of profit for the year before tax and exceptional items to assess the performance of the operating segments.

 

The Group manufactures and sells high-performance foams for specialist markets worldwide. The Group's activities are reviewed regionally as follows:

·    EMEA: Manufacturing facilities in Croydon, UK, Spain and Poland in addition to foams supplied via Croydon through our AAL joint venture with INOAC Corporation

·    North America: Manufacturing facility in Walton, USA and foams fabrication business in Tulsa, USA

Asia: T-FIT manufacturing facility in Kunshan, China, a distribution operation of T-FIT products in Gurgaon, India and the expansion into Vietnam with a new, purpose-built manufacturing facility where capital investment is well underway.


EMEA

North America

Asia

MuCell

Consolidated

Six Months ended (Unaudited)

30-Jun-26

30-Jun-25

30-Jun-26

30-Jun-25

30-Jun-26

30-Jun-25

30-Jun-26

30-Jun-25

30-Jun-26

30-Jun-25

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Revenue

73,594

61,362

18,600

14,472

2,906

1,440

134

158

95,234

77,432

Profit/(loss)

16,776

13,757

3,311

1,244

480

11

(3)

116

20,564

15,128

Exceptional cost

(371)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(371)

-

Central costs allocated to segments

(907)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(907)

-

Central costs unallocated to segments

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(4,256)

(2,902)

Operating profit / (loss)

15,498

13,757

3,311

1,244

480

11

(3)

116

15,030

12,226

Financing costs

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(1,210)

(1,053)

Financing Income

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

87

205

Share of profit from joint venture

116

19

-

-

-

-

-

-

116

19

Profit/ (loss) before taxation

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

14,023

11,397

Taxation

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(2,449)

(1,647)

Profit for the period

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

11,574

9,750

Depreciation and Amortisation:

 


 


 


 


 


Depreciation

2,661

2,304

1,385

1,172

31

35

-

-

4,077

3,511

Amortisation

90

197

-

84

-

39

-

-

90

320

Allocated depreciation of right-of-use assets

451

-

80

-

112

-

-

-

643

-

Unallocated depreciation of right-of-use assets

-

-

 

-

-

-

-

-

423

387

Capital expenditure:

 


 


 

 

 


 


Property, plant and equipment (PPE)

2,813

514

993

5,509

3,594

1,856

-

8

7,400

7,887

Intangible assets

18

13

-

-

-

-

-

-

18

13

 


EMEA

North America

Asia

MuCell

Consolidated

 

As at

 

(Unaudited)

30-Jun-26

31-Dec-25

30-Jun-26

31-Dec-25

30-Jun-26

31-Dec-25

30-Jun-26

31-Dec-25

30-Jun-26

31-Dec-25

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Segment Assets

165,020

158,320

53,856

50,424

16,007

11,665

381

89

235,264

220,498

Unallocated Assets

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

6,152

6,596

Total Assets

165,020

158,320

53,856

50,424

16,007

11,665

381

89

241,416

227,094


 


 


 


 


 


Segment liabilities 

(57,968)

(56,289)

(26,953)

(26,644)

(11,774)

(7,748)

(1,163)

(1,063)

(97,858)

(91,744)

Unallocated liabilities

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(4,500)

(5,271)

Total liabilities

(57,968)

(56,289)

(26,953)

(26,644)

(11,774)

(7,748)

(1,163)

(1,063)

(102,358)

(97,015)

 

Unallocated assets and liabilities consist of the head office property and the Shincell licence.

 

Major customers

Revenues from one customer of the Group included in EMEA contributed £28,548k (HY 2025: £37,032k) to the Group's revenue.

 

Analysis of revenue by category

Breakdown of revenue by products and services for the Group:

 


Six months ended


30-Jun-26

30-Jun-25


(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)


£'000

£'000

Consumer & Lifestyle

31,219

38,593

Construction & Other Industrial

17,904

12,661

Transport & Smart Technologies

46,111

26,178

Group Revenue

95,234

77,432

 

 

7.   Income tax expense

 

 


Six months ended


30-Jun-26

30-Jun-25


(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)


£'000

£'000

UK corporation tax

1,496

1,790

Overseas tax

1,018

(246)

Total current tax

2,514

1,544

Deferred tax

(65)

103

Income tax expense

2,449

1,647

 

The effective tax rate for the half year was 17% (HY 2025: 14%)

 

8.   Dividend

 

A dividend of £2,627k (HY 2025: £2,491k) that relates to the period to 31 December 2025 was paid in June 2026.

 

An interim dividend of 2.63 pence per share was approved by the Board of Directors on 4 August 2026 (2025: 2.50 pence per share). It is payable on 5 October 2026 to shareholders who are on the register at 4 September 2026. This interim dividend, amounting to £1,303k (2025: £1,231k), has not been recognised as a liability in this interim financial information. It will be recognised in shareholders' equity in the year to 31 December 2026.

 

9.   Earnings per share

 

Earnings per ordinary share is calculated by dividing the consolidated profit after tax attributable to equity holders of the Parent Company of £11,574k (2025: £9,750k) by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period, excluding own shares held by employee trusts which are administered by independent trustees. The number of shares held in the trust at 30 June 2026 was 343,646 (30 June 2025: 390,948). Distribution of shares from the trust is at the discretion of the trustees. Diluted earnings per ordinary share adjusts for the potential dilutive effect of share option schemes in accordance with IAS 33 Earnings per share.


Six months ended


30-Jun-26

30-Jun-25


(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue1

49,046,189

48,763,864

Deemed issued for no consideration

1,659,234

1,401,377

Diluted number of ordinary shares issued

50,705,423

50,165,241

 

1 Own shares held by employee trusts have already been deducted.

10. Property, plant and equipment

 


Land and buildings

Plant and equipment

Fixtures and fittings

Under construction

Total


£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000


(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

Cost

 





At 1 January 2026

53,652

133,504

3,740

8,937

199,833

Additions

-

784

79

6,537

7,400

Disposals

-

(558)

(99)

(660)

(1,317)

Transfers

-

624

81

(705)

-

Effect of movement in foreign exchange

(77)

516

7

19

465

At 30 June 2026

53,575

134,870

3,808

14,128

206,381

 






Accumulated depreciation

 





At 1 January 2026

19,771

70,249

3,123

1,083

94,226

Depreciation charge

871

3,056

150

-

4,077

Disposals

-

(335)

(100)

(868)

(1,303)

Effect of movement in foreign exchange

68

211

46

(8)

317

At 30 June 2026

20,710

73,181

3,219

207

97,317

 






Net book value

 





At 31 December 2025

33,881

63,255

617

7,854

105,607

At 30 June 2026

32,865

61,689

589

13,921

109,064

 

11. Leases

 

(i) Amounts recognised in the statement of financial position relating to leases:

Right-of-use assets




Group


30-Jun-26

31-Dec-25


£'000

£'000


(Unaudited)

(Audited)

Property

4,161

4,563

Equipment

1,603

1,703

Licences

6,070

6,458


11,834

12,724

 

Lease Liabilities




Group

 

30-Jun-26

31-Dec-25

 

£'000

£'000

 

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

Lease liability falls due within 1 year

2,864

2,774

Lease liability falls due within 3 years

5,244

5,462

Lease liability falls due in more than 3 years

2,207

3,267


10,315

11,503

 

 

Additions to the right-of-use assets during the period were £194k (HY 2025: £143k) for the Group.

 

(ii) Amounts recognised in the income statement relating to leases:

 



30-Jun-26

30-Jun-25


£'000

£'000

Depreciation

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

Property

389

136

Equipment

290

184

Licences

387

387


1,066

707

Interest expenses (included in finance costs)

469

262

Expense relating to short-term leases (included in cost of sales and administrative expenses)

-

54

Expense relating to leases of low-value assets that are not shown above as short-term leases (included in administrative expenses)

26

55

The total cash outflow

1,659

1,357

 

Within interest expenses £151k related to licences (£193k in 2025), and within total cash outflow £884k related to licences (£884k in 2025).

 

12. Interest bearing loans and borrowings

 



 

30-Jun-26

31-Dec-25

 

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

 

£'000

£'000

Current bank borrowings


 

52,161

45,511

 Total

 

 

52,161

45,511

 

 

On 23 January 2026 the Group renewed its finance facility. This facility is held with our partner banks Handelsbanken, NatWest and HSBC and comprises a £90m multi-currency revolving credit facility with a £30m accordion. The facility is valid for three years and can be extended to four years in 2026 and five years in 2027.

 

At 30 June 2026, the Group has utilised £52.8m (31 December 2025: £45.5m) of its multi-currency revolving credit facility of £90m, this amount is repayable on the last day of each loan interest period, which is either of a 3 or 6 month duration. The reported balance of £52.2m (31 December 2025: £45.5m) is net of £0.6m (31 December 2025: £0.0m) origination fees paid up front and being amortised over 4 years.

 

The interest rate on the debt facility ranged between 3.2% and 4.9% in H1 (FY 2025: between 3.1% and 5.7%).

 

13. Related party Transactions

 

There were no material related party transactions requiring disclosure for the periods ended 30 June 2026 and 30 June 2025.

 

14. Financial Instruments and Financial risk management

 

Fair value estimation

To provide an indication about the reliability of the inputs used in determining fair value, the Group classifies its financial instruments into the three levels prescribed under the accounting standards. An explanation of each level follows underneath the table.

 

The following table presents the Group's financial assets and financial liabilities measured and recognised at fair value at 30 June 2026 and 31 December 2025:

 

 

 

Level 1

Level 2

 Level 3 

Total

 

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

30 June 2026

£'000

£'000

 £'000

£'000

Assets





Forward exchange contracts

-

258

-

258

Total assets

-

258

-

258

Liabilities


 


 

Forward exchange contracts

-

(541)

-

(541)

Total liabilities

-

(541)

-

(541)
















 

Level 1

Level 2

 Level 3 

Total

 

(Audited)

(Audited)

(Audited)

(Audited)

31 December 2025

£'000

£'000

 £'000

£'000

Assets





Forward exchange contracts

-

980

-

980

Total assets

-

980

-

980

Liabilities





Forward exchange contracts

-

(67)

-

(67)

Total liabilities

-

(67)

-

(67)

 

The forward exchange contracts have been measured at fair value using forward exchange rates that are quoted in an active market.

 

Level 1: The fair value of financial instruments traded in active markets (such as publicly traded derivatives, and trading and available-for-sale securities) is based on quoted (unadjusted) market prices at the end of the reporting period. The quoted marked price used for financial assets held by the Group is the current bid price. These instruments are included in level 1.

 

Level 2: The fair value of financial instruments that are not traded in an active market (for example, over-the-counter derivatives) is determined using valuation techniques. These valuation techniques maximise the use of observable market data where it is available and rely as little as possible on entity specific estimates. If all significant inputs required to measure an instrument at fair value are observable, the instrument is included in level 2.

 

Level 3: If one or more of the significant inputs is not based on observable market data, the instrument is included in level 3. This is the case for unlisted equity securities.

 

Group's valuation process

Derivative financial instruments are valued using Handelsbanken and NatWest mid-market rates (HY 2025: Handelsbanken and NatWest mid-market rates) at the Statement of Financial Position date.

 

The Group also has a number of financial instruments which are not measured at fair value in the Statement of Financial Position. For the majority of these instruments, the fair values are not materially different to their carrying amounts, since the interest receivable/payable is either close to current market rates or the instruments are short-term in nature. The fair value of the following financial assets and liabilities approximate to their carrying amount:

 

·      Trade and other receivables

·      Cash and cash equivalents

·      Trade and other payables

 

 

Financial assets and liabilities measured at amortised cost

The fair value of borrowings is as follows:

 

 


30-Jun-26

31-Dec-25


(Unaudited)

(Audited)


£'000

£'000

Current

52,161

45,511

Total

52,161

45,511

 

The fair value of financial assets excluding cash and cash equivalents is as follows:

 

 


30-Jun-26

31-Dec-25


(Unaudited)

(Audited)


£'000

£'000

Non-current trade receivables

280

134

Trade receivables

37,780

32,384

Total

38,060

32,518

 

 

15. Capital Commitments

 

Capital expenditure commitments of £12,490k (31 December 2025: £5,546k) have been contracted for at the end of the reporting period but not yet incurred in respect of Property, Plant and Equipment.

 

16. Events occurring after the reporting period

 

 

Following approval by the Board on 4 August, the Group will announce on 5 August proposals to restructure its UK operations at Croydon and the commencement of collective consultation with affected employees and their representatives, expected to affect more than 100 colleagues.

 

The proposals, and any decision to implement them, remain subject to that consultation. As no constructive obligation existed at 30 June 2026, this is a non-adjusting event after the reporting period and no provision has been recognised in these interim financial statements.

 

If implemented following consultation, the proposals are expected to give rise to material one-off costs, including redundancy and other costs, expected to be presented as adjusting items in the second half of 2026. The proposals are expected to deliver potential annualised cost savings of approximately £4m, with a payback period of less than one year.

 

17. Standards issued

 

i) New standards and amendments - applicable 1 January 2026

The following standards and interpretations apply for the first time to financial reporting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2026:

 


Effective for accounting periods beginning on or after

Expected Impact

Amendments to IFRS 9 Financial Instruments and IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures, Classification and Measurement of Financial Instruments

1 January 2026

None

Annual improvements to IFRS Standards - Volume 11

1 January 2026

None

Amendments to IFRS 9 and IFRS 7: Contracts referencing nature dependent electricity

1 January 2026

None

 

ii) Forthcoming requirements

As at 30 June 2026, the Group has not early adopted any standard, the following interpretations and amendments that have been issued but are not yet effective:

 


Effective for accounting periods beginning on or after

IFRS 18 Presentation and disclosure in financial statements

1 January 2027

IFRS 19 Subsidiaries without Public Accountability Disclosures

1 January 2027

IFRS 20 Regulatory assets and regulatory liabilities

1 January 2029

Amendments to IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial statements and IAS28 Investments in associates and joint ventures

Indefinitely postponed

Amendments to IAS21 The effects of foreign exchange rates

1 January 2027

Amendments to IAS28 Investments in associates and joint ventures.

1 January 2027



 

18. Responsibility statement

 

The Directors confirm that these Condensed Interim Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with UK adopted International Standard 34, 'Interim Financial Reporting' and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority and that the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7 and DTR 4.2.8, namely:

·      An indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements, and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the financial year; and

·      material related party transactions in the first six months and any material changes in the related party transactions described in the last annual report

 

By order of the board:

Ronan Cox

Chief Executive Officer

Nick Wright

Chief Financial Officer

 

4 August 2026

 

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