Coats Regulatory News (COA)

10 April 2015

Coats Group plc

Appointment of Senior Independent Director

Coats Group plc ('Coats' or the 'Company') announces that Nicholas Bull has been appointed to the Coats Board as Senior Independent Director with immediate effect. In addition Nicholas joins the Audit and Risk Committee and Nominations Committee.

Nicholas is currently Senior Independent Director of the investment trust, Fidelity China Special Situations plc. From 2010 he was a Director, then Chairman, of hotel group De Vere up until the completion of its asset disposal programme earlier this year. Previously he was Chairman of the Advisory Board of Westhouse Securities and Chairman of Smith's Corporate Advisory Limited. He is a member of Council of the University of Exeter, and a trustee of the Design Museum and of the Conran Foundation.

Nicholas has over 30 years of banking experience having worked at Morgan Grenfell (subsequently Deutsche Bank), Société Générale and ABN AMRO in London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney. He has a degree in Chemistry from the University of Exeter and is a qualified chartered accountant.

Commenting on the appointment Mike Clasper, Chairman, Coats Group plc said:

'I am delighted that Nicholas has joined the Coats Board as Senior Independent Director. His extensive international banking experience, attained through various senior management and non-executive roles at global financial institutions, will further strengthen and broaden the mix of skills and experience of the Board, particularly in areas such as M&A and in further developing our relationship with the UK institutional investment community.'

'The appointment of a Senior Independent Director also represents another important step, following the change of company name and structural changes made in February, in putting in place the appropriate governance structures to support a global manufacturing business with FTSE 250 aspirations.' 

No further information is required to be disclosed pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.13.

Additional information on the Coats Board can be found on the Company's website, www.coats.com/governance.