The disposal of the Sports and Leisure yarns business is proof that Low & Bonar is intent on delivering its strategy to focus on higher margin markets at the expense of commodity businesses or areas in which it does not have a strong market position. The results for the first half demonstrated that there is now solid potential growth in most areas of operation as European markets continue to stabilise. The company has the potential to leverage its manufacturing expertise and intellectual property in order to expand through a combination of organic growth and selective M&A activity, The current rating is still reflecting historic trading difficulties and the subsequent uncertainties of a new management team and a revised strategy. However, there was sufficient evidence in recent results to suggest that a more optimistic view is now appropriate.