a range of high growth sectors, including energy, transportation and infrastructure, all of which are benefiting from the impact of long-term global trends including climate change, urbanisation, resource scarcity and an ageing population. IMI employs over 12,000 people, has manufacturing facilities in more than 20 countries and operates a global service network.

IMI has many strengths which provide us with an excellent foundation on which to build the next phase of the Group’s development and growth. Today all our specialist flow control businesses are concentrated on industrial end markets.

IMI has a strong balance sheet, which provides headroom and flexibility to support a range of both organic and acquisitive growth opportunities, great people, market-leading engineering expertise and strong long-term relationships with world-class customers.

IMI's strategic plan will ensure that this potential is harnessed and fully exploited to deliver sustainable accelerated top and bottom line growth. The opportunities are significant and that is reflected in their ambition to double the Group’s 2014 operating profits by 2019, while retaining their financial discipline.