Sotera Health Company Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company Name**: Sotera Health Company - **Ticker**: NasdaqGS:SHC - **Date of Conference**: November 19, 2025 - **CEO**: Michael Petras - **Business Structure**: Comprises three entities: Sterigenics, Nordion, and Nelson Labs - **Global Presence**: Approximately 5,000 customers in over 50 countries, with 62 facilities worldwide and over 3,000 employees [3][4][5] Core Business Insights - **Sterigenics**: Largest business segment, a global leader in sterilization services for medtech and pharma industries. Utilizes gamma radiation, ethylene oxide, and E-beam sterilization methods [4][6][9] - **Nordion**: Unique product business providing cobalt-60 for sterilization, with a recently renewed 25-year site license in Ottawa, Canada [7][8] - **Nelson Labs**: Focuses on microbiology and analytical chemistry testing, serving the same customer base as Sterigenics [8][9] Financial Performance - **Growth Metrics**: - 7% CAGR on both top line and bottom line since going public in 2020 - Recent quarter: 9% top line growth, 12.2% adjusted EBITDA growth, and adjusted EPS of $0.09 [9][10] - Year-to-date: 6% top line growth, 10% adjusted EBITDA growth, and adjusted EPS of $0.11 [10] - **Liquidity**: Approximately $900 million in liquidity with a net leverage ratio of about 3.3 times [10] Strategic Priorities - **Customer Service Excellence**: Focus on end-to-end solutions and cross-business collaboration, with over 40% of Nelson Labs business tied to sterility assurance [11][12] - **Market Growth**: Targeting mid to high single-digit organic growth across all business segments, with a long-range plan of 5-7% growth from 2025 to 2027 [12][13] - **Operational Excellence**: Emphasis on enhancing free cash flow and disciplined capital allocation, with a focus on growth investments in cobalt-60 development [12][14] Capital Allocation and M&A Strategy - **Capital Deployment**: Majority focused on CapEx for growth investments, particularly in cobalt-60 development [13][14] - **M&A Outlook**: Open to strategic acquisitions, particularly in Sterigenics and Nordion, while ensuring stability in Nelson Labs [34][35] Market Dynamics - **Competitive Landscape**: Nelson Labs operates in a fragmented market with many competitors, but differentiates itself through a focus on med device and pharma testing [31][32] - **Regulatory Influence**: New regulations drive demand for Nelson Labs' services, particularly in helping customers meet compliance [32][33] Future Outlook - **Growth Projections**: Anticipated growth of 5-7% on the top line and 5-8% on the bottom line from 2025 to 2027, with expected free cash flow of $500 million to $600 million over the same period [15][17] - **Market Positioning**: Strong customer relationships and a global network of facilities position the company well for future growth [16][17] Additional Insights - **Capacity Expansion**: Ongoing investments in capacity to support growth, including new facilities for X-ray sterilization [21][22] - **Inventory Management**: Improved stability in customer inventory levels is expected to enhance growth in the Sterigenics business [39][41] - **Bioprocessing Growth**: Although a small percentage of total business, bioprocessing is showing growth, influenced by new regulatory requirements [43][44]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company revenues increased by 9.1% to $311 million for Q3 2025 compared to Q3 2024, with adjusted EBITDA rising by 12.2% to $164 million [5][9] - Adjusted EBITDA margins reached 52.7%, an increase of 147 basis points year-over-year [9] - Net income for Q3 2025 was $48 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to $17 million, or $0.06 per diluted share in Q3 2024 [9][10] - Adjusted EPS increased by $0.09 to $0.26 compared to Q3 2024 [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - **Sterigenics**: Revenue grew by 9.8% to $193 million, with segment income increasing by 11.6% to $107 million and margins improving to 55.6% [5][10] - **Nordion**: Revenue increased by 22.4% to $63 million, with segment income rising by 19.9% to approximately $38 million, although segment income margin decreased to 60.6% [11] - **Nelson Labs**: Revenue declined by 5% to $56 million, but segment income rose by 1.9% to $19 million, with margins expanding to 34.1% [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported strong performance across core medical device customers, with Nordion's revenue growth driven by reactor harvest schedules [5][6] - Nelson Labs experienced a modest revenue decline, but core lab testing growth and operational improvements led to segment income growth [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company reaffirmed its 2025 revenue outlook and raised its adjusted EBITDA outlook, indicating confidence in its operational execution and market position [7][15] - Nordion secured a 25-year renewal of its Class 1B operating license, enhancing its ability to supply Cobalt-60 for critical healthcare processes [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's guidance and outlook for the remainder of the year, despite some challenges in the expert advisory services due to government funding issues [33][37] - The company expects continued growth in core lab testing and operational improvements, with a focus on maintaining stable margins [42][43] Other Important Information - The company has generated $184 million in positive operating cash flow year-to-date and has over $890 million in available liquidity [13][14] - The net leverage ratio improved to 3.3x, down from 3.7x at the end of 2024 [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Volume recovery in specific areas - Management noted consistent performance across Sterigenics and various categories, including bioprocessing and med tech, with expectations for continued volume recovery [24][25] Question: Update on broader litigation - Management provided updates on ongoing litigation, indicating progress in Illinois and Georgia, with no current personal injury claims in New Mexico [26][27] Question: Expectations of budget flush in Q4 - Management does not expect a budget flush from med-tech customers and feels confident in their guidance for the remainder of the year [31][33] Question: Impact of FDA funding on expert advisory services - Management acknowledged that the expert advisory services are feeling some impact from the lack of FDA activity, which has affected top-line performance [36][37] Question: Core lab testing growth outlook - Management indicated that core lab testing is performing well, with expectations for continued growth despite challenges in expert advisory services [42] Question: Nordion's revenue growth and margin pressure - Management explained that margin pressure in Nordion is due to a mix of lower-margin product sales, but overall margins remain strong [48] Question: Pricing trends in Sterigenics - Management confirmed that pricing in Sterigenics is stabilizing around the 3%-4% range, with potential for incremental improvements over time [52][53] Question: Number of personal injury claims in California - Management reported that there are currently 83 personal injury claims in California [57]