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Sotera Health Co

For the period ended Sep 30, 2024. Filed Nov 5, 2024.

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About this filing

A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.

Sep 30, 2024 · Filed Nov 5, 2024

SHC$16.44+2.7%Stored close · as of Nov 9, 2026

Extracted filing text, with the paragraph anchors used by the comparison.

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Item 1. Financial Statements

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

As of
September 30, 2024December 31, 2023
Assets · (Unaudited)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$306,738$296,407
Restricted cash short-term1,7445,247
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for uncollectible accounts of $3,015 and $4,689, respectively130,121147,696
Inventories, net53,64748,316
Prepaid expenses and other current assets57,42153,846
Income taxes receivable13,9425,732
Total current assets563,613557,244
Property, plant, and equipment, net1,026,028946,914
Operating lease assets29,26624,037
Deferred income taxes4,9464,993
Post-retirement assets32,91628,482
Other assets35,43641,242
Other intangible assets, net351,977416,318
Goodwill1,104,5551,111,190
Total assets$3,148,737$3,130,420
Liabilities and equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable$70,754$71,039
Accrued liabilities82,885122,471
Deferred revenue10,65313,492
Current portion of long-term debt14,7954,797
Current portion of finance lease obligations2,8228,771
Current portion of operating lease obligations5,2875,934
Income taxes payable8,3414,150
Total current liabilities195,537230,654
Long-term debt2,210,8152,223,674
Finance lease obligations, less current portion97,93463,793
Operating lease obligations, less current portion25,95320,087
Noncurrent asset retirement obligations49,10247,944
Deferred lease income17,98418,762
Post-retirement obligations8,2238,439
Noncurrent liabilities9,2858,879
Deferred income taxes63,74164,454
Total liabilities2,678,5742,686,686
See Commitments and contingencies note
Equity:
Common stock, with $0.01 par value, 1,200,000 shares authorized; 286,037 shares issued at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 20232,8602,860
Preferred stock, with $0.01 par value, 120,000 authorized; no shares issued at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023——
Treasury stock, at cost (2,798 and 3,207 shares at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively)(24,612)(27,182)
Additional paid-in capital1,238,8991,215,178
Retained deficit(622,365)(654,440)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(124,619)(92,682)
Total equity470,163443,734
Total liabilities and equity$3,148,737$3,130,420

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2024202320242023
Revenues:
Service$238,790$227,120$703,027$667,680
Product46,67836,057107,21171,369
Total net revenues285,468263,177810,238739,049
Cost of revenues:
Service111,080103,580331,068311,690
Product16,36413,61341,24030,284
Total cost of revenues127,444117,193372,308341,974
Gross profit158,024145,984437,930397,075
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses62,00954,112180,793176,309
Amortization of intangible assets15,50815,77446,65748,098
Total operating expenses77,51769,886227,450224,407
Operating income80,50776,098210,480172,668
Interest expense, net41,57240,627123,731100,225
Loss on refinancing of debt70—24,160—
Georgia EO litigation settlement—35,000—35,000
Foreign exchange (gain) loss(1,054)(426)(2,237)386
Other (income) expense, net(2,835)427(4,084)(3,300)
Income before income taxes42,75447068,91040,357
Provision for income taxes25,75614,13036,83527,662
Net income (loss)16,998(13,660)32,07512,695
Other comprehensive income (loss) net of tax:
Pension and post-retirement benefits (net of taxes of $(45), $(43), $2, and $(54), respectively)(137)(126)6(159)
Interest rate derivatives (net of taxes of $(1,399), $(934), $(2,110) and $(3,294), respectively)(4,016)(1,714)(6,058)(6,963)
Foreign currency translation24,931(32,996)(25,885)(365)
Comprehensive income (loss)$37,776$(48,496)$138$5,208
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic$0.06$(0.05)$0.11$0.04
Diluted0.06(0.05)0.110.04
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic283,059281,105282,624280,898
Diluted285,564281,105284,660283,190

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Nine Months Ended September 30,
20242023
Operating activities:
Net income$32,075$12,695
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation63,58855,913
Amortization of intangible assets59,73761,290
Loss on refinancing of debt24,160—
Deferred income taxes1,8913,284
Share-based compensation expense28,63324,034
Accretion of asset retirement obligations1,9151,683
Unrealized foreign exchange (gain) loss(5,755)2,444
Unrealized loss on derivatives not designated as hedging instruments5761,087
Amortization of debt issuance costs5,9586,522
Other(4,275)(3,492)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable16,242302
Inventories(6,223)(866)
Other current assets(3,293)(892)
Accounts payable884(17,412)
Accrued liabilities(3,018)(11,389)
Illinois EO litigation settlement—(407,712)
Georgia EO litigation settlement(35,000)35,000
Income taxes payable / receivable, net(4,254)(18,366)
Other liabilities(308)(809)
Other long-term assets(5,086)(4,171)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities168,447(260,855)
Investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment(113,200)(150,149)
Other investing activities7469
Net cash used in investing activities(113,126)(150,080)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term borrowings2,259,350500,000
Payment of revolving credit facility—(200,000)
Payment of long-term borrowings(2,260,600)(1,250)
Payments of debt issuance costs and debt discount(32,054)(25,645)
Buyout of leased facility(6,736)—
Other financing activities(3,976)(3,353)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities(44,016)269,752
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents(4,477)(2,577)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash6,828(143,760)
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, at beginning of period301,654396,294
Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, at end of period$308,482$252,534
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for interest$142,779$150,696
Cash paid during the period for income taxes, net of tax refunds received42,44742,587
Purchases of property, plant and equipment included in accounts payable16,37216,383

Consolidated Statements of Equity

Three Months Ended September 30, 2024
Common Stock · AdditionalPaid-InCapital · RetainedEarnings /(AccumulatedDeficit) · AccumulatedOtherComprehensive(Loss) Income · Total Equity
Shares · Amount · TreasuryStock
Balance at June 30, 2024283,214$2,860$(24,764)$1,229,428$(639,363)$(145,397)$422,764
Share-based compensation plans25—1529,471——9,623
Comprehensive income (loss):
Pension and post-retirement plan adjustments, net of tax—————(137)(137)
Foreign currency translation—————24,93124,931
Interest rate derivatives, net of tax—————(4,016)(4,016)
Net income————16,998—16,998
Balance at September 30, 2024283,239$2,860$(24,612)$1,238,899$(622,365)$(124,619)$470,163
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024
Common Stock · AdditionalPaid-InCapital · RetainedEarnings /(AccumulatedDeficit) · AccumulatedOtherComprehensive(Loss) Income · Total Equity
Shares · Amount · TreasuryStock
Balance at December 31, 2023282,830$2,860$(27,182)$1,215,178$(654,440)$(92,682)$443,734
Share-based compensation plans409—2,57023,721——26,291
Comprehensive income (loss):
Pension and post-retirement plan adjustments, net of tax—————66
Foreign currency translation—————(25,885)(25,885)
Interest rate derivatives, net of tax—————(6,058)(6,058)
Net income————32,075—32,075
Balance at September 30, 2024283,239$2,860$(24,612)$1,238,899$(622,365)$(124,619)$470,163

Consolidated Statements of Equity (continued)

Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
Common Stock · AdditionalPaid-InCapital · RetainedEarnings /(AccumulatedDeficit) · AccumulatedOtherComprehensive(Loss) Income · Total Equity
Shares · Amount · TreasuryStock
Balance at June 30, 2023282,544$2,860$(28,700)$1,202,972$(679,461)$(79,304)$418,367
Share-based compensation plans79—2267,374——7,600
Comprehensive income (loss):——————
Pension and post-retirement plan adjustments, net of tax—————(126)(126)
Foreign currency translation—————(32,996)(32,996)
Interest rate derivatives, net of tax—————(1,714)(1,714)
Net loss————(13,660)—(13,660)
Balance at September 30, 2023282,623$2,860$(28,474)$1,210,346$(693,121)$(114,140)$377,471
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
Common Stock · AdditionalPaid-InCapital · RetainedEarnings /(AccumulatedDeficit) · AccumulatedOtherComprehensive(Loss) Income · Total Equity
Shares · Amount · TreasuryStock
Balance at December 31, 2022282,421$2,860$(29,775)$1,189,622$(705,816)$(106,653)$350,238
Share-based compensation plans202—1,30120,724——22,025
Comprehensive income (loss):
Pension and post-retirement plan adjustments, net of tax—————(159)(159)
Foreign currency translation—————(365)(365)
Interest rate derivatives, net of tax—————(6,963)(6,963)
Net income————12,695—12,695
Balance at September 30, 2023282,623$2,860$(28,474)$1,210,346$(693,121)$(114,140)$377,471
  1. Basis of Presentation

Principles of Consolidation – Sotera Health Company (also referred to herein as the “Company,” “we,” “our,” “us” or “its”), is a leading global provider of mission-critical end-to-end sterilization solutions, lab testing and advisory services for the healthcare industry with operations primarily in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

We operate and report inthree segments, Sterigenics, Nordion and Nelson Labs. We describe our reportable segments in Note 16, “Segment Information”. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates – In preparing our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), we make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and the accompanying notes. We regularly evaluate the estimates and assumptions used and revise them as new information becomes available. Actual results may vary from those estimates.

Interim Financial Statements– The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities, operating results, and cash flows of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. These financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information, the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. These unaudited interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's annual consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in our 2023 10-K.

  1. Recent Accounting Standards

Accounting Standard Updates (“ASU”) Issued But Not Yet Adopted

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2023-07-Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The amendments in ASU 2023-07 require an entity to provide enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this standard on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09-Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The amendments in this ASU require entities to disclose, on an annual basis, specific categories in the reconciliation of the provision (benefit) for income taxes to the statutory rate and provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. Additionally, the update requires entities to disclose a disaggregation of taxes paid by category (federal, state and foreign taxes) as well as individual jurisdictions. For public business entities, the amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of this standard on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

  1. Revenue Recognition

The following table shows disaggregated net revenues from contracts with external customers by timing of revenue and by segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:

(thousands of U.S. dollars)Three Months Ended September 30, 2024
SterigenicsNordionNelson LabsConsolidated
Point in time$175,574$51,263$—$226,837
Over time—5058,58158,631
Total$175,574$51,313$58,581$285,468
(thousands of U.S. dollars)Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
SterigenicsNordionNelson LabsConsolidated
Point in time$168,347$37,068$—$205,415
Over time—3,03054,73257,762
Total$168,347$40,098$54,732$263,177
(thousands of U.S. dollars)Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024
SterigenicsNordionNelson LabsConsolidated
Point in time$518,425$115,288$—$633,713
Over time—1,276175,249176,525
Total$518,425$116,564$175,249$810,238
(thousands of U.S. dollars)Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023
SterigenicsNordionNelson LabsConsolidated
Point in time$494,934$75,309$—$570,243
Over time—5,315163,491168,806
Total$494,934$80,624$163,491$739,049

When we receive consideration from a customer prior to transferring goods or services under the terms of a sales contract, we record deferred revenue, which represents a contract liability. Deferred revenue totaled $10.7 million and $13.5 million at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. We recognize deferred revenue after we have transferred control of the goods or services to the customer and all revenue recognition criteria are met.

  1. Inventories

Inventories consisted of the following:

(thousands of U.S. dollars)
September 30, 2024December 31, 2023
Raw materials and supplies$41,523$43,411
Work-in-process1,459471
Finished goods10,8964,670
53,87848,552
Reserve for excess and obsolete inventory(231)(236)
Inventories, net$53,647$48,316
  1. Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:

(thousands of U.S. dollars)
September 30, 2024December 31, 2023
Prepaid taxes$4,394$4,129
Prepaid business insurance1,2807,174
Prepaid rent1,2901,150
Customer contract assets30,41717,785
Current deposits651715
Prepaid maintenance contracts431422
Value added tax receivable2,1334,306
Prepaid software licensing2,2212,503
Stock supplies4,0743,669
Embedded derivatives1,2651,225
Other9,26510,768
Prepaid expenses and other current assets$57,421$53,846
  1. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Changes to goodwill during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 were as follows:

(thousands of U.S. dollars)SterigenicsNordionNelson LabsTotal
Goodwill at December 31, 2023$659,888$276,929$174,373$1,111,190
Changes due to foreign currency exchange rates(1,641)(5,376)382(6,635)
Goodwill at September 30, 2024$658,247$271,553$174,755$1,104,555

Other intangible assets consisted of the following:

(thousands of U.S. dollars)Gross CarryingAmountAccumulatedAmortization
As of September 30, 2024
Finite-lived intangible assets
Customer relationships$656,672$529,784
Proprietary technology76,31853,103
Trade names2,5491,549
Land-use rights8,8372,035
Sealed source and supply agreements204,837114,625
Other4,4743,547
Total finite-lived intangible assets953,687704,643
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
Regulatory licenses and other(a)77,146—
Trade names / trademarks25,787—
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets102,933—
Total$1,056,620$704,643
As of December 31, 2023Gross CarryingAmountAccumulatedAmortization
Finite-lived intangible assets
Customer relationships$657,673$485,188
Proprietary technology84,91856,846
Trade names2,5671,207
Land-use rights8,7561,855
Sealed source and supply agreements208,919107,561
Other4,5172,905
Total finite-lived intangible assets967,350655,562
Indefinite-lived intangible assets
Regulatory licenses and other(a)78,684—
Trade names / trademarks25,846—
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets104,530—
Total$1,071,880$655,562

(a)Includes certain transportation certifications, a class 1B nuclear license and other intangibles related to obtaining such licensure. These assets are considered indefinite-lived as the decision for renewal by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is highly based on a licensee’s previous assessments, reported incidents, and annual compliance and inspection results. New applications for license can take a significant amount of time and cost; whereas an existing licensee with a historical record of compliance and current operating conditions more than likely ensures renewal for another 10 year license period as Nordion has demonstrated over its 75 years of history.

Amounts include the impact of foreign currency translation. Fully amortized amounts are written off.

Amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets was $19.9 million and $20.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. $15.5 million and $15.8 million was included in “Amortization of intangible assets” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, whereas the remainder was included in “Cost of revenues.”

Amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets was $59.7 million and $61.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. $46.7 million and $48.1 million was included in “Amortization of intangible assets” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively.

The estimated aggregate amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets for each of the next five years and thereafter is as follows:

(thousands of U.S. dollars)
For the remainder of 2024$19,842
202542,467
202622,260
202721,183
202820,636
Thereafter122,656
Total$249,044

The weighted-average remaining useful life of the finite-lived intangible assets was approximately 9.5 years as of September 30, 2024.

  1. Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consisted of the following:

(thousands of U.S. dollars)
September 30, 2024December 31, 2023
Accrued employee compensation$34,212$35,037
Georgia EO litigation settlement reserve—35,000
Illinois EO litigation settlement reserve—288
Other legal reserves—1,480
Accrued interest expense19,50826,681
Embedded derivatives1,037414
Professional fees16,09012,691
Accrued utilities2,0262,056
Insurance accrual2,9622,922
Accrued taxes2,4842,407
Other4,5663,495
Accrued liabilities$82,885$122,471
  1. Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consisted of the following:

(thousands of U.S. dollars)
As of September 30, 2024Gross AmountUnamortized Debt Issuance CostsUnamortized Debt DiscountNet Amount
Secured notes due 2031$750,000$(3,851)$—$746,149
Term loan due 20311,509,350(6,781)(23,108)1,479,461
2,259,350(10,632)(23,108)2,225,610
Less current portion15,094(68)(231)14,795
Long-term debt$2,244,256$(10,564)$(22,877)$2,210,815
(thousands of U.S. dollars)
As of December 31, 2023Gross AmountUnamortized Debt Issuance CostsUnamortized Debt DiscountNet Amount
Term loan, due 2026$1,763,100$(1,606)$(10,298)$1,751,196
Term Loan B, due 2026497,500(7,616)(12,609)477,275
2,260,600(9,222)(22,907)2,228,471
Less current portion5,000(76)(127)4,797
Long-term debt$2,255,600$(9,146)$(22,780)$2,223,674

Debt Facilities

Senior Secured Credit Facilities

On December 13, 2019, Sotera Health Holdings, LLC (“SHH”), our wholly owned subsidiary, entered into senior secured first lien credit facilities (the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”), consisting of both a prepayable senior secured first lien term loan (the “Term Loan”) and a senior secured first lien revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) pursuant to a first lien credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The total borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility is $423.8 million. The Senior Secured Credit Facilities also provide SHH the right at any time and under certain conditions to request incremental term loans or incremental revolving credit commitments based on a formula defined in the Senior Secured Credit Facilities.

On May 30, 2024, the Company and SHH entered into Amendment No. 4 (“Amendment No. 4”) to the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. Among other changes, Amendment No. 4 provides for term loans (the “Refinancing Term Loans”) to SHH in an aggregate principal amount of $1,509.4 million. Pursuant to Amendment No. 4, the Refinancing Term Loans shall have an applicable interest rate margin per annum equal to (i) ABR plus 2.25% for ABR Loans (as defined in the Credit Agreement), (ii) daily simple Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus 3.25% for RFR Loans (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and (iii) Term SOFR plus 3.25% for Term Benchmark Loans (as defined in the Credit Agreement), in each case with a 0.00% applicable floor and the applicable interest rate margin shall be subject to a pricing step-down of 0.25% when the Senior Secured Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) is less than or equal to 3.30:1.00. The Refinancing Term Loans are also subject to a “soft call” premium of 1.00% for certain repricing transactions with respect to the Refinancing Term Loans that occur within the six-month period after the effective date of Amendment No. 4. The Refinancing Term Loans amortize at a rate of 1.00% per annum and mature on May 30, 2031. The weighted average interest rate on borrowings under the Refinancing Term Loans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was 8.56%.

On May 30, 2024, SHH, the Company and certain subsidiaries of the Company (the “Guarantors”), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, paying agent, registrar, transfer agent and notes collateral agent, entered into an indenture (the “Indenture”) governing SHH’s newly issued $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.375% senior secured notes due 2031 (the “Secured Notes”). The Secured Notes will pay interest semiannually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on December 1, 2024, at a rate of 7.375% per year, and will mature on June 1, 2031. The Secured Notes may be redeemed, at any time or from time to time, in whole or in part, on or after June 1, 2027 at the redemption prices specified in the Indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date. At any time or from time to time, prior to June 1, 2027, the Secured Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus a make-whole premium, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date. In addition, at any time or from time to time, prior to June 1, 2027, SHH may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Secured Notes (including any additional Secured Notes issued under the Indenture) with an amount not to exceed the net cash proceeds from certain equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 107.375% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date. Further, at any time or from time to time, on or before June 1, 2027, SHH may redeem up to 10% of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of Secured Notes (including any additional Secured Notes issued under the Indenture) during each of the twelve-month periods after the issue date, at a redemption price equal to 103% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

The obligations under the Indenture are secured pursuant to a security agreement, dated as of May 30, 2024, by and among SHH, the Company, the other grantors party thereto, and Wilmington Trust, National Association (the “Security Agreement”), as may be amended from time to time, and related financing statements.

The Company used the combined net proceeds from the Refinancing Terms Loans and Secured Notes, along with cash on hand, to refinance its previously outstanding $1,763.1 million Term Loan due 2026 and $496.3 million Term Loan B due 2026.

On March 1, 2024, the Company and SHH entered into Amendment No. 3 (“Amendment No. 3”) to the Revolving Credit Facility. Among other changes, Amendment No. 3 provides (i) for new commitments under the existing Revolving Credit Facility to replace the existing revolving commitments in an aggregate principal amount of $83.0 million, (ii) that certain of the lenders providing revolving credit commitments shall also provide additional commitments for the issuance of letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility in an aggregate principal amount of $37.5 million and (iii) for the extension of the maturity date of the Revolving Credit Facility to March 1, 2029.

The Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Indenture contain additional covenants that, among other things, restrict, subject to certain exceptions, limitations and qualifications, our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to engage in certain activities, such as incur additional indebtedness or permit to exist any lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired, as specified in the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Indenture. The Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Indenture also contain certain customary affirmative covenants and events of default, including upon a change of control. In addition, an event of default under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Indenture would occur if the Company or certain of its subsidiaries received one or more enforceable judgments for payment in an aggregate amount in excess of the greater of (i) $162.6 million or (ii)30.0% of consolidated EBITDA or LTM EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement and the Indenture, respectively) and the judgments were not stayed or remained undischarged for a period of 60 consecutive days. As of September 30, 2024, we were in compliance with all of the covenants under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Indenture.

All of SHH’s obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Indenture are unconditionally guaranteed by the Company and each existing and subsequently acquired or organized direct or indirect wholly-owned domestic restricted subsidiary of the Company, with customary exceptions including, among other things, where providing such guarantees is not permitted by law, regulation or contract or would result in material adverse tax consequences. All obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Indenture, and the guarantees of such obligations, are secured by substantially all assets of the borrower and guarantors, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions and exclusions, as outlined in the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the Indenture and the Security Agreement.

Outstanding letters of credit are collateralized by encumbrances against the Revolving Credit Facility and the collateral pledged thereunder, or by cash placed on deposit with the issuing bank. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $23.9 million of letters of credit issued against the Revolving Credit Facility, resulting in total availability under the Revolving Credit Facility of $399.9 million.

Term Loan Interest Rate Risk Management

The Company utilizes interest rate derivatives to reduce the variability of cash flows in the interest payments associated with our variable rate debt due to changes in SOFR. For additional information on the derivative instruments described above, refer to Note 15, “Financial Instruments and Financial Risk”,“Derivative Instruments.”

Aggregate maturities of the Company’s long-term debt, excluding debt discounts, as of September 30, 2024, are as follows:

(thousands of U.S. dollars)
2024$3,773
202515,094
202615,094
202715,094
202815,094
Thereafter2,195,201
Total$2,259,350
  1. Income Taxes

Income tax expense is provided on an interim basis based upon our estimate of the annual effective income tax rate. In determining the estimated annual effective income tax rate, we analyze various factors, including projections of our annual earnings and the taxing jurisdictions where the earnings will occur, the impact of state and local taxes, our ability to utilize tax credits and net operating loss carryforwards and available tax planning alternatives. Our effective tax rates were 60.2% and 53.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively.

Income tax expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 differed from the statutory rate primarily due to a net increase in the valuation allowance attributable to the limitation on the deductibility of interest expense, the impact of the foreign rate differential and global intangible low-tax income (“GILTI”), partially offset by a benefit for state income taxes. Income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2023 differed from the statutory rate primarily due to a net increase in the valuation allowance attributable to the limitation on the deductibility of interest expense, the impact of the foreign rate differential, and GILTI, partially offset by a benefit for state income taxes. The increase in the valuation allowance was primarily due to the $35.0 million Georgia EO litigation settlement, as described in the 2023 10-K, which resulted in additional interest limitation. Income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 differed from the statutory rate primarily due to a net increase in the valuation allowance attributable to the limitation on the deductibility of interest expense, the foreign rate differential and GILTI, partially offset by a benefit for state income taxes.

  1. Employee Benefits

The Company sponsors various post-employment benefit plans including, in certain countries outside the U.S., defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans, retirement compensation arrangements, and plans that provide extended health care coverage to retired employees, the majority of which relate to Nordion.

Defined benefit pension plans

The following defined benefit pension plan disclosure relates to Nordion. Certain immaterial foreign defined benefit pension plans have been excluded from the table below. The interest cost, expected return on plan assets and amortization of net actuarial gain are recorded in “Other (income) expense, net” and the service cost component is included in the same financial statement line item as the applicable employee’s wages in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). The components of net periodic pension benefit for the defined benefit plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(thousands of U.S. dollars)2024202320242023
Service cost$143$132$430$395
Interest cost2,6192,7457,8828,211
Expected return on plan assets(3,972)(4,050)(11,952)(12,115)
Net periodic benefit$(1,210)$(1,173)$(3,640)$(3,509)

Other benefit plans

Other benefit plans disclosed below relate to Nordion and include a supplemental retirement arrangement, a retirement and termination allowance, and post-retirement benefit plans, which include contributory health and dental care benefits and contributory life insurance coverage. Certain immaterial other foreign benefit plans have been excluded from the table below. All but one non-pension post-employment benefit plans are unfunded. The components of net periodic pension cost for the other benefit plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(thousands of U.S. dollars)2024202320242023
Service cost$3$2$8$6
Interest cost8491255271
Amortization of net actuarial gain(33)(44)(99)(132)
Net periodic cost$54$49$164$145

The Company currently has no funding requirements as the Nordion pension plan has a going concern surplus as defined by Canadian federal regulation, which requires solvency testing on defined benefit pension plans on an annual basis.

The Company may obtain a qualifying letter of credit for solvency payments, up to 15% of the market value of solvency liabilities as determined on the valuation date, instead of paying cash into the pension fund. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we had letters of credit outstanding relating to the defined benefit plans totaling $16.1 million and $16.0 million, respectively. The actual funding requirements over thefive-year period will be dependent on subsequent annual actuarial valuations. These amounts are estimates, which may change with actual investment performance, changes in interest rates, any pertinent changes in Canadian government regulations and any voluntary contributions.

  1. Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are presented net of the related tax. Foreign currency translation is not adjusted for income taxes.

Changes in our accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) balances, net of applicable tax, were as follows:

(thousands of U.S. dollars)DefinedBenefitPlansForeignCurrencyTranslationInterestRateDerivativesTotal
Beginning balance – July 1, 2024$(7,154)$(141,847)$3,604$(145,397)
Other comprehensive income (loss) beforereclassifications(104)24,931(2,044)22,783
Amounts reclassified from accumulated othercomprehensive income (loss)(33)(a)—(1,972)(b)(2,005)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)(137)24,931(4,016)20,778
Ending balance – September 30, 2024$(7,291)$(116,916)$(412)$(124,619)
Beginning balance – January 1, 2024$(7,297)$(91,031)$5,646$(92,682)
Other comprehensive income (loss) beforereclassifications105(25,885)3,185(22,595)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated othercomprehensive income (loss)(99)(a)—(9,243)(b)(9,342)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)6(25,885)(6,058)(31,937)
Ending balance – September 30, 2024$(7,291)$(116,916)$(412)$(124,619)
(thousands of U.S. dollars)DefinedBenefitPlansForeignCurrencyTranslationInterestRateDerivativesTotal
Beginning balance – July 1, 2023$3,176$(98,574)$16,094$(79,304)
Other comprehensive income (loss) beforereclassifications(82)(32,996)2,976(30,102)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated othercomprehensive income (loss)(44)(a)—(4,690)(4,734)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)(126)(32,996)(1,714)(34,836)
Ending balance – September 30, 2023$3,050$(131,570)$14,380$(114,140)
Beginning balance – January 1, 2023$3,209$(131,205)$21,343$(106,653)
Other comprehensive income (loss) beforereclassifications(27)(365)11,53111,139
Amounts reclassified from accumulated othercomprehensive income (loss)(132)(a)—(18,494)(18,626)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss)(159)(365)(6,963)(7,487)
Ending balance – September 30, 2023$3,050$(131,570)$14,380$(114,140)

(a)For defined benefit pension plans, amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are recorded to “Other expense (income), net” within the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

(b)For interest rate derivatives, amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are recorded to “Interest expense, net” within the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

  1. Share-Based Compensation

Pre-IPO Awards

Restricted stock distributed in respect of pre-IPO Class B-1 time vesting units vests on a daily basis pro rata over afive-year vesting period (20% per year) beginning on the original vesting commencement date of the corresponding Class B-1 time vesting units, subject to the grantee’s continued services through each vesting date. Upon the occurrence of a change in control of the Company, all then outstanding unvested shares of our common stock distributed in respect of Class B-1 Units will vest as of the date of consummation of such change in control, subject to the grantee’s continued services through the consummation of the change in control.

Restricted stock distributed in respect of pre-IPO Class B-2 Units were considered performance vesting units. The required performance threshold for the vesting of B-2 restricted stock is the first date on which (i) our Sponsors have received actual cash proceeds in an amount equal to or in excess of at least two and one-half times their invested capital in Sotera Health Topco Parent, L.P. (of which the Company was a direct wholly owned subsidiary prior to the IPO) and (ii) the Sponsors’ internal rate of return exceeds 20%, subject to such grantee’s continued services through such date. Both performance thresholds were satisfied on March 4, 2024 and, as a result, all outstanding B-2 Units fully vested as of that date. Share-based compensation expense attributed to the pre-IPO Class B-2 awards was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2020 as the related performance conditions were considered probable of achievement and the implied service conditions were met.

We recognized $0.4 million and $0.5 million of share-based compensation expense related to the pre-IPO Class B-1 awards for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $1.3 million and $1.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

A summary of the activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 related to the restricted stock awards distributed in respect of the pre-IPO awards (Class B-1 and B-2 Units) is presented below:

Restricted Stock - Pre-IPO B-1Restricted Stock - Pre-IPO B-2
Unvested at December 31, 2023352,447987,111
Forfeited(2,651)—
Vested(214,723)(987,111)
Unvested at September 30, 2024135,073—

2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan

We maintain a long-term incentive plan (the “2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan” or the “2020 Plan”) that allows for grants of incentive stock options to employees (including employees of any of our subsidiaries), nonstatutory stock options, restricted stock awards (“RSAs”), restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and other cash-based, equity-based or equity-related awards to employees, directors, and consultants, including employees or consultants of our subsidiaries.

We recognized $9.4 million ($4.5 million for stock options and $4.9 million for RSUs) and $7.9 million ($3.8 million for stock options and $4.1 million for RSUs) of share-based compensation expense for these awards for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We recognized $27.5 million ($13.1 million for stock options and $14.4 million for RSUs) and $22.7 million ($10.7 million for stock options and $12.0 million for RSUs) for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss), in “Selling, general and administrative expenses.”

Stock Options

Stock options generally vest ratably over a period oftwo tofour years. They have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant, and a contractual term of 10 years. The following table summarizes our stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2024:

Number of SharesWeighted Average Exercise Price
At December 31, 20236,972,661$15.17
Granted1,594,92114.55
Forfeited(165,235)18.71
At September 30, 20248,402,347$14.99

As of September 30, 2024, there were 4.2 million stock options vested and exercisable.

RSUs

RSUs generally vest ratably over a period ofone tofour years and are valued based on our market price on the date of grant. The following table summarizes our unvested RSUs activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2024:

Number of SharesWeighted-average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested at December 31, 20232,298,836$13.81
Granted1,195,24313.99
Forfeited(141,859)12.36
Vested(575,248)17.52
Unvested at September 30, 20242,776,972$13.19
  1. Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Basic earnings per share represents the amount of income attributable to each common share outstanding. Diluted earnings per share represents the amount of income attributable to each common share outstanding adjusted for the effects of potentially dilutive common shares. Potentially dilutive common shares include stock options and other stock-based awards. In the periods where the effect would be antidilutive, potentially dilutive common shares are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share.

In periods in which the Company has net income, earnings per share is calculated using the two-class method. This method is required as unvested restricted stock distributed in respect of pre-IPO Class B-1 and B-2 awards have the right to receive non-forfeitable dividends or dividend equivalents if the Company were to declare dividends on its common stock. Pursuant to the two-class method, earnings for each period are allocated on a pro-rata basis to common stockholders and unvested pre-IPO Class B-1 and B-2 restricted stock awards. As of March 4, 2024, the performance threshold applicable to all Class B-2 restricted stock awards were fully satisfied, thereby releasing the vesting and forfeiture restrictions on these common shares. Beginning on that date, B-2 restricted stock was not included in the earnings allocation. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the more dilutive of (a) the two-class method or (b) treasury stock method, as applicable, to the potentially dilutive instruments.

Our basic and diluted earnings per common share are calculated as follows:

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
in thousands of U.S. dollars and share amounts (except per share amounts)2024202320242023
Earnings:
Net income (loss)$16,998$(13,660)$32,075$12,695
Less: Allocation to participating securities10—5374
Net income (loss) attributable to Sotera Health Company common shareholders$16,988$(13,660)$32,022$12,621
Weighted Average Common Shares:
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic283,059281,105282,624280,898
Dilutive effect of potential common shares(a)2,505—2,0362,292
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted285,564281,105284,660283,190
Earnings per Common Share:
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to Sotera Health Company common shareholders - basic$0.06$(0.05)$0.11$0.04
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to Sotera Health Company common shareholders - diluted0.06(0.05)0.110.04

(a)As the Company reported a net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2023, the calculation of diluted weighted average common shares outstanding is not applicable because the effect of including the potential common shares would be anti-dilutive.

Diluted earningsper share does not consider the following potential common shares as the effect would be anti-dilutive:

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
in thousands of share amounts2024202320242023
Stock options5,7187,0015,4064,049
RSUs83,315477303
Total anti-dilutive securities5,72610,3165,8834,352
  1. Commitments and Contingencies

From time to time, we may be subject to various lawsuits and other claims, as well as gain contingencies, in the ordinary course of our business. In addition, from time to time, we receive communications from government or regulatory agencies concerning investigations or allegations of noncompliance with laws or regulations in jurisdictions in which we operate. We assess these regulatory and legal actions to determine if a contingent liability should be recorded. In making these determinations, we may, depending on the nature of the matter, consult with internal and external legal counsel and technical experts.

We establish reserves for specific liabilities in connection with regulatory and legal actions that we determine to be both probable and reasonably estimable. The outcomes of regulatory and legal actions can be difficult to predict and are often resolved over long periods of time, making our probability and estimability determinations highly judgmental. Probability determinations require the analysis of various possible outcomes, assessments of potential damages and the impact of multiple factors beyond our control, including potential actions by others, interpretations of the law, and changes and developments in relevant facts, circumstances, regulations and other laws. If a potentially material loss contingency is not probable, but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability is disclosed, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss if the range is determinable and material. In certain of the matters described below, we are not able to estimate potential liability because of the uncertainties related to the outcome(s) and/or the amount(s) or range(s) of loss. The ultimate resolution of pending regulatory and legal matters in future periods, including the matters described below, may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and/or liquidity. The Company may also incur material defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other adverse effects on our business, financial condition, and/or results of operations.

Ethylene Oxide Tort Litigation

Sterigenics U.S., LLC (“Sterigenics”) and other medical supply sterilization companies have been subjected to tort lawsuits alleging various injuries caused by low-level environmental exposure to EO used at or emitted from sterilization facilities. Those lawsuits, as detailed further below, are individual claims, as opposed to class actions.

Illinois

As of September 30, 2024, subsidiaries of the Company and other parties were defendants in 64 lawsuits in Illinois in which plaintiffs allege personal injuries or wrongful death resulting from purported emissions and releases of EO from Sterigenics’ former Willowbrook facility (the “Willowbrook Cases”). The Willowbrook Cases are pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County and have been assigned to a single judge for coordinated discovery and pretrial proceedings. Two of the cases are set for trial in April 2025.

We intend to vigorously defend the Willowbrook Cases.

Georgia

Subsidiaries of the Company and other parties are defendants in lawsuits in Georgia in which plaintiffs allege personal injuries, wrongful death and property devaluation resulting from use, emissions and releases of EO from or at Sterigenics’ Atlanta facility (the “Atlanta Cases”).

As of September 30, 2024, subsidiaries of the Company and other parties were defendants in 290 personal injury and wrongful death claims in the State Court of Cobb County.288 of the claims have been consolidated for pretrial purposes (the “Consolidated Personal Injury Cases”). The Consolidated Personal Injury Cases are proceeding under a case management order pursuant to which a “pool” ofeight cases will proceed to judicial determination of general causation issues in Phase 1 and specific causation issues in Phase 2; the first trial of any “pool” case that survives Phases 1 and 2 is not expected to begin before September 2025. The remaining Consolidated Personal Injury Cases (including nine cases that include both personal injury and property claims) are stayed. Two additional personal injury lawsuits pending in Cobb County have not been consolidated. The parties have jointly asked the court to stayone of these cases along with the stayed cases in the Consolidated Personal Injury Cases. In the other case, employees of a sterilization customer of Sterigenics allege they were injured while working at the customer’s distribution facility by exposure to residual EO allegedly emanating from products of the customer that had been sterilized at Sterigenics’ Atlanta facility; discovery is underway and, pursuant to the customer’s contract with Sterigenics, the customer is indemnifying Sterigenics against this lawsuit.

As of September 30, 2024, subsidiaries of the Company were also defendants in 365 property devaluation lawsuits pending in the State Court of Cobb County that have been consolidated for pretrial purposes (the “Consolidated Property Cases”). Seven of the Consolidated Property Cases are proceeding under case management orders and the remaining cases are stayed.

We intend to vigorously defend the Atlanta Cases.

California

Subsidiaries of the Company and other parties are defendants in two lawsuits in Los Angeles County Superior Court in which the plaintiffs are asserting eighteen claims for personal injuries and wrongful death allegedly resulting from emissions and releases of EO from Sterigenics’ Vernon facilities (the “Vernon Cases”). The lawsuits remain in preliminary stages.

We intend to vigorously defend the Vernon Cases.

New Mexico

A lawsuit against the Company, Sterigenics and certain other subsidiaries that was pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico alleging wrongful death resulting from purported exposure to EO from Sterigenics’ facility in Santa Teresa has been resolved.

The Company and certain subsidiaries are defendants in a lawsuit in the Third Judicial District Court, Doña Ana County, New Mexico in which the New Mexico Attorney General (“NMAG”) alleges that emissions and releases of EO from Sterigenics’ facility in Santa Teresa have deteriorated the air quality in surrounding communities and materially contributed to increased health risks for residents of those communities. In April 2024, the Court of Appeals of the State of New Mexico denied the NMAG’s petition for leave to file an interlocutory appeal of the August 2023 order granting Sterigenics’ motion for summary judgment on strict liability, the Unfair Practices Act claim, and the claims for decreased property values, increased healthcare costs and medical monitoring costs. The case has been remanded to the District Court of Doña Ana County for further proceedings on the remaining claims. The case is set for trial in July 2026.

We intend to vigorously defend the NMAG’s remaining claims relating to the Santa Teresa facility.

Additional EO tort lawsuits may be filed in the future against the Company and/or its subsidiaries relating to Sterigenics’ Willowbrook, Atlanta, Santa Teresa, Vernon or other EO facilities. Based on our view of the strength of the science and related evidence that emissions of EO from Sterigenics’ operations have not caused and could not have caused the harms alleged in such lawsuits, we believe that losses in the remaining or future EO cases through trials and any appeals that may prove necessary are not probable. Although the Company intends to defend itself vigorously on the merits, future settlements of EO tort lawsuits are reasonably possible. The Willowbrook and Atlanta Settlements (as previously defined in Note 20, Commitments and Contingencies of our 2023 10-K) were driven by dynamics unique to the cases that were settled and thus should not give rise to presumptions that the Company will settle additional EO tort lawsuits and/or that any such settlements will be for comparable amounts.

Potential trial and settlement outcomes can vary widely based a host of factors. EO tort lawsuits will be presided over by different judges, tried by different counsel presenting different evidence and decided by different juries. The substantive and procedural laws of jurisdictions vary and can meaningfully impact the litigation process and outcome of a case. Each plaintiff’s claim involves unique facts and evidence including the circumstances of the plaintiff’s alleged exposure, the type and severity of the plaintiff’s disease, the plaintiff’s medical history and course of treatment, the location of and other factors related to the plaintiff’s real property, and other circumstances. The outcomes of trials before juries are rarely certain and a judgment rendered or settlement reached in one case is not necessarily representative of potential outcomes of other seemingly comparable cases. As a result, it is not possible to estimate a reasonably possible loss or range of loss with respect to any future EO tort lawsuit, trial or settlement.

Insurance Coverage for Environmental Liabilities

An environmental liability insurance policy under which we have received coverage for the EO tort lawsuits in Illinois, Georgia and New Mexico described above had limits of $10.0 million per occurrence and $20.0 million in the aggregate. Those per occurrence and aggregate limits were fully utilized in the defense of the Illinois, Georgia and New Mexico litigation. Our insurance for future alleged environmental liabilities excludes coverage for EO claims.

We are pursuing additional insurance coverage for our legal expenses related to EO tort lawsuits like the Illinois, Georgia, California and New Mexico matters described above. In 2021, Sterigenics filed an insurance coverage lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois relating to two commercial general liability policies issued in the 1980s (the “Northern District of Illinois Coverage Lawsuit”). The court issued an order declaring that the defendant insurer owes Sterigenics and another insured party a duty to defend the Willowbrook Cases (the “Duty to Defend Order”) and entered judgment for Sterigenics in January 2024 in the amount of $110.2 million for certain defense costs incurred in the Willowbrook Cases as of August 2022 (the “Defense Costs Judgment”). The defendant insurer has appealed the Duty to Defend Order and Defense Costs Judgment; briefing is complete and an oral argument was held before the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on September 25, 2024.

Sterigenics is also a party in insurance coverage lawsuits pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois and the Delaware Superior Court relating to insurance coverage from various historical commercial general liability policies for certain EO litigation settlement amounts and defense costs that the insurer against which a judgment has been secured in the Northern District of Illinois Coverage Lawsuit may fail to fund. The Delaware Superior Court case is stayed pending resolution of the coverage lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. It is not possible to predict how much, if any, of the insurance proceeds sought will ultimately be recovered.

Sotera Health Company Securities Litigation and Related Matters

In January 2023, a stockholder class action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio against the Company, certain past and present directors and senior executives, the Company’s private equity stockholders and the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering (“IPO”) in November 2020 and the Company’s secondary public offering (“SPO”) in March 2021 (the “Michigan Funds Litigation”). In April 2023, the court appointed the Oakland County Employees’ Retirement System, Oakland County Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association, and Wayne County Employees’ Retirement System (the “Michigan Funds”) to serve as lead plaintiff to prosecute claims on behalf of a proposed class of stockholders who acquired shares of the Company in connection with our IPO or SPO or between November 20, 2020 and September 19, 2022 (the “Proposed Class”). The Michigan Funds allege that statements made regarding the safety of the Company’s use of EO and/or its EO tort lawsuits and other risks of its EO operations violated Sections 11, 12(a)(2) and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 (when made in the registration statements for the IPO and SPO) and Sections 10(b), Section 20(a) and Rule 10b-5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (when made in subsequent securities filings and other contexts). Defendants have moved to dismiss the Amended Complaint and that motion remains pending.

The Company has also received demands pursuant to 8 Del. C. §220 for inspections of its books and records (“220 Demands”) from shareholders purporting to investigate potential wrongdoing by Company fiduciaries and other issues. The Company has produced documents in response to the 220 Demands and may produce additional documents.

In May 2024, a stockholder derivative lawsuit was filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware for the benefit of the Company as the nominal defendant (the “May 2024 Derivative Litigation”). The May 2024 Derivative Litigation plaintiffs allege breaches of fiduciary duties, insider trading, unjust enrichment and other violations by certain past and present directors and senior executives of the Company and the Company’s private equity stockholders. On June 25, 2024, the court stayed the May 2024 Derivative Litigation pending a ruling on the merits on the motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint in the Michigan Funds Litigation.

The Company believes that the allegations and claims in the Michigan Funds Litigation, 220 Demands and May 2024 Derivative Litigation are without merit, and plans to vigorously defend the Michigan Funds Litigation and May 2024 Derivative Litigation.

  1. Financial Instruments and Financial Risk

Derivative Instruments

We do not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes and are not a party to leveraged derivatives.

Derivatives Designated in Hedge Relationships

From time to time, the Company utilizes interest rate derivatives designated in hedge relationships to manage interest rate risk associated with our variable rate borrowings. These instruments are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recorded as a component of “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In March 2023, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement with a notional amount of $400.0 million. The interest rate swap was effective on August 23, 2023 and expires on August 23, 2025. We have designated the interest rate swap as a cash flow hedge designed to hedge the variability of cash flows attributable to changes in the SOFR benchmark interest rate of our variable rate borrowings. We receive interest at the one-month Term SOFR rate and pay a fixed interest rate under the terms of the swap agreement.

In May 2022, we entered intotwo interest rate cap agreements with a combined notional amount of $1,000.0 million for a total option premium of $4.1 million. The interest rate caps became effective as of July 31, 2023 and expired on July 31, 2024. We designated these interest rate caps as cash flow hedges designed to hedge the variability of cash flows attributable to changes in the benchmark interest rate of our variable rate borrowings. Accordingly, the interest rate cap agreements hedged the variability of cash flows attributable to changes in SOFR by limiting our cash flow exposure related to Term SOFR under a portion of our variable rate borrowings to 3.5%.

In October 2021, we entered intotwo interest rate cap agreements with a combined notional amount of $1,000.0 million for a total option premium of $1.8 million. Both interest rate caps were effective on December 31, 2022 and expired on July 31, 2023. These interest rate caps were designated as cash flow hedges and were designed to hedge the variability of cash flows attributable to changes in LIBOR (or its successor), the benchmark interest rate being hedged, by limiting our cash flow exposure related to the LIBOR base rate under a portion of our variable rate borrowings to 1.0%.

Derivatives Not Designated in Hedge Relationships

Additionally, from time to time, the Company enters into interest rate derivatives to manage economic risks associated with our variable rate borrowings that are not designated in hedge relationships. These instruments were recorded at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, with any changes in fair value recorded in “Interest expense, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

The Company also routinely enters into foreign currency forward contracts to manage foreign currency exchange rate risk of our intercompany loans in certain of our international subsidiaries and non-functional currency assets and liabilities. The foreign currency forward contracts expire on a monthly basis.

Embedded Derivatives

We have embedded derivatives in certain of our customer and supply contracts as a result of the currency of the contract being different from the functional currency of the parties involved. Changes in the fair value of the embedded derivatives are recognized in “Other expense (income), net” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

The following table provides a summary of the notional and fair values of our derivative instruments:

September 30, 2024 · December 31, 2023
(in U.S. Dollars; notional in millions, fair value in thousands)Fair ValueFair Value
NotionalAmountDerivativeAssetsDerivativeLiabilitiesNotionalAmountDerivativeAssetsDerivativeLiabilities
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Interest rate caps$—$—$—$1,000.0$8,763$—
Interest rate swaps400.0—457400.01,487—
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Foreign currency forward contracts$217.5$—$808171.01499
Embedded derivatives237.7(a)1,2651,037150.1(a)1,225405
Total$855.2$1,265$2,302$1,721.1$11,624$414

(a)Represents the total notional amounts for certain of the Company’s supply and sales contracts accounted for as embedded derivatives.

Embedded derivative assets/liabilities and foreign currency forward contracts are included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” and “Accrued liabilities” on our Consolidated Balance Sheets depending upon their position at period end. Interest rate swaps and interest rate caps are included in “Other assets”, and “Noncurrent liabilities”, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets depending upon their position at period end.

The following tables summarizes the activities of our derivative instruments for the periods presented, and the line item in which they are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss):

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(thousands of U.S. dollars)2024202320242023
Realized gain on interest rate derivatives recorded in interest expense, net(a)(2,659)(7,277)(12,461)(27,288)
Unrealized (gain) loss on embedded derivatives recorded in other (income) expense, net(1,174)1,8335761,087
Realized (gain) loss on foreign currency forward contracts recorded in foreign exchange (gain) loss(1,985)1,9463,5213
Unrealized loss on foreign currency forward contracts recorded in foreign exchange (gain) loss8761,230948949

(a) Amounts primarily represent quarterly settlement of interest rate caps and swaps.

We expect to reclassify approximately $0.5 million of pre-tax net losses on derivative instruments from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to income during the next 12 months associated with our cash flow hedges. Refer to Note 11,“Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)” for unrealized gains and losses on interest rate derivatives, net of applicable tax, recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) and amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense, net of applicable tax, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.

Credit Risk

Certain of our financial assets, including cash and cash equivalents, are exposed to credit risk.

We are also exposed, in our normal course of business, to credit risk from our customers. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, accounts receivable was net of an allowance for uncollectible accounts of $3.0 million and $4.7 million, respectively.

Credit risk on financial instruments arises from the potential for counterparties to default on their contractual obligations to us. We are exposed to credit risk in the event of non-performance, but do not anticipate non-performance by any of the counterparties to our financial instruments. We limit our credit risk by dealing with counterparties that are considered to be of high credit quality. In the event of non-performance by counterparties, the carrying value of our financial instruments represents the maximum amount of loss that would be incurred.

Our credit team evaluates and regularly monitors changes in the credit risk of our customers. We routinely assess the collectability of accounts receivable and maintain an adequate allowance for uncollectible accounts to address potential credit losses. The process includes a review of customer financial information and credit ratings, current market conditions as well as the expected future economic conditions that may impact the collection of trade receivables. We regularly review our customers’ past due amounts through an analysis of aged accounts receivables, specific customer past due aging amounts, and the history of trade receivables written off. Upon concluding that a receivable balance is not collectible, the balance is written off against the allowance for uncollectible accounts.

Fair Value Hierarchy

The fair value of our financial instruments is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The valuation techniques we would use to determine such fair values are described as follows: Level 1—fair values determined by inputs utilizing quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; Level 2—fair values based on observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable; Level 3—fair values determined by unobservable inputs reflecting our own assumptions, consistent with reasonably available assumptions made by other market participants.

The following table discloses the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities:

As of September 30, 2024Fair Value
(thousands of U.S. dollars)CarryingAmountLevel 1Level 2Level 3
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments(a)
Interest rate swap liabilities457—457—
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments(b)
Foreign currency forward contract assets————
Foreign currency forward contract liabilities808—808—
Embedded derivative assets1,265—1,265—
Embedded derivative liabilities1,037—1,037—
Current portion of long-term debt(c)
Term loan, due 203114,795—15,038—
Long-Term Debt(c)
Senior secured notes, due 2031746,149—774,375—
Term loan, due 20311,464,666—1,488,727—
Finance Lease Obligations (with current portion)(d)100,756—100,756—
As of December 31, 2023Fair Value
(thousands of U.S. dollars) · CarryingAmount · Level 1 · Level 2 · Level 3
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments(a)
Interest rate caps$8,763$—$8,763$—
Interest rate swaps1,487—1,487—
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments(b)
Foreign currency forward contracts149—149—
Foreign currency forward liabilities99
Embedded derivative assets1,225—1,225—
Embedded derivative liabilities405—405—
Current portion of long-term debt(c)
Revolving credit facility4,797—5,000—
Long-Term Debt(c)
Term loan, due 20261,751,197—1,758,163—
Term loan B, due 2026472,477—492,500—
Finance Lease Obligations (with current portion)(d)72,564—72,564—

(a)Derivatives designated as hedging instruments are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Interest rate caps and swaps are valued using pricing models that incorporate observable market inputs including interest rate and yield curves.

(b)Derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments are measured at fair value with gains or losses recognized immediately in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). Embedded derivatives are valued using internally developed models that rely on observable market inputs, including foreign currency forward curves. Foreign currency forward contracts are valued by reference to changes in the forward foreign currency exchange rate over the life of the contract.

(c)Carrying amounts of current portion of long-term debt and long-term debt instruments are reported net of discounts and debt issuance costs. The estimated fair value of these instruments are based upon quoted prices for each Term Loan and the Secured Notes in inactive markets as provided by an independent fixed income security pricing service.

(d)Fair value approximates carrying value.

  1. Segment Information

We identify our operating segments based on the way we manage, evaluate and internally report our business activities for purposes of allocating resources and assessing performance. We have three reportable segments: Sterigenics, Nordion and Nelson Labs. We have determined our reportable segments based upon an assessment of organizational structure, service types, and internally prepared financial statements. Our chief operating decision maker evaluates performance and allocates resources based on net revenues and segment income after the elimination of intercompany activities. The accounting policies of our reportable segments are the same as those described in Note 1, “Significant Accounting Policies” of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes in our 2023 10-K.

Sterigenics

Sterigenics provides outsourced terminal sterilization and irradiation services for the medical device, pharmaceutical, food safety and advanced applications markets using three major technologies: gamma irradiation, EO processing and E-beam irradiation.

Nordion

Nordion is a leading global provider of Co-60 used in the sterilization and irradiation processes for the medical device, pharmaceutical, food safety, and high-performance materials industries, as well as in the treatment of cancer. In addition, Nordion is a leading global provider of gamma irradiation systems.

Nelson Labs

Nelson Labs provides outsourced microbiological and analytical chemistry testing and advisory services for the medical device and pharmaceutical industries.

Segment Revenue Concentrations

For the three months ended September 30, 2024, three customers reported within the Nordion segment individually represented 10% or more of the segment’s total net revenues. These customers represented 19.5%,11.7%, and 10.7% of the total segment’s external net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2024. For the three months ended September 30, 2023, four customers reported within the Nordion segment individually represented 10% or more of the segment’s total net revenues. These customers represented 15.4%,13.5%,13.5%, and 11.3% of the total segment’s external net revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2023.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, three customers reported within the Nordion segment individually represented 10% or more of the segment’s total net revenues. These customers represented 18.8%,13.8%, and 12.9% of the total segment’s external net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, four customers reported within the Nordion segment individually represented 10% or more of the segment’s total net revenues. These customers represented 19.9%,14.4%,12.7%, and 12.1% of the total segment's external net revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

Financial information for each of our segments is presented in the following table:

Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
(thousands of U.S. dollars)2024202320242023
Segment revenues(a)
Sterigenics$175,574$168,347$518,425$494,934
Nordion51,31340,098116,56480,624
Nelson Labs58,58154,732175,249163,491
Total net revenues$285,468$263,177$810,238$739,049
Segment income(b)
Sterigenics$95,989$93,169$278,585$267,459
Nordion31,73324,05265,93843,362
Nelson Labs18,63917,10751,11750,460
Total segment income$146,361$134,328$395,640$361,281

(a)Revenues are reported net of intersegment sales. Our Nordion segment recognized $15.1 million and $11.2 million in revenues from sales to our Sterigenics segment for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $43.0 million and $28.8 million in revenues from sales to our Sterigenics segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, that is not reflected in net revenues in the table above. Intersegment sales for Sterigenics and Nelson Labs are immaterial for these periods.

(b)Segment income is only provided on a net basis to the chief operating decision maker and is reported net of intersegment profits.

Corporate operating expenses for executive management, accounting, information technology, legal, human resources, treasury, investor relations, corporate development, tax, purchasing, and marketing not directly incurred by a segment are allocated to the segments based on total net revenue. Corporate operating expenses that are directly incurred by a segment are reflected in each segment’s income.

Capital expenditures by segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:

Nine Months Ended September 30,
(thousands of U.S. dollars)20242023
Sterigenics$83,975$115,438
Nordion23,40923,875
Nelson Labs5,81610,836
Total capital expenditures$113,200$150,149

Total assets and depreciation and amortization expense by segment are not readily available and are not reported separately to the chief operating decision maker.

A reconciliation of segment income to consolidated income before taxes is as follows:

(thousands of U.S. dollars)Three Months Ended September 30,Nine Months Ended September 30,
2024202320242023
Segment income$146,361$134,328$395,640$361,281
Less adjustments:
Interest expense, net(a)41,57240,627123,731100,225
Depreciation and amortization(b)42,55138,175122,811117,203
Share-based compensation(c)9,8608,37828,72324,135
Loss on refinancing of debt(d)70—24,160—
(Gain) loss on foreign currency and derivatives not designated as hedging instruments, net(e)(2,231)1,333(1,699)1,459
Business optimization expenses(f)2,3871,4353,0347,270
Professional services relating to EO sterilization facilities(g)8,2008,35522,35733,950
Georgia EO litigation settlement(h)—35,000—35,000
Secondary offering costs(i)562—1,699—
Accretion of asset retirement obligation(j)6365551,9141,682
Consolidated income before taxes$42,754$470$68,910$40,357

(a)Interest expense, net presented in this reconciliation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 has been adjusted to conform to the current year presentation to include interest expense, net on Term Loan B due 2026 attributable to the loan proceeds that were used to fund the $408.0 million Illinois EO litigation settlement.

(b)Includes depreciation of Co-60 held at gamma irradiation sites. The three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 excludes accelerated depreciation associated with business optimization activities.

(c)Represents share-based compensation expense to employees and Non-Employee Directors.

(d)Represents the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs and discounts, as well as certain other costs incurred related to the Refinancing Term Loans and the Secured Notes. The nine months ended September 30, 2024 also includes $0.7 million of debt refinancing costs related to Amendment No. 3 to the Senior Secured Credit Facilities.

(e)Represents the effects of (i) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and (ii) non-cash mark-to-fair value of embedded derivatives relating to certain customer and supply contracts at Nordion.

(f)Represents (i) certain costs related to acquisitions and the integration of recent acquisitions, (ii) the earnings impact of fair value adjustments (excluding those recognized within amortization expense) resulting from the businesses acquired, (iii) transition services income and non-cash deferred lease income associated with the terms of the divestiture of the Medical Isotopes business in 2018, (iv) professional fees and other costs associated with business optimization, cost saving and other process enhancement projects, and (v) professional fees, payroll costs, and other costs, including ongoing lease and utility expenses associated with the closure of the Willowbrook, Illinois facility. The nine months ended September 30, 2023 includes a $1.0 million cancellation fee received from a tenant in connection with the termination of an office space lease at the Nordion facility.

(g)Represents litigation and other professional fees associated with our EO sterilization facilities. Amounts presented for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 have been adjusted to exclude interest expense, net associated with Term Loan B due 2026 attributable to the loan proceeds that were used to fund a $408.0 million Illinois EO litigation settlement.

(h)Represents the cost to settle 79 pending EO claims in Georgia under a settlement term sheet entered into on December 21, 2023.

(i)Represents expenses incurred in connection with secondary offerings of our common stock that closed on March 4, 2024 and September 6, 2024, respectively.

(j)Represents non-cash accretion of asset retirement obligations related to Co-60 and gamma processing facilities, which are based on estimated site remediation costs for any future decommissioning of these facilities and are accreted over the life of the asset.

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