Lushanthan Mahendrarajah's questions to Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC/ADR (SPXSY) leadership • Q2 2023
Question
Lushanthan Mahendrarajah from JPMorgan Chase & Co. requested details on the sales decline and margin profile of the semiconductor-exposed portion of the ETS business, and asked for more color on the nature of deferred projects.
Answer
CFO Nimesh Patel explained that while specific sector growth rates are not disclosed, the semiconductor weakness impacts ETS's highest-margin businesses, Thermocoax and Durex (>20% margins), causing an adverse mix effect. He clarified that project deferrals are linked to macroeconomic uncertainty and are primarily seen in larger CapEx and smaller, discretionary efficiency projects, rather than in the resilient MRO business.