Spectris plc provided earnings guidance for the three months ended 31 March 2013. For the period, the company's sales declined by 8% and 9% respectively, delivering a slower than expected start to the year. The decline is due to a combination of the strong comparative prior year period and weaker customer confidence leading to deferral of orders and shipment delays. Net debt at 31 March 2013 was approximately £138 million, a reduction of around £116 million in the quarter reflecting the receipt of the gross proceeds from the sale of Fusion UV and continued strong operating cash flow.

Spectris plc reported interim management statement covering the period from January 1, to April 18, 2013. On a reported and constant currency organic basis, sales for the three months ended March 31, 2013 declined by 8% and 9% respectively, delivering a slower than expected start to the year. The decline is due to a combination of the strong comparative prior year period and weaker customer confidence leading to deferral of orders and shipment delays. This weakness was experienced across all of major regions, all reporting segments and the majority of end markets. Regionally, sales in Asia Pacific declined by 15% on a like-for-like basis, North America declined 10% and Europe declined 6% in the quarter compared with the first quarter of last year. Net debt at March 31, 2013 was approximately £138 million, a reduction of around £116 million in the quarter reflecting the receipt of the gross proceeds from the sale of Fusion UV and continued strong operating cash flow. The company expects top-line growth in 2013 to be slightly lower than previously anticipated, the company's strong opportunity pipeline and cost reduction initiatives leave optimistic that the company will deliver full year performance broadly in line with the company's expectations at the beginning of the year.

Spectris plc announced that they will report Q1, 2013 interim management statement at 7:00 AM, GMT Standard Time on Apr 19, 2013