WATERS CORP DE

Previous wording

On May 16, 2023, the Company completed the acquisition of Wyatt Technology, LLC and its three operating subsidiaries, Wyatt Technology Europe GmbH, Wyatt Technology France and Wyatt Technology UK Ltd. (collectively, “Wyatt”), for a total purchase price of $1.3 billion in cash. Wyatt is a pioneer in innovative light scattering and field-flow fractionation instruments, software, accessories, and services. The acquisition will expand Waters’ portfolio and increase exposure to large molecule applications. The Company financed this transaction with a combination of cash on its balance sheet and borrowings under its revolving credit facility. The Company’s financial results for the three months ended March 30, 2024 include the financial results of Wyatt. The Company’s financial results for the three months ended April 1, 2023 do not include any of the financial results of Wyatt since the closing of the Wyatt acquisition occurred in the second fiscal quarter of 2023.

Current wording

On May 16, 2023, the Company completed the acquisition of Wyatt Technology, LLC and its three operating subsidiaries, Wyatt Technology Europe GmbH, Wyatt Technology France and Wyatt Technology UK Ltd. (collectively, “Wyatt”), for a total purchase price of $1.3 billion in cash. Wyatt is a pioneer in innovative light scattering and field-flow fractionation instruments, software, accessories, and services. The acquisition expanded Waters’ portfolio and increase exposure to large molecule applications. The Company financed this transaction with a combination of cash on its balance sheet and borrowings under its revolving credit facility. The Company’s financial results for the three and six months ended June 29, 2024 include the financial results of Wyatt. The Company’s financial results for the three and six months ended July 1, 2023 only includeone-and-a-half months of Wyatt’s financial results as the closing of the acquisition occurred during the second quarter of 2023.

Previous wording

The Company’s operating results are as follows for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023 (dollars in thousands, except per share data):

Current wording

The Company’s operating results are as follows for the three and six months ended June 29, 2024 and July 1, 2023 (dollars in thousands, except per share data):

Previous wording

The Company’s net sales decreased 7% in the first quarter of 2024, as compared to the first quarter of 2023, with foreign currency translation decreasing total sales growth by 1%. The decrease in first quarter sales was driven by lower customer demand for our products across most major regions, except for sales in Europe, which increased 2%, and the U.S., which were flat and benefited from Wyatt sales contributions. The decline in customer demand can be attributed to our customers delaying the purchase of our instrument systems as they remained cautious with their capital spending entering 2024. The Wyatt acquisition increased sales growth by 3% for the first quarter of 2024. In addition, the Company’s first quarter of 2024 had one less calendar day than the first quarter of 2023.

Current wording

The Company’s net sales decreased 4% in the second quarter of 2024, as compared to the second quarter of 2023, with foreign currency translation decreasing total sales growth by 2%. For the first half of 2024, the Company’s net sales decreased 6% with the effect of foreign currency translation decreasing sales growth by 1% as compared to the first half of 2023. In both the second quarter and first half of 2024, the Company’s net sales were negatively impacted by our customers delaying the purchase of our instrument systems as they remained cautious with their capital spending during the first half of 2024. The Wyatt acquisition increased sales growth by 2% and 3% for the second quarter and first half of 2024, respectively. In addition, the Company’s first half of 2024 had one less calendar day than the first half of 2023. At current foreign currency exchange rates, the Company expects that foreign currency translation will have a negative impact on sales for the remainder of 2024.

Previous wording

Instrument system sales decreased 20% in the first quarter of 2024 primarily driven by weaker customer demand in all regions of the world. The instrument system sales decline was broad-based across all of our instrument systems but especially for our mass spectrometry instrument systems, where the decline was significantly greater. Our mass spectrometry system sales are higher priced instrument systems that are significantly impacted by the timing and level of funding our academic and government customers receive. In addition, the Wyatt acquisition increased instrument system sales growth by 5% in the first quarter of 2024. Foreign currency translation did not impact instrument system sales growth in the first quarter of 2024.

Current wording

Instrument system sales decreased 14% and 17% for the second quarter and first half of 2024, respectively, primarily driven by weaker customer demand across all major regions. The decline in instrument system sales was broad-based across all of our instrument systems and was led by our mass spectrometry instrument systems, which are higher priced instruments that are significantly impacted by the timing and level of funding our academic and government customers receive. The Wyatt acquisition increased instrument system sales growth by 4% for both the second quarter and first half of 2024. Foreign currency translation decreased instrument system sales growth by 1% in the second quarter of 2024 but had no impact in the first half of 2024.

Previous wording

Recurring revenues (combined sales of precision chemistry consumables and services) increased 3% in the first quarter of 2024, with foreign currency translation decreasing sales growth by 1%. Service revenues increased 5% in the first quarter of 2024, with Wyatt contributing 2% to service revenue growth in the quarter. Chemistry sales increased 1% in the first quarter of 2024 and were impacted by the lower customer demand in China for our products. Excluding the impact of China, the Company’s chemistry sales increased 3% in the first quarter of 2024.

Current wording

Recurring revenues (combined sales of precision chemistry consumables and services) increased 4% for both the second quarter and first half of 2024, with foreign currency translation decreasing sales growth by 2% in both the second quarter and first half of 2024. Service revenues increased 4% and 5% for the second quarter and first half of 2024, respectively. Wyatt contributed 1% and 2% to service revenue growth for the second quarter and first half of 2024, respectively. Chemistry sales growth increased 4% and 2% for the second quarter and first half of 2024, respectively, and was impacted by the lower customer demand in China for our products.

Previous wording

Operating income was $134 million in the first quarter of 2024, a decrease of 23% as compared to $174 million in the first quarter of 2023. The decrease in operating income was primarily due to lower sales volume and the increase in the following expenses: Wyatt acquisition-related retention expense and purchased intangible amortization, which added 10%; severance-related costs associated with a workforce reduction primarily in China, which added 5%; and litigation settlement provisions and related costs, which added 6%. These costs were partially offset by a 5% reduction in costs related to the Wyatt acquisition diligence incurred in the first quarter of 2023.

Current wording

Operating income decreased for the second quarter and first half of 2024, primarily due to lower sales volume as well as the Wyatt acquisition-related retention expenses and purchased intangibles amortization, which collectively decreased operating income by 8% and 10%, respectively. In addition, operating income for the first half of 2024 was impacted by first quarter of 2024 severance-related costs associated with a workforce reduction primarily in China and a litigation settlement, which collectively decreased operating income by 5%. These costs were partially offset by cost savings from recent workforce reductions and the absence of transaction costs related to the Wyatt acquisition. The negative effect of foreign currency translation lowered operating income by approximately $9 million and $16 million for the second quarter and first half of 2024, respectively.

Previous wording

The Company generated $263 million and $197 million of net cash from operating activities in the first three months of 2024 and 2023, respectively, with the $66 million increase being attributable to lower annual incentive bonus payments and an improvement in working capital in the current year. Net cash used in investing activities included capital expenditures related to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization of $29 million and $34 million in the first quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Current wording

The Company generated $317 million and $215 million of net cash from operating activities in the first half of 2024 and 2023, respectively, with the $102 million increase being attributable to lower annual incentive bonus payments and an improvement in working capital in the current year. Net cash used in investing activities included capital expenditures related to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization of $65 million and $81 million in the first half of 2024 and 2023, respectively.