WAT 10-Q Quarter ended April 1, 2017

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended April 1, 2017

or

For the transition period from to .

Commission File Number: 01-14010

Waters Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

34 Maple Street

Milford, Massachusetts 01757

(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

(508) 478-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    ☒  Yes    ☐  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of April 28, 2017: 80,037,534

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WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

INDEX

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WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

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WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

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WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(IN THOUSANDS)

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

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WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

(IN THOUSANDS)

(unaudited)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

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WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

1 Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Waters Corporation (the “Company”) is a specialty measurement company that has pioneered chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis innovations serving the life, materials and food sciences for nearly 60 years. The Company primarily designs, manufactures, sells and services high performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”), ultra performance liquid chromatography (“UPLC ^® ” and together with HPLC, referred to as “LC”) and mass spectrometry (“MS”) technology systems and support products, including chromatography columns, other consumable products and comprehensive post-warranty service plans. These systems are complementary products that are frequently employed together (“LC-MS”) and sold as integrated instrument systems using a common software platform. LC is a standard technique and is utilized in a broad range of industries to detect, identify, monitor and measure the chemical, physical and biological composition of materials, and to purify a full range of compounds. MS instruments are used in drug discovery and development, including clinical trial testing, the analysis of proteins in disease processes (known as “proteomics”), nutritional safety analysis and environmental testing. LC-MS instruments combine a liquid phase sample introduction and separation system with mass spectrometric compound identification and quantification. In addition, the Company designs, manufactures, sells and services thermal analysis, rheometry and calorimetry instruments through its TA ^® product line. These instruments are used in predicting the suitability and stability of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, water, polymers, metals and viscous liquids for various industrial, consumer goods and healthcare products, as well as for life science research. The Company is also a developer and supplier of software-based products that interface with the Company’s instruments, as well as other suppliers’ instruments, and are typically purchased by customers as part of the instrument system.

The Company’s interim fiscal quarter typically ends on the thirteenth Saturday of each quarter. Since the Company’s fiscal year end is December 31, the first and fourth fiscal quarters may have more or less than thirteen complete weeks. The Company’s first fiscal quarters for 2017 and 2016 ended on April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, respectively.

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, which are wholly owned. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent liabilities at the dates of the financial statements. Actual amounts may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

It is management’s opinion that the accompanying interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (which are normal and recurring) that are necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. The interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2017.

Translation of Foreign Currencies

For most of the Company’s foreign operations, assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates prevailing on the balance sheet date, while revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Any resulting translation gains or losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated balance sheets. The functional currency of each of the Company’s foreign operating subsidiaries is the local currency of that particular country, except for the Company’s subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Singapore and the Cayman Islands, where the underlying transactional cash flows are denominated in currencies other than the respective local currency of domicile. The functional currency of the Hong Kong, Singapore and Cayman Islands subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar, based on the respective entity’s cash flows.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments

Cash equivalents represent highly liquid investments, with original maturities of 90 days or less, while investments with longer maturities are classified as investments. The Company maintains cash balances in various operating

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accounts in excess of federally insured limits, and in foreign subsidiary accounts in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. As of April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, $2,929 million out of $2,966 million and $2,766 million out of $2,813 million, respectively, of the Company’s total cash, cash equivalents and investments were held by foreign subsidiaries and may be subject to material tax effects on distribution to U.S. legal entities. In addition, $295 million out of $2,966 million and $261 million out of $2,813 million of cash, cash equivalents and investments were held in currencies other than the U.S. dollar at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Other Investments

During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the Company made a $7 million investment in a developer of analytical system solutions used to make measurements, predict stability and accelerate product discovery in the routine analytic, process monitoring and quality control release processes for life science and biopharmaceutical markets. This investment will be accounted for under the cost method of accounting.

Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with the accounting standards for fair value measurements and disclosures, certain of the Company’s assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016. Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize observable data, such as quoted prices in active markets. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize data points other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly. Fair values determined by Level 3 inputs utilize unobservable data points for which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at April 1, 2017 (in thousands):

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The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

Fair Value of 401(k) Restoration Plan Assets

The 401(k) Restoration Plan is a nonqualified defined contribution plan and the assets were held in registered mutual funds and have been classified as Level 1. The fair values of the assets in this plan are determined through market and observable sources from daily quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges.

Fair Value of Cash Equivalents, Investment and Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

The fair values of the Company’s cash equivalents, investments and foreign currency exchange contracts are determined through market and observable sources and have been classified as Level 2. These assets and liabilities have been initially valued at the transaction price and subsequently valued, typically utilizing third-party pricing services. The pricing services use many inputs to determine value, including reportable trades, benchmark yields, credit spreads, broker/dealer quotes, current spot rates and other industry and economic events. The Company validates the prices provided by third-party pricing services by reviewing their pricing methods and obtaining market values from other pricing sources. After completing these validation procedures, the Company did not adjust or override any fair value measurements provided by third-party pricing services as of April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016. There were no transfers between the levels of the fair value hierarchy during the three months ended April 1, 2017.

Fair Value of Contingent Consideration

The fair value of the Company’s liability for contingent consideration relates to the July 2014 acquisition of Medimass Research, Development and Service Kft. and is determined using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model, which uses significant unobservable inputs, and has been classified as Level 3. Subsequent changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration liability are recorded in the results of operations. The fair value of the contingent consideration liability associated with future earnout payments is based on several factors, including the estimated future results and a discount rate that reflects both the likelihood of achieving the estimated future results and the Company’s creditworthiness. A change in any of these unobservable inputs can significantly change the fair value of the contingent consideration. Although there is no contractual limit, the fair value of future contingent consideration payments was estimated to be $3 million at both April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, based on the Company’s best estimate, as the earnout is based on future sales of certain products, some of which are currently in development, through 2034. There have been no changes in significant assumptions since December 31, 2016 and the change in fair value since then is primarily due to change in time value of money.

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Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

The Company’s cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and variable interest rate debt are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value due to their short-term nature. The carrying value of the Company’s fixed interest rate debt was $610 million at both April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The fair value of the Company’s fixed interest rate debt was estimated using discounted cash flow models, based on estimated current rates offered for similar debt under current market conditions for the Company. The fair value of the Company’s fixed interest rate debt was estimated to be $608 million and $603 million at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, using Level 2 inputs.

Derivative Transactions

The Company is a global company that operates in over 35 countries and, as a result, the Company’s net sales, cost of sales, operating expenses and balance sheet amounts are significantly impacted by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company is exposed to currency price risk on foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations when it translates its non-U.S. dollar foreign subsidiaries’ financial statements into U.S. dollars, and when any of the Company’s subsidiaries purchase or sell products or services in a currency other than its own currency.

The Company’s principal strategy in managing exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates is to naturally hedge the foreign-currency-denominated liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet against corresponding assets of the same currency, such that any changes in liabilities due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates are typically offset by corresponding changes in assets.

The Company does not specifically enter into any derivatives that hedge foreign-currency-denominated assets, liabilities or commitments on its balance sheet, other than a portion of certain third-party accounts receivable and accounts payable, and the Company’s net worldwide intercompany receivables and payables, which are eliminated in consolidation. The Company periodically aggregates its net worldwide balances by currency and then enters into foreign currency exchange contracts that mature within 90 days to hedge a portion of the remaining balance to minimize some of the Company’s currency price risk exposure. The foreign currency exchange contracts are not designated for hedge accounting treatment.

Principal hedged currencies include the Euro, Japanese yen, British pound, Mexican peso and Brazilian real. At April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company held foreign currency exchange contracts with notional amounts totaling $124 million and $120 million, respectively.

The Company’s foreign currency exchange contracts included in the consolidated balance sheets are classified as follows (in thousands):

The following is a summary of the activity included in cost of sales in the statements of operations related to the foreign currency exchange contracts (in thousands):

Stockholders’ Equity

In May 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $750 million of its outstanding common stock over a three-year period. During the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, the Company repurchased 0.5 million and 0.7 million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock at a cost of $82 million and $89 million, respectively, under the May 2014 authorization. The Company has a total of $41 million authorized for future repurchases under the May 2014 plan. In addition, the Company repurchased $7 million and $6 million of common stock related to the vesting of restricted

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stock units during the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, respectively. The Company believes that it has the financial flexibility to fund these share repurchases given current cash levels and debt borrowing capacity, as well as to invest in research, technology and business acquisitions to further grow the Company’s sales and profits.

Product Warranty Costs

The Company accrues estimated product warranty costs at the time of sale, which are included in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations. While the Company engages in extensive product quality programs and processes, including actively monitoring and evaluating the quality of its component suppliers, the Company’s warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates, material usage and service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure. The amount of the accrued warranty liability is based on historical information, such as past experience, product failure rates, number of units repaired and estimated costs of material and labor. The liability is reviewed for reasonableness at least quarterly.

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s accrued warranty liability for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands):

Restructuring and Other Charges

During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the Company incurred $9 million of severance costs associated with the closure of a facility in Germany and costs associated with providing U.S. employees with an early retirement transition incentive. During the three months ended April 2, 2016, the Company incurred $3 million of severance costs associated with an organizational restructuring. At April 1, 2017, the Company had $6 million of severance costs accrued in other current liabilities.

Acquired In-process Research and Development

During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the Company incurred a $5 million charge for acquired in-process research and development related to a milestone payment for the licensing of certain intellectual property relating to mass spectrometry technologies yet to be commercialized and for which there was no future alternative use as of the acquisition date. This licensing arrangement is significantly related to new, biologically-focused applications, as well as other applications, and require the Company to make additional future payments of up to $7 million if certain milestones are achieved, as well as royalties on future net sales.

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2 Marketable Securities

The Company’s marketable securities within cash equivalents and investments included in the consolidated balance sheets are detailed as follows (in thousands):

The estimated fair value of marketable debt securities by maturity date is as follows (in thousands):

3 Inventories

Inventories are classified as follows (in thousands):

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4 Goodwill and Other Intangibles

The carrying amount of goodwill was $354 million and $352 million at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the effect of foreign currency translation increased goodwill by $2 million.

The Company’s intangible assets included in the consolidated balance sheets are detailed as follows (in thousands):

During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the effect of foreign currency translation increased the gross carrying value of intangible assets and accumulated amortization for intangible assets by $10 million and $6 million, respectively. Amortization expense for intangible assets was $10 million and $11 million for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, respectively. Amortization expense for intangible assets is estimated to be approximately $43 million per year for each of the next five years.

In June 2013, the Company entered into a credit agreement that provides for a $1.1 billion revolving facility and a $300 million term loan facility. In April 2015, Waters Corporation entered into an amendment to this agreement (the “Amended Credit Agreement”). The Amended Credit Agreement provides for an increase of the revolving commitments from $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion and extends the maturity of the original credit agreement from June 25, 2018 until April 23, 2020. The Company plans to use future proceeds from the revolving facility for general corporate purposes.

The interest rates applicable to the Amended Credit Agreement are, at the Company’s option, equal to either the alternate base rate calculated daily (which is a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the prime rate in effect on such day, (b) the federal funds effective rate in effect on such day plus 1/2% per annum, or (c) the adjusted LIBO rate on such day (or if such day is not a business day, the immediately preceding business day) for a deposit in U.S. dollars with a maturity of one month plus 1% per annum) or the applicable 1, 2, 3 or 6 month adjusted LIBO rate, in each case, plus an interest rate margin based upon the Company’s leverage ratio, which can range between 0 basis points to 12.5 basis points for alternate base rate loans and between 80 basis points and 117.5 basis points for adjusted LIBO rate loans. The facility fee on the Amended Credit Agreement ranges between 7.5 basis points and 20 basis points. The Amended Credit Agreement requires that the Company comply with an interest coverage ratio test of not less than 3.50:1 as of the end of any fiscal quarter for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters and a leverage ratio test of not more than 3.50:1 as of the end of any fiscal quarter. In addition, the Amended Credit Agreement includes negative covenants, affirmative covenants, representations and warranties and events of default that are customary for investment grade credit facilities.

At April 1, 2017, $125 million of the outstanding portion of the revolving facility was classified as short-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet due to the fact that the Company expects to repay this portion of the borrowing under the revolving line of credit within the next twelve months. The remaining $745 million of the outstanding portion of the revolving facility was classified as long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet, as this portion is not expected to be repaid within the next twelve months.

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The Company had a total of $700 million of outstanding senior unsecured notes as of April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016. Interest on the fixed rate senior unsecured notes is payable semi-annually each year. Interest on the floating rate senior unsecured notes is payable quarterly. The Company may prepay all or some of the senior unsecured notes at any time in an amount not less than 10% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding, plus the applicable make-whole amount or prepayment premium for Series H and J senior unsecured notes. In the event of a change in control of the Company (as defined in the note purchase agreement), the Company may be required to prepay the senior unsecured notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest. These senior unsecured notes require that the Company comply with an interest coverage ratio test of not less than 3.50:1 for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters and a leverage ratio test of not more than 3.50:1 as of the end of any fiscal quarter. In addition, these senior unsecured notes include customary negative covenants, affirmative covenants, representations and warranties and events of default.

The Company had the following outstanding debt at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

As of April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had a total amount available to borrow under existing credit agreements of $428 million and $468 million, respectively, after outstanding letters of credit. The weighted-average interest rates applicable to the senior unsecured notes and credit agreement borrowings collectively were 2.68% and 2.55% at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. As of April 1, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

The Company and its foreign subsidiaries also had available short-term lines of credit totaling $81 million and $79 million at April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, for the purpose of short-term borrowing and issuance of commercial guarantees. At April 1, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the weighted-average interest rates applicable to these short-term borrowings were 1.48% and 1.49%, respectively.

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6 Income Taxes

The four principal jurisdictions in which the Company manufactures are the U.S., Ireland, the U.K. and Singapore, where the Company’s marginal effective tax rates were approximately 37.5%, 12.5%, 19.25% and 0%, respectively, as of April 1, 2017. The Company has a contractual tax rate of 0% on qualifying activities in Singapore through March 2021, based upon the achievement of certain contractual milestones, which the Company expects to continue to meet. The current statutory tax rate in Singapore is 17%. For the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, the effect of applying the contractual tax rate rather than the statutory tax rate to income from qualifying activities in Singapore increased the Company’s net income by $5 million and $4 million, respectively, and increased the Company’s net income per diluted share by $0.06 and $0.05, respectively.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the quarter was 7.0% and 11.8% for 2017 and 2016, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate in 2017 as compared to 2016 can be primarily attributed to the adoption of new accounting guidance related to stock-based compensation, which decreased income tax expense by $7 million and decreased the Company’s effective tax rate by 6.3 percentage points in the first quarter of 2017. See Note 12 for further information regarding the adoption of this standard. In addition, the provision for income taxes for the first quarter of 2016 included a quarter-specific tax benefit associated with modifications to certain stock-based compensation awards. The remaining differences between the effective tax rate in 2017 and 2016 can be primarily attributed to differences in the proportionate amounts of pre-tax income recognized in jurisdictions with different effective tax rates.

The Company accounts for its uncertain tax return reporting positions in accordance with the accounting standards for income taxes, which require financial statement reporting of the expected future tax consequences of uncertain tax reporting positions on the presumption that all concerned tax authorities possess full knowledge of those tax reporting positions, as well as all of the pertinent facts and circumstances, but prohibit any discounting of unrecognized tax benefits associated with those reporting positions for the time value of money. The Company classified interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of the provision for income taxes.

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands):

With limited exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to tax audit examinations in significant jurisdictions for the years ended on or before December 31, 2012. However, carryforward tax attributes that were generated in years beginning on or before January 1, 2013 may still be adjusted upon examination by tax authorities if the attributes are utilized. The Company continuously monitors the lapsing of statutes of limitations on potential tax assessments for related changes in the measurement of unrecognized tax benefits, related net interest and penalties, and deferred tax assets and liabilities. As of April 1, 2017, the Company expects to record additional reductions in the measurement of its unrecognized tax benefits and related net interest and penalties of approximately $4 million within the next twelve months due to potential tax audit settlements and the lapsing of statutes of limitations on potential tax assessments. The Company does not expect to record any other material reductions in the measurement of its unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months.

7 Stock-Based Compensation

The Company maintains various shareholder-approved, stock-based compensation plans which allow for the issuance of incentive or non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or other types of awards (e.g. restricted stock units and performance stock units). In the first quarter of 2017, the Company adopted new accounting guidance related to stock-based compensation, see Note 12 for further information regarding the adoption of this standard.

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation costs in accordance with the accounting standards for stock-based compensation, which require that all share-based payments to employees be recognized in the statements of

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operations based on their grant date fair values. The Company recognizes the expense using the straight-line attribution method. The stock-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statements of operations is based on awards that ultimately are expected to vest; therefore, the amount of expense has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. The new stock-based compensation accounting guidance offers the option of recognizing forfeitures as they occur or estimating forfeitures at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company has elected to remain consistent with prior periods and estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and, if necessary, revise in subsequent periods in which actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Forfeitures are estimated based on historical experience. If actual results differ significantly from these estimates, stock-based compensation expense and the Company’s results of operations could be materially impacted. In addition, if the Company employs different assumptions in the application of these standards, the compensation expense that the Company records in the future periods may differ significantly from what the Company has recorded in the current period.

The consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 include the following stock-based compensation expense related to stock option awards, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance stock unit awards and the employee stock purchase plan (in thousands):

During the three months ended April 2, 2016, the Company recognized $7 million of stock-based compensation expense related to the modification of certain stock awards upon the retirement of senior executives.

Stock Options

In determining the fair value of the stock options, the Company makes a variety of assumptions and estimates, including volatility measures, expected yields and expected stock option lives. The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company uses implied volatility on its publicly-traded options as the basis for its estimate of expected volatility. The Company believes that implied volatility is the most appropriate indicator of expected volatility because it is generally reflective of historical volatility and expectations of how future volatility will differ from historical volatility. The expected life assumption for grants is based on historical experience for the population of non-qualified stock option exercises. The risk-free interest rate is the yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term approximating the expected term used as the input to the Black-Scholes model. The relevant data used to determine the value of the stock options granted during the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 are as follows:

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The following table summarizes stock option activity for the plans for the three months ended April 1, 2017 (in thousands, except per share data):

Restricted Stock

During the three months ended April 1, 2017, the Company granted seven thousand shares of restricted stock. The weighted-average fair value per share of these awards on the grant date was $136.43 per share.

Restricted Stock Units

The following table summarizes the unvested restricted stock unit award activity for the three months ended April 1, 2017 (in thousands, except for per share data):

Restricted stock units are generally granted annually in February and vest in equal annual installments over a five-year period.

Performance Stock Units

During three months ended April 1, 2017, the Company issued performance stock units, which are equity compensation awards with a market vesting condition based on the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) relative to the TSR of the components of the S&P Health Care Index. TSR is the change in value of a stock price over time, including the reinvestment of dividends. The vesting schedule ranges from 0% to 200% of the target shares awarded.

In determining the fair value of the performance stock units, the Company makes a variety of assumptions and estimates, including volatility measures, expected yields and expected terms. The fair value of each performance stock unit grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Monte Carlo simulation model. The Company uses implied volatility on its publicly-traded options as the basis for its estimate of expected volatility. The Company believes that implied volatility is the most appropriate indicator of expected volatility because it is generally reflective of historical volatility and expectations of how future volatility will differ from historical volatility. The expected life assumption for grants is based on the performance period of the underlying performance stock units. The risk-free interest rate is the yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term approximating the expected term used as the input to the Monte Carlo simulation model. The correlation coefficient

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is used to model the way in which each company in the S&P Health Care Index tends to move in relation to each other during the performance period. The relevant data used to determine the value of the performance stock units granted during 2017 is as follows:

The following table summarizes the unvested performance stock unit award activity for the three months ended April 1, 2017 (in thousands, except for per share data):

8 Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) calculations are detailed as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

For the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016, the Company had 1.1 million and 1.2 million stock options that were antidilutive, respectively, due to having higher exercise prices than the Company’s average stock price during the period. These securities were not included in the computation of diluted EPS. The effect of dilutive securities was calculated using the treasury stock method.

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9 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income are detailed as follows (in thousands):

10 Retirement Plans

The Company sponsors various retirement plans. The summary of the components of net periodic pension costs for the plans for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 is as follows (in thousands):

During fiscal year 2017, the Company expects to contribute a total of approximately $6 million to $11 million to the Company’s defined benefit plans.

11 Business Segment Information

The Company’s business activities, for which discrete financial information is available, are regularly reviewed and evaluated by the chief operating decision maker. As a result of this evaluation, the Company determined that it has two operating segments: Waters ^® and TA.

The Waters operating segment is primarily in the business of designing, manufacturing, distributing and servicing LC and MS instruments, columns and other chemistry consumables that can be integrated and used along with other analytical instruments. The TA operating segment is primarily in the business of designing, manufacturing, distributing and servicing thermal analysis, rheometry and calorimetry instruments. The Company’s two operating segments have similar economic characteristics; product processes; products and services; types and classes of customers; methods of distribution; and regulatory environments. Because of these similarities, the two segments have been aggregated into one reporting segment for financial statement purposes. Please refer to the consolidated financial statements for financial information regarding the one reportable segment of the Company.

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CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) – (Continued)

Net sales for the Company’s products and services are as follows for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands):

12 Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In July 2015, accounting guidance was issued which clarifies the measurement of inventory. The new guidance requires inventory to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2017 and this standard did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2016, accounting guidance was issued which simplifies the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The new guidance is required to be adopted on a prospective basis for the statement of operations and the Company has elected to retrospectively apply the cash flow aspects of this new guidance. In addition, the Company has elected to continue to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and update forfeiture estimates throughout the requisite service period. The Company adopted this standard as of January 1, 2017 and recognized an excess tax benefit related to stock-based compensation in the first quarter of 2017, which decreased income tax expense by $7 million and added $0.09 to net income per diluted share. These excess tax benefits were previously recorded in equity and there were no cumulative-effect adjustments to retained earnings as a result of the adoption of this standard. In addition, the Company reclassified $2 million of excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation for the first quarter of 2016 from cash flows from financing activities to cash flows from operating activities.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014, amended accounting guidance was issued regarding the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. The objective of this guidance is to significantly enhance comparability and clarify principles of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions and capital markets. This guidance was originally effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016; however, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) amended the standard in August 2015 to delay the effective period date by one year to annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Adoption prior to December 15, 2016 is not permitted. In March 2016, the FASB clarified the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations and, in April 2016, clarification was made regarding certain aspects of identifying performance obligations and licensing implementation guidance. In May 2016, additional guidance was issued related to disclosure of remaining performance obligations, as well as other amendments to guidance on collectibility, non-cash consideration and the presentation of sales and other similar taxes collected from customers. The Company does not intend to early adopt this accounting standard and will apply the modified-retrospective method. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

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CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) – (Continued)

In January 2016, accounting guidance was issued which primarily affects the classification and measurement of certain financial instruments, principally equity investments and certain financial liabilities. Under the new guidance, there will no longer be an available-for-sale classification for equity securities with readily determinable fair values. Changes to the fair value of equity investments will be recognized through earnings. Equity investments carried at cost should be adjusted for changes in observable prices, as applicable, and qualitatively assessed for impairment annually. Changes to the fair value of financial liabilities under the fair value option due to instrument specific credit risk will be recognized separately in other comprehensive income. The new guidance also requires financial assets and financial liabilities to be presented separately and grouped by measurement category in the notes to the financial statements. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption of certain provisions of this guidance is permitted. The Company currently does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In February 2016, accounting guidance was issued regarding the accounting for leases. This new comprehensive lease standard amends various aspects of existing accounting guidance for leases. The core principle of the new guidance will require lessees to present the assets and liabilities that arise from leases on their balance sheets. This guidance is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company expects that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company’s balance sheet classifications; however, it is not expected to have an overall material impact on the Company’s results of operations and cash flows.

In June 2016, accounting guidance was issued that modifies the recognition of credit losses related to financial assets, such as debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance sheet credit exposures, and other financial assets that have the contractual right to receive cash. Current guidance requires the recognition of a credit loss when it is considered probable that a loss event was incurred. The new guidance requires the measurement of expected credit losses to be based upon relevant information, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the asset. As such, expected credit losses may be recognized sooner under the new guidance due to the broader range of information that will be required to determine credit loss estimates. The new guidance also amends the current other-than-temporary impairment model used for debt securities classified as available-for-sale. When the fair value of an available-for-sale debt security is below its amortized cost, the new guidance requires the total unrealized loss to be bifurcated into its credit and non-credit components. Any expected credit losses or subsequent recoveries will be recognized in earnings and any changes not considered credit related will continue to be recognized within other comprehensive income. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company currently does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In August 2016, accounting guidance was issued that clarifies the classification of certain cash flows. The new guidance addresses eight specific areas where current accounting guidance is either unclear or does not specifically address classification issues. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company’s cash flows.

In October 2016, accounting guidance was issued regarding intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. The new guidance eliminates the deferral of tax effects on intra-entity transfers other than inventory and requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences when the transfer occurs. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In January 2017, accounting guidance was issued that clarifies the definition of a business. The new guidance provides a more robust framework to use in determining when a set of assets and activities is a business, thus narrowing the definition and the amount of transactions accounted for as business combinations. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early application is permitted under certain circumstances. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

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CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) – (Continued)

In January 2017, accounting guidance was issued that simplifies the accounting for goodwill impairment. The guidance eliminates step 2 of the goodwill impairment test, which requires a hypothetical purchase price allocation. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The Company currently does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2017, accounting guidance was issued regarding the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost. The new guidance requires that an employer disaggregate the service cost component from other components of net benefit cost, with service cost reported in the same line items as other compensation costs and the other components of net benefit costs presented outside income from operations. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2017, accounting guidance was issued to amend the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium. Specifically, the amortization period for certain callable debt securities will be shortened to end at the earliest call date. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of this standard will have on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

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Business and Financial Overview

The Company has two operating segments: Waters ^® and TA ^® . Waters products and services primarily consist of high performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”), ultra performance liquid chromatography (“UPLC ^® ” and together with HPLC, referred to as “LC”), mass spectrometry (“MS”) and chemistry consumable products and related services. TA products and services primarily consist of thermal analysis, rheometry and calorimetry instrument systems and service sales. The Company’s products are used by pharmaceutical, biochemical, industrial, nutritional safety, environmental, academic and governmental customers. These customers use the Company’s products to detect, identify, monitor and measure the chemical, physical and biological composition of materials and to predict the suitability and stability of fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, water, polymers, metals and viscous liquids in various industrial, consumer goods and healthcare products.

The Company’s operating results are as follows for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands, except per share data):

Sales in the first quarter of 2017 grew 5% as compared with the first quarter of 2016, with foreign currency translation reducing sales growth by 1%. This growth was driven by continued strength in our pharmaceutical and industrial markets, partially offset by a decline in sales to our governmental and academic customers. Recent acquisitions had a minimal impact on sales growth in the first quarter of 2017.

Instrument systems grew at 6% while recurring revenues (combined sales of chemistry consumables and services) grew at 4%. Recurring revenues were negatively impacted by two fewer calendar days in the first quarter of 2017 as compared to the first quarter of 2016. Foreign currency translation reduced instrument system and recurring revenue sales growth by 1% and 2%, respectively.

Geographically, sales growth was positive in all regions, except the U.S. and Japan. Sales in Asia excluding Japan grew at a double-digit rate with strong demand in China and India for our products and services. The decline in sales in the U.S. and Japan in the first quarter of 2017 was due to lower demand from pharmaceutical and industrial customers in these markets compared to the first quarter of 2016.

In the first quarter of 2017, sales to pharmaceutical customers increased 8% as compared to the first quarter of 2016. This increase was driven by the increasing need for global access to prescription drugs and the testing of newer and

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more complex biologic drugs. Combined sales to industrial customers (including sales to industrial chemical, nutritional safety and environmental customers) increased 5% for the quarter due to the increasing need for food quality and food safety testing and fine chemical applications. Combined global sales to governmental and academic customers decreased 9% for the quarter. Sales to governmental and academic customers declined in all regions except the Americas, where sales grew 29%. Sales to governmental and academic customers are highly dependent on when institutions receive the funding to purchase our instrument systems and, as such, sales growth rates can vary significantly from quarter to quarter.

Operating income was $119 million in the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 6% as compared to the first quarter of 2016. This increase in the first quarter of 2017 was primarily a result of the positive effects achieved from the higher sales volume and favorable effect of foreign currency translation, partially offset by the $9 million of severance costs associated with the closure of a facility in Germany and costs associated with providing U.S. employees with an early retirement transition incentive and the $5 million charge relating to a milestone payment for the licensing of certain intellectual property relating to mass spectrometry technologies yet to be commercialized. In addition, the change in operating income was also impacted by the $7 million expense incurred in the first quarter of 2016 related to the acceleration of certain stock awards.

In the first quarter of 2017, the Company adopted a new accounting standard that requires the excess tax benefit or deficiency on stock-based compensation to be included in the statement of operations as a component of the provision for income taxes; whereas previously it was recognized in equity. As a result, the Company recorded a tax benefit on stock-based compensation in the first quarter of 2017 that decreased income tax expense by $7 million and added $0.09 to net income per diluted share. Additionally, this standard required the Company to present the tax benefit in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as an operating activity, whereas in the past this tax benefit was reflected as a financing activity. All prior periods presented have been adjusted accordingly.

The Company generated $174 million and $162 million of net cash flows from operations in the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increase in operating cash flow was primarily a result of the increase in sales and net income. Cash flows used in investing activities included capital expenditures related to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization of $18 million and $25 million for the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively. In addition, the 2017 cash flow from investing activities included a $7 million payment for an investment in a developer of analytical system solutions used to make measurements, predict stability and accelerate product discovery in the routine analytic, process monitoring and quality control release processes for life science and biopharmaceutical markets.

Within cash flows used in financing activities, the Company received $38 million and $8 million of proceeds from stock plans in the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company repurchased $82 million and $89 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock in the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively, under authorized share repurchase programs. The Company believes that it has the financial flexibility to fund these share repurchases given current cash and investment levels and debt borrowing capacity, as well as to invest in research, technology and business acquisitions to further grow the Company’s sales and profits.

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Results of Operations

Sales by Geography

Geographic sales information is presented below for the three months ended April 1, 2017 and April 2, 2016 (in thousands):