WAT · Read the filing

Item 7: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Business 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 precision 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 government 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. Operations of the recently acquired Wyatt business are part of the Waters operating segment.

Wyatt Acquisition

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 year ended December 31, 2023 include the financial results of the Wyatt acquisition from the acquisition date.

Financial Overview

The Company’s operating results are as follows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 (dollars in thousands, except per share data):

Year Ended December 31, % change

Revenues:

Costs and operating expenses:

Acquired in-process research and development — 9,797 — * * * *

Litigation provision — — 5,165 — * *

Operating income as a % of sales 27.7 % 29.4 % 29.5 %

** Percentage not meaningful

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The Company’s net sales decreased 1% in 2023 as compared to 2022 and increased 7% in 2022 as compared to 2021. The Company’s sales in 2023 were negatively impacted by a 22% reduction of sales in China due to lower customer demand for our products. The sales growth in 2022 was driven by strong customer demand across most major geographies, end markets and product categories. Excluding China, the Company’s sales growth increased 5% and 6% in 2023 and 2022, respectively. Foreign currency translation decreased sales growth by 1% and 5% in 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Wyatt acquisition increased sales growth by 3% in 2023.

Instrument system sales decreased 7% in 2023 as compared to 2022 and increased 11% in 2022 as compared to 2021. In 2023, the decrease in instrument system sales resulted from weaker customer demand in China, which was partially offset by sales growth in the U.S. and Europe. Excluding China, the Company’s instrument system sales grew 1%. In addition, Wyatt’s instrument system sales added 4% to the Company’s instrument system sales growth. In 2022, the increase was driven by the broad-based increase in customer demand across all existing and newly introduced LC, LC-MS, and Thermal Analysis instrument system sales. Foreign currency translation decreased instrument system sales growth by 1% and 5% in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Recurring revenues (combined sales of precision chemistry consumables and services) increased 6% and 3% in 2023 and 2022, respectively. Recurring revenues were negatively impacted by foreign currency translation in 2023 and 2022, which decreased sales by 1% and 6%, respectively.

Operating income was $818 million in 2023, a decrease of 6% as compared to 2022. This decrease in operating income was primarily due to higher salary expenses related to merit compensation, $26 million in severance-related costs associated with a workforce reduction and costs related to the Wyatt acquisition, including $13 million in due diligence costs, $27 million of intangible asset amortization and $19 million of costs associated with retention agreements. The negative effect of foreign currency translation lowered operating income by approximately $23 million during 2023.

In July 2023, the Company made organizational changes to better align its resources with its growth and innovation strategies, resulting in a worldwide workforce reduction that impacted approximately 5% of the Company’s employees. The Company incurred approximately $26 million of severance-related costs and paid approximately $19 million of severance-related costs in 2023, with the remaining costs to be paid in the first half of 2024. The Company estimates that the savings from this reduction in workforce will be approximately $48 million on an annual basis.

Operating income was $873 million in 2022, an increase of 6% as compared to 2021. This increase was primarily a result of the increase in sales volume and pricing increases, partially offset by higher electronic component and freight inflationary costs and the negative effect of foreign currency translation. The effect of foreign currency translation lowered operating income by approximately $71 million during 2022.

Operating income as a percentage of sales was 27.7%, 29.4% and 29.5% in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The Company’s effective tax rates were 12.8%, 15.5% and 14.1% for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Net income per diluted share was $10.84, $11.73 and $11.17 in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The Company generated $603 million, $612 million and $747 million of net cash flows provided by operating activities in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The decrease in 2023 operating cash flow was primarily a result of lower sales volumes, higher income tax payments and higher incentive compensation payments in 2023 as compared to 2022.

Net cash used in investing activities included $1.3 billion for the Wyatt acquisition in 2023 and capital expenditures related to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization of $161 million, $176 million and

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$161 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The cash flows used in investing activities in 2023, 2022 and 2021 included $16 million, $32 million, and $49 million, respectively, of capital expenditures related to the major expansion of the Company’s precision chemistry consumable operations in the United States.

During 2023, the Company funded the Wyatt acquisition with a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under its revolving credit facility. The Company’s outstanding debt on December 31, 2023 was $2.4 billion, a change of $0.8 billion from December 31, 2022, which resulted in the Company’s interest expense in 2023 increasing by $50 million to $99 million.

On March 3, 2023, the Company entered into an agreement to amend the credit agreement governing its revolving credit facility (the “2023 Amendment”). The 2023 Amendment increases the borrowing capacity by $200 million to an aggregate total borrowing capacity of $2.0 billion.

In December 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the extension of the existing share repurchase program through January 21, 2025. The Company’s remaining authorization is $1.0 billion. During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company repurchased $58 million, $616 million and $640 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock, respectively, under the share repurchase programs. While the Company believes that it has the financial flexibility to fund these share repurchases, as well as to invest in research, technology and business acquisitions, given current cash levels and debt borrowing capacity, it has temporarily suspended its share repurchases due to its acquisition of Wyatt in the second quarter of 2023.

Results of Operations

Sales by Geography

Geographic sales information is presented below for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 (dollars in thousands):

Year Ended December 31, % change

Net Sales:

Asia:

Americas:

In 2023, sales decreased 1% as compared to 2022, primarily as a result of a 22% decrease in China sales during 2023, which was partially offset by broad-based sales growth across most other major regions. The decline in China sales was primarily driven by lower demand for our instrument systems and chemistry products resulting from increased government regulations and lower spending by our customers due to weak economic conditions in China. Excluding China, the Company’s sales increased 5% and 6% in 2023 and 2022, respectively. Foreign currency translation decreased sales growth by 1% and 5% in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

In 2023, sales increased 5% in the U.S. and 7% in Europe, while decreasing 11% in Asia, with the effect of foreign currency translation increasing sales growth in Europe by 2% and decreasing sales growth in Asia by 4%,

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which includes a 9% decrease in sales in Japan resulting from foreign currency translation. Wyatt’s sales contributed 5% and 3% of sales growth to the U.S. and Europe in 2023, respectively.

The sales growth in 2022 was broad-based across most major regions. Foreign currency translation decreased total sales growth by 5% in 2022 as the U.S. dollar strengthened significantly against all other major currencies. The geographies that were the most negatively impacted by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar in 2022 were Europe and Japan, as the weakening of the euro and Japanese yen lowered sales growth in Europe and Japan by 10% and 17%, respectively. China sales increased 8% in 2022, with foreign currency translation decreasing China sales growth by 2% in 2022. This increase in China sales was driven by strong customer demand for our products and services despite the negative impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on our business in China in 2022.

Sales by Trade Class

Net sales by customer class are presented below for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 (dollars in thousands):

Year Ended December 31, % change

In 2023, sales to pharmaceutical customers decreased 3%, primarily driven by weakness in customer demand in China, with foreign currency translation decreasing pharmaceutical sales growth by 1% and Wyatt contributing 3% to the Company’s pharmaceutical sales growth. Combined sales to industrial customers, which include material characterization, food, environmental and fine chemical markets, were flat in 2023, with foreign currency translation decreasing industrial sales growth by 1% and Wyatt contributing 1% to industrial sales growth. Combined sales to academic and government customers increased 13% in 2023, with foreign currency translation decreasing academic and government sales growth by 1% and Wyatt contributing 4% to academic and government sales growth. Sales to our academic and government customers are highly dependent on when institutions receive funding to purchase our instrument systems and, as such, sales can vary significantly from period to period.

In 2022, sales to pharmaceutical customers increased 5%, driven by strong growth in most major regions, partially offset by the negative impact from foreign currency translation which decreased pharmaceutical sales by 5%. Combined sales to industrial customers increased 10%, with foreign currency translation decreasing sales growth by 5%. Combined sales to academic and government customers increased 7%, with foreign currency translation decreasing academic and government sales growth by 6%.

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Waters Products and Services Net Sales

Net sales for Waters products and services were as follows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 (dollars in thousands):

Year Ended December 31, % change

Waters products and service sales decreased 1% and 6% in 2023 and 2022, respectively, with the effect of foreign currency translation decreasing Waters sales growth by 1% and 6% in 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Wyatt acquisition increased Waters products and service sales by approximately 3% in 2023. Waters instrument system sales (LC and MS technology-based) decreased 8% in 2023, primarily driven by weaker customer demand in China. Excluding China, the Company’s instrument system sales were flat as compared to 2022. In addition, Wyatt’s instrument system sales contributed 5% to Waters instrument system sales growth in 2023. Waters chemistry consumables sales were significantly impacted by the lower customer demand in China for our products. Excluding China, the Company’s chemistry sales grew 7% in 2023. This sales growth was primarily due to the continued strong demand in most major geographies, driven by the uptake in columns and application-specific testing kits to pharmaceutical customers, partially offset by the negative impact from foreign currency translation, which decreased chemistry sales growth by 1% in 2023. Waters service sales increased 7% in 2023 due to higher service demand billing, partially offset by the negative impact from foreign currency translation, which decreased service sales growth by 1% in 2023. Wyatt service revenues added 2% to Waters service revenue growth in 2023.

In 2022, Waters products and service sales increased 6%, with foreign currency translation decreasing Waters sales growth by 6%. Waters instrument system sales grew 11%, with foreign currency translation lowering sales growth by 5%. The increase in the Waters instrument system sales can be attributed to strong customer demand for our existing products as well as growing contributions made by recent product introductions. The increase in Waters chemistry consumables sales was primarily due to the strong demand in most major geographies, partially offset by the negative impact from foreign currency translation which decreased sales by 5%. Waters service sales increased due to higher service demand billing, particularly in China and the United States, partially offset by the negative impact from foreign currency translation which decreased by 6%.

TA Product and Services Net Sales

Net sales for TA products and services were as follows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 (dollars in thousands):

Year Ended December 31, % change

TA instrument system and service sales increased 3% and 10% in 2023 and 2022, respectively. Foreign currency translation had minimal impact on sales growth in 2023 and decreased sales growth by 6% in 2022. In

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2023, sales growth was broad-based across most major geographies, partially offset by weakness in China and the rest of Asia. These increases were primarily driven by strong customer demand for our thermal analysis instruments and services.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales decreased 4% in 2023 as compared to 2022, primarily due to the change in sales mix and the lower material and freight costs. In 2022, cost of sales increased 8% as compared to 2021, primarily due to the increase in sales volumes during the year as well as an increase in electronic component and freight inflationary costs.

Cost of sales is affected by many factors, including, but not limited to, foreign currency translation, product mix, product costs of instrument systems and amortization of software platforms. At current foreign currency exchange rates, the Company expects foreign currency translation to be neutral to gross profit during 2024.

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expenses increased 12% and 5% in 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase in 2023 is primarily driven by severance-related costs in connection with a reduction in workforce, which increased expenses by 4%; the Wyatt acquisition due diligence and integration costs, which increased expenses by 2%; and the Wyatt acquisition-related retention expense, which increased expenses by 3%. These increases were partially offset by lower incentive compensation costs. The increase in selling and administrative expenses in 2022 as compared to 2021 can be attributed to higher salary merit and variable incentive compensation costs due to an increase in the number of employees. The effect of foreign currency translation had minimal impact on selling and administrative expenses in 2023 and decreased expenses by 4% in 2022.

As a percentage of net sales, selling and administrative expenses were 24.9%, 22.1% and 22.5% for 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses decreased 1% and increased 5% in 2023 and 2022, respectively. The decrease in research and development expenses in 2023 can be attributed to increases from merit compensation and costs associated with new products and the development of new technology initiatives, being offset by lower incentive compensation costs. The impact of foreign currency exchange decreased expenses by 1% and 3% in 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Purchased Intangibles Amortization

The increase in purchased intangible amortization of $26 million in 2023 can be attributed to the Wyatt acquisition intangible assets.

Acquired In-Process Research & Development

In 2022, the Company completed an asset acquisition in which the CDMS technology assets of Megadalton were acquired for approximately $10 million in total purchase price, of which $5 million was paid at closing and the remaining $4 million will be paid in the future at various dates through 2029.

Other (Expense) Income, net

In 2022, the Company sold equity an equity investment for $10 million in cash and recorded a gain on the sale of approximately $7 million in other income, net on the statement of operations. The Company also incurred $6 million in losses on an equity investment within other income, net on the statement of operations.

In 2021, the Company executed a settlement agreement to resolve patent infringement litigation with Bruker Corporation and Bruker Daltronik GmbH regarding their timsTOF product line. In connection with the

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settlement, the Company is entitled to receive $10 million in guaranteed payments, including minimum royalty payments. In 2021, the Company recorded an unrealized gain of $10 million due to an observable change in the fair value of an existing investment that the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over.

Interest Expense, net

Net interest expense in 2023 increased $44 million as compared to 2022 due to the additional borrowings by the Company to fund the Wyatt acquisition in 2023. Net interest expense in 2022 increased $5 million as compared to 2021 due to the lower interest income benefit from the lower notional amount of interest rate cross currency swap agreements.

Provision for Income Taxes

The four principal jurisdictions in which the Company manufactures are the U.S., Ireland, the U.K. and Singapore, where the statutory tax rates were 21%, 12.5%, 25% and 17%, respectively, as of December 31, 2023. The Company has a new Development and Expansion Incentive in Singapore that provides a concessionary income tax rate of 5% on certain types of income for the period April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2026. Prior to April 1, 2021, the Company had a tax exemption on income arising from qualifying activities in Singapore based upon the achievement of certain contractual milestones, which the Company met as of December 31, 2020 and maintained through March 2021. The effect of applying the concessionary income tax rates rather than the statutory tax rate to income arising from qualifying activities in Singapore increased the Company’s net income by $16 million, $20 million and $20 million, and increased the Company’s net income per diluted share by $0.27, $0.33 and $0.32 for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The Company’s effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was 12.8%, 15.5% and 14.1%, respectively.

The 2023 effective tax rate differed from the 21% U.S. statutory tax rate primarily due to the jurisdictional mix of earnings, an $18 million recognition of a previously unrecognized tax benefit as a result of the completion of a tax examination, a $15 million provision related to the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) tax and a tax benefit of $3 million on stock-based compensation.

The 2022 effective tax rate differed from the 21% U.S. statutory tax rate primarily due to the jurisdictional mix of earnings, an $18 million provision related to the GILTI tax and a tax benefit of $7 million on stock-based compensation.

The 2021 effective tax rate differed from the U.S. federal statutory tax rate primarily due to the jurisdictional mix of earnings, a $10 million provision related to the GILTI tax and a tax benefit of $7 million on stock-based compensation.

Effective starting in 2024, various foreign jurisdictions are beginning to implement aspects of the guidance issued by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development related to the new Pillar Two system of global minimum tax rules. The Company does not believe these changes in tax law will have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows in 2024. The Company continues to monitor the adoption of the Pillar Two rules in additional jurisdictions.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands):

Year Ended December 31,

Observable unrealized gain on investment — — (9,707 )

Acquired in-process research and development and other non-cash items — 10,003 —

Change in accounts payable and other current liabilities (79,524 ) 60,984 46,110

Cash Flow from Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $603 million, $612 million and $747 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The decrease in 2023 operating cash flow was primarily a result of lower net income, higher inventory levels, higher income tax payments and higher incentive compensation payments in 2023 as compared to 2022. The changes within net cash provided by operating activities include the following significant changes in the sources and uses of net cash provided by operating activities, in addition to the changes in net income:

Cash Flow from Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities totaled $1.4 billion, $108 million and $232 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Additions to fixed assets and capitalized software were $161 million, $176 million and $161 million

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in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The cash flows from investing activities in 2023, 2022 and 2021 include $16 million, $32 million and $49 million, respectively, of capital expenditures related to the major expansion of the Company’s precision chemistry consumable operations in the United States. The Company has incurred costs of $248 million on this new state-of-the-art facility, which is substantially complete as of December 31, 2023.

During 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company purchased $2 million, $11 million and $280 million of investments, respectively, while $2 million, $78 million and $218 million of investments matured, respectively, and were used for financing activities described below.

In 2023, the Company completed the acquisition of 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.

In 2022, the Company paid $5 million for the CDMS technology and intellectual property right asset from Megadalton, and the Company is required to make an additional $4 million of guaranteed payments at various dates in the future through 2029. The total purchase price of approximately $10 million was accounted for as Acquired In-Process Research and Development and expensed as part of costs and operating expenses in the statement of operations in 2023.

There were no business acquisitions in 2022 and 2021.

In 2022, the Company received $10 million in proceeds and made $1 million of investments in certain equity investments. In 2021, the Company made $2 million of investments in certain equity investments.

Cash Flow from Financing Activities

The Company entered into a credit agreement in September 2021 governing the Company’s five-year, $1.8 billion revolving facility that matures in September 2026. On March 3, 2023, in anticipation of closing of the Wyatt acquisition, the Company entered into an agreement to amend the credit agreement governing its revolving credit facility (the “2023 Amendment”). The 2023 Amendment increases the borrowing capacity by $200 million to an aggregate total borrowing capacity of $2.0 billion. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had a total of $2.4 billion in outstanding debt, which consisted of $1.3 billion in outstanding senior unsecured notes and $1.1 billion in borrowings under its credit agreement. The Company’s net debt borrowings as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were $780 million, $60 million and $160 million higher than as of December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company has entered into three-year interest rate cross-currency swap derivative agreements with a notional value $625 million to hedge the variability in the movement of foreign currency exchange rates on a portion of its euro-denominated and yen-denominated net asset investments. As a result of entering into these agreements, the Company lowered net interest expense by approximately $11 million, $9 million and $15 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Company anticipates that these swap agreements will lower net interest expense by approximately $7 million in 2024.

In December 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the extension of the existing share repurchase program through January 21, 2025. The Company’s remaining authorization is $1.0 billion. During 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company repurchased $58 million, $616 million and $640 million, respectively, of the Company’s outstanding common stock under authorized share repurchase programs. In addition, the Company repurchased $12 million, $11 million and $9 million of common stock related to the vesting of restricted stock units during 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The Company received $30 million, $43 million and $56 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the purchase of shares pursuant to the Company’s employee stock purchase plan during 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

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The Company had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $396 million as of December 31, 2023. The majority of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are generated from foreign operations, with $321 million held by foreign subsidiaries at December 31, 2023, of which $233 million was held in currencies other than U.S. dollars.

As of December 31, 2023, the Company’s material cash requirements include the following contractual and other obligations:

Long-term debt. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $2.4 billion of cash requirements for the principal on long-term debt that will mature and be paid as follows: $50 million in 2024; $1.5 billion in 2026; $50 million in 2028; $300 million in 2029; $50 million in 2030 and $400 million in 2031.

Interest on Senior Unsecured Notes. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $189 million of cash requirements for the interest on senior unsecured notes that is to be paid as follows: $39 million in 2024; $38 million in 2025; $32 million in 2026; $25 million in 2027; $23 million in 2028; $20 million in 2029; $10 million in 2030; and $2 million in 2031. See also Note 9 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for financial information about interest payable.

2017 Tax Act liabilities. As a result of the 2017 Tax Act, the Company incurred a Transition Toll Tax, that would be paid over an eight-year period, starting in 2018, and will not accrue interest. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had a remaining cash requirement of $216 million of which $96 million and $120 million will be paid in 2024 and 2025, respectively. See also Note 10 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for financial information about tax liabilities.

Operating Leases. The Company’s cash requirements for future lease payments were approximately $93 million as of December 31, 2023. See also Note 12 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for financial information about lease liabilities.

Long-term Software Contract Commitments. For contracts the Company is committed to that are not cancelable without penalties. The Company’s contractual obligation with these vendors was approximately $22 million as of December 31, 2023.

Wyatt Retention Agreements. In conjunction with the Wyatt acquisition, the Company entered into retention agreements with certain employees, in which the Company agreed to pay a total of $40 million by the end of the second anniversary of the acquisition date provided the employees remain employed over that period of time.

Management believes, as of the date of this report, that the Company’s financial position, along with expected future cash flows from earnings based on historical trends and the ability to raise funds from external sources and the borrowing capacity from existing, committed credit facilities, will be sufficient to service debt and fund working capital and capital spending requirements, authorized share repurchase amounts and potential acquisitions for at least the next twelve months.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Summary

The preparation of consolidated financial statements 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. Critical accounting policies are those that are central to the presentation of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations that require management to make estimates about matters that are highly uncertain and that would have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations given changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period or use of different estimates that reasonably could have been used in the current period. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its policies and

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estimates. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual amounts may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. There are other items within the Company’s consolidated financial statements that require estimation, but are not deemed critical as defined above. Changes in estimates used in these and other items could potentially have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue upon transfer of control of promised products and services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those products or services. The Company generally enters into contracts that include a combination of products and services. Revenue is allocated to distinct performance obligations and is recognized net of allowances for returns and discounts.

The Company recognizes revenue on product sales at the time control of the product transfers to the customer. In substantially all of the Company’s arrangements, title of the product transfers at shipping point and, as a result, the Company determined control transfers at the point of shipment. In more limited cases, there are destination-based shipping terms and, thus, control is deemed to transfer when the products arrive at the customer site.

Generally, the Company’s contracts for products include a performance obligation related to installation. The Company has determined that the installation represents a distinct performance obligation and revenue is recognized separately upon the completion of installation. The Company determines the amount of the transaction price to allocate to the installation service based on the standalone selling price of the product and the service, which requires judgment. The Company determines the relative standalone selling price of installation based upon a number of factors, including hourly service billing rates and estimated installation hours. In developing these estimates, the Company considers past history, competition, billing rates of current services and other factors.

The Company has sales from standalone software, which are included in product revenue. These arrangements typically include software licenses and maintenance contracts, both of which the Company has determined are distinct performance obligations. The Company determines the amount of the transaction price to allocate to the license and maintenance contract based on the relative standalone selling price of each performance obligation. Software license revenue is recognized at the point in time when control has been transferred to the customer. The revenue allocated to the software maintenance contract is recognized on a straight-line basis over the maintenance period, which is the contractual term of the contract, as a time-based measure of progress best reflects the Company’s performance in satisfying this obligation. Unspecified rights to software upgrades are typically sold as part of the maintenance contract on a when-and-if-available basis.

Service revenue includes (i) service and software maintenance contracts and (ii) service calls (time and materials). Instrument service contracts and software maintenance contracts are typically annual contracts, which are billed at the beginning of the contract or maintenance period. The amount of the service and software maintenance contract is recognized on a straight-line basis to revenue over the maintenance service period, which is the contractual term of the contract, as a time-based measure of progress best reflects the Company’s performance in satisfying this obligation. There are no deferred costs associated with the service contract, as the cost of the service is recorded when the service is performed. Service calls are recognized to revenue at the time a service is performed.

The Company’s deferred revenue liabilities at December 31, 2023 of $324 million on the consolidated balance sheets consist of instrument service contract obligations and customer payments received in advance, prior to transfer of control of the instrument. The Company records deferred revenue primarily related to its service contracts, where consideration is billable at the beginning of the service period.

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Loss Provision on Inventory

The Company values all of its inventories at the lower of cost or net realizable value on a first-in,first-out basis (“FIFO”). The Company estimates revisions to its inventory valuations based on technical obsolescence, historical demand, projections of future demand, including in the Company’s current backlog of orders, and industry and market conditions. If actual future demand or market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional write-downs may be required. The Company’s inventory balance at December 31, 2023 was recorded at its net realizable value of $516 million, which is net of write-downs of $41 million.

Long-Lived Assets, Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized, but are evaluated for impairment on an annual basis, or on an interim basis when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. In assessing the recoverability of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, we must make assumptions regarding the estimated future cash flows, including forecasted revenue growth and the discount rate to determine the fair value of these assets. If these estimates or their related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record impairment charges against these assets in the reporting period in which the impairment is determined.

We test goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is the operating segment or one level below an operating segment. We have the option of performing a qualitative assessment to determine whether further impairment testing is necessary before performing the quantitative assessment. If as a result of the qualitative assessment, it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, a quantitative impairment test will be required. Otherwise, no further testing will be required. If a quantitative impairment test is performed, we compare the fair values of the applicable reporting units with their aggregate carrying values, including goodwill. Estimating the fair value of the reporting units requires significant judgment by management. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value up to the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. The Company performs an annual goodwill impairment assessment for its reporting units as of December 31 each year. The Company has two reporting units: Waters and TA. Goodwill is allocated to the reporting units at the time of acquisition.

The Company’s intangible assets include purchased technology; capitalized software; costs associated with acquiring Company patents, trademarks and intellectual properties, such as licenses; and acquired IPR&D. Purchased intangibles are recorded at their fair market values as of the acquisition date and amortized over their estimated useful lives, ranging from one to fifteen years. Other intangibles are amortized over a period ranging from one to ten years. Acquired IPR&D is amortized from the date of completion of the acquired program over its estimated useful life.

Goodwill totaled $1.3 billion and $430 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Net intangible assets and long-lived assets amounted to $629 million and $639 million, as of December 31, 2023, respectively, and $227 million and $582 million as of December 31, 2022, respectively.

Income Taxes

As part of the process of preparing the consolidated financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates. This process involves the Company estimating its income taxes, taking into account the amount, timing and character of taxable income, tax deductions and credits and assessing changes in tax laws, regulations, agreements and treaties. Differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes, such as depreciation, amortization and inventory reserves, result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included within the consolidated balance sheets. In the event that actual results differ from these estimates, or the Company adjusts these estimates in future periods, such changes could materially impact the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

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The Company continually evaluates the necessity of establishing or changing a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets depending on whether it is more likely than not that the actual benefit of those assets will be realized in future periods.

Uncertain Tax Positions

The Company accounts for its uncertain tax return positions in accordance with the accounting standards for income taxes, which require financial statement reporting of the expected future tax consequences of uncertain tax positions on the presumption that all concerned tax authorities possess full knowledge of those tax positions, as well as all of the pertinent facts and circumstances, but prohibit any discounting of unrecognized tax benefits associated with those 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. At December 31, 2023, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties, of $14 million, which represents a decrease of $15 million resulting, primarily, from the completion of a tax examination in 2023. This decrease reduced the income tax expense in the statement of operations and did not impact cash flows.

The Company has a new Development and Expansion Incentive in Singapore that provides a concessionary income tax rate of 5% on certain types of income for the period April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2026. This new incentive has similar requirements for business spending targets, attaining and sustaining employment targets and performance of certain research and manufacturing activities as previous agreements. Prior to April 1, 2021, the Company had a tax exemption on income arising from qualifying activities in Singapore, based upon the achievement of certain contractual milestones, which the Company met as of December 31, 2020 and maintained through March 2021. These milestones include the following types of objectives: reaching and maintaining annual revenue and business spending targets; meeting capital expenditures targets; attaining and sustaining employment targets; and establishing a local research and development and service center. The Company determined that it was more likely than not to realize the tax exemption in Singapore and, accordingly, did not recognize any reserves for unrecognized tax benefits on its balance sheet related to this exemption. In the event that any of the milestone targets were not met, the Company would not be entitled to the tax exemption on income earned in Singapore and all the tax benefits previously recognized would be reversed, resulting in the recognition of income tax expense equal to the statutory tax of 17% on income earned during that period.

The effect of applying these concessionary income tax rates rather than the statutory tax rate to income arising from qualifying activities in Singapore increased the Company’s net income by $16 million, $20 million and $20 million and increased the Company’s net income per diluted share by $0.27, $0.33 and $0.32 for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Business Combinations and Asset Acquisitions

We use assumptions and estimates in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. The determination of the fair value of intangible assets, which represents a significant portion of the purchase price in our recent acquisition of Wyatt, requires the use of significant judgment with regard to (i) the fair value; and (ii) whether such intangibles are amortizable or non-amortizable and, if the former, the period and the method by which the intangible asset will be amortized. We utilize commonly accepted valuation techniques, such as the income, cost and market approaches, as appropriate, in establishing the fair value of intangible assets. Typically, key assumptions include projections of cash flows that arise from identifiable intangible assets of acquired businesses as well as discount rates based on an analysis of the weighted average cost of capital, adjusted for specific risks associated with the assets.

In our recent acquisition of Wyatt, customer relationship intangible assets have been the most significant identifiable assets acquired. The customer relationships were valued using the multi-period excess earnings method under the income approach. Our cash flow projections for the customer relationships acquired included significant judgments and assumptions related to customer attrition rate, discount rate, and forecasted revenues. The value of the client relationships acquired was $331 million in fiscal year 2023, the majority of which relates to US customer relationships.

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Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments

Information regarding recent accounting standard changes and developments is incorporated by reference from Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, of this document and should be considered an integral part of this Item 7. See Note 2 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for recently adopted and issued accounting standards.

Item 7A: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

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 strategies in managing exposures to changes in foreign currency exchange rates are to (1) 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 and (2) mitigate foreign exchange risk exposure of international operations by hedging the variability in the movement of foreign currency exchange rates on a portion of its euro-denominated and yen-denominated net asset investments. The Company presents the derivative transactions in financing activities in the statement of cash flows.

Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

The Company does not specifically enter into any derivatives that hedge foreign-currency-denominated operating 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 these 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.

Cash Flow Hedges

The Company’s Credit Facility is a variable borrowing and has interest payments based on a contractually specified interest rate index. The contractually specified index on the Credit Facility is the 3-month Term SOFR. The variable rate interest payments create interest risk for the Company as interest payments will fluctuate based on changes in the contractually specified interest rate index over the life of the Credit Facility. In order to reduce interest rate risk, the Company enters into interest rate swaps that will effectively lock-in the forecasted interest payments on the variable rate borrowing over its term. The interest rate swaps represent cash flow hedges and are assessed for hedge effectiveness each reporting period. When the hedge relationship is highly effective at achieving offsetting changes in cash flows, the Company will record the entire change in fair value of the interest rate swaps in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The amount in accumulated other comprehensive loss is reclassified to earnings in the period that the underlying transaction impacts consolidated earnings. If it becomes probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur, the hedge relationship will be de-designated and amounts accumulated in other comprehensive loss will be reclassified to earnings in the current period. Interest settlements due to benchmark interest rate changes are recorded in interest income or interest expense. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company did not have any cash flow hedges that were deemed ineffective.

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Interest Rate Cross-Currency Swap Agreements

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had three-year interest rate cross-currency swap derivative agreements with a notional value of $625 million to hedge the variability in the movement of foreign currency exchange rates on a portion of its euro-denominated and yen-denominated net asset investments. Under hedge accounting, the change in fair value of the derivative that relates to changes in the foreign currency spot rate are recorded in the currency translation adjustment in other comprehensive income and remain in accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity until the sale or substantial liquidation of the foreign operation. The difference between the interest rate received and paid under the interest rate cross-currency swap derivative agreement is recorded in interest income in the statement of operations.

The Company’s foreign currency exchange contracts, interest rate cross-currency swap agreements and interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges are included in the consolidated balance sheets are classified as follows (in thousands):

NotionalValue FairValue NotionalValue FairValue

Foreign currency exchange contracts:

Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements:

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income $ (7,975 ) $ 10,026

Interest rate swap cash flow hedges:

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income $ (2,974 ) $ —

The following is a summary of the activity included in the consolidated statements of operations and statements of comprehensive income related to the foreign currency exchange contracts, and interest rate cross-currency swap agreements and interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges (in thousands):

FinancialStatementClassification Year Ended December 31,

Foreign currency exchange contracts:

Unrealized losses on open contracts Cost of sales (156 ) (176 ) (343 )

Cumulative net pre-tax gains (losses) Cost of sales $ 68 $ (4,031 ) $ (2,316 )

Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements:

Interest rate swap cash flow hedges:

Interest earned Interest income $ 326 $ — $ —

Assuming a hypothetical adverse change of 10% in year-end exchange rates (a strengthening of the U.S. dollar), the fair market value of the foreign currency exchange contracts outstanding as of December 31, 2023 would increase pre-tax earnings by approximately $5 million. Assuming a hypothetical adverse change of 10% in year-end exchange rates (a strengthening of the U.S. dollar), the fair market value of the interest rate

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cross-currency swap agreements outstanding as of December 31, 2023 would increase by approximately $1 million and would be recorded to foreign currency translation in other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity. The related impact on interest income would not have a material effect on pre-tax earnings.

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are not subject to significant interest rate risk due to the short maturities of these instruments. The Company’s cash equivalents represent highly liquid investments, with original maturities of 90 days or less, primarily in bank deposits, U.S. treasury bill money market funds and commercial paper. As of December 31, 2023, the carrying value of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents approximated fair value.

The Company is exposed to the risk of interest rate fluctuations from the investments of cash generated from operations. Investments with maturities greater than 90 days are classified as investments, and are held primarily in U.S. dollar-denominated treasury bills and commercial paper, bank deposits and corporate debt securities. As of December 31, 2023, the Company estimates that a hypothetical adverse change of 100 basis points across all maturities would not have a material effect on the fair market value of its portfolio.

The Company is also exposed to the risk of exchange rate fluctuations. The Company maintains cash balances in various operating accounts in excess of federally insured limits, and in foreign subsidiary accounts in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, $321 million out of $396 million and $472 million out of $481 million, respectively, of the Company’s total cash, cash equivalents and investments were held by foreign subsidiaries. In addition, $233 million out of $396 million and $336 million out of $481 million of cash, cash equivalents and investments were held in currencies other than the U.S. dollar at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had no holdings in auction rate securities or commercial paper issued by structured investment vehicles.

Assuming a hypothetical adverse change of 10% in year-end exchange rates (a strengthening of the U.S. dollar), the fair market value of the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and investments held in currencies other than the U.S. dollar as of December 31, 2023 would decrease by approximately $23 million, of which the majority would be recorded to foreign currency translation in other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity.

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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement that will be filed for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference in Part III.

Item 8:

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in

Rules 13a-15(f)

and

15d-15(f)

under the Exchange Act. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013), our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2023.

We excluded Wyatt Technology, LLC, and its three operating subsidiaries, (Wyatt Technology Europe GmbH, Wyatt Technology France and Wyatt Technology UK Ltd) (collectively “Wyatt”) from our assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, because Wyatt was acquired by the Company in a purchase business combination during 2023. The total assets and total revenues of Wyatt represent 2% and 2%, respectively, of the related consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Waters Corporation

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Waters Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related consolidated statements of operations, of comprehensive income, of stockholders’ equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in

Internal Control—Integrated Framework

(2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in

Internal Control—Integrated Framework

(2013) issued by the COSO.

Basis for Opinions

The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

As described in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, management has excluded Wyatt Technology, LLC, and its three operating subsidiaries, Wyatt Technology Europe GmbH, Wyatt Technology France, and Wyatt Technology UK Ltd (collectively Wyatt) from its assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, because it was acquired by the Company in a purchase

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business combination during 2023. We have also excluded Wyatt from our audit of internal control over financial reporting. Wyatt is a wholly-owned subsidiary whose total assets and total revenues excluded from management’s assessment and our audit of internal control over financial reporting represent 2% and 2%, respectively, of the related consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

Product Revenue Recognition

As described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company recognizes revenue upon transfer of control of promised products to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those products. The Company recognizes revenue on product sales at the time control of the product transfers to the customer. Certain of the Company’s customers have terms where control of the product transfers to the customer on shipment, while others have terms where control transfers to the customer on delivery. Product sales totaled $1.9 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023.

The principal consideration for our determination that performing procedures relating to product revenue recognition is a critical audit matter is a high degree of auditor effort in performing procedures related to the Company’s product revenue recognition.

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Acquisition of Wyatt Technology, LLC—Valuation of U.S. Customer Relationships

As described in Notes 1, 2 and 7 to the consolidated financial statements, on May 16, 2023, the Company completed the Wyatt acquisition for a total purchase price of $1.3 billion. Management allocated the purchase price of the acquisition to identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. As disclosed by management, of the $330.6 million of customer relationships recorded in connection with the acquisition, a majority relates to U.S. customer relationships. The customer relationships were valued using the multi-period excess earnings method under the income approach. Management’s cash flow projections for the customer relationships acquired included significant judgments and assumptions related to customer attrition rate, discount rate, and forecasted revenues.

The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the valuation of U.S. customer relationships acquired in the acquisition of Wyatt Technology, LLC is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when determining the fair value estimate of the U.S. customer relationships acquired; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management’s significant assumptions related to the customer attrition rate, discount rate, and forecasted revenues, and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to the acquisition accounting, including controls over management’s valuation of the U.S. customer relationships acquired. These procedures also included, among others, (i) reading the purchase agreement; (ii) testing management’s process for developing the fair value estimate of the U.S. customer relationships acquired; (iii) evaluating the appropriateness of the multi-period excess earnings method used by management; (iv) testing the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data used in the multi-period excess earnings method; and (v) evaluating the reasonableness of the significant assumptions used by management related to the customer attrition rate, discount rate, and forecasted revenues. Evaluating the reasonableness of the significant assumptions used by management related to the customer attrition rate, discount rate and forecasted revenues involved considering (i) the current and past performance of the Wyatt business; (ii) the consistency with external market and industry data; and (iii) whether the assumptions were consistent with evidence obtained in other areas of the audit. Professionals with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist in evaluating (i) the appropriateness of the multi-period excess earnings method under the income approach and (ii) the reasonableness of the customer attrition, discount rate, and forecasted revenue assumptions.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1994.

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WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

December 31,

(In thousands, except per share data)

ASSETS

Current assets:

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Long-term liabilities:

Long-term portion of retirement benefits 47,559 38,203

Long-term operating lease liabilities 58,926 62,108

Commitments and contingencies (Notes 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 17 )

Stockholders’ equity:

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

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WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Year Ended December 31,

(In thousands, except per share data)

Revenues:

Costs and operating expenses:

Litigation provision — — 5,165

Acquired in-process research and development — 9,797 —

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

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WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Year Ended December 31,

(In thousands)

Other comprehensive income (loss):

Amounts reclassified to interest income (326 ) — —

Unrealized losses on derivative instruments before income taxes (2,974 ) — —

Income tax benefit 714 — —

Unrealized losses on derivative instruments, net of tax (2,260 ) — —

Unrealized gains (losses) on investments before income taxes — 26 (26 )

Income tax (expense) benefit — (6 ) 6

Unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax — 20 (20 )

Retirement liability adjustment before reclassifications (10,153 ) 20,953 9,342

Amounts reclassified to other income, net (98 ) 574 1,167

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

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WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Year Ended December 31,

(In thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Observable unrealized gain on investment — — (9,707 )

Realized gain on sale of investment (742 ) — —

In-process research and development and other non-cash charges — 10,003 —

Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

Cash flows from investing activities:

Asset and business acquisitions, net of cash acquired (1,282,354 ) — —

Proceeds from (investments in) equity investments, net 742 8,903 (1,788 )

Payments for intellectual property licenses — (7,535 ) (7,000 )

Cash flows from financing activities:

Payments of debt issuance costs (400 ) — (8,537 )

Supplemental cash flow information:

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

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WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands)

Other comprehensive income — — — — — 6,078 6,078

Issuance of common stock for employees:

Employee Stock Purchase Plan 40 — 9,578 — — — 9,578

Other comprehensive loss — — — — — (29,707 ) (29,707 )

Issuance of common stock for employees:

Other comprehensive income — — — — — 7,452 7,452

Issuance of common stock for employees:

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

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1 Description of Business and Organization

Waters Corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”), a global leader in analytical instruments and software, has pioneered innovations in chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis serving life, materials and food sciences for more than 65 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 common software platforms. 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 technology, principally in conjunction with chromatography, is employed 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 Instruments 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 advanced software-based products that interface with the Company’s instruments, as well as other manufacturers’ instruments.

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.

2 Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“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. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, goodwill and intangible assets, income taxes, litigation and inventory valuation. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual amounts may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Risks and Uncertainties

The Company is subject to risks common to companies in the analytical instrument industry, including, but not limited to, global economic and financial market conditions, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, fluctuations in customer demand, development by its competitors of new technological innovations, costs of developing new technologies, levels of debt and debt service requirements, risk of disruption, dependence on key personnel, protection and litigation of proprietary technology, shifts in taxable income between tax jurisdictions and compliance with regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and similar foreign regulatory authorities and agencies.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, which are wholly owned. The Company consolidates entities in which it owns or controls 50% or more of the voting shares. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Translation of Foreign Currencies

The functional currency of each of the Company’s foreign operating subsidiaries is the local currency of its country of domicile, 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.

For 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 respective period. Any resulting translation gains or losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company’s net sales derived from operations outside the United States were 69%, 70% and 72% in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included primarily in cost of sales in the consolidated statements of operations. In 2023, 2022 and 2021, foreign currency transactions resulted in net losses of $16 million, $31 million and $5 million, respectively.

Seasonality of Business

The Company typically experiences seasonality in its orders that is reflected as an increase in sales in the fourth quarter, as a result of purchasing habits for capital goods of customers that tend to exhaust their spending budgets by calendar

year-end.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments

Cash equivalents represent highly liquid investments, with original maturities of 90 days or less, primarily in bank deposits, U.S. treasury bill money market funds and commercial paper. Investments with longer maturities are classified as investments, and are held primarily in U.S. treasury bills, U.S. dollar-denominated treasury bills and commercial paper, bank deposits and corporate debt securities.

Investments are classified as available-for-sale (“AFS”) debt securities. If the AFS debt security’s fair value exceeds the security’s amortized cost the unrealized gain is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss in stockholders’ equity (deficit), net of the related tax effects. If the AFS debt security’s fair value declines below its amortized cost the Company considers all available evidence to evaluate the extent to which the decline is due to credit-related factors or noncredit-related factors. If the decline is due to noncredit-related factors then no credit loss is recorded and the unrealized loss is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity, net of the related tax effects. If the decline is considered to be a credit-related impairment, it is recognized as an allowance on the consolidated balance sheet with a corresponding charge to the statement of operations. The credit allowance is limited to the difference between the fair value and the amortized cost basis. No credit-related allowances or impairments have been recognized on the Company’s investments in available-for-sale debt securities. The Company classifies its investments exclusive of those categorized as cash equivalents.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

The Company maintains cash balances in various operating accounts in excess of federally insured limits, and in foreign subsidiary accounts in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, $321 million out of $396 million and $472 million out of $481 million, respectively, of the Company’s total cash, cash equivalents and investments were held by foreign subsidiaries. In addition, $233 million out of $396 million and $336 million out of $481 million of cash, cash equivalents and investments were held in currencies other than the U.S. dollar at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The Company has very limited use of rebates and other cash considerations payable to customers and, as a result, the transaction price determination does not have any material variable consideration. The Company does not consider there to be significant concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables due to the short-term nature of the balances, the Company having a large and diverse customer base, and the Company having a strong historical experience of collecting receivables with minimal defaults. As a result, credit risk is considered low across territories and trade receivables are considered to be a single class of financial asset. The allowance for credit losses is based on a number of factors and is calculated by applying a historical loss rate to trade receivable aging balances to estimate a general reserve balance along with an additional adjustment for any specific receivables with known or anticipated issues affecting the likelihood of recovery. Past due balances with a probability of default based on historical data as well as relevant available forward-looking information are included in the specific adjustment. The historical loss rate is reviewed on at least an annual basis and the allowance for credit losses is reviewed quarterly for any required adjustments. The Company does not have any

off-balance

sheet credit exposure related to its customers.

Trade receivables related to instrument sales are collateralized by the instrument that is sold. If there is a risk of default related to a receivable that is collateralized, then the fair value of the collateral is calculated and adjusted for the cost to

re-possess,

refurbish and

re-sell

the instrument. This adjusted fair value is compared to the receivable balance and the difference would be recorded as the expected credit loss.

The following is a summary of the activity of the Company’s allowance for credit losses for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands):

Balance atBeginningof Period Additions Deductions Balance atEnd ofPeriod

Allowance for Credit Losses

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company sells its products and services to a significant number of large and small customers throughout the world, with net sales to the pharmaceutical industry of approximately 57%, 59% and 60% in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. None of the Company’s individual customers accounted for more than 2% of annual Company sales in 2023, 2022 or 2021. The Company performs continuing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral, but in certain circumstances may require letters of credit or deposits. Historically, the Company has not experienced significant credit losses.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Inventory

The Company values all of its inventories at the lower of cost or net realizable value on a

first-in,

first-out

basis (“FIFO”).

Income Taxes

The accounting standards for income taxes require that a company continually evaluate the necessity of establishing or changing a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets depending on whether it is more likely than not that the actual benefit of those assets will be realized in future periods.

Leases

The Company’s lease portfolio consists primarily of operating leases. The Company’s operating leases consist of property leases for sales, demonstration, laboratory, warehouse and office spaces, automotive leases for sales and service personnel and equipment leases, primarily used in our manufacturing and distribution operations. The Company categorizes leases as either operating or finance leases at the commencement date of the lease. The Company does not have any material financing leases.

The Company makes variable lease payments that do not depend on a rate or index, primarily for items such as real estate taxes and other expenses. These expenses are recorded as variable costs in the period incurred. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, variable costs incurred were not material.

The Company’s lease agreements may include tenant improvement allowances, rent holidays, and/or contingent rent provisions as well as a certain number of these leases contain rental escalation clauses that are either fixed or adjusted periodically for inflation of market rates which are factored into our determination of lease payments at lease inception. The Company’s leases also sometimes include renewal options and/or termination options which are included in the determination of the lease term when they are reasonably certain to be exercised.

The Company has lease agreements which contain lease and

non-lease

components, which are accounted for as a single lease component for all underlying classes of assets.

For leases with terms greater than 12 months, the Company records a

right-of-use

asset and lease liability at the present value of lease payments over the term of the leases and records rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company has elected not to apply the recognition requirements to short-term leases with terms less than 12 months. For short-term leases, the Company recognizes lease payments in net income on a

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

straight-line basis over the term of the lease. For the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, costs incurred related to short-term leases were not material.

When available, the Company uses the rate implicit in the lease to discount lease payments to determine the present value of the lease liabilities; however, most of the leases do not provide a readily determinable implicit rate and, as required by the accounting guidance, the Company estimates its incremental secured borrowing rate to discount the lease payments based on information available at lease commencement (or, for the leases in existence on the adoption date, the January 1, 2019 information). The Company’s incremental borrowing rate reflects the estimated rate of interest that the Company would pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term to the lease payments in a similar economic environment.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense, while the costs of significant improvements are capitalized. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives: buildings —

fifteen

thirty-nine

years; building improvements —

five

to ten years; leasehold improvements — the shorter of the economic useful life or life of lease; and production and other equipment — three to ten years. Upon retirement or sale, the cost of the assets disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the consolidated balance sheets and related gains or losses are reflected in the consolidated statements of operations.

Asset Impairments

The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment in accordance with the accounting standards for property, plant and equipment. Whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, the Company evaluates the recoverability of the carrying value of the asset based on the expected future cash flows, relying on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, operating results, business plans, economic projections and anticipated future cash flows. If the asset is deemed not recoverable, it is written down to fair value and the impairment is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations.

During 2022, the Company recorded a total

non-cash

charge of $6 million in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statement of operations for the impairment of various equity investments without readily determinable fair values accounted for under the measurement alternative or the equity method of accounting. The impairments resulted from the substantial doubt of the investees ability to continue as a going concern.

Business Combinations and Asset Acquisitions

The Company accounts for business acquisitions under the accounting standards for business combinations. The results of each acquisition are included in the Company’s consolidated results as of the acquisition date and the purchase price of an acquisition is allocated to tangible and intangible assets and assumed liabilities based on their estimated fair values. Any excess of the fair value consideration transferred over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired is recognized as goodwill. We use assumptions and estimates in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The determination of the fair value of intangible assets, which represents a significant portion of the purchase price in our recent acquisition of Wyatt, requires the use of significant judgment with regard to (i) the fair value; and (ii) whether such intangibles are amortizable or

non-amortizable

and, if the former, the period and the method by which the intangible asset will be amortized. We utilize commonly accepted valuation techniques, such as the income, cost and market approaches, as appropriate, in establishing the fair value of intangible

sets. Typically, key assumptions include projections of cash flows that arise from identifiable intangible assets of acquired businesses as well as discount rates based on an analysis of the weighted average cost of capital, adjusted for specific risks associated with the assets.

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OTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

cash

flow projections for the customer relationships acquired included significant judgments and assumptions related to customer attrition rate, discount rate, and forecasted revenues.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

more-likely-than-not

that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, a quantitative impairment test will be required. Otherwise, no further testing will be required. If a quantitative impairment test is performed, we compare the fair values of the applicable reporting units with their aggregate carrying values, including goodwill. Estimating the fair value of the reporting units requires significant judgment by management. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value up to the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. The Company performs an annual goodwill impairment assessment for its reporting units as of December 31 each year. The Company has

two

reporting units: Waters and TA. Goodwill is allocated to the reporting units at the time of acquisition.

one

to fifteen years. Other intangibles are amortized over a period ranging from

one

to ten years. Acquired IPR&D is amortized from the date of completion of the acquired program over its estimated useful life.

Software Development Costs

The Company capitalizes internal and external software development costs for products offered for sale in accordance with the accounting standards for the costs of software to be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed. Capitalized costs are amortized to cost of sales over the period of economic benefit, which approximates a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related software products, generally

three

to ten years.

The Company capitalized $

million, $

million and $

million of direct expenses that were related to the development of software in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Net capitalized software included in intangible assets totaled $

165

million and $

148

million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. See Note 8, Goodwill and Other Intangibles.

The Company capitalizes software development costs for internal use. Capitalized internal software development costs are amortized over the period of economic benefit, which approximates a straight-line

basis

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

over

ten years

. Net capitalized internal software included in property, plant and equipment totaled $

million and $

million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Other Investments

The Company accounts for its investments that represent less than twenty percent ownership, and for which the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence, using the accounting standards for investments in equity securities. Investments for which the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence, and for which there is not a readily determinable market value, are accounted for at cost, adjusted for subsequent observable price changes as applicable. The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of its investments for which the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence, and for which there is not a readily determinable fair value and carries them at cost, less impairment, adjusted for subsequent observable price changes. For equity investments in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies of the investee, the equity method of accounting is used. The Company’s share of net income or losses of equity method investments is included in the consolidated statements of operations and was not material in any period presented.

During the year ended 2023, the Company received $1 million in proceeds from, and made no investments in, unaffiliated companies. During the year ended December 31, 2022 the Company received $10 million in proceeds from unaf

iliated companies. During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company made investments of $1 million and $2 million in unaffiliated companies, respectively.

In 2022, the Company recorded a realized gain of $7 million in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statement of operations due to the sales of various equity investments as well as incurring $6 million in impairment losses. The Company also recognized an additional $2 million

non-cash

gain on the cashless exercise of a warrant.

In 2021, the Company recorded an unrealized gain of $10 million due to an observable change in the fair value of an existing investment the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over.

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 December 31, 2023 and 2022. 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.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2023 (in thousands):

Assets:

Time deposits $ 898 $ — $ 898 $ —

Foreign currency exchange contracts 183 — 183 —

Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements 4,835 — 4,835 —

Liabilities:

Foreign currency exchange contracts $ 207 $ — $ 207 $ —

Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements 13,384 — 13,384 —

Interest rate swap cash flow hedge 2,974 — 2,974 —

The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2022 (in thousands):

Assets:

Time deposits $ 862 $ — $ 862 $ —

Foreign currency exchange contracts 231 — 231 —

Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements 19,163 — 19,163 —

Liabilities:

Contingent consideration $ 1,509 $ — $ — $ 1,509

Foreign currency exchange contracts 98 — 98 —

Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements 4,783 — 4,783 —

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 the plan are determined through market and observable sources from daily quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Fair Value of Cash Equivalents, Investments, Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts, Interest Rate Cross-Currency Swaps Agreements and Interest Rate Swap Cash Flow Hedges

The fair values of the Company’s cash equivalents, investments, foreign currency exchange contracts, interest rate cross-currency swap agreements and interest rate swap cash flow hedges 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.

Fair Value of Contingent Consideration

The fair value of the Company’s liability for contingent consideration 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.

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

The Company’s accounts receivable and accounts payable are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value due to their short-term nature. The carrying value of the Company’s variable interest rate debt approximates fair value due to the variable nature of the interest rate. The carrying value of the Company’s fixed interest rate debt was $1.3 billion at both December 31, 2023 and 2022. 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 $1.2 billion and $1.1 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, using Level 2 inputs.

Derivative Transactions

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.

yen-denominated

net asset investments. The Company presents the derivative transactions in financing activities in the statement of cash flows.

Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

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.

Cash Flow Hedges

3-month

Term SOFR. The variable rate interest payments create interest risk for the Company as interest payments will fluctuate based on changes in the contractually specified interest rate index over the life of the Credit Facility. In order to reduce interest rate risk, the Company enters into interest rate swaps that will effectively

lock-in

the forecasted interest payments on the variable rate borrowing over its term. The interest rate swaps represent cash flow hedges and are assessed for hedge effectiveness each reporting period. When the hedge relationship is highly effective at achieving offsetting changes in cash flows, the Company will record the entire change in fair value of the interest rate swaps in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The amount in accumulated other comprehensive loss is reclassified to earnings in the period that the underlying transaction impacts consolidated earnings. If it becomes probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur, the hedge relationship will be

de-designated

and amounts accumulated in other comprehensive loss will be reclassified to earnings in the current period. Interest settlements due to benchmark interest rate changes are recorded in interest income or interest expense. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company did not have any cash flow hedges that were deemed ineffective.

Interest Rate Cross-Currency Swap Agreements

of December 31, 2023, the Company had entered into interest rate cross-currency swap derivative agreements with durations up to three years with an aggregate notional value of $

625

million to hedge the variability in the movement of foreign currency exchange rates on a portion of its euro-denominated and

yen-denominated

net asset investments. Under hedge accounting, the change in fair value of the derivative that relates to changes in the foreign currency spot rate are recorded in the currency translation adjustment in other comprehensive income and remain in accumulated other comprehensive loss in stockholders’ equity until the sale or substantial liquidation of the foreign operation. The difference between the interest rate received and paid under the interest rate cross-currency swap derivative agreement is recorded in interest income in the statement of operations.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

The Company’s foreign currency exchange contracts, interest rate cross-currency swap agreements

and

interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges are included in the consolidated balance sheets are classified as follows (in thousands):

Notional Value Fair Value Notional Value Fair Value

Foreign currency exchange contracts:

Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements:

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income $ (7,975 ) $ 10,026

Interest rate swap cash flow hedges:

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income $ (2,974 ) $ —

The following is a summary of the activity included in the consolidated statements of operations and statements of comprehensive income related to the foreign currency exchange contracts, interest rate cross-currency swap agreements and interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges (in thousands):

FinancialStatementClassification Year Ended December 31,

Foreign currency exchange contracts:

Unrealized losses on open contracts Cost of sales (156 ) (176 ) (343 )

Cumulative net pre-tax gains (losses) Cost of sales $ 68 $ (4,031 ) $ (2,316 )

Interest rate cross-currency swap agreements:

Interest rate swap cash flow hedges:

Interest earned Interest income $ 326 $ — $ —

Stockholders’ Equity

In December 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the extension of the existing share repurchase program through January 21, 2025. The Company’s remaining authorization is $

1.0

billion. During 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company repurchased

0.2 million, 2.0 million and 2.0 million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock at a cost of $58 million, $616 million and $640 million, respectively, under the January 2019 authorization and other previously announced programs. In addition, the Company repurchased $12 million, $11 million and $9 million of common stock related to the vesting of restricted stock units during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, the Company has a total of $1.0

illion authorized for future repurchases.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue on product sales at the time control of the product transfers to the customer. Certain of the Company’s customers have terms where control of the product transfers to the customer on shipment, while others have terms where control transfers to the customer on delivery. All incremental costs of obtaining a contract are expensed as and when incurred if the expected amortization period of the asset that would have been recognized is one year or less. Shipping and handling costs are included as a component of cost of sales. In situations where the control of the goods transfers prior to the completion of the Company’s obligation to ship the products to its customers, the Company has elected the practical expedient to account for the shipping services as a fulfillment cost. Accordingly, such costs are recognized when control of the related goods is transferred to the customer. In more rare situations, the Company has revenue associated with products that contain specific customer acceptance criteria and the related revenue is not recognized before the customer acceptance criteria are satisfied. The Company elected to exclude from the measurement of the transaction price all taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue-producing transactions and collected by the Company from a customer.

when-and-if-available

basis.

Payment terms and conditions vary among the Company’s revenue streams, although terms generally include a requirement of payment within 30 to 60 days of product shipment. Prior to providing payment terms to customers, an evaluation of their credit risk is performed. Returns and customer credits are infrequent and insignificant and are recorded as a reduction to sales. Rights of return are not included in sales arrangements and, therefore, there is minimal variable consideration included in the transaction price of our products.

Service revenue includes (1) service and software maintenance contracts and (2) service calls (time and materials). Instrument service contracts and software maintenance contracts are typically annual contracts, which are billed at the beginning of the contract or maintenance period. The amount of the service and software maintenance contract is recognized on a straight-line basis to revenue over the maintenance service period, which

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

is the contractual term of the contract, as a time-based measure of progress best reflects the Company’s performance in satisfying this obligation. There are no deferred costs associated with the service contract, as the cost of the service is recorded when the service is performed. Service calls are recognized to revenue at the time a service is performed.

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 twelve months ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands):

Accrued warranty liability:

Advertising Costs

All advertising costs are expensed as incurred and are included in selling and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. Advertising expenses were $7

million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses are comprised of costs incurred in performing research and development activities, including salaries and benefits, facilities costs, overhead costs, contract services and other outside costs. Research and development expenses are expensed as incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has two stock-based compensation plans, which are described in Note 14, “Stock-Based Compensation”.

Earnings Per Share

In accordance with the earnings per share accounting standards, the Company presents two earnings per share (“EPS”) amounts. Income per basic common share is based on income available to common shareholders and the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented. Income per diluted common share includes additional dilution from potential common stock, such as stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options outstanding.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

WAT US Equity

WAT · 10-K · period ended 2023-12-31

Item 7: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 7A: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Item 8:

WAT US Equity☆

WAT · 10-K · period ended 2023-12-31

Item 7: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 7A: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Item 8:

WAT US Equity