VWR Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results

RADNOR, Pa., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ – VWR Corporation (NASDAQ: VWR), the leading global independent provider of product and service solutions to laboratory and production customers, today reported its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.

Highlights:

• Third quarter record quarterly net sales of $1.20 billion, up 5.2% year-over-year, and up 2.2% on an organic basis.
• 3Q17 EMEA-APAC net sales increased 11.5%, up 7.4% on an organic basis. 3Q17 had one less billing day as compared to 3Q16.
• 3Q17 Americas net sales increased 1.4%, down 0.8% on an organic basis. Americas organic revenue growth was impacted by one less billing day in 3Q17 and unfavorable weather conditions impacting sales in Puerto Rico, Texas and Florida.
• GAAP diluted EPS was $0.37 in 3Q17 compared to $0.31 in 3Q16. 3Q17 quarterly Adjusted EPS of $0.54, up 22.7% compared to $0.44 in the prior year quarter.
• Nine months 2017 operating cash flow of $202.3 million, up 8.7% as compared to $186.1 million for the comparable period in 2016.

Previously, VWR announced that it entered into a definitive agreement with Avantor, Inc., under which Avantor will acquire VWR for $33.25 per share in cash. In light of this agreement, VWR no longer provides or updates financial guidance and will not hold an investor conference call on third quarter 2017 results.

Manuel Brocke-Benz, President and Chief Executive Officer of VWR, commented: "Our third quarter results were boosted by exceptionally strong performance in EMEA-APAC. In this region, record revenue performance was due to double-digit growth in sales to biopharma customers, driven by strong sales of lab chemicals. Our third quarter 2017 results clearly confirm that the VWR growth story remains on track. I would like to thank all of our associates, as well as our loyal customers and suppliers, for helping deliver yet another solid result."

Third Quarter 2017 – Consolidated Results

Net sales were $1.20 billion, up $59.1 million, or 5.2% compared to the prior year. Foreign exchange increased net sales by $21.1 million, or 1.9%, while recent acquisitions, net of dispositions, increased net sales by an additional $12.9 million, or 1.1%. On an organic basis, net sales increased $25.1 million or 2.2%.

Operating income was $83.1 million, as compared to $83.2 million in the prior year period. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.37 compared to $0.31 in the prior year quarter, while Adjusted EPS increased 22.7% year-over-year to $0.54, up from $0.44 in the prior year quarter.

Third Quarter 2017 – Segment Results

Americas

Net sales were $717.6 million, up $9.9 million, or 1.4% compared to prior year, and down 0.8% on an organic basis. The decline in Americas organic growth was the result of one less billing day in the third quarter of 2017, which reduced third quarter revenues by approximately 1.6%. Additionally, organic revenue growth was further reduced by almost 1% as a result of the adverse weather conditions in Puerto Rico, Texas and Florida. In the Americas, sales to biopharma customers were flat as declines in sales to biopharma production customers were partially offset by ongoing strength in sales to biopharma R&D customers.

Operating income was $42.2 million, down $5.0 million or 10.6% compared to prior year. Third quarter 2017 operating income included $1.0 million of restructuring charges, $6.2 million of Avantor transaction costs and $0.2 million of purchase accounting adjustment charges.

EMEA-APAC

Net sales were $477.6 million, up $49.2 million, or 11.5% year-over-year. Foreign currency boosted net sales by $18.9 million, or 4.4%, while acquisitions less dispositions reduced revenues by $0.8 million. On an organic basis, net sales increased 7.4%.

Operating income was $40.9 million, up $4.9 million, or up 13.6% as compared to prior year. Third quarter 2017 operating income included $0.4 million of restructuring charges, $1.9 million of Avantor transaction costs and a $0.3 million purchase accounting adjustment charge.

Greg Cowan, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer commented: "Our third quarter results highlight another quarter of solid financial performance for VWR. Our robust top line performance drove double digit growth in earnings per share. This strong earnings growth translated into even stronger operating cash flow growth, with third quarter 2017 operating cash flow of $115.3 million, up 73% as compared to the third quarter of 2016. I look forward to the consummation of the transaction with Avantor, which we anticipate to close in mid to late fourth quarter of 2017."

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

As appropriate, we supplement our results of operations determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") with certain non-GAAP financial measurements that are used by management, and which we believe are useful to investors, as supplemental operational measurements to evaluate our financial performance. These measurements should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for reported GAAP results because they may include or exclude certain items as compared to similar GAAP-based measurements, and such measurements may not be comparable to similarly-titled measurements reported by other companies. Rather, these measurements should be considered as an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that provide a more complete understanding of our business. We strongly encourage investors to review our consolidated financial statements included in publicly filed reports in their entirety and not rely solely on any one, single financial measurement or communication.

The non-GAAP measurements used in this press release are Adjusted EPS and organic net sales:

• Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP financial measurement that eliminates the effect of the amortization of acquired intangible assets, restructuring charges, impairment charges, changes in foreign currency exchange rates related to financing decisions and certain other items. We then add or subtract an estimated incremental income tax effect applicable to those items. We believe that this measurement is useful to investors as an additional way to analyze the underlying trends in our business consistently across the periods presented. This measurement is used by our management for the same reason.
• Organic net sales is a non-GAAP financial measurement that eliminates the contribution from recently acquired businesses and the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates from our reported net sales. We believe that this measurement is useful to investors as a way to measure and evaluate our underlying commercial operating performance consistently across the periods presented. This measurement is used by our management for the same reason.

Reconciliations of our non-GAAP measurements to their most directly comparable GAAP-based financial measurements are included at the end of this press release.

About VWR Corporation

VWR (NASDAQ: VWR), headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, is the leading global independent provider of product and service solutions to laboratory and production customers. With sales in excess of $4.5 billion in 2016, VWR enables science for customers in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, industrial, education, government and healthcare industries. With more than 160 years of experience, VWR has cultivated a value proposition delivering product choice, operational excellence and differentiated services to improve our customers' productivity from research to production. VWR's differentiated services provide innovative, flexible and customized solutions from scientific research services to custom-manufactured chemical blends. Our dedicated team of more than 10,200 associates is focused on supporting scientists, medical professionals and production engineers to achieve their goals.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements discuss our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. These statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "likely," "outlook," "plan," "potential," "project," "projection," "seek," "can," "could," "may," "should," "would," "will," the negatives thereof and other words and terms of similar meaning.

Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions; they are not guarantees of performance. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Although we believe that our assumptions made in connection with the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that the assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct. Factors that could contribute to these risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, the factors described in "Risk Factors" in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017.

All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. In addition, all forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise other than as required under the federal securities laws.

*     Represents the estimated income tax effect on the reconciling items, using weighted-average statutory tax rates between 0% and 39%, depending upon the applicable jurisdiction.

Media Contact:
Valerie Collado
Director, Corporate Communications
VWR Corporation
Phone: +484.885.9338
valerie_collado@vwr.com

Investor Contact:
John Sweeney, CFA
VP, Investor Relations
VWR Corporation
Phone: +610.386.1483
ir@vwr.com

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SOURCE VWR Corporation