Waters Reports Fourth Quarter 2009 Financial Results

Waters Corporation (NYSE/WAT) reported fourth quarter 2009 sales of $429 million, an increase of 3% from sales of $418 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. In the quarter, foreign currency translation increased sales growth rate by 4% and on a currency neutral basis, sales decreased by 1% in comparison to the prior year’s fourth quarter sales. On a GAAP basis, earnings per diluted share (E.P.S.) for the fourth quarter were $1.08, compared to $1.01 for the fourth quarter of 2008. On a non-GAAP basis, including the adjustments in the attached reconciliation, E.P.S. grew 5% to $1.12 from $1.07 in the fourth quarter of 2008.

For the full year, sales for the Company were $1.50 billion, a decrease of 5% from sales of $1.58 billion in 2008. This decrease in sales includes the effects of foreign currency translation which reduced sales by 2%. E.P.S. for 2009 were $3.34 compared to $3.21 in 2008. On a non-GAAP basis, including adjustments in the attached reconciliation, E.P.S. grew 5% to $3.45 from $3.30 in 2008.

Commenting on the Company’s performance, Douglas Berthiaume, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "In 2009, Waters faced a most challenging market environment as a steep economic slowdown and volatile capital markets combined to depress demand for laboratory instrumentation and supplies. However, through this difficult time, we continued to invest in new product development, support our customer base and manage our expenses prudently. As a result of these efforts, we were able to grow our earnings and generate strong cash flow while bringing exciting new products to market.”

As communicated in a prior press release, Waters Corporation will webcast its fourth quarter 2009 financial results conference call this morning, January 26, 2010 at 8:30 a.m. eastern time. To listen to the call, connect to www.waters.com, choose "Investor Relations” and click on the "Live Webcast”. A replay will be available through February 2, 2010 at midnight eastern time, similarly by webcast and also by phone at 203-369-1023.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

This release may contain "forward-looking” statements regarding future results and events, including statements regarding expected financial results, future growth and customer demand that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For this purpose, any statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words, "believes”, "anticipates”, "plans”, "expects”, "intends”, "appears”, "estimates”, "projects”, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company’s actual future results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements within this release for a variety of reasons, including and without limitation, the impact on demand among the Company’s various market sectors from current economic difficulties and possible recession; the impact of changes in accounting principles and practices or tax rates; shifts in taxable income in jurisdictions with different effective tax rates; the ability to access capital in volatile market conditions; the ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses; fluctuations in capital expenditures by the Company’s customers, in particular large pharmaceutical companies; regulatory and/or administrative obstacles to the timely completion of purchase order documentation; introduction of competing products by other companies and loss of market share; pressures on prices from competitors and/or customers; regulatory obstacles to new product introductions; lack of acceptance of new products; other changes in the demands of the Company’s healthcare and pharmaceutical company customers; changes in distribution of the Company’s products; risks associated with lawsuits and other legal actions, particularly involving claims for infringement of patents and other intellectual property rights; and foreign exchange rate fluctuations potentially affecting translation of the Company’s future non-U.S. operating results. Such factors and others are discussed more fully in the section entitled "Risk Factors” of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended October 3, 2009 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which "Risk Factors” discussion is incorporated by reference in this release. The forward-looking statements included in this release represent the Company’s estimates or views as of the date of this release report and should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s estimates or views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release.