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Company records double-digit revenue growth; issues second quarter Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance and affirms full year 2022 Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance; announces planned exit of Russia business

TAMPA, Fla., May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ – Primo Water Corporation (NYSE: PRMW) (TSX: PRMW) (the “Company” or “Primo”), a leading provider of sustainable drinking water solutions in North America and Europe, today announced its results for the first quarter ended April 2, 2022.

(Unless stated otherwise, all first quarter 2022 comparisons are relative to the first quarter of 2021; all information is in U.S. dollars.)

• Revenue increased 10% to $526 million compared to $478 million (increased 14% excluding the exit of the single-use retail bottled water business in North America and the impact of foreign exchange).
• Reported net loss and net loss per diluted share were $7 million and $0.04, respectively, compared to reported net loss and net loss per diluted share of $10 million and $0.06, respectively. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share were $14 million and $0.09, respectively, compared to adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share of $9 million and $0.06, respectively.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 15% to $88 million compared to $76 million and Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 80 basis points to 16.7%.
• Company reiterates revenue growth expectation of 9% to 10% in 2022, adjusted for the exit of North America single-use retail bottled water business. Fiscal year 2022 Adjusted EBITDA outlook remains between $410 million and $420 million.

“I am very pleased with our performance in the first quarter of 2022, having delivered double digit revenue growth vs. the prior year. Strong customer demand continued, led by our Water Direct/Exchange business. Our customer base increased organically, and customer retention rates improved once again as we worked diligently to enhance the overall customer experience. I am proud of the efforts of our team and am pleased with everyone’s continued commitment to safety, customer satisfaction and growth,” said Tom Harrington, Chief Executive Officer. 

“Our first quarter performance gives us confidence in achieving our 2022 outlook of 9% to 10% revenue growth (adjusted for the planned exit of the North American single-use retail bottled water business) and Adjusted EBITDA of between $410 million and $420 million dollars. We are also confident in our long-term outlook for high single digit organic revenue growth and Adjusted EBITDA approaching $525 million for 2024,” said Mr. Harrington.

Primo is targeting the following results from continuing operations for the second quarter and full year 2022:

Primo will host a conference call, to be simultaneously webcast, on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. A question-and-answer session will follow management’s presentation. To participate, please call the following numbers: 

North America: (888) 664-6392
International: (416) 764-8659
Conference ID: 27455088
This is a live, listen-only dial-in telephone line.

A slide presentation and live audio webcast will be available through Primo’s website at https://www.primowatercorp.com. The earnings conference call will be recorded and archived for playback on the investor relations section of the website for a period of two weeks following the event.

Primo today announced it has decided to exit Russia and expects to complete the exit over the next 60 to 90 days. Primo has a small presence in Russia, with 2021 revenues of approximately $14 million and Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $3 million.

• Revenue increased 10% to $526 million compared to $478 million (increased by 14% excluding the exit of the single-use retail bottled water business in North America and the impact of foreign exchange). The increase was driven by customer growth, increased demand across our customer base, pricing actions, and the benefit from tuck-in acquisitions, partially offset by the planned exit from the single-use retail bottled water business in North America and foreign exchange headwinds. Revenue growth by channel is tabulated below:

• Gross profit increased 13% to $300 million compared to $265 million. Gross margin grew by 160 basis points to 56.9% compared to 55.3%, driven by pricing actions, Water Direct volume growth and the exit of single-use retail bottled water business in North America, partially offset by foreign exchange headwinds.
• SG&A expenses increased 12% to $278 million compared to $248 million. The increase was driven by higher selling and operating costs supporting the volume and revenue growth of the business as well as general inflationary cost increases.
• Reported net loss and net loss per diluted share were $7 million and $0.04, respectively, compared to reported net loss and net loss per diluted share of $10 million and $0.06, respectively. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share were $14 million and $0.09, respectively, compared to adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share of $9 million and $0.06, respectively.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 15% to $88 million compared to $76 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 80 basis points to 16.7%, driven primarily by pricing actions, increased demand for products and services across our customer base and the exit of single-use retail bottled water business in North America.
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $24 million, less $41 million of capital expenditures and additions to intangible assets, resulted in ($17) million of free cash flow, or ($13) million of adjusted free cash flow (adjusting for the items set forth on Exhibit 7), compared to adjusted free cash flow of $6 million in the prior year.

• Revenue increased 9% to $397 million (increased by 13% excluding the single-use retail bottled water business) driven by customer growth, pricing actions, and increased demand for products and services from residential and business-to-business customers, partially offset by the planned exit from the single-use retail bottled water business and a decline in water refill and water dispensers.

• Revenue increased 14% to $129 million (increased 18% excluding the impact of foreign exchange) driven by increased demand for our products and services from residential and business-to-business customers and tuck-in acquisitions, partially offset by foreign exchange impact.

Primo Water Corporation is a leading pure-play water solutions provider in North America and Europe and generates approximately $2.1 billion in annual revenue. Primo operates largely under a recurring razor/razorblade revenue model. The razor in Primo’s revenue model is its industry leading line-up of sleek and innovative water dispensers, which are sold through retailers and online at various price points. The dispensers help increase household penetration which drives recurring purchases of Primo’s razorblade offering. Primo’s razorblade offering is comprised of Water Direct, Water Exchange, and Water Refill. Through its Water Direct business, Primo delivers sustainable hydration solutions across its 22-country footprint direct to the customer’s door, whether at home or to businesses. Through its Water Exchange and Water Refill businesses, Primo offers pre-filled and reusable containers at over 13,000 locations and water refill units at approximately 23,000 locations, respectively. Primo also offers water filtration units across its 22-country footprint.

Primo’s water solutions expand consumer access to purified, spring, and mineral water to promote a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle while simultaneously reducing plastic waste and pollution. Primo is committed to its water stewardship standards and is proud to partner with the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) in North America as well as with Watercoolers Europe (WE), which ensure strict adherence to safety, quality, sanitation and regulatory standards for the benefit of consumer protection.

Primo is headquartered in Tampa, Florida (USA). For more information, visit www.primowatercorp.com.

To supplement its reporting of financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), Primo utilizes certain non-GAAP financial measures.  Primo excludes from GAAP revenue the impact of foreign exchange and the impact of the small-format single-use retail bottled water business in North America to separate the impact of these items from Primo’s results of operations.  Primo also utilizes Adjusted net income (loss), Adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin to separate the impact of certain items from the underlying business.  Because Primo uses these adjusted financial results in the management of its business, management believes this supplemental information is useful to investors for their independent evaluation and understanding of Primo’s underlying business performance and the performance of its management.  Additionally, Primo supplements its reporting of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from continuing operations determined in accordance with GAAP by excluding additions to property, plant and equipment and additions to intangible assets to present free cash flow, and by excluding the items identified on the exhibits hereto to present adjusted free cash flow, which management believes provides useful information to investors in assessing our performance, comparing Primo’s performance to the performance of the Company’s peer group and assessing the Company’s ability to service debt and finance strategic opportunities, which include investing in Primo’s business, making strategic acquisitions, paying dividends, and strengthening the balance sheet. With respect to the Company’s expectations of its future performance, the Company’s reconciliations of Q2 2022 and full year 2022 Adjusted EBITDA and 2024 Adjusted EBITDA are not available, as the Company is unable to quantify certain amounts to the degree of precision that would be required in the relevant GAAP measures without unreasonable effort. These items include taxes, interest costs that would occur if the Company issued debt, and costs to acquire and or sell a business if the Company executed such transactions, which could significantly affect our financial results. These items depend on highly variable factors and any such reconciliations would imply a degree of precision that would be confusing or misleading to investors. Primo expects the variability of these factors to have a significant, and potentially unpredictable, impact on the Company’s future GAAP financial results. The non-GAAP financial measures described above are in addition to, and not meant to be considered superior to, or a substitute for, Primo’s financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the non-GAAP financial measures included in this earnings announcement reflect management’s judgment of particular items, and may be different from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 conveying management’s expectations as to the future based on plans, estimates and projections at the time Primo makes the statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and Primo cautions you that several important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to future financial and operating trends and results (including Primo’s outlook on second quarter and full year 2022 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA and Primo’s multi-year growth algorithm), Primo’s planned exit from its single-use bottle retail water business in North America and its Russia business, and related matters. The forward-looking statements are based on assumptions regarding management’s current plans and estimates. Management believes these assumptions to be reasonable, but there is no assurance that they will prove to be accurate.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in this press release include, among others: the impact of the spread of COVID-19, related government actions and Primo’s strategy in response thereto on our business, financial condition and results of operations; Primo’s ability to compete successfully in the markets in which it operates; fluctuations in commodity prices and Primo’s ability to pass on increased costs to its customers or hedge against such rising costs, and the impact of those increased prices on its volumes; Primo’s ability to maintain favorable arrangements and relationships with its suppliers; Primo’s ability to manage its operations successfully; currency fluctuations that adversely affect the exchange between currencies including the U.S. dollar, the British pound sterling, the Euro and the Canadian dollar; the impact on Primo’s financial results from uncertainty in the financial markets and other adverse changes in general economic conditions; any disruption to production at Primo’s manufacturing facilities; Primo’s ability to maintain access to its water sources; the impact of climate change on Primo’s business; Primo’s ability to protect its intellectual property; the seasonal nature of Primo’s business and the effect of adverse weather conditions; the impact of national, regional and global events, including those of a political, economic, business and competitive nature; Primo’s ability to fully realize the potential benefit of transactions or other strategic opportunities that it pursues; Primo’s ability to realize cost synergies of its acquisitions due to integration difficulties and other challenges; Primo’s exposure to intangible asset risk; Primo’s ability to meet its obligations under its debt agreements, and risks of further increases to its indebtedness; Primo’s ability to maintain compliance with the covenants and conditions under its debt agreements; fluctuations in interest rates, which could increase Primo’s borrowing costs; Primo’s ability to recruit, retain and integrate new management; Primo’s ability to renew its collective bargaining agreements on satisfactory terms; compliance with product health and safety standards; liability for injury or illness caused by the consumption of contaminated products; liability and damage to Primo’s reputation as a result of litigation or legal proceedings; changes in the legal and regulatory environment in which Primo operates; Primo’s ability to adequately address the challenges and risks associated with its international operations and address difficulties in complying with laws and regulations including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act of 2010; the impact on Primo’s tax obligations and effective tax rate arising from changes in local tax laws or countries adopting more aggressive interpretations of tax laws; disruptions in Primo’s information systems; Primo’s ability to securely maintain its customers’ confidential or credit card information, or other private data relating to Primo’s employees or the Company; Primo’s ability to maintain its quarterly dividend; or credit rating changes.

The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures, including but not limited to risk factors contained in Primo’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other filings with the securities commissions. Primo does not undertake to update or revise any of these statements considering new information or future events, except as expressly required by applicable law. 

Website: www.primowatercorp.com

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SOURCE Primo Water Corporation