CEO.CA Chairman's Briefing

Company issues first quarter and full year 2022 revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 24, 2022 /CNW/ - 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 full year and fourth quarter ended January 1, 2022.

The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.07 per common share. The dividend is payable in cash on March 28, 2022, to shareowners of record at the close of business on March 11, 2022. 

(The fiscal year ended January 1, 2022 included 52-weeks of activity, compared to 53-weeks of activity for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021. Unless stated otherwise, all fourth quarter 2021 comparisons are relative to the fourth quarter of 2020, which included 14 weeks, and all fiscal year 2021 comparisons are relative to fiscal year 2020, which included 53 weeks; all information is in U.S. dollars.)

FISCAL 2021 HIGHLIGHTS

• Consolidated revenue increased 6% to $2,073 million compared to $1,954 million.
• Reported net loss and net loss per diluted share were $3 million and $0.02, respectively, compared to reported net loss and net loss per diluted share of $157 million and $1.01, respectively. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share were $91 million and $0.56, respectively, compared to adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share of $86 million and $0.55, respectively.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 5% to $380 million compared to $362 million.
• Repurchased approximately 2.6 million shares for approximately $44 million.  

"2021 was a success for our pure-play water company. We achieved record levels of revenue and adjusted EBITDA driven by strong customer demand, especially in our Water Direct / Exchange business.  Our customer base increased organically, and customer retention rates improved as we continuously work 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 and customer satisfaction during the ongoing challenges of the pandemic," said Tom Harrington, Chief Executive Officer. 

"As we look forward to 2022, we remain focused on meeting and exceeding our customers' expectations, innovating across our various water solutions and expanding our leading market share position.  Our 2022 outlook is for 9% to 10% revenue growth, adjusted for the planned exit of the North American single-use retail bottled water business and including the tuck-in acquisitions of 2021, and Adjusted EBITDA of between $410 million to $420 million dollars.  We remain confident in our long-term forecast for high single digit organic revenue growth and annualized Adjusted EBITDA approaching $525 million for 2024," said Mr. Harrington.

OUTLOOK

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

FOURTH QUARTER 2021 RESULTS CONFERENCE CALL

Primo Water Corporation will host a conference call today, February 24, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. ET, to discuss full year and fourth quarter results, which can be accessed as follows:

North America: (888) 664-6392
International: (416) 764-8659
Conference ID: 03825292

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.

FULL YEAR GLOBAL PERFORMANCE – CONTINUING OPERATIONS

• Consolidated revenue increased 6% to $2,073 million compared to $1,954 million. The increase was driven by customer growth, increased demand from residential customers, pricing actions, the legacy Primo acquisition and the favorable impact of foreign exchange, partially offset by lower revenue from Water Dispensers and lapping the benefit from the 53^rd week in the prior year. Revenue growth by channel is tabulated below:

• Gross profit increased 4% to $1,157 million compared to $1,114 million. Gross margin was 55.8% compared to 57.0%. Increased material costs in our North American single-use plastic business, ocean freight and tariffs were largely offset by customer price increases.
• SG&A expenses increased 3% to $1,034 million compared to $1,007 million. The increase was driven by higher selling and operating costs that supported the volume and revenue growth of the business, an increase in the number of associates impacted by COVID-19 during the second half of the year and the addition of the legacy Primo business, partially offset by cost reduction initiatives.
• Reported net loss and net loss per diluted share were $3 million and $0.02, respectively, compared to reported net loss and net loss per diluted share of $157 million and $1.01, respectively. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share were $91 million and $0.56, respectively, compared to adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share of $86 million and $0.55, respectively.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 5% to $380 million compared to $362 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased by 20 basis points to 18.3%, driven by higher material costs in our North American single-use plastic business, ocean freight and tariffs, along with higher delivery costs.
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $259 million, less $152 million of capital expenditures, resulted in $107 million of free cash flow, or $133 million of adjusted free cash flow (adjusting for the items set forth on Exhibit 7), compared to adjusted free cash flow of $138 million in the prior year.

FOURTH QUARTER GLOBAL PERFORMANCE – CONTINUING OPERATIONS

• Consolidated revenue increased 3% to $518 million compared to $505 million (increased by 6% excluding the impact of foreign exchange and the 53rd week in the prior year). The increase is due primarily to pricing actions, increased demand from residential customers, and the favorable impact of foreign exchange, partially offset by lower revenue from Water Refill and Water Dispenser sales and lapping the benefit from the 53^rd week in the prior year. Revenue by business is tabulated below:

• Gross profit increased 2% to $287 million compared to $282 million. Gross margin was 55.5% compared to 55.8%. Increased material costs in our North American single-use plastic business, ocean freight and tariffs were largely offset by customer price increases.
• SG&A expenses increased 6% to $263 million compared to $248 million driven by higher selling and operating costs to support volume and revenue growth of the business and an increase in the number of associates impacted by COVID-19 Omicron, partially offset by cost reduction initiatives.
• Reported net loss and net loss per diluted share were $3 million and $0.02, respectively, compared to reported net loss and net loss per diluted share of $20 million and $0.12, respectively. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share were $18 million and $0.11, respectively, compared to adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share of $23 million and $0.14, respectively.
• Adjusted EBITDA was $98 million or flat to prior year as our growth in revenue and pricing actions were offset by higher selling and operating costs, as well as lapping the benefit from the 53^rd week in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased to 19.0% from 19.4%, driven by higher material costs in our North American single-use plastic business, ocean freight and tariffs, along with higher delivery costs.
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $87 million, less $53 million of capital expenditures, resulted in $34 million of free cash flow, or $48 million of adjusted free cash flow (adjusting for the items set forth on Exhibit 7), compared to adjusted free cash flow of $56 million in the prior year period.

FOURTH QUARTER REPORTING SEGMENT PERFORMANCE – CONTINUING OPERATIONS

North America

• North America revenue increased 1% to $387 million compared to $385 million (increased 6% excluding the impact of foreign exchange and the 53rd week) driven by increased pricing and demand from Water Direct / Exchange, partially offset by lower revenue from Water Refill and Water Dispenser sales.

Rest of World ("ROW")

• Rest of World revenue increased 9% to $131 million compared to $120 million (increased by 9% excluding the impact of foreign exchange and the 53rd week ) driven by improved volume and pricing.   

SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

During 2021, the Company repurchased approximately 2.6 million shares for approximately $44 million under its share repurchase program.

QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

The Company announced that its Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.07 per common share.  The dividend is payable in cash on March 28, 2022, to shareowners of record at the close of business on March 11, 2022.

ABOUT PRIMO WATER CORPORATION

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 22,000 locations, respectively. Primo also offers water filtration units across its 22-country footprint representing a top five position.

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.

Non-GAAP Measures

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 53rd week in 2020 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 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, repurchasing common shares and strengthening the balance sheet. With respect to the Company's expectations of its future performance, the Company's reconciliations of first quarter 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.

Safe Harbor Statements

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 first 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 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