UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

þ		QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number: 01-14010

Waters Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		13-3668640
(State or other jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)

34 Maple Street
Milford, Massachusetts 01757
(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

(508) 478-2000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). þ Yes o No

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer þ		Accelerated filer o		Non-accelerated filer o		Smaller reporting company o
				(Do not check if smaller reporting company)

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No þ

     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of October 28, 2011: 89,606,696

 

 

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

INDEX

		Page
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) as of October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010			1
Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three months ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010			2
Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the nine months ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010			3
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the nine months ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010			4
Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)			5
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			19
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			25
Item 4. Controls and Procedures			25
PART II OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings			26
Item 1A. Risk Factors			26
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds			26
Item 6. Exhibits			27
Signature			28
EX-31.1
EX-31.2
EX-32.1
EX-32.2
EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
(unaudited)

		October 1, 2011				December 31, 2010
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	423,926			$	308,498
Short-term investments			770,291				637,921
Accounts receivable, less allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns of $7,009 and $6,196 at October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively			354,445				358,237
Inventories			246,258				204,300
Other current assets			68,439				77,685
Total current assets			1,863,359				1,586,641
Property, plant and equipment, net			221,059				215,060
Intangible assets, net			196,305				181,316
Goodwill			298,297				291,657
Other assets			60,595				52,996
Total assets		$	2,639,615			$	2,327,670
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Notes payable and debt		$	271,578			$	66,055
Accounts payable			64,393				64,406
Accrued employee compensation			39,209				52,831
Deferred revenue and customer advances			129,653				106,445
Accrued income taxes			25,959				11,909
Accrued warranty			12,496				11,272
Other current liabilities			62,291				72,932
Total current liabilities			605,579				385,850
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt			700,000				700,000
Long-term portion of retirement benefits			71,952				72,624
Long-term income tax liability			77,537				77,764
Other long-term liabilities			25,464				22,635
Total long-term liabilities			874,953				873,023
Total liabilities			1,480,532				1,258,873
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 5, 6 and 10)
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, 5,000 shares authorized, none issued at October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010			—				—
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 400,000 shares authorized, 152,403 and 151,054 shares issued, 89,584 and 91,848 shares outstanding at October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively			1,524				1,511
Additional paid-in capital			1,051,493				970,068
Retained earnings			2,914,300				2,618,479
Treasury stock, at cost, 62,819 and 59,206 shares at October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively			(2,807,451	)			(2,509,466	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(783	)			(11,795	)
Total stockholders’ equity			1,159,083				1,068,797
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	2,639,615			$	2,327,670

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

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
(unaudited)

		Three Months Ended
		October 1, 2011				October 2, 2010
Product sales		$	321,348			$	282,934
Service sales			133,186				118,104
Total net sales			454,534				401,038
Cost of product sales			124,228				113,345
Cost of service sales			56,090				49,640
Total cost of sales			180,318				162,985
Gross profit			274,216				238,053
Selling and administrative expenses			121,211				111,306
Research and development expenses			23,372				20,524
Purchased intangibles amortization			2,369				2,408
Operating income			127,264				103,815
Interest expense			(6,159	)			(3,810	)
Interest income			613				516
Income from operations before income taxes			121,718				100,521
Provision for income taxes			20,461				5,802
Net income		$	101,257			$	94,719
Net income per basic common share		$	1.12			$	1.03
Weighted-average number of basic common shares			90,688				91,714
Net income per diluted common share		$	1.10			$	1.02
Weighted-average number of diluted common shares and equivalents			92,060				93,286

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

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
(unaudited)

		Nine Months Ended
		October 1, 2011				October 2, 2010
Product sales		$	940,834			$	811,401
Service sales			388,930				348,392
Total net sales			1,329,764				1,159,793
Cost of product sales			361,409				317,640
Cost of service sales			164,841				146,410
Total cost of sales			526,250				464,050
Gross profit			803,514				695,743
Selling and administrative expenses			363,774				324,938
Research and development expenses			68,640				61,407
Purchased intangibles amortization			7,374				7,642
Operating income			363,726				301,756
Interest expense			(15,294	)			(10,045	)
Interest income			2,139				1,293
Income from operations before income taxes			350,571				293,004
Provision for income taxes			54,750				37,845
Net income		$	295,821			$	255,159
Net income per basic common share		$	3.24			$	2.75
Weighted-average number of basic common shares			91,334				92,647
Net income per diluted common share		$	3.18			$	2.71
Weighted-average number of diluted common shares and equivalents			92,898				94,271

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

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)
(unaudited)

		Nine Months Ended
		October 1, 2011				October 2, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	295,821			$	255,159
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provisions for doubtful accounts on accounts receivable			2,267				1,414
Provisions on inventory			7,477				7,309
Stock-based compensation			20,645				18,558
Deferred income taxes			(7,072	)			(4,669	)
Depreciation			27,267				25,897
Amortization of intangibles			22,778				19,621
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable			10,040				(20,713	)
Increase in inventories			(46,235	)			(35,771	)
Decrease (increase) in other current assets			4,532				(1,325	)
Increase in other assets			(4,023	)			(1,256	)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and other current liabilities			(11,937	)			36,311
Increase in deferred revenue and customer advances			20,970				23,335
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities			4,782				(101	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			347,312				323,769
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization			(51,344	)			(47,277	)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired			(11,000	)			—
Purchase of short-term investments			(1,297,497	)			(924,727	)
Maturity of short-term investments			1,165,127				639,567
Net cash used in investing activities			(194,714	)			(332,437	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt issuances			558,199				315,116
Payments on debt			(352,676	)			(154,645	)
Payments of debt issuance costs			(4,523	)			(1,498	)
Proceeds from stock plans			45,687				26,850
Purchase of treasury shares			(297,985	)			(244,893	)
Excess tax benefit related to stock option plans			15,316				5,149
Payments of debt swaps and other derivative contracts			(1,971	)			(4,968	)
Net cash used in financing activities			(37,953	)			(58,889	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			783				(10,762	)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			115,428				(78,319	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			308,498				341,111
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	423,926			$	262,792

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

WATERS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1 Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Waters Corporation (“Waters^®” or the “Company”), an analytical instrument manufacturer, primarily designs, manufactures, sells and services, through its Waters Division, high performance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”), ultra performance liquid chromatography (“UPLC^®” and together with HPLC, referred to as “LC”) and mass spectrometry (“MS”) instrument systems and support products, including chromatography columns, other consumable products and comprehensive post-warranty service plans. These systems are complementary products that can be integrated together and used along with other analytical instruments. 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 instruments are used in drug discovery and development, including clinical trial testing, the analysis of proteins in disease processes (known as “proteomics”), food safety analysis and environmental testing. LC is often combined with MS to create LC-MS instruments that include a liquid phase sample introduction and separation system with mass spectrometric compound identification and quantification. Through its TA Division (“TA^®”), the Company primarily designs, manufactures, sells and services thermal analysis, rheometry and calorimetry instruments, which are used in predicting the suitability of fine chemicals, polymers and viscous liquids for various industrial products, consumer goods and healthcare products, as well as for life science research. The Company is also a developer and supplier of software-based products that interface with the Company’s instruments and are typically purchased by customers as part of the instrument system.

The Company’s interim fiscal quarter typically ends on the thirteenth Saturday of each quarter. Since the Company’s fiscal year end is December 31, the first and fourth fiscal quarters will not consist of thirteen complete weeks. The Company’s third fiscal quarters for 2011 and 2010 ended on October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, respectively.

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States of America. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, most of which are wholly owned. All material inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with 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. Actual amounts may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

It is management’s opinion that the accompanying interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (which are normal and recurring) that are necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. The interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2011.

During the second quarter of 2010, the Company identified an error originating in periods prior to December 31, 2009. The error relates to an overstatement of the Company’s incentive plan and other accrual balances. The Company identified and corrected the error in the three months ended July 3, 2010 which reduced selling and administrative expense. The Company did not believe that the prior period error, individually or in the aggregate, was material to the nine months ended October 2, 2010 or any previously issued annual or quarterly financial statements.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments

The Company’s cash equivalents primarily represent highly liquid investments, with original maturities of 90 days or less, primarily in bank deposits, and AAA rated U.S. treasury, Canadian treasury, commercial paper and European government bond money market funds, which are convertible to a known amount of cash and carry an insignificant risk of change in market value. Investments with longer maturities are classified as short-term investments, and are held primarily in bank deposits and U.S., Canadian, German, French and Dutch government treasury bills. As of October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010, $1,130 million and $901 million, respectively, of our total cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were held by our foreign subsidiaries.

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

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 October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010. 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.

The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at October 1, 2011 (in thousands):

						Quoted Prices
						in Active				Significant
						Markets				Other				Significant
						for Identical				Observable				Unobservable
		Total at				Assets				Inputs				Inputs
		October 1, 2011				(Level 1)				(Level 2)				(Level 3)
Assets:
Cash equivalents		$	210,420			$	—			$	210,420			$	—
Short-term investments			770,291				—				770,291				—
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets			19,079				—				19,079				—
Foreign currency exchange contract agreements			218				—				218				—
Total		$	1,000,008			$	—			$	1,000,008			$	—
Liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contract agreements		$	108			$	—			$	108			$	—
Total		$	108			$	—			$	108			$	—

The following table represents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2010 (in thousands):

						Quoted Prices
						in Active				Significant
						Markets				Other				Significant
		Total at				for Identical				Observable				Unobservable
		December 31,				Assets				Inputs				Inputs
		2010				(Level 1)				(Level 2)				(Level 3)
Assets:
Cash equivalents		$	87,975			$	—			$	87,975			$	—
Short-term investments			637,921				—				637,921				—
Waters 401(k) Restoration Plan assets			19,988				—				19,988				—
Foreign currency exchange contract agreements			424				—				424				—
Total		$	746,308			$	—			$	746,308			$	—
Liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contract agreements		$	626			$	—			$	626			$	—
Total		$	626			$	—			$	626			$	—

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

The Company’s financial assets and liabilities 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. The fair values of the Company’s cash equivalents, short-term investments, 401(k) restoration plan assets and foreign currency exchange contracts are determined through market and observable sources and have been classified as Level 2. After completing these validation procedures, the Company did not adjust or override any fair value measurements provided by third-party pricing services as of October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

The Company’s cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and variable interest rate debt are recorded at cost, which approximates fair value. The carrying value and fair value of the Company’s fixed interest rate debt is $400 million and $408 million, respectively, at October 1, 2011. The carrying value and fair value of the Company’s fixed interest rate debt was $200 million and $203 million, respectively, at December 31, 2010.

Hedge Transactions

The Company operates on a global basis and is exposed to the risk that its earnings, cash flows and stockholders’ equity could be adversely impacted by fluctuations in currency exchange rates and interest rates.

The Company records its hedge transactions in accordance with the accounting standards for derivative instruments and hedging activities, which establish the accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. All derivatives, whether designated in hedging relationships or not, are required to be recorded on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value as either assets or liabilities. If the derivative is designated as a fair-value hedge, the changes in the fair value of the derivative and of the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in earnings. If the derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portions of changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded in other comprehensive income and are recognized in earnings when the hedged item affects earnings; ineffective portions of changes in fair value are recognized in earnings. In addition, disclosures required for derivative instruments and hedging activities include the Company’s objectives for using derivative instruments, the level of derivative activity the Company engages in, as well as how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect the Company’s financial position and performance.

The Company currently uses derivative instruments to manage exposures to foreign currency and interest rate risks. The Company’s objectives for holding derivatives are to minimize foreign currency and interest rate risk using the most effective methods to eliminate or reduce the impact of foreign currency and interest rate exposures. The Company documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items and links all derivatives designated as fair-value, cash flow or net investment hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets or to specific forecasted transactions. In addition, the Company considers the impact of its counterparties’ credit risk on the fair value of the contracts as well as the ability of each party to execute under the contracts. The Company also assesses and documents, both at the hedges’ inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows associated with the hedged items. The Company did not have any interest rate swap agreements in place at October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

The Company enters into forward foreign exchange contracts, principally to hedge the impact of currency fluctuations on certain inter-company balances and short-term assets and liabilities. Principal hedged currencies include the Euro, Japanese Yen, British Pound and Singapore Dollar. The periods of these forward contracts typically range from one to three months and have varying notional amounts, which are intended to be consistent with changes in the underlying exposures. Gains and losses on these forward contracts are recorded in selling and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. At October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company held forward foreign exchange contracts with notional amounts totaling $137 million and $136 million, respectively.

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

The Company’s foreign currency exchange contracts included in the consolidated balance sheets are classified as follows (in thousands):

		October 1, 2011				December 31, 2010
Other current assets		$	218			$	424
Other current liabilities		$	108			$	626

The following is a summary of the activity related to the forward foreign exchange contracts (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		October 1, 2011				October 2, 2010				October 1, 2011				October 2, 2010
Realized (losses) gains on closed contracts		$	(3,941	)		$	1,998			$	(1,971	)		$	(4,968	)
Unrealized gains (losses) on open contracts			160				(382	)			312				(127	)
Cumulative net pre-tax (losses) gains		$	(3,781	)		$	1,616			$	(1,659	)		$	(5,095	)

Stockholders’ Equity

The Company repurchased $292 million and $241 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock during the nine months ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, respectively. In February 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $500 million of its outstanding common stock over a two-year period. During the nine months ended October 1, 2011, the Company repurchased 2.9 million shares at a cost of $242 million under this program.

In February 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $500 million of its outstanding common stock over a two-year period. During the nine months ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, the Company repurchased 0.7 million and 3.8 million shares at a cost of $50 million and $241 million, respectively, under this program. As of April 2, 2011, the Company repurchased an aggregate of 8.2 million shares of its common stock under the now expired February 2009 program for an aggregate cost of $499 million.

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 supplies, 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, prior 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 nine months ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 (in thousands):

		Balance at												Balance at
		Beginning				Accruals for				Settlements				End of
		of Period				Warranties				Made				Period
Accrued warranty liability:
October 1, 2011		$	11,272			$	7,061			$	(5,837	)		$	12,496
October 2, 2010		$	10,109			$	4,849			$	(4,191	)		$	10,767

Subsequent Events

The Company did not have any material subsequent events.

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

2 Inventories

Inventories are classified as follows (in thousands):

		October 1, 2011				December 31, 2010
Raw materials		$	78,780			$	63,475
Work in progress			21,501				17,301
Finished goods			145,977				123,524
Total inventories		$	246,258			$	204,300

3 Acquisitions

In July 2011, the Company acquired the net assets of Anter Corporation (“Anter”), a manufacturer of thermal analyzers used to measure thermal expansion and shrinkage, thermal conductivity and resistivity, thermal diffusivity and specific heat capacity of a wide range of materials, for $11 million in cash. Anter was acquired to expand TA’s thermal analysis instrument product offering and to leverage the Company’s distribution channels. This acquisition was accounted for under the accounting standards for business combinations and Anter’s results have been included in the consolidated results of the Company from the acquisition date. The purchase price of the acquisition was allocated to tangible and intangible assets and assumed liabilities based on their estimated fair values. The Company has allocated $4 million of the purchase price to intangible assets comprised of customer relationships and acquired technology. The Company is amortizing the customer relationships over six years and the acquired technology over ten years. These intangible assets are being amortized over a weighted-average period of nine years. The remaining purchase price of $6 million has been accounted for as goodwill. The principal factor that resulted in recognition of goodwill was that the purchase price for the acquisition was based in part on cash flow projections assuming the integration of any acquired technology and products with our products, which is of considerably greater value than utilizing each of the acquired company’s technology or products on a stand-alone basis. Our goodwill also includes value assigned to assembled workforce, which cannot be recognized as an intangible asset. The sellers also have provided the Company with customary representations, warranties and indemnification, which would be settled in the future if and when the contractual representation or warranty condition occurs. The goodwill is deductible for tax purposes. Anter is expected to add approximately $6 million on a full-year basis to the Company’s annual sales. Anter’s impact on the Company’s net income since the acquisition date for the nine months ended October 1, 2011 was not significant.

In accordance with the accounting standards for fair value measurements and disclosures, the Company measured the non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities that were acquired through the acquisition of Anter at fair value. The fair value of these non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities were determined using Level 3 inputs. The following table presents the fair values, as determined by the Company, of 100% of the assets and liabilities owned and recorded in connection with the Anter acquisition (in thousands):

Accounts receivable			330
Inventory			903
Other assets			65
Goodwill			6,080
Intangible assets			3,910
Total assets acquired			11,288
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			288
Cash consideration paid			11,000

4 Goodwill and Other Intangibles

The carrying amount of goodwill was $298 million and $292 million at October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. The Company’s acquisition of Anter increased goodwill by $6 million (Note 3).

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

The Company’s intangible assets included in the consolidated balance sheets are detailed as follows (in thousands):

		October 1, 2011												December 31, 2010
										Weighted-												Weighted-
		Gross								Average				Gross								Average
		Carrying				Accumulated				Amortization				Carrying				Accumulated				Amortization
		Amount				Amortization				Period				Amount				Amortization				Period
Purchased intangibles		$	139,169			$	78,581			10 years				$	134,723			$	70,832			10 years
Capitalized software			259,004				142,512			5 years					229,850				127,056			5 years
Licenses			6,644				5,973			6 years					9,877				8,971			7 years
Patents and other intangibles			32,722				14,168			8 years					28,931				15,206			8 years
Total		$	437,539			$	241,234			7 years				$	403,381			$	222,065			7 years

During the nine months ended October 1, 2011, the Company acquired $4 million of purchased intangibles as a result of the acquisition of Anter. In addition, the effect of foreign currency translation increased the gross carrying value of intangible assets and accumulated amortization for intangible assets by $7 million and $4 million, respectively, in the nine months ended October 1, 2011. Amortization expense for intangible assets was $7 million and $6 million for the three months ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, respectively. Amortization expense for intangible assets was $23 million and $20 million for the nine months ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010, respectively. Amortization expense for intangible assets is estimated to be approximately $40 million per year for 2012 and 2013 and is estimated to increase to approximately $45 million per year for the years 2014 through 2016. The estimated significant increases in amortization expense in 2012, and thereafter, are due to amortization associated with capitalized software costs related to the launch of new products and software platforms planned in 2012.

5 Debt

In July 2011, Waters entered into a new credit agreement (the “2011 Credit Agreement”). The 2011 Credit Agreement provides for a $700 million revolving facility and a $300 million term loan facility. The term loan facility and the revolving facility both mature on July 28, 2016 and require no scheduled prepayments before that date. The Company used $425 million of the proceeds from the 2011 Credit Agreement to repay the outstanding amounts under the Company’s existing multi-borrower credit agreement dated as of January 11, 2007 (the “2007 Credit Agreement”). Waters terminated the 2007 Credit Agreement early without penalty.

The interest rates applicable to term loan and revolving loans under the 2011 Credit Agreement are, at the Company’s option, equal to either the base rate (which is the highest of (i) the prime rate, (ii) the federal funds rate plus 1/2%, or (iii) the one month LIBOR rate plus 1%) or the applicable 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 or 12 month LIBOR rate, in each case, plus an interest rate margin based upon the Company’s leverage ratio, which can range between 0 to 20 basis points and between 85 basis points and 120 basis points. The facility fee on the 2011 Credit Agreement ranges between 15 basis points and 30 basis points. The 2011 Credit Agreement requires that the Company comply with an interest coverage ratio test of not less than 3.50:1 and a leverage ratio test of not more than 3.25:1 for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, respectively, the same as the 2007 Credit Agreement. In addition, the 2011 Credit Agreement includes negative covenants, affirmative covenants, representations and warranties and events of default that are customary for investment grade credit facilities and are similar in nature to ones contained in the 2007 Credit Agreement. The outstanding portions of the revolving facilities have been classified as short-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets due to the fact that the Company utilizes the revolving line of credit to fund its working capital needs. It is the Company’s intention to pay the outstanding revolving line of credit balance during the subsequent months following the respective period end date.

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

In March 2011, the Company issued and sold the following senior unsecured notes:

Face Value

Senior Notes

Issue Date

Term

Interest Rate

(in millions)

Maturity Date

Series C

March 2011

5 years

2.50

%

$

50

March 2016

Series D

March 2011

7 years

3.22

%

$

100

March 2018

Series E

March 2011

10 years

3.97

%

$

50

March 2021

The Company used the proceeds from the issuance of these senior unsecured notes to repay $140 million of the term loan under the 2007 Credit Agreement and other outstanding debt, and for general corporate purposes. Interest on the senior unsecured notes is payable semi-annually in March and September of each year. The Company may prepay all or some of the senior unsecured notes at any time in an amount not less than 10% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding, plus the applicable make-whole amount. In the event of a change in control (as defined in the note purchase agreement) of the Company, the Company may be required to prepay the senior unsecured notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest. These notes require that the Company comply with an interest coverage ratio test of not less than 3.50:1 and a leverage ratio test of not more than 3.50:1 for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, respectively. In addition, these notes include customary negative covenants, affirmative covenants, representations and warranties and events of default.

As of October 1, 2011, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

At October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company had the following outstanding debt (in thousands):

		October 1, 2011				December 31, 2010
Lines of credit		$	11,578			$	11,055
Credit agreements			260,000				55,000
Total notes payable and debt			271,578				66,055
Senior unsecured notes — Series A — 3.75%, due February 2015			100,000				100,000
Senior unsecured notes — Series B — 5.00%, due February 2020			100,000				100,000
Senior unsecured notes — Series C — 2.50%, due March 2016			50,000				—
Senior unsecured notes — Series D — 3.22%, due March 2018			100,000				—
Senior unsecured notes — Series E — 3.97%, due March 2021			50,000				—
Credit agreements			300,000				500,000
Total long-term debt			700,000				700,000
Total debt		$	971,578			$	766,055

As of October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company had a total amount available to borrow of $439 million and $543 million, respectively, after outstanding letters of credit under the 2011 Credit Agreement and 2007 Credit Agreement. The weighted-average interest rates applicable to the senior unsecured notes and credit agreement borrowings were 2.28% and 1.69% at October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. The increase in the weighted-average interest rate for the Company’s long-term debt is primarily due to a higher mix of fixed-rate debt and an increase in the interest rate margin on the 2011 Credit Agreement.

The Company and its foreign subsidiaries also had available short-term lines of credit totaling $107 million and $111 million at October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, for the purpose of short-term borrowing and issuance of commercial guarantees. At October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the weighted-average interest rates applicable to these short-term borrowings were 2.08% and 2.10%, respectively.

6 Income Taxes

The Company accounts for its uncertain tax return reporting positions in accordance with the accounting standards for income taxes, which require financial statement reporting of the expected future tax consequences of uncertain tax reporting positions on the presumption that all concerned tax authorities possess full knowledge of the reporting

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

positions, as well as all of the pertinent facts and circumstances, but prohibit any discounting of unrecognized tax benefits associated with uncertain reporting positions for the time value of money.

The following is a summary of the activity in the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits for the nine months ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 (in thousands):

		October 1, 2011				October 2, 2010
Balance at the beginning of the period		$	71,523			$	77,924
Realization of uncertain U.K. tax benefits			—				(9,996	)
Realization of uncertain pre-acquisition tax benefits			—				(1,500	)
Increase in other uncertain tax benefits			1,485				3,469
Balance at the end of the period		$	73,008			$	69,897

During the three and nine months ended October 2, 2010, the Company recorded a net $8 million tax benefit in the income tax provision which represents the realization of the reserve for uncertain United Kingdom tax benefits offset by the amount of the audit settlement. Also during the nine months ended October 2, 2010, the Company recorded approximately $2 million of tax benefit in the income tax provision related to the resolution of a pre-acquisition tax exposure. The Company’s uncertain tax positions are taken with respect to income tax return reporting periods beginning after December 31, 1999, which are the periods that generally remain open to income tax audit examination by the concerned income tax authorities. The Company continuously monitors the lapsing of statutes of limitations on potential tax assessments for related changes in the measurement of unrecognized tax benefits, related net interest and penalties, and deferred tax assets and liabilities. As of October 1, 2011, the Company does not expect to record any material changes in the measurement of any other unrecognized tax benefits, related net interest and penalties or deferred tax assets and liabilities due to the settlement of tax audit examinations or to the lapsing of statutes of limitations on potential tax assessments within the next twelve months.

The Company’s effective tax rates for the three months ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 were 16.8% and 5.8%, respectively. The Company’s effective tax rates for the nine months ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 were 15.6% and 12.9%, respectively. Included in the income tax provision for the nine months ended October 1, 2011 is $2 million of tax benefit related to the reversal of reserves for interest related to an audit settlement in the United Kingdom. This tax benefit decreased the Company’s effective tax rate by 0.5 percentage points in the nine months ended October 1, 2011. Included in the income tax provision for the three and nine months ended October 2, 2010 is the aforementioned $8 million tax benefit related to the reversal of reserves for uncertain tax positions due to an audit settlement in the United Kingdom. This net tax benefit decreased the Company’s effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended October 2, 2010 by 7.5 percentage points and 2.6 percentage points, respectively. Also included in the income tax provision for the nine months ended October 2, 2010 is the aforementioned $2 million of tax benefit related to the resolution of a pre-acquisition tax exposure. This tax benefit decreased the Company’s effective tax rate by 0.5 percentage points in the nine months ended October 2, 2010. The remaining differences between the effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended October 1, 2011 as compared to the three and nine months ended October 2, 2010 were primarily attributable to differences in the proportionate amounts of pre-tax income recognized in jurisdictions with different effective tax rates.

7 Stock-Based Compensation

The Company maintains various shareholder-approved, stock-based compensation plans which allow for the issuance of incentive or non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or other types of awards (e.g. restricted stock units).

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation costs in accordance with the accounting standards for stock-based compensation, which require that all share-based payments to employees be recognized in the statements of operations based on their fair values. The Company recognizes the expense using the straight-line attribution method. The stock-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statements of operations is based on awards that ultimately are expected to vest; therefore, the amount of expense has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. The stock-based compensation accounting standards require forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Forfeitures were estimated based on historical experience. If actual results differ significantly from these estimates, stock-based compensation expense and the Company’s results of operations could be materially impacted. In addition, if the Company employs different assumptions in the application of this standard, the compensation expense that the

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Company records in the future periods may differ significantly from what the Company has recorded in the current period.

The consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 include the following stock-based compensation expense related to stock option awards, restricted stock, restricted stock unit awards and the employee stock purchase plan (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		October 1, 2011				October 2, 2010				October 1, 2011				October 2, 2010
Cost of sales		$	587			$	623			$	1,912			$	1,852
Selling and administrative expenses			5,654				4,829				16,392				14,364
Research and development expenses			641				792				2,341				2,342
Total stock-based compensation		$	6,882			$	6,244			$	20,645			$	18,558

As of both October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company has capitalized stock-based compensation costs of less than $1 million in inventory in the consolidated balance sheets. As of both October 1, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company has capitalized stock-based compensation costs of $3 million in capitalized software in the consolidated balance sheets.

Stock Options

In determining the fair value of the stock options, the Company makes a variety of assumptions and estimates, including volatility measures, expected yields and expected stock option lives. The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company uses implied volatility on its publicly traded options as the basis for its estimate of expected volatility. The Company believes that implied volatility is the most appropriate indicator of expected volatility because it is generally reflective of historical volatility and expectations of how future volatility will differ from historical volatility. The expected life assumption for grants is based on historical experience for the population of non-qualified stock optionees. The risk-free interest rate is the yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term approximating the expected term used as the input to the Black-Scholes model. The relevant data used to determine the value of the stock options granted during the nine months ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 are as follows:

Options Issued and Significant
Assumptions Used to Estimate Option
Fair Values		October 1, 2011				October 2, 2010
Options issued in thousands			32				32
Risk-free interest rate			2.1	%			3.0	%
Expected life in years			6				6
Expected volatility			0.290				0.293
Expected dividends			—				—

Weighted-Average Exercise Price and
Fair Value of Options on the Date of
Grant		October 1, 2011				October 2, 2010
Exercise price		$	78.10			$	61.63
Fair value		$	25.25			$	21.40

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

The following table summarizes stock option activity for the plans for the nine months ended October 1, 2011 (in thousands, except per share data):

										Weighted-Average
		Number of Shares				Price per Share				Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2010			5,560			$21.39 to $80.97				$	50.19
Granted			32			$	78.10			$	78.10
Exercised			(1,045	)		$21.39 to $77.94				$	40.95
Canceled			(24	)		$36.25 to $80.97				$	80.87
Outstanding at October 1, 2011			4,523			$21.39 to $79.05				$	52.36

Restricted Stock

During the nine months ended October 1, 2011, the Company granted twelve thousand shares of restricted stock. The fair value of these awards on the grant date was $78.10 per share. The restrictions on these shares lapse at the end of a three-year period.

Restricted Stock Units

The following table summarizes the unvested restricted stock unit award activity for the nine months ended October 1, 2011 (in thousands, except for per share amounts):

		Shares				Weighted-Average Price
Unvested at December 31, 2010			752			$	49.64
Granted			175			$	78.99
Vested			(250	)		$	48.16
Forfeited			(11	)		$	53.13
Unvested at October 1, 2011			666			$	57.85

Restricted stock units are generally granted annually in February and vest in equal annual installments over a five-year period.

8 Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) calculations are detailed as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

		Three Months Ended October 1, 2011
						Weighted-Average
		Net Income				Shares				Per Share
		(Numerator)				(Denominator)				Amount
Net income per basic common share		$	101,257				90,688			$	1.12
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock and restricted stock unit securities							1,372
Net income per diluted common share		$	101,257				92,060			$	1.10

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

		Three Months Ended October 2, 2010
						Weighted-Average
		Net Income				Shares				Per Share
		(Numerator)				(Denominator)				Amount
Net income per basic common share		$	94,719				91,714			$	1.03
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock and restricted stock unit securities							1,572
Net income per diluted common share		$	94,719				93,286			$	1.02

		Nine Months Ended October 1, 2011
						Weighted-Average
		Net Income				Shares				Per Share
		(Numerator)				(Denominator)				Amount
Net income per basic common share		$	295,821				91,334			$	3.24
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock and restricted stock unit securities							1,564
Net income per diluted common share		$	295,821				92,898			$	3.18

		Nine Months Ended October 2, 2010
						Weighted-Average
		Net Income				Shares				Per Share
		(Numerator)				(Denominator)				Amount
Net income per basic common share		$	255,159				92,647			$	2.75
Effect of dilutive stock option, restricted stock and restricted stock unit securities							1,624
Net income per diluted common share		$	255,159				94,271			$	2.71

For both the three and nine months ended October 1, 2011, the Company had 0.7 million stock options that were antidilutive due to having higher exercise prices than the Company’s average stock price during the period. For both the three and nine months ended October 2, 2010, the Company had 1.8 million stock options that were antidilutive. These securities were not included in the computation of diluted EPS. The effect of dilutive securities was calculated using the treasury stock method.

9 Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is detailed as follows (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		October 1,				October 2,				October 1,				October 2,
		2011				2010				2011				2010
Net income		$	101,257			$	94,719			$	295,821			$	255,159
Foreign currency translation			(31,741	)			39,474				10,312				(12,356	)
Unrealized (losses) gains on investments before income taxes			(2,547	)			24				(18	)			24
Income tax benefit (expense)			891				(8	)			6				(8	)
Unrealized (losses) gains on investments, net of tax			(1,656	)			16				(12	)			16
Retirement liability adjustment, net of tax			119				175				712				288
Other comprehensive (loss) income			(33,278	)			39,665				11,012				(12,052	)
Comprehensive income		$	67,979			$	134,384			$	306,833			$	243,107

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

10 Retirement Plans

The Company sponsors various retirement plans. The summary of the components of net periodic pension costs for the plans for the three and nine months ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 is as follows (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended
		October 1, 2011												October 2, 2010
		U.S.				U.S. Retiree				Non-U.S.				U.S.				U.S. Retiree				Non-U.S.
		Pension				Healthcare				Pension				Pension				Healthcare				Pension
		Plans				Plan				Plans				Plans				Plan				Plans
Service cost		$	—			$	134			$	453			$	12			$	118			$	424
Interest cost			1,554				94				258				1,573				75				256
Expected return on plan assets			(1,880	)			(69	)			(74	)			(1,777	)			(60	)			(79	)
Net amortization:
Prior service credit			—				(13	)			(22	)			—				(14	)			—
Net actuarial loss (gain)			433				—				9				286				—				(13	)
Net periodic pension cost		$	107			$	146			$	624			$	94			$	119			$	588

		Nine Months Ended
		October 1, 2011												October 2, 2010
		U.S.				U.S. Retiree				Non-U.S.				U.S.				U.S. Retiree				Non-U.S.
		Pension				Healthcare				Pension				Pension				Healthcare				Pension
		Plans				Plan				Plans				Plans				Plan				Plans
Service cost		$	—			$	402			$	1,413			$	42			$	310			$	1,272
Interest cost			4,662				282				788				4,743				281				768
Expected return on plan assets			(5,640	)			(207	)			(224	)			(5,347	)			(166	)			(237	)
Net amortization:
Prior service credit			—				(39	)			(22	)			—				(40	)			—
Net actuarial loss (gain)			1,299				—				23				810				—				(39	)
Net periodic pension cost		$	321			$	438			$	1,978			$	248			$	385			$	1,764

For the three and nine months ended October 1, 2011, the Company contributed $1 million and $2 million to the Company’s U.S. pension plans, respectively. During fiscal year 2011, the Company expects to contribute a total of approximately $4 million to $5 million to the Company’s defined benefit plans.

11 Business Segment Information

The Company’s business activities, for which discrete financial information is available, are regularly reviewed and evaluated by the chief operating decision makers. As a result of this evaluation, the Company determined that it has two operating segments: Waters Division and TA Division.

Waters Division is primarily in the business of designing, manufacturing, distributing and servicing LC and MS instruments, columns and other chemistry consumables that can be integrated and used along with other analytical instruments. TA Division is primarily in the business of designing, manufacturing, distributing and servicing thermal analysis, rheometry and calorimetry instruments. The Company’s two divisions are its operating segments and each has similar economic characteristics; product processes; products and services; types and classes of customers; methods of distribution; and regulatory environments. Because of these similarities, the two segments have been aggregated into one reporting segment for financial statement purposes. Please refer to the consolidated financial statements for financial information regarding the one reportable segment of the Company.

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Net sales for the Company’s products and services are as follows for the three and nine months ended October 1, 2011 and October 2, 2010 (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		October 1, 2011				October 2, 2010				October 1, 2011				October 2, 2010
Product net sales:
Waters instrument systems		$	212,664			$	185,526			$	616,596			$	526,627
Chemistry			72,104				65,595				220,125				195,144
TA instrument systems			36,580				31,813				104,113				89,630
Total product sales			321,348				282,934				940,834				811,401
Service net sales:
Waters service			121,245				107,904				354,523				317,798
TA service			11,941				10,200				34,407				30,594
Total service sales			133,186				118,104				388,930				348,392
Total net sales		$	454,534			$	401,038			$	1,329,764			$	1,159,793

12 Recent Accounting Standard Changes and Developments

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In October 2009, a new accounting consensus was issued for multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements. This consensus amends existing revenue recognition accounting standards. This consensus provides accounting principles and application guidance on whether multiple deliverables exist, how the arrangement should be separated and the consideration allocated. This guidance eliminates the requirement to establish the fair value of undelivered products and services and instead provides for separate revenue recognition based upon management’s estimate of the selling price for an undelivered item when there is no other means to determine the fair value of that undelivered item. Previously, the existing accounting consensus required that the fair value of the undelivered item be the price of the item either sold in a separate transaction between unrelated third parties or the price charged for each item when the item is sold separately by the vendor. Under the existing accounting consensus, if the fair value of all of the elements in the arrangement was not determinable, then revenue was deferred until all of the items were delivered or fair value was determined. This new approach is effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. The adoption of this standard in the nine months ended October 1, 2011 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Also in October 2009, a new accounting consensus was issued for certain revenue arrangements that include software elements. This consensus amends the existing accounting guidance for revenue arrangements that contain tangible products and software. This consensus requires that tangible products which contain software components and non-software components that function together to deliver the tangible products essential functionality are no longer within the scope of the software revenue guidance. This new approach is effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. The adoption of this standard in the nine months ended October 1, 2011 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In June 2011, a new accounting standard was issued relating to the presentation of comprehensive income. This standard eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. An entity has the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This standard is to be applied retrospectively for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this standard will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

In September 2011, amended accounting guidance was issued for goodwill in order to simplify how companies test goodwill for impairment. The amendments permit a company to first assess the qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, a company determines it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. The amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this accounting pronouncement to have a material effect on our financial statements when implemented.

Item 2: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Business and Financial Overview

The Company has two operating segments: the Waters Division and the TA Division (“TA^®”). The Waters Division’s 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 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, life science, biochemical, industrial, food safety, 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 of fine chemicals, polymers and viscous liquids in consumer goods and healthcare products.

The Company’s sales were $455 million and $401 million, an increase of 13%, for the three months ended October 1, 2011 (the “2011 Quarter”) and October 2, 2010 (the “2010 Quarter”), respectively. The Company’s sales were $1,330 million and $1,160 million, an increase of 15%, for the nine months ended October 1, 2011 (the “2011 Period”) and October 2, 2010 (the “2010 Period”), respectively. In the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period, as compared with the 2010 Quarter and 2010 Period, instrument system sales increased 15% and 17%, respectively, while new and recurring sales of chemistry consumables and services increased 12% for both the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period. These overall increases in sales are attributable to increased spending by the Company’s pharmaceutical, industrial and chemical analysis customers on LC, MS and TA products. The sales growth is also attributable to an increase in demand for the recently launched ACQUITY UPLC^® H-Class, Xevo^® Q-Tof^TM, Xevo^® TQ-S and SYNAPT^® G2-S instrument systems, which had minimal sales in the 2010 Quarter and 2010 Period. Sales growth of these new instrument systems was achieved in all major regions of the world. The effect of foreign currency translation increased sales by 4% and 5% in the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period, respectively.

During the 2011 Quarter, sales increased 22% in Europe, 11% in Asia (including Japan), 8% in the U.S. and 14% in the rest of the world as compared with the 2010 Quarter. The effect of foreign currency translation increased sales by 10% in Europe, 4% in Asia and 2% in the rest of the world. During the 2011 Period, sales increased 18% in Asia, 18% in Europe, 6% in the U.S. and 26% in the rest of the world as compared with the 2010 Period. The effect of foreign currency translation increased sales by 8% in Europe, 5% in Asia and 2% in the rest of the world. The increase in sales in Europe can be attributed to stronger demand from pharmaceutical, industrial and government and academic customers. The increase in Asia’s sales for both the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period was primarily due to continued strong sales growth in China and India, particularly in government, industrial and chemical analysis markets. Japan’s sales grew 15% in both the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period, with the effect of foreign currency translation adding 9% and 11% to the sales growth in the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period, respectively.

In both the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period, sales to pharmaceutical customers increased 15% and combined sales to industrial and environmental customers increased 10% and 17%, respectively, as compared with the 2010 Quarter and 2010 Period. These increases were primarily a result of increased spending on instrument systems, chemistry consumables and services by the Company’s customers and sales from the ACQUITY UPLC H-Class, Xevo Q-Tof, Xevo TQ-S, and SYNAPT G2-S instrument systems. Combined global sales to government and academic customers were 10% and 5% higher in the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period, respectively.

Operating income was $127 million and $104 million in the 2011 Quarter and 2010 Quarter, respectively. Operating income was $364 million and $302 million in the 2011 Period and 2010 Period, respectively. The overall increases in operating income in 2011 as compared to 2010 were primarily from the increases in sales volumes and the favorable effect of foreign currency translation.

Net income per diluted share was $1.10 and $1.02 in the 2011 Quarter and 2010 Quarter, respectively. Net income per diluted share was $3.18 and $2.71 in the 2011 Period and 2010 Period, respectively. These increases in net income per diluted share were primarily attributable to higher sales volume and the favorable effect of foreign currency translation.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $347 million and $324 million in the 2011 Period and 2010 Period, respectively. The $23 million increase was primarily a result of higher net income in the 2011 Period. Net cash provided by operating activities was also impacted by the timing of receipts from customers, the increase in inventory for new products and payments to vendors, as well as the payment of amounts earned under the Company’s 2010 management incentive plans.

Within cash flows used in investing activities, capital expenditures related to property, plant, equipment and software capitalization were $51 million and $47 million in the 2011 Period and 2010 Period, respectively.

In July 2011, the Company acquired the net assets of Anter Corporation (“Anter”), a manufacturer of thermal analyzers used to measure thermal expansion and shrinkage, thermal conductivity and resistivity, thermal diffusivity and specific heat capacity of a wide range of materials, for $11 million in cash. Anter is expected to add approximately $6 million on a full-year basis to the Company’s annual sales and initially be neutral to earnings per share.

Within cash flows used in financing activities, the Company received $46 million and $27 million of proceeds from stock plans in the 2011 Period and 2010 Period, respectively. Fluctuations in these amounts were primarily attributable to changes in the Company’s stock price and the expiration of stock option grants. In February 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $500 million of its outstanding common stock over a two-year period. The Company repurchased $292 million and $241 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock in the 2011 Period and 2010 Period, respectively, under the February 2011 authorization and previously announced stock repurchase programs.

In July 2011, Waters entered into a new credit agreement (the “2011 Credit Agreement”). The 2011 Credit Agreement provides for a $700 million revolving facility and a $300 million term loan facility. The term loan facility and the revolving facility both mature on July 28, 2016 and require no scheduled prepayments before that date. In March 2011, the Company issued and sold senior unsecured notes with a total face value of $200 million. The Company used the proceeds from the 2011 Credit Agreement and the issuances of senior unsecured notes to repay other outstanding debt and for general corporate purposes. As a result of the issuances of senior unsecured notes, the Company’s weighted-average interest rates have increased in the 2011 Period due to higher rates paid on this fixed-rate debt.

Results of Operations

Net Sales

Product sales were $321 million and $283 million for the 2011 Quarter and the 2010 Quarter, respectively, an increase of 14%. Product sales were $941 million and $811 million for the 2011 Period and the 2010 Period, respectively, an increase of 16%. The increases in product sales in both the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period as compared to the 2010 Quarter and 2010 Period were primarily due to higher demand from the Company’s pharmaceutical, industrial and chemical analysis customers and the strong uptake in sales from the ACQUITY UPLC H-Class, Xevo Q-Tof, Xevo TQ-S and SYNAPT G2-S instrument systems, which had minimal sales in the 2010 Quarter and 2010 Period. The Company also benefited during the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period from higher sales of ACQUITY UPLC columns, which are primarily used by an expanding installed base of ACQUITY UPLC instruments. In addition, foreign currency translation added 4% and 5% to product sales for the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period, respectively.

Service sales were $133 million and $118 million in the 2011 Quarter and the 2010 Quarter, respectively, an increase of 13%. Service sales were $389 million and $348 million in the 2011 Period and the 2010 Period, respectively, an increase of 12%. The increases in service sales were primarily attributable to increased sales of service plans and billings to a higher installed base of customers. In addition, foreign currency translation added 4% to service sales for both the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period.

Waters Division Sales

Waters Division sales increased 13% and 15% in the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period, respectively, as compared to the 2010 Quarter and 2010 Period. The effect of foreign currency translation impacted the Waters Division across all product lines, resulting in an increase in total sales of 4% and 5% in the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period, respectively.

Waters instrument system sales (LC and MS) increased 15% and 17% in the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period, respectively. The increases in instrument systems sales were primarily attributable to higher demand from the Company’s pharmaceutical and industrial customers and the adoption and uptake in sales from the ACQUITY UPLC H-Class, Xevo Q-Tof and Xevo TQ-S instrument systems. Chemistry consumables sales increased 10% and 13% in the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period, respectively. These increases were driven primarily by higher demand for chemistry consumable products, including increased sales of ACQUITY UPLC lines of columns. Waters Division service sales increased 12% in both the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period due to increased sales of service plans and billings to a higher installed base of customers. Waters Division sales by product line in the 2011 Quarter, 2010

Quarter, 2011 Period and 2010 Period were approximately 52% for instrument systems, 18% for chemistry consumables and 30% for service.

In the 2011 Quarter, as compared to the 2010 Quarter, Waters Division sales in Europe increased 22%, sales in Asia increased 11%, sales in the U.S. increased 7% and sales to the rest of the world increased 14%. In the 2011 Period, as compared to the 2010 Period, Waters Division sales in Europe increased 18%, sales in Asia increased 17%, sales in the U.S. increased 5% and sales to the rest of the world increased 26%. The effect of foreign currency translation increased Europe’s sales by 10% and 8% in the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period, respectively. The increases in Asia’s sales are primarily due to strong sales growth in China and India. The effects of foreign currency translation increased Asia’s sales by 4% and 5% in the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period, respectively. The effects of foreign currency translation increased sales in the rest of world by 1% and 2% in the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period, respectively.

TA Division Net Sales

TA’s sales were 15% higher in both the 2011 Quarter as compared to the 2010 Quarter and the 2011 Period as compared to the 2010 Period. Instrument system sales increased 15% in the 2011 Quarter and 16% in the 2011 Period. Instrument system sales represented approximately 75% of TA’s sales in the 2011 Quarter, 2011 Period, 2010 Quarter and 2010 Period. The increases were primarily a result of higher demand for instrument systems from TA’s industrial customers due to improved economic conditions, as well as revenue associated with the shipment of the new Discovery DSC instrument system. TA service sales increased 17% and 12% in the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period, respectively, primarily due to increased sales of service plans and billings to a higher installed base of customers. The acquisition of Anter added 2% to TA’s 2011 Quarter sales and had minimal impact on TA’s 2011 Period sales. Geographically, TA’s sales increased in each territory.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the 2011 Quarter was $274 million compared to $238 million for the 2010 Quarter, an increase of 15%. Gross profit for the 2011 Period was $804 million compared to $696 million for the 2010 Period, an increase of 15%. The increase in gross profit dollars in both the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period can be primarily attributed to higher sales volumes. Comparatively, gross profit as a percentage of sales increased slightly to 60.3% in the 2011 Quarter and 60.4% in the 2011 Period from 59.4% in the 2010 Quarter and 60.0% 2010 Period due to sales volume leverage of fixed costs, favorable impact of foreign currency translation and a change in sales mix.

Gross profit as a percentage of sales is significantly affected by many factors, including, but not limited to, product mix and product costs of instrument systems and associated software platforms. In future quarters, the Company will be launching several new products and software platforms whose cost and amortization of capitalized software could slightly affect the Company’s product mix and associated gross profit margins as a percentage of sales. See Note 4 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for estimated future amortization expense.

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expenses for the 2011 Quarter and 2010 Quarter were $121 million and $111 million, respectively, an increase of 9%. Selling and administrative expenses for the 2011 Period and 2010 Period were $364 million and $325 million, respectively, an increase of 12%. This increase in selling and administrative expenses is a result of headcount additions; higher merit and fringe benefit costs; higher sales and incentive compensation costs; and foreign currency translation. As a percentage of net sales, selling and administrative expenses were 26.7% for the 2011 Quarter, 27.4% for the 2011 Period, 27.8% for the 2010 Quarter and 28.0% for the 2010 Period.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development expenses were $23 million and $21 million for the 2011 Quarter and 2010 Quarter, respectively, an increase of 14%. Research and development expenses were $69 million and $61 million for the 2011 Period and 2010 Period, respectively, an increase of 12%. The increases in research and development expenses in both the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period were primarily due to development costs incurred on new products.

Provision for Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate increased to 16.8% in the 2011 Quarter from 5.8% in the 2010 Quarter. The Company’s effective tax rate increased to 15.6% in the 2011 Period from 12.9% in the 2010 Period. Included in the income tax provision for the 2011 Period is a $2 million tax benefit related to the reversal of a reserve for interest related to an audit settlement in the United Kingdom. This tax benefit decreased the Company’s effective tax rate by 0.5 percentage points in the 2011 Period. Included in the income tax provision for the 2010 Quarter and 2010 Period is an $8 million tax benefit related to the reversal of reserves for uncertain tax positions due to an audit settlement in the United Kingdom. This net tax benefit decreased the Company’s effective tax rate for the 2010 Quarter and 2010 Period by

7.5 percentage points and 2.6 percentage points, respectively. Also included in the income tax provision for the 2010 Period is a $2 million tax benefit related to the resolution of a pre-acquisition tax exposure. This tax benefit decreased the Company’s effective tax rate by 0.5 percentage points in the 2010 Period. The remaining differences between the effective tax rates for the 2011 Quarter and 2011 Period as compared to the 2010 Quarter and 2010 Period were primarily attributable to differences in the proportionate amounts of pre-tax income recognized in jurisdictions with different effective tax rates.

The Company’s effective tax rate is influenced by many significant factors including, but not limited to, the wide range of income tax rates in jurisdictions in which the Company operates, sales volumes and profit levels in each tax jurisdiction, changes in tax laws and policies and the impact of foreign currency transactions and translation. As a result of variability in these factors, the Company’s effective tax rates in the future may not be similar to the effective tax rates in the 2011 Quarter, 2011 Period, 2010 Quarter or 2010 Period. A known factor that increased the Company’s effective tax rate is that the Company’s Ireland statutory tax rate has increased to 12.5% in 2011 from the historical contractual tax rate of 10%.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands):

		Nine Months Ended
		October 1, 2011				October 2, 2010
Net income		$	295,821			$	255,159
Depreciation and amortization			50,045				45,518
Stock-based compensation			20,645				18,558
Deferred income taxes			(7,072	)			(4,669	)
Change in accounts receivable			10,040				(20,713	)
Change in inventories			(46,235	)			(35,771	)
Change in accounts payable and other current liabilities			(11,937	)			36,311
Change in deferred revenue and customer advances			20,970				23,335
Other changes			15,035				6,041
Net cash provided by operating activities			347,312				323,769
Net cash used in investing activities			(194,714	)			(332,437	)
Net cash used in financing activities			(37,953	)			(58,889	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			783				(10,762	)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		$	115,428			$	(78,319	)

Cash Flow from Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $347 million and $324 million in the 2011 Period and 2010 Period, respectively. The changes within net cash provided by operating activities in the 2011 Period as compared to the 2010 Period include the following significant changes in the sources and uses of net cash provided by operating activities, aside from the increase in net income:

	•		The change in accounts receivable in the 2011 Period compared to the 2010 Period was primarily attributable to timing of shipments and payments made by customers and higher sales volumes in the 2011 Period as compared to the 2010 Period. Days-sales-outstanding (“DSO”) decreased to 71 days at October 1, 2011 from 77 days at October 2, 2010. The effect of foreign currency favorably impacted DSO’s by 2 days in the 2011 Period as compared to the 2010 Period.
	•		The 2011 Period change in inventory is primarily due to the ramp up of new product and an increase in order backlog at the end of the 2011 Period.
	•		The 2011 Period change in accounts payable and other current liabilities is a result of timing of payments to vendors and payments under the 2010 management incentive plans, offset somewhat by an increase in income taxes payable. The 2010 Period change in accounts payable and other current liabilities was a result of increases in accounts payable and accrued income taxes.

	•		Net cash provided from deferred revenue and customer advances in both the 2011 Period and the 2010 Period was a result of the higher installed base of customers renewing annual service contracts.
	•		Other changes were attributable to variation in the timing of various provisions, expenditures and accruals in other current assets, other assets and other liabilities.

Cash Used in Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities totaled $195 million and $332 million in the 2011 Period and 2010 Period, respectively. Additions to fixed assets and capitalized software were $51 million in the 2011 Period and $47 million in the 2010 Period. During the 2011 Period and 2010 Period, the Company purchased $1,297 million and $925 million of short-term investments while $1,165 million and $640 million of short-term investments matured, respectively. Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired, were $11 million during the 2011 Period. There were no business acquisitions in the 2010 Period.

Cash Used in Financing Activities

In July 2011, Waters entered into a new credit agreement (the “2011 Credit Agreement”). The 2011 Credit Agreement provides for a $700 million revolving facility and a $300 million term loan facility. The term loan facility and the revolving facility both mature on July 28, 2016 and require no scheduled prepayments before that date. The Company uses the revolving line of credit to fund its working capital needs. In July 2011, the Company borrowed $300 million under the new term loan facility. The Company used the proceeds of the term loan and the revolving borrowings to repay the outstanding amounts under the 2007 Credit Agreement. Waters terminated the 2007 Credit Agreement early without penalty.

The Company issued and sold senior unsecured notes with a total face value of $200 million in both the 2011 Period and 2010 Period. Interest on both issuances of senior unsecured notes is payable semi-annually. The Company may redeem some of the senior unsecured notes at any time in an amount not less than 10% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding, plus accrued and unpaid interest, plus the applicable make-whole amount. These senior unsecured notes require that the Company comply with an interest coverage ratio test of not less than 3.50:1 and a leverage ratio test of not more than 3.50:1 for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, respectively. In addition, these notes include customary negative covenants, affirmative covenants, representations and warranties and events of default.

During the 2011 Period and 2010 Period, the Company’s total debt borrowings increased by $206 million and $160 million, respectively. As of October 1, 2011, the Company had a total of $972 million in outstanding debt, which consisted of $400 million in outstanding notes, $300 million borrowed under the term loan facility under the 2011 Credit Agreement, $260 million borrowed under revolving credit facilities under the 2011 Credit Agreement and $12 million borrowed under various other short-term lines of credit. The outstanding portions of the revolving facilities have been classified as short-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets due to the fact that the Company utilizes the revolving line of credit to fund its working capital needs. It is the Company’s intention to pay the outstanding revolving line of credit balance during the subsequent twelve months following the respective period end date; however, there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so. As of October 1, 2011, the Company had a total amount available to borrow under existing credit agreements of $439 million after outstanding letters of credit.

In February 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $500 million of its outstanding common stock over a two-year period. During the 2011 Period and 2010 Period, the Company repurchased a total of 3.6 million and 3.8 million shares at a cost of $292 million and $241 million, respectively, under the February 2011 authorization and previously announced programs. As of October 1, 2011, the Company had purchased an aggregate of 2.9 million shares at a cost of $242 million under the February 2011 program, leaving $258 million authorized for future repurchases.

The Company received $46 million and $27 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the purchase of shares pursuant to the Company’s employee stock purchase plan in the 2011 Period and 2010 Period, respectively.

The Company believes that the cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $1,194 million at the end of the 2011 Period and expected cash flow from operating activities, together with borrowing capacity from committed credit facilities, will be sufficient to service debt and fund working capital and capital spending requirements, authorized share repurchase amounts, potential acquisitions and any adverse final determination of ongoing litigation for at least the next twelve months. Management believes, as of the date of this report, that its financial

position, along with expected future cash flows from earnings based on historical trends and the ability to raise funds from external sources, will be sufficient to meet future operating and investing needs for the foreseeable future.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

A summary of the Company’s contractual obligations and commercial commitments is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 25, 2011. The Company reviewed its contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of October 1, 2011 and determined that there were no material changes from the information set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, with the exception of the issuance of senior unsecured notes and the new credit agreement dated July 28, 2011 as described in Note 5, Debt, in the Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are involved in various litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes that it has meritorious arguments in its current litigation matters and that any outcome, either individually or in the aggregate, will not be material to the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

For the nine months ended October 1, 2011, the Company contributed $2 million to the Company’s U.S. pension plans. During fiscal year 2011, the Company expects to contribute a total of approximately $4 million to $5 million to the Company’s defined benefit plans.

The Company has not paid any dividends and does not plan to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

In the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company’s most critical accounting policies and estimates upon which its financial status depends were identified as those relating to revenue recognition, loss provisions on accounts receivable and inventory, valuation of long-lived assets, intangible assets and goodwill, warranty, income taxes, pension and other postretirement benefit obligations, litigation and stock-based compensation. The Company reviewed its policies and determined that those policies remain the Company’s most critical accounting policies for the 2011 Period. The Company did not make any changes in those policies during the 2011 Period.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Refer to Note 12, Recent Accounting Standards Changes and Developments, in the Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the information incorporated by reference herein, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), with respect to future results and events, including statements regarding, among other items, anticipated trends in the Company’s business; new product launches; geographic breakdown of business; anticipated expenses, including interest expense, taxes and tax benefits, and amortization expense; the impact of the Company’s various ongoing tax audits and litigation matters; the impact of the loss of intellectual property protection; the effect of new accounting pronouncements; use of the Company’s debt proceeds; the impact of regulatory compliance; the Company’s expected cash flow, borrowing capacity, debt repayment and refinancing; the Company’s ability to fund working capital, authorized share repurchases, potential acquisitions and any adverse litigation determinations; the Company’s contributions to defined benefit plans; the Company’s expectations regarding the payment of dividends; the effects of the Anter acquisition; and the Company’s capital spending, sufficiency of capital and ability to fund other facility expansions to accommodate future sales growth.

Many of these statements appear, in particular, under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part I, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of the words “believes”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “expects”, “may”, “will”, “would”, “intends”, “suggests”, “appears”, “estimates”, “projects”, “should” and similar expressions, whether in the

negative or affirmative. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the Company, including, and without limitation:

•		Current economic, sovereign and political conditions and uncertainties; ability to access capital and maintain liquidity in volatile financial market conditions; changes in demand by the Company’s customers and various market sectors, particularly if they should reduce capital expenditures; the effect of mergers and acquisitions on customer demand; and ability to sustain and enhance service.
•		Negative industry trends; introduction of competing products by other companies and loss of market share; pressures on prices from customers or resulting from competition; regulatory, economic and competitive obstacles to new product introductions; lack of acceptance of new products; expansion of our business in Asia; spending by certain end-markets and ability to obtain alternative sources for components and modules.
•		Foreign exchange rate fluctuations that could adversely affect translation of the Company’s future financial operating results and condition.
•		Increased regulatory burdens as the Company’s business evolves, especially with respect to the SEC, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, among others and regulatory, environmental and logistical obstacles affecting the distribution of the Company’s products and completion of purchase order documentation.
•		Risks associated with lawsuits, particularly involving claims for infringement of patents and other intellectual property rights.
•		The impact and costs incurred from changes in accounting principles and practices or tax rates (specifically, the increase in the Company’s 2011 statutory tax rate in Ireland from the 10% historical contractual tax rate to 12.5%); shifts in taxable income in jurisdictions with different effective tax rates; and the outcome of and costs associated with ongoing and future tax examinations or changes in respective country legislation affecting the Company’s effective rates.

Certain of these and other factors are discussed in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and under the heading “Risk Factors” under Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as filed with the SEC on February 25, 2011. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements, whether because of these factors or for other reasons. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in this report. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Item 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

There has been no material change in the Company’s market risk during the nine months ended October 1, 2011. For information regarding the Company’s market risk, refer to Item 7A of Part II of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as filed with the SEC on February 25, 2011.

Item 4: Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer (principal executive and principal financial officer), with the participation of management, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on this evaluation, the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of October 1, 2011 (1) to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding the required disclosure and (2) to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes identified in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended October 1, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Part II: Other Information

Item 1: Legal Proceedings

There have been no material changes in the Company’s legal proceedings during the nine months ended October 1, 2011 as described in Item 3 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as filed with the SEC on February 25, 2011.

Item 1A: Risk Factors

Information regarding risk factors of the Company is set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” under Part I, Item 1A in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as filed with the SEC on February 25, 2011. The Company reviewed its risk factors as of October 1, 2011 and determined that there were no material changes from the ones set forth in the Form 10-K. These risks are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Company or that the Company currently deems to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results.

Item 2: Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer

The following table provides information about purchases by the Company during the three months ended October 1, 2011 of equity securities registered by the Company under the Exchange Act (in thousands, except per share data):

										Total Number of				Maximum Dollar
										Shares Purchased as				Value of Shares
										Part of Publicly				that May Yet Be
		Total Number of				Average Price Paid				Announced Plans or				Purchased Under the
Period		Shares Purchased				per Share				Programs (1)				Plans or Programs
July 3 to July 30, 2011			40			$	87.85				40			$	399,185
July 31 to August 27, 2011			900			$	77.47				900			$	329,462
August 28 to October 1, 2011			905			$	78.35				905			$	258,555
Total			1,845			$	78.13				1,845			$	258,555

Item 6: Exhibits

Exhibit
Number		Description of Document
10.30		Five Year Credit Agreement, dated July 28, 2011 among Waters Corporation, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan Europe Limited and other Lenders party thereto.(1)
31.1		Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2		Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1 **		Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2 **		Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101 **		The following materials from Waters Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 1, 2011, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (iv) Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.