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Avantor® Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results

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Fourth Quarter 2024

Net sales of $1.69 billion, decrease of 2%; organic growth of 1%Net income of $500.4 million; Adjusted EBITDA of $307.7 millionDiluted GAAP EPS of $0.73; adjusted EPS of $0.27Operating cash flow of $173.3 million; free cash flow of $222.1 million

Full Year 2024

Net sales of $6.78 billion, decrease of 3%; organic decline of 2%Net income of $711.5 million; Adjusted EBITDA of $1,198.8 millionDiluted GAAP EPS of $1.04; adjusted EPS of $0.99Operating cash flow of $840.8 million; free cash flow of $768.3 million

RADNOR, Pa., Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Avantor, Inc. (NYSE: AVTR), a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to customers in the life sciences and advanced technology industries, today reported financial results for its fourth fiscal quarter and year ended December 31, 2024.

“Our fourth quarter results highlight our team’s commitment to commercial intensity, operational discipline, and enabling breakthrough therapies. As anticipated, we returned to growth in the fourth quarter and delivered sequential and year-over-year growth in adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted EPS, and best-in-class free cash flow conversion. We grew our bioprocessing platform high-single-digits and expect continued strength driven by our focused execution and improving end market conditions,” said Michael Stubblefield, President and Chief Executive Officer.

“Looking ahead, we’re entering the year with strong momentum and a clear focus on innovation-driven revenue growth, margin expansion, and continued deleveraging. Our new operating model is driving greater efficiency, and our cost transformation program is ahead of schedule. With our industry-leading portfolio, resilient supply chain, and relentless efficiency, we are confident in achieving both our near-term and long-term financial goals,” Stubblefield concluded.

Fourth Quarter 2024

For the three months ended December 31, 2024, net sales were $1,686.6 million, a decrease of 2% compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. Foreign currency translation and our Clinical Services divestiture had a negative impact, resulting in sales growth of 1% on an organic basis.

Net income increased to $500.4 million from $98.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, and adjusted net income was $183.9 million as compared to $166.7 million in the comparable prior period. Net Income margin was 29.7%. Adjusted EBITDA was $307.7 million and Adjusted EBITDA margin was 18.2%. Adjusted Operating Income was $279.4 million and Adjusted Operating Income margin was 16.6%.

Diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis was $0.73, while adjusted EPS was $0.27.

Operating cash flow was $173.3 million, while free cash flow was $222.1 million.

Full Year 2024

For the full year ended December 31, 2024, net sales were $6,783.6 million, a decrease of 3% compared to 2023. Modest foreign currency translation benefit was offset by our Clinical Services divestiture, resulting in a sales decline of 2% on an organic basis.

Net income increased to $711.5 million from $321.1 million in 2023, and adjusted net income was $677.7 million as compared to $720.1 million in the comparable prior period. Net Income margin was 10.5%. Adjusted EBITDA was $1,198.8 million and Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.7%. Adjusted Operating Income was $1,089.8 million and Adjusted Operating Income margin was 16.1%.

Diluted earnings per share on a GAAP basis was $1.04, while adjusted EPS was $0.99.

Operating cash flow was $840.8 million, while free cash flow was $768.3 million. Adjusted net leverage was 3.2x as of December 31, 2024.

Fourth Quarter 2024 – Segment Results

Laboratory Solutions

Net sales were $1,125.8 million, a reported decrease of 5%, as compared to $1,182.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Foreign currency translation and our Clinical Services divestiture had a negative impact resulting in sales decline of 1% on an organic basis.Adjusted Operating Income was $147.4 million as compared to $157.3 million in the comparable prior period. Adjusted Operating Income margin was 13.1%.

Bioscience Production

Net sales were $560.8 million, a reported increase of 4%, as compared to $540.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Sales also increased 4% on an organic basis.Adjusted Operating Income was $149.2 million, as compared to $132.0 million in the comparable prior period. Adjusted Operating Income margin was 26.6%.

Full Year 2024 – Segment Results

Laboratory Solutions

Net sales were $4,610.1 million, a reported decrease of 3%, as compared to $4,738.3 million in 2023. Modest foreign currency translation benefit was offset by our Clinical Services divestiture resulting in sales declines of 2% on an organic basis.Adjusted Operating Income was $598.0 million as compared to $668.3 million in the comparable prior period. Adjusted Operating Income margin was 13.0%.

Bioscience Production

Net sales were $2,173.5 million, a reported decrease of 3%, as compared to $2,228.9 million in 2023. Sales also declined 3% on an organic basis.Adjusted Operating Income was $558.2 million, as compared to $601.9 million in the comparable prior period. Adjusted Operating Income margin was 25.7%.

Adjusted Operating Income is Avantor’s segment reporting profitability measure under generally accepted accounting principles and is used by management to measure and evaluate the performance of our Company’s business segments.

Conference Call
We will host a conference call to discuss our results today, February 7, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The live webcast and presentation, as well as a replay, will be available on the investor section of Avantor’s website.

About Avantor
Avantor® is a leading life science tools company and global provider of mission-critical products and services to the life sciences and advanced technology industries. We work side-by-side with customers at every step of the scientific journey to enable breakthroughs in medicine, healthcare, and technology. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities at more than 300,000 customer locations in 180 countries. For more information, visit avantorsciences.com and find us on LinkedInX (Twitter) and Facebook.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To evaluate our performance, we monitor a number of key indicators. As appropriate, we supplement our results of operations determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) with certain non-GAAP financial measures that we believe are useful to investors, creditors and others in assessing our performance. These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for reported GAAP results because they may include or exclude certain items as compared to similar GAAP-based measures, and such measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Rather, these measures should be considered as an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that provide a more complete understanding of our business. We strongly encourage investors to review our consolidated financial statements included in reports filed with the SEC in their entirety and not rely solely on any one single financial measure or communication.

The non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release are sales growth (decline) on an organic basis, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted Operating Income margin, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted net income, adjusted EPS, adjusted net leverage, free cash flow and free cash flow conversion.

Organic net sales growth (decline) eliminates from our reported net sales change the impacts of revenues from acquisitions and divestitures that occurred in the last year and changes in foreign currency exchange rates. We believe that this measurement is useful to investors as a way to measure and evaluate our underlying commercial operating performance consistently across our segments and the periods presented. This measure is used by our management for the same reason.Adjusted Operating Income is our net income or loss adjusted for the following items: (i) interest expense, (ii) income tax expense, (iii) amortization of acquired intangible assets, (iv) losses on extinguishment of debt, (v) charges associated with the impairment of certain assets, (vi) gain on sale of business, (vii) and certain other adjustments. Adjusted Operating Income margin is Adjusted Operating Income divided by net sales as determined under GAAP. We believe that these measures are useful to investors as ways to analyze the underlying trends in our business consistently across the periods presented. These measures are used by our management for the same reason. Additionally, Adjusted Operating Income is our segment reporting profitability measure under GAAP.Adjusted EBITDA is our net income or loss adjusted for the following items: (i) interest expense, (ii) income tax expense, (iii) amortization of acquired intangible assets, (iv) depreciation expense, (v) losses on extinguishment of debt, (vi) charges associated with the impairment of certain assets, (vii) gain on sale of business, (viii) and certain other adjustments. Adjusted EBITDA margin is Adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales as determined under GAAP. We believe that these measures are useful to investors as ways to analyze the underlying trends in our business consistently across the periods presented. These measures are used by our management for the same reason.Adjusted net income is our net income or loss first adjusted for the following items: (i) amortization of acquired intangible assets, (ii) losses on extinguishment of debt, (iii) charges associated with the impairment of certain assets, (iv) gain on sale of business, (v) and certain other adjustments. From this amount, we then add or subtract an assumed incremental income tax impact on the above-noted pre-tax adjustments, using estimated tax rates, to arrive at Adjusted Net Income. We believe that this measure is useful to investors as a way to analyze the business consistently across the periods presented. This measure is used by our management for the same reason.Adjusted EPS is our adjusted net income divided by our diluted GAAP weighted average share count adjusted for anti-dilutive instruments. We believe that this measure is useful to investors as an additional way to analyze the underlying trends in our business consistently across the periods presented. This measure is used by our management for the same reason.Adjusted net leverage is equal to our gross debt, reduced by our cash and cash equivalents, divided by our trailing 12-month Adjusted EBITDA (excluding stock-based compensation expense and including the expected run-rate effect of cost synergies and the incremental results of completed acquisitions and divestitures as if those acquisitions and divestitures had occurred on the first day of the trailing 12-month period). We believe that this measure is useful to investors as a way to evaluate and measure the Company’s capital allocation strategies and the underlying trends in the business. This measure is used by our management for the same reason.Free cash flow is equal to our cash flows from operating activities, less capital expenditures, plus direct transaction costs and income taxes paid related to acquisitions and divestitures (as applicable) in the period. Free cash flow conversion is free cash flow divided by adjusted net income. We believe that these measures are useful to investors as they provide a view on the Company’s ability to generate cash for use in financing or investing activities. These measures are used by our management for the same reason.

Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the tables accompanying this release.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created thereby under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements discuss our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, including our cost transformation initiative, objectives, future performance and business. These statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “aim,” “anticipate,” “assumption,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “long-term,” “near-term,” “objective,” “opportunity,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “projection,” “prospects,” “seek,” “target,” “trend,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “would,” “will,” the negatives thereof and other words and terms of similar meaning.

Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions; they are not guarantees of performance. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Although we believe that our assumptions made in connection with the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that the assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct. Factors that could contribute to these risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, the factors described in “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC.

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

Investor Relations Contact
Allison Hosak
Senior Vice President, Global Communications
Avantor
908.329.7281
Allison.Hosak@avantorsciences.com 

Global Media Contact
Eric Van Zanten
Head of External Communications
Avantor
610-529-6219
Eric.VanZanten@avantorsciences.com

 

Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries

Consolidated statements of operations

(in millions, except per share data)

Three months ended
December 31,

Year ended December 31,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Net sales

$   1,686.6

$   1,722.8

$   6,783.6

$   6,967.2

Cost of sales

1,123.7

1,152.4

4,504.3

4,603.4

Gross profit

562.9

570.4

2,279.3

2,363.8

Selling, general and administrative expenses

371.4

387.1

1,641.1

1,506.6

Impairment charges

160.8

Gain on sale of business

(446.6)

(446.6)

Operating income

638.1

183.3

1,084.8

696.4

Interest expense, net

(44.9)

(65.3)

(218.8)

(284.8)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

(4.4)

(1.0)

(10.9)

(6.9)

Other (expense) income, net

(4.6)

2.5

(1.2)

5.8

Income before income taxes

584.2

119.5

853.9

410.5

Income tax expense

(83.8)

(21.0)

(142.4)

(89.4)

Net income

$      500.4

$       98.5

$      711.5

$      321.1

Earnings per share:

Basic

$       0.74

$       0.15

$       1.05

$       0.48

Diluted

$       0.73

$       0.15

$       1.04

$       0.47

Weighted average shares outstanding:

Basic

680.7

676.4

679.6

675.6

Diluted

682.7

679.2

681.9

678.4

 

Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries

Consolidated balance sheets

(in millions)

December 31,
2024

December 31,
2023

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$           261.9

$            262.9

Accounts receivable, net

1,034.5

1,150.2

Inventory

731.5

828.1

Other current assets

118.7

143.7

Total current assets

2,146.6

2,384.9

Property, plant and equipment, net

708.1

737.5

Other intangible assets, net

3,360.2

3,775.3

Goodwill, net

5,539.2

5,716.7

Other assets

360.4

358.3

Total assets

$      12,114.5

$       12,972.7

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity

Current liabilities:

Current portion of debt

$           821.1

$            259.9

Accounts payable

662.8

625.9

Employee-related liabilities

168.2

133.1

Accrued interest

48.6

50.2

Other current liabilities

306.8

411.2

Total current liabilities

2,007.5

1,480.3

Debt, net of current portion

3,234.7

5,276.7

Deferred income tax liabilities

557.3

612.8

Other liabilities

358.3

350.3

Total liabilities

6,157.8

7,720.1

Stockholders’ equity:

Common stock including paid-in capital

3,937.7

3,830.1

Accumulated earnings

2,203.0

1,491.5

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(184.0)

(69.0)

Total stockholders’ equity

5,956.7

5,252.6

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$      12,114.5

$       12,972.7

 

Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries

Consolidated statements of cash flows

(in millions)

Three months ended
December 31,

Year ended December 31,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income

$      500.4

$       98.5

$      711.5

$      321.1

Reconciling adjustments:

Depreciation and amortization

100.9

100.6

405.5

402.3

Impairment charges

160.8

Gain on sale of business

(446.6)

(446.6)

Stock-based compensation expense

11.1

8.8

46.8

40.5

Non-cash restructuring charges

0.5

16.9

Provision for accounts receivable and
     inventory

19.3

22.0

75.1

84.5

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)

28.4

(78.3)

(46.9)

(172.4)

Amortization of deferred financing costs

2.6

3.1

11.2

13.0

Loss on extinguishment of debt

4.4

1.0

10.9

6.9

Foreign currency remeasurement (gain)
     loss

(3.3)

0.5

(0.3)

(2.6)

Pension termination charges

9.3

9.3

Changes in assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

11.7

21.9

45.9

77.0

Inventory

3.0

21.2

(18.5)

30.3

Accounts payable

17.7

(43.8)

59.6

(139.6)

Accrued interest

14.9

10.6

(1.6)

0.3

Other assets and liabilities

(100.7)

87.1

(37.7)

48.6

Other

(0.3)

(1.6)

(0.3)

(0.7)

Net cash provided by operating
     activities

173.3

251.6

840.8

870.0

Cash flows from investing activities:

Capital expenditures

(27.5)

(50.6)

(148.8)

(146.4)

Proceeds from sale of disposal group, net of
     cash sold

585.2

585.2

Other

0.8

0.6

2.5

2.7

Net cash provided by (used in)
     investing activities

558.5

(50.0)

438.9

(143.7)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Debt repayments

(756.8)

(188.1)

(1,341.8)

(846.0)

Payments of debt refinancing fees and
     premiums

(2.3)

Proceeds received from exercise of stock
     options

1.9

4.2

69.2

18.3

Shares repurchased to satisfy employee tax
     obligations for vested stock-based awards

(0.4)

(0.2)

(8.6)

(13.7)

Net cash used in financing activities

(755.3)

(184.1)

(1,281.2)

(843.7)

Effect of currency rate changes on cash and cash
     equivalents

(22.1)

9.5

(21.5)

8.2

Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted
     cash

(45.6)

27.0

(23.0)

(109.2)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash,
     beginning of period

310.3

260.7

287.7

396.9

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of
     period

$      264.7

$      287.7

$      264.7

$      287.7

 

Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries

Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin

(dollars in millions, %
     based on net sales)

Three months ended December 31,

Year ended December 31,

2024

2023

2024

2023

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

Net income

$ 500.4

29.7 %

$   98.5

5.7 %

$ 711.5

10.5 %

$ 321.1

4.6 %

Amortization

74.2

4.4 %

75.0

4.4 %

299.8

4.4 %

307.7

4.4 %

Loss on extinguishment
     of debt

4.4

0.3 %

1.0

— %

10.9

0.2 %

6.9

0.1 %

Integration-related
     expenses1

— %

(0.7)

— %

— %

7.6

0.1 %

Restructuring and
     severance charges2

0.5

— %

8.5

0.5 %

82.8

1.2 %

26.5

0.4 %

Transformation
     expenses3

12.3

0.8 %

5.4

0.3 %

58.9

0.9 %

5.4

0.1 %

Reserve for certain legal
     matters, net4

1.3

0.1 %

3.1

0.2 %

9.2

0.2 %

7.1

0.1 %

Other5

(3.5)

(0.3) %

(0.6)

— %

(3.9)

(0.2) %

(2.8)

— %

Impairment charges6

— %

— %

— %

160.8

2.3 %

Gain on sale of
     business7

(446.6)

(26.5) %

— %

(446.6)

(6.6) %

— %

Pension termination
     charges8

9.3

0.6 %

— %

9.3

0.2 %

— %

Income tax expense
     (benefit)
     applicable to
     pretax
     adjustments

31.6

1.8 %

(23.5)

(1.4) %

(54.2)

(0.8) %

(120.2)

(1.8) %

Adjusted net income

183.9

10.9 %

166.7

9.7 %

677.7

10.0 %

720.1

10.3 %

Interest expense, net

44.9

2.7 %

65.3

3.8 %

218.8

3.2 %

284.8

4.1 %

Depreciation

26.7

1.6 %

25.6

1.4 %

105.7

1.6 %

94.6

1.3 %

Income tax
     provision
     applicable to
     Adjusted Net
     income

52.2

3.0 %

$   44.5

2.6 %

$ 196.6

2.9 %

$ 209.6

3.1 %

Adjusted EBITDA

$ 307.7

18.2 %

$ 302.1

17.5 %

$  1,198.8

17.7 %

$  1,309.1

18.8 %

1.

Represents direct costs incurred with third parties and the accrual of a long-term retention incentive to integrate acquired companies. These expenses represent incremental costs and are unrelated to normal operations of our business. Integration expenses are incurred over a pre-defined integration period specific to each acquisition.

2.

Reflects the incremental expenses incurred in the period related to restructuring initiatives to increase profitability and productivity. Costs included in this caption are specific to employee severance, site-related exit costs, and contract termination costs. The expenses recognized in 2024 represent costs incurred to achieve the Company’s publicly-announced cost transformation initiative.

3.

Represents incremental expenses directly associated with the Company’s publicly-announced cost transformation initiative, primarily related to the cost of external advisors.

4.

Represents charges and legal costs, net of recoveries, in connection with certain litigation and other contingencies that are unrelated to our core operations and not reflective of on-going business and operating results.

5.

Represents net foreign currency (gain) loss from financing activities and other stock-based compensation expense (benefit).

6.

Related to impairment of Ritter.

7.

Related to gain on sale of our Clinical Services business.

8.

Represents pension termination charges related to termination of our U.S. Pension Plan.

 

Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries

Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures (continued)

 

Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Income Margin

(dollars in millions, %
      based on net sales)

Three months ended December 31,

Year ended December 31,

2024

2023

2024

2023

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

Net income

$ 500.4

29.7 %

$   98.5

5.7 %

$ 711.5

10.5 %

$ 321.1

4.6 %

Interest expense, net

44.9

2.7 %

65.3

3.8 %

218.8

3.2 %

284.8

4.1 %

Income tax expense

83.8

4.8 %

21.0

1.2 %

142.4

2.1 %

89.4

1.3 %

Loss on extinguishment
     of debt

4.4

0.3 %

1.0

— %

10.9

0.2 %

6.9

0.1 %

Other (expense) income,
     net

4.6

0.3 %

(2.5)

(0.1) %

1.2

— %

(5.8)

(0.1) %

      Operating income

638.1

37.8 %

183.3

10.6 %

1,084.8

16.0 %

696.4

10.0 %

Amortization

74.2

4.4 %

75.0

4.4 %

299.8

4.4 %

307.7

4.4 %

Integration-related
     expenses1

— %

(0.7)

— %

— %

7.6

0.1 %

Restructuring and
     severance charges2

0.5

— %

8.5

0.5 %

82.8

1.2 %

26.5

0.4 %

Transformation
     expenses3

12.3

0.8 %

5.4

0.3 %

58.9

0.9 %

5.4

0.1 %

Reserve for certain legal
     matters, net4

1.3

0.1 %

3.1

0.2 %

9.2

0.2 %

7.1

0.1 %

Other5

(0.4)

— %

0.2

— %

0.9

— %

0.3

— %

Impairment charges6

— %

— %

— %

160.8

2.3 %

Gain on sale of
     business7

(446.6)

(26.5) %

— %

(446.6)

(6.6) %

— %

Adjusted Operating
     Income

$ 279.4

16.6 %

$ 274.8

16.0 %

$ 1,089.8

16.1 %

$ 1,211.8

17.4 %

1.

Represents direct costs incurred with third parties and the accrual of a long-term retention incentive to integrate acquired companies. These expenses represent incremental costs and are unrelated to normal operations of our business. Integration expenses are incurred over a pre-defined integration period specific to each acquisition.

2.

Reflects the incremental expenses incurred in the period related to restructuring initiatives to increase profitability and productivity. Costs included in this caption are specific to employee severance, site-related exit costs, and contract termination costs. The expenses recognized in 2024 represent costs incurred to achieve the Company’s publicly-announced cost transformation initiative.

3.

Represents incremental expenses directly associated with the Company’s publicly-announced cost transformation initiative, primarily related to the cost of external advisors.

4.

Represents charges and legal costs, net of recoveries, in connection with certain litigation and other contingencies that are unrelated to our core operations and not reflective of on-going business and operating results.

5.

Represents other stock-based compensation expense (benefit).

6.

Related to impairment of Ritter.

7.

Related to gain on sale of our Clinical Services business.

 

Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries

Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures (continued)

Adjusted earnings per share

(shares in millions)

Three months ended
December 31,

Year ended
December 31,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Diluted earnings per share (GAAP)

$     0.73

$     0.15

$     1.04

$     0.47

Amortization

0.11

0.11

0.44

0.45

Loss on extinguishment of debt

0.01

0.02

0.01

Integration-related expenses

0.01

Restructuring and severance charges

0.01

0.12

0.04

Transformation expenses

0.02

0.01

0.09

0.01

Reserve for certain legal matters, net

0.01

0.01

Other

(0.01)

Impairment charges

0.24

Gain on sale of business

(0.66)

(0.65)

Pension termination charges

0.01

0.01

Income tax expense (benefit) applicable to pretax
       adjustments

0.05

(0.03)

(0.08)

(0.18)

Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP)

$     0.27

$     0.25

$     0.99

$     1.06

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding:

Share count for Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP)

682.7

679.2

681.9

678.4

 

Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries

Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures (continued)

Free cash flow

(in millions)

Three months ended
December 31,

Year ended
December 31,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Net cash provided by operating activities

$    173.3

$    251.6

$    840.8

$    870.0

Capital expenditures

(27.5)

(50.6)

(148.8)

(146.4)

Divestiture-related transaction expenses and taxes paid

76.3

76.3

Free cash flow (non-GAAP)

$    222.1

$    201.0

$    768.3

$    723.6

 

Adjusted net leverage

(dollars in millions)

December 31,
2024

Total debt, gross

$      4,077.8

Less cash and cash equivalents

(261.9)

$      3,815.9

Trailing twelve months Adjusted EBITDA(1)

$      1,149.7

Trailing twelve months ongoing stock-based compensation expense

47.0

$      1,196.7

Adjusted net leverage (non-GAAP)

              3.2 x

1.

Represents the Adjusted EBITDA of Avantor for the trailing twelve-month period minus the results attributable to the divested business as if such divestiture had been completed on the 1st day of such trailing twelve-month period, as contemplated by our debt covenants.

 

Avantor, Inc. and subsidiaries

Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures (continued)

Net sales by segment

(in millions)

December 31

Reconciliation of net sales growth (decline) to
organic net sales growth (decline)

Net sales

growth

(decline)

Foreign
currency
impact

Divestiture
impact

Organic
net

sales
growth

(decline)

2024

2023

Three months ended:

Laboratory Solutions

$  1,125.8

$ 1,182.4

$    (56.6)

$      (3.4)

$     (42.4)

$     (10.8)

Bioscience Production

560.8

540.4

20.4

(1.8)

22.2

Total

$  1,686.6

$ 1,722.8

$    (36.2)

$      (5.2)

$     (42.4)

$       11.4

Year ended:

Laboratory Solutions

$  4,610.1

$ 4,738.3

$   (128.2)

$        5.5

$     (42.4)

$     (91.3)

Bioscience Production

2,173.5

2,228.9

(55.4)

1.8

(57.2)

Total

$  6,783.6

$ 6,967.2

$   (183.6)

$        7.3

$     (42.4)

$    (148.5)

(dollars in millions, %
based on net sales)

December 31

Reconciliation of net sales growth (decline) to
organic net sales growth (decline)

Net sales

growth

(decline)

Foreign
currency
impact

Divestiture
impact

Organic
net

sales
growth

(decline)

2024

2023

Three months ended:

Laboratory Solutions

$  1,125.8

$ 1,182.4

(4.8) %

(0.3) %

(3.6) %

(0.9) %

Bioscience Production

560.8

540.4

3.8 %

(0.3) %

— %

4.1 %

Total

$  1,686.6

$ 1,722.8

(2.1) %

(0.3) %

(2.5) %

0.7 %

Year ended:

Laboratory Solutions

$  4,610.1

$ 4,738.3

(2.7) %

0.1 %

(0.9) %

(1.9) %

Bioscience Production

2,173.5

2,228.9

(2.5) %

0.1 %

— %

(2.6) %

Total

$  6,783.6

$ 6,967.2

(2.6) %

0.1 %

(0.6) %

(2.1) %

 

Adjusted Operating Income by segment

(dollars in millions, %
     represent Adjusted
     Operating Income
     margin)

Three months ended December 31,

Year ended December 31,

2024

2023

2024

2023

$

%

$

%

$

%

$

%

Laboratory Solutions

$ 147.4

13.1 %

$ 157.3

13.3 %

$ 598.0

13.0 %

$ 668.3

14.1 %

Bioscience Production

149.2

26.6 %

132.0

24.4 %

558.2

25.7 %

601.9

27.0 %

Corporate

(17.2)

— %

(14.5)

— %

(66.4)

— %

(58.4)

— %

Total

$ 279.4

16.6 %

$ 274.8

16.0 %

$ 1,089.8

16.1 %

$ 1,211.8

17.4 %

 

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Technology

Chef Robotics Physical AI Models Can Now Automate Baked Goods Packing

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SAN FRANCISCO, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chef Robotics, a leader in physical AI for the food industry, today announced that Chef robots can now automate tray assembly for baked goods packing. The application places baked products, such as burger buns, chocolate chip cookies, biscotti, butter cookies, biscuits, fortune cookies, granola bars, rusks, and shortbreads into trays and packaging containers before sealing.

Watch Chef robots in action.

Baked goods packing has historically been difficult to automate for high-mix production. Each item behaves differently on the production line—a granola bar compresses under the wrong grip, while a biscotti or rusk can crack if placed at the wrong angle. Surface textures range from glazed and smooth to crumbly and irregular, and strict presentation requirements leave little room for error. This variability has made it challenging for automation systems to reliably handle baked goods at production speeds, leaving food manufacturers dependent on manual labor and traditional bakery equipment.

To address this, Chef built its baked goods packing application on its existing piece-picking capability, which uses Chef’s AI-powered computer vision and physical AI models trained across diverse real-world production environments. This allows Chef robots to assess each item’s position, shape, and orientation in real time and determine how to pick the items from the pan and place them quickly and precisely without damaging them.

The baked goods packing application supports four distinct placement capabilities.

First, Chef’s vision system detects the angle at which each item sits in the pan and reorients it after picking, placing it on the tray at the exact angle required, regardless of its original position, enabling retail-ready presentation for SKUs that require precise angular placement.

Second, Chef robots can place multiple baked goods into the same packaging container in a single automated pass, completing full tray assembly without manual intervention.

Third, for packaging containers with multiple small compartments, Chef robots can precisely place items into each designated section, including multiple items in the same compartment, using Chef’s AI vision model to detect compartment positions and orientations in real time.

Fourth, Chef’s vision system identifies the exact center of each tray and places every item at a predefined offset from that center, ensuring a uniform, consistent arrangement across every pack regardless of how trays arrive on the conveyor.

For food manufacturers evaluating bakery systems and baked goods packaging automation, the application offers higher throughput, reduced labor dependency, and consistent presentation across shifts. The capability runs on Chef’s existing robotic hardware and software, allowing manufacturers to deploy it without requiring any changes to their production lines.

Chef’s baked goods packing application is available in the U.S., Canada, Germany, and the UK and is included as part of Chef’s robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) pricing model.

About Chef Robotics
Chef is the first company to have commercialized a scalable AI-driven food robotics solution. With over 104 million servings made in production, Chef leverages ChefOS, an AI platform for food manipulation, to offer a Robotics-as-a-Service solution that helps industry-leading food companies increase production volume and meet demand. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Chef aims to empower humans to do what humans do best by accelerating the advent of intelligent machines. Visit https://chefrobotics.ai to learn more.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chef-robotics-physical-ai-models-can-now-automate-baked-goods-packing-302756923.html

SOURCE Chef Robotics

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Technology

Chef Robotics Physical AI Models Can Now Automate Baked Goods Packing

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on

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SAN FRANCISCO, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chef Robotics, a leader in physical AI for the food industry, today announced that Chef robots can now automate tray assembly for baked goods packing. The application places baked products, such as burger buns, chocolate chip cookies, biscotti, butter cookies, biscuits, fortune cookies, granola bars, rusks, and shortbreads into trays and packaging containers before sealing.

Watch Chef robots in action.

Baked goods packing has historically been difficult to automate for high-mix production. Each item behaves differently on the production line—a granola bar compresses under the wrong grip, while a biscotti or rusk can crack if placed at the wrong angle. Surface textures range from glazed and smooth to crumbly and irregular, and strict presentation requirements leave little room for error. This variability has made it challenging for automation systems to reliably handle baked goods at production speeds, leaving food manufacturers dependent on manual labor and traditional bakery equipment.

To address this, Chef built its baked goods packing application on its existing piece-picking capability, which uses Chef’s AI-powered computer vision and physical AI models trained across diverse real-world production environments. This allows Chef robots to assess each item’s position, shape, and orientation in real time and determine how to pick the items from the pan and place them quickly and precisely without damaging them.

The baked goods packing application supports four distinct placement capabilities.

First, Chef’s vision system detects the angle at which each item sits in the pan and reorients it after picking, placing it on the tray at the exact angle required, regardless of its original position, enabling retail-ready presentation for SKUs that require precise angular placement.

Second, Chef robots can place multiple baked goods into the same packaging container in a single automated pass, completing full tray assembly without manual intervention.

Third, for packaging containers with multiple small compartments, Chef robots can precisely place items into each designated section, including multiple items in the same compartment, using Chef’s AI vision model to detect compartment positions and orientations in real time.

Fourth, Chef’s vision system identifies the exact center of each tray and places every item at a predefined offset from that center, ensuring a uniform, consistent arrangement across every pack regardless of how trays arrive on the conveyor.

For food manufacturers evaluating bakery systems and baked goods packaging automation, the application offers higher throughput, reduced labor dependency, and consistent presentation across shifts. The capability runs on Chef’s existing robotic hardware and software, allowing manufacturers to deploy it without requiring any changes to their production lines.

Chef’s baked goods packing application is available in the U.S., Canada, Germany, and the UK and is included as part of Chef’s robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) pricing model.

About Chef Robotics
Chef is the first company to have commercialized a scalable AI-driven food robotics solution. With over 104 million servings made in production, Chef leverages ChefOS, an AI platform for food manipulation, to offer a Robotics-as-a-Service solution that helps industry-leading food companies increase production volume and meet demand. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Chef aims to empower humans to do what humans do best by accelerating the advent of intelligent machines. Visit https://chefrobotics.ai to learn more.

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SOURCE Chef Robotics

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Air Products to Expand Industrial Gas Supply for Samsung Electronics’ Next-Generation Semiconductor Fab in South Korea

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New investment underscores the company’s long-term commitment to Korea and its leading role in the global semiconductor industry 

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Air Products (NYSE:APD), a world-leading industrial gases company and serving Samsung globally, today announced it has been selected by Samsung to supply industrial gases for its new advanced semiconductor fab in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

Under the agreement, Air Products will build, own and operate multiple state-of-the-art production facilities and a bulk specialty gas supply system to supply nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and hydrogen for Samsung’s new semiconductor fab. The new facilities are expected to come onstream in multiple phases from 2028 through 2030.

Air Products has a long track record of executing multiple phase expansions in Pyeongtaek to support Samsung’s growing manufacturing needs. This latest project represents Air Products’ largest investment to date in the semiconductor industry and will establish Pyeongtaek as the company’s single largest operations site globally supporting the electronics industry. 

“Air Products is honored to be selected once again by Samsung and to have their continued confidence as a trusted partner supporting their strategic growth plans,” said SR Kim, President, Air Products Korea. “This significant investment reinforces Air Products’ role as a leading global supplier to the semiconductor industry and underscores our long-standing commitment to supporting our strategic customers with safety, reliability, efficiency and excellent service.”

Air Products has served the global electronics industry for more than 40 years, supplying industrial gases safely and reliably to many of the world’s leading technology companies. The company has operated in Korea for more than 50 years and has established a strong position in electronics and manufacturing sectors.

About Air Products

Air Products (NYSE: APD) is a world-leading industrial gases company in operation for over 85 years focused on serving energy, environmental, and emerging markets and generating a cleaner future. The Company supplies essential industrial gases, related equipment and applications expertise to customers in dozens of industries, including refining, chemicals, metals, electronics, manufacturing, medical and food. As the leading global supplier of hydrogen, Air Products also develops, engineers, builds, owns and operates some of the world’s largest clean hydrogen projects, supporting the transition to low- and zero-carbon energy in the industrial and heavy-duty transportation sectors. Through its sale of equipment businesses, the Company also provides turbomachinery, membrane systems and cryogenic containers globally.

Air Products had fiscal 2025 sales of $12 billion from operations in approximately 50 countries. For more information, visit airproducts.com or follow us on LinkedInXFacebook or Instagram.

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release and are not guarantees of future performance. While forward-looking statements are made in good faith and based on assumptions, expectations and projections that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information, actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors, including the risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 and other factors disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the assumptions, beliefs or expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances upon which any such forward-looking statements are based.

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