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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 LinkedIn, X (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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Visier Debuts Talent Agents, Closing the Gap Between HR Programs and Business Impact

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New AI agents turn Visier insights and plans into guided action for every manager, fixing the #1 reason HR programs fail: manager follow-through

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Visier today announced Talent Agents at HR Tech 2026. Built on the Visier Workforce Intelligence Platform, these new AI agents guides every manager to the next right action in their organization’s HR programs in real time, and give talent leaders evidence of what each program actually changed for the business.

Talent management devotes a great deal of money and effort into HR programs every year, and many still can’t show the ROI or outcomes. New Visier research* found:

62% of HR leaders name manager follow-through as the single biggest reason programs fail77% of enterprises run HR programs on spreadsheets or a patchwork of tools, and are three times less likely to measure results while a program is underway.

Visier Talent Agents are built to close these gaps, helping talent management tackle its most critical challenges as organizations plan, grow and retain their talent. They leverage the latest in AI developments to pair best-in-class program frameworks with personalized, in-workflow guidance delivered to whoever needs to act next, and a closed-loop system for continuous learning and improvement based on every program’s goals.

“Good program design has never been enough. What HR has lacked is a GPS for every manager, so the moment someone drifts off track, they’re guided back before the program goes sideways,” said Dave Weisbeck, Chief Strategy Officer at Visier. “That’s what Talent Agents deliver, along with proof of what the program actually changed for the business.” 

“The space between HR program design and the actual business result is exactly where most HR investment gets lost,” said Madeline Laurano, founder of Aptitude Research. “Guidance that activates the manager at the moment they need to act, with proof of what changed afterward, is the piece of talent management that’s been missing and what Visier is solving for.”

Unlike HCM suites that teams would spend a year customizing, or point solutions that only see one piece of the picture, or even an internal-built tool that puts employee data at risk, Visier’s Talent Agents are built to run programs end-to-end and prove impact, not just track activity.

The agents reach every stakeholder in a program at the moment they need to act, not just when someone remembers to ask. They’re built to match how an organization actually operates, and the outcome of every action it recommends feeds back into the AI learning engine, so guidance gets sharper with each cycle. Because guidance runs on Visier’s proprietary Workforce AI rather than routing every follow-up through a person, organizations can scale their programs without being constrained by HRBP headcount.

The agents are built on Visier’s Workforce Intelligence Platform, so every program comes with the context, governance, and security an enterprise expects, backed by over 16 years of experience solving HR’s toughest problems.

Talent Agents are Visier’s answer to what the company calls the “activate” layer of Workforce AI, building on the platform’s existing strength in helping organizations understand their workforce data and plan around it. The offering pairs Visier’s technology with a dedicated implementation team that customizes each program to a customer’s specific processes and goals.

Attending HRTech 2026 in Las Vegas this week? Head over to Visier Booth #5209 to explore Talent Agents, or visit visier.com to learn more. The Visier team will also be at UNLEASH World in Paris (booth #106) and Total Talent Asia (booth #3).

About Visier
Visier Workforce AI is the context foundation for talent management. The Visier Workforce Intelligence Platform turns scattered, sensitive people data into one governed understanding of the entire workforce, so organizations can understand, plan, and activate all of their talent priorities in one place. More than 85,000 of the world’s most complex organizations, including Ford Motor Company, eBay, Experian, and Domino’s Pizza, rely on Visier’s over 16 years of workforce domain expertise, ranked #1 in vendor satisfaction and user experience for three consecutive years by the Sapient Insights HR Systems Survey. Learn more at Visier.com.

*Research from fall 2026, conducted by the Visier, Inc. Research Team surveyed verified senior HR and Talent leaders from 80 organizations with more than 10,000 employees across North America.  

visierpr@walkersands.com

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HSG Laser Unveils New Flagship Machine at EuroBLECH 2026, Powering Productivity for European Manufacturers

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HANNOVER, Germany, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HSG Laser is showcasing its latest laser cutting and intelligent manufacturing solutions at EuroBLECH 2026, held from October 20–23 at the Hannover Exhibition Centre. Under the theme “Powering Productivity with HSG,” HSG is presenting its latest innovations at Booth 15-F42, including the European debut of its new flagship GV, alongside the launch of GFA PRO and AI CutPilot, as well as the European debut of its high-speed laser solutions G3015T and R2 PRO.

Expanding High-Performance Laser Solutions

The new GFA PRO is engineered for large-format metal processing, addressing challenges such as large footprints, low speed, unstable thick-plate performance, and high operating costs. Making their European debut, the G3015T and R2 PRO expand HSG’s high-speed laser lineup for sheet and tube processing, helping manufacturers improve throughput, flexibility, and production efficiency.

“HSG Laser’s European footprint has grown steadily, with more than 2,000 units delivered and a new showroom opening soon this year,” said Shawn Wang, Vice President of HSG Laser. “Our latest launches at EuroBLECH mark another step forward, combining high-performance equipment with intelligent technologies and localized support to deliver greater productivity for European customers.”

Recognized by MM MaschinenMarkt Germany

Built for the European market, HSG Laser earned the “International Spotlight” award from MM MaschinenMarkt Germany’s Chief Editor for its GV and AI CutPilot. The GV combines cutting, beveling, countersinking, and chamfering in one machine to streamline pre-welding workflows and boost efficiency. AI CutPilot is HSG’s industry-first, self-developed AI system that turns laser-cutting expertise into a reusable, scalable machine capability, helping reduce trial work and improve first-pass yield. The award further highlights HSG Laser’s technological strength and growing presence in the European market.

Strengthening Local Operations in Europe

As part of its continued commitment to supporting manufacturers worldwide, HSG Laser is further strengthening its localized operations in Europe. On 10th November, HSG will open its new showroom in Düsseldorf, Germany under the theme “Go Global, Link Local.” The new showroom will bring HSG’s latest machines, technologies, and expertise closer to European customers, creating more opportunities for direct engagement and local support. This expansion further strengthens HSG’s presence in Europe and its ability to provide responsive, customer-focused solutions tailored to local manufacturing needs.

About HSG Laser

Founded in 2006, HSG Laser is a leading global manufacturer of intelligent metal processing equipment, specializing in laser cutting, tube processing, bending, and welding automation systems. With a presence in over 100 countries and regional centers across Europe, North America, Japan, India, and Asia-Pacific, HSG Laser is committed to driving the transformation of manufacturing through innovation, reliability, and artificial intelligence.

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Mérieux NutriSciences Completes Acquisition of Certified Group, Becoming North America’s Leading Food Testing Provider

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CHICAGO, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mérieux NutriSciences, a global leader in food safety, quality, and sustainability, today announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Certified Group.

First announced in August 2026, this strategic transaction unites two complementary leaders in the Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) sector. With approximately $300 million in revenue, Certified Group brings 31 laboratories and over 1,600 talented employees into Mérieux NutriSciences’ global network. The integration also adds a robust roster of more than 170 independent regulatory consultants across the United States and Canada.

With this expanded coast-to-coast footprint, Mérieux NutriSciences is positioned to provide customers with broader service offerings and enhanced regulatory support. The integration deepens the company’s capabilities in key Food & Beverage segments, most notably in animal protein through its Food Safety Net Services (FSNS) network, where Certified Group has built a strong reputation as a bellwether for safety and quality, alongside leading positions in dairy, packaged foods, nuts, and spices.

Customers will also benefit from high-value expertise in cosmetics, OTC products, and dietary supplements through the Certified Laboratories vertical, and reduced-harm nicotine product testing via Labstat International. These core verticals are further bolstered by specialized expert services, including contract research (Lab Plus), regulatory consulting (EAS Consulting Group), and comprehensive certification and audit programs (FSNS Certification and Audit).

“We are thrilled to officially welcome the talented teams from Certified Group to the Mérieux NutriSciences global network,” said Nicolas Cartier, CEO of Mérieux NutriSciences. “By combining our respective strengths, we are vastly expanding the depth and breadth of our capabilities. This milestone allows us to be closer to our customers, meeting their localized, time-sensitive needs with unmatched speed and reliability, while furthering our shared purpose: Better Food. Better Health. Better World.”

“Our priority is to ensure a seamless transition for all customers while delivering immediate, enhanced value,” added Sébastien Moulard, President North America at Mérieux NutriSciences. “Through this nationwide analytical network, customers now have access to a truly comprehensive portfolio of routine testing, specialized analysis, expert regulatory support, and more. We are excited to leverage the best of both worlds to drive innovation and provide practical solutions right where production happens.”

“Certified Group has built a differentiated platform with a strong reputation for quality, scientific excellence and exceptional customer service,” said Deborah Kerr, Managing Director, Warburg Pincus & Executive Chair, Certified Group. “We are proud to have supported Certified Group’s evolution and look forward to seeing the company continue to thrive as part of Mérieux NutriSciences.”

The financing of the acquisition brings new minority shareholders Peugeot Invest and Continental Grain Company (Conti) alongside Mérieux NutriSciences’ long standing shareholders: Institut Mérieux, Sofina, and Dassault Group. This collective support underscores strong market confidence in the company’s strategic vision. Ultimately, the successful integration of Certified Group solidifies Mérieux NutriSciences as the leading provider in North America and a top player in the global food TIC market, further cementing its role as the trusted partner for customers navigating a rapidly evolving landscape.

About Mérieux NutriSciences:

At Mérieux NutriSciences, we leverage 60 years of scientific and entrepreneurial expertise to answer food industry needs. Today’s global challenges transform the way food is produced, marketed and consumed, which is why we know our clients need more than reliable analytical results; they need practical and innovative solutions that will contribute to make food systems safer, healthier and more sustainable. Present worldwide, we are more than 160 accredited laboratories and a team of over 11,600 committed employees. We strongly believe that together, we can create solutions to offer our planet: BETTER FOOD. BETTER HEALTH. BETTER WORLD. na.mxns.com

MERIEUX NUTRISCIENCES
Stephen Nichols (North America)
stephen.nichols@mxns.com 

Marion Bertrand (Global)
media@mxns.com 

Ashton van den Bergh (Global)
media@mxns.com

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