Results exceeded high end of Q1 Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance Revenue of $452 million, increased 9.6%, including 8.3% organic growth Gross margin of 64.4%, increased 160 bps, and net income increased to $19 million Adjusted EBITDA of $94 million, increased 24.2%, and Adjusted EBITDA margin of 20.8%, increased 250 bps Increases full-year 2024 Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA outlook Increases full-year 2024 Adjusted Free Cash Flow outlook to between $175 million and $185 million, an increase of $5 million TAMPA, Fla., May 9, 2024 /CNW/ - Primo Water Corporation (NYSE:PRMW) (TSX:PRMW) (the "Company" or "Primo Water"), a leading provider of sustainable drinking water solutions in North America, today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 30, 2024. "This quarter we exceeded the high end of our guidance for revenue and Adjusted EBITDA.  Our balanced and broad-based channel performance in the first quarter enables us to raise our revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted free cash flow outlook for the 2024 fiscal year," said Robbert Rietbroek, Chief Executive Officer. "Volume performance continues to exceed expectations and underscores the efforts of our associates to deliver our high-quality water solutions in the large and growing water category. Our focus on delivering exceptional customer service, being the water solutions partner of choice, and operational excellence is driving growth and delivering value creation," continued Mr. Rietbroek. (Unless stated otherwise, all first quarter 2024 comparisons are relative to the first quarter of 2023; all information is in U.S. dollars. Non-GAAP reconciliations presented on the exhibits to this press release)  FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS - CONTINUING OPERATIONS Revenue increased 9.6% to $452 million compared to $413 million driven by revenue growth consisting of 5.1% volume and 4.5% pricing. Organic growth was 8.3% for the quarter. Revenue growth by channel includes 9% in Water Direct / Water Exchange, 11% in Water Refill / Water Filtration and 57% in Other Water, which is primarily Mountain Valley Spring water sold at retail. Gross profit increased 12% to $291 million compared to $259 million. Gross margin increased 160 bps to 64.4% compared to 62.8%, driven by pricing initiatives, increased volume and operating efficiencies. SG&A expenses increased 6% to $249 million compared to $235 million. The increase was driven by higher selling and operating costs including delivery commissions that supported volume and revenue growth. Reported net income and net income per diluted share were $19 million and $0.12, respectively, compared to reported net income and net income per diluted share of $3 million and $0.02, respectively. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share were $31 million and $0.19, respectively, compared to $11 million and $0.07, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA increased 24% to $94 million compared to $76 million, driven primarily by pricing initiatives, customer demand and effective expense management. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 20.8%, compared to 18.3%. Net cash provided by operating activities of $63 million, less $39 million of capital expenditures and additions to intangible assets, resulted in $24 million of free cash flow, or $28 million of adjusted free cash flow (adjusting for the items set forth on Exhibit 6), compared to adjusted free cash flow of $(11.0) million in the prior year. For the Three Months Ended (USD $M unless otherwise noted) March 30, 2024 April 1, 2023 Y/Y Change Revenue, net $         452.0 $         412.5 9.6 % Net income from continuing operations $           18.7 $             3.2 $            15.5 Net income from continuing operations per diluted share $           0.12 $           0.02 $            0.10 Adjusted net income from continuing operations $           30.5 $           11.2 $            19.3 Adjusted net income from continuing operations per diluted share $           0.19 $           0.07 $            0.12 Adjusted EBITDA $           93.9 $           75.6 24.2 % Adjusted EBITDA margin % 20.8 % 18.3 % 250 bps OUTLOOK The Company is increasing its full year 2024 revenue target to between $1.855 billion and $1.885 billion and its full year 2024 Adjusted EBITDA target to between $410 million and $430 million. Full-year 2024 Adjusted Free Cash Flow from continuing operations is forecasted to be between $175 million and $185 million, an increase of $5 million. Primo Water is targeting the following results from continuing operations for the second quarter and full year 2024: Q2 2024 Range FY 2024 Range ($ in millions) Low High Low High Revenue $472 $482 $1,855 $1,885 Adjusted EBITDA $103 $111 $410 $430 Cash Taxes $30 $40 Cash Interest, Net $30 $50 Cap-Ex ~ 7% of Revenue + $22.5M Strategic Investment Adj. Free Cash Flow $175 $185 FIRST QUARTER 2024 RESULTS CONFERENCE CALL Primo Water will host a conference call, to be simultaneously webcast, on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. A question-and-answer session will follow management's presentation. To participate, please call the following numbers:  North America: (888) 664-6392International: (416) 764-8659Conference ID: 37820861This is a live, listen-only dial-in telephone line. A slide presentation and live audio webcast will be available through Primo Water's website at https://www.primowatercorp.com. The earnings conference call will be recorded and archived for playback on the investor relations section of the website for a period of two weeks following the event. FIRST QUARTER PERFORMANCE - CONTINUING OPERATIONS Revenue growth by channel is tabulated below: For the Three Months Ended (in millions of U.S. dollars) March 30, 2024 April 1, 2023 $ Change % Change Revenue, net Water Direct/Water Exchange $              339.4 $            312.4 $      27.0 8.6 % Water Refill/Water Filtration 58.0 52.2 $        5.8 11.1 % Other Water 17.7 11.3 $        6.4 56.6 % Water Dispensers 16.8 12.7 $        4.1 32.3 % Other 20.1 23.9 $       (3.8) (15.9) % Revenue, net as reported $              452.0 $            412.5 $      39.5 9.6 % QUARTERLY DIVIDEND Primo Water announced that its Board of Directors declared a dividend of US$0.09 per share on common shares, payable in cash on June 18, 2024 to shareowners of record at the close of business on June 7, 2024. SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM During the first quarter, Primo Water repurchased shares for approximately $9 million under its share repurchase program.  Under the program, the Company's common shares may be repurchased periodically in open market or privately negotiated transactions. The actual timing, manner, number, and value of shares repurchased under the program will be determined by management at its discretion and will depend on a number of factors, including the market price of Primo Water's common shares, general market and economic conditions, applicable law and other requirements, and other business considerations, provided however that the price per common share will not exceed the market price as at the date of acquisition (plus reasonable brokerage fees and commissions) in accordance with applicable securities laws and exchange rules. ABOUT PRIMO WATER CORPORATION Primo Water is a leading North America-focused pure-play water solutions provider that operates largely under a recurring revenue model in the large format water category (defined as 3 gallons or greater). This business strategy is commonly referred to as "razor-razorblade" because the initial sale of a product creates a base of users who frequently purchase complementary consumable products. The razor in Primo Water's revenue model is its industry leading line-up of innovative water dispensers, which are sold through approximately 11,200 retail locations and online at various price points. The dispensers help increase household and business penetration which drives recurring purchases of Primo Water's razorblade offering or water solutions. Primo Water's razorblade offering is comprised of Water Direct, Water Exchange, and Water Refill. Through its Water Direct business, Primo Water delivers sustainable hydration solutions direct to customers, whether at home or to businesses. Through its Water Exchange business, customers visit retail locations and purchase a pre-filled bottle of water. Once consumed, empty bottles are exchanged at our recycling center displays, which provide a ticket that offers a discount toward the purchase of a new bottle. Water Exchange is available in approximately 17,500 retail locations. Through its Water Refill business, customers refill empty bottles at approximately 23,500 self-service refill drinking water stations. Primo Water also offers water filtration units across North America. Primo Water's water solutions expand consumer access to purified, spring, and mineral water to promote a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle while simultaneously reducing plastic waste and pollution. Primo Water is committed to its water stewardship standards and is proud to partner with the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) in North America which ensures strict adherence to safety, quality, sanitation and regulatory standards for the benefit of consumer protection. Primo Water is headquartered in Tampa, Florida (USA). For more information, visit www.primowatercorp.com. Non-GAAP Measures To supplement its reporting of financial measures determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), Primo Water utilizes certain non-GAAP financial measures.  Primo Water utilizes organic revenue growth (which excludes the impact of acquisitions). Primo Water also utilizes Adjusted net income (loss), Adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin to separate the impact of certain items from the underlying business.  Because Primo Water uses these adjusted financial results in the management of its business, management believes this supplemental information is useful to investors for their independent evaluation and understanding of Primo Water's underlying business performance and the performance of its management.  Additionally, Primo Water supplements its reporting of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from continuing operations determined in accordance with GAAP by excluding additions to property, plant and equipment and additions to intangible assets to present free cash flow, and by excluding the items identified on the exhibits hereto to present adjusted free cash flow, which management believes provides useful information to investors in assessing our performance, comparing Primo Water's performance to the performance of the Company's peer group and assessing the Company's ability to service debt and finance strategic opportunities, which include investing in Primo Water's business, making strategic acquisitions, paying dividends, and strengthening the balance sheet. With respect to the Company's expectations of its future performance, the Company's reconciliations of Q2 2024 and full-year 2024 Adjusted EBITDA and 2024 adjusted free cash flow guidance are not available, as the Company is unable to quantify certain amounts to the degree of precision that would be required in the relevant GAAP measures without unreasonable effort. These items include restructuring costs and restructuring-related impairment charges, acquisition/divestiture related costs, gains or losses on the sale of businesses or other assets, and the income tax effects of these items and/or other income tax-related events. These items depend on highly variable factors and any such reconciliations would imply a degree of precision that would be confusing or misleading to investors. Primo Water expects the variability of these factors to have a significant, and potentially unpredictable, impact on the Company's future GAAP financial results. The non-GAAP financial measures described above are in addition to, and not meant to be considered superior to, or a substitute for, Primo Water's financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the non-GAAP financial measures included in this earnings announcement reflect management's judgment of particular items, and may be different from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Safe Harbor Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 conveying management's expectations as to the future based on plans, estimates and projections at the time Primo Water makes the statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and Primo Water cautions you that several important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any such forward-looking statement. You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as "may," "will," "would," "should," "could," "expect," "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "predict," "project," "seek," "potential," "opportunities," and other similar expressions and the negatives of such expressions.  However, not all forward-looking statements contain these words.  The forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future financial and operating trends and results (including Primo Water's outlook on Q2 and full-year 2024 revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow), and related matters. The forward-looking statements are based on assumptions regarding management's current plans and estimates. Management believes these assumptions to be reasonable, but there is no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in this press release include, among others: financial condition and results of operations; Primo Water's ability to compete successfully in the markets in which it operates; Primo Water's ability to manage supply chain disruptions and cost increases related to inflation; fluctuations in commodity prices and Primo Water's ability to pass on increased costs to its customers or hedge against such rising costs, and the impact of those increased prices on its volumes; Primo Water's ability to maintain favorable arrangements and relationships with its suppliers; Primo Water's ability to manage its operations successfully; currency fluctuations that adversely affect the exchange between currencies including the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar; the impact on Primo Water's financial results from uncertainty in the financial markets and other adverse changes in general economic conditions, including inflation and interest rates; any disruption to production at Primo Water's manufacturing facilities; Primo Water's ability to maintain access to its water sources; the impact of climate change on Primo Water's business; Primo Water's ability to protect its intellectual property; the seasonal nature of Primo Water's business and the effect of adverse weather conditions; the impact of national, regional and global events, including those of a political, economic, business and competitive nature, such as the Russia/Ukraine war or the Israel/Hamas war; the impact of a pandemic, such as COVID-19, related government actions and Primo Water's strategy in response thereto on our business; Primo Water's ability to fully realize the potential benefit of transactions or other strategic opportunities that it pursues; Primo Water's ability to realize cost synergies of its acquisitions due to integration difficulties and other challenges; Primo Water's exposure to intangible asset risk; Primo Water's ability to meet its obligations under its debt agreements, and risks of further increases to its indebtedness; Primo Water's ability to maintain compliance with the covenants and conditions under its debt agreements; fluctuations in interest rates, which could increase Primo Water's borrowing costs; Primo Water's ability to recruit, retain and integrate new management; the impact of increased labor costs on Primo Water's business; Primo Water's ability to renew its collective bargaining agreements from time to time on satisfactory terms; disruptions in Primo Water's information systems; Primo Water's ability to securely maintain its customers' confidential or credit card information, or other private data relating to Primo Water's employees or the Company; compliance with product health and safety standards; liability for injury or illness caused by the consumption of contaminated products; liability and damage to Primo Water's reputation as a result of litigation or legal proceedings; changes in the legal and regulatory environment in which Primo Water operates; Primo Water's ability to adequately address the challenges and risks associated with its operations and address difficulties in complying with laws and regulations including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act of 2010; the impact on Primo Water's tax obligations and effective tax rate arising from changes in local tax laws or countries adopting more aggressive interpretations of tax laws; Primo Water's ability to maintain its quarterly dividend; or credit rating changes. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures, including but not limited to risk factors contained in Primo Water's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other filings with the securities commissions. Primo Water does not undertake to update or revise any of these statements considering new information or future events, except as expressly required by applicable law.  Website: www.primowatercorp.com PRIMO WATER CORPORATION EXHIBIT 1 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in millions of U.S. dollars, except share and per share amounts) Unaudited For the Three Months Ended March 30, 2024 April 1, 2023 Revenue, net $                         452.0 $                         412.5 Cost of sales 160.7