WAT Waters Corp

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 11-K

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018

or

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File Number: 01-14010

Waters Employee Investment Plan

Waters Corporation

34 Maple Street

Milford, Massachusetts 01757

Required Information

Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2018 and 2017

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the Year Ended December 31, 2018

See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

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See accompanying notes to the financial statements.

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WATERS EMPLOYEE INVESTMENT PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2018

1  Description of Plan

The following description of the Waters Employee Investment Plan (the “Plan”) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.

General

The Plan, effective August 19, 1994, was created to provide an opportunity for eligible employees of Waters Technologies Corporation (“Waters” or the “Company”) and any eligible legally affiliated company to provide for their future financial security through participation in a systematic savings program to which each participating employer (the “Employer”) also contributes. The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering substantially all employees of the Company and its affiliates who work in the United States. The Plan is designed to take advantage of provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), which allow a participant to elect to reduce taxable compensation (subject to certain limitations) with the amount of such reduction being contributed to the Plan by the Employer on behalf of the electing participant. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).

The Plan is a Safe Harbor Plan, which provides for catch-up contributions by participants who have attained age 50 before the close of the Plan year, to satisfy the alternative methods of meeting nondiscrimination requirements, and redefine employer matching contributions.

Eligibility

Employees are eligible to participate and are automatically enrolled in the Plan immediately upon their date of hire or rehire. Unless the employee elects to suspend automatic contributions, the automatic participation will commence at 3% of annual compensation and increase 1% each year until contributions reach 6% of annual compensation.

Contributions

All participants may elect to make after-tax Roth 401(k) contributions through the Plan in addition to pretax contributions.

Subject to certain limitations, participants may elect to voluntarily contribute to the Plan through payroll deductions from 1% to 60% of their annual compensation on a pretax basis and/or on an after-tax basis as a Roth 401(k) contribution. Participants who have attained age 50, or who will reach age 50 during the year, may elect to make an additional pretax contribution or Roth 401(k) contribution, or both, to the Plan of up to $6,000 for 2018, provided their regular pretax and Roth 401(k) contributions reach either the Plan’s limit of 30% of eligible earnings or the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) dollar limit of $18,500 for 2018. As of December 31, 2018, participants had 30 investment options in which to direct the investment of their contributions and Company contributions. Each investment option offers a different level of risk and expected rate of return. All contributions are subject to the limitations of the Code.

For contribution purposes, compensation includes salary, lump sum cash payments of merit pay increases, commissions, overtime pay, shift differentials, short-term disability pay, unused vacation pay, bonuses paid under the performance bonus plan and management incentive bonuses or certain other designated incentive plans. The Employer will match 100% of the first 6% of compensation contributed by the participant to the Plan on a combined pretax and Roth 401(k) basis. The Employer matching contribution is effective immediately upon date of eligibility and follows the investment elections selected by the participant for employee contributions. Contributions and compensation considered for matching contribution purposes are subject to certain limitations.

Participants direct their elective contributions into various investment options offered by the Plan, which include a self-directed brokerage account feature and a Company stock fund, and can change their investments options on a daily basis.

Participant Accounts

Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contributions, any applicable Employer matching contributions and an allocation of Plan earnings, and is charged with an allocation of administrative expenses to the extent that they are paid by the Plan. Certain administrative expenses are charged directly against participants’ accounts. Allocations of earnings and expenses are based on the participant account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s account balance.

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WATERS EMPLOYEE INVESTMENT PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2018

Vesting

Participants are immediately vested in their voluntary contributions as well as Employer matching contributions, plus actual earnings thereon.

Rollover Election

Employees may make an eligible rollover contribution to the Plan at any time.

Administration

Fidelity Management Trust Company (“Fidelity”) is the trustee and custodian for the Plan. Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company (“FIIOC”) is the record keeper for the Plan.

Benefits

Upon termination of service due to death, disability, retirement or other reason, a participant or beneficiary may elect to receive a lump-sum amount equal to the value of the participant’s vested interest in his or her account balance or annual or more frequent installments over a period not to extend beyond the life expectancy of the participant. The Plan also allows participants who are actively employed and have attained the age of 59 1/2 to withdraw all or any portion of their account balance for any reason. The Plan also provides for certain hardship withdrawals upon approval by the Plan administrator, a representative of the Company’s management.

Administrative Expenses

Certain administrative expenses, including loan maintenance, brokerage account fees, Waters Corporation Stock Fund (“Stock Fund”) administrative fees and in-service withdrawal fees, are paid by the participants. Other expenses, such as legal, audit and consulting fees, incurred in the administration of the Plan are paid by the Company. A portion of the operating expenses and management fees is returned to the Plan on revenue sharing arrangements. The revenue sharing amounts received are recorded as other income in the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits.

Notes Receivable from Participants

Participants in the Plan may borrow from their account balance, with a maximum of two loans permitted per participant. A participant may borrow an amount greater than or equal to $1,000 but not to exceed the lesser of (a) $50,000 minus the largest outstanding loan balance in the twelve months preceding the loan request or (b) 50% of the total account balance minus current outstanding loan balances. Principal and interest are repaid through payroll deductions for a period of up to five years, except for loans made for purchasing or constructing a principal residence for which the repayment term may be up to 20 years. The loans bear interest at a fixed rate equal to the prime rate on the first business day of the calendar quarter in which the loan is funded and are collateralized by the participant’s account balances. At December 31, 2018, interest rates on outstanding loans ranged from 3.25% to 8.50%.

2  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Accounting

The financial statements of the Plan are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). Benefits payable at year end are not accrued as they are considered to be a component of net assets available for benefits.

Investment Transactions and Investment Income

The Plan’s investments are stated at fair value. Shares of common stock and mutual funds are valued at quoted market prices, which represent the net asset value of the shares held by the Plan at year end. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis as earned.

Waters Corporation common stock is traded on a national securities exchange and is valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the year. The common stock was valued at $188.65 and $193.19 per share at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

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WATERS EMPLOYEE INVESTMENT PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2018

The Plan presents in the statement of changes in net assets the net appreciation or depreciation in the fair value of its investments that consists of the realized gains or losses and unrealized appreciation or depreciation on those investments.

Contributions

Employer and participant contributions are recorded in the period in which payroll deductions are made from the participant’s compensation.

Benefit Payments

Benefit distributions are recorded when paid.

Notes Receivable from Participants

Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Interest income on notes receivable from participants is recorded when it is earned. Related fees are recorded as administrative expenses and are expensed when they are incurred. No allowance for credit losses has been recorded as of December 31, 2018 or 2017. If a participant ceases to make loan repayments, the Plan administrator will deem the participant loan to be a distribution in accordance with applicable legal requirements, and the participant’s account balance will be reduced at the earliest permitted date as outlined in the Plan document.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Plan’s financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires the Plan administrator to make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets available for benefits at the date of the financial statements and the changes in net assets available for benefits during the reporting period and, when applicable, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Risks and Uncertainties

The Plan provides for various investment options in any combination of stocks, bonds, fixed income securities, mutual funds and other investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In August 2018, accounting guidance was issued that modifies the disclosure requirements of fair value measurements. The amendments remove disclosures that are no longer considered cost beneficial, clarify the specific requirements of disclosure and add disclosure requirements identified as relevant. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and early adoption is permitted.

3  Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with the accounting standards for fair value measurements and disclosures, the Plan’s assets are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. Fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize observable data, such as quoted prices in active markets. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize observable data points other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly. Fair values determined by Level 3 inputs utilize unobservable data points for which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions. If the Plan were to change its valuation inputs for measuring financial assets and liabilities at fair value, either due to changes in current market conditions or other factors, it would need to transfer those assets or liabilities to another level in the hierarchy based on the new inputs used. The Plan would recognize these transfers at the beginning of the reporting period in which the transfers occurred. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, there were no transfers of financial assets or financial liabilities between the hierarchy levels.

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WATERS EMPLOYEE INVESTMENT PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2018

Short-term liquid investments within the Stock Fund and self-directed brokerage accounts were held in money market funds of regulated investment companies. The classification of these assets was revised from Level 2 to Level 1 to correct the classification. In addition, the classification of certain common collective trusts, which were previously excluded from the scope of the fair value hierarchy, were revised to be consistent with other common collective trusts in the Plan. It has been determined that the correction to prior period financial statements for both the short-term liquid investments and the common collective trusts was not material and the classification was revised for all periods presented in the disclosures below.

The following table discloses the Plan’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2018:

The following table discloses the Plan’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2017:

Investments in the Stock Fund are stated at fair value based on the quoted market price on the last business day of the year for the Company’s common stock and the fair value of short-term liquid investments included in the Stock Fund.

Investments in mutual funds are stated at fair value based on the quoted net asset value of shares held by the Plan on the last business day of the year.

Investments under the self-directed brokerage account are stated at fair value based on the quoted market prices on the last business day of the year.

Investments in common collective trusts are stated at fair value based on the net asset value (“NAV”) of its underlying investments at year end. While participant transactions for common collective trusts take place daily, certain events, such as the premature termination of the contract by the Plan or the termination of the Plan, would require a redemption notice period of up to twelve months.

The methods described above may produce a fair value that may not be indicative of the net realizable value or reflective of future fair value. Furthermore, while the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.

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WATERS EMPLOYEE INVESTMENT PLAN

Notes to Financial Statements for the Year Ended December 31, 2018

4  Related-Party Transactions

Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds or collective trusts managed by an affiliate of Fidelity, a subsidiary of which is the trustee of the Plan and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Fees paid by the Plan to Fidelity or its affiliates for administrative services amounted to $347,216 for the year ended December 31, 2018. Transactions with respect to participant loans and the Stock Fund also qualify as party-in-interest transactions.

The Plan has investments in shares of the Company’s common stock through the Stock Fund. During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Plan purchased units in the Stock Fund in the amount of $3,252,945; sold units in the Stock Fund in the amount of $7,386,172; and had net investment depreciation of $1,299,890, administrative expenses of $69,054 and interest and dividend income of $34,928. The total value of the Plan’s investment in the Stock Fund was $65,191,946 and $70,659,189 at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Certain operating expenses and management fees are returned to the Plan based on revenue sharing arrangements with Fidelity. As Fidelity is the trustee and custodian of the Plan, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. The revenue sharing amounts received are recorded as other income in the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits.

5  Plan Amendment and Termination

The Company expects to continue the Plan indefinitely; however, it has the right to modify, amend or terminate the Plan at any time subject to the provisions of the Code and ERISA. No such modification or amendment, however, shall have the effect of retroactively changing or depriving participants or beneficiaries of rights already accrued under the Plan. If the Plan is terminated, participants will remain 100% vested in their account balances.

6  Tax Status

The IRS has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated October 16, 2014, that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Code. Although the Plan has been amended since the effective date of the determination letter, the Plan administrator believes that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.

US GAAP requires Plan management to evaluate uncertain tax positions taken by the Plan. The financial statement effects of a tax position are recognized when the position is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, to be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan and has concluded that as of December 31, 2018, there are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken. The Plan has recognized no interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Plan administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2015.

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