Clean Harbors 4Q Earnings up 68 Percent on Cleanups and Acquisitions

Date: February 23, 2011

Source: Clean Harbors, Inc.

Clean Harbors Reports Fourth-Quarter and Year-End 2010 Financial Results

  • Contributions Across Business Lines Drive Strong Results

  • Q4 Revenue Increases 20% to $417 Million

  • Q4 Net Income Up 68%; EBITDA Grows to $70.3 Million

  • Company Increases 2011 Guidance

Clean Harbors, Inc. ("Clean Harbors") (NYSE: CLH), the leading provider of environmental and energy and industrial services throughout North America, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010.

Revenues increased 20% to $417.1 million from $347.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, reflecting a strong contribution from both its environmental and energy and industrial businesses. Income from operations increased 54% to $43.0 million from $27.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Fourth quarter 2010 net income grew to $23.3 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, from $13.9 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2009. EBITDA (see description below) increased to $70.3 million from $52.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Comments on the Fourth Quarter

"Clean Harbors concluded a successful 2010 with a strong fourth-quarter performance, as we delivered 34 percent growth in EBITDA on a 20 percent increase in revenue," said Alan S. McKim, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We experienced a continuation of the favorable industry trends we saw in the third quarter, achieving double-digit growth across a number of key markets including Chemicals, Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Refineries and Utilities."

"Both our Environmental business and our Energy and Industrial business generated momentum during the quarter," McKim said. "Within Environmental, utilization at our incinerators exceeded 93% for the quarter - our highest level of 2010. In addition, a sharp uptick in projects drove total landfill volumes up by more than 60 percent from the same period of 2009. Within our Energy and Industrial business, increased investments in Western Canada by major energy companies continued to spark production activity, creating new opportunities for us throughout the region and generating another excellent quarter for our lodging business."

Full-Year 2010 Results

Revenues for 2010 increased 61% to $1.73 billion from $1.07 billion in 2009. The Company's participation in the oil spill response efforts in the Gulf of Mexico and Michigan generated revenues of approximately $253 million in 2010. Income from operations more than doubled to $211.9 million from $82.1 million in 2009. 2010 net income grew to $130.5 million, or $4.93 per diluted share, from $36.7 million, or $1.47 per diluted share, in 2009. EBITDA (see description below) doubled to $314.7 million from $157.6 million for 2009.

The Company concluded 2010 with cash and marketable securities of $305.4 million, compared with $235.6 million at December 31, 2009.

Non-GAAP Results

Clean Harbors reports EBITDA results, which are non-GAAP financial measures, as a complement to results provided in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) and believes that such information provides additional useful information to investors since the Company's loan covenants are based upon levels of EBITDA achieved. The Company defines EBITDA in accordance with its existing credit agreement, as described in the following reconciliation showing the differences between reported net income and EBITDA for the fourth quarter and full year of 2010 and 2009 (in thousands):

 

    For the three months ended:   For the year ended:  
    December 31,
2010
  December 31,
2009
  December 31,
2010
  December 31,
2009
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Net income   $ 23,329   $ 13,922   $ 130,515   $ 36,686  
Accretion of environmental liabilities   2,508   2,689   10,307   10,617  
Depreciation and amortization   24,802   21,947   92,473   64,898  
Other income   (310 ) (104 ) (2,795 ) (259 )
Loss on early extinguishment of debt       2,294   4,853  
Interest expense, net   6,164   6,454   27,936   15,999  
Provision for income taxes   13,815   8,678   56,756   26,225  
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax     (1,027 ) (2,794 ) (1,439 )
EBITDA   $ 70,308   $ 52,559   $ 314,692   $ 157,580  

 

Business Outlook and Financial Guidance

“Our outlook remains decidedly positive as we head into 2011.  We are continuing to see indications of the general economic recovery as we maintain an active pipeline of potential new projects within both our Environmental and Energy and Industrial businesses.  We are excited about the prospects for our pending acquisition of Badger Daylighting, and are continuing to evaluate additional strategic acquisition opportunities,” McKim concluded.

Based on fourth-quarter performance, and current market conditions, Clean Harbors is increasing its 2011 annual revenue and EBITDA guidance.  The Company currently expects 2011 revenues in the range of $1.54 billion to $1.59 billion, up from its previous revenue guidance of $1.52 billion to $1.57 billion.  For 2011, the Company expects EBITDA in the range of $262 million to $270 million, an increase from its previous guidance of $258 million to $267 million.  This guidance is exclusive of any potential future acquisitions, including the Company’s planned purchase of Badger Daylighting.

Conference Call Information

Clean Harbors will conduct a conference call for investors today at 9:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss the information contained in this press release.  On the call, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Alan S. McKim and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer James M. Rutledge will discuss Clean Harbors’ financial results, business outlook and growth strategy.

Investors who wish to listen to the webcast should log onto www.cleanharbors.com/investor_relations.  The live call also can be accessed by dialing 877.709.8155 or 201.689.8881 prior to the start of the call.  If you are unable to listen to the live call, the webcast will be archived on the Company’s website.

About Clean Harbors

Clean Harbors is the leading provider of environmental, energy and industrial services throughout North America.  The Company serves more than 50,000 customers, including a majority of the Fortune 500 companies, thousands of smaller private entities and numerous federal, state, provincial and local governmental agencies.

Headquartered in Norwell, Massachusetts, Clean Harbors has more than 175 locations, including over 50 waste management facilities, throughout North America in 36 U.S. states, seven Canadian provinces, Mexico and Puerto Rico.  The Company also operates international locations in Bulgaria, China, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand and the United Kingdom.  For more information, visit www.cleanharbors.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Any statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “plans to,” “estimates,” “projects,” or similar expressions.  Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company’s business outlook and financial guidance and other statements that are not historical facts.  Such statements are based upon the beliefs and expectations of Clean Harbors’ management as of this date only and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, without limitation, those items identified as “risk factors” in the Company’s most recently filed Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Therefore, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.  The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements other than through its various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be viewed at www.cleanharbors.com/investor_relations.

For more information, contact:
James M. Rutledge
EVP and Chief Financial Officer
Clean Harbors, Inc.
781.792.5100
InvestorRelations@cleanharbors.com.

Bill Geary
Corporate Counsel for Public Affairs
Clean Harbors, Inc.
781.792.5130

Jim Buckley
Executive Vice President
Sharon Merrill Associates
617.542.5300
clh@investorrelations.com.

 

CLEAN HARBORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands except per share amounts)

 

    For the three months ended:   For the year ended:  
    December 31,   December 31,   December 31,   December 31,  
    2010   2009   2010   2009  
Revenues   $ 417,058   $ 346,969   $ 1,731,244   $ 1,074,220  
Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)   290,770   252,816   1,210,740   753,483  
Selling, general and administrative expenses   55,980   41,594   205,812   163,157  
Accretion of environmental liabilities   2,508   2,689   10,307   10,617  
Depreciation and amortization   24,802   21,947   92,473   64,898  
Income from operations   42,998   27,923   211,912   82,065  
Other income   310   104   2,795   259  
Loss on early extinguishment of debt       (2,294 ) (4,853 )
Interest (expense), net   (6,164 ) (6,454 ) (27,936 ) (15,999 )
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes   37,144   21,573   184,477   61,472  
Provision for income taxes   13,815   8,678   56,756   26,225  
Income from continuing operations   23,329   12,895   127,721   35,247  
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax     1,027   2,794   1,439  
Net income   $ 23,329   $ 13,922   $ 130,515   $ 36,686  
Earnings per share:  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Basic   $ 0.88   $ 0.53   $ 4.96   $ 1.48  
Diluted   $ 0.88   $ 0.53   $ 4.93   $ 1.47  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Weighted average common shares outstanding   26,371   26,244   26,311   24,817  
Weighted average common shares outstanding plus potentially dilutive common shares   26,585   26,363   26,467   24,933  

 

CLEAN HARBORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
(in thousands)

 

    December 31,   December 31,  
    2010   2009  
Current assets:  

 

 

 

 
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 302,210   $ 233,546  
Marketable securities   3,174   2,072  
Accounts receivable, net   332,678   274,918  
Unbilled accounts receivable   19,117   12,331  
Deferred costs   6,891   5,192  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   28,939   18,348  
Supplies inventories   44,546   41,417  
Deferred tax assets   14,982   18,865  
Assets held for sale     13,561  
Total current assets   752,537   620,250  

 

 

 

 

 

 
Property, plant and equipment, net   655,394   589,944  

 

 

 

 

 

 
Other assets:  

 

 

 

 
Long-term investments   5,437   6,503  
Deferred financing costs   7,768   10,156  
Goodwill   60,252   56,085  
Permits and other intangibles, net   114,400   114,188  
Other   6,687   3,942  
Total other assets   194,544   190,874  
Total assets   $ 1,602,475   $ 1,401,068  

 

CLEAN HARBORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands)

 

    December 31,   December 31,  
    2010   2009  
Current liabilities:  

 

 

 

 
Current portion of capital lease obligations   $ 7,954   $ 1,923  
Accounts payable   136,978   97,923  
Deferred revenue   30,745   21,156  
Accrued expenses   116,089   90,707  
Current portion of closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities   14,518   18,412  
Liabilities held for sale     3,199  
Total current liabilities   306,284   233,320  
Other liabilities:  

 

 

 

 
Closure and post-closure liabilities, less current portion   32,830   28,505  
Remedial liabilities, less current portion   128,944   134,379  
Long-term obligations   264,007   292,433  
Capital lease obligations, less current portion   6,839   6,915  
Unrecognized tax benefits and other long-term liabilities   82,744   91,691  
Total other liabilities   515,364   553,923  
Total stockholders’ equity, net   780,827   613,825  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 1,602,475   $ 1,401,068  

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