Clean Harbors Q3 Beats Expectations, Helped by Acquisitions

Date: November 2, 2011

Source: Clean Harbors, Inc.

Clean Harbors Reports Third-Quarter 2011 Financial Results

  • Company Continues Momentum with Record Performance

  • Generates Higher-than-Anticipated Revenue of $556 Million

  • Strong Margins Result in Net Income of $37.1 Million and EBITDA of $103.8 Million

  • 2011 Guidance Increased on Strength of Performance and Acquisitions

Clean Harbors, Inc. (“Clean Harbors”) (NYSE: CLH), the leading provider of environmental, energy and industrial services throughout North America, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011.

Revenues for the third quarter were $556.1 million compared with $487.7 million in the same period in 2010.  The third quarter of 2011 included approximately $42 million of revenue related to the Company’s participation in the Yellowstone River oil spill response effort.  The third quarter of 2010 revenue included approximately $124 million related to the response work in the Gulf of Mexico and Michigan oil spills.  Income from operations in the third quarter of 2011 was $66.8 million compared with $73.4 million in the same period of 2010.

In July 2011, Clean Harbors completed a two-for-one stock split.  All share and per share amounts included in this earnings release reflect the stock split and have been adjusted retroactively for all periods presented.  Third quarter 2011 net income was $37.1 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, compared with $38.8 million, or $0.73 per diluted share on a split-adjusted basis, in the third quarter of 2010.  EBITDA (see description below) was $103.8 million in the third quarter of 2011 compared with $98.8 million in the same period of 2010.

Comments on the Third Quarter

“In the third quarter, Clean Harbors delivered a better-than-expected financial performance as a result of the broad-based growth of our business, strong contributions from recent acquisitions and emergency response work,” said Alan S. McKim, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  “Growth across our four operating segments enabled us to generate record revenues of $556 million.  Within Technical Services, the utilization rate at our incinerators was 89% in the quarter. Within Field Services, emergency response work related to the Yellowstone River oil spill generated approximately $42 million in revenue in the quarter.   Consistent with prior quarters, large-scale projects continued to drive growth in Field Services core operations, which increased by 38% year-over-year exclusive of emergency response work.  Our Industrial Services segment had another exceptional quarter, growing by 44%, led by turnaround work at our refinery customers in Western Canada.  Supported by our recent acquisitions, including Peak Energy Services and Destiny Resource Services, our Oil & Gas Field Services segment more than doubled, growing by more than 130% from the same period in 2010.”

“Our recent acquisition activity has proven to be highly successful,” McKim said.  “The additions of Peak, Destiny and other tuck-in acquisitions have significantly advanced our position in oil and natural gas drilling and production support, as well as our Industrial Services business.  Collectively, they have added high-margin revenue, broadened our service offerings and expanded our footprint in key geographies.   We also expect numerous cross-selling opportunities from these acquisitions in the quarters ahead.”

“We achieved a significant financial milestone in the third quarter by surpassing $100 million in quarterly EBITDA for the first time in our history,” McKim said. “Our EBITDA of $103.8 million represents an EBITDA margin of 18.7%.  Excluding the Yellowstone spill, our EBITDA margin for the quarter was 18.3%, reflecting the success of our pricing initiatives, productivity gains within our asset base, economies of scale from our acquisitions and ongoing cost reduction initiatives.”

Non-GAAP Third-Quarter 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 third quarter of 2011 and 2010 (in thousands):

 

    For the three months ended:   For the nine months ended:  
    September 30,
2011
  September 30,
2010
  September 30,
2011
  September 30,
2010
 
                   
Net income   $ 37,133   $ 38,827   $ 89,019   $ 107,186  
Accretion of environmental liabilities   2,435   2,495   7,231   7,799  
Depreciation and amortization   34,604   22,892   87,000   67,671  
Other (income) loss   (164 ) 669   (5,931 ) (2,485 )
Loss on early extinguishment of debt     2,294     2,294  
Interest expense, net   10,927   7,198   28,047   21,772  
Provision for income taxes   18,896   24,384   47,283   42,941  
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax         (2,794 )
EBITDA   $ 103,831   $ 98,759   $ 252,649   $ 244,384  

 

Business Outlook and Financial Guidance

“We exited the third quarter with considerable momentum in a number of our key verticals,” McKim said. “The underlying industry and outsourcing trends remain favorable for our company.  Within Environmental, we continue to have an active pipeline of projects in Field Services and the outlook for Technical Services is also strong.  We anticipate some typical seasonality in these segments as we begin the winter weather season.  Conversely, our Energy & Industrial Services business is entering its strongest operating periods during the colder weather months, particularly in Western Canada and some remote locations.  While the timing of winter weather will be a factor in the quarter, we expect many of our specialty lines of business to perform well, and our recent acquisitions should only serve to accelerate the growth in our Oil & Gas Field Services segment.”

“We concluded the third quarter with nearly $260 million in cash.  We will continue to execute our two-pronged growth strategy of internal investments and select acquisitions.  For the year, we anticipate capital expenditures of approximately $160 million — the majority of which is related to growth-oriented investments in our business.  We also intend to remain very active on the acquisition front.  We have a number of excellent candidates in our pipeline, and we will continue to be selective as we target accretive opportunities that can accelerate our growth and enhance our competitive position,” McKim concluded.

Based on its year-to-date performance, recently completed acquisitions and current market conditions, Clean Harbors is increasing its 2011 annual revenue and EBITDA guidance.  The Company now expects 2011 revenues in the range of $1.92 billion to $1.94 billion, up from its previous revenue guidance of $1.84 billion to $1.88 billion.  For 2011, the Company now expects EBITDA in the range of $335 million to $340 million, an increase from its previous guidance of $315 million to $320 million.

Based upon preliminary estimates of the markets it serves, the Company expects 2012 revenues in the range of $2.15 billion to $2.2 billion.  The Company expects its EBITDA margin to be approximately 18% at this level of growth in 2012, which translates into an EBITDA range of $390 million to $400 million.  As Clean Harbors completes its 2012 budgeting process in the coming months, it plans to update this preliminary guidance in conjunction with the announcement of its fourth-quarter results in February 2012.

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, management 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 201.689.8881 or 877.709.8155 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 37 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
Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer
Clean Harbors, Inc.
781.792.5100
InvestorRelations@cleanharbors.com.

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 nine months ended:  
    September 30,   September 30,   September 30,   September 30,  
    2011   2010   2011   2010  
Revenues   $ 556,053   $ 487,651   $ 1,438,250   $ 1,314,186  
Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)   386,518   335,273   1,006,849   919,970  
Selling, general and administrative expenses   65,704   53,619   178,752   149,832  
Accretion of environmental liabilities   2,435   2,495   7,231   7,799  
Depreciation and amortization   34,604   22,892   87,000   67,671  
Income from operations   66,792   73,372   158,418   168,914  
Other income (loss)   164   (669 ) 5,931   2,485  
Loss on early extinguishment of debt     (2,294 )   (2,294 )
Interest (expense), net   (10,927 ) (7,198 ) (28,047 ) (21,772 )
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes   56,029   63,211   136,302   147,333  
Provision for income taxes   18,896   24,384   47,283   42,941  
Income from continuing operations   37,133   38,827   89,019   104,392  
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax         2,794  
Net income   $ 37,133   $ 38,827   $ 89,019   $ 107,186  
Earnings per share:                  
Basic   $ 0.70   $ 0.74   $ 1.68   $ 2.04  
Diluted   $ 0.70   $ 0.73   $ 1.67   $ 2.03  
                   
Weighted average common shares outstanding   53,023   52,658   52,921   52,581  
Weighted average common shares outstanding plus potentially dilutive common shares   53,370   52,963   53,298   52,852  

 

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

 

    September 30,   December 31,  
    2011   2010  
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 257,159   $ 302,210  
Marketable securities   93   3,174  
Accounts receivable, net   414,079   332,678  
Unbilled accounts receivable   41,728   19,117  
Deferred costs   5,831   6,891  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   37,278   28,939  
Supplies inventories   53,614   44,546  
Deferred tax assets   16,488   14,982  
Total current assets   826,270   752,537  
           
Property, plant and equipment, net   880,719   655,394  
           
Other assets:          
Long-term investments   4,239   5,437  
Deferred financing costs   14,325   7,768  
Goodwill   134,696   60,252  
Permits and other intangibles, net   140,970   114,400  
Other   9,166   6,687  
Total other assets   303,396   194,544  
Total assets   $ 2,010,385   $ 1,602,475  

 

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

 

    September 30,   December 31,  
    2011   2010  
Current liabilities:          
Current portion of capital lease obligations   $ 8,570   $ 7,954  
Accounts payable   201,561   136,978  
Deferred revenue   28,627   30,745  
Accrued expenses   138,911   116,089  
Current portion of closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities   15,899   14,518  
Total current liabilities   393,568   306,284  
Other liabilities:          
Closure and post-closure liabilities, less current portion   27,420   32,830  
Remedial liabilities, less current portion   124,183   128,944  
Long-term obligations   524,590   264,007  
Capital lease obligations, less current portion   7,531   6,839  
Unrecognized tax benefits and other long-term liabilities   92,887   82,744  
Total other liabilities   776,611   515,364  
Total stockholders’ equity, net   840,206   780,827  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 2,010,385   $ 1,602,475  

 

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