Casella Waste Systems, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2011 Results; Provides Fiscal Year 2012 Guidance
For the quarter ended
The company's net income available to common shareholders was
"Over the past year we have made significant progress on important
strategic initiatives, including the sale of our non-integrated recycling
assets for an accretive multiple and the refinancing of our then existing
senior subordinated notes and senior secured credit facilities," said
"We had extremely challenging weather across the Northeast during the last 6 months of our fiscal year, with record snowfalls followed by record rainfalls across our operating footprint," Casella said. "The extreme weather impacted operational performance, with lower than projected productivity throughout the solid waste business, higher operating costs, most notably leachate at the landfills, and a delayed seasonal uptick for solid waste volumes. In late May, we began to see the expected seasonal volume increase, although two months later than usual, with volumes boosted by the improving weather and clean-up activities from the devastating floods and storms."
Fiscal Year 2011 Financial Results
For the fiscal year ended
The company's net income available to common shareholders was
Fiscal 2012 Outlook
"In fiscal year 2012, our emphasis will be on improving cash flows through increased pricing, cost controls and operating efficiencies, and focused capital deployment," Casella said. "Our plan for the fiscal year assumes that economic activity remains soft with limited GDP growth."
The company provided guidance for its fiscal year 2012, which began
- Revenues between
$475.0 million and $487.0 million (representing growth of 1.9 percent to 4.4 percent); - Adjusted EBITDA* between
$105.0 million and $110.0 million ; - Capital Expenditures between
$52.0 million and $56.0 million ; - Free
Cash Flow * between$2.0 million and $7.0 million .
The company said the following assumptions are built into its fiscal year 2012 outlook:
- No material changes in the regional economy from fiscal year 2011.
- In the solid waste business, revenue growth of between 2.5 percent and
4.5 percent, with price growth from 1.5 percent to 2.0 percent; volumes
flat to slightly up; and the roll-over impact of the McKean landfill
acquisition contributing between 1.0 percent and 1.5 percent.
- In the recycling business, overall revenue declines of between 5.0
percent and 10.0 percent, with price slightly up and volumes down.
- In the major accounts business, overall revenue growth of between 8.0
percent and 12.0 percent, principally through volume growth due to the
addition of new contracts. The major accounts line of business requires
little to no capital; however, growth of this high
return-on-invested-capital business is expected to negatively impact
overall margins by approximately 50 basis points year-over-year.
- We expect the pending Southbridge landfill expansion, the pending
Chemung landfill expansion, and the roll-over impact of the McKean landfill
acquisition to add an incremental
$3.5 million to $4.5 million of Adjusted EBITDA in fiscal year 2012. - No acquisitions beyond the above-mentioned roll-over impact of the
McKean landfill are included.
- Free cash flow of
$2.0 million to $7.0 million is based on net cash provided by operating activities of$61.0 million to $66.0 million . Payments on landfill operating leases are estimated at$6.0 million , and depletion of landfill operating lease obligations and interest accretion on landfill and environmental remediation liabilities are estimated at$12.0 million . Cash interest is estimated at$41.0 million and cash taxes are estimated at$6.0 million .
*Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to disclosing financial results prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the company also discloses earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for accretion, depletion of landfill operating lease obligations, one-time discretionary bonus charge, severance and reorganization charges, goodwill impairment charges, asset impairment charges, environmental remediation charges, as well as, bargain purchase gain (Adjusted EBITDA). Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure. The company also discloses Free Cash Flow, which is defined as net cash provided by operating activities, less capital expenditures, less payments on landfill operating leases, less assets acquired through financing leases, plus proceeds from sales of assets and property and equipment, and which is also a non-GAAP measure. Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled to Net Income (Loss), while Free Cash Flow is reconciled to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities.
The company presents Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow because it considers them important supplemental measures of its performance and believes they are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of our results. Management uses these non-GAAP measures to further understand our "core operating performance." The company believes its "core operating performance" represents its on-going performance in the ordinary course of operations. The company believes that providing Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow to investors, in addition to corresponding income statement and cash flow statement measures, provides investors with the benefit of viewing its performance using the same financial metrics that the management team uses in making many key decisions and understanding how the core business and its results of operations may look in the future. The company further believes that providing this information allows its investors greater transparency and a better understanding of its core financial performance. In addition, the instruments governing the company's indebtedness use EBITDA (with additional adjustments) to measure its compliance with covenants such as interest coverage, leverage and debt incurrence.
Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative for, generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S., and may be different from Adjusted EBITDA or Free Cash Flow presented by other companies.
About
Conference call to discuss fourth quarter
Casella will host a conference call to discuss these results on
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain matters discussed in this press release are "forward-looking
statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability
established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such by the
context of the statements, including words such as "believe," "expect,"
"anticipate," "plan," "may," "will," "would," "intend," "estimate,"
"guidance" and other similar expressions, whether in the negative or
affirmative. These forward-looking statements are based on current
expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and
markets in which we operate and management's beliefs and assumptions. We
cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve the plans, intentions,
expectations or guidance disclosed in the forward-looking statements made.
Such forward-looking statements, and all phases of our operations, involve
a number of risks and uncertainties, any one or more of which could cause
actual results to differ materially from those described in our
forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include or relate
to, among other things: current economic conditions that have adversely
affected and may continue to adversely affect our revenues and our
operating margin; we may be unable to reduce costs or increase pricing or
volumes sufficiently to achieve estimated Adjusted EBITDA and other
targets; landfill operations and permit status may be affected by factors
outside our control; we may be required to incur capital expenditures in
excess of our estimates; fluctuations in the commodity pricing of our
recyclables may make it more difficult for us to predict our results of
operations or meet our estimates; and we may incur environmental charges or
asset impairments in the future. There are a number of other important
risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These
additional risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those
detailed in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in our Form 10-K for the year ended
We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except amounts per share) Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended -------------------- -------------------- April 30, April 30, April 30, April 30, 2011 2010 2011 2010 --------- --------- --------- --------- Revenues $ 109,549 $ 112,695 $ 466,064 $ 457,642 Operating expenses: Cost of operations 79,920 76,413 317,504 303,399 General and administration 17,565 13,922 64,010 57,476 Depreciation and amortization 13,484 14,292 58,261 63,619 Asset impairment charge 3,654 - 3,654 - Environmental remediation charge 549 335 549 335 Bargain purchase gain (2,975) - (2,975) - Gain on sale of assets - - (3,502) - --------- --------- --------- --------- 112,197 104,962 437,501 424,829 --------- --------- --------- --------- Operating (loss) income (2,648) 7,733 28,563 32,813 Other expense/(income), net: Interest expense, net 10,826 11,870 45,858 44,265 Loss from equity method investment 1,560 1,385 4,096 2,691 Loss on debt refinancing 7,275 - 7,390 511 Other income (370) (359) (860) (847) --------- --------- --------- --------- 19,291 12,896 56,484 46,620 --------- --------- --------- --------- Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and discontinued operations (21,939) (5,163) (27,921) (13,807) (Benefit) provision for income taxes (26,356) 793 (24,217) 2,242 --------- --------- --------- --------- Income (loss) from continuing operations before discontinued operations 4,417 (5,956) (3,704) (16,049) Discontinued Operations: (Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (1) (1,141) (49) (1,458) 1,011 Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income taxes (1) 45,573 852 43,590 1,180 --------- --------- --------- --------- Net income (loss) available to common stockholders $ 48,849 $ (5,153) $ 38,428 $ (13,858) ========= ========= ========= ========= Common stock and common stock equivalent shares outstanding, assuming full dilution 26,351 25,810 26,105 25,731 ========= ========= ========= ========= Net income (loss) per common share $ 1.85 $ (0.20) $ 1.47 $ (0.54) ========= ========= ========= ========= Adjusted EBITDA (2) $ 18,323 $ 25,236 $ 102,811 $ 107,325 ========= ========= ========= ========= CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) April 30, April 30, ASSETS 2011 2010 --------- --------- CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,817 $ 2,035 Restricted cash 76 76 Accounts receivable - trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts 54,914 51,370 Other current assets 15,598 28,444 --------- --------- Total current assets 72,405 81,925 Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation 453,361 457,670 Goodwill 101,204 100,526 Intangible assets, net 2,455 2,404 Restricted assets 334 228 Notes receivable - related party/employee 1,297 1,288 Investments in unconsolidated entities 38,263 40,965 Other non-current assets 21,262 69,808 --------- --------- Total assets $ 690,581 $ 754,814 ========= ========= LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES: Current maturities of long-term debt and capital leases $ 1,217 $ 1,929 Current maturities of financing lease obligations 316 1,045 Accounts payable 42,499 35,056 Other accrued liabilities 39,889 52,050 --------- --------- Total current liabilities 83,921 90,080 Long-term debt and capital leases, less current maturities 461,418 556,130 Financing lease obligations, less current maturities 2,156 7,902 Other long-term liabilities 49,099 50,406 Stockholders' equity 93,987 50,296 --------- --------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 690,581 $ 754,814 ========= ========= CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) Twelve Months Ended -------------------- April 30, April 30, 2011 2010 --------- --------- Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Net income (loss) $ 38,428 $ (13,858) Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net 1,458 (1,011) Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net (43,590) (1,180) Adjustments to reconcile net (income) loss to net cash provided by operating activities - Gain on sale of assets (3,502) - Gain on sale of equipment (470) (1,343) Depreciation and amortization 58,261 63,619 Depletion of landfill operating lease obligations 7,878 6,867 Interest accretion on landfill and environmental remediation liabilities 3,331 3,506 Environmental remediation charge 549 335 Asset impairment charge 3,654 - Bargain purchase gain (2,975) - Amortization of premium on senior subordinated notes (611) (727) Amortization of discount on term loan and second lien notes 801 685 Loss from equity method investment 4,096 2,691 Loss on debt refinancing 7,390 511 Stock-based compensation 1,592 1,987 Excess tax benefit on the vesting of share based awards (129) - Deferred income taxes (23,615) 3,031 Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures (5,455) (1,027) --------- --------- 50,795 80,135 --------- --------- Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities 47,091 64,086 --------- --------- Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Acquisitions, net of cash acquired (1,744) (864) Additions to property, plant and equipment - growth (2,803) (4,187) - maintenance (52,446) (48,647) Payments on landfill operating lease contracts (5,655) (13,737) Purchase of gas rights (1,608) - Proceeds from sale of assets 7,533 - Proceeds from sale of equipment 959 4,434 Investment in unconsolidated entities - (49) --------- --------- Net Cash Used In Investing Activities (55,764) (63,050) --------- --------- Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Proceeds from long-term borrowings 383,757 492,344 Principal payments on long-term debt (491,669) (485,796) Payment of financing costs (10,588) (14,089) Proceeds from exercise of share based awards 476 260 Excess tax benefit on the vesting of restricted stock 129 - --------- --------- Net Cash Used In Financing Activities (117,895) (7,281) --------- --------- Cash Provided By Discontinued Operations 126,350 6,442 --------- --------- Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (218) 197 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 2,035 1,838 --------- --------- Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 1,817 $ 2,035 ========= ========= Supplemental Disclosures: Cash interest $ 44,291 $ 35,583 Cash income taxes, net of refunds $ 1,480 $ 234 CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (In thousands)
Note 1: Discontinued Operations
On
We completed the divestiture of the assets of our Trilogy Glass operation
in the third quarter of fiscal year 2011 for
During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008, we terminated our operation
of MTS Environmental, a soils processing operation in the Eastern region. A
charge was recorded amounting to
In fiscal year 2010 we completed divestitures and closed operations
resulting in a gain on disposal of discontinued operations (net of tax) of
The operating results of these operations for the three and twelve months
ended
Three Months Twelve Months Ended April 30, Ended April 30, ------------------ ------------------- 2011 2010 2011 2010 -------- -------- -------- --------- Revenues $ 6,388 $ 18,026 $ 62,510 $ 66,242 (Loss) income before income taxes $ (1,935) $ (23) $ (2,258) $ 1,931
Note 2: Non - GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to disclosing financial results prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), we also disclose earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for accretion, depletion of landfill operating lease obligations, one-time discretionary bonus charge, severance and reorganization charges, goodwill impairment charges, asset impairment charges, environmental remediation charges, as well as, bargain purchase gain (Adjusted EBITDA) which is a non-GAAP measure. We also disclose Free Cash Flow, which is defined as net cash provided by operating activities, less capital expenditures, less payments on landfill operating leases, less assets acquired through financing leases, plus proceeds from the sales of assets and property and equipment, which is a non-GAAP measure. Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled to net income (loss), while Free Cash Flow is reconciled to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities.
We present Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow because we consider them important supplemental measures of our performance and believe they are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of our results. Management uses these non-GAAP measures to further understand our "core operating performance." We believe our "core operating performance" represents our on-going performance in the ordinary course of operations. We believe that providing Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow to investors, in addition to corresponding income statement and cash flow statement measures, provides investors the benefit of viewing our performance using the same financial metrics that the management team uses in making many key decisions and understanding how the core business and its results of operations may look in the future. We further believe that providing this information allows our investors greater transparency and a better understanding of our core financial performance. In addition, the instruments governing our indebtedness use EBITDA (with additional adjustments) to measure our compliance with covenants such as interest coverage, leverage and debt incurrence.
Non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative for, GAAP in the U.S. Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow should not be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP in the U.S., and may be different from Adjusted EBITDA or Free Cash Flow presented by other companies.
Following is a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (Loss): Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended -------------------- -------------------- April 30, April 30, April 30, April 30, 2011 2010 2011 2010 --------- --------- --------- --------- Net Income (Loss) Applicable to Common Stockholders $ 48,849 $ (5,153) $ 38,428 $ (13,858) Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net 1,141 49 1,458 (1,011) Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net (45,573) (852) (43,590) (1,180) (Benefit) provision for income taxes (26,356) 793 (24,217) 2,242 Interest expense, net 10,826 11,870 45,858 44,265 Depreciation and amortization 13,484 14,292 58,261 63,619 Other expense, net 8,465 1,026 10,626 2,355 Bargain purchase gain (2,975) - (2,975) - Environmental remediation charge 549 335 549 335 Asset impairment charge 3,654 - 3,654 - Severance and reorganization charge - 107 - 185 One-time discretionary bonus charge 3,550 - 3,550 - Depletion of landfill operating lease obligations 1,865 1,931 7,878 6,867 Interest accretion on landfill and environmental remediation liabilities 844 838 3,331 3,506 --------- --------- --------- --------- Adjusted EBITDA (2) $ 18,323 $ 25,236 $ 102,811 $ 107,325 ========= ========= ========= ========= Following is a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities: Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended -------------------- -------------------- April 30, April 30, April 30, April 30, 2011 2010 2011 2010 --------- --------- --------- --------- Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities $ 1,837 $ 20,384 $ 47,091 $ 64,086 Capital expenditures (13,806) (14,388) (55,249) (52,834) Payments on landfill operating lease contracts (678) (5,934) (5,655) (13,737) Proceeds from sale of assets and property and equipment 328 1,652 8,492 4,434 Assets acquired through financing leases - - - (404) --------- --------- --------- --------- Free Cash Flow (2) $ (12,319) $ 1,714 $ (5,321) $ 1,545 ========= ========= ========= ========= CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SUPPLEMENTAL DATA TABLES (Unaudited) (In thousands) Amounts of our total revenues attributable to services provided for the three and twelve months endedApril 30, 2011 and 2010 are as follows: Three Months Ended April 30, ------------------------------------------ % of % of Total Total 2011 Revenue 2010 Revenue --------- --------- --------- --------- Collection $ 47,264 43.1% $ 48,655 43.2% Disposal 22,332 20.4% 25,032 22.2% Power/LFGTE 5,934 5.4% 6,935 6.2% Processing and recycling 13,082 11.9% 12,691 11.3% --------- --------- --------- --------- Solid waste operations 88,612 80.8% 93,313 82.9% Major accounts 9,916 9.1% 9,776 8.6% Recycling 11,021 10.1% 9,606 8.5% --------- --------- --------- --------- Total revenues $ 109,549 100.0% $ 112,695 100.0% ========= ========= ========= ========= Twelve Months Ended April 30, ------------------------------------------ % of % of Total Total 2011 Revenue 2010 Revenue --------- --------- --------- --------- Collection $ 199,892 42.9% $ 204,241 44.6% Disposal 106,572 22.9% 107,398 23.5% Power/LFGTE 25,090 5.4% 27,778 6.1% Processing and recycling 50,590 10.9% 44,081 9.6% --------- --------- --------- --------- Solid waste operations 382,144 82.1% 383,498 83.8% Major accounts 40,363 8.6% 38,677 8.5% Recycling 43,557 9.3% 35,467 7.7% --------- --------- --------- --------- Total revenues $ 466,064 100.0% $ 457,642 100.0% ========= ========= ========= ========= Components of revenue growth for the three months endedApril 30, 2011 compared to the three months endedApril 30, 2010 are as follows: % of % of Solid Related Waste % of Total Amount Business Operations Company --------- --------- --------- --------- Solid Waste Operations: Collection $ 570 1.2% 0.6% 0.5% Disposal (334) -1.3% -0.4% -0.3% Power/LFGTE 45 0.6% 0.1% 0.0% Processing and recycling 78 0.6% 0.1% 0.1% --------- --------- --------- Solid Waste Yield 359 0.4% 0.3% Volume (3,339) -3.6% -3.0% Commodity price & volume (612) -0.6% -0.5% Acquisitions & divestitures (1,111) -1.2% -1.0% Closed landfill 2 0.0% 0.0% --------- --------- --------- Total Solid Waste (4,701) -5.0% -4.2% --------- ========= --------- Major Accounts 140 0.1% --------- --------- % of Recycling Recycling Operations: Operations --------- Commodity price 2,167 22.5% 1.9% Commodity volume (752) -7.8% -0.6% --------- --------- --------- Total Recycling 1,415 14.7% 1.3% --------- ========= --------- Total Company $ (3,146) -2.8% ========= ========= Solid Waste Internalization Rates by Region: Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended April 30, April 30, -------------------- -------------------- 2011 2010 2011 2010 --------- --------- --------- --------- Eastern region 54.0% 54.7% 54.3% 52.0% Western region 72.2% 74.0% 74.1% 73.7% Solid waste internalization 63.5% 64.4% 64.8% 65.0% CASELLA WASTE SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SUPPLEMENTAL DATA TABLES (Unaudited) (In thousands) GreenFiber Financial Statistics - as reported (1): Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended April 30, April 30, -------------------- -------------------- 2011 2010 2011 2010 --------- --------- --------- --------- Revenues $ 18,415 $ 20,240 $ 84,903 $ 102,785 Net loss (3,120) (2,747) (8,191) (5,380) Cash flow from (used in) operations 2,160 808 (444) 6,050 Net working capital changes 2,952 1,071 (2,064) (20) Adjusted EBITDA $ (792) $ (263) $ 1,620 $ 6,070 As a percentage of revenues: Net loss -16.9% -13.6% -9.6% -5.2% Adjusted EBITDA -4.3% -1.3% 1.9% 5.9% (1) We hold a 50% interest inUS Green Fiber, LLC ("GreenFiber"), a joint venture that manufactures, markets and sells cellulose insulation made from recycled fiber. Components of Growth and Maintenance Capital Expenditures (1): Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended April 30, April 30, --------------------- --------------------- 2011 2010 2011 2010 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Growth Capital Expenditures: Landfill Development $ 199 $ 701 $ 608 $ 1,727 Landfill Gas to Energy Project 1,050 - 1,050 - MRF Equipment Upgrades 303 - 303 - Other 76 572 842 2,460 ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------Total Growth Capital Expenditures 1,628 1,273 2,803 4,187 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Maintenance Capital Expenditures: Vehicles, Machinery / Equipment and Containers 3,805 5,260 18,482 14,054Landfill Construction & Equipment 6,850 7,231 29,720 30,700 Facilities 1,173 272 3,025 2,858 Other 350 352 1,219 1,035 ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------Total Maintenance Capital Expenditures 12,178 13,115 52,446 48,647 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total Capital Expenditures $ 13,806 $ 14,388 $ 55,249 $ 52,834 ========== ========== ========== ========== (1) Our capital expenditures are broadly defined as pertaining to either growth or maintenance activities. Growth capital expenditures are defined as costs related to development of new airspace, permit expansions, and new recycling contracts along with incremental costs of equipment and infrastructure added to further such activities. Growth capital expenditures include the cost of equipment added directly as a result of new business as well as expenditures associated with increasing infrastructure to increase throughput at transfer stations and recycling facilities. Maintenance capital expenditures are defined as landfill cell construction costs not related to expansion airspace, costs for normal permit renewals, and replacement costs for equipment due to age or obsolescence.
For further information, contact:Ned Coletta Vice President of Finance and Investor Relations (802) 772-2239Ed Johnson Chief Financial Officer (802) 772-2241 http://www.casella.com
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