Clean Harbors Reports First-Quarter 2013 Financial Results

• Revenue Increases 51% to $862.2 Million, Primarily Due to Addition of Safety-Kleen
• Non-cash Adjustments and Integration Costs Totaling $19.3 Million Reduce Company’s Net Income to $10.5 Million
• Company Reports Adjusted EBITDA of $111.2 Million Including Integration Costs
• Updates 2013 Revenue Guidance and Confirms Adjusted EBITDA Guidance

NORWELL, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 1, 2013-- 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 first quarter ended March 31, 2013.

Results for 2013 reflect the acquisition of Safety-Kleen that closed in December 2012. Revenues for the first quarter of 2013 increased 51% to $862.2 million, compared with $572.0 million in the same period in 2012. Income from operations in the first quarter of 2013 decreased to $34.8 million from $61.7 million in the same period of 2012, reflecting acquisition costs and an increase in depreciation and amortization expense.

First quarter 2013 net income was $10.5 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared with $32.0 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2012. The Company’s first-quarter 2013 net income includes one-time, pre-tax, non-cash adjustments related to the effect of acquisition accounting of $13.6 million, as well as approximately $5.7 million in integration and severance costs. The effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2013 was 32.2% compared with 36.1% in the same period of last year. Adjusted EBITDA (see description below) in the first quarter of 2013 increased 10% to $111.2 million, compared with $100.9 million in the same period of 2012. First-quarter 2013 Adjusted EBITDA includes the $5.7 million in integration and severance costs and excludes the $13.6 million of non-cash acquisition accounting adjustments.

Comments on the First Quarter

“Our first-quarter results reflect the addition of Safety-Kleen, as we grew our top-line by more than 50% from the prior-year period,” said Alan S. McKim, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Our margins in the quarter were significantly affected by integration-related costs and non-cash items related to acquisition accounting. As a result of the acquisition, we have realigned the Company into five new reportable segments. During the first quarter, solid performances in our Technical Services, Industrial and Field Services, and SK Environmental Services segments were more than offset by greater-than-expected weakness in our Oil Re-refining and Recycling, and Oil and Gas Field Services segments.”

“Technical Services delivered another strong quarter, with utilization of 88.9% at our incineration facilities and steady waste streams within our network of TSDFs, while our landfill volumes slowed after two record quarters, due to the timing of some projects,” McKim said. “Within our Oil Re-refining and Recycling segment, we faced a challenging pricing environment throughout the quarter. SK Environmental Services delivered a healthy mix of business between its parts washers, used oil collection and small quantity generator businesses. Our Industrial and Field Services segment also was a solid contributor in the quarter, with better-than-expected activity in the Oil Sands. Finally, Oil and Gas Field Services was affected by lower winter drilling activity in Western Canada.”

Business Outlook and Financial Guidance

“The Safety-Kleen integration is proceeding on schedule with encouraging results to date,” McKim said. “We are confident that we can now capture an additional $10 million in cost synergies, raising our estimated total for the year to $70 million to $75 million. We also continue to see numerous opportunities for margin enhancement within each of our segments. Technical Services is entering its two strongest operating quarters, and we have a deep backlog of ongoing and upcoming projects. Within Oil Re-refining and Recyling, the pricing environment has stabilized and we are working diligently to improve our spreads by increasing our blended lube production and reducing our input costs going forward. Trends within SK Environmental Services also are positive, as we seek to fully integrate with our disposal network and maximize the utilization of our combined assets. We expect our Industrial and Field Services segment to continue to see consistent demand across many of our key verticals. Our Oil and Gas Field Services segment is now more diversified and better positioned to capitalize on multiple avenues of growth within the North American energy market.”

“We continue to expect our revenue and Adjusted EBITDA to be weighted toward the second half of 2013, and we expect to better leverage the Clean Harbors/Safety-Kleen combination as the year unfolds. We will continue to more aggressively pursue cross-selling opportunities and expect to see those results in the latter half of 2013. However, given the revenue shortfall in the first quarter and the current pricing conditions in the oil re-refining segment, we are lowering our revenue guidance for 2013. On the cost side, we remain committed to our ongoing expense reduction and margin-improvement initiatives. Overall, we believe we can generate sufficient momentum in our business to achieve our full-year Adjusted EBITDA target,” McKim concluded.

Based on its first-quarter performance and current market conditions, Clean Harbors is updating its previously announced 2013 annual revenue guidance and confirming its Adjusted EBITDA guidance. The Company currently expects 2013 revenues in the range of $3.62 billion to $3.67 billion, compared with its previous revenue guidance of $3.72 billion to $3.77 billion. For 2013, the Company continues to expect Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $605 million to $620 million. A reconciliation of the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA guidance to net income guidance is included below.

Non-GAAP Results

Clean Harbors reports Adjusted EBITDA results, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as a complement to results provided in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides additional useful information to investors since the Company’s loan covenants are based upon levels of Adjusted EBITDA achieved. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA in accordance with its existing credit agreement, as described in the following reconciliation showing the differences between reported net income and Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):

			For the three months ended:
			March 31,			March 31,
			2013			2012
Net income			$10,502			$32,015
Accretion of environmental liabilities			2,835			2,416
Depreciation and amortization			60,006			36,831
Other (income) expense			(525)			299
Interest expense, net			19,873			11,272
Provision for income taxes			4,978			18,115
Pre-tax, non-cash acquisition accounting adjustments			13,559			--
Adjusted EBITDA			$111,228			$100,948

Adjusted EBITDA Guidance Reconciliation

An itemized reconciliation between projected net income and projected Adjusted EBITDA is as follows:

			For the Year Ended December 31, 2013
			Amount											Margin % (1)
			(In millions)
Projected GAAP net income			$	145			to			$	168			4.0	%			to			4.6	%
Adjustments:
Pre-tax, non-cash acquisition accounting adjustments				14			to				14			0.4	%			to			0.4	%
Accretion of environmental liabilities				13			to				11			0.4	%			to			0.3	%
Depreciation and amortization				265			to				255			7.3	%			to			6.9	%
Interest expense, net				79			to				78			2.2	%			to			2.1	%
Provision for income taxes				89			to				94			2.4	%			to			2.6	%
Projected Adjusted EBITDA			$	605			to			$	620			16.7	%			to			16.9	%
Revenues (In millions)			$	3,620			to			$	3,670

(1) The Margin % indicates the percentage that the line-item represents to total revenues for the respective reporting period, calculated by dividing the dollar amount for the line-item by total revenues for the reporting period.

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 visit the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.cleanharbors.com. 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 (NYSE: CLH) is the leading provider of environmental, energy and industrial services throughout North America. The Company serves a diverse customer base, including a majority of the Fortune 500 companies, thousands of smaller private entities and numerous federal, state, provincial and local governmental agencies. Through its Safety-Kleen subsidiary, Clean Harbors also is a premier provider of used oil recycling and re-refining, parts washers and environmental services for the small quantity generator market.

Headquartered in Massachusetts, Clean Harbors has waste disposal facilities and service locations throughout the United States and Canada, as well as Mexico and Puerto Rico. 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 benefits of the acquisition of Safety-Kleen, including future financial and operating results, the combined Company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions 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 Clean Harbors’ most recently filed Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Therefore, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Clean Harbors undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements other than through its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be viewed in the “Investors” section of Clean Harbors’ website at www.cleanharbors.com.

CLEAN HARBORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands except per share amounts)
			For the three months ended:
			March 31,			March 31,
			2013			2012
Revenues			$862,163			$572,022
Cost of revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)			636,024			400,315
Selling, general and administrative expenses			128,470			70,759
Accretion of environmental liabilities			2,835			2,416
Depreciation and amortization			60,006			36,831
Income from operations			34,828			61,701
Other income (expense)			525			(299)
Interest (expense), net			(19,873)			(11,272)
Income before provision for income taxes			15,480			50,130
Provision for income taxes			4,978			18,115
Net income			$10,502			$32,015
Earnings per share:
Basic			$0.17			$0.60
Diluted			$0.17			$0.60
Weighted average common shares outstanding			60,464			53,227
Weighted average common shares outstanding plus potentially dilutive common shares			60,630			53,488

CLEAN HARBORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
(in thousands)
			March 31,				December 31,
			2013				2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents			$	222,104			$	229,836
Marketable securities				10,905				11,778
Accounts receivable, net				563,691				541,423
Unbilled accounts receivable				32,220				27,072
Deferred costs				16,987				6,888
Prepaid expenses and other current assets				57,828				75,778
Inventories and supplies				144,476				171,441
Deferred tax assets				25,371				22,577
Total current assets				1,073,582				1,086,793
Property, plant and equipment, net				1,549,806				1,531,763
Other assets:
Long-term investments				4,354				4,354
Deferred financing costs				23,239				21,657
Goodwill				572,406				593,771
Permits and other intangibles, net				566,910				572,817
Other				13,081				14,651
Total other assets				1,179,990				1,207,250
Total assets			$	3,803,378			$	3,825,806

CLEAN HARBORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands)
			March 31,				December 31,
			2013				2012
Current liabilities:
Current portion of capital lease obligations			$	4,320			$	5,092
Accounts payable				263,564				256,468
Deferred revenue				62,162				50,942
Accrued expenses				212,424				232,429
Current portion of closure, post-closure and remedial liabilities				21,575				24,121
Total current liabilities				564,045				569,052
Other liabilities:
Closure and post-closure liabilities, less current portion				41,670				45,457
Remedial liabilities, less current portion				156,676				151,890
Long-term obligations				1,400,000				1,400,000
Capital lease obligations, less current portion				2,154				2,879
Deferred taxes, unrecognized tax benefits and other long-term liabilities				215,365				224,456
Total other liabilities				1,815,865				1,824,682
Total stockholders’ equity, net				1,423,468				1,432,072
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity			$	3,803,378			$	3,825,806

Supplemental Segment Data (in thousands)
			For the three months ended:
Revenue			March 31, 2013									March 31, 2012
			Third Party Revenues			Intersegment Revenues, net			Direct Revenues			Third Party Revenues			Intersegment Revenues, net			Direct Revenues
Technical Services			$233,939			$25,271			$259,210			$221,637			$9,559			$231,196
Oil Re-refining and Recycling			146,931			(56,561)			90,370			--			--			--
SK Environmental Services			152,955			41,489			194,444			--			--			--
Industrial and Field Services			221,418			(13,218)			208,200			202,779			(11,209)			191,570
Oil and Gas Field Services			116,696			3,942			120,638			146,905			1,923			148,828
Corporate Items (1)			(9,776)			(923)			(10,699)			701			(273)			428
Total			$862,163			$--			$862,163			$572,022			$--			$572,022

(1) Corporate Items revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2013 include one-time, non-cash reductions of approximately $10.2 million due to the impact of fair value acquisition accounting adjustments on Safety-Kleen’s historical deferred revenue at December 31, 2012. Revenue for the five reportable segments for the three months ended March 31, 2013 exclude such adjustments to maintain comparability with future operating results and reflect how the Company manages the business.

Non-GAAP Segment Results

Clean Harbors reports Adjusted EBITDA results, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, for each of its five reporting segments 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 Adjusted EBITDA achieved. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA in accordance with its existing credit agreement. See “Non-GAAP Results” for a reconciliation of the Company’s total Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP net income.

			For the three months ended:
Adjusted EBITDA			March 31, 2013			March 31, 2012
Technical Services			$60,045			$51,911
Oil Re-refining and Recycling			15,312			--
SK Environmental Services			27,040			--
Industrial and Field Services			36,346			34,078
Oil and Gas Field Services			27,551			40,196
Corporate Items			(55,066)			(25,237)
Total			$111,228			$100,948

Source: Clean Harbors, Inc.

Clean Harbors, Inc.
James M. Rutledge, 781-792-5100
Vice Chairman, President and CFO
InvestorRelations@cleanharbors.com
or
Clean Harbors, Inc.
Jim Buckley, 781-792-5100
SVP Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Buckley.James@cleanharbors.com