US Ecology Announces First Quarter 2017 Results

BOISE, ID--(Marketwired - April 27, 2017) - US Ecology, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECOL) ("the Company") today reported total revenue of $110.2 million and net income of $5.2 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.

"First quarter operating results and adjusted EBITDA were consistent with our expectations as we cycled some completed event projects as well as a Field and Industrial Services contract that was not renewed," commented Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Feeler. "Base Business for the Environmental Services segment continued its positive momentum with a 3% increase over what was a strong first quarter of 2016. As expected, Event Business for the Environmental Services segment was down 9% in the first quarter due to the strength of our Event Business in the first quarter of 2016."

Total revenue for the first quarter of 2017 was $110.2 million, down from $113.3 million in the same quarter last year. Revenue for the Environmental Services ("ES") segment was $81.3 million for the first quarter of 2017, relatively consistent with the $81.5 million reported in the first quarter of 2016. A 17% decline in transportation revenue more than offset a 3% increase in treatment and disposal ("T&D") revenue. Revenue for the Field and Industrial Services ("FIS") segment was $28.9 million for the first quarter of 2017 compared to $31.8 million in the same period of 2016, down 9% reflecting the expiration of a contract that was not renewed and softer overall market conditions.

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2017 was $31.9 million, down from $35.2 million in the same quarter last year. Gross profit for the ES segment was $28.7 million in the first quarter of 2017, down from $30.5 million in the same quarter of 2016. T&D gross margin for the ES segment was 38% for the first quarter of 2017, compared to 41% for the first quarter of 2016 on a less favorable service mix. Gross profit for the FIS segment in the first quarter of 2017 was $3.2 million. This compares to gross profit of $4.8 million in the first quarter of 2016. The decline was due to the reduced revenue as well as a less favorable service mix in the first quarter of 2017.

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expense for the first quarter of 2017 was $19.7 million compared with $19.4 million in the same quarter last year. SG&A expense increased in the first quarter of 2017 compared to the same period last year due to higher labor, professional and consulting services and insurance costs, partially offset by lower bad debt expenses.

Operating income for the first quarter of 2017 was $12.2 million compared to $15.8 million in the first quarter of 2016.

Net interest expense for the first quarter of 2017 was $4.1 million, down from $4.5 million in the first quarter of 2016. The decrease was due to lower debt levels compared to the first quarter last year.

The Company's consolidated effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2017 was 37.3%, down from 38.4% for the first quarter of 2016. The decrease was due primarily to a higher proportion of earnings from our Canadian operations in the first quarter of 2017, which are taxed at a lower corporate tax rate.

Net income for the first quarter of 2017 was $5.2 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, compared to $7.5 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2016. Adjusted earnings per share, which excludes foreign currency translation gains and losses and business development expenses, was $0.23 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2017, compared to $0.32 per diluted share for the first quarter of 2016.

Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2017 was $23.5 million, down 10% from $26.1 million in the same period last year. Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA, which excludes business development expenses, was $23.5 million in the first quarter of 2017, compared to $26.2 million in the first quarter of 2016.

Reconciliations of earnings per diluted share to adjusted earnings per diluted share and net income to adjusted EBITDA and Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA are attached as Exhibit A to this release.

Debt Refinancing

On April 18, 2017, the Company entered into a new $500 million, five-year, senior revolving credit facility (the "New Credit Agreement") with a syndicate of banks to refinance the Company's former credit facility. The interest rate under the New Credit Agreement is initially set at LIBOR Rate plus 1.50%, representing a 150 basis point improvement over the interest rate from our previous credit facility. Additional details and terms, including a copy of the New Credit Agreement, can be found in the Form 8-K filed by the Company on April 20, 2017.

The reduced interest rates and fees on the New Credit Agreement are expected to generate cash interest savings of approximately $15 million over the five-year term. Additionally, in connection with the termination of the former credit agreement, the Company expects to write off approximately $5.4 million of unamortized deferred financing costs related to fees paid on the former credit facility. This non-cash charge will be recognized as additional interest expense in our second quarter 2017 financial results.

2017 Outlook

"Overall, business conditions remain in-line with our expectations," added Feeler. "Our underlying Base Business remains strong and we continue to bid on and secure Event Business opportunities, further supporting our view of sequentially stronger quarterly financial performance as we progress through the year."

As a result, the Company reaffirms its previously issued 2017 Adjusted EBITDA guidance range of $120 million to $130 million and its previously issued diluted earnings per share guidance of $1.69 to $1.93. Diluted earnings per share reflects the one-time, non-cash charge associated with the write-off of deferred financing fees related to the former credit agreement of approximately $0.15 per diluted share, to be recorded in the second quarter of 2017 as well as the estimated annual interest savings under the New Credit Agreement of approximately $0.08 per diluted share. The Company's earnings guidance excludes business development expenses and foreign currency gains and losses.

The following table reconciles our adjusted EBITDA guidance range to our projected net income.

Dividend

On April 3, 2017, the Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per common share for stockholders of record on April 21, 2017. The $3.9 million dividend will be paid on April 28, 2017.

Conference Call

US Ecology, Inc. will hold an investor conference call on Friday, April 28, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (8:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time) to discuss these results and its current financial position and business outlook. Questions will be invited after management's presentation. Interested parties can access the conference call by dialing 877-512-4138 or 412-317-5478. The conference call will also be broadcast live on our website at www.usecology.com. An audio replay will be available through May 5, 2017 by calling 877-344-7529 or 412-317-0088 and using the passcode 10104760. The replay will also be accessible on our website at www.usecology.com.

About US Ecology, Inc.

US Ecology, Inc. is a leading North American provider of environmental services to commercial and government entities. The Company addresses the complex waste management needs of its customers, offering treatment, disposal and recycling of hazardous, non-hazardous and radioactive waste, as well as a wide range of complementary field and industrial services. US Ecology's focus on safety, environmental compliance, and best-in-class customer service enables us to effectively meet the needs of our customers and to build long-lasting relationships. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, with operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the Company has been protecting the environment since 1952. For more information, visit www.usecology.com.

Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are not guarantees of performance. These statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions, which in turn are based on currently available information. Important assumptions include, among others, those regarding demand for Company services, expansion of service offerings geographically or through new or expanded service lines, the timing and cost of planned capital expenditures, competitive conditions and general economic conditions. These assumptions could prove inaccurate. Forward-looking statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Such factors include the replacement of non-recurring event clean-up projects, a loss of a major customer, our ability to permit and contract for timely construction of new or expanded disposal cells, our ability to renew our operating permits or lease agreements with regulatory bodies, loss of key personnel, compliance with and changes to applicable laws, rules, or regulations, access to insurance, surety bonds and other financial assurances, a deterioration in our labor relations or labor disputes, our ability to perform under required contracts, failure to realize anticipated benefits and operational performance from acquired operations, adverse economic or market conditions, government funding or competitive pressures, incidents or adverse weather conditions that could limit or suspend specific operations, access to cost effective transportation services, fluctuations in foreign currency markets, lawsuits, our willingness or ability to repurchase shares or pay dividends, implementation of new technologies, limitations on our available cash flow as a result of our indebtedness and our ability to effectively execute our acquisition strategy and integrate future acquisitions.

Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), we are under no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results or performance. Before you invest in our common stock, you should be aware that the occurrence of the events described in the "Risk Factors" sections of our annual and quarterly reports could harm our business, prospects, operating results, and financial condition.

EXHIBIT A

Non-GAAP Results and Reconciliation

US Ecology reports adjusted EBITDA, Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per diluted share results, which are non-GAAP financial measures, as a complement to results provided in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) and believes that such information provides analysts, stockholders, and other users information to better understand the Company's operating performance. Because adjusted EBITDA, Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per diluted share are not measurements determined in accordance with GAAP and are thus susceptible to varying calculations they may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Items excluded from adjusted EBITDA, Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per diluted share are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance.

Adjusted EBITDA, Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per diluted share should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, net income, cash flows generated by operations, investing or financing activities, or other financial statement data presented in the consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance or liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA, Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per diluted share have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or a substitute for analyzing our results as reported under GAAP. Some of the limitations are:

• Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
• Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our interest expense, or the requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt;
• Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our income tax expenses or the cash requirements to pay our taxes;
• Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; and
• Although depreciation and amortization charges are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and adjusted EBITDA does not reflect cash requirements for such replacements.
• Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our business development expenses, which may vary significantly quarter to quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA

The Company defines adjusted EBITDA as net income before interest expense, interest income, income tax expense, depreciation, amortization, stock based compensation, accretion of closure and post-closure liabilities, foreign currency gain/loss and other income/expense, which are not considered part of usual business operations.

Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA

The Company defines Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA as adjusted EBITDA (see definition above) plus business development expenses incurred during the period. We believe Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA is helpful in understanding our business and how it relates to our 2017 guidance which does not include business development expenses.

The following reconciliation itemizes the differences between reported net income and adjusted EBITDA and Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:

Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Share

The Company defines adjusted earnings per diluted share as net income adjusted for the after-tax impact of non-cash foreign currency translation gains or losses and the after-tax impact of business development costs, divided by the number of diluted shares used in the earnings per share calculation.

The foreign currency translation gains or losses excluded from the earnings per diluted share calculation are related to intercompany loans between our Canadian subsidiaries and the U.S. parent which have been established as part of our tax and treasury management strategy. These intercompany loans are payable in Canadian dollars ("CAD") requiring us to revalue the outstanding loan balance through our consolidated income statement based on the CAD/United States currency movements from period to period. Business development costs relate to expenses incurred to evaluate businesses for potential acquisition or costs related to closing and integrating successfully acquired businesses.

We believe excluding non-cash foreign currency translation gains or losses and the after-tax impact of business development costs provides meaningful information to investors regarding the operational and financial performance of the Company.

The following reconciliation itemizes the differences between reported net income and earnings per diluted share to adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016: