UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

 

Current Report

Pursuant To Section 13 or 15 (d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 22, 2017

 

 

 

Waste Connections, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Ontario, Canada   1-34370   98-1202763

(State or other jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

610 Applewood Crescent, 2nd Floor

Vaughan

Ontario L4K 0E3

Canada

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (905) 532-7510

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

  ¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

  ¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

  ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-(b))

 

  ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

During our earnings conference call on February 22, 2017, we highlighted the following outlook for the first quarter and full year 2017.

 

(Dollar amounts are approximations)

 

For the first quarter of the year, we estimate our revenue to be approximately $1.075 billion. We expect core price plus volume growth for solid waste to be between 3.0% and 3.5%. Net income attributable to Waste Connections is estimated to be approximately $105 million. Adjusted EBITDA is estimated to be approximately $322.5 million, or about 30% of revenue. Depreciation and amortization expense is estimated to be about 14.1% of revenue. Amortization of intangibles expense is estimated to be about $26.5 million, or about $0.10 per diluted share net of taxes. Operating income is estimated to be about 15.8% of revenue. We expect interest expense to be approximately $29 million. We expect our effective tax rate to be about 25%, subject to some variability. The effective tax rate for the period includes about a $6 million benefit to the provision due to a new accounting pronouncement that reclassifies excess tax benefits associated with equity-based compensation arrangements from the cash flow statement to the income tax provision. Noncontrolling interests expense is estimated to be about $225,000.

 

For the full year, in addition to the outlook provided in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 21, 2017, we expect solid waste price plus underlying volume growth for solid waste to be between 4.0% and 4.5% in the U.S., less about 1% for the low quality or unsafe-to-service revenue we are shedding in the U.S. In Canada, we expect price plus underlying volume growth for solid waste of about 4% on a constant currency basis, less about 2% for the low quality or unsafe-to-service revenue we are shedding in Canada.

 

These estimates assume no change in the current economic and operating environment. They also exclude any remaining severance, integration costs or other items resulting from the Progressive Waste acquisition and any additional acquisitions or potential divestitures that may close during the respective periods.

 

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, is provided supplementally because it is widely used by investors as a performance and valuation measure in the solid waste industry. Management uses adjusted EBITDA as one of the principal measures to evaluate and monitor the ongoing financial performance of our operations. We define adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) attributable to Waste Connections, plus net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, plus or minus income tax provision (benefit), plus interest expense, plus depreciation and amortization expense, plus closure and post-closure accretion expense, plus or minus any loss or gain on impairments and other operating items, plus other expense, less other income, plus foreign currency transaction loss, less foreign currency transaction gain. We further adjust this calculation to exclude the effects of other items management believes impact the ability to assess the operating performance of our business. This measure is not a substitute for, and should be used in conjunction with, GAAP financial measures. Other companies may calculate adjusted EBITDA differently.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

The disclosure under Item 7.01 of this current report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The information furnished in Items 7.01 and 8.01 is not deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is not subject to the liabilities of that section, and is not deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

 

 

 

Safe Harbor and Forward-Looking Information

 

This document contains forward-looking statements (which include "forward-looking information" as that term is defined in applicable securities laws in Canada) within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA). These forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance and reflect Waste Connections’ current beliefs and expectations regarding future events and operating performance. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the words “may,” “might,” “believes,” “thinks,” “expects,” “intends” or other words of similar meaning. All of the forward-looking statements included in this document are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the PSLRA and applicable securities laws in Canada. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this document include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company’s expected first quarter and full year 2017 financial results. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from those indicated by the forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the following: the possibility that any of the anticipated benefits of the combination of the Company and Waste Connections US, Inc. (f/k/a Waste Connections, Inc.) will not be realized; the ability of the combined company to successfully achieve business objectives, including integrating the two companies or the effects of unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; the potential benefits and synergies of the transaction; and expectations for other economic, business and/or competitive factors. In addition, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties and other factors that may affect future results of the combined company that are disclosed in filings that have been made by the Company (including, under its former name, Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd.) and by Waste Connections US, Inc. (including, under its former name, Waste Connections, Inc.) with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in Canada. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document. Waste Connections undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements set forth in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

  WASTE CONNECTIONS, INC.
        
        
BY:  /s/ Worthing F. Jackman  
Date: February 22, 2017       
     Worthing F. Jackman,  
     Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer