News Releases

Jul 23, 2012 (Marketwire via COMTEX) -- Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE: WCN)

• Revenue of $410.7 million, up 5.3%
• GAAP EPS and adjusted EPS* of $0.34 and $0.36, respectively
• YTD net cash provided by operating activities of $204.9 million
• YTD adjusted free cash flow* of $148.3 million, or 18.8% of revenue
• Completes $30 million revenue new market acquisition in Minnesota on July 1st
• Resumes share repurchase program

Waste Connections, Inc. (NYSE: WCN) today announced its results for the second quarter of 2012. Revenue totaled $410.7 million, a 5.3% increase over revenue of $390.2 million in the year ago period. Operating income was $81.7 million compared to $84.8 million in the second quarter of 2011. Operating income in the current year period included approximately $3.4 million ($2.1 million net of taxes) associated with costs incurred in connection with the relocation of our corporate headquarters from California to Texas, and acquisition-related transaction costs. Net income attributable to Waste Connections in the quarter was $42.4 million, or $0.34 per share on a diluted basis of 124.0 million shares. In the year ago period, the Company reported net income attributable to Waste Connections of $44.4 million, or $0.39 per share on a diluted basis of 114.3 million shares.

Adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections in the quarter was $44.4 million*, or $0.36 per share*, adjusting primarily for the items noted above. Adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections in the prior year period was $44.8 million*, or $0.39 per share*, adjusting primarily for acquisition-related transaction costs.

"The first half of 2012 played out about as expected with revenue, adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization*, and adjusted free cash flow* at or above our expectations. However, the tepid economy and potential near-term decreases in recycled commodity values could provide additional headwinds in the second half of the year," said Ronald J. Mittelstaedt, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We are pleased to announce the acquisition of SKB Environmental, Inc., a leading provider of solid and industrial waste transfer and disposal services primarily in Minnesota's Twin Cities region, with annual revenue of approximately $30 million. We believe SKB provides an attractive platform for additional acquisitions in this new market."

Mr. Mittelstaedt added, "Although the amount of potential acquisition revenue under active dialogue remains high, our disciplined approach to market selection and valuation remains unchanged. While we expect the pace of acquisition activity could remain strong over the next 18-24 months, the strength of our free cash flow* and balance sheet enables us to fund our growth strategy and increase the return of capital to stockholders. As such, we have resumed our share repurchase program targeting to buyback between four and five percent of outstanding shares annually."

For the six months ended June 30, 2012, revenue was $787.2 million, a 9.1% increase over revenue of $721.7 million in the year ago period. Operating income was $146.8 million compared to $153.4 million for the same period in 2011. Operating income in the current year period included approximately $10.5 million ($7.6 million net of taxes) associated with costs incurred in connection with the relocation of our corporate headquarters from California to Texas, acquisition-related transaction costs, and one-time equity compensation expense related to awards made at the time of the modification of our named executive officers' employment contracts. 

* A non-GAAP measure; see accompanying Non-GAAP Reconciliation Schedule.

Net income attributable to Waste Connections for the six months ended June 30, 2012, was $73.7 million, or $0.61 per share on a diluted basis of 120.0 million shares. In the year ago period, the Company reported net income attributable to Waste Connections of $81.0 million, or $0.71 per share on a diluted basis of 114.4 million shares. Adjusted net income attributable to Waste Connections for the six months ended June 30, 2012, was $81.6 million*, or $0.68 per share*, compared to $81.7 million*, or $0.71 per share*, in the year ago period.

Waste Connections, Inc. is an integrated solid waste services company that provides solid waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling services in mostly exclusive and secondary markets. The Company serves more than two million residential, commercial and industrial customers from a network of operations in 30 states. The Company also provides intermodal services for the movement of cargo and solid waste containers in the Pacific Northwest. Waste Connections, Inc. was founded in September 1997 and is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas.

Waste Connections will be hosting a conference call related to second quarter earnings and third quarter outlook on July 24th at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet at www.streetevents.com or through a link on our website at www.wasteconnections.com. A playback of the call will be available at both of these websites.

For more information, visit the Waste Connections web site at www.wasteconnections.com. Copies of financial literature, including this release, are available on the Waste Connections website or through contacting us directly at (832) 442-2200.

* A non-GAAP measure; see accompanying Non-GAAP Reconciliation Schedule.

Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release are forward-looking in nature, including statements related to: expected revenues, adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization, and adjusted free cash flow; expected pricing growth, waste volumes and recycled commodity prices; expected levels of acquisition activity in the industry and the drivers of such activity; the Company's anticipated acquisition activity and ability to finance such activity; the Company's focus on exclusive and secondary markets; the Company's deployment of capital; the amount and timing of purchases under the Company's stock repurchase program; and the impact of the relocation of the Company's corporate headquarters from Folsom, California to The Woodlands, Texas. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," or "anticipates," or the negative thereof or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those projected include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) our acquisitions may not be successful, resulting in changes in strategy, operating losses or a loss on sale of the business acquired; (2) a portion of our growth and future financial performance depends on our ability to integrate acquired businesses into our organization and operations; (3) competition for acquisition candidates, consolidation within the waste industry and economic and market conditions may limit our ability to grow through acquisitions; (4) we may be unable to compete effectively with larger and better capitalized companies, companies with lower return expectations, and governmental service providers; (5) we may lose contracts through competitive bidding, early termination or governmental action; (6) price increases may not be adequate to offset the impact of increased costs or may cause us to lose volume; (7) economic downturns adversely affect operating results; (8) our results are vulnerable to economic conditions and seasonal factors affecting the regions in which we operate; (9) we may be subject in the normal course of business to judicial, administrative or other third party proceedings that could interrupt or limit our operations, require expensive remediation, result in adverse judgments, settlements or fines and create negative publicity; (10) increases in the price of fuel may adversely affect our business and reduce our operating margins; (11) increases in labor and disposal and related transportation costs could impact our financial results; (12) efforts by labor unions could divert management attention and adversely affect operating results; (13) we could face significant withdrawal liability if we withdraw from participation in one or more underfunded multiemployer pension plans in which we participate; (14) increases in insurance costs and the amount that we self-insure for various risks could reduce our operating margins and reported earnings; (15) our indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition; we may incur substantially more debt in the future; (16) each business that we acquire or have acquired may have liabilities or risks that we fail or are unable to discover, including environmental liabilities; (17) liabilities for environmental damage may adversely affect our financial condition, business and earnings; (18) our accruals for our landfill site closure and post-closure costs may be inadequate; (19) the financial soundness of our customers could affect our business and operating results; (20) we depend significantly on the services of the members of our senior, regional and district management team, and the departure of any of those persons could cause our operating results to suffer; (21) our decentralized decision-making structure could allow local managers to make decisions that adversely affect our operating results; (22) we may incur charges related to capitalized expenditures of landfill development projects, which would decrease our earnings; (23)because we depend on railroads for our intermodal operations, our operating results and financial condition are likely to be adversely affected by any reduction or deterioration in rail service; (24) our financial results are based upon estimates and assumptions that may differ from actual results; (25) the adoption of new accounting standards or interpretations could adversely affect our financial results; (26) pending or future litigation or governmental proceedings could result in material adverse consequences, including judgments or settlements; and (27) if we are not able to develop and protect intellectual property, or if a competitor develops or obtains exclusive rights to a breakthrough technology, our financial results may suffer. These risks and uncertainties, as well as others, are discussed in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. There may be additional risks of which we are not presently aware or that we currently believe are immaterial which could have an adverse impact on our business. We make no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may change.

- financial tables attached -

Days Sales Outstanding for the three months ended June 30, 2012: 41 (26 net of deferred revenue)

Internalization for the three months ended June 30, 2012: 56% 

Debt to Book Capitalization as of June 30, 2012: 35%

Reconciliation of Adjusted Operating Income before Depreciation and Amortization:

Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization, 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. Waste Connections defines adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization as operating income, plus depreciation and amortization expense, plus closure and post-closure accretion expense, plus or minus any gain or loss on disposal of assets. The Company further adjusts this calculation to exclude the effects of 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. Management uses adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization as one of the principal measures to evaluate and monitor the ongoing financial performance of the Company's operations. Other companies may calculate adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization differently. 

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income per diluted share:

Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share, both non-GAAP financial measures, are provided supplementally because they are widely used by investors as a valuation measure in the solid waste industry. Waste Connections provides adjusted net income to exclude the effects of items management believes impact the comparability of operating results between periods. Adjusted net income has limitations due to the fact that it may exclude items that have an impact on the Company's financial condition and results of operations. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share are not a substitute for, and should be used in conjunction with, GAAP financial measures. Management uses adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share as one of the principal measures to evaluate and monitor ongoing financial performance of the Company's operations. Other companies may calculate adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share differently. 

Reconciliation of Adjusted Free Cash Flow:

Adjusted free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, is provided supplementally because it is widely used by investors as a valuation and liquidity measure in the solid waste industry. Waste Connections defines adjusted free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities, plus proceeds from disposal of assets, plus or minus change in book overdraft, plus excess tax benefit associated with equity-based compensation, less capital expenditures for property and equipment and distributions to noncontrolling interests. The Company further adjusts this calculation to exclude the effects of items management believes impact the ability to assess the operating performance of its business. This measure is not a substitute for, and should be used in conjunction with, GAAP liquidity or financial measures. Management uses adjusted free cash flow as one of the principal measures to evaluate and monitor the ongoing financial performance of the Company's operations. Other companies may calculate adjusted free cash flow differently. 

CONTACT: 
        Worthing Jackman 
        (832) 442-2266 
        Email Contact 
        
        Mary Anne Whitney 
        (832) 442-2253
        Email Contact