Republic Services 10-Q 2022-03-31

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022

or

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 1-14267

REPUBLIC SERVICES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (480) 627-2700

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes þ No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No þ

As of April 28, 2022, the registrant had outstanding 315,890,897 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (excluding treasury shares of 4,154,552).

REPUBLIC SERVICES, INC.

INDEX

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

REPUBLIC SERVICES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in millions, except per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

REPUBLIC SERVICES, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in millions, except per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

REPUBLIC SERVICES, INC.

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in millions)

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You should read the following discussion in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included under Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. In addition, you should refer to our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains certain forward-looking information about us that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Words such as “guidance,” “expect,” “will,” “may,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “should,” “can,” “likely,” “could,” “outlook” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, information appearing in this “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” includes forward-looking statements. These statements include information about our plans, strategies, and expectations of future financial performance and prospects. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are subject to significant risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that the expectations will prove to be correct. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements are the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and actions taken in response thereto, and our ability to integrate the operations of US Ecology, Inc. into our operations and to realize the intended benefits of such acquisition, as well as acts of war, riots or terrorism, and the impact of these acts on economic, financial and social conditions in the United States as well as our dependence on large, long-term collection, transfer and disposal contracts. More information on factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated is included below under Part II, Item 1A. - Risk Factors and from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. Additionally, new risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all such risk factors, or to assess the impact such risk factors might have on our business. 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.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic. In 2020, certain customers in our small- and large-container businesses began adjusting their service levels, which included a decrease in the frequency of pickups or a temporary pause in service. In addition, we experienced a decline in volumes disposed at certain of our landfills and transfer stations. As service levels decreased, we also experienced a decrease in certain costs of our operations which are variable in nature. This decline in service activity peaked in 2020 and has improved sequentially thereafter, returning to pre-pandemic levels in 2022.

In 2020 and 2021, we recognized our frontline employees for their commitment and contributions to their communities during the pandemic through our Committed to Serve program with two awards that were paid in January 2021 and November 2021.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business are described in more detail in the Results of Operations discussion in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations**.**

Recent Developments

US Ecology, Inc. acquisition

On May 2, 2022, we acquired all outstanding shares of US Ecology, Inc. (US Ecology) in a transaction valued at $2.2 billion. US Ecology is a leading provider of environmental solutions offering treatment, recycling and disposal of hazardous, non-hazardous and specialty waste. This acquisition expands our existing environmental solutions footprint and adds a national platform to provide customers with environmental solutions from collection to disposal, including recycling, solid waste, special waste, hazardous waste, container rental and field services. We financed the transaction through the entry into a $1.0 billion unsecured Term Loan Credit Agreement (Term Loan Facility), and the remaining purchase price was funded using borrowings on our $3.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility.

Overview

Republic is one of the largest providers of environmental services in the United States, as measured by revenue. As of March 31, 2022, we operated facilities in 41 states through 355 collection operations, 238 transfer stations, 198 active landfills, 71 recycling processing centers, 3 treatment, recovery and disposal facilities, 3 treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDF), 6 salt water disposal wells and 7 deep injection wells. We are engaged in 75 landfill gas-to-energy and renewable energy projects and had post-closure responsibility for 124 closed landfills as of March 31, 2022.

Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2022 increased by 14.4% to $2,968.8 million compared to $2,595.9 million for the same period in 2021. This change in revenue is due to increased volume of 3.6%, average yield of 4.2%, acquisitions, net of divestitures of 3.9%, recycling processing and commodity sales of 0.4%, fuel recovery fees of 1.9%, and increased environmental solutions revenue of 0.4%.

The following table summarizes our revenue, expenses and operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 (in millions of dollars and as a percentage of revenue):

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Fuel Price Risk

Fuel costs represent a significant operating expense. When economically practical, we may enter into new fuel hedges, renew contracts, or engage in other strategies to mitigate market risk. As of March 31, 2022, we had no fuel hedges in place. While we charge fuel recovery fees to a majority of our customers, we are unable to charge such fees to all customers.

At current consumption levels, we believe a twenty-cent per gallon change in the price of diesel fuel would change our fuel costs by approximately $26 million per year. Offsetting these changes in fuel expense would result in changes in our fuel recovery fee charged to our customers. At current participation rates, we believe a twenty-cent per gallon change in the price of diesel fuel would change our fuel recovery fee by approximately $26 million per year.

Our operations also require the use of certain petrochemical-based products (such as liners at our landfills) the cost of which may vary with the price of petrochemicals. An increase in the price of petrochemicals could increase the cost of those products, which would increase our operating and capital costs. We also are susceptible to increases in fuel recovery fees from our vendors.

Our fuel costs were $129.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2022, or 4.4% of revenue, compared to $78.9 million, or 3.0% of revenue, during the comparable period in 2021.

Commodities Price Risk

We market recovered materials such as old corrugated containers and old newsprint from our recycling processing centers. Changes in market supply and demand for recycled commodities causes volatility in commodity prices. In prior periods, we have entered into derivative instruments such as swaps and costless collars designated as cash flow hedges to manage our exposure to changes in prices of these commodities. As of March 31, 2022, we had no recycling commodity hedges in place.

At current volumes and mix of materials, we believe a $10 change in the price of recycled commodities would change both annual revenue and operating income by approximately $10 million.

Revenue from recycling processing and commodity sales during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was $99.8 million and $87.6 million, respectively.

Interest Rate Risk

We are subject to interest rate risk on our variable rate long-term debt. Additionally, we enter into various interest rate swap agreements with the goal of reducing overall borrowing costs and increasing our floating interest rate exposure, as well as interest rate locks to manage exposure to fluctuations in anticipation of future debt issuances. Our interest rate swap and lock contracts have been authorized pursuant to our policies and procedures. We do not use financial instruments for trading purposes and are not a party to any leveraged derivatives.

As of March 31, 2022, we had $1,269.5 million of floating rate debt and $300.0 million of floating interest rate swap contracts. If interest rates increased or decreased by 100 basis points on our variable rate debt, annualized interest expense and net cash payments for interest would increase or decrease by approximately $16 million. This analysis does not reflect the effect that interest rates would have on other items, such as new borrowings and the impact on the economy. See Note 7, Debt, of the notes to our unaudited consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further information regarding how we manage interest rate risk.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e), and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Based on an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this Form 10-Q identified in connection with that evaluation, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

In August 2021, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of ACV Enviro Corporation. As permitted by the SEC Staff interpretive guidance for newly acquired businesses, management's assessment of our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2022 did not include an assessment of internal control over financial reporting as it relates to this acquisition. We will continue the process of implementing internal controls over financial reporting for this acquired business. As of March 31, 2022, this business contributed less than 2% of revenue to our unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2022.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

General Legal Proceedings

We are subject to extensive and evolving laws and regulations and have implemented safeguards to respond to regulatory requirements. In the normal course of our business, we become involved in legal proceedings. Some may result in fines, penalties or judgments against us, or settlements, which may impact earnings and cash flows for a particular period. Although we cannot predict the ultimate outcome of any legal matter with certainty, we do not believe the outcome of any of our pending legal proceedings will have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

As used in the immediately following paragraph, the term legal proceedings refers to litigation and similar claims against us and our subsidiaries, excluding: (1) ordinary course accidents, general commercial liability and workers' compensation claims, which are covered by insurance programs, subject to customary deductibles, and which, together with self-insured employee health care costs, are discussed in Note 5, Other Liabilities, to our unaudited consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q; and (2) environmental remediation liabilities, which are discussed in Note 6, Landfill and Environmental Costs, to our unaudited consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

We accrue for legal proceedings when losses become probable and reasonably estimable. We recorded an aggregate accrual of approximately $12 million relating to our outstanding legal proceedings as of March 31, 2022. As of the end of each applicable reporting period, we review each of our legal proceedings and, where it is probable that a liability has been incurred, we accrue for all probable and reasonably estimable losses. Where we are able to reasonably estimate a range of losses we may incur with respect to such a matter, we record an accrual for the amount within the range that constitutes our best estimate. If we are able to reasonably estimate a range but no amount within the range appears to be a better estimate than any other, we use the amount that is the low end of such range. If we had used the high ends of such ranges, our aggregate potential liability would be approximately $5 million higher than the amount recorded as of March 31, 2022.

Legal Proceedings over Certain Environmental Matters Involving Governmental Authorities with Possible Sanctions of $1,000,000 or More

Item 103 of the SEC's Regulation S-K requires disclosure of certain environmental matters when a governmental authority is a party to the proceedings and the proceedings involve potential monetary sanctions unless we reasonably believe the monetary sanctions will not equal or exceed a threshold which we determine is reasonably designed to result in disclosure of any such proceeding that is material to our business or financial condition. We have determined such disclosure threshold to be $1,000,000. We have no matters to disclose in accordance with that requirement.

Except as provided below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

Risks related to our Acquisition of US Ecology

We may experience difficulties completing the integration of US Ecology’s business, and we may incur unexpected expenses in connection with that integration.

Achieving the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of US Ecology will depend significantly on whether we can integrate US Ecology’s business in an efficient and effective manner. The integration may result in additional and unforeseen expenses, and the anticipated benefits of the integration plan may not be fully realized. We may not be able to accomplish the integration process smoothly, successfully or on a timely basis. Any inability of our management to successfully and timely integrate the operations of the two companies could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We may not realize the anticipated synergies and related benefits from the acquisition of US Ecology fully or within the timing anticipated.

We may not be able to achieve the anticipated operating and cost synergies or the long-term strategic benefits of the acquisition with US Ecology fully or within the timing anticipated. For example, elimination of duplicative costs may not be fully achieved or may take longer than anticipated. For at least the first year after an acquisition, and possibly longer, the benefits from the acquisition will be offset by the costs incurred in integrating the businesses and operations. The inability to realize the full extent of the anticipated synergies or other benefits of the acquisition, or our encountering unexpected costs or delays in the integration process (which may delay the timing of such synergies or other benefits), could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The hazardous and radioactive waste businesses acquired from US Ecology are subject to additional operational and litigation risks related to the handling of dangerous substances.

We are subject to unexpected occurrences related, or unrelated, to the routine handling of additional dangerous substances. A fire or other incident could impair the ability of one or more acquired facilities to continue to perform normal operations, which could have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. Improper handling of these substances could also violate laws and regulations resulting in fines and/or suspension of operations. The handling of radioactive, polychlorinated biphenyls and hazardous material subjects us to potential liability claims by employees, contractors, property owners, neighbors and others. There can be no assurance that our existing liability insurance is adequate to cover claims asserted against us or that we will be able to maintain adequate insurance in the future. Adverse rulings in judicial or administrative proceedings could also have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Our newly acquired hazardous and radioactive waste businesses are subject to international, state or local laws or regulations that restrict the transportation of such waste across international, state, county or other jurisdictional lines. Such laws and regulations could negatively affect our operations, resulting in increased costs of alternate disposal.

We could be subject to significant fines and penalties, and our reputation could be adversely affected, if our businesses, or third parties with whom we have a relationship, were to fail to comply with U.S. or foreign laws or regulations.

Some of our projects and business may be conducted in countries where corruption has historically been prevalent. It is our policy to comply with all applicable anti-bribery laws, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and with applicable local laws of the foreign countries in which we operate, and we monitor our local partners’ compliance with such laws as well. Our reputation may be adversely affected if we were reported to be associated with corrupt practices or if we failed to comply with such laws. Such damage to our reputation could adversely affect our ability to grow our business. Additionally, violations of such laws could subject us to significant fines and penalties.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The following table provides information relating to our purchases of shares of our common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2022:

a.In October 2020, our Board of Directors approved a $2.0 billion share repurchase authorization effective starting January 1, 2021 and extending through December 31, 2023. Share repurchases under the program may be made through open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. While the Board of Directors has approved the program, the timing of any purchases, the prices and the number of shares of common stock to be purchased will be determined by our management, at its discretion, and will depend upon market conditions and other factors. The share repurchase program may be extended, suspended or discontinued at any time. As of March 31, 2022, no repurchased shares were pending settlement.

b.The total number of shares purchased as part of the publicly announced program were all purchased pursuant to the October 2020 authorization.

c.Shares that may be purchased under the program exclude shares of common stock that may be surrendered to satisfy statutory minimum tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock units and performance stock units issued to employees.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

None.

None.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant, Republic Services, Inc., has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.